Thread: camper trailers

Originally Posted by Pierre

Mate, have a chat with Alan Thomas - at AJ Thomas in Caulfield (near the racecourse).

Explain your needs and thoughts, .

You'll get good info and advice.

x2

Tested and ended up purchasing - great service , knowledge and no sales B.S. - Famly run and owner which also goes in his favour....

We're looking at buying a 2nd hand hardfloor camper trailer. (champagne taste - beer budget)

Anyway, this weekend we're checking out an Aussie Swag LX Rover. It's a bit older and in our price range.... it's this bit that concerns me.... Is there anything that I should pay attention to when kicking the tyres?

W

I'd say with any camper - hard floor or not set up the canvas fully - look for patches, look for wear around the zips, check that it been greased and maintained(trailer and parts). Test the water tank - electric and or hand pump. check the spare (harder if its underneath) and check all the accessories - awnings etc.. Apart from that i cant think of to much else - they need to be maintained like anything so once you have it home re-grease everything (inc wheel bearings) and maybe check the battery holds its charge

I looked at hiring a T-Van a few years ago. None were available over the holidays, and their rate was $550 p/w.

I said that for that kind of money I may as well buy one and rent it out. I didn't have that kind of money, but did the number crunching anyway. I spoke to the guys at the T-Van factory, and they reckoned I could expect a 40% occupancy rate. Basically fully booked every school holiday, then waiting for people doing a 2 week outback trip to hire it every now and then.

They said other clients had also spoken about hiring, but were scared off by insurance quotes as high as $15K p/a. He said realistically I could get insurance for about $5K p/a. I then rang around and got a $20million liability cover, + van cover for $1,250 p/a (excluding annexe and small items such as cutlery, but including covering the cost of recovery from say the Canning Stock Route. Cover included me starting off with a 2nd hand van too.

I toyed with the idea of buying the van as a hire item, then retiring it after 5 years and using it for a long service road trip. But you have to have money to spend money, so I didn't. I only looked at the T-Van as I wanted a pretty indestructible chassis / suspension system if I was going to hire it out.

Anyway, I thought the idea may help justify someones purchase of a van, or offset some costs. If this inspires you, let me know, and I'll make a note that you owe me a weeks free hire - just kidding.