Camper Trailer Australia – August 2019

MISSES

Lackinginternal

culinaryfacilities

Nosolaras

standard

HITS

Gourmet

externalkitchen

Quasiensuite

Comprehensive

storage

Utilisationof

internalspace

Effortlesssetup

Offroadagility

forsize

The Saturn 16 now landed. Set up here with the

pop-top up and bed out, but the awning still in

“THE S-16 OOZES OFFROAD-ABILITY. IT’S EQUIPPED WITH TWO

SPARE TYRES, REAR RECOVERY POINTS, ROCK SLIDES AND TOUGH

TRAILING ARM INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION... THE TRAVERSED

SURFACE POSED NO CHALLENGE FOR THIS HYBRID CAPABLE

OF NAVIGATING THE ‘DARK SIDE OF THE MOON’”

D

uring the past decade or so, Mars

Campers has introduced several

‘world-beaters’ in the camper trailer

genre.

And now it has come up with an offroad pop-

top hybrid series that is ‘out of this world’.

Yes, the planets have aligned, with Mars’ recent

launching of the Saturn series.

Camper recently tested the Saturn 16 hybrid

• a 4.8m (15ft 9in) pocket rocket – which gave
  every impression of being a real trooper in a
  true offroad environment.
  To all intents and purposes the Saturn 16 is a
  clone of the previously released Saturn 13 (which
  we have reviewed previously). The primary
  difference is a double-bunk configuration in the
  S-16.
  And in that respect, how Mars has managed
  to squeeze a queen sized bed, twin bunks and
  a shower/toilet combo – and still have room
  to move – into such a diminutive unit has me
  ‘spaced out’.

PAINTING A PICTURE

The imported S-16 arrives in a container without

any gas appliances or 240V system. Walls and

internal fixtures are partially built, and final

touches are done in Australia.

Mars Campers mount the suspension, and

install and certify the gas lines and electrical

work; this is completed from its manufacturing

plants in Melbourne and Brisbane to ensure

high final quality and compliance with Australian

Standards.

The S-16 oozes offroad-ability. It’s equipped

with two spare tyres, rear recovery points, rock

sliders and tough trailing arm independent

suspension. The lower profile, when compared

to something bigger, makes it ideal for tight

tracks with low hanging branches.

Additionally, it’s ‘power to the people’

considering you receive three 100Ah AGM

batteries hooked up to a 21A charger and

Anderson plug to charge it up as you drive

(in the case your tow-rig is equipped with an

up, climate control, internal shower/toilet

combo, storage, bunks/dinette adaptability, and

structural warranty.

Please allow me to explain...

The queen-size rear bed, with high-density

foam mattress (optional innersprings available),

can be utilised in a north-south or east-west

configuration. And the fold-out process is as

easy as pie – in fact it unfolds like a charm (see

the breakout on the last page).

You can also have your whole campsite set up

in under five minutes. The pop-top roof is a cinch

to deploy, and creates plenty of headroom.

Utilising the Dometic air-conditioning is as

simple as setting the temperature and hitting the

hay for a solid night’s sleep, in order to wake up

ready for the adventures of the day ahead. (Now

Anderson plug). Plug it in on a powered site and

here your batteries get charged again.

You may say: “Where are my gigawatt solar

panels on the roof? I love my solar!”

Well, Mars Campers don’t want you to unduly

spend your hard-earned on a system that

may invariably be parked under a tree during

your adventures. The rationale is quite simple:

the S-16 charges as you drive and when on a

powered site.

When free camping most people look for

shade, reducing the efficacy of most solar

systems. But if you insist on solar, Mars will offer

two options: a free 120W foldable panel or $1699

for a 300W panel mounted on the roof.

What floats my boat regarding the S-16 are

the fold-out rear bed, easy set up and pack