The Northstar Traveller 6 is a comfy tray-back camper that provides loads of versatility for the off-road traveller

In Australia, slide-on campers don't seem to achieve the popularity they attract in the USA. We Aussies tend to favour caravans first, then motorhomes and campervans, camper-trailers and fifth wheelers, with the slide-on camper coming in a distant last. I'm really not sure why that is. Perhaps it's a size thing, because slide-ons are a bit limited in the space department.

The interesting point is, slide-ons are probably the most versatile and cost-effective RVs available in Australia. With the right rig you can do much more than any other RV. For a start, you can tow a trailer full of bikes or a decent offshore trailerboat and still retain the use of the 'tow' vehicle as a runabout while the slide-on becomes a detachable, permanent base camp for your activities. Just try doing that with a caravan, motorhome or fifth wheeler!

Northstar slide-on campers (the Yanks call 'em 'truck campers') are made in the USA and fitted-out here to comply with Australian standards. They are available in a wide range of models to suit most Aussie vehicles.

The Northstar Traveller 6 we looked at is designed to suit the Nissan Navara dual cab utility and nestles comfortably in the Navara tray. The extended cabover above allows for more room inside, and on the road the ute performs quite well. There is a little body roll when cornering, but unlike some-slide ons it's not scary and the lurching can be virtually eliminated when the rig set-up is fine tuned.

The Traveller 6 is a hardwall camper, with a timber frame clad externally in fibreglass and insulation throughout. It has a rear door configuration with convex tinted windows and stylish decals. A Carefree wind-out awning is fitted to the kerb side, with the option of an additional rear awning. External lights are installed at the side and rear, and a ladder is positioned alongside the door for access to the roof.

A 78-litre fresh water tank is installed, along with a house battery and Ctek charger. For safety, LPG, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are fitted.

Mechanical jacks are fitted to the corners of the Traveller, and they work fine, but I'd be inclined to upgrade to electric jacks. The camper is secured to the ute via sprung turnbuckles fixed to chassis extensions under the rear body. The anchor points on the camper are very solid and secure.

Detaching the camper is a relatively simple exercise. Undo the turnbuckles, unplug the power cable and jack up the camper. Once it's clear of the tray, drive the ute out and lower the camper on its jacks to the desired height. The electric jack system makes this exercise a breeze.

If you are just overnighting and don't need to drop the camper off, access is via a set of folding alloy steps. The screened security door is slightly offset to the right rear. On entry you have the kitchen on the driver's side, lounge/dinette on the kerb side and the bedroom in the cabover up forward.

The kitchen runs from the entry forward to the fridge and storage console. It's compact, as you would expect, but still quite practical. A two-burner gas cooker is concealed under a glass cover, with a sink alongside. A light is fitted above the bench area, with storage beneath and a storage locker above. A small window allows in light and air.

The fridge unit comprises a 110-litre Dometic two-way unit, with a drawer beneath and locker above. Alongside, adjacent to the bedroom, is another low cupboard beneath the stereo controls, with a large wardrobe above that.

The lounge/dinette is opposite the kitchen and is surprisingly spacious for a camper. The lounge runs the length of the lower camper section, from the door to the bedroom wall, with comfortable upholstery. The dinette table swivels and is roomy enough for a couple to dine in comfort. This dinette area converts to an additional bed if required.

There is a short step from the main cab up into the bedroom, with another storage locker positioned beneath this.

The extended cabover allows the installation of a double bed positioned north/south, with an inner-spring mattress. Large windows flank the bed, and there are a pair of lockers along the sides of the bedroom next to the bed for additional storage. Lights, stereo speakers and a Heki-style hatch are positioned above the bed, and the windows on each side are screened and curtained.

To many the Traveller 6 may seem small, especially compared to motorhomes or caravans, yet this little rig is surprisingly spacious and practical. And then, quite aside from the practicality of slide-ons, there's the value aspect. The Traveller 6 is reasonably priced, and when you consider the dual cab ute it sits on can easily double as the family car, the whole package becomes a very economical way of getting into RV touring without busting the bank.

The real advantage of the Northstar slide-on can be seen with the pictured Navara rig. The camper can be detached when not in use and the ute becomes a family runabout, or Dad's work ute. Come weekends, pop the camper on the back, hitch up the boat and you have an instant mobile weekender.

Australian Caravan & RV Magazine, Summer 2009.