The name of a product is everything to our family, which explains why we opted for the Conqueror Comfort. Firstly, the “conqueror” part: to us it sounded tough, unstoppable, almost heroic – the kind of thing you hope for when you plan a trip to a destination far off the beaten track. And the second part of the name? Well, we thought that was just as important, writes Waldo van der Waal.
While the conquering hero image is fine on the big screen, we weren’t looking only for a trailer that could endure a tough trek. The last thing we wanted was to go camping in Brad Pitt’s leather skirt from Troy. Sure, it was tough, but it probably smelt horrible and wasn’t comfortable in the least. Luckily, the complete opposite was true of the Conqueror Comfort trailer, which was why we opted for it. It looked like a conquering hero, but it also promised to allow us to camp in comfort.
When it comes to toughness, there can be no doubt that the Conqueror will go wherever our tow vehicle goes. It simply comes along for the ride, and the strong axle deals with most things we throw at it. Admittedly, the worst of the abuse usually comes from the potholes around the corner from the house, but even so, the Conqueror feels as if it can handle anything.
We’ve had our trailer for three years now, and it has completed loads of trips – from quick weekend getaways to Bela-Bela, to longer trips to Botswana, Namibia and the Cederberg.
To be honest, the Comfort is a bit of a beast. But it is a beast in the same way that a fully-kitted 4×4 is a bit of a beast. It is loaded to the brim with luxury and convenience items. As a result it isn’t the lightest trailer out there, but this only bothers us when we are positioning the trailer, as it can be a bit tricky side to manoeuvre. But the effort is well rewarded. Moreover, the trailer weighs 720kg, which is still much less than your typical off-road caravan.
Once it is in place, the Comfort lives up to the second part of its name. All weight issues are forgotten the moment you unfold the massive double bed and realise that you’ll be spending the night in exceptional comfort. Then there is the kitchen — all the work surfaces, the load space, the array of standard equipment…
When we first started using the Comfort our two young daughters, Emma and Lisa, slept on a folding bunk bed in the standard tent. We had more than enough room for the two girls, their luggage and all of our own stuff, but now that they’re a bit older, they prefer sleeping in their own little pup tent next to the trailer, which gives us even more room in the main tent.
The Comfort is available with either an L-shaped awning for shorter stints, or an enormous 7m x 7m awning that offers more than enough shade and shelter. You can even equip the awning with additional sides, creating private rooms or windbreaks in the process.
Most of our trips are either short or we tend to stay only one or two days at any single campsite. So our default set-up consists of the L-shaped awning, though we have used the bigger option on occasion..
Our Comfort was specced with a hot water geyser, which we use a lot. Actually, we reckon the geyser is a must if you are buying something as cool as the Comfort. It is more than just a luxury: it enables you to go off road without the discomfort associated with camping in places such as the Richtersveld or Cederberg. Thanks to the little geyser, we’ve enjoyed hot showers and clean dishes in the most unlikely places. With two full tanks of water, fully-charged batteries and a cold fridge, we’ve found that the Comfort becomes a true oasis wherever we go.
Sure, it is tough as nails, but it is comfortable and easy to use. Interestingly, we’ve never managed to fill up the entire trailer, despite tackling some exceptionally long trips. No matter how much stuff we squeeze in, the Comfort always seems to have space for more.
We do pack creatively though, and use the carrier on top of the nose cone to great effect. Depending on what you pack where, this can also help to balance the weight, adding to the stability of the already very stable trailer.
Oh, and by the way, that braai that fits over the spare wheel is unbelievably handy. While I initially thought it was a gimmick, I’ve been using it more and more.
Overall, we couldn’t be more pleased with our Conqueror Comfort. The trailer is attractive, easy to use, tough and, above all, exceptionally comfortable. Sure, there are probably cheaper options, or lighter trailers, but nothing that comes close to the Comfort when it comes to the good things in camping.
For more information, visit: http://www.conqueror.co.za