Trayon campers

[fraser130]

I've been dreaming a bit of late, and been looking at Trayon Campers, I think I've seen a couple of posters here have one, could you tell me what you really think of them, and what the pros/cons are?
Ta in advance,
Fraser

[vnx205]

These are some comments I made a while back to some specific questions asked in a PM. They might cover some of the things you are interested in.
If you have any specific things you want me to comment on, just ask.

It's very hard to know what someone else would be satisfied with. I know of some people who will only live in a caravan for a few months if it is equipped with a toilet, shower, microwave, coffee machine, island double bed, satellite dish, plasma TV and a few other things. Others are happy in a tent.
My wife and I have spent over two months at a stretch and had no complaints.
The bed is very comfortable. The fridge is 80 or 90 litres, which is big enough. The stove and sink are adequate. There is plenty of storage, but as my wife has pointed out there is nowhere to hang clothes. (Funny I didn't notice that :p)
Mine is the dual cab model even though I have it on a single cab 110. When you buy second hand you often just have to take what is available at the time you need to buy. The single cab model had a bit more floor space and a few more cupboards.
Some people might get tired of having to go up and down the steps.. At 60 yrs of age my wife and I don't find it a problem. It might even depend on how much time you spend outside under the awning created by swinging the top over. That shaded area is really great especially if you park with it on the southern side of the vehicle.
It has really good ventilation. The fly which can be fitted helps keep the heat out.
It takes very little time to set up and pack up and is a one person job.
I believe that I could live in the Trayon for a year or so, but of course it would not be the best thing on the market for that sort of thing. It is designed to be as comfortable as a slide on camper could be while still being no bigger than the tray, hardly higher than the cab when travelling and only about 350kg. In other words it is designed to allow the vehicle to still be able to go almost anywhere it could have gone without the camper.
It is certainly way more convenient than any camper trailer I have seen.
It takes me about 15 minutes to take it off the vehicle and about 20 to put it back on. I do that at home when I need the vehicle for something else, but I have only once stayed in the one place for long enough for that to be worthwhile on a trip and that was at Alice Springs.
If you had to pack up several morning in a row when it was raining you would have to protect the bedding from the wet canvas. If you're staying put it doesn't matter. That awning over the door is great in wet weather.

The Trayon site is worth a look.
http://www.trayon.com/main.php

As I said it's hard to know what someone else would be happy with. I hope this is some help.
I'm happy to add anything else that might help if you have some specific questions about particular features.
Don't be afraid to ask if there is anything else you want to know.

Some of the pros would be the clever design, the build quality, the compactness when traveling and the space when camping. I like the idea of no extra rego as there would be with a camper trailer and the fact that reversing in tricky spots is just as easy as with no camper.

The biggest con I can think of is one that hasn't yet been a problem for me, that is having the wet canvas folding down on the bed when it rains. I believe a tarp or plastic spread across the bed keeps it dry. I suppose another disadvantage is the cost. Anything that good is not cheap.

[moose]

Don't know anything about them unfortunately, but there's a guy here in wonthaggi who makes these: utepod.com (http://www.utepod.com/) I don't know anything about them either, but they seem a good idea.

[pjlhat]

Hi Agree with every thing VNX205 had to say, we are on our third trayon. we purchased all 3 s/h and now have the delux model with Shower, Gas hot water and most importantly perspex windows which allow us to have natural light when it's raining or cold and windy. We love it and is a perfect match for 130 dualcab.
Peter:)

[Expedition 130]

Definitely agree with pjihat and vnx205, we have a standard model trayon which goes on our single cab 130 on a 9 foot tray (2750mm for the younger generation), which allows us to carry 2 spare tyres, jerry cans and other extras in a separate locker. We have spent over 3 months at time travelling with it in all kinds of weather and offroad conditions. My only problem has been the gas fridge not being able to handle very hot weather, however I believe they now mount the fridges with insulation on the sides and they run more efficiently. Generally we cook and eat outside the trayon in a more traditional camping setup but when the weather is wet or really windy its a godsend to be able to walk up the steps into the camper and still be able to cook etc, not necessarily something you can do in most camper trailers I've looked at. When not in use I store it in my garage on the legs and as already said its very easy to put on the vehicle and take off. Although theses days I cheat by using a battery drill with socket instead of a normal ratchet to wind the legs up and down. They are very strong given the light weight, fully loaded with 180 litres of fuel, 120 litres of water and all necessary equipment our 130 hits the scales at 1380 kgs at the front and 1860 kgs on the rear well within the vehicles specs.

