Blue Tongue XH15 2020 review

A lot of these hybrid campers are little more than expensive metal boxes with a large bed inside, although the Blue Tongue is a little more than that.

It has a fold-out extension from the driver's side of the camper, which contains the queen-sized bed. By expanding sideways, rather than rearwards, Blue Tongue's managed to create access around the bed from three sides. The upside is, no one ever has to climb over the other, or shuffle along it, to get in. It's a feature almost unique in the genre.
Considering the XH15 also fits a small shower and toilet cubicle, cosy dinette, a small sink, bunk bed and heaps of storage, it's quite a practical little space that doesn't feel as cramped as it sounds.

The dinette lounge is good for the occasional meal away from the bugs, while the bunk above it folds up to improve access. And even if you're not travelling with a child, it makes a great shelf.

The en-suite, if we can call it that, is naturally compact. With its own toilet and shower plumbed into the grey-water tank, this is a fully self-contained camper, which is becoming increasingly more important at many free and remote bush camps.

With a bed extension that folds out to the side, there’s great access around it. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

Like most hybrid campers, the XH15’s kitchen is on the outside, but this one doesn’t slide out. Instead, it’s built into the side of the camper, behind a large access door.

Once open, the door provides instant shelter and simple access whenever you need it – be that at camp or on the side of the road in the rain. It's a simple affair but very effective.

There's a three-burner Dometic stove and stainless-steel sink next to a tall, double door pantry. More storage is found overhead, and another two drawers, which can be accessed even when the kitchen is closed, are located underneath. Because bench space is tight, a small, fold-out counter is just next to the kitchen.  

The camper doesn’t come with a fridge in the base-model version, but a 95-litre Dometic CFX is offered in the Limited. It stores in the large box at the front of the camper, on a slide-out platform.

The in-built kitchen can be used anywhere, anytime, and provides its own shelter when open. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

The 15-foot off-roader is well balanced behind our tow car. At tare, there's 150kg on the ball, which gives it room to move up once a load is added. We carried a load of camping gear, nearly 200 litres of water and the fridge, all of which helps add stability to the combination.

Towing the XH15 along the highway, it tracked beautifully and even with soft, off-road suspension it didn't wobble around. Onto the narrower, winding roads into Wee Jasper, it was compliant and followed without incident.

When the drive became a bit challenging, such as when we had to navigate steep, loose tracks into our campsite, the camper's high-clearance, angled cutaways and off-road hitch made sure none of its underbody scraped or bumped on the ground.

It rides on coil-spring, independent suspension with dual-shock absorbers each side and this is a robust, well-proven system, which is really great when roads become a little rougher. 

The camper’s light weight makes it a breeze to tow, even off-road. (image credit: Brendan Batty)

The XH15 already has plenty of the features that would typically be options. It has 300Ah of gel batteries and a 150-watt solar panel on the roof, for instance.

There's also a grey-water tank, external and internal showers, roll-out awning and a complete annex kit, and a 2000-watt inverter.

So, the options list is small, and all of them are included in the Limited edition, at a discount. 

It includes an upgraded pillow-top mattress, a swap to a 150Ah lithium battery, black ROH alloy wheels, a Dometic 95CFX fridge, diesel room-heating and Redarc Manager 30 battery management, plus Redarc Redvision. 

A 95-litre fridge is a popular option and part of the Limited pack. (image credit: Brendan Batty)