Camper Trailers

[Chalkie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chalkie]

Just a quick question for all.."what is the most suitable "standard" camper trailer for the Prado ??" The reason I ask this is the number of "variables" that I have discovered.I am swayed to the "hardfloor models"
1.Length of drawbar and location of hand-brake..I've tried a few "standards" and even the most expensive causes problems."not able to change a wheel due to not being able to open the tailgate with the trailer attached !!
2.Ball weight..Most have been "high" that is above the 10% that Toyota recomend in their Hand-book..I have a SX with a 3 tonne bar fitted and after towing a "heavy trailer" to QLD and back "NO Thanks" Not saying it wasn't up to the task however it didn't give the greatest feeling in confidence.
3.Lengths..or should I say Balance..Most of the times I am "Off-road" most of the tracks and country-side that I tend to get to requires a short wheel base so manouverability is to me very important.

I passed a guy in the High Country with what appeared to be a dual axle (flip-top model)of some sort of manufacture but due to the terrain and both going oppersite directions wasn't able to stop and chat to find out any more information..It appeared to be probally 8 to 10 feet long with a spare on the back (and what looked like a Sambar on the rack)so if any-one knows who builds them I would be very happy to find out.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

How heavy was this heavy trailer?

Towing with a short wheel base will never be fun.

[Penguin Trainer Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Penguin Trainer]

for mine
it is a Tvan
thats my preference,
Penguin

[sweetpea Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sweetpea]

Just a quick question for all.."what is the most suitable "standard" camper trailer for the Prado ??" The reason I ask this is the number of "variables" that I have discovered.I am swayed to the "hardfloor models"

I have an SX and a camper that is essentially a soft floor fold out tent on a 7X5 trailer.

One axle with leaf springs.

Only a spare wheel on the drawpar layed flat.

Fridge and survival food and water went in the back of the SX and everything else in the camper.

Drove from Melbourne to Darwin via Flinders Ranges, Oodnadatta track and Lake Eyre at dawn. Then through the West MacdDonald ranges, Katheryn and the gorge, Lychfield, Kakadu and a bit of Ahrnem land.

Only mods to the SX are tow bar and a second battery.

With three adults in the car we had heaps of room and lots of comfort and the trailer just followed us everywhere without any fuss.

Fuel consumption was about 9.5 l/100k.

SX and trailer were small enough to fit on the Ghan for the return trip to Adelaide.

[Chalkie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chalkie]

Wooley. Weight on the BBQ plates was 2540 Kgs..aerodynamics of a house brick !!
Penguin...What model Tvan ?? I tried a Murranji and it was heavy..After all the probs that a guy in FNQ went through with Ford (Ranger only has a 180 kg ball weight allowed),Dept of Main Roads etc,and trying it myself maybe the Yallala would be ok if they could move the hand-break lever..
Sweatpea.. sounds like a great trip was had..I gotta admit I still love the economy of the SX..even at NT open road speeds !!

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Chalkie

I cannot comment on what is best but can say I am very happy with my Challange offroad Meridian. If it has a fault, it is that the rear door can only be opened part way (unless you park on an angle).

This is however a problem with almost all trailers and the Prado. If the draw bar was any longer you would have an articulation problem when taking the camper offroad (yes, I have including Border Track on the SA/Vic border.)

The only other consideration is that I decided to get a Chip (Chip-it) and 3 inch exhaust to cope with the offroading while towing and of course my personal desire to overtake anything doing 100kph on the open roads. This of course is a personal, and some may say, irresponsible reason but the first is enough justifcation to consider a chip. At least I know that no matter what I tow, I can get out of the way if I need too unlike the standard Prado that is simply undertuned (underpowered) without towing!

The camper costs circa $19,000 and no doubt you could get much cheaper or much dearer. Importantly though, all my discussions prior to buying showed there is no perfect camper/caravan, even by those that have built their own.

Hope this helps a little and good luck in finding the perfect one for you.

[Chalkie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chalkie]

Midlife...Thanks for the info...I'm probally as "irresponseable" as yourself and like to sit on the designated "Speed Limit".Getting around some Road-trains in NT can be "interesting" although most will give you notice when and where to overtake..!!
Trying to applease SWMBO can be almost daunting as she has decided on "only" hard floor models...and above any wandering "critters"..even a Goanna can cause "entertainment" in a camper..and the "Cute" possum can be nasty...

