Thread: Costly wind?

Originally Posted by Redback

Two words......Camper Trailer.

Easier to tow, less weight, less wind resistance, plenty of storage.

Baz.

Too long to setup/pack up, and vulnerable in the rain IMHO. Bought one and sold it after 3 months. Also more ongoing costs such as registration, maintenance and ferry costs etc. Tassie would have been an extra $800-$900 for the ferry, and plenty of free-camps where you can't really set one up.

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Originally Posted by Ranga

Too long to setup/pack up, and vulnerable in the rain IMHO. Bought one and sold it after 3 months. Also more ongoing costs such as registration, maintenance and ferry costs etc. Tassie would have been an extra $800-$900 for the ferry, and plenty of free-camps where you can't really set one up.

Sorry Ranga couldn't disagree more. Had an off road camper trailer for many years and it was fantastic. Without knowing what sort you had I can only assume it was a dud or the wrong size/type for you.
One of the most common issues I see is bloody huge camper trailers with fold out everything in all directions. Poles, awnings, floors, kitchen sinks, the whole works. Fair dinkum they're so complicated you need a blueprint to put the buggers up and like a roadmap you can never pack 'em up the same.
One off the simplest/quickest/best is the over the back hard floor camper as pioneered by Cub years ago. Lots of variations to choose from now, all depends on the depth of your pockets. Like all things you get what you pay for, quality costs money. Rego cost bugger all, the same as a normal trailer (in Vic), maintenance cost was nothing (excluding depreciation) and I never actually took it to Tassy.
Don't see how free camps or not would effect use ?
Depending on how many of you they're are, what you do and where you do it will determine what's best for you, but no, camper trailing with the right gear is not as you describe.

Deano

Originally Posted by DeanoH

Sorry Ranga couldn't disagree more. Had an off road camper trailer for many years and it was fantastic. Without knowing what sort you had I can only assume it was a dud or the wrong size/type for you.
One of the most common issues I see is bloody huge camper trailers with fold out everything in all directions. Poles, awnings, floors, kitchen sinks, the whole works. Fair dinkum they're so complicated you need a blueprint to put the buggers up and like a roadmap you can never pack 'em up the same.
One off the simplest/quickest/best is the over the back hard floor camper as pioneered by Cub years ago. Lots of variations to choose from now, all depends on the depth of your pockets. Like all things you get what you pay for, quality costs money. Rego cost bugger all, the same as a normal trailer (in Vic), maintenance cost was nothing (excluding depreciation) and I never actually took it to Tassy.
Don't see how free camps or not would effect use ?
Depending on how many of you they're are, what you do and where you do it will determine what's best for you, but no, camper trailing with the right gear is not as you describe.

Deano

Agree about poor quality trailers, and admittedly I was more referring to soft-floor campers that indeed can take hours to set up and pack up, if you're not careful.

I've come to understand that quality hard-floor campers aren't cheap, and a slide-on or lift-on canopy camper like my current unit, or a Trayon, are actually cheaper!

I still believe there would be maintenance costs, particularly tyres and bearings. The charges some incurred on some ferries, particularly the Spirit of Tasmania, can signifcantly add to costs. Possibly the reason you and I both didn't take our trailer/van to Tassie. The beautiful islands of SE QLD are close to me and the extra cost for towing is substantial. http://www.moretonislandadventures.com.au/travel/fares

The other issue I have with camper trailers, is you're pretty much always cooking outside. Sure you could put out an awning if it's raining, but again this takes time. On the other hand, you could probably put a small stove inside, but I'd rather not.

Anyway, it's all horses for courses. If there was a silver bullet, that's what everyone would have

I've been trying not to look at this 'Costly wind' thread. The mind boggles .

Deano is right about some campers though. We have a t-van and its worth 4 times as much as the disco! Couldn't live without it though. Just brilliant on an extended trip.

Also, interesting to note that quite often trips to tassie with a camper are free. When I went over two years ago they offered it to me for free to take the camper and then only $50 extra last year. Normal trailers cost the same space as a car but campers are exempt, or cheaper or whatever. Or they used to be anyway. But even the $50 surcharge is cheap to take the camper.

Originally Posted by Ranga

Anyway, it's all horses for courses. If there was a silver bullet, that's what everyone would have

Exactly.

If you want to go places like this track at Yalwal, you are not going to do it with a caravan or a camper trailer.



On the other hand having the Trayon on the back is not a problem in a situation like that.

There are just so many variables that all any of us can do is explain or demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of our setup. It is then up to other people to decide if that suits their circumstances.

BTW, Dullbird assures me that the front wheel was on the way down when she snapped that picture in failing light, so it was a bit more dramatic than it appears.

Originally Posted by gusthedog

Also, interesting to note that quite often trips to tassie with a camper are free. When I went over two years ago they offered it to me for free to take the camper and then only $50 extra last year. Normal trailers cost the same space as a car but campers are exempt, or cheaper or whatever. Or they used to be anyway. But even the $50 surcharge is cheap to take the camper.

A few years ago when I took the Defender over to Tassie, there was a special offer of something like $69 for a car.

I thought it was going to cost extra because the Trayon made the vehicle higher and the brackets for the legs made it just over the standard width.

However, because the Trayon allowed me to sleep in the vehicle, it became a motorhome which meant the height and width were OK and it cost the standard $69, same as a sedan.

Why buy either a camper trailer or caravan? Hire one for the trip. If you only go away once or twice a year its the best option. I only get away once or twice a year. So I hire a camper trailer... When you look at the initial cost or either van or trailer against the hire cost you will hire every time.

There great to hire you pick them up and drop them back no cleaning no storage no worries. At less the $ 50 a day i think you cant go wrong