COTY Reviews: Offline Campers Solitaire 16
Deal the Ace
COTY judges, Pics Allison Watt, Josh Hanger, John Ford
Don’t let the 16ft footprint fool you — the Offline Campers Solitaire 16 is packed with smart design, serious capability and plenty of innovation to shake up expectations.
Offline Campers is a brand I’ve followed for years, and one that’s built a loyal reputation by doing things properly. While the name might suggest a camper-only focus, the reality is that Offline has evolved with its owners, from rear-fold campers through to hybrids, and now to something like the Solitaire 16. It’s Offline’s largest offering to date and a genuine step into Caravan of the Year territory.
The Solitaire 16 sits in an interesting space. It’s a 16ft (4.87m) hybrid caravan, but thanks to its layout and design, it offers the internal living of something closer to a 19ft (5.8m) unit. It’s narrow, low and relatively light, yet opens up to create a surprising amount of usable space. Yes, there are compromises — canvas is part of the equation — but it’s been executed with real intent.
What sets Offline apart is how it builds. Company owner Sam Reynolds and his South Australian team do as much as possible in-house, with a clear focus on quality and long-term durability. The component choices reflect real-world use, shaped by time spent in the bush rather than a spec sheet.
The result is a genuinely compelling alternative — a different take on caravanning that earns its place here.
Value for money
Value for money with the Offline Solitaire 16 is an interesting conversation because, at $165,640 for a 16-ft single-axle hybrid, it sits well above much of the segment on price alone. But as we’ve established, value isn’t what you pay — it’s what you get in return. This is where the Solitaire 16 starts to make sense.
What you’re buying is a product that hasn’t chased a price point. The exoskeleton aluminium frame is TIG-welded in-house, paired with composite panels for rigidity and insulation, and there’s a clear focus on doing things properly rather than cheaply. Setup is another standout. Anything with meaningful weight has been electrically actuated, making the van quick and easy to deploy. In Sam’s words, if it can’t be done with a beer in hand in under five minutes, it’s not good enough.
The component selection also reflects years of real-world testing, with systems sourced individually rather than bundled from a single supplier. Yes, it’s significantly more expensive than many hybrids, but it doesn’t belong in that comparison. This is a compact, high-end caravan in hybrid form, and judged on that basis, it represents strong value.
Towability
Towability is where the Offline Solitaire 16 really shines. At a 2499kg ATM and around 1700kg on tow, it sits well below most of the field, and that immediately opens up your choice of tow vehicle. You could comfortably tow this with a wide range of vehicles — from mid-size SUVs through to utes — and in our case, towed behind a Toyota LandCruiser 300 GR Sport, the Solitaire 16 felt completely effortless.
On the road, the benefits of its design become obvious. It’s narrower and lower than a full-size caravan, so it sits neatly within the tow vehicle’s profile, reducing drag and improving stability. The weight balance is well resolved, with a manageable ball weight around the 170kg mark, and even the option to carry additional gear, such as a motorbike, on the drawbar can be accommodated with a sensible setup.
Underneath, the Cruisemaster ATX airbag suspension with Body Control System -BCS adds another layer of confidence. It’s a robust, well-supported system that arguably goes beyond what’s required for a van of this size, but that’s reflective of Offline’s no-compromise approach.
The result is one of the best towing trailers in the field — stable, predictable and easy to live with.
Suitability for intended touring
Suitability for intended touring is where the Offline Solitaire 16 really makes its case. Sam and the team have clearly built this van around a very specific use — getting into places you simply wouldn’t consider taking a full-size caravan and doing it without giving up comfort.
Its narrow body, low height and manageable weight make it ideal for accessing tighter, more remote tracks, whether that’s deep into the Victorian High Country or out into places like Cape Range National Park near Exmouth, WA. It’s the sort of trailer you’ll find in camps where you wouldn’t expect to see one. At the same time, its design means you’re not sacrificing usability. You can pull up late and get a quick, comfortable night’s rest, or take the time to fully set it up and enjoy the outdoor kitchen, generous refrigeration and strong storage offering.
It’s best suited to active travellers who are on the move regularly and making the most of their mobility, rather than sitting in one place for weeks on end. That said, it has the capability to stretch further if needed.
It’s a very clever execution, one that feels completely aligned with its intended purpose.