Pros, build quality, ease of setup, roominess, no rego
Cons, gas fridge (currently modifying tray to be able to carry engel as backup)

[vnx205]

The old cordless drill I use to wind the legs up and down is a 12V GMC. It doesn't have enough power to lift the camper, so I use the head from an angle grinder to give the drill about a 3:1 mechanical advantage. I plug it into the power socket on the outside of the camper.

The original owner of my camper lived in Katherine when he bought it. He fitted two little computer fans to help the 3 way fridge work better in tropical temperatures. I understand that it made a worthwhile difference to the performance.

[Ranga]

Having seen vnx205's in action, I must say I was very impressed.

Remember Alan, I've got first dibs when you finally realise it would be better on my 130 than yours ;P

Sent from the dodgy keyboard on my phone via Tapatalk

[Hoges]

The old cordless drill I use to wind the legs up and down is a 12V GMC. It doesn't have enough power to lift the camper, so I use the head from an angle grinder to give the drill about a 3:1 mechanical advantage. I plug it into the power socket on the outside of the camper.

The original owner of my camper lived in Katherine when he bought it. He fitted two little computer fans to help the 3 way fridge work better in tropical temperatures. I understand that it made a worthwhile difference to the performance.

FWIW: I had similar problems with a 'converted' GMC 12V drill until I upgraded the power cable soldered to the terminals in the drill handle to 8 gauge. The drill torque increased considerably when connected to a 105AH deep cell..

[pjlhat]

Pros, build quality, ease of setup, roominess, no rego
Cons, gas fridge (currently modifying tray to be able to carry engel as backup)[/QUOTE]

Expedition 130. We were also concerned about the gas fridge and in particular that they are not meant to operate off the level! plus I wanted to get away from switching over to 12v every time we moved and the fact of having a flame on in the camper all the time. Despite Trayon saying the Waco 90 liter danfos compressor fridge would not fit, it does very neatly. So we have uped our solar supply and battery storage and now have safe and any level (up to 30 degrees) fridge freezer. We also made a shelter with two hand winches that suspends the unit on cables.
This anables us to load and unload in seconds after undoing the hold down bolts. We still carry the legs with us for stays of 4 -5 days or more where we need the vehicle for other things.If you have the earlier model with out perspect windows you can cut a sheet of thin stiff perspect to fit inbetween the canvas and fly screen, it works very well and can be stored under the matress. Peter:)

[munro]

To resurrect an old thread. Anyone with a 130 dual cab and a Trayon, how or where do you carry the spare wheels and Hi Lift Jack. Also is there any realistic free storage for other stuff with the Trayon?

I realize this is an oldish thread but with a dual cab 130 in mind, is the Trayon still the slide-on of choice or is there any other slide-on that anyone would recommend as a good fit for the d/c 130.

[vnx205]

Not quite the combination you are talking about, but some things might apply.

My Trayon was bought second hand, so I had to take what was available at the time. Consequently, I have a dual cab Trayon on a single cab 110. However, it turned out to be a good combination because I could set the Trayon back far enough to leave the spare against the headboard in front of the Trayon. I still have about 200 or 300mm to spare at the back of the tray, which I find very handy for things like a dining table at lunch time. :D

I have seen spares mounted on the back of campers. Mine stays in the same place regardless of whether the camper is on or off.

Dual cab Trayons have rails underneath to lift them above the headboard. The previous owner made up some very sturdy, full length aluminium trays to fit between the rails. They provide an enormous amount of storage for things like the camper's legs, recovery gear, tools, BBQ plate and other heavy items. I'm sure if I had one, I could fit a hi-lift jack in one of my three trays.

[munro]

Thanks for your reply. I can visualize what you are saying so that gives me ideas. I have not actually seen a Trayon in the flesh, but am researching slide-ons. I have sort of narrowed the field down to Trayon & Tray-Tek.

