The HKC-6000 camper trailer, like many great ideas, came about as the result of adversity.

The team at Korr Lighting, after travelling around Australia promoting their LED lights for home and camping, decided to go on a holiday to Cape York. Their itinerary included a lot of sightseeing and plenty of stops to take in the Cape’s unique heritage. After a while, however, the frequent setting up and dismantling of their mobile camp, often in the rain, dampened both their spirits and their gear.

Around the campfire they discussed how they could do things better. If a specialised camper could make their own trip more enjoyable next time, surely it would do the same for others?

Along some of the worst sections of the notorious Peninsula Developmental Road (the main ‘highway’ north), you can see pieces of vehicles and trailers that weren’t up to the task. It was a given, therefore, that the new Korr camper had to be strong enough to handle the Cape’s rough gravel roads. The team also wanted to see what modern technology they could incorporate to make life easier for travellers.

Tony Taylor from Austyle Campers was impressed with the concept of a camper trailer which could really cut the mustard, so he came on board. Then came the hard yards! Six months of design and research finally culminated in the Hard Korr 6m camper trailer.

Right from the outset, the design parameters were purposely tough. The specialised unit had to be able to be take whatever the pot holed and corrugated PDR could dish out. What’s more, it had to come back in the same condition as when it first left the bitumen. Meeting this challenge required a serious re-think of the design and construction methodology currently used the camper trailer and caravan industry.

Another goal was to make setting up and dismantling as quick as easy as possible. Most camper trailers on the market take precious time (sometimes in bad weather) to assemble and pull down, and the team decided that wasn’t good enough. They wanted a camper that could be set up and pulled down by one person in around five minutes, no more. Moreover, it was to be totally made in Australia, and have strong enough under-body components – especially suspension – and sufficient ground clearance to handle any road conditions.

Strength throughout was paramount, so Korr did away with the panelling-upon-framework commonly seen in larger camper trailers and throughout caravans. Instead, the HKC-6000’s construction saw an engineered rigid body folded and welded onto a steel chassis. Its strength reserves mean it can take the weight of a 4m boat, and/or any other equipment, on dedicated roof racks. To assist rapid set-up, there’s a power-operated roof. It uses rams to lift to its full extension, even with a boat or other equipment on top, and it can be operated remotely by one person.

The interior has a queen-sized bed as standard – not the usual double bed seen in so many other units – with sets of storage drawers under the bed. The interior kitchen area was designed to accommodate people enjoying time out of the weather, with plenty of fly screening within the unit’s 10oz canvas sections. They are purpose designed to automatically fold down and into the body of the camper as the roof is lowered by the inbuilt rams.

The body and interior are powder-coated aluminium, which not only ensures durability but looks ruggedly good as well. A massive 2.6-tonne rated package saw four shock absorbers linked to coil springs set up under the camper to ensure total insulation from jolts and bumps off road. The large storage compartments up front on both sides, and even in the rear slide-out kitchen area at the rear, are designed to swallow up massive amounts of gear. All storage compartments are rubber sealed to exclude dust, and have decent locks to prevent accidental opening. The rear kitchen featured a 60L refrigerator on a slide, a plumbed sink, gas stove and extendable table, also on a slide. Overhead storage here was designed to complement the kitchen. In all, compact yet very efficient.

Awnings are always a great feature of a decent camper, and the HKC-6000 featured a large Fox Wing style awning which covered the entire left side of the unit, plus the kitchen area at the rear. Designed as a standalone unit without poles, a field test saw the awning removed from its robust cover, extended and connected to its inbuilt braces, then the roof lifted remotely to full extension, all in 3.5 minutes. Without unfolding the awning, the roof would extend over the side and kitchen in around 30 seconds.

Other great features include storage up front on a draw bar platform for firewood, plus paired, lid-equipped metal mesh compartments for wet items. In a larger compartment on the left side of the unit was a dedicated electronic management system, which displayed everything from an instant readout of house batteries’ capacity, water supply remaining (capacity is 175L), an Anderson plug for external power requirements and circuit breakers for various functions.

A Fusion sound system was installed and, naturally, there were LED light units placed strategically all around and inside the HKC-6000. This was to be expected, seeing as Korr are LED specialists.

On the right-hand side of the unit there was a gas hot water system with shower. There was also provision for a standard style of awning, which could connect to a spare room, which is also part of the package. Entry doors on each side of the unit are standard.

Offroad trials with the big camper were highly encouraging. Traversing serious washouts and very rough tracks proved no issue during bush work. And for the really dedicated offroad travellers, side and rear rock sliders are optional so those who really want to explore the boundaries of offroad travel will find this camper is up to it.

Overall, the HKC-6000 is ruggedly good-looking unit with a finish that really is outstanding. A powder coating throughout really sets it apart from its contemporaries, as does an almost over-build standard of manufacture throughout, which includes the brilliant awning and power operation of the upper sections of the unit. This big Korr custom unit will have no difficulty in traversing the PDR to the Cape and back, or anywhere else. At 5.8m long and 1.8m wide, it isn’t compact. However, for the serious offroad traveller with a decent 4WD up front, the HKC-6000 will fulfil a lot of offroad travelling needs.

The unit I tested had all the bells and whistles, but there are more basic models available. These campers are totally custom units, with fit-outs that suit different buyers’ requirements. Prices start from $59,900.

For more info check out www.hardkorrcampers.com.au or call Korr on (07) 3801 8332.