Red Rock Traveller Semi Off Road Review

Set atop a 7x4ft semi-offroad Australian made trailer, the Red Rock Traveller Semi Off Road’s manageable dimensions immediately suggested this camper’s suitability to those looking for peaceful escapes to light offroad destinations, perhaps towing with mid-sized family vehicles and SUVs. With a price tag on the shy side of $15k, the Traveller Semi Off Road from Red Rock Campers targets budget-conscious buyers seeking an affordable, quality trailer to serve as headquarters on their family adventures.

CONSTRUCTION

A rear-fold softfloor camper trailer designed for light offroad work, the Traveller features a 40mm square axle and seven leaf eye-to-eye slipper spring suspension, with 14in wheels and tyres with mudflaps, and optional electric brakes. The camper on test was fitted with an optional framed mesh stoneguard, behind which sat a 300L checker plate aluminium, lockable toolbox with spare wheel mount, also an option. The coupling is a standard 50mm ball, upgradable to a polyblock style offroad coupling if desired, but given the light offroad intentions of this camper, it’s probably not necessary.

Between the toolbox and the trailer sits a custom storage recess for the annex poles, accessible from both sides and also lockable. There’s a holder for one 4kg gas bottle on the driver’s side and one 20L jerry on the driver’s side of the toolbox. There’s a 62L water tank on the underside, protected by a galvanised steel stoneguard and filled via a lockable cap tucked behind the driver’s side wheel guard. The Traveller on test was also fitted with the optional bike rack receiver mount at the rear, so bringing the kiddies’ bikes (and your own) isn’t a hassle. At the rear there’s also drop-down stabiliser legs.

INTERIOR AND COMFORTS

This camper folds from the rear to expose a queen-sized 6in high density foam mattress, upgradable to innerspring and accessed via a movable ladder. The bed area is well ventilated by three large windows, all of which open from the inside and out. This particular camper was equipped with an optional under-bed storage draw, which slides out on rollers providing a large amount of space for luggage or plastic storage tubs. The draw slides smoothly and is nice and strong — able to be used as a step up to the bed when in use. While this space could still be used as storage without the drawer, you’ll wish you’d opted for it as you contort yourself to reach the farthest corners in search of a lost pair of socks or some such.

Electronics are optional, and on this camper included two LED bedside reading lamps and two pole-mounted strip lights, plus five 12V outlets. These were powered by the optional 120amp deep cycle battery system, housed in an Engel Smart Battery Box in a lockable cabinet on the driver’s side.

The main tent floor is heavy-duty PVC, and while space here is modest, as standard you’ll get a full annex complete with walls to enclose the kitchen and living space, and there’s an optional bedroom of the same dimensions coming off the other side of the camper to serve as a kids’ room. The awning that extends over the toolbox area is a nice touch, allowing you to leave two of the three bedside windows open during bad weather.

The main tent’s living room windows also open both internally and externally, and the top third is comprised of clear mesh for weather protection. The end wall contains a full-sized door with awning, making the whole indoor space very open and breezy.

CANVAS

The 14oz ripstop canvas incorporates a “tri-coated” roof, in which a silver coating is impregnated into the canvas prior to its waterproofing process to lift heat out. Additional sun protection comes from the optional reflective roof, as fitted to the camper on test. Red Rock is so confident in the quality of this canvas it is prepared to back it (and the trailer generally) with a three year warranty including 12 months’ Australia-wide roadside assist. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is. For those still not convinced, Aussie-made Wax Converters is available as an upgrade, but you’ll need to set aside a decent $2k for it.

COOKING

The kitchen is a slide-out drawer with a flip-over bench extension and support legs. It has a three-burner Smev stove as standard and a stainless steel sink with a hand pump, both with storage cabinets below. A 12V pump is available as an upgrade if you don’t fancy the manual labour, and you can also upgrade to hot water with a choice of a Dometic inbuilt system or a Coleman portable system. As mentioned, a 40L Engel fridge/freezer can be added and would be housed in an enlarged toolbox.

THE VERDICT

The Traveller Semi Off Road presents an excellent option for first-time camper buyers or indeed anyone with a budget under $15k. It will get you to your favourite secret spot up a river track, and facilitate the search for new gems off the beaten track. With an Aussie-made trailer backed by a strong warranty and roadside assist, you can be comfortable in your investment. At just 310kg tare as standard, you’ll tow this bad boy comfortably behind a mid-sized car or SUV, and won’t even know it’s there behind a 4WD. For those new to camper trailers (and towing), this manageable size will make for fuss-free family forays into the great outdoors.

I LIKED

• Large annex with walls and floor as standard
• Lightweight and manageable for beginners
• Airy internal living space

I WOULD HAVE LIKED

• Everything I would have liked was available as an option — upgrade as your budget allows

The full version of this review appeared in Camper Trailer Australia #69, October 2013. Why not subscribe today for the latest camper trailer reviews and travel features.

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