A few days before our review, a deluge had turned rock and sand to mud. Now the sun was turning the day humid and heavy.

There, amongst the mud and bracken ferns, I knelt to capture the image of the All Terrain Warriors XL Scout as it loomed over a hinterland ridge in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The wheels of this custom-built RV churned through the soft steep ground as if the ridge were open plain. Given the company based this RV on the MAN TGM 13.280 4x4 crew cab, it is no wonder the XL Scout manoeuvred easily across the boggy track and rainwashed melon holes. After all, when a motorhome powered by a 280hp diesel engine can generate a whopping 1100Nm of torque, it is genuinely formidable. What’s more, it promises to set a benchmark in adventure camping.

Of course, setting a benchmark means doing something few others, if any, have done before and then doing it very well. To the best of my knowledge, few Australian manufacturers, possibly no others, have taken a MAN truck of this size and turned it into a motorhome. Not to mention producing an RV of such imposing good looks.

After a long history converting 4WD trucks into tour buses for Fraser Island, Cape York and other remote ecotourism destinations, around a decade ago company owner Paul Campbell founded All Terrain Warriors and started a new line of 4WD motorhomes.

EXTERNAL

As Paul explained, his experience means their RVs are, “Designed from the ground up and typically use components from the marine and aviation industry rather than what is found in a normal RV”. That influence shows by way of the quality fibreglass craftsmanship and styling.

The long-range fuel tank, solar laminates collecting every available scintilla of sunlight, large water storage and incredibly efficient filtration system, diesel battery charger and self-recovery systems including a large hydraulic winch testify to the fact that the Scout XL is designed for extended touring.

Nonetheless, this is a pop-top motorhome like no other, considering that the pop-top struts are large and strong enough to lift whatever might be stored on the roof. That means you don’t have to offload the boat until you’re ready to go fishing.

The Powermaker programmable diesel battery charger (accessible from the outside) plus an auto-switched 3000W inverter are the heart of the motorhome. That’s especially important considering the Scout XL has one main power source only – diesel.

Albeit supported by solar, diesel is fundamental to all power needs including cooking. When you fire up the stove, there are no gas bottles to run empty.

When negotiating a path through the bush, parabolic front leaf springs with airbagged cab and full airbag rear suspension with in-cab adjustment makes the going so much easier, as does the extreme off-road clearance. Also, with the camper body sprung-mounted to the chassis, this beast simply twists and turns rather than lumbering uneasily over lumpy terrain. The result is simple – a reasonably smooth and stable ride.

While the suspension improves the manoeuvrability of the RV, manoeuvring in and out of a tall RV could be a different story. However, All Terrain Warrior’s Scout XL overcame the problem by adequate steps provided up front for the driver and crew. As for the house entrance, push a button from a hatch in the external left-side wall and spacecraft-style front steps descend to the ground.

On both the left and right of this motorhome, two sizable electric-controlled awnings keep the motorhome in the shade. From under the left-hand awning, a fully plumbed external kitchen slides from a storage hatch to make entertaining easy. An external shower helps you wash the mud off before tramping inside.

EXTERNAL FEATURES

Frame construction: Marine-grade composite foam sandwich with integrally bonded furniture
Windows: Double-glazed Slimline with internal screens and blinds
Insulation: Moulded polyurethane foam
Waste water common outlet: Yes
Water tanks: 150L drinking, 305L grey water and black water
Suspension: Parabolic front leaf springs with airbagged cab and full airbag rear with in-cab adjustment. Camper body sprung-mounted to chassis to allow torsional chassis twisting
Clearance: Extreme off-road
Brakes: Discs all round
Wheels: MAN single rear wheel off-road package
Tyres: Continental HCT1 385/65R/22.5in
Awning: Motorised Fiamma 45 Ti on both sides
Storage bin(s): External
Gas cylinder size/s: Absolutely no gas needed
Hot water: Webasto diesel dual top
Battery: 2 x 200Ah AGM, 1 x 90Ah AGM, plus OEM start batteries
Battery charger: 1 x 24V 25A dual-output plus 1 x 24/12 DC/DC 40A charger. 2500W @ 24VDC Powermaker (programmable diesel battery charger) plus an auto switched 3000W @ 240V AC inverter
Solar panels: 4 x 68W Canon bonded solar laminates (not panels)
Entrance door: Electric aircraft-style entry door/steps with internal security screen

INTERNAL

On the inside, the rough and tough off-roader is the very definition of simplicity. The design includes long bench seats with removable tables allowing space for the whole family and the flexibility to sleep up to six campers.