The Mrs & I are just in our 60's and so backs, joints etc are not as flexable as once was. I see in a previous post of yours you are about the same vintage, how do you find the access into the unit and the stairs. Also getting into & out of the bed. What is the access like there? Is the door lockable from the inside? Solid and or screen door? Hope you don't mind the Q's. Thanks.

[vnx205]

Yes, my wife and I were both born before the middle of last century. :p I am about 1.8 metres tall and she is just over 1.5. She finds it easy getting in and out of the camper and getting in and out of bed.

I also find it easy, but I have to be more careful to use the right technique, particularly when the screen is fitted above the steps. It is important to lean forward slightly getting in. That isn't a problem as it is quite a natural thing to do. Getting back down involves going down backwards and leaning forward slightly. With the grab handle fitted to the door, that is quite easy and comfortable.

The door is lockable from the inside or outside. It is a screen door with a roll up flap that clips firmly into place to keep out drafts.

Access to the bed involves stepping onto the built in seat at the dining table and climbing onto the bed. My wife and I both tend to get out of bed by sitting on the edge so that our legs dangle down onto the seat and then step down from there. Once again both of us find it easy and comfortable.

I like to think that I am a bit more flexible than some OAPs. :p Last week I paddled a kayak for about 2 hours on Friday, raced the kayak on Saturday morning for an hour and then paddled for a couple of hours on Sunday. However, I think you would find access easy enough unless you struggled to get in and out of vehicles. As I said, a couple of things are a lot easier if you use the right technique.

I don't mind the questions. I'm happy to tell you about any other aspect of the Trayon that you want to know about.

[pjlhat]

[QUOTE=munro;1665825]To resurrect an old thread. Anyone with a 130 dual cab and a Trayon, how or where do you carry the spare wheels and Hi Lift Jack. Also is there any realistic free storage for other stuff with the Trraon
Hi Munro, As you can see we have our spare on the bonnet where all landrover spares should be:) I do not think this is possible after 1998 when the bonnet was raised to handle the 5 cylinder motor. We also had our tray higher to allow a spare to fit above the fuel tank. I have since lowered the tray, after buying our trayon, to keep the centre of gravity lower. We can now also fit 2 spares under the back of the tray just above the two bar, the tyre sticks out past the tray by about 3 inches but not a problem. We carry the trayon legs under the back seat freeing up their storage space for other things that are more reguarly used.
Peter:) Trayon the way to go:D:D

[Ranga]

I like to think that I am a bit more flexible than some OAPs. :p Last week I paddled a kayak for about 2 hours on Friday, raced the kayak on Saturday morning for an hour and then paddled for a couple of hours on Sunday.

I can attest to this - had my work cut out for me keeping up on the way to Bendethera cave! :eek:

[munro]

[QUOTE=munro;1665825]To resurrect an old thread. Anyone with a 130 dual cab and a Trayon, how or where do you carry the spare wheels and Hi Lift Jack. Also is there any realistic free storage for other stuff with the Trraon
Hi Munro, As you can see we have our spare on the bonnet where all landrover spares should be:) I do not think this is possible after 1998 when the bonnet was raised to handle the 5 cylinder motor. We also had our tray higher to allow a spare to fit above the fuel tank. I have since lowered the tray, after buying our trayon, to keep the centre of gravity lower. We can now also fit 2 spares under the back of the tray just above the two bar, the tyre sticks out past the tray by about 3 inches but not a problem. We carry the trayon legs under the back seat freeing up their storage space for other things that are more reguarly used.
Peter:) Trayon the way to go:D:D

HI & thanks. Any chance of a pic to see the back end of your 130 showing what you describe?

[Tank]

I can attest to this - had my work cut out for me keeping up on the way to Bendethera cave! :eek:
That's why I waited back at camp, though last time at Bendethra I suggested we walk the valley (about 4K each way) and so we did, a lot of puffing and panting (me that is) but I made it, Regards Frank.

[pjlhat]

[quote=pjlhat;1666052]

HI & thanks. Any chance of a pic to see the back end of your 130 showing what you describe?
Will do in a few days as I only carry them there when on a big trip, I also can carry a few logs of fire wood there for camping when not in use for the tyres. Actually these days we only take the one spare on the Bonnet.
Peter:)

[130man]

Hi pjlhat, any chance of the pictures sometime soon? Cheers, 130man.

