The best camper trailer for a Toyota HiLux is a braked off-road camper with a loaded ATM between 1,500kg and 2,000kg, because that range fits comfortably inside the payload most dual cabs have left after accessories and passengers. The Platinum Chase S5 (900kg tare, 1,500kg ATM), Cadet SE (1,000kg tare, 1,700kg ATM) and General S4 (1,100kg tare, 2,000kg ATM) cover the majority of HiLux setups. Your ute’s 3,500kg braked tow rating is almost never the number that stops you. Payload is.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 HiLux tows 3,500kg braked and has a 6,300kg GCM, up 450kg on the previous generation.
- A HiLux SR5 dual cab 4×4 auto starts with about 1,100kg of payload, and accessories can eat a quarter of it before you pack.
- Tow ball mass sits on your ute, not your trailer, so it comes out of that same payload figure.
- The Chase S5 leaves the widest margin for utes already carrying a canopy, drawers and a fridge.
- The Cadet SE and General S4 give families soft floor space without pushing past a 2,000kg ATM.
- The Chariot E1 (1,300kg tare) and Commander hybrid suit HiLux owners whose weighbridge numbers show real headroom.
- Anything over 750kg needs trailer brakes and a brake controller in the ute.
Overview
This guide starts with the weight maths, because every other decision follows from it. You will work out what your HiLux can genuinely carry, then match that number to a Platinum model, a floor type and a towing setup. The last sections cover beach and outback towing, a buying checklist, finance and warranty, and ten common questions.
Start With Payload, Not Tow Rating
Your HiLux has one payload allowance and four things compete for it: accessories, passengers, cabin gear and tow ball mass. The tow rating sits in a separate column and rarely runs out first.
Payload is your GVM (the maximum legal loaded weight of the ute) minus what the ute actually weighs. On a 2026 SR5 dual cab 4×4 auto, that is a 3,120kg GVM less a 2,020kg kerb weight, which leaves 1,100kg. GVM across the 2026 range runs from 3,065kg to 3,120kg, with kerb weights between 1,830kg and 2,327kg. A 500kg spread in kerb weight is why two HiLux utes in the same car park can have very different answers.
Now watch that 1,100kg disappear:
| Item | Weight | Payload left |
| Starting payload, SR5 dual cab 4×4 auto | 1,100kg | |
| Steel canopy, drawer system, bull bar, second battery | 250kg | 850kg |
| Two adults, two children | 260kg | 590kg |
| Fridge, recovery gear, cabin luggage | 100kg | 490kg |
| Tow ball mass, Chariot-size camper | 130kg | 360kg |
The accessory, passenger and gear figures above are realistic estimates for a touring build. The tow ball figure comes from Platinum’s own weights and towing jargon guide, which uses roughly 130kg for a Chariot. This example stays legal with 360kg spare. Add a heavier canopy, a third adult or a full 100L water tank on departure and that margin closes fast.
The Weight Terms You Need
| Term | What it means | Where to find it |
| Tare | Empty camper weight as delivered | Camper compliance plate |
| ATM | Maximum loaded camper weight, unhitched | Camper compliance plate |
| GTM | Maximum weight on the camper’s axles when hitched | Camper compliance plate |
| Tow ball mass | Downward load the camper puts on your towbar | Camper specs, confirmed on scales |
| GVM | Maximum legal loaded weight of the HiLux | Vehicle compliance plate |
| GCM | Maximum combined weight of ute plus camper | Owner’s manual |
| Payload | GVM minus the ute’s actual weight | Weighbridge |
The gap between tare and ATM is your camper’s own payload. The Cadet SE leaves around 700kg for gear and water, while the General S4 leaves roughly 900kg.
Where the 2026 HiLux Improved
Toyota put the ninth-generation HiLux on sale in Australia on 9 December 2025, and the 4×4’s gross combination mass rose from 5,850kg to 6,300kg. That extra 450kg is real headroom for a loaded ute pulling a loaded camper.
Toyota also addressed payload directly. A factory-fitted GVM upgrade option launched on select 4×4 grades in August 2026, priced from $4,000, adding 372kg to 435kg of payload depending on variant and allowing a maximum payload of roughly 1,525kg. Toyota recommends that upgraded vehicles run with a permanent minimum payload, since operating them lightly loaded can noticeably reduce ride comfort. A GVM upgrade does not lift GCM, axle ratings or towbar limits, so check all four before you size up.
Run these five steps before you shortlist anything:
- Weigh the HiLux at a public weighbridge, fully fuelled, with every accessory fitted.
- Subtract that figure from the GVM on your compliance plate.
- Take off passengers and everything that rides in the cab.
- Take off the expected tow ball mass of the camper you want.
- Keep 100kg spare for water, firewood and the things you pick up along the way.
