Patriot Campers X1 Grand Tourer 2018 review

The TentStep is a patented design that’s so much better than a ladder. (image credit: Brendan Batty Photography)

Once the tent’s set up, the living space is quite clever. So that the bed and tent base doesn’t hang over the sides of the trailer when packed up, and so it can fit a king-sized bed anyway, the bed folds in the middle. Patriot has also developed (and patented) a staircase up to the bed, rather than a ladder, which makes the climb up and down far less daunting. 

A zippered cut-out in the tent wall provides access to the two-large storage area in the driver’s side of the camper, which is where you’d keep clothes, charge phones and maybe store a second fridge or Porta-Potti. 

If you’re travelling with kids, the zip-on kids’ room (pictured) is easy to set up, can be left attached to the tent while packed up and has enough room for two to three stretchers across the floor (depending on which stretchers you use). Another bed can be laid out under the master bed’s overhang. 

The X1 GT’s kitchen is comprehensive, even including a swing-out barbecue at the front. (image credit: Brendan Batty Photography)

The Patriot’s kitchen is quite sophisticated and spreads itself across a whole side of the camper. The main hatch folds down creating a stainless-steel countertop over which the two-burner stove slides out. It’s a Bromic gas version which you’ll need to attach to the gas bottle each time. Around it are a few cabinets for pantry storage. Forward of this, the fridge slide is in its own taller compartment. It can only fit a 60-litre fridge, though, so travelling families may need to carry a second in the car, or another in the opposite storage compartment.

Under the fridge-slide, though, is a telescoping slide-out, stainless-steel kitchen unit. It has a sink and more storage, as well as extra space for food preparation. In the front boot, there’s also a swing-out arm which carries an optional Weber BabyQ barbeque. It’s all very comprehensive.

Take it anywhere – it can handle it. (image credit: Brendan Batty Photography)

As compact as the camper is, it’s not a drama to tow. Underneath the camper is the Cruisemaster suspension that Patriot helped develop and which is exclusively available on Patriot campers and products. That’s quite significant, as others have tried that with Cruisemaster, but have usually ended up developing their own. It’s a dual shock, air-bag set-up that’s completely adjustable, whether that’s for extra clearance or to level out the camper at camp.

The fridge and Weber are optional extras. (image credit: Brendan Batty Photography)

The X1 Grand Tourer is quite a comprehensive package out of the box, although you can spend more on it if you like. A diesel cabin and hot-water system is a popular upgrade. You can replace the gel batteries with lithium or upgrade the inverter. 

The Weber is also an optional extra, although the swing arm it sits on is standard. The kids room is a standard feature on the GT, but optional on the lower-spec version.