Best Off Road Camper Van for Disco 3 for Australian conditions

**PhilipA** · 4th June 2012, 04:20 PM

One thing I hear alot when people are talking about camper trailers is how the kitchen is designed to slide out and you can have a cuppa along the road - I have only ever seen this once or twice in my travels. The other thing is you are left out in the open to cook unless you have purchased the additonal annexe to cover that area.
Look around as there are always good used bargains to be had.

And that is another great thing about a Camp'o'matic.

The annex can remain attached to the tent when folded, so if you don't want the annex you just leave it across the top. I tie it to some loops on the tent part. It also only has 3 poles so only 5 ropes and pegs. The annex also has a front wall which fits at an angle over the stove /kitchen so gives protection in all but the worst conditions. On one trip to the Kimberley, I think we only used the annex about twice in 3 months ,as the weather was so good.
We often stop for a cuppa and lunch when on the road as it is so easy to slide out the kitchen under a tree.
Attachment 47550

Attachment 47551

Attachment 47552

First should be lunch at Goondiwindi
second shows camp at Carnarvon Gorge , no annex so takes 30 whole seconds to set up.
Third with annex up at Undarra Lava Tubes

Regards Philip A

**goingbush** · 4th June 2012, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Redback

Well if you want to get technical, a Jayco Outback is a pop top camper trailer, this is a camper Van

Baz.

Well Actually the Jayco Outback bird series Eagle / Penguin / Swan act are NOT "pop top" camper trailers they are WIND UP Camper Trailers , others will argue and call then Wind Up Caravans, but they defenitly are not pot tops. The VW Van you showed is a 'Pop Top Camper'

**vogue** · 5th June 2012, 06:23 PM

Head over to myswag.org for all the help and info you could ever need.

**TerryO** · 6th June 2012, 03:19 AM

Hi Brigden,

you have one of the most important pieces of equipment for going camping and that is a very capable vehicle that can also tow just about anything anywhere within reason.

Here is our pop top camper van that has proven to be pretty good off road, slightly bigger than most some woud say, but goes nearly everywhere many other reasonably serious off road soft and hard floor campers will go and with a whole different level of comfort. ...

My only advice is don't rush out and buy what others think you need, consider what your real requirements and desires are then look at every option and don't rule anything out without due consideration.

Each to their own and good luck with your final decision.

cheers,
Terry

**PhilipA** · 6th June 2012, 08:15 AM

Gee I wonder what size you would call a caravan?

That is a rough road pop top CARAVAN capable of withstanding hundreds of Ks of corrugations but too heavy to take on sandy tracks, too high for forest tracks or any track with jump ups.

I would like to see you pull that across any creek on the OTT or go on dry sand on Stockton beach or get into Bendethra. ( possible maybe with a lot of hassle)

My definition of an offroad camper trailer excludes anything that weighs more than say 1000Kgs, that can be towed just about anywhere a 4WD can go by itself, having similar approach and departure angles as a 4WD and only as wide as the 4WD.

Even with a camper trailer you still cannot start on say a mountain track unless you know it goes somewhere, as it would be very difficult to turn around if you find a gate locked on the side of a spur.

I recall speaking to a guy at Millstream about his Trackmaster. Beautiful thing . Except he told me he couldn't take it on any forest tracks as it was far too high and would swipe trees everywhere.

Even on the track into Lorella springs, which admittedly is very rough, two big name off road vans had suffered damage while we were there . One had its microwave fall out on the floor.

I wish the original poster would make some comment , so that we can narrow down their requirements , and give some actual helpful advice.

Regards Philip A

**joeT** · 6th June 2012, 08:52 AM

I second a jayco off road pop top. I have a dove model, very similiar to the hawk already spoken about.
They say " happy wife. Happy life "
I've got a pretty happy life.
I'm from Vic and just love the high country. So where I go so does my jayco.
I've pulled it all, over picture point ( past bluff hut etc ), Dargo region,
Fraser island and shortly to the Kimberley's.
You do get what u pay for and I think for the $$ it's well spent.
The dust issue can easy be fix with ply board inside the door and some fine breathable cloth on the fridge vent. I've towed mine through some rivers easy half meter deep with out a problem ( not that I would make a habit of it ).
I have modiefied a little to help though. Same Tyres all the way round (33 ") plus stud pattern, off road hitch ( hylander) and better bearings.
You should be able to pick a few year old second hand between $10g to $20 all depending on model etc.
Joe

**goingbush** · 6th June 2012, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Gee I wonder what size you would call a caravan?