[iClick]

I know this isn't a trayon, but I think it looks fabulous Wedgetail Campers - Go Anywhere in Comfort (http://www.wedgetailcampers.com.au/)
Checkout the video, it's a really well thought out camper.

[lambrover]

I know this isn't a trayon, but I think it looks fabulous Wedgetail Campers - Go Anywhere in Comfort (http://www.wedgetailcampers.com.au/)
Checkout the video, it's a really well thought out camper.

I saw that camper at the 4x4 camping adventure show here in Sydney a couple of months ago and wow what a camper it looked very well built and thought out.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[iClick]

I could set the Trayon back far enough to leave the spare against the headboard in front of the Trayon.
I have seen spares mounted on the back of campers. Mine stays in the same place regardless of whether the camper is on or off.


G'day Allan, we've bought a dual-cab Trayon which we pickup at the end of Feb :):):)

I'm looking into where I'll store my spare and I recalled that you've got yours against the headboard in front of the Trayon. The big question is, how have you secured it? It occurs to me that if it's simply bolted to the headboard, you would have to remove the Trayon to access the wheel which would be right pain if you were on a tight/steep track :eek:

Have you got another solution to overcome this problem?!?

[vnx205]

I just slightly modified the mounting system than was on the vehicle when I bought it. It is fairly primitive, but it works well.

The photos probably show what is involved. When the Trayon is fitted, I can reach in, undo the nut and withdraw the steel rod and remove the spare tyre. It might not be obvious that there is a small wooden block that fits into the horizontal rail groove to help hold the wooden plate in position.

I had to allow enough space to clear the aluminium angle at the side of the head board. It is about 90mm deep. I allowed enough space to get the spare out but since it is a 750x16 and my fitted tyres are 238/85x16, I didn't allow quite enough room to slide the punctured tyre back in. One day I will change the stop I have fitted to locate the Trayon so that it sits about 20mm or 30mm further back so that I can get the 235 back in.

https://www.cx.com/api/v1/files/preview/2GksFw1REeO4whIBOQ75wQ:e-wbn4e4EeO7HBIFPQVUWg'size=xlarge&version=1

https://www.cx.com/api/v1/files/preview/2GksFw1REeO4whIBOQ75wQ:e9vH7Ie4EeO7HBIFPQVUWg'size =xlarge&version=1

With that setup, I don't have to change anything whether the camper is on or off. The only time I have to touch the spare is when I have a flat tyre.

[iClick]

Thanks for the info - the pics aren't showing up but I get the idea.

My tray is 2100mm long and the tyre width is 250mm. Add to that 1800mm for the Trayon and I'm only left with 50mm and this will quickly disappear when I add a headboard. So unless I set the camper back a bit further, I don't think I'll have space to reach into the spare to remove it.

[vnx205]

Is this better?

I guess having a dual cab Tryaon fitted onto a single cab tray gives me a lot more length to play with. Even with the Trayon set back from the headboard, I still have about 300mm to spare at the back of the tray.

[iClick]

Thanks Allan. I like the simplicity of your setup :)

I'll wait and see once I get the camper what direction I'll take. Ranga has his spare mounted under his tray, but to do that I'd need to modify the tray height significantly.

[vnx205]

There are a couple of issues if you decide to raise the tray.

The first one is obvious. The CG will be a bit higher.

The second may be less obvious. Depending on how tall you are and the current height of the tray, you may need to stand on something to be able to reach the tuck the canvas in when you are packing up.

If you are short enough that you already need to do that, then a bit of extra height won't create a new problem.

If you are tall enough that you will still be able to reach, that also means that no new problem has been created.

if you are between those two extremes, then folding the canvas in becomes a little bit more fiddly than it would otherwise be.

[kelvo]

Why not just 'roll' the wheel inbetween the Trayon & head boards, using fixed chocks to locate it. Then use a wide ratchet strap from a good strong mounting point on left (Or right) side of tray, over the tyre to a good strong point on the othere side. Ratchet tight job done. You might even be able to mount two spares this way, if the tray is wide enough.

