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Patriot Campers has done something they explicitly said they’d never do: they’ve built the ST7, a 7-metre camper trailer. The SuperTourer ST7, launched at $224,900, represents the Gold Coast manufacturer’s first dual-axle tourer and their biggest departure from the lightweight, compact philosophy that won them seven Camper Trailer of the Year awards. “A 7m Patriot is something we said we’d never do,” the company admits on their website. “But maybe now the time’s right.”
So what changed? And what does a quarter-million-dollar camper trailer actually get you in 2025?
Quick context for newcomers
For those who don’t know Patriot Campers, they’re an Australian success story. Founded by Justin Montesalvo in 2013 after a concept literally drawn in the sand on Stradbroke Island, the company built its reputation on lightweight, go-anywhere campers like the X1, X2, and X3. These tent-style trailers won industry awards year after year and established Patriot as serious players in the off-road space.
Montesalvo’s background isn’t marketing, it’s desert racing. He’s competed in trophy truck events with 800-horsepower machines designed to survive the Finke Desert Race’s brutal punishment. That racing DNA flows directly into Patriot’s products, particularly their proprietary Trinamic suspension system. They design, engineer, and build everything at their 14,000-square-metre Molendinar facility on the Gold Coast, employing over 100 Queenslanders and holding ISO 9001 certification.
From compact trailers to the dual-axle ST7
The ST7 measures 6.8 metres long, 2.2 metres wide, and tips the scales at a targeted 2,500kg tare weight with a 3,500kg ATM. That’s a substantial step up from their ST5 SuperTourer, which we covered recently at 5.2 metres and 1,800kg. It’s also a long way from the X1 that started it all at around 850kg.
The shift to dual-axle wasn’t just about making a bigger box. It’s about addressing a specific Australian reality: extended remote touring with family gear on corrugated outback roads. Where single-axle trailers can become punishing over hundreds of kilometres of washboard surfaces, the ST7’s dual-axle configuration distributes loads more effectively while improving towing stability.
More importantly, it’s Patriot’s first implementation of their Trinamic suspension across two axles. This isn’t off-the-shelf hardware, it’s custom-built airbag suspension derived from Montesalvo’s trophy truck racing experience. The system delivers adjustable ride height, horizon levelling, and departure angle control, all managed through integrated Garmin tablets. With a 20-degree departure angle and 35-inch all-terrain tyres (35×12.5×17), the Patriot Campers ST7 maintains off-road credentials despite its substantial footprint.
The Garmin revolution in the ST7 SuperTourer
The ST7 introduces Garmin-controlled electrical management to the SuperTourer, and it’s a first in the Patriot Campers lineup. The ST7 replaces all of that with two 7-inch Garmin tablets working in tandem: one mounted permanently in the trailer, the second removable for use in your tow vehicle.
What does that actually mean when you’re camped 500 kilometres from the nearest town? You can monitor and control virtually every system before stepping outside. Battery and solar monitoring, full lighting control (including customisable RGB systems), climate management, airbag suspension controls, water level monitoring, automated setup and pack-down sequences. It even tracks service intervals and mileage, providing maintenance reminders.
The system manages an all-new Victron power setup: a 920Ah lithium battery bank charged by 1,200 watts of roof-mounted solar panels, backed by a 3,000W inverter. That’s double the typical lithium capacity you’ll find in competitors and provides genuine off-grid capability for extended remote stays. Put simply, you’re not going to run out of power unless you’re really trying.
For Australian conditions, the system includes underbelly heating for winterisation, enabling genuine four-season touring from tropical Queensland to alpine Victoria. The climate control sits at floor level to maintain a low centre of gravity, which matters when you’re on off-camber tracks.
What you actually get inside the ST7
Standard sleeping capacity is three people with a queen-size pocket spring mattress (2,030 × 1,520mm) as the main bed, but optional ceiling-folding forward bunks and café bunks extend capacity to five. The café seating converts between day configuration and sleeping space, with full-size bunk mattresses (1,575 × 670mm) providing genuine comfort rather than afterthought fold-outs.
