Dust Sealing Soft Floors

[seqfisho]

Hi All,

After just recently coming back from our 2 week outback Qld trip which
saw us travel about 1000k's + of dirt roads and some very thick
bulldust patches it became quite displeasing the amount of dust that
got into the trailer and moreso the tent section and bed.

We had a hire trailer (Trackabout Safari) of excellent quality and
strength but with a few years and plenty of travel under it's belt. I
believe the trailer sealing could be improved by replacing the
flattened foam tape on the tent base and tailgate but how do you stop
the dust getting through the zips and velcro flaps that seal the cover
over the tent section.

We were almost sold on a purchase untill SWMBO decided that a dusty
bed in a trailer wasn't much better than swags. Hiring has to be the
best way to find out what suits and what doesn't before laying down
your hard earned as we were 99.9% sold that particular CT before the
trip, not that there is any thing bad with them at all, I think they
are still one of the best value for money CT's out there but it
doesn't quite suit us.

We recently looked at some hardfloors and are now totally reassesing
our needs, and dust proofing and quick set up are now at the top of
the list despite the price tag they attract.

I will say that despite the dust issue and the setup time at the end
of a long day behind the wheel our CT experience was fantastic and we
are now converts to this fantastic travelling mode and already
planning the next big trip to the Cape in 2007, just not sure what we
will be towing yet.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/10/200.jpg

[weeds]

my dad found the cub hard floor campers good value, i will let you know how well it seals the dust as is in birdsville tonight and will be travelling down the bridsville track and across tot he stuart hi-way over the next few days

his trailer has vents fiited cause it a a fridge and stove inside so he needs to tape the vents up each day while on the dirt

[seqfisho]

The picture is the view in the side mirror while travelling from Birdsville to Windorah, the two black spots in the dust are gibbers on the fly, speed about 45kph:o

[incisor]

I have driven on some long dirt roads with my softfloor and have never had the dust in the bed problem... but i too like the nature of the hardfloors, pity my wallet doesnt find them so attractive... i liked the pioneer units... saw them at the latest show and walked away miffed i couldnt afford one :P

[seqfisho]

I have driven on some long dirt roads with my softfloor and have never had the dust in the bed problem... but i too like the nature of the hardfloors, pity my wallet doesnt find them so attractive... i liked the pioneer units... saw them at the latest show and walked away miffed i couldnt afford one :P

Dave,

I know exactly what you mean, we looked and fell in love with the Aussie Swag Ultra with all the bells and whistles inc solar, fridge, full canvas, kids room and shower, but the $43 K slowed me down a bit.............wonder how much a first born gets you these days;)

I haven't had a chance to look at a Pioneer in the flesh yet, where did you see it and who was the dealer? I have admired them in the mags and on their website but didn't think they had anyone on the eastcoast or QLD.

[weeds]

Dave,

I know exactly what you mean, we looked and fell in love with the Aussie Swag Ultra with all the bells and whistles inc solar, fridge, full canvas, kids room and shower, but the $43 K slowed me down a bit.............wonder how much a first born gets you these days;)

I haven't had a chance to look at a Pioneer in the flesh yet, where did you see it and who was the dealer? I have admired them in the mags and on their website but didn't think they had anyone on the eastcoast or QLD.

you could just go the LX that would make it more affordable

[p38arover]

but the $43 K slowed me down a bit.

That buys a lot of motel rooms.

Ron

[seqfisho]

That buys a lot of motel rooms.

Ron

Not too many motels on the Cape or Kimberleys :p

[Redback]

Never had a dust problem in the tent section with ours, and mines only got the bungee tied down cover, and we've done over 4000ks of dirt on each our trips, the bungee is wearing a bit and i've had a bit get in on the last trip but nothing to worry about.

The zip around covers are the best but when dust get into the zip they are a pain in the **** to open or shut:twisted: :twisted:

Baz.

[p38arover]

Not too many motels on the Cape or Kimberleys :p

But how often does one do the Cape or Kimberleys. Why not just hire?