[130man]

Hi Kelvo, the tray is certainly wide enough to accommodate two spares against the headboard. Following advice, I purchased a longer than standard tray off E-bay to allow for the spares and to keep my Trayon neatly within the tray length. I raised my Trayon by 50mm to allow for decently capacious drawers to go under the Trayon floor, which is great , but had to buy a folding step ladder, because, as Allan says, it was now just too high to pack easily, even though I am reasonably tall. We also find the last step down to the ground is a bit of a reach, so a piece of 200 by 45 by 450mm wood is called in to play. My wife uses the step ladder to make getting into and out of bed easier as she has some problems with her knees. Having the Trayon raised also gives tall types more headroom under the lid when it is open. Cheers, 130man.

[Chenz]

Bought my second hand Trayon 1980 late last year but have had tpo wait to get the tray put on my 130. Finally got it set up and off to try it out on the weekend.

A couple of photos to show how she looks alongside my friends 6X6 which he is setting up as a camper unit.

Could not be happier with the Trayon - plenty of storage room and easy as to put up and down.

I will post some further info when I get the 130 fully set up.

Had a look at the Wedgetails but seemed to much mucking around compared to the Trayonhttp://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/812/xkk9.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/mkxkk9j) https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/04/1019.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/n9y5gxj)

[130man]

Hi Chenz, welcome to the Defender/Trayon group. There are a number of us who find this combination to be very satisfactory. You are probably aware that there is a Trayon owners forum. Lots of good ideas there. Hope the first outing goes really well. A tarp over the top is a very good idea if you don't have one already. Cheers, 130man.

[Chenz]

Hi Chenz, welcome to the Defender/Trayon group. There are a number of us who find this combination to be very satisfactory. You are probably aware that there is a Trayon owners forum. Lots of good ideas here. Hope the first outing goes really well. A tarp over the top is a very good idea if you don't have one already. Cheers, 130man.

Thanks 130man. I have looked at a number of posts and threads of yours and am a member of the Trayon Forum.

The fly that came with the Trayon is easy to attach and works well at keeping the heat and rain off the roof. On the first outing it did rain and I was as snug as a bug in the double bed.

I am in the process of doing a number of modifications to the 130 including putting lifting springs and airbag suspension as well as dual shocks on the rear. I will post some photos soon of the build.

[130man]

Hi Chenz, I am looking forward to the photos when it is convenient. Cheers, 130man.

[moodog]

we have a explorer slide on on a twin cab 130 we put our tyre in a basket on the roof works well for us

[fraser130]

Just a little hint for those with a trayon that might do extended stays in one location during really hot weather, we cut 2 pieces of the foil bubble-wrap insulation so they were the same size as the fly when laid side by side, and we bulldog clipped them to the fly prior to opening the trayon with the fly attached so that when it was flipped open the insulation was under the fly. It made a HUGE difference in the summer during the day.

Fraser

[moodog]

Hi Agree with every thing VNX205 had to say, we are on our third trayon. we purchased all 3 s/h and now have the delux model with Shower, Gas hot water and most importantly perspex windows which allow us to have natural light when it's raining or cold and windy. We love it and is a perfect match for 130 dualcab.
Peter:)

We hav a explorer on our 130 twin cab and we love it it beet towing a camper behind you.

[moodog]

I like your setup what the weight is the trayon mate

[Ranga]

The dual-cab model is ~390kg dry

[vnx205]

The specs in the brochure are here.
Brochures & Specs | Trayon Campers (http://www.trayon.com/which-trayon/brochures-specs/)
and here
http://trayon.com/forum/forum-11.html

The dual cab is listed as 370 kg and the single cab 1830 as 390 kg.

[eeyore]

Thought I'd revive an old thread and keep all the Trayon queries together...

I'm very impressed with the Trayon campers but even secondhand, they've been generally out of my price range. So, instead, I've been researching building something similar in style - ie box with flip over roof - using something like http://www.styromax.com.au/ and having a canvas maker sew up the 'tent'. At a really rough guess, maybe $3-4K for the box and $3k? (no idea about this cost actually) for the canvas. I already have camping stoves, fridge, 100lt under-tray water tank, dual battery set up, etc.

However, a Trayon has come up on gumtree at what - unseen - seems a very good price https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/coes-creek/camper-trailers/trayon-campers/1150675280 . So Trayon owners, what should I look out for in an older model. I know they are very strong but do they have any known wear issues. I read something that suggested they are constructed from an aluminium / ply composite - is this correct, and if so, are there any issues with rot, fastners coming loose, etc? The state of the canvas is the other big issue - if I have to replace it, the price might not be so good!

