Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: School-Me on Hardfloor Campers

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Branxton NSW
    Posts
    581
    Total Downloaded
    0

    School-Me on Hardfloor Campers

    Looking at getting into a Hardfloor Camper trailer this year some time, not really a fan of towing anything unnecesarily, but a Hardfloor Camp trailer seems less argument prone than erecting a tent after a long days drive

    So, have been on G-Tree and Facey Buy Swap and Whinge, looking around the 5 to 6K mark. Found a few Cubs, a few MARS and EziTrail and essentially they all seem the same. Had a poke throught the forum, and did all the searching etc.

    Need to house Myself and the Wife, plus 2 kids in some sort of stretcher arangement, so the floor area needs to be big enough for that.
    Not interested in fridge boxes, hot water, diesel heating or any of that added guff, esentially, it just needs to be a glorafied tent, with a slide out kitchen, and an awning or annex for longer stop-overs (dont really forsee anything longer than maybe 2 nights)

    Want to keep it light as functionally possible, probly carry a bit of water on board and some in the disco, MAYBE a small battery system for basic lighting (have dual batts in the car) and a bit of gas for cooking.

    Switching to Disco Stud pattern seems like a good idea, but I dont plan to run massive rubber, just enought for some semi decent ground clearance. Most seem to have shocks fitted to leaf springs, which will do the job, independant coils just seem like added weight, for little gain.

    So, bestow me with your horror stories, tips, tricks, pictures and suggestions.

    Planning on heading to ayres rock (from newcastle area) before the end of the year, get a quick climb in before they close it off. Do have a little time up my sleeve, but would like to do a few shake down runs beforehand.

    Cheers,

    Robert.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Moe
    Posts
    605
    Total Downloaded
    0
    I my view a camper is like a custom tailored suit. What fits my wife and I probably wouldn't fit anyone else. So with that in mind I'd suggest that research, research and yet more research to get a couple of likely candidates followed up with a couple of weekends away (close to home) or even a couple of "backyard camps" may well help you get what suits.
    Cheers,
    Mark F...
    Vk3KW

    2002 D2 Td5 auto - current AKA The Citrus Money Pit
    2000 Disco 2 Td5 Manual - dead and gone
    197? Range Rover - gone
    1973 SWB SIII Diesel, 1968 SWB IIA Petrol, 195? SI Petrol - all gone
    Outback Campers Sturt
    http://jandmf.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Free Again Thanks Dan
    Posts
    10,148
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by Markf View Post
    I my view a camper is like a custom tailored suit. What fits my wife and I probably wouldn't fit anyone else. So with that in mind I'd suggest that research, research and yet more research to get a couple of likely candidates followed up with a couple of weekends away (close to home) or even a couple of "backyard camps" may well help you get what suits.
    This is so true im onto my second camper the first was brand spanker`s the last one was a second hand one .
    Both even the new one i have had to modify to suit my need`s and style of camping.
    And i dont think it will ever end as SWMBO see`s something she likes in another camper

  4. #4
    Ean Austral Guest
    We have a Pioneer hard floor camper. its a Prospector 2 had it for about 8 yrs I guess , so the cheaper end of the market, didn't think I needed the flash suspension set up as the car is going to drag it everywhere it goes. I don't think I would take the camper on extreme 4x4 but its done the kimberleys a few times and a few other offroad adventures without issue.

    It sets up for overnight stops in minutes, just 2 tent poles to erect the rear floor area, and the beauty about it all folding back onto the bed is we leave it made up when we are on the move. it has a easy pull out kitchen outside , so don't need to open anything if stopping for lunch or a cuppa. The cheaper model like mine don't have the extra fridge/freezer box on the front , but it does have a good size storage box with a gas bottle holder and a couple of jerry can holders plus a 60 water tank underneath. Not sure what they would be worth now as the company got bought out and they went to a totally new design. We have had our Daughter on a camper stretcher on the hard floor but not sure how a few people would go. We also have the awning and walls to suit but have only used the walls a few times, the awning has been used many times and it would take maybe 10 mins to set up.

    I have done a fair bit to mine over the years so its not standard , but for a basic off the shelf camper that's build pretty tough they are worth a look if they are in your budget range but think they may fetch a bit more than 5 - 6k mark prolly closer to 9k for the stock standard prospector at a guess.

    Just my 2c worth
    Cheers Ean

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    38
    Total Downloaded
    0
    I’m tight. I had canvas made for my old bike trailer. It’s quick to setup and cost me under $3k for the fitout. It still works as both plus the occasional removal job and I’ve add a fridge, battery and longer drawer bar now

    If you see the state of the ground in the second pic, that’s about when we got bogged and decided to buy a 4wd instead

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    cairns
    Posts
    1,675
    Total Downloaded
    0
    We have a Kimberley Platinum, sounds like you aren’t looking at that type of camper $$$ although there are older ones around that can be quite cheap for what you get.

    If you have a good idea about where you want to take it what is underneath as in the suspension setup is IMO just as important as it’s functionality.

    We have seen many of the cheaper ones on the side of the road/track with a variety of failures in the suspension. Broken springs, broken spring hangers, broken shock mounts, cracked draw bars or broken. Plenty with fatigue cracking in the chassis’s etc.

    You tend to get what you pay for in that area so take your time and have a good look at what is around and I don’t mean to sound negative as there are plenty of good ones out there.

    Cheers,
    Paul.
    Paul.

    77 series3 (sold)
    95 300Tdi Ute (sold)
    2003 XTREME Td5

    I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    409
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Just went through all this last year myself and ultimately decoded the campers I liked I didn't want to afford and the ones I wanted to afford I did not like, so I designed my own and fabricated it for far less with the help of an experienced aluminum welder (which I am not, yet). It has a fridge slide for the dometic 95, runs off dual batteries in the rover via umbilical which I can recharge via 360W panel a friend in solar gave me from old spares they pulled on a commercial replacement job. It has two hinge points for a camper top/canvas pop top similar to the one above (similar to a mulgo pop top) with a top sleeping shelf, plus room for gear and/or added sleeping below (if the kids bring friends we sleep in the Rover and they all get the trailer. I'm in the process of building out water storage, propane, etc and will be matching the wheels to the Rover. All in (excluding fridge/freezer) is just under AUD4k to date. I'll try to post up a picture shortly.
    Scratching my teenage itch now that I'm in my midlife crisis...
    '87 110 County 4BD1+T+LP (Godzilla)
    '88 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing1)
    '91 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing2)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    409
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Scratching my teenage itch now that I'm in my midlife crisis...
    '87 110 County 4BD1+T+LP (Godzilla)
    '88 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing1)
    '91 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing2)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    409
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Scratching my teenage itch now that I'm in my midlife crisis...
    '87 110 County 4BD1+T+LP (Godzilla)
    '88 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing1)
    '91 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing2)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    409
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Dry fitting new sunbrella material to the pop top for this season. Still have to cut in the bug mesh windows, velcro flaps and zippered entry, but the panels with overlapping joints seemed right when dry fitted on Saturday. I've not done this bit myself before so it's a bit of experimentation. Next will be to stitch the panels into a whole and hem, stitch in the velcro and rivet popsnaps every so many CM's.
    Scratching my teenage itch now that I'm in my midlife crisis...
    '87 110 County 4BD1+T+LP (Godzilla)
    '88 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing1)
    '91 110 Perentie Cargo 4BD1+T+LP (Thing2)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Search AULRO.com ONLY!
Search All the Web!