Summit Campers K2: Review

It’s not very often you come across a camper trailer that just ticks all your boxes. You know, one that convincingly covers all the bases at an affordable price.

But I’ll tell you what, after running a fine-tooth comb over the K2 from Summit Camper Trailers, I’m happy to say that this thing comes pretty close. You might not have heard of Summit’s camper trailers before, the reason being they only really hit the Australian market about eight months ago.

The campers have been manufactured and sold in South Africa since 2007, and they’re now being imported to Australia by a couple of mad keen camping enthusiasts who dead-set fell in love with them at first sight.

And, I’ll tell you what, I don’t blame them; these things are pretty easy on the eye, and there is a lot to like about them. And while they boast some good looks, don’t be fooled into thinking they’re all show and no go. Nope, these things are every bit as practical as the big boys in the industry.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

There are a few highlights of this camper’s design that make it work really well as a family camper, and the first is the amount of storage on offer.

The K2 offers easily accessible storage by way of 10 42L slide-mounted storage bins, which you can use quickly and easily from around the outside of the camper – it doesn’t even matter if the camper is set up or not, so roadside access is easy. And there’s a 245L slide-out belly compartment as well!

The whole idea of the K2 as shown is that it comes with all the extras with little more to spend! So things like camp lighting or an audio system are included. And when I say lighting, I mean there’s more LEDs in this thing than you can poke a stick at. It’s got goodies like two 105Ah batteries, an electric water pump, Joolca hot water system and even a water level gauge.

It also comes with an HCDP MK4 power panel with 240V and DC-DC charging capacities and a 150W pure sign wave inverter for safely charging all your devices.

To go one step further, the K2 comes complete with a spade and axe securely mounted on the outside of the camper in a nice and easy spot to reach – talk about the whole kit and caboodle!

Two 80L plastic water tanks take care of the water storage side of things, and they’re located vertically along the centre of the trailer to promote even weight distribution.

EXTERIOR

Don’t even bother comparing this to other roof-top, tent-style campers; the tent on the K2 is nothing short of a work of art. It’s lightweight yet extremely durable, and it is custom-designed specifically to suit the K2.

While the quality of the canvas and workmanship is enough to impress Mr Fussy here in about 10 seconds flat, it’s the little features that go a long way with its design. I’m talking about things like being able to unzip and completely remove the tent’s floor if it’s too wet or muddy to pack away with the rest of the tent.

KITCHEN

These days, you’ll find that some camp kitchens look better on paper then they would ever perform in real life. Thankfully, this isn’t the case with the K2.

In fact, when it came to designing the K2’s kitchen, Summit Campers left it up to real camp cooks! Yep, this kitchen has been designed with practicality in mind right from the get go, so it’s no surprise that it works a treat.

THE WRAP UP

You know what I like about this camper trailer? It’s the fact that it boasts honesty over features written on paper. What you see is what you get, and that’s everything you need for a comfortable family holiday out bush.

HITS AND MISSES

Pros…

• Bucket loads of storage
• Quality tent canvas
• Compact with great payload
• Practical and functional design

Cons…

• Limited internal living space
• Tent height can be a stretch to set up
• Front stone guard design can still allow rocks to ricochet on to the vehicle

Check out the full feature in issue #103 August 2016 of Camper Trailer Australia magazine. Subscribe Today for all the latest camper trailer news, reviews and travel inspiration.