Assuming the Trayon is in good condition, I'm buying something with a stellar reputation, and that functions well. But I'm also buying things I don't need, and miss the opportunity to build a camper that fits more precisely to our needs (eg slide out kitchen with dual fuel stove, no gas appliances, emphasis on weight saving). If I build - and I would have Styromax do the actual gluing of the flip-over box together, it's custom, construction and materials are new and a known quantity but functionality may be compromised through design and/or construction errors on my part.

What are people's thoughts? Do you think a say, 20 year old trayon in reasonable condition could survive another 10 years of hard travel, perhaps canvas notwithstanding?

[cjc_td5]

Thread revival (again!)

I have recently purchased a dual cab trayon (#1190) to go on my series FC. I have canopy boxes in front on the tray for storage, which I intend to remake to a style to blend in more the camper a bit.

Mine is a recent model, so has a few more recent features such as Lithium battery, shower tent and 12v fridge. It is an ex rental unit, so has some wear and tear, but the price was good....

I've done a few nights in it over the last month. Finding spots for everything is going to take time, to change from my usual car based camping style.

What are some hacks that those with Trayons can share?
- a simple magnet to hold the door open rather than that fiddly lock bolt?
- the wiring to the cig and usb sockets is a bit dodgy. They will be getting tidied up...
- Closing the top is tight with a foam topper on the mattress. Was thinking of spacing the top up by 50mm to provide more room for the poles and canvas to fold in to.

Cheers
Chrishttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250419/2d393c74000c9a5889bb72aa3b6a7cde.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250419/6104f77ef37f1badf889b4ecccc79028.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250419/36c855476822b14e5aabf41abf21a3e2.jpg

[cjc_td5]

Mod #1
The bed is held down (up when folded) by three straps that are fixed with Velcro. When I added a foam topper to the mattress, the straps were too short. I needed to make sure the straps were firm to retain the extra mattress height. So I added some webbing buckles. They are easy to release but can be tightened down really firmly.

The velco straps were not modified, so it is easily reversible if required.

Chttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250419/e85cf03edc70e70f97dc4f5744fad12c.jpg

[POD]

We're on our second Trayon, having written the first one off in the high country! I've added some extra foam under the mattress rather than on top, and yes it makes the fold-up very tight, we need to remove all the bedding from the bed prior to folding up so your extra 50mm would be great but I think it would be a huge undertaking- let us know if you go ahead with this as I'd be interested to see how you achieve it. The 'Froli' mattress base seems to be a popular option but I'm sure it has the same implications for packing up.
The little bolt to hold the door open has not bothered us at all but it probably will now you've mentioned it!
I set up extra storage drawers underneath so now all 5 slots have drawers, 2 of them having secure storage for the legs. I've just made a simple table arrangement to kind of clip on the side to sit the stove on, I plan to put an extra gas bayonet on the driver's side so it can be used there as well. Also made a clip for the hot water (shower head) outlet to clamp onto the corner of the camper so it's handy for hand washing.

There's a FB group (of course) and a few good ideas there, one that I particularly liked is a bloke with an older Trayon who has added a second lift-up door on the right hand side, identical to the existing long opening but above it, to access the pantry from outside; one of the things we are finding is we have to be intentional about not spending too much of our camping time inside the Trayon so making food preparation more accessible from outside would help with that.

[cjc_td5]

Thanks for the feedback POD!
First thing I assumed when I was looking at them was that I could fit a queen size mattress in there by using the spare space around the std double mattress. A queen mattress with 100mm trimmed off one side fitted, but I then realised that the camper uses the space around the mattress for the poles and canvas to fold in to when folded up. So have put the double mattress back in there for now.

I also have removed the std 2 burner stove with griller, which sits quite tall on the bench and presses on the mattress when folded up. I'm using an old 2 burner stove with portable gas bottle at the moment, so yet to use the gas bottle on board. I've always used the philosophy of using 2 small bottles so I am not caught short when one empties, being able to swap on to the other one easily. Has only having one large 9kg bottle ever caught you short? Am thinking of installing a hot water system for the inbuilt shower, yet to decide if gas or diesel powered...