Build Quality
The Solitaire 16 operates in a high-end, competitive hybrid caravan space where build quality and construction methods are top of mind for buyers. Sam Reynolds took us through his design-and-build processes, impressing us with his commitment to building the best van using the best materials. Sam’s 20 years as a mechanical engineer, including work on projects for the Australian Army, confirm he knows what he’s talking about.
Virtually all the build is completed in Offline Campers’ Adelaide factory, even down to vacuum-bonding its own composite walls.
The Solitaire 16’s base is a chassis and A-frame built from certified Australian 100mm x 50mm steel. Certification ensures the chassis is strong enough to reduce weight in non-stress areas, saving up to 300kg compared with one built from imported steel. The A-frame runs back to the axle for maximum durability, and the completed structure is hot-dip galvanised.
Laser-cut, folded and hand-welded marine-grade aluminium forms the major parts of the Solitaire 16’s body, with some mild steel reinforcing around wheel wells. Aeronautical-grade fasteners fix the frame to the chassis and composite panels of fibreglass and XPS foam — made in-house — are bonded to the frame’s walls, floor and roof.
Internal cabinets are similarly built from aluminium to ensure strength and rot-free durability. The slide-out external kitchen is among the best I have seen in its execution and design. It’s immensely robust and rated to hold 100kg without support legs. That’s impressive.
There’s a reassuring sense of strength and durability in the Solitaire 16 and an attention to detail that should withstand hard use. Fittings are high-end, and the electrical system components were selected from a range of brands for their reliability and performance.
Liveability and Ease of Use
As a winner of the Best Hybrid category at the 2021 and 2022 Camper Trailer of the Year with the Offline Domino (among other awards), I was expecting big things from its latest model. I wasn’t involved in that event, so this was the first time I had seen and judged an Offline Camper unit, and it was a surprise to see it unfold into such a practical, space-saving hybrid caravan.
Setting the van up for camping is easy. Electric rams lift the rear section of the roof, lower the ensuite floor, and turn the 16ft space into a versatile 19ft layout.
Sam demonstrated the setup, and it took only a couple of minutes, including folding out the new factory-built 270-degree awning. You could access the bed for a quick overnight camp without even lifting the roof, but that’s not the case with the toilet — the floor has to be lowered to get inside.
Ergonomics around the outdoor kitchen are great, and the awning provides ample cover for rainy weather. You have to admire a van with a dedicated shelf to hold a beer while you complete the setup.
Seating inside is limited, so I think in cold weather you would spend most time on the bed watching a movie or reading a book — remember those?
Storage options are everywhere. I doubt there’s a spare space that hasn’t been utilised, and allowing access to the tunnel boot from the bed is smart.
Innovation
Offline Campers might not have originated the fold-out ensuite concept, but it has perfected its ease of use and seamless integration. The hard roof/hard floor concept is Offline’s, making it super easy to set up and use. Incorporating a screened or open window to enjoy the view is a bonus for remote camping.
The 270-degree awning on the review van was a new design — user-friendly, effective, lightweight and very robust.
I also liked the robust build and sensible weight of the chassis and body, as well as the well-designed slide-out kitchen, which weighs 35kg yet is self-supporting. It compares well against a lot of construction and kitchens on imports, where they seem to think heavier is better.
Sam told us that they designed their products so that a 70-year-old with a bad back could use them, and this demonstrated a design brief that appealed to me. Not everyone is a gym junkie, and making things easy to operate will win buyers.
Customer Care
Offline Campers provided a copy of its warranty document to COTY judges in advance. The document emphasises to customers the importance of checking and tensioning wheel nuts, particularly between the first 50km and 100km. Regular maintenance is then required at 300km, 1000km and every 5000km thereafter — checking nuts, wheels, coupling, springs and axles. The warranty makes it clear that this is the owner’s responsibility, and failure to do this maintenance will void the warranty.
The warranty is five years on the chassis, five years on the Cruisemaster suspension and two years for any shortcomings in the original materials or manufacture of the van. Offline models rarely break, but if a failure renders it immovable, the team will arrange for it to be transported back to base in South Australia.
Self-Sufficiency
The Solitaire 16 is designed and engineered to go anywhere off-grid and it will.
On the roof are two 350W flexible frameless solar panels with a 100Ah MPPT controller. The van comes with only 350W as standard, but if you want more solar power, you can opt for up to 800W if you wish. Adding to the power, there’s an optioned-up 600Ah custom lithium battery and an Enerdrive 2600W inverter.
