Every year we head somewhere ridiculous. That’s part of the job. Whether it’s an overseas bike launch, a shootout, a race or an adventure ride, there’s always another epic journey we get to go on here at ADB HQ. This year, however, was a little different. As you read on page 50 already, the 50th anniversary of the Tatts Finke Desert Race deserved something special, so instead of flying in and hiring a car, we decided to make a proper adventure of it.
The plan was simple. Drive from Sydney to Adelaide, pick up a camper capable of hauling a murder of dirtbikes, kids, camping gear and enough supplies to disappear into the outback for two weeks, then head north through the Flinders Ranges, across the Oodnadatta Track and eventually roll into Alice Springs for the biggest Finke ever held. The only camper capable of a journey like this was Offline Campers’ Ryder.
What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, not much. Especially when your support vehicle is built like a tank.
PICKING UP THE RYDER
When we arrived at Offline Campers’ Adelaide factory, the first thing that struck us was how Australian the whole operation felt. Everything is designed and manufactured in-house, right there in South Australia, from the chassis through to the bodywork and cabinetry. In a world where so many products are imported, assembled elsewhere or rely heavily on overseas components, it was refreshing to see something genuinely built here.
Then came the challenge. We had three dirt bikes, riding gear, camping gear, cooking gear, camera equipment, tools, spare parts and enough random family travel junk to completely fill the tub of our Ram 1500 Rebel. Looking at the pile sitting on the ground, it seemed impossible that everything would fit inside the camper.
Yet somehow it did. Every compartment swallowed another bag, another toolbox or another piece of equipment. Before long the Ram was empty and the Ryder looked like it still had room left over. That was our first clue that this thing wasn’t just a bike trailer with a tent attached. It was a proper camper that happened to carry dirt bikes.
THREE BIKES, NO PROBLEMS
The Ryder is designed to carry three full-size dirt bikes without compromising the camping side of the equation. That’s a harder balance to achieve than it sounds because most bike-hauling campers tend to lean too heavily in one direction. They’re either brilliant bike trailers with poor camping facilities or great campers that struggle to carry motorcycles properly.
The Ryder somehow manages to do both. We ran a full-size adult bike in the middle with two kids’ bikes on either side and still had room for ramps, riding gear and additional equipment. The upper rack system is integrated into the structure of the camper itself, helping stiffen the deck and distribute weight properly rather than simply acting as a bolt-on carrier.
More importantly, everything felt incredibly solid. Every tie-down point, every mounting position and every latch felt overbuilt. That’s exactly what you want when you’re planning to drag thousands of dollars’ worth of motorcycles across hundreds of kilometres of corrugations and rough outback roads.
BUILT FOR THE REAL WORLD
The best thing about travelling with the Ryder wasn’t actually the bike carrying ability. It was how easy it made everything else. Anyone who’s travelled with young kids knows what happens when you arrive at camp after a long day on the road. The kids want their bikes immediately. Mum wants dinner underway. Dad wants a cold drink. Nobody wants to spend an hour setting up camp before any of that can happen.
The Ryder eliminates most of that nonsense. Pull up. Open the awning. Slide out the kitchen. Start cooking. That’s pretty much it.
There are no tubs to unload. No boxes to sort through. No searching for cooking equipment because everything lives exactly where it’s used. The huge pantry, stainless steel kitchen, hot and cold running water and integrated fridge system all mean you’re ready to go within minutes of arriving.
THE STORAGE IS RIDICULOUS
Offline claims the Ryder offers more than 2000 litres of storage plus dedicated bike gear storage and, honestly, we believe them. Everywhere you look there’s another compartment.
Massive rear drawers swallowed clothing, toiletries and supplies for our family of four. Front storage lockers took riding gear, boots, helmets and armour. Side compartments housed cooking equipment, tools and recovery gear. There was even room for things we forgot we’d packed.
It’s one of those things you don’t fully appreciate until you’ve spent a two weeks living out of it.
THE FLINDERS TEST
The Flinders Ranges were our first real test. Spectacular scenery, endless dirt roads and plenty of opportunities to see how the camper behaved away from civilisation. The roads varied from smooth gravel to rough, rocky sections that had the kids bouncing around in the back seats.
The Ryder was great, nothing rattled loose. Nothing shifted. Nothing broke. The suspension soaked up the punishment and the camper simply followed the Ram wherever it went. One thing we quickly noticed was how narrow and compact the overall package felt. Unlike some larger campers that constantly remind you they’re back there, the Ryder tracked neatly behind the vehicle and rarely drew attention to itself. That became even more important later in the trip.
