Backtrax Camper Trailers

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Originally Posted by solmanic

but 1770mm wide is nowhere near "queen size" if that's the length of the bed as shown in the photos.

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Without having seen a picture of the bed made up I would have thought the 1770mm was the max width of the bed not the length.
Generally you sleep lengthways to the trailer.
I just measured the width of the bed base of my soft floor camper and it is a little over 1800mm. The mattress would be about 200-300ish mm narrower than that.

Also just measured the real queen size bed upstairs and it measures 1510mm wide.

2040mm is the length of the bed upstairs and 2200mm is the length of the bed board in the camper.

So if the 3000mm is the overall length of the trailer in question then it still comes up short :D unless the drawbar is less than one metre long (not taking into account the bed overhangs the drawbar a little bit).

Hmmm - the photos show the bed made-up across the trailer (ie. 1770 would be the length of the bed). It may just be a clumsy marketing thing but due to the reduction in height as the lid slopes down to the other side I would have thought that was where your feet would go.
If not, I bags not sleeping on the far side :D.

Thought I should update this thread now that I have done some extensive "hands-on" research into this unit. I viewed on at the recent 4x4 and camping show here in Brisbane, and again yesterday at the Caravan & Camping Expo.

The Backtrax is indeed impressive. The trailer design and construction is very robust being all fibreglass and stainless steel - built like a boat actually. The chassis seems solid enough and the independent torsion style suspension is clever. Tyre mounting on the drawbar with side stone guard sections should provide plenty of frontal protection from flying debris.

The canvas is very well thought out. Nice simple design, good openings and best of all, double layer over the tent top due to the separate fly which attaches to the lid. The whole thing can be packed up dry underneath before the fly is dropped and the lid closed.

In answer to the queries about the size and bed configuration - the bed base actually has a small section which folds out to make up the full length, queen size. This is solidly supported on the small ladder which sits under. The entire bed board is a composite, glass fibre material - no plywood anywhere. Despite what the photos show, there is enough room above the bed lying down but you would want your feet down the low end.

Now the cons:
It is quite small. OK for us, but you would only have enough room to put on other person in the tent area. As an alternative to a tent it's great, but definitely not a family unit unless you plan on giving the kids their own tent to play with.

The extras are highly priced and don't seem to offer much value for money. Kitchen is nice and shiny but not terribly useful. Only a slide-out stove and sink with no storage and very little bench space at mega-cost.
Drawbar tool box is plastic and quite small as well as over-priced. I would get a larger chequerplate one for less $$$ and mount it there. Water tank configuration is good with a 70l tank and good underbody protection. The standard water setup includes a hand pump on the drawbar but there is a powered pump with the kitchen and battery pack options.

With all the necessary bits the total cost is over $20K which pushes it into the Jayco Camper-top caravan range. With a Jayco you also get a fridge and full lighting built-in so the decision gets difficult. But the Backtrax is well designed, super-light, well built and funky.

I just can't help thinking it's overpriced for what you get though.

Reading back over some of the other questions people had -

- Yes, the lid locks up.
- There is an option of a full Rhino rack on top which, if you have a load cover tarp, can act like a fly over the fibreglass lid thereby minimising any heat and condensation issues.

Just my opinion but it looks like a good way to blow $20K without having much to show for it.

Given the extra disadvantages of towing versus the added benefits of it, I think I'd be buying a kick **** swag and a good tarp and roof rack then you will have just about the same result and $18K still in your pocket;)

We went to the show on Sunday and I had a quick look at the Backtrax campers. I have to agree about the size, and ventilation in the bed area isn't real good. After seeing them in the flesh, I don't think they are very good value. Still a neat idea though.