Here’s the review by Camper Trailer Australia’s Michael Borg as posted on their website on 25 November 2015.
Borgy tackles over 2500km of outback travel to find out if the Ultimate XPLOR GT lives up to its name.
I’m going to kick this yarn off by saying I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for any manufacturer that really backs its brand; I mean really believes in its capabilities and isn’t afraid to put it out there for all to see. I say this because there are literally hundreds of different makes and models available to choose from, yet only one manufacturer dares to call itself the Ultimate! That’s a pretty big call but, not surprisingly, these guys back it up with confidence and customer service by the bucket-load. So naturally, when the opportunity came to take one of these bad boys out for a test run, it was a no-brainer for me.
The guys at Ultimate Off-Road Campers pride themselves on building a tough camper that’s ready to cross the country the day you buy it. So I figured a simple overnight test run wasn’t going to cut it for this one. Nope, a more fitting setting to find out what really makes this camper trailer the ultimate would have to be a few weeks tackling the best of outback New South Wales.
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
If there are two things that make a particular camper trailer a pleasure to use, it’s simplicity and convenience or, more specifically, a simple setup with a convenient layout. Now I’m going to be honest here, when I first picked up the XPLOR GT and got given a quick run through on how to set everything up, I drove off thinking, “geez that seems a bit tricky for a camper trailer in this price range”.
But, I tell you what, that supposedly tricky setup turned out to be one of the simplest tents I’ve used so far. The main lid flips over as easy as pie, thanks to strut assistance and a well-positioned adjustable support/guidance pole. Then it’s just a matter of clipping four pre-adjusted internal poles in place and repositioning the lounge’s cushions.
What I wasn’t a big fan of, however, is that, unlike most other hard or soft-floor campers, you also have to set the bed up every time you unpack. Admittedly it’s only as hard as popping the mattresses in place and throwing your blankets on, but these little things all add up on big trips. That being said, it took me less than six minutes from the time I rolled into camp and set up the camper to crack a beer open — not too shabby.
The only other niggling complaint I have is that the new stabiliser leg design can get a bit annoying on uneven or rocky ground — the pre-drilled pin holes just don’t offer as much adjustment as I’d like.
INTERIOR
The internal sink and stove are at a comfortable height, with plenty of bench space, thanks to a second full-length overhead shelf. Plus, all the gauges and electrical knick-knacks are right there at your fingertips, too. The kitchen’s layout is really functional, and it’s easy to see that it has been tweaked numerous times over the years to get it to this level of simplicity.
THE VERDICT
It’s pretty simple really — if you want the capability to explore all the little nooks and crannies of this beautiful country of ours, but you don’t want to sacrifice comfort, the XPLOR GT really is, well, the ultimate! It’s got the best of the best features stacked into one uniquely tough, aerodynamic design that, if I’m quite honest, is actually very hard to fault.
Over the course of this trip, we clocked up around 3000km and the camper behaved flawlessly both on and off the tracks. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it’s one of the easiest, most functional and capable units I’ve ever put to the test.
So if you’re after a go-anywhere two-person tourer, the XPLOR GT from Ultimate Campers gets two thumbs up and a big tick from me.
HITS & MISSES
Pros…
- Plenty of organised storage
- Lightweight yet very solid construction
- Excellent ground clearance
Cons…
- Stabiliser legs are a bit fiddly
- Limited internal living space
- Awkward access to fridge when not set up