Yes I'm going to make some drawers for underneath. Storing the legs there makes more sense than in the side locker, and moves the weight further forward as well.

At present I like to cook outside so tend to make many trips up and down the steps moving stuff in and out. Need to get a better organised system!

Cheers,
Chris

[cjc_td5]

Mmmm, removed the panel in front of the water tank for a look see. The aluminium section on the right side of the blue Lithium battery is supposed to be rivetted(?!) to the timber floor, but it is loose. This leaves the end of battery retaining strap loose so the battery can wander around it's enclosure, exposed terminals and all.... One to fix ASAP!

Not convinced that venting the fridge to the outside is a good idea given the amount of dust in there? I'd prefer to vent it in to interior through the panel I removed, even if I put a small computer fan there to help it...

Chttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250421/5298b51f442901a46344579a52c1d226.jpg

[POD]

Our battery is in a different position, it's behind the panel opposite the steps, i.e. above the front of the long external locker. Yours looks like good use of otherwise dead space, also forward, low and central so a good place for the weight, but yes it needs to be well secured. Whilst you're in there, check the water tank straps are tight- I pulled them together at the top with a couple of oversized cable ties, one of them had fallen off the shoulder of the tank- definitely don't want that bouncing around.
Dust ingress we have found is not a problem, having no openings at the back, where the dust plume is when traveling, is great.
We have the original gas HWS in the left rear cupboard, I've also fitted a diesel heater above it. Hot running water is a huge luxury for camping! Odd that yours doesn't have a HWS, perhaps they down-optioned the rental unit?
The 8.5kg gas cylinder last us ages, haven't had it run out on a trip yet and I swap the semi-used one onto the BBQ bottle at home as it's no drama if I run that out.

[cjc_td5]

Our battery is in a different position, it's behind the panel opposite the steps, i.e. above the front of the long external locker. Yours looks like good use of otherwise dead space, also forward, low and central so a good place for the weight, but yes it needs to be well secured. Whilst you're in there, check the water tank straps are tight- I pulled them together at the top with a couple of oversized cable ties, one of them had fallen off the shoulder of the tank- definitely don't want that bouncing around.
Dust ingress we have found is not a problem, having no openings at the back, where the dust plume is when traveling, is great.
We have the original gas HWS in the left rear cupboard, I've also fitted a diesel heater above it. Hot running water is a huge luxury for camping! Odd that yours doesn't have a HWS, perhaps they down-optioned the rental unit?
The 8.5kg gas cylinder last us ages, haven't had it run out on a trip yet and I swap the semi-used one onto the BBQ bottle at home as it's no drama if I run that out.Both sink and rear shower mixers have hot and cold water plumbing. There are hot and cold water pipes from the shower back to under the sink, where they just cross link to the cold water pump. So yes, most of the hot water plumbing is there. Will have to work out which cupboards are least useful to use as a hot water system or heater enclosure. Being a shorter dual cab model, there is not a lot of internal storage cupboards.

Was also thinking of a Joolca style hot water system with some snap water and gas fittings in the gas bottle cabinet (front left), with the hot water system hooked up external on the camper when needed. It could be stored when not in use in the front canopies.

Yes a diesel heater is also high on the list of improvements. Possibly with the tank in the gas bottle cabinet and the unit in one of the internal cupboards?

C

[POD]

The rear left cupboard seems to be the standard location for the HWS, I believe they still use that location for the newer diesel-powered combination water / room heater. I fitted the diesel heater in above the Truma water heater and run the diesel line from a small tank in the gas locker.
We find the storage in the dual-cab model quite adequate but I have removed the back seats from the 130 and also have a big trundle under the tray. I think with your big boxes in front of the camper you'll have no shortage of space.
I see you found the FB group.

[cjc_td5]

Thanks POD.
Yes I've found the FB page. Let the fun begin.

That left rear locker is my go to storage for general set-up stuff. Would hate to loose it to a heater! That locker is diagonally opposite to most of the plumbing. Do you loose much water waiting for the hot water to come through the pipes?

Does your diesel heater vent its burner exhaust out through the rear, bottom or side of the camper?

Thanks for the info so far. Very informative!
Cheers, Chris.

[cjc_td5]

Out living the dream!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250515/7a35f0084c96cb2d472258f04e9f67a5.jpg

[POD]

Me too!
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