Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

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

Up to now we have been tenting but after nearly being washed away in the last trip when a storm cell hit we decided its time to think about a camper trailer or van of some type. How do people get on when the canvas of their camper trailer gets soaked? It can't be much fun setting it up the next night with wet canvas. A friend has little hard top Avan which does not have such problems and reckons we should think about a hard top instead. The down side is we do some rough driving so such a unit would probably fall to pieces.

Get a Tvan - the wet canvas packs up and is kept off the bed/etc. It's a proper off-road camper trailer so rough roads won't hurt it. Ours has been across the Simpson, Cape York, etc

[AK7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AK7]

This thread has been fantastic in the info it contains.

Up to now we have been tenting but after nearly being washed away in the last trip when a storm cell hit we decided its time to think about a camper trailer or van of some type. How do people get on when the canvas of their camper trailer gets soaked? It can't be much fun setting it up the next night with wet canvas. A friend has little hard top Avan which does not have such problems and reckons we should think about a hard top instead. The down side is we do some rough driving so such a unit would probably fall to pieces.

My folks have an Outback Sturt CT. Two years ago we all camped up at Barrington Tops and copped a stack of rain and a seriously gusty storm. On the last morning we sun-dried everything. Their entire camper was dry by about 9:30AM, an hour or so earlier than my tarp and tent was. The only part that was wet when they folded it was the soft floor, which they promptly dried with a towel. But then, not all canvasses are equal...



The Outback Sturt has to be one of the most simple, most spacious and fastest to erect or pack campers on the market. This thing is the benchmark for the CT I'd like to eventually own. The speed at which it can be set up and packed up (video here); the huge space inside; and the sheer simplicity are the highlights. I like the fact that it doesn't come by default with electrics (optional extra) - I'd prefer to install my own. I don't like how hot it can get inside, but I reckon a canvas worker could install an exhaust vent up high without too much fuss - I notice a few brands are starting to do this with their campers now. I don't like the small water tank (59L), but that wouldn't be too hard to upgrade either. My biggest challenge is convincing the missus that we need this :shock:

They also had something similar to these Power Movers on theirs, which made it a cinch to wiggle the camper around on soft ground or uneven ground to get it where they wanted. I'm sure a lot of you already use them, but I haven't seen them in this thread yet.

[Doug32 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Doug32]

Thanks Peter and AK7.
I better check out my bank balance before looking closely at new T-Van or Outback Sturt. There may be good used ones for sale.

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

This is what I chose, suits me perfectly. Lightweight, easy to tow and best of all, no canvas. Suitable for dirt road touring and light off-roading. Weighs between 600-700kg's all up and only uses about 1.5 litres extra per hundred.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Horses for courses. You get what you need and pay accordingly. I bought a 1998 Campomatic for $8k. Hard floor, independent Alko rubber suspension with shocks. Canvas in good order. Set up time is about 30 seconds if you park on level ground- undo 2 clips and flick it over. Done. In a 6 week trip last year I only used the leveler legs 2 or 3 times. That trip included Oodnadatta Track, Finke Gorge, Gary Junction Road, Cape Leveque, Duncan and Buchanan Highyways, Binns track and Plenty Highyway. NO Problems. No need to spend $30-40 k to get a new one unless you are driven to do so. People with Cubs will tell similar stories about $10 k second hand ones doing similar jobs. You may not here the same about new imported campers.

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

Agree,

I've been looking at gumtree for a while now, what are the good brands to be looking out for?

Horses for courses. You get what you need and pay accordingly. I bought a 1998 Campomatic for $8k. Hard floor, independent Alko rubber suspension with shocks. Canvas in good order. Set up time is about 30 seconds if you park on level ground- undo 2 clips and flick it over. Done. In a 6 week trip last year I only used the leveler legs 2 or 3 times. That trip included Oodnadatta Track, Finke Gorge, Gary Junction Road, Cape Leveque, Duncan and Buchanan Highyways, Binns track and Plenty Highyway. NO Problems. No need to spend $30-40 k to get a new one unless you are driven to do so. People with Cubs will tell similar stories about $10 k second hand ones doing similar jobs. You may not here the same about new imported campers.

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

This is what I chose, suits me perfectly.

I've seen doggy trailers bigger than that! In fact, I think the trailer my BIL tows behind his BMW motorbike is bigger.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

After extensive research, we have just purchased a Patriot X1 Limited Edition. Nothing else on the market that is quite like it. We chose the Patriot because of its swiss army knife design, and its off road engineering spec. With 3 kids all getting bigger, the Blackwolf family tent is no longer desireable, and with a CT, we can claim our cabin space back.

Can't comment on experience with the trailer just yet, as it hasn't been built, but after seeing one at the caravan show, they are certainly tough and practical.
We decided we want something that is compact for storage, and off-road capable, that will suit us now with kids, and leter when the kids are no longer living with us. They are not cheap, but neither are Tvans or Ultimates, and IMHO they offer a lot more features for the dollar. Justified by treating it as a go-anywhere "mobile holiday home" type of investment.

In 12 months time, we will be doing a Simpson Desert trip, and I think the Partiot will be as good as anything to tow accross, also.

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

I'd go with the Patriot X1... if I had the cash!

Hell yeah!

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

I've seen doggy trailers bigger than that! In fact, I think the trailer my BIL tows behind his BMW motorbike is bigger.

I've had a few comments like that but once people have a look through it, most agree it's all you really need. I'm 6'1 and its a queen size bed, I find it very comfy. Best of all, no setup time.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Have a look/ask on myswag.org, campertrailers.org etc for opinions/ideas on tents to go on your own trailer or google camper trailer tents eg. http://oztrail.com.au/product-range/...-trailer-tents
Don't be tempted to go too big if you are going to be putting it up and down a lot. Some are very heavy and difficult to manage, despite what they will tell you. As few ropes and poles as possible.

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

I've had a few comments like that but once people have a look through it, most agree it's all you really need. I'm 6'1 and its a queen size bed, I find it very comfy. Best of all, no setup time.

With a user name of Pugaree, I'm guessing you're used to sleeping under a hutchie or inside a fighting trench so that trailer would be shear luxury. I remember the first time I used a thermarest as opposed to sleeping directly on the ground with no mattress (for the first 9 years) when I was a digger.

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

With a user name of Pugaree, I'm guessing you're used to sleeping under a hutchie or inside a fighting trench so that trailer would be shear luxury. I remember the first time I used a thermarest as opposed to sleeping directly on the ground with no mattress (for the first 9 years) when I was a digger.

You're right although it's been many years since I slept under a hutchie. Getting old now and the days of sleeping in the dirt are well behind me, even the swag was becoming a little unbearable. Quite enjoy the comfort of the van.

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

I love my swag when I'm out bush solo and when it's freezing outside. Nice to snuggle into my sleeping bag, kind of reminds me of crawling into the sleeping bay of a fighting pit after a long patrol or gun picquet and pretending that you can't hear the commotion of the enemy probe.

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

I love my swag when I'm out bush solo and when it's freezing outside. Nice to snuggle into my sleeping bag, kind of reminds me of crawling into the sleeping bay of a fighting pit after a long patrol or gun picquet and pretending that you can't hear the commotion of the enemy probe.

I was a Sig, we couldn't hear the enemy over the sound of the generators.