The new Maverick Hornet is one of the cutest compact camper trailers you'll ever see off the beaten path. But don't let its small size and cube-like dimensions fool you – it's still a no-nonsense, galvanized-steel backcountry warrior with the most vacant, inhospitable stretches of Australian Outback in its crosshairs. The tiny body that barely overhangs the tire below slides, folds and swings into a comfy base camp complete with trailer-top tent, wraparound awning and outdoor kitchen.
If there are three things we've noticed about Australian off-road camper trailers, it's that they're insanely well-built, beautifully equipped and incredibly expensive. You can buy a luxury SUV for what a Patriot X3 will cost you. The Maverick Hornet appears as extremely well-built as other Aussie off-road trailers, but it slides in at a much lower price point by relying on a leaner standard equipment package, allowing buyers to build it up with options or equip it themselves over time.
The 12.5-foot (3.8-m) Hornet makes the journey to camp on a combination of galvanized steel chassis, independent quad-shock trailing-arm suspension, and Goodride radial mud-terrain 265/75 R16 tires on 16-in steel wheels. The trailer body wears aluminum-composite panels on a reinforced alu-tube frame.
One great thing about a small, boxy trailer like this one is that all compartment doors and latches are within a few steps of each other. Maverick promises fast, easy set-up that will have you pulling out your first drink from the cooler within three minutes. The soft-sided tent on top folds out, and the included 270-degree awning fans out over top the opposite side. Below that awning, the standard kitchen slides out and makes available a dual-burner stove and a sink fed by the 100-L onboard water tank. An optional fridge/freezer can be planted on the slide in the large storage compartment at the rear.
Other standard Hornet features include a 100-Ah battery, 12-V water pump, 12-V sockets, a full-size spare tire, electric brakes, and gas bottle and jerry can holders. The trailer body includes plenty of storage around each side and at the rear, and a cargo cage between the trailer box and roof-top tent provides room for larger items like chairs and tables. The Hornet weighs in at 2,030 lb (920 kg) before options, offering a 2,160-lb (980-kg) payload.
Maverick launched the Hornet camper trailer earlier this year and sells it for a base price of AU$16,990 (approx. US$11,650). Customers looking to bring more comfort to the burly adventure box can add the "value options pack" with additional equipment like a portable toilet, outdoor shower, gas water heater, second 100-Ah battery, 160-W solar panel, 1,000-W inverter and stereo system. In all, Maverick estimates the options would run nearly $7,500 on an a la carte basis, but it prices the package for a fraction of that at $1,990. So for under AU$19,000 (US$13,040), buyers get a rugged off-road trailer with bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, full electrical system, entertainment and plenty of storage capacity.
Maverick provides a more detailed hitch-to-bumper tour in the video below.
Source: Maverick Campers
