Thread: Best Off Road Camper Van for Disco 3 for Australian conditions

If you're talking camper trailers i have experience with a few, if you want fancy: Ultimate or Kimberly, but they are $$$$$, IMO the best are Redback, we've camped with a variety of people 2 of the group have Trak-shaks, good campers but they only run holden bearings, thats a deal breaker for me as i've seen them have trouble due to the mass of the exceptional camper trailer, only thing that lets it down. Redback seem the best to me, as a solid camper trailer with everything you need and nothing you don't sorta thing, As to van's i have no idea, we 'camp properly' haha

good luck, we've set up a camper trailer and still going. every trip we do the decision is made to modify to better suit our needs. so far it has been cut up and modified 7 time and just waiting for the steel to go through build 8. 9 is allready planned being independant suspension. only yourself and your family will know the best for yourself and price varies from uner $10000 to over 80000 depending on features fitted. good luck

Here ya go, one Redback Camper Trailer, this is 8yrs old and never had anything go wrong with it, the best trailer I've ever towed, doesn't bounce or sway, just sits behind the car.

The trailer is bullet proof, Ray Clarke knows how to build a trailer.

Behind the Disco 2


Now behind the Disco 4


Inside with the walkway at the front.


Set up


Baz.

I am biassed towards Hard floor campers as I have a 1997 Camp'o'matic and it is fantastic.
Everyone I have met who owns one raves about them.

However a hard floor camper really easily fits only 2 people and you would either have to have annex walls for the kids or their own small tent. Thye also do not have as much storage as a soft floor camper.

There are great benefits to a hard floor camper including quick setup compared to a soft floor, and the great benefit if it rains hard of having everything at least 15CM above ground. I have had water running through my annex 10CM deep with no problem at all and have spoken to soft floor owners who have had all of their belongings damaged. Another advantage is that they are pretty dust proof.
have a look at used ones on the Camper trailer site

welcome to campertrailers.org website home to Australian off road camper trailers since 2001

Regards Philip A

The original post for a Camper Van not a Camper Trailer.

If this is what they are after then something like a Jayco Eagle Outback would be a good compromise - yes there are better (more expensive) vans but as a reasonable all rounder to suit a family they would be suitable.

Garry

As mentioned the Jayco Eagle Outback will be fine,
Very good for what you get for your $$$

We did 2 x 3 month trips round oz towing an 07 Jayco penguin outback, which is the same without the fold down ends, so long as you do some dust sealing & lower your tyre pressures to suit the conditions they do a good job.

Originally Posted by garrycol

The original post for a Camper Van not a Camper Trailer.

If this is what they are after then something like a Jayco Eagle Outback would be a good compromise - yes there are better (more expensive) vans but as a reasonable all rounder to suit a family they would be suitable.

Garry

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


Baz.

I have a Jayco Hawk outback. Sleeps 4 adults comfortably.
Cons: heavier than most camper trailers
Dust sealing is a bit ordinary - particulary the door and fridge (louvered vents)
Track width is wider than the Disco 2

Pros: Easy to setup (15min job)
Fridge and stove included in price (depending on model may also get a griller or oven)
Stove has an electric burner as well as gas
Up off the ground
You have a hard roof over your head - handy for when it is raining and need to cook a feed.
Large gas bottle standard

We do not have an an enclosed annex as we do not anticipating staying in one place long enough to use it.

I have taken mine around a fair amount of Australia, only place we really struggled with it was on Fraser Island - but speaking to a few regulars everyone was having trouble because it was sooooo dry that year. Only dramas I have had was a stray rock taking out a water line connection, and trouble with one of the electric brakes failing.
I would not take it across the Simpson or up to the top of Cape york, but then again these are two places where I would not tow anything.
Worse thing about my trailer is I do not use it enough.
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.