Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

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

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

PP Sticker - Its on the nudge bar

Back right.

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

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

I understand that Challenge Camper Trailers are offering a show special of $1,000 off package prices on all deluxe models include the Meridian until the 1st week of March as part of the 2009 SA Caravan and Camping Show.



I am sure there will be plenty of other specials on offer to.

ps. I have no affiliation with this company. I only became aware of this offer due to the fact that I am currently considering purchasing one of these CT's myself.

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

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

Any comments on Vacation Campers - they look very good but interested to hear from anyone who has road tested one

[mike1100 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mike1100]

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

We recently purchased our campervan while at the Perth Caravan & Camping show. It's a Cromal Silhouette Pioneer 391. It is the only campervan with a slide out kitchen. We watched the demo of the van and how to set it up, simple. it was a toss up between the Coromal and the Jayco Swan, but it was the salesman that put us off the Jayco. He pinched his finger trying to put the two piece door together (our is 1 piece) and if it's raining when you slide the beds out, the canvas is not fixed to the bed until fully extended, so the mattress gets wet, (canvas fixed at the end on Coromal). The window next to the door on the Coromal completley zips out, making it feel even bigger if you have the annex on. The wife also commented on how the quality of the cupboards was much better in the Coromal It was manufactured 08 model lic April 09. Fortunately they had this one for sale in the colours we wanted, so we did not have to wait the usual 4-6 months for a new one and it saved us around $4000.....BUT!..... on our first trip away to Moore River (1 1/2 hours north of Perth) we were 3/4 way through winding up the roof when the back came crashing down :x . It took an hour and 3 men get the level and back down. I phoned the dealer in Perth and advised them of the problem, and the only solution was to bring the van back and they will try to repair it. An hour and half back to their yard and two hours later I got the van back. It was operational, however they wanted it back as they were still not 100% happy with the operation of the roof. An hour and half back to Moore River and 15min later the van was set up. Three weeks later and they still have the van. I called through a week ago to follow up on their progress. I was advised they replaced some parts, still were not happy, replaced some more parts, still not happy, so they are gutting the van and replacing all the mechanical parts, should have it back in a week, it's a "Major Job". So far service has been good and hope this will continue should there be any more issues. Funny this was, one of they guys who helped us get the roof down in Moore River had a Jayco Swan, and he had the same problem with his, only thing was, he was 600k's from Perth. A mate of mine has also bought the same van as ours, but he ordered his new in 08 and picked it up in March 09. Very happy and had no problems with his. The attached pic was taken in Moore River once it was repaired, you can see the kitchen extending out the side.

[mumstruk Member Find all posts View Profile Close mumstruk]

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

We have owned a 2002 Jayco Hawke for just over 6 years and used it at least once a month. I sold it about four weeks ago for $1000 more than what I paid for it. Granted I had it sorted for bush camping but if you look after these vans they will hold their value. My accountant said I was mad when I bought it, up yours Bro!
Went shopping at the Bris show and bought a new Jayco Outack Swan. Optioned it up with an extra water tank, 85L x 2, deleted the jerry can holder and swapped it for the twin 9kg gas bottle set up. Got the bed flys and splurged on a Fiamma F45 wind-out awning. 30 second set up, Nuff said.
I had fitted a heavy duty Rhino Rack to the roof of the Eagle and it carried all manner of gear, tinnie etc, on it so I will do the same again with the new van. Beauty of it is that you can get all manner of adapters and accessories for these bars. I reckon mine was unique too.
I kept the pair of 220 amp hour 6 volt batteries I had in the old van and will install them when the new van arrives. Also have a new 12volt 10 lpm pressure pump to go in (I had one in the Eagle which I left in there)and the 1000 watt inverter from the old van as well.
After a few shake down runs we are planning on a trek to the Simpson via the Darling south into Vic. Can't wait.
We had a serious look at the Coromal but the beds are too small and although the slide out kitchen looks good you have actually very limited storage under it as it slides out over the wheel arch. It has a top finish though and the screen sections zip out for easy repair. Not really an issue as we never damaged a screen, even with our two primary school aged kids. The one piece fibreglass roof is great and the independent suspension is OK but we could not see the value for the extra plus $10 grand. If you got the Coromal you might as well spend a few extra bucks and get an off road Windsor Rapid. We almost bought the Windsor but the reality was that we had nowhere to store it, I'd need a bigger shed (hmm now that's an idea) . The Coromal has a one piece door, the Jayco has a two, it only takes seconds to set up anyway. The bed end canvas on the jayco attaches with velcro which we always found handy when it came time to strip or make the beds and if it was raining when it is set up or pull down time you simply leave the bed flys up and pull them down last. The Jayco has a body length of 4113mm and an extended drawbar with a total length of 5591mm. I reckon the Jayco has a better electrical system.
In all our travels we only once had an issue with the winch system. What usually happens (as on mine) was that someone tried to wind the roof up with the caches still on. This stretches the "eyebolts" on the ends of the four cables that are attached to the main cable via a plate with four holes in it. These stretch,open up and fall out of the holes in the plate. I just reshaped them with much difficulty, problem solved. A handy tip for newbies is to once lowered and clipped up wind the handle so that the cables are in tension. this stops the whole thing from shaking itself loose and prevents the cables falling out of the tracks and the four way plate.

