The Wanderer
The Suncamper Sherwood Conqueror has been on the market since 2020 and has earned itself legions of fans. Suncamper just released the next generation – the Conqueror 2.0 – which it argues is Australia’s premium 4X4 motorhome. Bold claim maybe … but the longer you look at this thing (and notice the comprehensive range of features) it becomes increasingly difficult to argue with.
Designed on a single-cab turbo-diesel Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger platform, the Conqueror 2.0 is built for purpose. Coming standard with a Pedders GVM upgrade, long-range 140 litre fuel tank, bullbar, UHF, GPS, winch, snorkel and mud-terrain tyres there’s everything you need for a trip to the Cape or across the desert. Is there a clear winner between the Ford or Toyota? Not really; both are well proven in the Aussie bush and they put out roughly the same amount of power (150-ish kW) and torque (500 Nm). Both have all of the mod cons, five-star ANCAP ratings and driver aids you’d expect. It mostly comes down to your preferred brand, so we’ll leave that one up to you.
One of the (several) innovations that sets the Conqueror apart is the decision to move toward a completely gasless set-up, instead utilising a range of top-shelf 12V lithium goodness and diesel heating and hot water systems. The heating is pretty trick too, with ducting all throughout the camper and run off a digital timer – so you can set the heating to come on an hour before you get out of bed in the morning or an hour before you leave the campfire and get undressed for bed in your nice toasty camper. Sure beats waiting in the shivering cold for the kettle to boil for your hot water bottle on those icy Outback nights, we reckon.
As you’d expect, a serious battery system is required for complete off-grid reliability. A Victron BMS oversees the 400Ah (upgradeable to 600Ah) of lithium while a 3,000W inverter supplies 240V to run the household stuff and AC. This is all backed up by a healthy 600W of solar panels, with the availability to add more should your power needs exceed that.
There’s also an impressive 175 litres of poly water tanks fitted underneath, with 85 litres of that being dedicated and filtered-at-the-tap drinking water. An integrated hot water shower, fed by a 10L/min pump and the diesel water system, is included; along with a 19 litre cassette toilet.
In keeping with the ‘go anywhere’ nature of the Conqueror 2.0, there’s increased off-road angles, better ground clearance and a 100mm-raised floor which aids in providing an extra 200 litres of storage capacity over the previous model.
The structure is still built around an aluminium framework which Suncamper stands behind, telling us that it’s been tried, tested and proven all over the country – a fair point.
The electrically operated 3.5 metre awning keeps the elements at bay while the integrated brush bars keep Mother Nature off your paintwork. There’s plenty of LED lighting all over the place for ease of after-dark operations; and even the entry steps are operated at the touch of a button for the utmost in convenience.
The double-glazed windows with in-built shades are generously sized, allowing for plenty of natural light. There are several large storage hatches, as well as dedicated access for the battery and water systems. Overall, it’s a solid blend of off-road ruggedness and comfort to make you overlook the fact that you’re 1,000 kilometres from the nearest five-star hotel.
And yep, it’s pretty plush inside too. Commercial grade poplar plywood panels are used on the interior and the fit-out is available in an expansive range of colours and finishes to suit each customer’s tastes. The wraparound club lounge (which converts to a second bed) features a pair of Lagun tables for off-the-charts versatility, and there’s additional slide-out bench areas for extra food preparation space.
The above-cab, high density foam queen bed is now easier to access thanks to a redesigned entry area; and there’s a 105 litre fridge and enough electrical outlets, reading lights and charging points to satisfy even the most tech-drenched teenager. The internal two-burner induction stove is matched to an externally exhausted range hood and the pull-out pantry takes care of the food storage needs. And speaking of storage, it’s difficult to quantify without using swear words … let’s just say there’s a lot of it.
Realistically, if you’re looking to pack up and hit the road full-time in the next couple of years, and don’t want to be towing a caravan (or don’t want to bring the boat with you) while still getting to the more remote parts of the country in style and luxury, this is arguably one of the most bang-for-buck ways you can do it. The Suncamper Conqueror 2.0 brings ridiculous amounts of comfort, ease of use and (importantly) off-road capability to the table, and it ticks a lot of the boxes for anyone looking for a 4X4 motorhome to get to any far-flung Aussie destination you care to name.
The base price for the Conqueror 2.0 is $240,000, which gets you a hell of a lot for your dollar.
Head on over to The Suncamper Website for more info, or if watching moving pictures is more your shot of espresso you can brush up on the 2024 range release with this VIDEO.
Category: Reviews
Written: Mon 05 Aug 2024
Printed: August, 2024
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