Like a yacht, the interior, including the drawers, freezer unit, bench seats, and cupboards are all built from moulded fibreglass and so form part of the internal structure of the RV. Consequently, there is no chance that your furniture will fall off the walls after a prolonged trek along an outback corrugated road.

Not only are the drawers sturdy, but they are self-closing, so you won’t find your goodies scattered across the floor after a day of bush-bashing.

The air suspension isn’t confined to the outside either. When driving, five air-cushioned, fully adjustable driving/passenger seats mean that your 4WD experience is like riding on a cloud.

No matter how good the ride is, there is nothing more likely to ruin an adventure than unhappy kids. The All Terrain Warriors Scout XL has a drop-down LCD with Playstation ports and cordless headphones. That’ll keep them happy.

INTERNAL FEATURES

Fridge: Vitrifrigo marine dual-drawer 145L plus under lounge 78L freezer
Antenna: Majestic 12V UFO
Camper entertainment system: Fusion marine dual-zone DVD/MP3/iPod with Majestic 20in LCD TV with 4x cube speakers
Cabin entertainment system: Blaupunkt indash six-disc stacker, six speakers plus 8in active subwoofer, amplifier and 19in roof-mount LCD with wireless headphones and games console inputs
External entertainment system: Fusion marine wired remote with 6in marine speakers with LCD TV dock
Cooking equipment: Webasto diesel cook top (internal), induction cook top (external)
Microwave: Optional
Heating: Webasto Diesel Dual Top air heater
Cooling: 3.2kW rooftop AirCommand Ibis
Rangehood: Optional
Lighting: 24V LED lighting throughout
Smoke alarms: Yes
Cupboard finishes: Polished moulded seamless fibreglass with one-piece granite look
Latches: Extra-heavy-duty stainless marine fittings exclusively
Lounge configuration: Two longitudinal lounges
Seating capacity: Five Isri air suspension seats plus 12+ seat lounge
Upholstery: Imported Holdsworth commercial-grade cloth
Sink: Smev unit with flickmixer and dedicated drinking water outlet
Sleeping configuration: Queen-size bed over three singles or two doubles
Berths: Six adults
Main bed sizes: 6ft 6in x 5ft
Mattress: Foam
Under bed storage: Yes
Privacy screens: No
Bathroom configuration: Combined shower and toilet
Privacy door: Screen
Toilet: Sealand Marine flushing toilet
Toilet provision: Blackwater tanks
Toilet roll holder: No
Shower head: Internal and external
Washing machine: No
Clothes racks: No
Towel racks: No

RATINGS

Exterior: 5/5
Interior: 5/5
Layout: 5/5
Kitchen: 4/5
Value for money: 4/4
Overall: 4/5

WORTH BUYING?

This would-be truck looks and feels every bit like a topnotch motorhome and drives like a luxury sedan. It’s ready for those that want to take the family on the very best adventures.

TECHNICAL SPECS

Make/model: All Terrain Warriors XL Scout
Vehicle make: MAN TGM 13.280 Crew Cab
External body length: 7.750m (25ft 5in)
External width: 2.377m (7ft 9in)
VIN Tare Weight: 9500kg
NB: length and width are external measurements of the vehicle shell (and awning) only

CONTACT/THANKS

Contact person: Paul Campbell
Name: All Terrain Warriors
Address: 44 Central Park Drive, Yandina, QLD
Phone: (07) 5446 8666
Fax: (07) 5446 8766
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.allterrainwarriors.com.au

Please Note: Prices were correct at time of review.

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID GILCHRIST