CAMPER TRAILER OF THE YEAR 2022: OFFLINE CAMPERS DOMINO

After coming painstakingly close in 2021, Offline Campers came to Camper Trailer of the Year 2022 with one goal, take out the top gong of Camper Trailer Of The Year 2022. By the time the scores were counted, they had done so much more taking four awards.

TIM VAN DUYL (CAMPER AUSTRALIA CREATIVE DIRECTOR)

The defending champion of Innovation at CTOTY 2021 came back with a more polished camper with some subtle refinements that proved winners with the Offline Domino not only holding onto Most Innovative Camper but adding to it, Best Hybrid, equal Best Build Quality and the big one, the overall Camper Trailer of the Year 2022.

It was a pretty comprehensive win by the South Australian team led by Sam Reynolds and watching Sam try to handle the awards at our ceremony at the Melbourne 4X4 Outdoors and Camping Show was pretty funny. There was a bit of sweat on his forehead as he juggled the glass trophies but not when he is in his element, talking campers.

Sam hauled the Domino up from Adelaide, onto Brisbane for a show then down to us, sleeping roadside in Travel Mode (more on that later) and enjoying the fruits of his research and engineering excellence. When with us, his pride in the design and build of the Domino was obvious with every design element or material choice justified with research and testing without compromise.

The testing of the Domino, and all Offline Campers, is thorough and with people outside the company as much as in it. As an exploration-focussed couples camper, the Domino has all the water and power you’d need built around whatever Queen-sized mattress you chose in a body that can be used for short stays (Travel Mode) or long stays (Camp Mode).

The backbone of last year’s Innovation win came from the then revolutionary two-mode camping the Domino offers. Pop the rear hatch and enter into a small rear lounge and bed in less than a minute or release a few safety latches and use the electrically driven actuators to split the camper into two parts, kind of like a clam, to make for a Taj Mahal-like camping experience.

This year Sam added yet more innovation by simplifying the sealing between the two halves, updating the lounge seating and by making small adjustments to the location of service items and touchpoints. He did this while also upping the fit and finish of the proudly locally made camper ultimately leading to the four wins at Camper Trailer of the Year 2022, Sponsored by the Power Of REDARC.

Well done Sam and the full team in South Australia.

GLENN MARSHALL (CAMPER AUSTRALIA EDITOR AT LARGE)

The beauty of the Aussie Made Domino is that what you see is what you get and all for just $88,912. Yep, all the bells and whistles are standard. You can even change the colour of the decals or the canvas and you won’t pay a cent more.

The only added expense may occur if you choose a very expensive mattress from Captain Snooze or decide on a radical set of rims and tyres to match your tow rig. Yes, that is the deal. Picking the right-priced Captain Snooze mattress and a common set of tyres and rims are all part of the package.

The Offline Domino won the best Hybrid and Most Innovative awards at CTOTY 2021 and some subtle improvements have been made to this year's model, while only increasing the price by $3912. This camper trailer offers great value for money, and I would be very happy to own one myself.

The Domino has a look about it that shows it means business as a high-quality, comfortable, offroad camper trailer. Sam has even made some changes that make this an even better camper.

The kicker for me is the addition of a leather club lounge when the Offline is set up in the Camp Mode. It is comfortable and something we suggested at CTOTY 2021 to make it easier to put on your shoes in the morning. The innovative way in which the club lounge has been incorporated into the set-up is mind-blowing.

DAN EVERETT (CTOTY 2022 JUDGE)

The Offline team have obviously designed the Domino from the ground up and the attention to detail in the undercarriage shows it. Some fancy fabrication techniques are all that stands between it and full marks – superficial stuff really, but 10’s are reserved for areas that can’t get any better.

I’ve got the Offline scoring quote high for off-road ability for a very simple reason. The sheer effort that’s gone into making so much amenity in such a lightweight and compact package. The thought that’s gone into it is insane. Towing it behind a 100 series ‘Cruiser the body falls in behind us without the need for tow mirrors, the weight is the third lightest of the whole field despite being one of the best spec’d. It’s even got its own design positive pressure dust system and can accommodate up to a 37-in tyre. A few hundred kilos lighter and a lower roof height would have it the best in the field.

It’s the only camper of the entire field specifically designed around whatever mattress you choose. Hard, soft, pillow top, memory foam, the choice is yours. You get all the usual amenities too, things like diesel heating, an external quick setup ensuite with hot shower and an optional AC. But it definitely pales in comparison to some of the bigger hybrids and even folding campers with full lounge areas. Don’t expect much internal living space. It’s an off-grid camper.

In Travel Mode the ease of use is through the roof. Just get in and go to sleep. Although setup does take a little longer if you’re putting it in camp mode. There are a few areas where ease of use has been sacrificed for the compact size. The fridge, pantry, and kitchen are all packed tightly together so can be a little awkward but it’s an intentional design to keep it as compact as possible. The only way to have more kitchen space is to have a less capable camper. They’re the only camper here who have managed to plumb the gas straight to the kitchen full time so no connections at all to do.

KATH HEIMAN (CTOTY 2022 JUDGE)

The Offline Domino provides sufficient amenity, comfort and capacity for an adventurous couple to enjoy the Great Outdoors for a weekend, a week or for months at a time. This camper bristles with power including an Enerdrive 2000-watt inverter supported by 200ah of Enerdrive lithium batteries, 280-watts of solar – and an Anderson plug for a separate additional panel, just in case.

There’s a 180-litre water capacity split over two tanks (105-litre and 75-litre) with an inline filter and a lift pump. To help feed and water you during your travels, the 95-litre Dometic fridge and 2x4kg gas bottles are standard, with the option to increase the size of the storage boxes on the front to accommodate two jerry cans if needed.

Outside and inside the rig, there’s a total of 300 litres of storage space. Better still, with a payload of 630kg, there’s no reason not to fill this camper with your favourite travel toys. Standouts are the massive pantry and under-bed drawers. It should be said too that, while quality fixtures and fittings come standard with the Domino, as owner Sam puts it; Offline provides a ‘custom build every time’.

So, there’s plenty of scope to tailor the camper to meet the buyers’ individual brand preferences. And, let’s face it, what’s not to like about having the freedom to choose your own Forty Winks mattress up to 350mm deep.

In campers, as in life, quality happens when care is taken. And with Offline Domino, attention is evidently lavished on every aspect of the build, wiring and componentry. The camper is grounded in Domino’s laser cut hot dipped 100x50x3mm chassis made from Australian steel, hot dipped locally. Supporting the ride, the model we reviewed sported Cruisemaster XT shocks and airbag suspension.

Riveted to the chassis is Offline’s 2-pac painted panelling, combining marine grade 5052 folded aluminium plate below the waistline and 29mm insulated composite on the upper. The canvas tent that deploys from the back of the Domino in ‘camp mode’ is made of quality Australian canvas.

New to CTOTY22, the canvas gutter guard zipped to the Darche awning ensures that the kitchen and pantry area stays dry when it rains. But it’s the fiddliest thing on the whole camper and we look forward to seeing how Sam’s ingenuity will be applied to achieve a simpler solution in the future.

Offline Campers Domino Judges Rating

OFFLINE CAMPERS DOMINO SPECIFICATIONS

Weights and Measures

Accessories & Inclusions

OFFLINE Campers Domino price $88,912 (as tested)

Supplied by OFFLINE Campers

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