Can a girl really set up the Bushranger Country all on her own? Rachael Sutton find out.
Hard floor rear-fold campers provide luxury underfoot and ease of set up on flat ground. Few, though, are available in an entry level offering. The Bushranger Country is unique in that it is an Aussie-made hard floor camper built on a simple box with a modest kitchen, sporting bush ready independent trailing arm eye-to-eye leaf springs.
The Bushranger Country starts from $19,000 (as photographed for $19,900, including awning not shown), which is about two-thirds of what you'd typically pay for other Aussie-made hard floor campers.
I admit, I never camp alone, and installing the tent is usually a job that's shared - so I was unsure as to how I would go on my own. After arriving at my destination, however, I was pleasantly surprised.
Totally Flipped
The Aussie-made Bushranger, built on a Preston Chassis, has been around since 1996. Alan Thomas who supplied us with the camper actually had a hand in designing the original version. The tent erects by dropping the jacks, flipping over the hot-dipped roof rack, operating a manual winch to crank the canvas over, and then adjusting the internal bows. The most difficult part for me and my spaghetti arms was folding over the roof rack which supports the floor of the camper. Alan Thomas assured me though the fibreglass lid atop the camper would support my weight, so after clamouring into it I flipped the far edge of the rack onto the ground. Operating the winch was a much easier proposition, and I was impressed how quickly I did it. I then turned my attention to the bedroom interior. The set up as photographed was done in 20 minutes, and if I did it again, I would probably do it in 10.
Canvas and Bedroom
I was proud of my efforts at unfurling the camper, but am afraid it does the Country's canvas few favours (my husband laughed at the photos and said I set the jacks too high). It's actually a great tent made with Australian Wax Converters canvas. All the external horizontal seams I saw faced down, which is best for water sealing - including those around the windows. The roof of the tent was high at 2.5m, even through it was installed by me at a mere 162cm tall.
The two forward window parallel to the bed are made up of polyester midge proof flyscreen, block-out curtains which attach to the tent with Velcro, and clear zip-in PVC panels for weatherproofing with a view. It looks like you could use PVC windows without breaking into a sweat in wet weather, as shielded ventilation is afforded by the small awning over the window behind the bed, and the covered air vent at the tent's peak. Two flyscreened doors are either side of the full-panel flyscreened window that's opposite the bed.
The bed, on timber slats, lift on struts to reveal the storage area underneath. Controls for the 12Vsystem and the internal incandescent lamp are here, (left and right respectively). There is a permanent step for climbing into bed. The bedroom has lovely timber-look floor.
Towing
As with most relatively small, single axle trailers the Bushranger Country responds acutely as you reverse and that takes a little getting used to, that said - it towed well behind my Toyota Prado and not just on the highways. The Bushranger Country, at 757kg Tare, tracked faithfully through hair pinned corners and the occasional corrugated road - a credit to the suspension on Treg hitch. The winch, however, was too exposed for my liking, and made its presence felt when I performed a five-point turn to turn my rig around on a one-way road.
Trailer
The Bushranger Country trailer isn't flanked with bells and whistles but its straight forward design does the job and given what you get for the price, it seems like a fair trade. There's no ugly wiring underneath either and the whole thing is powder coated for durability.
The main box is made from 2mm RHS and the large toolbox up front opens on gas struts. Our camper had the optional deep-cycle Century 75Ah battery, complementing the pre-wired 12V system. A checkerplate jerry holder is on the toolbox offside and a 9kg gas cylinder is on the nearside. A pole locker is behind the toolbox. Forward of the toolbox is the spare wheel (all tyres are new), the winch on the nearside, a jockey wheel and handbrake.
240V (straight to shore) and 12V outlets are next to the kitchen, which flips down via a lockable checkerplate door on the camper's nearside. The arrangement is well supported and consists of a two-burner stove with grill and a sink with a hand pump plumbed from the protected 60L tank. The Lido stove's burners are spaced far enough for two regular-size pots. The closest storage to the kitchen is the front toolbox, a design common to hard floor trailers. Lockable storage similar in size to the flip down kitchen is on the offside of the camper, next to the 240V inlet.
Summing up
I don't intend to camp on my own, but it's a relief to know that in the Bushranger Country if I have to I can. The tent is will designed, and the Country's independent trailing arm leaf suspension and Treg hitch ensures the camper behaves itself on a variety of roads. The kitchen, although small, looks solid and includes the Italian-made Lido. And at $19,900 ex Melbourne as photographed plus an awning, it'll be to find an Aussie-made hard floor camper with this level of spec for less. All in all, the Bushranger Country is a camper I'd comfortably travel with, sleep in and pack up.
Specifications
Bushranger Country
Tare: 765kg
ATM: 1200kg
Suspension: Independent eye-to-eye springs
Brakes: Electric
Coupling: Treg