Platinum Campers Models That Suit a HiLux
Three models cover most HiLux buyers. Three more suit owners with payload to spare.
| Model | Type | Tare | ATM | Sleeps | Best for |
| Chase S5 | Hard floor rear fold | 900kg | 1,500kg | 2 adults, 2 kids | Heavily accessorised dual cabs |
| Cadet SE | Soft floor | 1,000kg | 1,700kg | 2 adults, 4 kids | Value-focused families |
| General S4 | Soft floor step-through | 1,100kg | 2,000kg | 4 adults, 4 kids | Bigger families, more storage |
| Warrior S4 | Soft floor step-through | 1,390kg | 2000kg | 4 Adults, 4 Children | Remote and rough access |
| Quest | Hard floor rear fold | 1,100kg | 2,000kg | 2 adults, 2 kids | Hard floor with more storage |
| Chariot E1 | Hard floor double fold | 1,300kg | 2000kg | Up to 6 adults | Families with payload headroom |
| Discovery E1 | Hard floor forward fold | 1,350kg | 2000kg | 2 Adults & 2 Children | Longer stays in one site |
| Commander | Hybrid | 2,100kg | 2,900kg | 2 Adults, 2 Children | Extended off-grid touring |
Chase S5: the widest safety margin
If your HiLux already carries a canopy, drawers and a fridge, start here. The Chase S5 has a tare weight of just 900kg, which means it can be towed by most standard SUVs or 4WDs. Setup is quick: unclip four latches, wind the floor down on the included winch, add six tent poles, and the queen bed is already made. Standard equipment includes an integrated kitchenette with sink, two drawers and a two-burner gas BBQ, plus a fully enclosed annex with walls. The chassis uses 3mm RHS construction with a 100x50x4mm drawbar, and it carries a 100L stainless steel water tank with an external tap.
Suspension is a solid axle setup rather than independent. It runs 7-leaf eye-to-eye springs with a heavy-duty 50mm solid axle, off-road tyres and a fully galvanised, hammertone powder-coated chassis, designed for dirt roads, beaches and basic off-roading. That suits weekend touring more than sustained corrugations.
Cadet SE and General S4: soft floor space for families
These two share a platform and differ mainly in access and capacity. The Cadet SE uses a ladder to reach its queen bed and sleeps two adults plus four children. The General S4 uses internal step-through stairs, sleeps four adults plus four children, and adds storage, power outlets and payload for about $2,000 more. Both are built for full off-road use on the same platform, with dual-shock independent suspension, heavy-duty coil springs, a fully galvanised chassis and off-road tyres.
The General’s 2,000kg ATM is still well inside a HiLux tow rating, but it carries more ball weight when loaded. Check that against your remaining payload, not against the 3,500kg figure.
Warrior S4, Quest, Chariot E1 and Commander
The Warrior S4 is the step-through built for harder access. Platinum points it at demanding beach tracks and remote coastlines such as the Kimberley and Cape York’s eastern beaches.
The Quest measures 4,300mm long with a 1,100kg tare and 2,000kg ATM, larger and heavier than the Chase S5, with more storage and carrying capacity for longer journeys. Both the Chase and Quest suit couples and smaller families, especially with the optional kids’ room add-on.
The Chariot has a 1,300kg tare, so a fully loaded unit needs a 4WD or a vehicle with high towing capacity. The dual fold Chariot sleeps up to six without giving up a quick setup. The Discovery E1 forward fold and the Commander hybrid follow the same rule: your HiLux has the tow rating, so the decision comes down to what the weighbridge says about payload.
Soft Floor, Hard Floor or Hybrid
| Type | Setup | Living space | Weight | Suits |
| Hard floor rear fold | Fastest, winch down | Compact | Lightest | Couples, quick weekends |
| Soft floor | Longer pitch, large tent | Largest for the money | Moderate | Families on a budget |
| Forward or double fold | Moderate | Big open plan | Higher | Longer stays |
| Hybrid | Fastest, pop-top | Internal, caravan style | Highest | Extended off-grid trips |
With the assistance of a winch, a Platinum hard floor camper can be fully set up in as little as three minutes. Soft floors take longer but give you room to move when the weather turns. Platinum’s breakdown of forward fold, rear fold and dual fold campers compares the mechanisms in detail.
Pick the type your payload allows, then pick the layout your family needs inside that group. Doing it the other way around is how people end up overweight.
Towing Setup and Legal Requirements
Every current Platinum camper weighs more than 750kg, so trailer brakes and an in-cab brake controller are mandatory, not optional. If you are unsure about the combined mass of the trailer and load, have it weighed at a public weighbridge.
Registration and inspection rules matter too. In Queensland, light trailers with an ATM of 751kg to 4,500kg need a current safety certificate in set circumstances, and from 1 July 2023 all new trailers must meet full compliance with the relevant Australian Design Rules. Full detail is on the Queensland Government towing page.
Wheel compatibility is worth checking at the showroom. The Cadet SE runs 15-inch 6-stud off-road rims in the LandCruiser pattern. The HiLux also uses a 6-stud pattern, so confirm offset, centre bore and load rating before you plan on one spare covering both.
Check before every departure:
- Coupling locked, safety chains crossed and shackled.
- Trailer plug, lights and brake controller tested.