OODNADATTA AND BEYOND
By the time we turned onto the Oodnadatta Track, conditions were exactly what you’d expect from one of Australia’s iconic outback routes. Corrugations, dust, rough sections and some decent water crossings.
This is where cheap campers reveal themselves. Doors start rattling. Drawers stop lining up. Fasteners loosen. Things begin falling apart. The Ryder simply carried on.
Offline designed this camper specifically for off-road travel and it shows. The galvanised chassis, heavy-duty, air suspension and robust construction are all there for a reason. This isn’t a toy hauler designed to sit on bitumen between a caravan park and a motocross track. It’s designed to disappear into the middle of nowhere and come back again.
OFF-GRID LIVING
One of the more impressive aspects of the Ryder was how self-sufficient it proved to be. The water system uses separate drinking and general-use tanks, meaning you can preserve quality drinking water while using other supplies for showers and washing up. Combined, the capacity is more than enough for about 3-5 days in the bush with if you’re sensible with usage.
Power wasn’t an issue either. Between the onboard electrical system, inverter and battery management setup, we were able to run the campsite, charge equipment and even charge electric bikes for nearly three days.
The hot water system was another pleasant surprise. After a day riding in dust and dirt, being able to jump under a hot shower in the middle of nowhere feels like luxury. The diesel-powered system was quiet, efficient and used surprisingly little fuel over the course of the trip.
AUSTRALIAN-MADE MATTERS
After spending nearly two weeks dragging the Ryder through some of Australia’s harshest touring conditions, one thing became obvious. Australian-made still means something. And as the only dirtbike magazine in Australia that’s actually printed right here in Australia, we love that.
The camper never felt fragile. It never felt like it had been designed for showroom floors or holiday parks. Everything about it felt purpose-built for the way Australians actually travel.
Rough roads. Long distances. Dust. Corrugations. Water crossings and long bitumen sections while carrying three dirtbikes and a family of four. That’s exactly the environment this camper was designed for.
The Ryder feels like it was designed by people who genuinely use it themselves. That’s hardly surprising given the company was started by campers who couldn’t find exactly what they wanted in the marketplace. Offline’s founder, Sam Reynolds, is a keen outdoors man and dirtbike rider. His son will rides and so do all his mates. In fact, Sam and tow of his best mates Alex and Jarrod came with us for the Flinders leg of the trip and took us to all the cool spots they ride their dirtbikes.
A unique spot
By the time we rolled into Alice Springs for the 50th running of the Tatts Finke Desert Race, we’d travelled thousands of kilometres, crossed multiple states, ridden countless trails and dragged the Ryder through conditions that would quickly expose any weaknesses. And to no surprise, it didn’t have any.
The bikes arrived safely. The gear stayed organised. The family stayed comfortable. Nothing broke, nothing rattled apart and nothing required fixing along the way. That’s about the highest compliment we can pay it.
The Offline Campers Ryder isn’t cheap. At $60,350 before customising it, the Ryder is more than a box trailer with a swag. But you can’t go where we went or where the Ryder is capable of in the same comfort and ease. After living out of it for nearly two weeks, it’s easy to understand where the money goes. The build quality is exceptional, the storage is phenomenal and the attention to detail is obvious everywhere you look.
Most importantly, it enabled exactly the sort of adventure it was designed for. A family of four. Three dirt bikes. One iconic race. Thousands of kilometres of Australia’s best outback roads. The Ryder handled all of it without breaking a sweat.
WHO IS THE RYDER FOR?
The Ryder isn’t for someone who spends their weekends parked in a caravan park with a slab of beer and a powered site. It’s for people who like it rough.
Think cattle stations in the Northern Territory. Think Cape York. Think the Gulf. Think the Kimberley. Think the Flinders Ranges, the Oodnadatta Track, the Simpson Desert and those remote bits of Queensland where the corrugations are so bad they shake cheaper campers to pieces. If you live in Darwin, regional Queensland, western NSW, outback South Australia or anywhere with nasty dirt roads, this thing makes a lot of sense.
It’s also built for dirt bike riders. Not the bloke carrying one trail bike to a local state forest, but the rider who wants to haul three full-size bikes into the middle of nowhere and stay there for a week. Throw in a couple of kids’ bikes, an adventure bike or even a quad and the Ryder still has room for all the gear needed to support the trip.
The Ryder feels like it’s designed to survive whatever your four-wheel drive can survive and then some. At the end of the day, this is a camper for cowboys, adventurers, dirt bike riders and anyone who thinks the best campsites in Australia are the ones that take a bit of effort to reach.
