Conqueror or Tvan

[Banjo_pluker]

My wife and I are looking at the conqueror or the tvan as our next home away from home

Has anyone had any experience with these, we have a family of 5 (2 Adults and 3 kids)

We are leaning toward the conqueror but are undecided, the kids are soon to dis own us and more further afield to a tent, but we would like to have the ability to put them on the floor if it is wet etc.

We have looked at the tvan and think there is enough room on the floor for them. We have never seen the conqueror except in brochures etc.

your experience would be great!

Thanks

[Hamish71]

I regularly rent a Tvan, and have spent a lot of time looking at the Conqueror, particularly the 440 and the 490. The TVAN is smaller, lighter, more compact, and more suitable for serious off roading for 2 people (only because of size and weight). You can put bunks on the hard floor, and possibly more in the attachable softfloor kids room annex. It also has the benefit of being cheaper, if you buy second hand. You cant get conqueror second hand....havnt been around long enough.

The 440 has two double beds, off the ground (might be queens actually). Great for a couple and two small kids. It is well featured, and I fantasise about buying one every day. I am in love with this trailer. The 490 is the same, although you can split the table that becomes a bed into two single beds. The ensuite capability is bloody marvelous....in my wifes opinion. It is also a bit longer, heavier bigger than the 440. Both are every bit as capable off road as the tvan, just that is size and bulk will mean your 4wd hits its limits before it would if it was towing a tvan.

All three of these trailers provide hard roof cover to the main sleeping area.

IN MY OPINION, the 440 is the pick, but at 51k fully optioned ( 38k base, and probably 45k with a compromise between wife and I), its not cheap.

Tvans second hand are high 20's.

Im not kidding, I think everyday about going home and telling my wife that "I just ordered a COnqueror"....and every day I go home with a sad look on my face, but my testicles still where they belong.....

[Banjo_pluker]

Thanks for that info just what I wanted.

we are leaning toward the Conqueror but need to see on first. The price is better then the Tvan and more accessories,

I get the impression a little that the Tvan relies on their suspension a lot to sell them

Any more info/experiences most welcome

[wardy1]

We positively drooled over the Conqueror when we saw it at the 4wd show in Melb about a month ago. It is the top of our list and we'll probably order a 440 in the next few months. It has more room than the Tvan and certainly represents great value imho. this could well change once they have traction in the market, I can see them moving their pricing much closer to Kimberly once they have market penetration.... makes them a good buy at current prices I think.
Yes they are heavier, but wow...they are sooo much more.
Email them and they will go halves on an airfare to Brissie for you if you are a genuine prospect to buy one.
LOOK OUT KIMBERLEY CAMPERS I SAY!

[Mikey]

My family consists of two young children, my wife and myself.

After looking around for a while my wife and I decided on a Camprite camper trailer made in western Australia (index (http://www.campritecampers.com.au)). We did not want to fork out for a new one so we finally found an early model second hand one. It is pretty awesome for what it is, not as large as the soft floor style of camper but everyone is off the ground and the basic camper is folded out cantilever style and setup in around 5 minutes. There are two LARGE single beds (one either side) which can have a bunk above each for a total of 4 singles plus a double bed that slides out over the drawbar of the trailer. It is also very capable off road and well built.

Now having said that, we did not know about the Conqueror before hand and were absolutely impressed with this camper/caravan cross. Had we seen or heard about the Conqueror before we decided on the Camprite we would have gone the Conqueror path, even if it meant that we had to buy new.

Imho, compared to everything thing else on the market within this price range and occupant sleeping ability, it wins hands down for the features and bang for buck considering it is at the top end of the camper trailer market.

I also really like the ruggedness of it. Built like a tank but there is a bit of a weight penalty depending on the options fitted and how much you load it up. You also have to take into consideration the tow vehicles ability to pull it where you want to go. I have no doubt that the Conqueror will go wherever the tow vehicle will.

In summary it is the perfect vehicle for OUR NEEDS and if we had not already made a purchase we would buy one in less than a heartbeat.

Only my opinion.
Cheers
Mikey

[Gav110]

I agree with Mikey and Hamish. I saw them at the Sydney 4WD show last month and was blown away by the 490 and 440. We have 4 kids under 8 and there is a huge gap in the market for larger families.

Another option to these and the Camprite but not nearly as integrated is the Trak Shak (Trak Shak Camper Trailers (http://www.trakshak.com.au/)) which has 2 queen (almost king) beds up off the ground plus a separate double bed in tent scenario which cleverly goes under the trailer and is surprisingly warm even in deep winter. My brother in law has one and we're about to borrow it again.

The downsides of the Trak Shak are the separate kitchen (which some like) and the relatively longer set up times - esp. if you include set up of ancillary accessories like gas lights and hot water on demand (both can be optioned and plumbed/integrated on the Conqueror).

For us, the biggest sleeping area of the 2 Conquerors is the 490, and we will be racing to order as soon as we have the cash (gulp) assembled. Last I checked it was a 5 month lead time.... Oh and they will size the drawbar to the Defender rear door so you can open it, plus put on a space case/ extra storage box, and match a Defender stud pattern. As I have a full set of Boost Alloy spares I will be using my own wheels too.