Storage reaches a targeted 2,600 litres, which is substantially more than the ST5’s 1,500L and enough for multi-week expeditions with family gear. Water capacity totals 300 litres across two 150L tanks plus 50L grey water storage, giving extended autonomy between refills.
The bathroom features Patriot’s patented two-floor design with a composting toilet that “never gets wet,” plus what they describe as a beautifully finished basin with high-quality tapware. It’s an internal bathroom in a proper touring trailer, not a fold-out shower tent.
The reality check on ST7 pricing
Let’s address the elephant in the room: $224,900 is serious money. For context, that’s 61% more expensive than Patriot’s ST5 SuperTourer at $139,000, and it positions the ST7 in rarified air alongside competitors like Bruder’s EXP-7 which we’ve covered on RV Daily at similar pricing.
This isn’t a camper for everyone, and Patriot knows it. The ST7 targets extended remote touring families who need five-berth capacity, substantial payload, and genuine four-season climate control. It’s for multi-week expeditions into Australia’s most challenging terrain: Cape York’s corrugations, the Canning Stock Route, High Country alpine tracks. The kind of touring where you genuinely need 920Ah of lithium and 300L of water.
Okay, so most of us aren’t buying one, but it’s cool to know what’s possible when engineering and budget align. The ST7 showcases what Australian manufacturing can achieve in the premium segment, and it proves there’s demand for advanced technology and racing heritage at this price point.
What this launch signals
Patriot publicly reversing their “never 7m” position tells us something about the market. COVID-era travel restrictions accelerated demand for self-sufficient remote touring, and families want more space and amenities without sacrificing off-road capability. The ST7 fills a gap between compact expedition trailers and luxury caravans that compromise on genuine off-road performance.
The Garmin integration and Trinamic dual-axle suspension represent technology leadership that differentiates from competitors still using traditional approaches. While luxury caravans feature sophisticated automation, off-road-capable towables have lagged in integrated control systems. The ST7’s dual-tablet approach solves the “do I need to go outside to check systems” problem that plagues remote camping.
For Patriot loyalists who’ve outgrown X-range or ST5 models, the ST7 provides an upgrade path within the brand ecosystem. For newcomers with serious budgets, it demonstrates that Australian manufacturing can compete in premium segments against imports and boutique builders.
See the ST7 in action
The bottom line
The SuperTourer ST7 isn’t for everyone, and at nearly $225,000, it doesn’t pretend to be. But for those planning serious extended touring with family in genuinely remote locations, it’s a compelling package. The technology integration is legitimate innovation rather than marketing fluff, the racing-derived suspension addresses real touring challenges, and the Australian manufacturing credentials matter in this segment.
Patriot breaking their own “never 7m” rule shows they’re listening to market demand rather than stubbornly sticking to founding philosophy. That pragmatic evolution from an award-winning manufacturer with racing credentials and ISO certification is worth paying attention to, even if most of us are just dreaming about what’s possible.
The ST7 is available now through Patriot Campers’ Molendinar showroom and their website at patriotcampers.com.au.
Key specifications
Dimensions
- Length: 6.8m
- Width: 2.2m
- Travel height: 2.3m
- Open height: 2.9m
- Departure angle: 20°
Weights
- Tare: 2,500kg (targeted)
- ATM: 3,500kg
- Payload: 1,000kg (targeted)
- Drawbar weight: 200kg (targeted)
Power
- Lithium batteries: 920Ah
- Solar panels: 1,200W
- Inverter: 3,000W
- Management: Victron with Garmin control
Water
- Fresh: 300L (2 × 150L tanks)
- Grey: 50L
Running gear
- Suspension: Trinamic dual-axle airbag
- Tyres: 35×12.5×17 all-terrain
- Storage: 2,600L (targeted)
Sleeping
- Standard: 3 people
- Optional: 5 people (with bunks)
- Main bed: 2,030 × 1,520mm pocket spring
Price
- From $224,900 AUD
- US market: $181,000 USD (ex-Las Vegas)
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