Offline Solitaire 16: The Compact Off-Road Hybrid for Serious Overlanders

Overlanding often begins as a casual dream, but as you delve into the specifics, the reality of what “camping” truly entails for the long haul can shift dramatically. Accommodating essentials like water, ample storage, fuel, and modern, self-sustaining solar power systems for extended trips often leads to larger or longer RVs, bigger tow vehicles, increased fuel costs, and less mobility than initially anticipated. And that’s before considering the everyday comforts we take for granted. But does it have to be
this way?

For hardcore off-road enthusiasts like Sam Reynolds, Director and Lead Mechanical Engineer at Offline Campers, sacrificing maneuverability is simply not an option. This commitment led him on a personal mission: to pack all the comforts of modern camping that support sustained off-grid travel, but with significantly fewer off-road penalties. The result is the Offline Solitaire 16, one of two models in the Solitaire range. Sam rigorously tested it for six months with his family of five, tackling iconic yet challenging destinations like the Flinders Ranges. Our team even caught up with Sam and his son at Goolwa for a beachside spin, featured in the What’s Up Downunder, Series 16 premiere.

Compact Design, Big Comforts

The Offline Solitaire 16 is undeniably a compact tourer. When we talk nimble, we’re referring to a 1.8m x 5.1m travel body, a 2.35m travel height, and a Tare weight starting from just 1700kg. Electronically-controlled expanding spaces allow for the Solitaire’s uplifted tail, ensuring better clearance and ample head height indoors, along with space for a separate shower and composting toilet. This compact package provides a comfortable retreat during dramatic desert weather extremes, equipped with Webasto diesel heating, Sirocco II fans, two fridges, ducted air-conditioning and heating, 300L of water storage, 800W of solar, a 600Ah lithium battery, a 2400W inverter, and Starlink compatibility.

A Royal Ride Off-Road

For tactical towing, matching axles and wheels to the tow vehicle is the gold standard for an off-road rig, allowing it to follow the tow vehicle’s lines. It’s exciting to see a fully-equipped RV like the Offline Solitaire 16 riding on an axle matching the 100 Series Landcruiser – shod with Cruisemaster ATX airbag suspension and 12-inch electric brakes. Construction-wise, the Solitaire boasts a strong, lightweight aluminum body to maximize storage volume and rides on an Australian steel chassis. Thoughtful external features include an ergonomically designed toolbox and a tray for firewood up front, along with automotive compression locks and seals to minimize dust ingress.

Ingenious Indoor-Outdoor Living

At camp, the hybrid Offline Solitaire truly shines with its brilliant indoor-outdoor flow. This starts with a spacious kitchen located under the fitted 270° foxwing awning. The beautifully finished pull-out kitchen, accompanied by a 95L Dometic fridge, features a two-hob induction cooktop (with gas as an option) and fold-out bench extensions offering an impressive 1.5m² of benchtop space. It also provides 400L of storage volume, including dedicated drawers for cutlery, utensils, and implements. Everything is conveniently close at hand, and the external mid-height storage locker is particularly useful.

Indoors, campers can enjoy a restful night’s sleep on a full queen-size bed beneath a hardtop roof, illuminated by reading lights. The interior also features bench seating, an adjustable table, a small sink with a mixer tap and filtered water, split countertops, and a fridge drawer – perfect for coffees, breakfast, or snacks.

The Game-Changing Large Shower

What truly sets the Solitaire apart is how its fold-down hardfloor bathroom ingeniously accommodates a composting toilet and a separate, generously sized shower (91.5x110cm base). Crucially, this is achieved without encroaching on the bedroom or dining area, or impairing performance on the track. The ensuite facilities, though under a soft roof, share the same floor height as the Solitaire’s hard-walled interior, allowing seamless access to the bathroom via a doorway, providing a total of 6.2m x 1.8m of living space on that raised floor. There’s even a clever two-way light switch to prevent fumbling in the dark – it’s that seamless and smart.