[Hamish71]

Mikey, the Camprite is my back up plan! I love the simplicity and the value for money....but I cant find one second hand for love or money. Buy the COnqueror...you know you want to:).....and I know someone that will snap up your camprite:angel:


My family consists of two young children, my wife and myself.

After looking around for a while my wife and I decided on a Camprite camper trailer made in western Australia (index (http://www.campritecampers.com.au)). We did not want to fork out for a new one so we finally found an early model second hand one. It is pretty awesome for what it is, not as large as the soft floor style of camper but everyone is off the ground and the basic camper is folded out cantilever style and setup in around 5 minutes. There are two LARGE single beds (one either side) which can have a bunk above each for a total of 4 singles plus a double bed that slides out over the drawbar of the trailer. It is also very capable off road and well built.

Now having said that, we did not know about the Conqueror before hand and were absolutely impressed with this camper/caravan cross. Had we seen or heard about the Conqueror before we decided on the Camprite we would have gone the Conqueror path, even if it meant that we had to buy new.

Imho, compared to everything thing else on the market within this price range and occupant sleeping ability, it wins hands down for the features and bang for buck considering it is at the top end of the camper trailer market.

I also really like the ruggedness of it. Built like a tank but there is a bit of a weight penalty depending on the options fitted and how much you load it up. You also have to take into consideration the tow vehicles ability to pull it where you want to go. I have no doubt that the Conqueror will go wherever the tow vehicle will.

In summary it is the perfect vehicle for OUR NEEDS and if we had not already made a purchase we would buy one in less than a heartbeat.

Only my opinion.
Cheers
Mikey

[Hamish71]

Thanks for that info just what I wanted.

we are leaning toward the Conqueror but need to see on first. The price is better then the Tvan and more accessories,

I get the impression a little that the Tvan relies on their suspension a lot to sell them

Any more info/experiences most welcome

As an engineering company, who specialises in, amongst other things, modifying military vehicles, I can tell you that the TVAN suspension is Bloody awesome....I can also tell you that the COnquerors suspension is bloody awesome.....note the use of the capital B for Tvan.....there is probably that much difference:) The conqueror suspension is more than adequate.

[Banjo_pluker]

Thanks for the info guys it has been very usful

I spoke to them in person (conqueror) and the seem like a good bunch of blokes to talk to. Just need to go and talk to them,

I looked at the camp right but our brief is no canvas on beds if we can get away from it, they looked like a great bit of gear,

Going up Brisbane way soon and we are trying to fit in a visit to the show room to have a really good look, will report back

[jake]

G'day,

We own a Tvan and obviously are a little biased. One of the things I like about our van is it's weight. Their certainly has been a lot of thought put into these. I think sometimes though we get caught up in the nice things. Kimbelrey Kampers looked great but to us they are to heavy. We still do a lot of high country touring so the lighter the better. The Pioneer was also a choice and as a hard floor camper We found this also to our liking. So many choices. Be mindful that all the extras you get or want only add weight. The same applys for cargo space. The more lockers you have the more you will put in them.:)

Jake

[whisky_mac]

Brought a second hand (2005) Tvan six months ago. There is only the finacial control and myself and the Tvan suits the empty nesters prefectly. Had a trip down the Darling, only set it up with the tent section up and one night did not even do that, just hopped in and pulled the hatch shut. Recently spent 3 nights at camp 4 on the Hume and Hovell track so set up the annex and en suite for a bit more comfort and warm showers with the coleman hot water heater. Next year we will go through the Flinders, up the Oonadata track and painted desert and then along the Finke river to Hermansburg. Then through the Alice and the territorry's tourist spots spend some time with a mate on the Daly river before coming home via the Gibb River road, Broome, Perth to see another mate then the drive east. The Tvan will do all I ask of it without complaint. But they really are better suited to two up touring. If I wanted to camp in a caravan park by the beach for a few weeks and enjoy the park atmosphere I would go for a drifferent van.

Jim

[Banjo_pluker]

Brought a second hand (2005) Tvan six months ago. There is only the finacial control and myself and the Tvan suits the empty nesters prefectly. Had a trip down the Darling, only set it up with the tent section up and one night did not even do that, just hopped in and pulled the hatch shut. Recently spent 3 nights at camp 4 on the Hume and Hovell track so set up the annex and en suite for a bit more comfort and warm showers with the coleman hot water heater. Next year we will go through the Flinders, up the Oonadata track and painted desert and then along the Finke river to Hermansburg. Then through the Alice and the territorry's tourist spots spend some time with a mate on the Daly river before coming home via the Gibb River road, Broome, Perth to see another mate then the drive east. The Tvan will do all I ask of it without complaint. But they really are better suited to two up touring. If I wanted to camp in a caravan park by the beach for a few weeks and enjoy the park atmosphere I would go for a drifferent van.

Jim

Thanks for that and it seems you are busy tripping around. We have almost come to the conclusion that the Tvan is for 2up camping, we will have to look at the conqueror to judge for sure if they are better.

Thanks