Equipment Tests > Britz Bushcampers

But it's not the cabin that the Bushcampers are famous for - it's what lies behind the driver's seat that sets them apart. In the rear, there's a host of accessories to make life on the road a lot more comfortable - not as comfy as a caravan, but a lot better than spending the night under canvas.

There are three sleeping berths - one single, one double bed - that fold away in a cunning fashion when not in use. The double bed is essentially two wooden boards that fit into dedicated rails at what is normally the roofline of the TroopCarrier, while the single bed folds out from the couch that runs down the left hand side of the cargo space. The mattresses provided are of a suitable thickness, and the beds offer a restful night's sleep. Pillows and bedding are supplied, along with sleeping bags for each occupant.

With the beds folded out of the way, there's even more to explore. There are storage pockets aplenty, with four cupboards along the right hand side. Most of these cupboards are already used for storage of a lot of equipment necessary for day to day survival - pots and pans, plates and cups, a two burner Coleman gas stove and a sink with a pump-operated tap are all right there in the rear. There are two tables - one supported on a centre stand in the middle of the vehicle, and one that folds down from the large rear door.

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To keep your supplies nice and cold, there's an Engel 40-litre fridge situated right behind the driver's seat. The only complaint here is that the basket within the fridge has a tendency to rattle around off-road, adding to the general cacophony of any off-road drive. Stuffing paper towels into the gap between the basket and the fridge wall helped somewhat, but even then it was obvious that the fridge, and its contents, were taking a bit of a battering.

The overwhelming question that I was asked by other drivers along the way was "what's it like to drive?" The answer is pretty simple - it's like driving a cross between a Troopie and a billboard. The extra height requirements of the vehicle mean that the Bushcamper is a very top-heavy vehicle. Add to that the propensity to be blown all over the road in high winds means that the driver needs to stay constantly alert for sudden gusts of wind from side-on. There were several moments along the drive that I found myself suddenly on the wrong side of the road. Learning to anticipate when the vehicle would suddenly decide to shift direction required a careful eye for telltale signs of dust movement off to the side of the road.

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