Thanks very much for that write-up
@juddles.
You are welcome
Campers have so many features it is hard to address (or even remember) many of these, but if you have specific questions please ask
Expanding on my last post, I must admit I absolutely loved the Patriot. Very good build, fantastic design to make an extremely compact trailer include so very very much well thought out things. I mentioned in the last post that it was airtight - should have mentioned it is actually pressurised - which helps a hell of a lot when dust is an issue. I loved the general layout - essentially on each side of the trailer the doors open down - creating an instant workspace. When you deploy the "tent", the side panels affected have zippered internal access so they are accessible also with the tent up. Every single thing worked very well. A true joy to use. The main misgivings I had, as already stated, is the flimsy part of the awning, and the lack of an external tap(this last point being resolved already on new models).
At the Adelaide show the main philosophy differences were emphasis on certain aspects. All of them claim easy set up - which is true if once you get the knack. But the Patriot awning and tent would be a challenge to set up solo unless you are a 6'7" superman like myself - definitely a two person job for most. I understand the newer versions have a hard case lid that is easier to deploy.
Some designs are focussed on storage, others on super-awnings, others on the ease of use. I loved seeing one at the show (brand not remembered) that was the "Mercedes" of camper trailers - a very swish and modern looking thing. Sort of made you feel like you were in a luxury pod. But when I later mentioned this one to my wife (along with the sale price of $100,000!!) she asked straight away: "Doe's it have a dishwasher?"
Of course it doesn't, but I understood her question to be perfectly reasonable - if someone is forking out that sort of money it is not an obscene ask
All these decent trailers are around the $50k mark - so one would expect a good product. And if you were going to invest in same, I would assume most normal people would only do so when the trailer was going to be their actual home for many many months. When you are talking that sort of investment, I advise to do what my mate and I did - rent one and try it out first. We loved the Patriot, but.....
I have not yet seen a Drifta - only seen videos. I love their overall philosophy, and the trailer design is basically very very good. The one I have seen has the "tent" on top. Very easy to deploy in minutes (as per their videos). And this is important if you do a trip like my last one where you are constantly on the move. But the flaw I see so far in their design is that the easily setup tent is just a tent with a bed in it - so no separate area to actually change clothing, etc. With the Patriot, when you deploy the tent it includes an area above the trailer with pre-made bed, but also a ground level section that is perfect for changing in.
Some features that worked perfectly with the Patriot: the slide out fridge/sink setup. The variety of compartments for storage. The drop-down hatches that double as excellent working spaces. There is a gas two-burner stove that you pull out and manually connect a gas bottle to - worked well. And a Weber BBQ that swings out easily that was also a joy to use. Lighting was great - all compartments have LED lights, and you can attach more to the awning. Great electrical connections - including inside the "tent" with USB and cig outlets. (On that point, the guy that rented us the trailer included a plug-in small fan that he got from the internet - this you plug in inside the tent and suspend it from the roof - he said this was a priceless addition - and he was right! Even at night in the desert it can be sweltering (especially if you have driven all day with the collapsed tent and bedding absorbing half of the past decades Climate Change ) - that fan was absolutely priceless indeed.
A sad need, but these days theft is an issue in any remote Aussie areas with abundant aboriginal youths
And the Patriot trailer was very easy to secure with just a couple of pad locks. Essentially the rig becomes an unattractive cube (unattractive to thieves) when you close the doors and lock them.
The trailer we rented had a mobile chemical toilet, but we actually left this at "home". Being boys, a shovel was all we needed. And it also came with a swing-out hot water service, but we never used that, as at the end of each day the tank water was over 50 degrees (bloody Climate Change again rearing its ugly head
) This particular hot water system was gas, but most modern trailers have compact diesel ones - which I have never used, but am told they are fantastic.
We had issues with weight in the whole rig (car included), but the Patriot trailer itself was an absolute dream - well balanced and rugged - no faults there.
As
@RooFlyer would be accustomed to, I am used to camping at bare basics level - so a trailer like the Patriot was simply heaven. And as the years go past, the electrical revolution is omni-present in the latest offerrings - the simple roll-out solar blankets these days easily keep up with the night light needs and running the fridge. This is something that I suspect that Drifta are big on - the taking advantage of these new solar power and battery advances. I beleive they offer a rig with an electric motorbike mounted on the tow bar. And for the keen fishermen, a rig can be set up to also power a small craft with electric motor.
Again, so many details that I cannot address in just one post.
Last comment is about garbage. I am a minimalist, so when my mate bought some fancy garbage pouches that attach over the spare wheels, I frowned. But these are fantastic in use.
www.whichcar.com.au
