Maybe I should start at the beginning. After the 2007 NT trip towing the Golf Camper we decided we should get some thing newer, lighter, more streamlined and most importantly made for offroad. It didn't matter what we got as long as it had a solid roof where I could mount the solar panels.
We eventually decided on a Trek Bwana camper as it appeared to meet our needs. We looked at a few second hand ones but they all needed modifying to be exactly what we wanted. So we ordered a new one from the manufacturer. We ordered it with disc brakes, Subaru 5 stud pattern with fine pitch studs, Alco suspension, top line 4 burner gas stove and 7 pin flat trailer connection and bars welded on top of the lid for my Solar panels of which I gave her an exact measurement so they would fit without modding.
We were told 6 weeks from order to delivery date. (Good as I was leaving for Fraser in 8 ) We paid our deposit and went home. Within a week we had a call saying that we could not have the disc brakes or the Subaru pattern. I was informed that it was not possible to get the hubs in that design. I told her that I have bought them before and that my Brother had just picked up his trailer (different company) with that exact set up. Next day I got a call to say I could have the stud pattern but no discs or fine pitch studs. I gave in and OK'd it to go ahead as that.
7 weeks after ordering the van was brought to our place due to their stuffing us around. They drove in, unhooked it and drove away. Not one single instruction on how to open it or put it up.
7 pin round connection, not flat as ordered. No D shackle. Brake lights didn't work. No gas installation. All you get is the Gas cooker/sink combo and that is it. No gas lines, instructions, nothing.
We had the van up in just under an hour the first time around. Looking over it all we were fairly happy with our decision until we looked closer at the workmanship. Gap filler was used in far too many places for my liking. Had they used a silicon based product it would have been better but still not tradesman like. We put the van down and I set about installing the solar set up. The bars were not set at the distance I asked for but still workable. Once the framework was made and fitted to the van we put it all up to test the pivot on the panels. All fine. So we thought. I happened to notice that the lid of the van had a massive bow in it.
We couldn't believe it. The lid had only two hinges on it trying to support it and the panels. It may have been strong enough without the panels although I very much doubt it. The design is very poor. The strength of the lid is at the ends where the main structure is. The hinges were welded one third in from each end where it was only double thickness folded sheet.
This is where we started becoming very disappointed with the van. We had just purchased our first brand new van that was fully galvanized and then powder coated and we had to grind it off to weld on more hinges. Not happy at all, but we had to do it if it was going to serve us long term. I welded on a very sturdy hinge to each end of the van. The paint work afterwards was not the same as the powder coat but the lid was now very sturdy and should last for years.
Next drama was the gas. We rang Joan (Trek) about it and she just fobbed us off saying that it is because of people like us that she won't sell the vans with gas fitted. WTF? People like us? We spend 16K+ on a new van and we aren't happy when it is delivered and we find out we can't use the cooker that we ordered the van with. Long story cut short, it took us 3 days of calling and driving around to find someone that could supply us with a fitting to connect a hose to so we could use the cooker.
With the wiring done and the mechanical side of things complete the van got a wash, then put up, a hosing and then left up for the next week while we packed and planned things with it. We were noticing a little water inside each morning. We had heavy dew each night and we were puzzled how the water was getting inside. We put it down to condensation.
I found out a few days later at Fraser Island that the so called condensation was in fact due leaking in. I worked this out the first time it rained and the water poured in. I got back from Fraser and we found out that we should have drenched the canvas to water proof it. I thought it would have had enough water on/over it with the initial hosing and then dew for a week. We found out at Longreach the very next time it rained on it that it didn't matter how much hosing, watering or rain went on it the van was still going to leak like a bastard. 20K including solar and we still have to carry a tarp to stay dry.
By now the van has done about 2000 kilometres since new. 800 to Fraser and back. 1200 to Longreach. The van was actually towing quite well. We had packed as light as possible as we had the Donohue an Plenty Highway in front of us to do yet. We were carrying minimal water and no extra fuel in the jerry cans. We did fill the water and the 2x 20L jerry cans at Boulia. We still had only the basics in food as we were doing our major shop at Alice. Obviously the less weight you have the better.
We crossed the desert without incident, toured Alice, the rock and olgas, back to Alice then on to Wollogorang. The whole trip we were adding to the dust proofing. I eventually had the front cone perfectly dust proof. The rest of the van was getting close but still needed refining. Treks effort at dust proofing is laughable. We used an extra 2 rolls of foam. Had we had a bit longer with the van we would have had it right.
We did manage to run over a decent wash out in a dip that has pretty well destroyed the van. The chassis is bent. The suspension is shot. The doors don't close any more. The whole van is bent. The lid won't close without using tyre levers. I think it will be written off. Pity as we were getting close to having it right.
Sounds like a pretty bad wash out, doesn’t it? Thing is, the car is fine. Not a problem with it at all then or there. We actually hit a bigger bump in the road a few days later while driving around and we ended up having to repair a rear strut.
This is Trek's flagship offroad camper that we bought, towed for a total of 6000 kilometres, of which 2000 maximum was offroad, and had to leave behind because it wasn't up to the task. Our 30 year old Golf we had prior to this made it home from this trip last year and we ran over very similar stuff then too.
The styling of the Trek is good. The design would be good if it was built to cope with our outback. Seeing where the van has bent and how, it would be possible to redesign and strengthen it. Looking at it now, it is obvious why it has bent as it has. I am not about to go running to Trek and let them know how to fix it as they have stuffed us around so much in one way or another.
Overall rating.
Style 9/10
Structure 4/10
Workmanship 7/10
After sales service 0/10
DO IT !!! Take photos.
