RV REVIEW
“ONE OF THE FIRST ORDERS
OF BUSINESS WAS TO SWAP
OUT THE OLD SUSPENSION.”
In mid 2018, Pioneer Campers was purchased by
Gason, the company that also owns Trakmaster
Caravans. And we all wanted to know how the well-
regarded Pioneer range would change, particularly
the hybrid Mitchell.
This rear-fold, hard-floor unit entered the
competitive camper trailer market in 2015. Though
its teardrop shape was familiar to market-watchers,
the Mitchell was readily welcomed by the RV public.
The Mitchell is now built in-house on the same
premises as Trakmaster. Rather than overhaul
what was already a capable, well-sorted camper,
Gason has overseen a number of refinements
designed to increase its offroad appeal and ability.
TRAKMASTER DNA
One of the first orders of business was to swap
out the old independent trailing arm suspension
with the Trakmaster-designed Trak 2 independent
system. This is also a coil, trailing-arm setup that
offers numerous advantages over the old design.
First, the stub axle is an integral component of each
trailing arm – it’s not bolted on as with the previous
system – and each trailing arm (with stub axle) is
5kg lighter than what was used before. Testing,
I’m told, has also shown the Trak 2 system to be
stronger. As importantly, the offset of Trak 2 can be
ordered to suit the tow vehicle’s wheels and offset.
The other large change: the previous stainless steel
water tank has been stripped out in favour of a
polyplastic tank. It’s still a 120L tank but it has
gorv.com.au
5