Ultimate

[Dungie]

Just a quick question, does any one here have any first hand experience with Ulitimate camper trailers. The type that look like the space shuttle.
Apart from the cost and looking a bit odd behind a Tdi Defender are they as good as they say they are?
All help appreciated.
Regards
Dungie

[justinc]

Just a quick question, does any one here have any first hand experience with Ulitimate camper trailers. The type that look like the space shuttle.
Apart from the cost and looking a bit odd behind a Tdi Defender are they as good as they say they are?
All help appreciated.
Regards
Dungie

Ultimate have a website and a touring club, you might want to check that out too. A good friend of mine has one, I towed it once and it was a delight. We didn't end up with one due to cost and we needed more room, but If it was just the other half and I it would be in the driveway... Beautifully made and as tough as they say. You won't be dissappointed.

If you want I can ask him to give you his PH number to chat directly with him?

JC

[dmdigital]

We looked very seriously at an Ultimate as well as the T-Van, Cape York and others before deciding on the Kimberley Kamper. The most annoying thing about the Ultimate was the slick and polished sales pitch.

Just watch very closely when they show you how one person can set it up and close it at any demonstration. There's always: one guy talking and gesturing, one guy doing all the set up and one guy just giving things a helping nudge here and there in the background that you're not supposed to notice. Their salesman were the biggest turn off.
The other things we didn't like were:
- the rear ladder (fibre-glass and only held up by a single rubber strap)
- pantry (on 2008 model it was a hole in the bench)
- draws (slides were just fibre-glass on fibre-glass with silicon grease)
I also felt the zips and fittings weren't of as higher standard as some others.

Over-all though it didn't suit what we wanted and neither did the T-Van.

There's certainly enough Ulimates around, though it's only last year that we've had anyone tow one (there were two actually) in to Gove. Kimberley's, T-Vans and others have come in a lot though over the years as have a lot of other off-road campers.

My advice would be to shop around and compare the ultimate with similar level campers and also to put it up and take it down yourselves (with the salesman standing by). This was what convinced us a T-Van wasn't for us and also what sold us on the Kimberley over the Cape York and a few others.

At the end of the day though, it's what suites your needs best.

Also check out www.campertrailers.org (http://www.campertrailers.org/).

The Kimberley looks good behind a Defender :D

[discodancer]

Hi Dungie
Let me preface this reply by saying that I generally dislike towing campers etc and have always used a tent etc....covered many Kms in the Range Rover and Isuzu County.
I bought a new Dicovery in 2001.

I have an Ultimate which seems to follow my disco2 Td5 Auto.
The Disco has a tweaked ECU and you would not know the Ulti was attached..tows beautifully. The Ulti has the same track as the disco ..as set up by the factory.
I bought the Ulti. about 3 years ago... second hand and fully refurbished by them...for a reasonable price.
I believe this camper had done a zillion Kms with its original owners and (whilst the canvas and running gear has been refurbished )the body is original and shows no signs of fatigue.
It is a great rig..waterproof & dustproof. Easily set up by one person and can be packed up by one but easier with two ...just to tuck in bits of canvas and check that bits are not being pinched between the tight seals.

Why did I choose an Ulti.?
A mate has one and has been everywhere.
The build quality is exceptional and most fittings are marine stainless ( the factory owner used to build luxury yachts)
Good storage.... without boxes /gas bottles etc fixed to drawbar.
Under normal use..no tentpoles /guy ropes ....so quick setup. I have seen similarly priced Kimberly Kampers which,when set up to cover the kitchen ..look not unlike a downhill slalom course...poles everywhere!
And..whilst we still tend to live and eat "outside"..if the weather/mossies etc get unbearable you can bunker down.
My better-half said she was not spending that sort of money to have no choice but to cook outside in the rain on a slide-out "kitchen"..the ulti has an inside "galley" with fridge. Most others do not.
Who am I to argue!

As I said I was a bit cynical about the whole notion of camper trailers etc ...but I am really impressed with this one...must be getting soft!!!
Give me a PM if you need specific info.
Bob