Jackson Carry Me Camper Review

Jackson’s 30 staff manufacture Carry Me Campers from the ground up using local materials in Murray Bridge, SA. As such, they can meticulously construct their campers without accepting any compromises imposed by general-purpose, externally produced gear.

A slide-on’s main potential limiting factor is weight, but Jacksons have kept the Hard Lid to 500kg by using aluminium, reducing bulk where they can, and excluding select bells and whistles. Still, you’d want firmer springs and tougher shocks than stock, to ensure a level ride and to guarantee the coils have their full range of motion. Other available improvements are to your brakes, GVM and potentially the axles.

A 100Ah Revolution lithium battery powers the Hard Lid. Alternator charge and 250W of solar channels through a state-of-the-art REDARC BMS 30. This system puts all relevant data at your fingertips and also allows you to top up via 240V. The 100Ah battery will handle up to a 1000W inverter if you opt for this.

The two 54L poly water tanks, tight up against the front of the slide-on, are ideally positioned to keep the weight over the axles and provide the necessary redundancy. Hot water isn’t standard, but diesel heating can be optioned on.

You’ll require gas to run the cooktop and, due to regulations, bottles will have to travel in an undertray toolbox or chassis-connected cradle, which may cost over a grand to have fitted.

With a little care, set-up and pack-down take but a minute and are thoroughly painless, making speed a major selling point of this camper. Adding on the gabled awning (if you decide to) takes a further three minutes.

Entering is easy with the ladder’s four wide, deep, grippy steps and left and right handrails. The resting tailgate forms the carpeted floor, which extends the tray’s width by about a metre. Under the high ceiling, there’s plenty of space to comfortably change clothes.

Into this space slide two long drawers, one above the other, which are conveniently removable for packing at home or laundry on the go. Next to these, a door swings out to grant access to a platform within the side storage made to fit a large Thetford porta-potti.

One major market differentiator of the Jacksons tent is that its opening mechanism is two-stage; it’s hinged on both sides. So, unlike many competitors, the ceiling isn’t slanted towards a lower end, but is well clear of your head at either end – creating a tremendous sense of space.

At the bedhead, there are also clever recesses for charging phones. Internal lighting is operated from the same spot.

Down each side of the Jacksons Carry Me Campers Hard Lid, a door lifts on gas struts to reveal the internal storage. On the left (passenger side), there’s a fire extinguisher, the BMS panel, and the two trigger-operated water hoses. On the review model, an EvaKool 47L fridge freezer came out on a tilt slide.

To access the storage to the right on this side, you drop a food-grade stainless-steel working bench, extendable on one side with a flip-up extension bench supported by a leg. Behind is an extensive shelving system.

The roof is high, there are windows all around, and you can leave your pillows and bedding inside when you pack up!

250W of roof-mounted solar channels through the REDARC 30 BMS to a 100Ah lithium battery.

The storage on the living or passenger side includes plenty of Willow and Oates plastic tubs in a shelving system designed to fit them flush.

The door on the driver’s side grants access to open spaces, ideal for larger items. At the rear, the shelf is ideal for a portapotti and in front of this, the filler for the tank of the optional diesel heater. In the centre, there’s a shelf in a diamond grille pattern and some free space below this. To the right, a second fridge on tilt slide, the battery, the fuses, and the optional inverter.

There's also a dual cab version of the Hard Lid. Power and water are the same, as is storage capacity in terms of litres, because Jacksons have heightened the compressed box. Inevitably, this dual cab has a higher centre of gravity and more overhang over the rear axle. Jacksons have made changes to balance these accordingly.

Technically, the warranty for the slide-on itself is two to three years, and the component warranties are as specified by the manufacturer. However, Jackson's is committed to taking care of its customers.

Jackson Carry Me Campers Specs

Trailer

Tare: 505kg

ATM: Refer to the car’s GVM

Style: Two-stage pop-up hard lid slide-on

Paint: Two-pack automotive wet spray 

Construction: Aluminium

Canvas: 10oz Dynaproofed

Dimensions

Height when packed: 1080mm from tray (single cab); 1220mm (dual cab)

Required tray dimensions: 1850mm wide x 2120mm long (single cab); 1850mm wide x 1640mm long (dual cab)

Max length: (single cab): 2290mm (2120mm on tray with 170mm tailgate depth)

Width (single cab): 1850mm (at base); 1475mm (at top)

Accessories

Water: 2 x 54L poly tanks with two fillers and two trigger-operated hoses

Kitchen: Stainless steel work bench with portable GasMate two-burner (running off gas bottle, with 24000BTU per burner output) and portable pop-up sink, plus extensive storage pantry

Fridge: 2 x EvaKool 47L fridges on tilt slides, as seen. However, there’s a range of fridge options, with ARB, Engel and Dometic fridges also available.

Toilet/shower: Porta potti with internal access hatch, no shower or hot water (as standard)

Battery: 1 x 100Ah Revolution lithium battery with REDARC BMS 30 featuring 12V and 240V charging, Victron low voltage disconnect, optional REDARC pure sine wave inverter, multiple 12V and USB outlets

Mattress: 140mm innerspring, between a queen and double in size, manufactured by Makin Mattresses

Price as Standard: About $45,000. Precise pricing depends on customisations and will be provided upon consultation.

Options

• Webasto diesel heater (around $2600)
• REDARC pure sine wave inverter (cost depends on size, approx $1.40 a watt)
• awning walls or windbreaks; fridge/freezers
• ISI dual bicycle carriers; undertray toolboxes
• shelf above fridge; colour coding
• spare tyre carriers

Are You Still Shopping for the Perfect Camper or Van?

Check out our current selection of camper trailers for sale at OnlyVans.com.au. If this review showed you the benefits of lightweight touring, quick setup, and clever storage, browse our listings to find a slide-on camper that suits your ute and travel style.

If you're still in research mode, we have many other great deals on caravans for sale, including used caravans and caravans from private sellers. You can also find motorhomes for sale and pop-top caravans.

No matter how you like to travel, we've got you covered.   

This article was written by Sam Richards, with photos Emma Warren, and previously appeared at TradeRVs.com.au, now powered by OnlyVans.com.au.