OFFROAD DURABILITY
Stop and think about what really goes on in
the undercarriage of your trailer while you’re
belting along a heavily-corrugated road at
80km/hr. It’s simply obscene and why in
my view the strength and durability of a
trailer starts and ends with its suspension.
Independent swing-arm suspension is a must,
for both technical terrain and the enduring
slog of outback travel.
We only choose trailers with Australian-
designed and built suspension that’s been
engineered, tested and proven in our
conditions, such as the new Cruisemaster
suspension setup on the new Patriot X1.
Get this wrong and you’re trailer may soon
become the next bullet-ridden ‘signpost’ on
the Gunbarrel highway.
Whether it’s a vehicle or a trailer, I always
ask the manufacturer and service team what
the most common issues are on their product
and make sure that I either have spares or
that parts are going to be easily accessed if
needed. It’s another great reason to go with
Australian-made suspension components.
Every product has its breaking point, so even
with careful driving and smart tyre pressure
management, make sure yours is ready to go
well beyond how far you intend to push it.
COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT
Think about why kids love playgrounds and
adults don’t. It’s a simple case of size, agility
and power-to-weight ratio. And just like you
don’t want to be stuck in the spiral slide at a
MacDonald’s playground you don’t want to be
caught head-first down a forested dead-end
track or stuck half-way up a hill climb losing
traction by the second.
If the trailer is longer than the car you’re
going to have a problem negotiating any
kind of technical or wooded terrain. Ideally
it should be no longer than three-quarters
of the length of the tow vehicle, with at least
400mm of ground clearance. But not too high
that you can’t see over it or be fully aware of
its extremities.
Whether you would actually drive it there or
not, picture yourself towing the trailer along
the Old Telegraph Track at Cape York or up
Billy Goat Bluff track in the High Country. Aside
from the engineering stress, steep technical
terrain is where weight matters most, as an
extra tonne behind you makes climbing and
descending a nightmarish experience for even
the most experienced adventurers.
Nothing (including the jockey wheel mount)
should sit below the trailer chassis except
for something very flat like a water tank or
spare tyre that can cop a hammering from
flying rocks spat up by the tow vehicle or
being briefly dragged across bare ground. But
you still want the longest drawbar possible
as it makes such a difference to stability and
high-speed towing as well as ensuring more
predictable reversing.ESSENTIAL CREATURE
COMFORTS
A good night's sleep makes a big difference
to your endurance and enjoyment of the
trip, so if you’re taking a trailer you may
as well enjoy a few creature comforts. A
comfortable mattress, good quality canvas,
insect screening and a quick-erect awning or
room for shade or rain protection are essential
features we look for.
A simple but effective kitchen helps with
quick and easy food prep. Make sure the fridge
and food storage are easily accessible and
there’s a reasonably-sized bench that folds
down or slides out. Good sized gas burnersCompact, well-designed and lightweightObscene strength and durability