One happy camper

Try as we might — and we did try — we couldn't shake the deceptively comfortable home-away-from-home camper trailer we'd hitched to our wagon, a 100 Series Toyota LandCruiser.

The heavy-duty offroad camper-trailer is the ultimate camp follower, as tough as the full-blooded four-wheel-drives it's designed to follow — maybe tougher, if our test at the Melbourne 4x4 Training and Proving Ground at Werribee is anything to go by.

John Spence, of Geelong Prestige Jayco, looks a little nervous as he descends into the Valley of Mechanical Death, his spotless Jayco Flamingo Outback in tow.

Pop-up camper trailers are the lightweight convertibles of the caravan world. Only slightly bigger than a trailer, they become full-sized caravans when set up. Creature comforts are impressive: fridge, four-burner stove, sink, microwave oven, fold-up mini-wardrobe, sleeping room for seven.

There is an Outback version of all Jayco camper trailers — whether Doves, Hawks, Eagles or Swans. They have extra protection underneath, heavy-duty suspension, electric brakes and a 250mm higher ride.

The kit adds 90kg, bringing the Flamingo up to a still trim 1120kg.

Proving ground chief instructor Rob Emmins is impressed.

"There's strength where you need it and decent shock absorbers, which is important," he says.

Emmins is happy with the ride height, too: "You need clearance but you can't have them too high or they get unstable. This one is pretty good."

The Werribee River is the first obstacle. We nervously take the 'Cruiser through the water and scramble up the bank. The Flamingo follows faithfully. We then do a quick lap (the camper trailer doesn't help in a tight turning circle), then splash through again.

Emmins chuckles. "You did it the hardest way possible, really."

A good start, but now it's test two: the formidible Suspension Twister. Spence looks anxious.

The Twister, or articulation test, is a series of deep ruts — first left, then right — designed to belt the heck out of the shock absorbers. Metal bangs earth as we enter. But it's the 4WD bottoming out, not the Flamingo. Spence owns the LandCruiser. He doesn't look happy.

Further in there's another bang, this time on the other side of the 'Cruiser as it lurches right. The Flamingo is on an awkward angle, but otherwise handles the whole test with ease.

After crunching our way through, we think about doing it again.

Spence says he's happy to, but the look on his face says otherwise. We proceed to test three instead — a scramble up a steep slope, complete with wet, greasy logs.

We get halfway, but hit our limit. Wheels spin, the diesel engine grumbles, but we go nowhere.

Is the extra weight the problem?

Emmins says it would be a tough task even without towing. "It's simply too slippery."

We give up and go back down.

Overall, Emmins is happy to give the Flamingo a tick, and so are we. Anywhere we're likely to want to go, the Flamingo will happily wing its way too.

The Jayco Flamingo Outback, from $22,500, will be at the Melbourne Caravan, Camping and Touring Supershow.