Ultimate or Tvan

[SVX37]

Any Ultimate or Tvan owners on here? I am looking for the reasons you chose one over the other. I am interested in your views and reasons for your purchase. I am really not interested in any other brands in the marketplace. Over to you...:). Which way did you go or are you thinking you will go and why...?

[Tank]

I don't own either, but I looked at both, seriously, before deciding to build my own camper trailer.
I dismissed the T-Van as a very expensive bed on wheels, with overly complicated suspension and I couldn't see the value for money, somebody who owns one will disagree, but that is my opinion, for what it's worth.
The Ultimate was exactly what I was looking for, was well made fairly well equipped with a good practical layout inside and out.
But the point from tow hitch to axle centre was too long, I don't like independent suspension off-road, and the weight was out of the question. Ultimate do have a Buy-Back scheme and they do have some good prices on refurbished trailers, probably why you don't see to many for sale in the classifieds, check both of them out and go with what suits you, Ultimate are based here (Moruya), so if you're down this way drop in and say hello, Regards Frank

[DeanoH]

Hi

Don't take it me wrong way :) but have you had a camper trailer before? Both the Ultimate and the Tvan are magnificient examples of engineering construction but crikey! we're talking about a camper van here not the space shuttle. If the yanks wanted a mobile bed to hang on the back of the moon rover I reckon the Tvan would have been their first choice. I agree with Tank here a very expensive and over complicated mobile bed.

One of the benefits of a long draw bar is ease of backing compared to a shorter one, so it can make life easier. Independant suspension is great in that it gives a good ride and puts comparitively less strain on the trailer and its contents than cart springs. The down side is that if it breaks it can be harder to patch together on the side of the road than a leaf spring setup. But being easier on the trailer is perhaps less prone to break in the first place maybe?

For what it's worth, I've done many camper miles both on and off the bitumen and if I had the money I'd go for either a Kimberley Kamper or a Pioneer. Good solid no nonsense quality and design in my humble view.

A walk through a camping ground and a chat to the owners of various campers is perhaps the best way to cut through the BS and find out which will suit you best. 30 grand :eek: is a lot of money to spend on anything let alone a camper, speaking to people who already have one could save a lot of grief.

All the best with your selection.

Deano

[Sleepy]

Yes looked very closely at both myself - but gave up when you add up the dollars. I could almost buy an SVX defender with that sort of cash.;)

I think the T-van would be great for the overnight stop and the Ultimate for the extended stays. I would have thought the KK is not that much cheaper than the T-van.

Good Luck with your choice. I like them both - from a distance!!:angel:

[d@rk51d3]

Both the Ultimate and the Tvan are magnificient examples of engineering construction but crikey! we're talking about a camper van here not the space shuttle. If the yanks wanted a mobile bed to hang on the back of the moon rover I reckon the Tvan would have been their first choice.

Reminded me of something I read once.............. how the US spent millions of dollars developing a pen that would work in space............ the Russians just used a $1.00 pencil.


Same for the trailers, it's alot of money for what you get, to ultimately sleep in.

Still, I do fantasise about getting a T-van. :angel:

[Big Unit]

Have you seen the new Jurgens Stargazer. Worth a look.

[Litlbee]

Hi
Friend of mine has an Aussie Off Roader. About the same weight as a Kimberly Kamper. It weighs in at 1300 kg dry weight. I have a TVan and it weighs in at 750kg dry weight. Don't know the weight of an Ultimate but I think they are heavier than both the Kimberly and the Aussie offroader. I know which one I prefer to tow. I started with a Cavillear. It was great. Did Gibb River Road, Cape York, Plenty Hichway to Alice along with lots of other trips with no problems but We wish we could have had the TVan on these trips. Much easier to tow and easier to set up. All round a better trailer. Personally I would go with the TVan but I am biased.

Regards,
Gary

[Stue 3 doors down]

My personal opinion is if it very remote then simple is much better as I have had to fix broken bits here and there. Mostly due hitting rocky outcrops coming round bends at 50kph and causing damage as a result.
If if is more dirt tracks then I like the Ultimate and the camper that the one with whole bed area slide from underneath and has alway got a kitchen set up under the side lift up door (possibly the Kimberly) but you wouldnt want to move camp every day. Fast to set up and slow to pack up, all of them.
My issue was when on the road was we never having anywhere to easily shelter from the rain or sun when making lunch esp with 3 young kids. A lift up side or rear would be great. I have owned two camper trailers and the toughtest one was from Outback Campers in Vic. I punished it and still towed it home despite some of the harshest tracks I had come across accidently.
If you have never had a camper of any sort then hire different ones for short trips to get an idea of what would suit you best...

Hope this is useful to you and enjoy the journey of finding what suits your needs.

[Tombie]

Want excellent value for money?

