Thread: Off Road camping road rigs and Towing hitches for a Perentie 4x4

On the hunt for an off road van (dirt road, not 4 wheel drive tracks) for the long trips (like NW Australia from Sydney) which I would then use as a base, to do shorter trips using the rack mounted pop top tent ie., get the best of both worlds, some comfort on the long miles, and the freedom to get to the harder spots. As I get older, I want something that I can just stop and launch into bed is ideal .. plus turn into a decent setup when parked for a few days.

Now I have read lots of threads on the weight limitations of the 4x4 Perentie, which unfortunately eliminates a lot of the modern and quite comfortable off road vans (like having inbuilt shower and toilet) but such is life for a Perentie owner, though their is a few reassuring threads in the 90/110/130 using older and lighter off road caravans for extended periods that I am following up on ..

So its either a higher end camping trailer (though not where I really want to be) with a fast setup (which some do) or preferably a lighter weight pop up van like a 14ft that gets under 1.5 Tare and under 2t ATM with a good side awning. I have a turbo engine on the Personnel carrier and assume I will upgrade the rear brakes to disc as well.

Interested whether any of my fellow Perentie owners have gone down this path and what trailers/vans did you find worked well for you ...

Other issue is most come with fancy hitches ..

Came across an archived post for a Army compatible hitch base .. RECEIVER HITCH SERIES IIA -III MILITARY CH, RNA086 - Rovers North - Classic Land Rover Parts
Has anyone installed this and was it successful ?? Or it just cheaper to have somebody fabricate one here ?

I also saw that you can maybe change the hitch to a Pintle on the van or trailer, anyone done that, though I assume it would be a noisy ride ?

Fast setup.......

I've had pop top vans, tents, side fold camper trailer, rear fold hard floor camper trailer, custom trailer with RTT and now a Mulgo Pop Top.

They all take time, some just take more effort than others.

The fastest by far is the Mulgo pop top (once we finish the fit out inside)

Re: trailer, you probably need to first work out if you want to sleep under canvass or solid roof and.......budget

If we ever go back to a trailer it would be a custom hybrid with self supporting awning, air bag suspension (only for leveling when at campsite), pop top on actuators and a bunch of other ideas I have.

Re: hitches....I believe there are a few options popping up.

Re: brakes, don't rush out and upgrade the 110 brakes as the trailer will be braked......see how it performs first.

I started with an ex-army TD5 wagon.....and turned it into a pop top.