Backtrax Camper Trailers

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Originally Posted by solmanic

I am interested to know people's thoughts on the fibreglass tub for outback touring (ie. suceptibility to perforation by stones). The stone guards and spare tyre location should offer good protection but I'm just not sure. At least fibreglass is relatively easy to patch.

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The GRP option would be better if they were to have a core of, say, wood/ply, I think. Stone damage is one problem, but so is side and rear damage from slips, drop-offs (especially to the rear of the trailer), and other things that just seem to target 4WDS.

On the other hand, crossing streams and in flood conditions it ought to be pretty water tight, unless water can enter through the top, via the lid. In which case would it turn into a big mobile bath tub/washing machine/fermentation feeder. And then I think you certainly would feel it on the back.

If the dry weight is 350kg. What is the allowable gross laden weight?

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Originally Posted by solmanic

Unit weight is only 350kg (less than one American!)

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:D:D:D

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Originally Posted by solmanic

and ball weight is only 35kg.

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Somewhat more than one American though :D :wasntme: :angel:

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Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

How's that? Does the fibreglass take in that much more heat than canvas?

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you got it in one

radiates big time, much more than canvas IME

and stays hot way longer then gets really cold and every breath condenses on it and you end up with damp bedding, no thanks, never again.

i tried a lot of things to get around it, gave up, threw hands in air and bought the castaway... canvas on 3 sides with bloody big window on all ...

it can still get hot but you can breath .... and no condensation into bedding.

What about storage, looking at the dimentions it doesn't look as though it has much storage room, this would mean you would be loading up the car more.

Baz.

Yeah, the single skin fibreglass roof is a concern, however it doesn't look like it would be too hard to line the underside. I'm not sure why they don't do that as standard anyway - who knows, it may be an option.

I'm not too concerned about the storage as there is a box on the drawbar and there seems to be quite a bit of space inside the trailer beside the kitchen. The roof rack on the top is a good idea and this means you could fling a tarp over it for another layer of thermal protection.

Is there anything holding the lid up when set up other than the gas struts?

Could be a rude shock in a strong wind or when they get worn after a few years :D

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Originally Posted by incisor

you got it in one

radiates big time, much more than canvas IME

and stays hot way longer then gets really cold and every breath condenses on it and you end up with damp bedding, no thanks, never again.

i tried a lot of things to get around it, gave up, threw hands in air and bought the castaway... canvas on 3 sides with bloody big window on all ...

it can still get hot but you can breath .... and no condensation into bedding.

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Aluminium hard tops won't condensate but they are loud when it rains you would need some sort of insulation to cut the noise down. I have a flip over type of camper trailer with an aluminium top, it sits out in the weather year in year out and have no problems, but the cargo box on the draw bar has a steel lid and it condensates all the time to the point it rusts tools and equipment. Because it is a flip over we have canvas over us when in use we find it condensates but rarely drips or untill you touch it.
How do caravans with fibreglass roof sections control the condensation issue?

I'd be cautious with fiberglass depending on what type of fiber they use it may crack through fatigue when traveling rough roads.

Allen

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Originally Posted by disco2hse

If the dry weight is 350kg. What is the allowable gross laden weight?

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Gross laden weight is still only 750kg - only a bit more than two Americans ;).

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Originally Posted by Utemad

Is there anything holding the lid up when set up other than the gas struts?

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Good point - it doesn't look like it. I would hope that the struts are locked off however.

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Originally Posted by AJSLRD

I'd be cautious with fiberglass depending on what type of fiber they use it may crack through fatigue when traveling rough roads.

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Good point. I'll try to see how long they've been making them and if there is any chance of seeing an older, used one.

I thought I'd seen these before

Tentrax Adventure Trailers - Gallery

but looking at the pics, the yankee one does seem a touch smaller.

Regards
Max P

American Tentrax is 2500mm long x 1720mm wide
Backtrax is 3000mm long x 1770mm wide (outside wheel to wheel)

Looks like the extra 500mm length is all in the tub, but 1770mm wide is nowhere near "queen size" if that's the length of the bed as shown in the photos. Maybe the bed base overhangs the wheels by more than the photos indicate.

Even with some of the potential drawbacks mentioned, I still think it is a great concept. I'm sure you'll be armed with lots of questions when you go and have a look at them.
I hadn't considered the possibility of condensation as mentioned by Inc. There are lots of ways to solve that problem, but it isn't something that you would expect to have to deal with in a product that has had some development.
Anyway, it's definitely worth a look. It'll be interesting to hear your findings.