Prime Campers GT-15F: Australia’s Best Hybrids 2024 presented by Tough Dog 4WD Suspension
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Time to read 4 min
Next up in our wrap-up of the 10 hybrids entered into the first-ever Australia’s Best Hybrids presented by Tough Dog 4WD Suspension is the Prime Campers GT-15F.
Not quite a camper or a caravan, hybrids are becoming a favourite among Aussie adventurers. Here’s a wrap-up of one of the entrants in the inaugural Australia’s Best Hybrid event in 2024: the Prime Campers GT-15F.
Australians love exploring the great outdoors, and hybrids are becoming one of the most popular choices of RVs. Not quite a caravan or a camper trailer, these unique trailers often have the best of both worlds.
Hybrids are relatively new on the RV scene, and there’s no official definition for what makes one. We nominated five typical factors: compact size, weight (under 2500kg), focus on external living, construction method and offroad suitability.
For a full explanation and some behind the scenes insights of the Australia’s Best Hybrids event, head here.
There were 10 impressive hybrids at the event, and each one got a full written and video review which can be found on the Caravan World website. Comprehensive reviews can be fantastic, but we know not everyone has the time, so we’ve summed up the most notable features here.
Prime Campers brought its GT-15F to the event, and this heavy-duty hybrid sports a high-tech electrical system, sleeping capacity for six people as well as many other features that will make this a family favourite.
Build quality
The GT-15F is built in an ISO9000-certified factory and imported to the Prime Campers facility in Queensland for fit-out and independent certification of electrics and plumbing.
The composite body construction gives a modern look, lighter weight and improved insulation. The fibreglass skins over XPS foam composite panels continued to the rear fold-out for the bed, which is a much better material than the aluminium seen in similar style hybrids. Adding a window to the bed end was a thoughtful improvement.
The chassis is heavy-duty double dip galvanised, so it’s strong but contributes to the GT-15F’s relatively hefty weight. The suspension has been upgraded to improve durability with NTN bearings, Monroe shock absorbers and custom-built springs.
Liveability
The GT-15F is a pop-top fold out arrangement with an electric roof and awning, so setup is easy.
This is a hybrid designed for big families — there’s a large bed in the rear, two bunks up front, the option of a fifth bed in the rear and you can fold down the dinette to make another bed for a small person. There’s plenty of storage space throughout.
The bathroom is well thought out by Prime and perfect for showering multiple kids. There are four separate water outlets: a retractable mixer in the vanity, high and low shower roses and a separate nozzle for rinsing feet.
There’s an emphasis on outside living and no kitchen facilities inside. The kitchen and fridge slide-outs are at opposite ends of the awning, creating a nice living area in the middle. An optional barbecue porch adds significantly to the under-awning shade area.
The slide-out kitchen is large with a stainless-steel bench, sink and four-burner hob. The Fogatti instant HWS is very sensible for families compared to a water heater storage system.
Self-sufficiency
The GTF15-F has quite the high-spec electrical system. There’s the 200Ah lithium LiFeP04 battery, Victron 1600W inverter/charger and 595W of solar. It’s certainly enough to run the Finch ducted air-con, and you can monitor consumption via a phone app.
(To find out more about upgrading your off-grid power, check out this article).
Instead of canvas for the pop-top, the GT15-F uses a thick 1000gsm PVC which has more thermal protection than canvas. This combines well with the Esky-like composite walls, floor and ceiling construction.
For water, the GT-15F can carry up to 200L of fresh water and 70L of grey. The cassette toilet is likely good for three days — carrying a spare cassette will extend stays.
Towability
Like most hybrids, the GT-15F needs a decent tow-rig to get the best out of it. It is marketed as a fully offroad trailer and with its 3100kg ATM , you’ll want a 3500kg rated 4WD with low range to haul it to the best views and through the gnarliest riverbeds.
At 2.45m (8ft) tall, the GT15-F is relatively low, which is great. Most lifted, rooftop tray-equipped utes and bigger SUVs won’t be much lower so you’ll cut the air better and should be able to go into many tight and tricky tracks without too much stress, helped along by the narrow 2.3m (7ft 5in) width.
Value for money
Priced from $67,499, the GT15-F isn’t a bargain basement price. It’s amazingly equipped though, with a very high level of appointment such as the composite wall structure, hot dipped galvanised chassis, fully independent Monroe suspension and electric actuators that raise and lower the pop-top roof.
The unit’s thermal properties, high-spec electrical system and ducted air conditioner are some of its noteworthy achievements. It’s quite an impressive achievement in a rig this size.
For more information head to the Prime Campers website.
And to read the full review of the Prime Campers GT15-F by the Australia's Best Hybrids 2024 presented by Tough Dog 4WD Suspension judges, head here.
Watch the Prime Campers GT15-F review here:
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