Thread: Camper trailer that sleeps four??

Originally Posted by LandieMan

Thanks everyone for the replies. Especially to you Redback for taking the effort to post the photos. I'm assuming the camper trailer is you (the disco looks like it matches your signature). Nice set-up.

All the options look viable and I'm sure they'd all do the job so we'll just work thru' the usual lists of pros and con. We have some of the Jayco's over here so we'll take a closer look at those although the camper trailers are a bit more our kind of style. The Jayco's seem to be pretty popular in Aussie so there will be a good market for buying & reselling too.

Thanks again for your replies.

No problem, yes that is my setup, all of the side opening type campers (soft floor campers) have space in the tent section for bunks or single beds, with the double bed on top of the trailer, I would recommend you get something that is at least 16', ours is 16' x 9' with at least an 8" annex, enclosed would be good for insect protection.

We extended ours another 5 metres as you can see, but that's an option we wanted because we tend to stay in one place for extended times, you may not need the extention as you will be on the move every day or so.

It's funny that some camper makers are now offering this as an option now, coinsidence maybe.

Baz.

Over the years I've used caravans, camper trailers, tents (of various sizes - I still own 4) and most recently a Jayco-style (but much older) camper. They each have pluses and minuses. In may ways I like the style of the camper trailer, but IMO you really need to be in one place for a while to get the full value - it sounds like this is exactly what Redback does. They are really a tent with built-in trailer. Initial setup (roof over your head) is pretty quick, but then everything else needs to be set up afterward, and packed up as well. The jayco stye is almost the opposite: the raising and lowering of the roof is the big item, the internal setup stays fixed. I think this is easier to live with with frequent moves from site to site (but each to their own.)

I got my Pajero hung up the other day and needed a tow by a friendly local farmer - the camper didn't touch ground at any time (but does have raised off-road chassis). an off-road Jayco will go anywhere you would want to take a towed trailer. The Jurgens type van has rear cutaway for clearance. Even the most basic box-trailer based design will cope with everything except prolonged corregations.

As for length - from past caravan experience 16ft of living space is the minimum for a family. If you are travelling every other day, I'd suggest an awning rather then a full annexe. And if you are on any sort of budget, I'd suggest you steer away from 4-bed off-road camper trailers- you could replace your tow vehicle for the price of the camper, while box-trailer and jayco-style campers can be had in excellent condition for around $5000.

Originally Posted by scrambler

Over the years I've used caravans, camper trailers, tents (of various sizes - I still own 4) and most recently a Jayco-style (but much older) camper. They each have pluses and minuses. In may ways I like the style of the camper trailer, but IMO you really need to be in one place for a while to get the full value - it sounds like this is exactly what Redback does. They are really a tent with built-in trailer. Initial setup (roof over your head) is pretty quick, but then everything else needs to be set up afterward, and packed up as well. The jayco stye is almost the opposite: the raising and lowering of the roof is the big item, the internal setup stays fixed. I think this is easier to live with with frequent moves from site to site (but each to their own.)

I got my Pajero hung up the other day and needed a tow by a friendly local farmer - the camper didn't touch ground at any time (but does have raised off-road chassis). an off-road Jayco will go anywhere you would want to take a towed trailer. The Jurgens type van has rear cutaway for clearance. Even the most basic box-trailer based design will cope with everything except prolonged corregations.

As for length - from past caravan experience 16ft of living space is the minimum for a family. If you are travelling every other day, I'd suggest an awning rather then a full annexe. And if you are on any sort of budget, I'd suggest you steer away from 4-bed off-road camper trailers- you could replace your tow vehicle for the price of the camper, while box-trailer and jayco-style campers can be had in excellent condition for around $5000.

Steve couldn't agree more as to the Jayco style being a bit easier setup wise and yes if he chooses this type then an annex not enclosed is a better option, because you can sit in the van to get away from the flies and insects.

If however he chooses the trailer tent type, then being able to enclose the annex is essential, even if it's only a flyscreen enclosure, it can also give more living space because, once enclosed there is anothe 16 x 8 feet of living area, also rain this is another reason that even semi enclosing the annex is a good idea, one of the main reasons is the kitchen, in a tent style camper the kitchen is in the annex and it will need to be sheltered from the elements, an annex usually comes in 4 pieces, the roof 2 end walls and a front and depending on how long you stay will depend on how many wall you put up, on overnighters you don't have to put the annex up at all, most of these campers allow for not putting it up, we don't, ours folds over the tent and stays there while doing overnighters.

Either way it will come down to what you think is better for you Landieman, I'd suggest if you can, hire one of each for a weekend, this is a good way to choose what's best for you, it will also give you an idea as to how the Landie tows either one.

Eventually we will be going to a Jayco style camper, as we get older (especially the wife) it is becoming harder to set up our current camper, at the moment it's OK but it will come a time when it will be difficult for us.

Happy hunting.

Baz.

Baz, we'll probably end up in complete agreement, and then Landieman will go and do something completely different again!

I take your point on the annexe: my parents previous camper (that I've had my kids away in) had an annexe with flyscreen walls. Since the main tent is bedroom, the annexe is living room.

When you do decide you've had enough trailer camping, Baz, you might want to consider what my parents changed to: an Avan. Sounds like a leap, but they regard it as a "hard walled tent." In the off-road chassis they have decent mobility, and my parents' is self-sufficient with a small solar panel, plus I gather 1/2 the fun is working out how to fit the little luxuries into the tiny space. Avaners are a little fanatical, not unlike Land Rover owners!

Originally Posted by scrambler

Baz, we'll probably end up in complete agreement, and then Landieman will go and do something completely different again!

It's always possible....

I guess there's nothing to stop us trying a couple of different set-ups during the time we're on the road. It'll add a bit of variety too in case we start to get a bit of cabin fever.

Also maybe we could have a camper trailer for the rougher bits and where we might be moving a little more slowly and having more day trips away from the "base camp". We're planning on setting the truck up so that we could still overnight away from the trailer on occasions rather than having to drag it everywhere we go.

The great thing about Aussie is that it would appear there's a ready supply of second hand campers trailers and Jayco type pop-tops on the market. Over here in NZ they are as rare as hens teeth, the Jaycos are a fairly new arrival.

Enjoy your weekend and thanks again for the yarn, it's been very helpful.

Cheers, Iain