That is a rough road pop top CARAVAN capable of withstanding hundreds of Ks of corrugations but too heavy to take on sandy tracks, too high for forest tracks or any track with jump ups.

I would like to see you pull that across any creek on the OTT or go on dry sand on Stockton beach or get into Bendethra. ( possible maybe with a lot of hassle)

..
Regards Philip A

I think you would call this a Caravan

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk6KJXeOM0k]GALL BOYS AUSTRALIAN 4X4 ADVENTURE - FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND - 4X4 OFFROAD 4WD - YouTube[/ame]

Originally Posted by PhilipA

My definition of an offroad camper trailer excludes anything that weighs more than say 1000Kgs, that can be towed just about anywhere a 4WD can go by itself, having similar approach and departure angles as a 4WD and only as wide as the 4WD.

Even with a camper trailer you still cannot start on say a mountain track unless you know it goes somewhere, as it would be very difficult to turn around if you find a gate locked on the side of a spur.

Try going on a steep mountain 4wd track with an empty 6x4 trailer, you won't have a hope, let alone with a 1000kg off road camper trailer.
look at this video from my landy cam of a local track, I tried towing a Empty 6x4 trailer to bring back some rubbish that some A-hole had dumped & I did not have a hope, has to disconnect the trailer and push it off the side and collect it on the way down.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_S4251nfdk"]BlackVue DR400G 1st Bush track test LandRover Defender Td5 (LandyCam) - YouTube[/ame]

So the argument is sort of moot, The idea is you tow your caravan or camper to a good campsite, unhook it then go 4x4ing, then come back at the end of the day. Buggerd If my wife would want to go around Australia in a Tent, As Joe said, Happy Wife, Happy life .

**joeT** · 6th June 2012, 10:00 AM

No. I think you call that a house mortgage. But yeh I'd have one as soon as I won lotto..

**PhilipA** · 6th June 2012, 10:51 AM

Yeah right!
Lets all try that.
Regard sPhilip A

**TerryO** · 6th June 2012, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Gee I wonder what size you would call a caravan?

My comment about it being a camper was tongue in cheek, yes it is a rough road van. Having said that we do take it off road where others we have camped with take their off road campers and it has proven to be up to the tasks we have given it, so far.

That is a rough road pop top CARAVAN capable of withstanding hundreds of Ks of corrugations but too heavy to take on sandy tracks, too high for forest tracks or any track with jump ups.

You are correct yes it is for the most challenging places.

I would like to see you pull that across any creek on the OTT or go on dry sand on Stockton beach or get into Bendethra. ( possible maybe with a lot of hassle)

I didn't say it could be taken everywhere off road, I was saying it could go most places people take their campers. The reality is very few people go to the truly challenging places.

My definition of an offroad camper trailer excludes anything that weighs more than say 1000Kgs, that can be towed just about anywhere a 4WD can go by itself, having similar approach and departure angles as a 4WD and only as wide as the 4WD.

As I said each to their own, your thoughts on what is a camper trailer and what its maximum weight should be is not the same as everyone elses. Most everyone has their own idea on what is off road.

Even with a camper trailer you still cannot start on say a mountain track unless you know it goes somewhere, as it would be very difficult to turn around if you find a gate locked on the side of a spur.

Your correct again, in general I only take the van where I know others have recently been. If I didn't know I could make it through then I would do exactly the same as with any camper trailer and that is unhook it and drive the track and then come back and get it if passible.

I recall speaking to a guy at Millstream about his Trackmaster. Beautiful thing . Except he told me he couldn't take it on any forest tracks as it was far too high and would swipe trees everywhere.

That is why I bought a pop top, while it looks much taller then the D3 in the photo's in fact it isn't that much taller. A full size van is way to high for just about any track.

Even on the track into Lorella springs, which admittedly is very rough, two big name off road vans had suffered damage while we were there . One had its microwave fall out on the floor.

Personally I wouldn't take my van anywhere to rough as I have no intention of wrecking it. I definitely wouldn't take it anywhere like the Gall Bro's have with their Kedron's. I chringe when I see some of the daft things they have done with vans. But as I said each to their own.

I wish the original poster would make some comment , so that we can narrow down their requirements , and give some actual helpful advice.

Phillip, all advice is helpful in the end as it gives many different perspectives to consider. It is up the the individual to decide what, if any, advice given answers their questions.

Regards Philip A

cheers,
Terry ...

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