Dunno what a $43K loan would cost per week but even that amount would pay for a motel room or two.

Ron

[seqfisho]

But how often does one do the Cape or Kimberleys. Why not just hire?

Dunno what a $43K loan would cost per week but even that amount would pay for a motel room or two.

Ron

The biggest problem with hiring one is that you need to book well in advance and there isn't the flexibility to just hook up and go fo weekends or longer, when we get ours (whatever it turns out to be) it will always be packed ready to roll as often I get home on a Friday night and think that I've suffered enough fools for the week so lets just take off for a couple of days in the bush, with the effort that is required to get the camping gear for 2 adults, children and dog packed into the minimal space in the disco plus put roof racks and so forth on the whole thing looses it's appeal and I usually just end up going to the beer fridge in the garage grabbing a coldie and looking at the car instead of actually going away in it.

[Reads90]

I have a off road camper trailer
Not an expensive one but in my mind a bloody good one. Cost us $9000 and has been 36,000 k's around aus with no problems what so ever. And that was along all the tough tracks across aus. So in my mind you don't need to spend a fortune on a camper trailer. Ours is a soft floor with a kitchen and water tank and all the bits.
We were going to sell it when we got back have decided to keep it. For the reason that we can just go off at any time we want and go camping with no worries. But all a bit of the fact that it did go alround aus with us and we did live in it for 7 months.
But also $9000 is not alot for a camper trailer so having that sat in the garage for most of the time is not too much of a worry for me.
BTW it does have a dust proof cover on the top so it does not let any dust into the tent or bedding area

[cartm58]

l bought a gold stream hard top camper for $9000 in 1996 excellant camper and would have it set up in 5 mins and packed away in about 20 mins next morning.

Brother borrowed it to go on trip to Broken Hill, Cameron Corner and Birdsville, flipped it on a corrugted outback road and totalled it, Insurance Company paid out $9,000 as was within first 12 months. I bought wreck for $1,500 and spent $1,500 repairing damage to bring it back to as new status.

Sold it in 2004 for $3,500

only thing l ever made a profit on

[Michael2]

But how often does one do the Cape or Kimberleys. Why not just hire?

Dunno what a $43K loan would cost per week but even that amount would pay for a motel room or two.

Ron

I inquired about hiring a TVAN recently


- "none available (school holidays), try booking a year in advance":o .

But at $550 p/w I couldn't afford to hire either.

I reckon for a road trip you're better off buying and selling at the end. Or buying and then hiring it out. It's got 1,000% greater return than a rental house (dollar for dollar), though it doesn't have the capital growth.

Or you could swag it and go 5 Star once a week for a good tidy up.

[Bytemrk]

I have one of these...

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/749.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/750.jpg


http://www.tambocampers.com.au/Cooper.html


I have been really happy with it... I've had it a bit over 2 years - in that time it has done around 15,000km without a hiccup.

I've never had a dust issue with it and I've had it in water to the top of the wheels - and everything stayed dry:D:D

For a bit over $6,000 I am more than happy to keep it and use it whenever I can.

Looking at the Tvan hire above... thats under 12 weeks and I've paid for mine:eek::eek:

At the cheap end of the market there is a LOT of crap... but if you look carefully - and don't want every set of bells and whistles - there are some really good solid budget units around.

Mark

[p38arover]

I guess it depends on your needs.

I could never justify it for one person. My wife doesn't go 4WDing nor camping.

Thinking about it, neither do it. :(

Ron

[Bytemrk]

I guess it depends on your needs.

I could never justify it for one person. My wife doesn't go 4WDing nor camping.

Thinking about it, neither do it. :(

Ron

You're absolutely right Ron... if it was just me and the missus... I'd rather just take a tent... but I have 2 kids ( 9 and 10).. and this makes it easy to transport all the junk.... a cheap comfortable roof... and just makes the whole "go away for a weekend" thing easier...


Mark