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...unless it's been specifically designed and trialled over such tracks.
Cub Campers has hard-floor, easy wind-up opening off-road models from as little as $19,990 and despite the price, are capable and durable enough to take on some of Australia's worst outback conditions.
The fact is, you may not want to go camping on the Gibb River or drive to Birdsville. Nice to know, however, that your camper-trailer will survive. The managing director of Perth-based Camper Trailer Warehouse, Andrew Fardon, says the Cubs are very strong, very reliable and excellent value for money.
"They're also made in Australia - with Australian steel, fabric and equipment," he says. "Cub is a family-owned business that has been going in NSW since 1968. We've never had any problems with their camper trailers and we use them ourselves - without modification - when we go on extended outback holidays."
There are 35 models in the Cub range and can be priced down to the Kamparoo Junior's $9000-odd or up past $50,000 for a fully-optioned Spacevan Drover that is more than enough for a family escape in the bush.
Cub products are divided into four styles - Kamparoo, Supamatic, Spacematic and Spacevan - each with five models, and then there are specific sub-models and of course, the options list. All have a fold-over roof that becomes the hard floor, and a simple hand winch arrangement to erect and collapse the unit.
"It is designed to be easy to assemble and collapse for campers of all ages," Mr Fardon said. Cub can also customise units for specific needs. "We have recently made a Spacevan for a large family that has a longer drawbar on which we fitted two boxes - one for the fridge and a second for additional storage.
"We have also built one that has room for a quad-bike on the drawbar and a dingy on the top. Almost anything is possible." The Cub Weekender is one of the smallest in the range and, at 450kg in weight, can easily be towed by a Toyota RAV4 or Subaru Forester.
"It's the smallest but still has good room for a couple or small family. And it's light so it's easy to tow and doesn't affect the car's fuel consumption too much. "Models such as the Spacevan have the option of an inside or outside kitchen, but if you want, have both - the outside one as a barbecue for the warmer weather, for example.
"The double bed can be turned sideways to make room for children's beds on the upper level. It's whatever the buyer wants." One of Mr Fardon's favourites is the Supamatic Drover in off-road trim. "It has everything you want - it's tough, roomy, easy to erect and the hardfloor's a bonus to keep dirt or water out of the interior.
"It weighs 790kg so it's suitable for an SUV like a Kluger. A Toyota Prado, for example, would be more than enough. "This is the model I use when my family goes away." Mr Fardon says buyers should ensure they buy quality and get the right camper trailer for their vehicle.
"The towbar download weight is critical," he said. "You must check that out before selecting a camper trailer. I have seen one particular compact SUV that has completely different download weights for its automatic model and its manual transmission model, and different again for petrol and diesel versions.
"It makes such a difference that the diesel model with automatic transmission could only tow the very smallest camper trailer."
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