[esie Member Find all posts View Profile Close esie]

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

Any comments on Vacation Campers - they look very good but interested to hear from anyone who has road tested one

Spender, friends of ours have just put a deposit down on a Vacation Camper. We have been with them to the factory and showroom, and they are extremely well-made, with many options included that are not included by other companies. If I could justify spending the money on a camper trailer that would spend most of it's time in the back yard, we would purchase a Vacation Camper as well.

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

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

Having just done 6 days along the Oodnadatta Track and out to Dalhousie Springs, we can thoroughly recommend the Challenge Camper trailer. :wink:

[MDS69 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDS69]

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

Time to open up an oldish thread.
Did anyone see the GIC Camper trailer on Pat Callinans 4X4 Aventures today.
http://giccampertrailers.com.au/alumini ... erpackage/
The aluminium off road version is listed at $7,500.00 but you would need to add a kitchen, water tank, tregg style hitch and external tap but it would still come in at around $10k or less. They weigh in at 520kg tare.

They look pretty good on TV and also on their website. Does anyone have any experience with these. I might try to get over to Regents Park (Syd) this week for a look see.

[adrian Member Find all posts View Profile Close adrian]

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

MDS69
I just finished watching the show and saw the camper.
I looked into them last month, and it seemed pretty good.
I believe the trailer is made locally and the canvas is imported from china. Hence the good price.

Cheers
Adrian

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

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

A guy that i know brought a light offroad version of the GIC, (he only has an xtrail) and had it set up near Kilcoy for over a week around christmas and new year and said he no issues with rain etc and we did cop some rain around that time.

for those that want to get into a camper and haven't won lotto, they could be a good alternative. i would want to see it in the flesh first.

[tinkera Member Find all posts View Profile Close tinkera]

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

HI ALL.I have a WALKABOUT CT or should I say top as I built the off road trailer myself and he fitted the top.One of the Gall boys, who make KEDRON CARAVANS.he makes the campers.Great product, they are off road camping people themselves so they know there stuff and great people to deal with. TINKERA.

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

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

Im a fan of CUB Campers, light and easy to setup, basic construction and Australian owned although I think there made overseas theses days,

Zook.

[-Junior- Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close -Junior-]

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

Time to open up an oldish thread.
Did anyone see the GIC Camper trailer on Pat Callinans 4X4 Aventures today.
http://giccampertrailers.com.au/alumini ... erpackage/
The aluminium off road version is listed at $7,500.00 but you would need to add a kitchen, water tank, tregg style hitch and external tap but it would still come in at around $10k or less. They weigh in at 520kg tare.

They look pretty good on TV and also on their website. Does anyone have any experience with these. I might try to get over to Regents Park (Syd) this week for a look see.

Drive past every now and then (Live 1 suburb over) and have seen a few truck loads of about 5 or 6 being sent out, so they must be selling.

[Byrnsie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Byrnsie]

Re: Whats your pick of Camper/tent trailers?

See page 168 of this months 4WD Action (Issue 145) for a picture of my Prado and our ModCon Solution camper trailer. It was our home for 3 months and travelled some of the best 4wd tracks Australia has to offer (including tracks 16, 7, 5 and 1 in the same issue of the mag).

I was very impressed with the ease it followed the Prado up the Old Telegraph Track doing all creek crossings including Gunshot.

I have fitted it out with Prado rims and Cooper STTs to match the Prado.

Go the ModCon!

Cheers - Greg

[Terry123 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Terry123]

I picked 2014 Starcraft Comet Tent Trailer. but I absolutely love the look of the Opera luxury camper, though it's ridiculously expensive (in my opinion; more expensive than a large luxury caravan)