We need a new camper.

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Originally Posted by weeds

What brand is your existing?

Generally Aussie built Campers don't fall apart......

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Indigo, built in 1990. It's had a number of trips over some horrible roads - Oodnadatta Track after rain, Heather Highway, Gunbarrel Highway, Cordillo Downs road among others. Most of its undercarriage apart from the draw bar itself is only 1.5mm or 2.00mm steel. Essentially over the years I reckon it's developed a few fatigued areas and this last trip was the final straw. Here's a few pics of what Mick Holland did to get us home plus a new crack inherited between Omeo and Moe. The cracks are forward of both wheels. Only one side shown here for clarity.

Attachment 120497Attachment 120498Attachment 120500

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Originally Posted by weeds

Does it have to be new?? How bout a second hand Aussie built trailer......

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We opted for a good used aussie built camper over a cheap imported one (in our price range ) which i dont regret, may not be as flash as some of the newer ones but slowly getting it to how i want it.

Well after driving around to look at a LOT of campers both used and new we decided to go with the Balance Trailers forward fold job. Deluxe Off Road Hard Floor Forward Folding Camping Camper Trailer (Model No.: BT02HF) - Balance Trailers# . It's built like a brick outhouse and has all that we need plus a bit more. AND we got a few other inclusions - extra battery, 40 amp charger, gas plumbing, etc. for a good deal less than the advertised price. The only thing that we don't like is the Tregg hitch - I hate the things. Give me a McHitch drop on hitch any day...:-) Now all I've got to do is to put a brake controller in the car and we'll be hot to trot. Gotta do some research about that over the weekend and fit it before next Friday - leaning towards a Tekshona offering.
Seeing as the new camper weighs a good deal more than the old one I guess I'll be spending a lot of time away from 5th gear...:-)

Wow,, very nice... thats built like the proverbial,, no wonder its 1500kgs,,
It may need bigger feet on the front?

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Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Wow,, very nice... thats built like the proverbial,, no wonder its 1500kgs,,
It may need bigger feet on the front?

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The feet are tank size so I reckon they'll be OK.

Built like the proverbial is what we'll want if we are to tackle the Bourke to Wanaaring Road, the Anne Beadell highway (???) or the Heather Highway in the future. SWMBO hasn't seen them yet and I've only gone over them on a pushbike unsupported. Gotta do 'em slow with half flat tyres even on a pushy or your liver comes loose...:-)

I'll put some good pics up after we pick it up.

It's 4wd and Camping showtime all over Australia in the next couple of months, keep an eye open for one near you.

They love to have "show specials"

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Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

It's 4wd and Camping showtime all over Australia in the next couple of months, keep an eye open for one near you.

They love to have "show specials"

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Brisbane is March 31-April 2.

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Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

It's 4wd and Camping showtime all over Australia in the next couple of months, keep an eye open for one near you.

They love to have "show specials"

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The camper that we went for is the last of that model, the new (and more expensive) model will be on display at the shows so I reckon we benefitted from "showtime"..:-)

Good luck with the new camper ! Sorry to hear about the aborted trip, but just as well I guess.

We're heading the same way mid May for 3.5 weeks, but continuing on to Cameron Corner, Merty Merty then the Strz' to Innamincka, Cordillo, Birdsville then back to Innamincka via Walkers Crossing, on to Nockatunga, Thargomindah, Cunnamulla then south home via Lightning Ridge, Boggabri and Tamworth to home.

Really looking forward to that Bourke to Wanaaring-Tibooburra stretch ... towing a KK with a D2 ... at sensible speeds ... working on a <200km/day plan so we don't have to push hard.

Hope the new camper returns years of enjoyment !!

Cheers!

Edit - I put the jockey wheel on a flat piece of form ply, back up next to the kamper tregg and the wife adjusts the height and pulls the kamper tregg sideways into the hitch and slips in the pin ... never caused an problem doing it that way and we reckon it pretty easy ... can't see why people get frustrated with the tregg ?? To each his own I guess :)

We have our new camper. Towed it home from Kilsyth to Moe yesterday and it tows really well. A lot heavier than our old one though. The poor Td5 struggles a bit taking off from lights up hill and I spent a good deal of time changing down to 4th on the freeway around Warragul...:-)
Just a couple of minor issues so far. A couple of water leaks when the pump is running which were cured but undoing a couple of hose clamps and reseating the pipe and re-tightening the clamps. The brakes need adjusting - they were really good when we left the factory but were a bit lacking by the time we got home. Probably just wore off a few little high spots on the brake shoes. Got rid of the dreaded ply block hitch and put my McHitch on it - I'm happy now...:-)
We've still got to figure the annex and the bazillion poles out and put the annex up. That's tomorrows amusement...:-) The bag of poles needs two people to lift - there's LOTS of poles. LOTS.
Here's a pic of it set up in the front yard. I'll put some pics of the inside up later on or tomorrow.