[brucetheshark1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close brucetheshark1]

I've got a Tvan Canning mark III which I towed through the Gammons and into Lake Eyre and Painted Desert with 5 adults and 10 days food and it was sweet the whole way - rough roads and highway. Tvan is probably more off road capable than the Prado. The Murranji is front end heavy due to the big storage box which could overload the ball weight. Another one to consider which is popular and has a low ball weight is the Ultimate Xtrak.
Bruce

[fun45 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close fun45]

No experience with SWB but I have towed an Aussie Swag for the best part of 4 years with my 120 and you would be hard pressed to fault them! Just tell them you have a Prado and they will fit the stone guard further back. Still need to park at an angle for full opening of rear door but it is a small price to pay for what you get!

Just a quick question for all.."what is the most suitable "standard" camper trailer for the Prado ??" The reason I ask this is the number of "variables" that I have discovered.I am swayed to the "hardfloor models"
1.Length of drawbar and location of hand-brake..I've tried a few "standards" and even the most expensive causes problems."not able to change a wheel due to not being able to open the tailgate with the trailer attached !!
2.Ball weight..Most have been "high" that is above the 10% that Toyota recomend in their Hand-book..I have a SX with a 3 tonne bar fitted and after towing a "heavy trailer" to QLD and back "NO Thanks" Not saying it wasn't up to the task however it didn't give the greatest feeling in confidence.
3.Lengths..or should I say Balance..Most of the times I am "Off-road" most of the tracks and country-side that I tend to get to requires a short wheel base so manouverability is to me very important.

I passed a guy in the High Country with what appeared to be a dual axle (flip-top model)of some sort of manufacture but due to the terrain and both going oppersite directions wasn't able to stop and chat to find out any more information..It appeared to be probally 8 to 10 feet long with a spare on the back (and what looked like a Sambar on the rack)so if any-one knows who builds them I would be very happy to find out.

[Jeffers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeffers]

Hi All,

I went to the Brisbane Caravan & Camping show last Saturday and I was blown away by the amount on campers available on the market.
I was wondering if you guys out there can let me know what your using, and what is good value for money.
I'm probably looking for something that is easy (and quick) to set up for short overnight stays whilst travelling, and is also suitable for 4-5 nights camping on the beach or bush.
I think from what I saw at the show, the Kimberley Kampers look awesome, but they are a bit of coin ($32k-$56k new). Maybe something to save up for?

Your thoughts and comments will be appreciated.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Jeffers, every year I go I always pretty much get drawn to the lifestyle campers, again this year their new walk thru camper at a bit over 10k with a few options is fantastic value and they are local. That is my pick for a top value camper.

[Jeffers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeffers]

Jeffers, every year I go I always pretty much get drawn to the lifestyle campers, again this year their new walk thru camper at a bit over 10k with a few options is fantastic value and they are local. That is my pick for a top value camper.

Thank's Hutch, I'll check them out!

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

The brand I probably would have gone for if I didn't find the one I bought 2nd hand would have been the 'Bayside Camper Trailer'.
Built and sold by a family in Victoria Point.
The one I wanted came in at around $13,000
I ended up buying a home made jobbie for just under $7,000 which suited the budget at the time.

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

Am very happy with my Austrack Extreme offroad camper.
Like the others have said, if you want to open the rear door of the prado with the trailer still hooked up, you have to jackknife the trailer a bit, but I can live with that.
I would much rather the stone guard as that is what stops the door from opening right up.

[discoveraus Member Find all posts View Profile Close discoveraus]

Hello all,

I tow a Kimberley Kamper RV 2009 model with my 150 Prado. I owned the kamper before I bought the Prado.

I can open the rear door fully now with the following minor mods
1/ I cut 75mm off the hand brake lever and use a detachable extension lever.
2/ I made a new jockey wheel winding handle with the knob lowered by 30mm.
3/ I shortened the jockey wheel at both the top and bottom. The top was still too high even with the low winding handle and the towbar is too low and prevented me from dropping the jockey wheel into the service position, hence shortening the bottom of the jockey wheel. A 40mm lift would have done the same thing but was short of funds then.
4/ I bought a longer towball tongue and extended the coupling out 100mm.

I am happy with the results and the RV tows well, approximately 60-100 kgs ball weight now depending on how I load it all up. I also made a dirty bits box at the rear buy misusing the KK optional spare wheel carrier design and this carries about 70 kgs of dirty stuff. ie Generator, petrol, spare LPG, axe, bow saw, jacks, wooden blocks, tent pegs etc. It reduces the ball weight by about 25 kgs.

Would post photos if I knew how.

regards

Ross