Our first overnighter with the new Pioneer CT

[GregMilner]

For those who tow, this might be of some small interest. SWMBO and I took our new camper trailer for its first outing over the weekend...not a very adventurous one, just an hour or so south east of Perth into the national forest around Dwellingup. It was really just to figure out what goes where, and have arguments about tent poles. (Women do not understand that men don't read manuals.)
Averaged 10.5 litres per hundred (on the dash anyway) which I think is pretty damn good, towing around 1300kg.
The FF sure is a fantastic tug.

[Road Stone]

Hi Greg,


Any pics with the camper set up? Looks quite a system.


Other than a horse box, it always looks strange to see a RR towing something!


Cheers, Jerry

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I love the Damn The Torpedoes thing with leaving the roof racks on!!:p:D

[LandyAndy]

Hi Greg
Did you do the 4wd track thay follows the river to the Harvey Rd???
Its a nice trip,and easy too.
Andrew

[GregMilner]

This is the best photo I have of the rig set up. I love that it has its own hot water system (gas) piped to the sink and the shower area on the other side, with an ensuite you can zip into the side. SWMBO doesn't mind that either.
We didn't do anything hard core off road, we just drove to Dwellingup and set up in the caravan park in the national forest. it was just a setup trip really.

[LRD414]

Very nice but looks like your awning erection skills need some fine-tuning Greg.
I find this to be the most difficult part with our camper trailer too.
The peaked profile is very difficult to get straight and true.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/06/947.jpg
I am always chasing drum taut, an elusive goal.
This effort got a 7/10

Cheers,
Scott

[GregMilner]

Ha ha, yeah it was a bit shabby, we weren't too fussed about aesthetics at that stage, just needed to get something up before it rained:-)

[Road Stone]

Thanks for the pics, both look great.


Home sick again!


Cheers, Jerry

[rar110]

Very nice but looks like your awning erection skills need some fine-tuning Greg. I find this to be the most difficult part with our camper trailer too. The peaked profile is very difficult to get straight and true. I am always chasing drum taut, an elusive goal. This effort got a 7/10 Cheers, Scott

I regret not buying a forward folding camper.

[LandyAndy]

Very nice but looks like your awning erection skills need some fine-tuning Greg.
I find this to be the most difficult part with our camper trailer too.
The peaked profile is very difficult to get straight and true.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members/lrd414-albums-cape+york-picture5542-rainforest-gordon-creek.jpg
I am always chasing drum taut, an elusive goal.
This effort got a 7/10

Cheers,
Scott

Hey Scott.
Is there by the slimest chance you have a shiny head?????
My shiny headed mate is your doppleganger:p:p:p:p:p:p
He has the same colour D4,same rack,wants the same wheels,is about to buy an identical camper.AND.He also is a bit of a perfectionist:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

[Aaron40]

Bloody hell, its lucky I have some spot lights hanging off the front or you may get run off the road by mistake with all my ex's that are still chasing me... ;)



Hey Scott.
Is there by the slimest chance you have a shiny head?????
My shiny headed mate is your doppleganger:p:p:p:p:p:p
He has the same colour D4,same rack,wants the same wheels,is about to buy an identical camper.AND.He also is a bit of a perfectionist:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

[GregMilner]

I regret not buying a forward folding camper.

Don't regret. We looked at a lot of forward fold machines, the main problem being they are in the main very heavy on the tow ball. Which with a L322 is a problem having a max recommended tow ball weight of 250KG.
Ours is only about 130kg dry, even loaded up should be no more than 200kg.

[LRD414]

Hey Scott.
Is there by the slimest chance you have a shiny head?????
My shiny headed mate is your doppleganger:p:p:p:p:p:p
He has the same colour D4,same rack,wants the same wheels,is about to buy an identical camper.AND.He also is a bit of a perfectionist

LOL. Sorry no, full head of hair still.
And I thought Aaron's was Orkney rather than Nara.
Anyway, clearly a man of discerning and refined taste.

Scott

[LRD414]

Don't regret. We looked at a lot of forward fold machines, the main problem being they are in the main very heavy on the tow ball. Which with a L322 is a problem having a max recommended tow ball weight of 250KG.

Ours is only about 130kg dry, even loaded up should be no more than 200kg.

This is a fair point. Mine is around 250kg when fully loaded. They are quite long generally. But you do have to watch this with some rear folds too. The axle is still quite far back and you can fit a lot in those front storage boxes.

I reckon the best ones for ball weight are the Ultimates. But twice the cost at least.

Scott

[LandyAndy]

Scott,what breed is yours,Im sure if its the one Aaron is about to sign up for he would like a chat:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
It looks very similar in the pic.
Andrew

[LRD414]

Scott,what breed is yours
It's a Wild Boar Camper, small Brisbane company.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/06/943.jpg
See what I mean about long.

Maybe I should do a thread in the Vans & Campers section, rather than hijack Greg's new pride and joy further.

Scott

[LRD414]

Which with a L322 is a problem having a max recommended tow ball weight of 250KG.
Actually, that surprises me. What about the huge Bushtracker that Chris tows?

Scott

[GregMilner]

I remember Chris saying he loaded it up to maybe 300kg on the ball. Probably okay, considering the LR engineers are probably being conservative.

[DiscoMick]

This is a fair point. Mine is around 250kg when fully loaded. They are quite long generally. But you do have to watch this with some rear folds too. The axle is still quite far back and you can fit a lot in those front storage boxes.

I reckon the best ones for ball weight are the Ultimates. But twice the cost at least.

Scott
250kg is a pretty heavy ball weight. It could be lifting the front of the vehicle if not careful. I thought an ideal ball weight was about 100 kg.

[LRD414]

L322 rated to 250kg ball weight
D3/D4 rated to 350kg ball weight

[CSBrisie]

Never had a problem towing and we were at just over 300kg ball weight when we did the Plenty Highway. Probably 250kg once we got to Alice as we reduced water load in the front tanks of the van (BT has 6) and no longer had 2 full jerry cans in the front draw bar box.

Never a hint of an issue steering. Towed superbly and effortlessly over 7000km's on that trip (which is the heaviest I have had it).

All that said....I keep it under 250kg for obvious reasons. :angel:

[Graeme]

The L322's 250kg is only for Oz - 150kg elsewhere.

[Aaron40]

The one we are going for is the PMX Stirling GT, very close, it is an Ezytail sister company here in WA and NT. I like the way you matched Disco trailer colours Scott... I am doing the same...again apparently....:o
(http://www.pmxcampers.com.au/camper-trailers-for-sale/hard-floor-camper-trailers-for-sale/stirling-gt-hardfloor-camper-trailer.html)

[LandyAndy]

Hey Aaron,we may have to get a polished head for Scott,TWINS:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p
Andrew

[LRD414]

Or a wig for Aaron.

[DiscoMick]

I'm glad people aren't having a problem towing with those higher ball weights, but it would still make me nervous going over about 150kg.