Try the Conqueror range...

Importer is in SA...

The top of the line Van is only $32k and more offroad capable than the Ultimate etc...

They have a new one too, very neat and compact...

conqueror.co.za | Conqueror Products (http://www.conqueror.co.za/showcase/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=59)

Commander...
http://www.conqueror.co.za/showcase/images/stories/grocerycompartment1.jpg


Smaller, Companion...
http://www.conqueror.co.za/showcase/images/stories/companionm.jpg


We went and looked at these, and were VERY impressed...
Extremely well built, hot water service, shower, water tanks, full kitchen facility, includes fridge (National Luna) etc...

We're unsure as to which of the above 2 we'll get, but one of them it will be.


Experience with Ultimate is they rock around when set up..... Have no ability for a quick 'lunch stop' as you cant get to the kitchen... And are rather useless to be honest... Few people I know have them, they love them, but then they love their 200 series cruiser tow vehicles too!

TVan is neat, but very pricey for the $$$... If you want something TVan like at far less cost the Conqueror SUPRA is very similar in capability, size and features... For $12,000... Outright!
http://www.conqueror.co.za/images/Supra444.jpg

[McDisco]

My parents have had their Ultimate for over 10 years. In fact theirs is the 10th one they built and it is still in good condition. They have taken their all around Australia including the toughest, roughest roads around. Last year we did the Simpson and then they went on to do Hay River. Over Christmas we took them (my brother in laws parents have one too) to the high country. We did some rough tracks and they handled it all easily, including billy goats. They did the gulf a couple of years ago too.

I am not a camper person, but if I was I would get an Ultimate. They are awesomely constructed, have excellent clearance and suspension, are light, dust sealed and tow really easily. They do take a bit longer to setup and pack up, but they are full self contained inside without the kitchen being out in the weather, have seating for 4-8 people (trust me you can do it) and have a king size bed to boot!! They stay pretty warm to despite the canvas top.

I havent had much to do with the Tvan, but I think the Ultimate is a better buy. They are expensive though, but you will get a camper that you can take ANYWHERE and that will do it for the next 15 years without to many problems.

My 2 cents... Heres a couple of picks -

Angus

[bent]

Hi all

My folks have an Ultimate which I have borowed from time to time:D A really good camper, easy to tow, super easy to set up, superbly comfortable and you can cook/sit and eat out of the fly's, weather etc. As some one previously has mentioned, a quick meals break is a little more difficult as the fridge/cooker is covered by the canvas. We have found that if we are going to be pushed for time we just make something in the morning and store it in the car fridge. We have also just stopped and folded out the lid and only setup the galley area (2 spreader bars) which takes about 1 minute.

I tow it with my 300TDi Defer and my folks have an auto disco 2, neith car has any problems in general towing, my Defer needs low range sometimes in tight hilly areas but nothing different to just about any other 2.5L vehicle.

Good luck in the desicion making process, if I had the money I would buy an Ultimate.

Cheers;)

[Michael2]

I don't have a camper, but did the research awhile ago.

My preference would have been the T-Van. I know people say the suspension is complicated, but no more complicated than a Land Rover - and you take that anywhere. Besides, the military trailers are made by the T-Van people, including the large satellite dish trailers.

I would have considered hiring my camper out to get some return on it, and that's another reason I short listed the T-Van, the suspension would better preserve the trailer in the hands of a renter. The weight was also in the T-Vans favour, though I would have opted for the extended draw bar.

In the end, I opted for an almost instant setup blackwolf tent. It doesn't have a kitchen, but I don't need to tow it either. Plus, it's $30K cheaper. In the end it was weight & cost that made be decide against a trailer for now.

Having said all this, a work collegue bought a T-van recently and a suspension bracket cracked off before it even went off road. T-Van were apologetic and made good on the repair, but it did upset his holiday.

Now I think, that if I was going to get a trailer, I'd use a D1 chassis & Suspension (durable, proven - and identical to the Defender) and build an alloy camper ontop of that.

[Milhouse]

FWIW I just camped next to an Ultimate Camper at a site in Kiama. Looked pretty schmick and towed by a Range Rover to boot. (Especially compared to my little 2 man dome!) However a little post on the bottom of the steps broke off when someone walked up them (a regular sized bloke as well not a real fatty!) and having the steps propped up on bricks spoilt the image somewhat...

[AndyRevill]

I don't have either but have seen both, probably more ultimates. One thing that's always occurred to me re the Ultimate is how sleeping feels? the bed bit sticks out sideways and because of this it always looks like the whole thing is leaning sideways? Interested to know what users feel?

Andy

[jake]

G'day,

We have a T-Van, Very happy with it, and after all the research we did it was the right choice. If you want the pros and cons of the T Van then send me a PM I am not far from you.

Jake:)