Toy Haulers Hit Differently in Australia: Xtreme Utility Is for the Outdoor-Loving Family

Folks, the wonderous machine before you today is none other than the Xtreme Utility from New Age Caravans (NAC), an Australian crew whose work we've covered before; it's possible you remember their Walkinshaw Camper, a pop-top off-road machine designed to handle anything you throw at it.

Well, the Xtreme Utility isn't very different from the Walkinshaw in that it's designed to handle anything your journey throws at you. But it does happen to be a fixed wall unit rather than a pop-top. I'm not saying there isn't some sliding magic incorporated into this one, but you will be limited in the type of rough terrain you tackle since this unit is clearly more top-heavy.

Now, everything starts off with a galvanized chassis onto which NAC adds not one but two axles with a trailing A-arm suspension and heavy-duty shocks from Cruisemaster, the XT version. Once all that's in place, it's time to throw on a family and toy-ready shell, fill it with the essentials and a few extras, and let's hit the road.

For the remainder of this introduction to the Xtreme Utility, I want you to kick back, grab your family of up to six people, a couple of dirt bikes or a quad—maybe a side-by-side is best—and picture yourself on the edge of some sand dunes, a forest tree line, or a mountain edge overlooking some valley below. I think I'll head down to the beach and live life where it all started anyway.

Once you've chosen your Garden of Eden, you and the crew will get out of your vehicles, stretch those bones from driving, and take in the sounds and sights of the world around you, if only for a few moments. Refreshed, it's time for everyone to take up their tasks and set up your home away from home.

It's at this stage that you can send the kids out to gather firewood for tonight's pit, swing open all the doors and hatches tattered all over the Xtreme, and unload those vehicles. Like most other fifth-wheel trailers, that rear hatch is also a ramp door and acts as the best way to move freely into and out of the unit.

With everything sprawled out on the local landscape, let's take a step back and see what's in place. All of this starts with the exterior features the likes of that integrated galley on slideouts, awning, outdoor entertainment system, outdoor shower, and access to more storage bays than you may actually need.

Don't worry—some of those bays are occupied with battery arrays, water tanks, pumps, and all the other essentials you'll need on the road. As standard, two water tanks with 110-liter capacities each are found as standard 110 Ah of lithium and 200W of solar panels are included too. With a few more bucks, you can easily expand these digits, and you may need to do so by how many days you're spending off-grid.

Then there's the interior of this rolling bedroom with a garage. Once we head inside, we can start to see some of the NAC traits coming through. As mentioned, NAC has a history with pop-top and soft wall units, and the Xtreme is no exception.

At the very front of the unit, the manufacturer throws in a lifting hatch that lets you pull out a bedding space fit for two guests. This space is also in direct contact with the rest of the interior, and you can simply step into a living space, access the wet bath, and even whip up a meal in the kitchen. Yes, this unit has two galley setups.

Then there's the garage space, accessible from the inside via a sliding partition or from the outside via the ramp door; the latter also appears to double as a patio space. One neat feature of the garage is its ability to also double as a bedroom, filled with four bunk beds that fold neatly against the unit's wall.

The question is, just how much is this sort of lifestyle going to cost us? Well, according to the manufacturer's website, the Xtreme starts at no more than $94,290 Australian, which is roughly $62,800 American (at current exchange rates).

Yes, it's a tad more than the average Australian machine typically requires to own, but then again, it's a bit more than average, don't you think? Clearly, there's a whole lot more goodness that goes into the Xtreme Utility toy hauler, and to find out, you can always give New Age a call or just head down to a local dealership and see one for yourself. Happy travels out there.