Two 3.7kg gas bottles run the Weber barbecue and there’s diesel for heating and hot water. Underneath the camper is a 105L stainless-steel freshwater tank and another 60L tank for dedicated drinking water. There’s an easy-to-access drinking water tap at the picnic table, which is great for eliminating the need to open the outdoor kitchen every time you want some water. If you want additional water supply, Offline can add an extra 105L freshwater tank, and a 55L grey water tank, both of which were added to the review van.
External cooking is handled via two built-in induction hotplates and a 12V Travel Buddy oven. Internal cooking, should you need it, can be accommodated with a portable induction hotplate and/or the 20L NCE microwave.
An OGO composting toilet in the ensuite means you won’t be chasing dump points that are few and far between in remote areas.
X-Factor
The Offline Solitaire 16 is somewhat of a chameleon. On first appearances, it is small at 16ft — so it’s lightweight, easy to tow with the average family 4x4 dual cab ute or SUV, easy to park and manoeuvre down tight dirt national park tracks.
But scratch the surface of the Solitaire 16, and it uncovers a trove of hidden treasures that transform it into a trailer boasting all the features and creature comforts of a much larger van.
Those treasures include the large external slide-out kitchen, the self-supporting fold-out ensuite with a separate shower and OGO toilet, Offline’s 270-degree awning that offers unrivalled protection from heat and rain, plus the Solitaire 16’s pop-up clamshell roof that allows you to stand up where you need to.
The brilliance of the ensuite's unique, original design has been mentioned earlier in this review, so I won’t say much more, other than that it is one of the innovations in the Solitaire 16 that really makes it stand out from the crowd. That’s what happens when the company is led by an engineer with a defence background — practical, considered and built for real-world use.
OFFLINE CAMPERS SOLITAIRE 16
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Overall length 6.7m (22ft)
External body length 4.97m (16ft 3in)
Internal body length 4.87m (16ft )
Width 1.8m (5ft 9in)
Travel height 2.33m (7ft 7in)
Internal height 1.85m–2.24m (6ft 1in–7ft 3in)
Tare 1700kg
ATM 2499kg
Payload 799kg (calculated)
Ball weight at tare 170kg
Ball to tare ratio 10% (calculated)
EXTERNAL
Frame Aluminium and composite
Cladding 28mm XPS foam with fibreglass skin
Chassis Hot dip galvanised 100mm x 50mm x 3mm Australian steel
Suspension Cruisemaster ATX airbag trailing arm with BSC
Coupling Cruisemaster DO35
Brakes 12in electric drum
Wheels Matched to tow vehicle (Toyo Open Country 285/62 R18 fitted)
Water 2 x 105L freshwater (1 x 105L standard), 1x 60L drinking water, 1 x 55L grey water (optional)
Battery 1 x 600Ah lithium (200Ah standard)
Inverter 2600W Enerdrive
Solar 2 x 350W flexible panels (1 x 350W standard)
Air-conditioner Truma Saphir
Gas 2 x 3.7kg
Sway control Cruisemaster ABS/ESC
Cooking Safiery built-in dual-hob induction cooktop and Travel Buddy 12V oven
Fridge 95L Domtic CFX
INTERNAL
Cooking Safiery portable dual-hob induction cooktop
Microwave 20L NCE
Fridge 50L Bushman upright DC50-X
Bathroom Full width ensuite with separate shower and OGO composting toilet
Washing machine N/A
Hot water Webasto diesel
PRICE FROM $150,600
OPTIONS FITTED
1 x 350W Solar panel
1x 600Ah lithium battery
Truma Saphir air-conditioner
External Safiery built-in dual-hob induction cooktop (gas standard)
Travel Buddy 12V oven
Internal Safiery portable dual-hob induction cooktop
50L Bushman DC50-X fridge
20L NCE microwave
Rear recovery points
Drawer bar tap
PRICE AS SHOWN $165,640
MORE INFORMATION
Offline Campers
180 Philip Highway
Elizabeth SA 5112
P: 08 7286 9213
E: sales@offlinecampers.com.au
W: offlinecampers.com.au
Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a long-haul adventure, having the right resources can make all the difference when you're out of range. To help you navigate with confidence, you might find it useful to pair your journey with a detailed set of topographical road maps or a comprehensive campsite guide. Explore some of the maps below or visit our store for a full range of products.
COTY Reviews: Offline Campers Solitaire 16