The camper trailer market is at bursting point. Go to any caravan and camping show and attempt to swing a cat. Not only will you be receiving a rather angry call from the RSPCA, but you’ll also most likely strike more than a few camper trailers with said cat swinging attempt.
The problem is, though, that many do the exact same thing: provide a reasonably affordable platform to make camping in your local state forest a more pleasant experience. While there are plenty of fantastic campers on the market, it does stand to point out just how drastically different the Conqeuror UEV-490 is from the pack. It’s not a cheap setup to take the wife and kids camping in your nearest state forest, even lugging one to more iconic destinations like the Victorian High Country or Fraser Island would feel a little like bringing a satellite-guided ICBM to a knife fight, with optional bayonet fitted, of course, but that’s kind of the point.
For those not familiar with the brand, UEV stands for Urban Escape Vehicle and that’s exactly what the Evolution claims to be. The kind of trailer for which you’d bash a for-sale sign in your front yard, load a year’s worth of food into the fridge and hit the road with no deadlines, no worries, and no overnight camping permits.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The UEV-490 looks like a piece of military gear, and it’s easy to look at anything painted drab olive with scepticism.
But the Conqueror range has the bite to match its bark. Hailing from South Africa, the original Conqueror lines were designed and manufactured specifically as mobile command stations for the South African military and, despite countless tweaks as they entered the civilian market, that heritage still shines through; not just in the paintwork, but in the construction methods as well.
The UEV range is built tough. Rather than constructed with traditional welds, the body is comprised of glued panels and rivets, allowing the body to bend and flex to significantly reduce stress fractures from a brittle construction.
The design is modular so that individual panels can be replaced if they’re damaged, and incredible amounts of thought have gone into essentially making it the Swiss Army knife of camper trailers.
Throughout every nook and cranny in the construction, it’s obvious the Evolution hasn’t swayed far from the original military designs at all. Hinges and doors are heavy-duty, clever and simple designs like the push-into-place stabiliser legs are used throughout, and it has an air of rugged simplicity without losing out on the creature comforts you’d expect in a camper with this price tag.
STORAGE AND PRACTICALITY
With some campers, clever use of storage means finding every spare inch of space and fitting a tent pole holder or water tank. The Conqueror (like all hybrids) skirts this fact by essentially being a giant box on wheels. If you’re looking for somewhere to store a bag of clothes or a case of drink, simply open the door and put them in.
That said, the UEV-490 is more than just a one-trick pony, with lots of clever inclusions you rarely see at any price point. There are internal tie-downs throughout, so bulky or heavy items don’t need to float around dangerously inside. Heavy-duty canvas bags have been slung on the back of every door and hatch to allow storage of small and often fiddly items like maps, torches, and fire-lighting equipment.
Twin jerry cans on the rear bulkhead allow diesel storage of up to 40L, while twin storage boxes in the up-swept rear quarters are the perfect place for recovery gear and tools. Being situated so close to the axle will reduce their effect on tow ball weight, too.
Another tick in the UEV-490’s favour is its Jekyll and Hyde personality. If you’re setting up for an extended time, it has an impressive covered area with twin awnings on either side (a joiner between would be appreciated), as well as a large kitchen area with pantry, hot water on tap, included fridge, and extensive bench space.
Set up for a night and you can literally just open a door and go inside. In an unusual, albeit welcome move, a large amount of the storage is available inside and out, with both the fridge and pantry having external and internal access.
If you’re converting the dining area into a camper-king-size bed, you can pull up for a night’s rest without popping a single clip or over-centring a latch.
If you’re chasing a little more room, a camper-queen bed folds forward from the front bulkhead while the roof raises to a 2m head height with a simple push.
OFFROAD CREDENTIALS
For all intents and purposes, the UEV-490 is a hybrid. That said, it’s arguably the most capable I’ve ever laid eyes on and would easily show up a few camper trailers in the off-road department.
Starting from the front, there’s a Vehicle Components Hitchmaster DO35 hitch, allowing plenty of articulation off-road without the risk of flipping your tow rig if it all turns pear-shaped.
The chassis and many other low-hanging components are hot-dip galvanised. The independent suspension setup is heavy-duty and sold as ‘bomb proof’, although we weren’t willing to test it out. Shocks are Tough Dog items with Dobinsons coil springs providing a supple ride.
The spare tyre carrier on the rear comes with a complete and ready-to-go wheel bearing set in a hub, making for easy repairs. Although with the mud-terrain tyres, you’ll rarely be reaching for the wheel jack.
Despite its size, the rear has been tapered off on an impressive departure angle to aid in steep transitions like into and out of creeks, as well as up and down rock ledges.
The powder-coating is extensive and seriously stout, so there’s little concern about damaged paint even through thick lantana country. There are lots of inclusions which make this perfect for remote travel too, like flip-down stairs that trap mud and sand and are easy to clean.
Even the doors have heavy bolt locks for when you’re concerned about armed insurgents—or nosey neighbours.
IS IT UP TO THE JOB?
So is it up to the job? Well, that’s really a subjective question, one that depends entirely on what ‘the job’ is. But I doubt you’d find many people who would use the UEV-490 and feel it was lacking in literally any department.
There’s nearly 360° coverage from the rain with twin fold-out awnings that can be set up by one person.
An extensive electrical system includes twin 100Ah AGM batteries and a 200W solar system on the roof, which can be upgraded to a 1000Ah system.
There’s also 130L onboard water and twin 4kg gas cylinders powering the stovetop. A diesel unit provides hot water to the sink and external shower and also runs internal heating.
In typical Conqueror fashion, the diesel tank comes filled and the gas bottles included—a true get-up-and-go system.
Inside, there’s plenty of storage and power options, a full dining table that converts into a king-size bed that can sleep three, and a second fold-out queen bed.
Combine that with serious off-road capability, military-proven build quality, and extras like a wine rack, stereo, and TV, and it’s hard to imagine a situation where the UEV-490 wouldn’t deliver.
THE WRAP
There’s no skirting the fact the Conqueror UEV-490 has an imposing figure—not just in size, but on the scales and the wallet as well. It’s one of the most expensive campers on the market and fully loaded tips close to 2 tonnes.
That said, it doesn’t pretend to be a cheap overnight camper. This is a rig built for long-term adventures—months or even years off-grid.
If you bought one and only used it a few weekends a year, you’d be doing it (and yourself) a disservice.
HITS AND MISSES
PROS
- Incredibly tough
- Massive living space
- Military-quality finishes
- Quick to no setup time
- Internally lockable doors
CONS
- Premium price
- Polarising military styling
- Purely functional (no luxury finishes)
- Low payload
Check out the full feature in issue #111 of Camper Trailer Australia magazine.