- Wheel nuts torqued on the ute and the camper.
- Tyre pressures set for the terrain ahead.
- Load restrained so nothing shifts under brakes.
Platinum’s hitch safety checks and load security guide cover the full routine.
Beach and Outback Towing
Weight management is the whole game once you leave the bitumen. Queensland Transport recommends buying supplies and filling water tanks after you arrive, which reduces the load on the trip there, saves fuel and supports regional businesses. Drain the tanks again before you move on. A 100L tank is 100kg, so travelling empty hands you back a useful slice of payload.
Soft sand rewards light campers. Platinum rates the Chase S5 as the top pick for beach-focused couples, noting its compact, lightweight build suits soft sand driving where every kilogram matters, and that it works particularly well at drive-on destinations like Bribie Island and Rainbow Beach. Lower tyre pressures on both vehicles, avoid side loading the hitch and rinse brakes and bearings after salt exposure.
Maintenance keeps the combination reliable. Bearings and seals are consumables: inspect and repack them with grease every 5,000km and replace them every 10,000km. Platinum’s beach towing guide covers technique.
Buying Checklist
- Record towing capacity, GVM, GCM, axle and towbar ratings for your exact variant.
- Weigh the HiLux as you actually drive it.
- Work out real payload after people and cabin gear.
- Subtract expected tow ball mass to get your camper budget.
- Shortlist only the models that fit inside it.
- Check tare, ATM and GTM on the compliance plate of the actual unit.
- Inspect chassis, suspension, brakes and hitch in person.
- Fit a brake controller and matching trailer plug.
- Cost the full package including annex, solar and battery upgrades.
- Arrange finance once the weight match is proven.
Platinum’s buyer’s guide and tow vehicle matching guide expand on each step.
Finance and Warranty
Platinum offers low-deposit payment plans through a network of trusted finance partners, with a streamlined application and fast approvals. Apply after the weight match is settled so your repayments are tied to a setup you can legally use.
Cover includes a 5-year structural warranty, a 2-year limited canvas warranty including annexes, and 12 months on electrical components and fittings. Showrooms operate in Townsville and Rockhampton, with a partner store in Salisbury, Brisbane and a partner location in Cairns. Details are on the finance page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best camper trailer for a Toyota HiLux?
A braked off-road camper with a loaded ATM of 1,500kg to 2,000kg suits most HiLux setups. The Chase S5, Cadet SE and General S4 are the common picks. They leave payload for passengers and gear while staying well inside the ute’s 3,500kg braked tow rating.
How much can a 2026 Toyota HiLux tow?
The 2026 HiLux tows up to 3,500kg braked and 750kg unbraked, with a 6,300kg GCM across the range. Ratings vary by variant and fit-out, so confirm the figures in your owner’s manual and on the compliance plate before you commit to a camper.
Does tow ball mass count against HiLux payload?
Yes. Tow ball mass presses down on your towbar, so it comes out of GVM and payload, not out of your tow rating. A camper putting roughly 130kg on the ball takes 130kg straight off what you can carry in the ute.
How much payload does a HiLux really have?
An SR5 dual cab 4×4 auto has a 3,120kg GVM and 2,020kg kerb weight, leaving about 1,100kg. A canopy, drawers, bar work, passengers and ball weight can cut that to under 400kg. Weigh your ute to get the real number.
Soft floor or hard floor behind a HiLux?
Hard floor rear folds like the Chase S5 win on weight and setup speed, which suits couples and accessorised utes. Soft floors like the Cadet SE and General S4 give families more sleeping space for the money. Both work if the loaded ATM fits your payload.
Can a HiLux tow a forward fold or double fold camper?
In most cases, yes. The Chariot has a 1,300kg tare and a fully loaded unit needs a 4WD or vehicle with high towing capacity. Your tow rating covers it. Whether your payload does is the question to answer at the weighbridge.
Do I need a brake controller?
Yes, for every current Platinum camper. All of them exceed 750kg, which means trailer brakes are required, and electric brakes need a controller in the cab. It also lets you adjust braking force on descents and loose surfaces.
Is Toyota’s GVM upgrade worth it for towing?
The factory option adds 372kg to 435kg of payload for around $4,000 on select 4×4 grades. It helps if accessories have eaten your capacity. It does not raise GCM, axle or towbar limits, so those still cap what you can tow and carry.
Should I weigh the HiLux and camper before a trip?
Yes. Queensland Transport advises weighing at a public weighbridge if you are unsure of the combined mass. Weigh after fitting accessories and again before any remote trip with full tanks, when the combination is heaviest.
What warranty does Platinum Campers provide?
Cover includes a 5-year structural warranty, a 2-year limited canvas warranty including annexes, and 12 months on electrical components and fittings. Confirm the exact terms on your purchase documentation, since inclusions can vary between models and options.
Get Your HiLux Matched
Bring your compliance plate figures and a weighbridge ticket to a Platinum showroom, or send them through the contact page. The team will tell you which campers fit your ute before you fall in love with one that does not.
