Thread: Thoughts on off-road campers

There's only the two of us, but we are 12 days away from the start of a 3 month drive around the country with the 110 and the Kimberley. So I'll be posting how things progress as we travel (and when I can)

Originally Posted by dm_td5

There's only the two of us, but we are 12 days away from the start of a 3 month drive around the country with the 110 and the Kimberley. So I'll be posting how things progress as we travel (and when I can)

Excellent. The Kimberley campers are highly rated. Did you buy it new or second hand? What model do you have?

New 08 Platinum bought last July

In 2001 my wife and I did a lap of Oz with a 9 month old. It took just under 4 months. We now have 3 kids and do trips for up to 3-4 weeks.

We went through the same thoughts and so bought an offroad camper trailer for many of the reasons you mention.

Some points to consider:

* In the winter months, northern australia can be quite dry with not a lot of storms. We had no rain from Archer River on the Cape all the way across to Carnarvon in WA. As a result, for one night stands, we did not need to peg our soft-floor CT nor erect the annex. This can save a lot of time.

* A pull-out kitchen saves time in set-up/pack down each day

* Absorption type fridges (eg Chescold RC1180) don't seem to handle corrugated roads nor tropic temperatures of the Cape. Buy a compressor type fridge (Evakool/Engel/Waeco) and mount in the back of your vehicle/trailer and leave it there to save setup/packdown time.

* We have those double bunk beds for the kids that you buy for around $99. I've modified them so that they stay 80% made up and store flat under the CT mattress. Saves setup time as they can be a pain to erect from scratch at each campsite.

* Use versalite style 12V lights instead of gas lights. More kidsafe and no mantles/glass to break.

* Fit rover hubs to the trailer so you can run the same rim/tyre on the vehicle and the trailer. Thet are not expensive if you have to retrofit.

* Our Trackabout Safari CT cost us $7K new in 2001. They now retail for about $11K.

* We did all of the Telegraph track on the Cape except the last 2-3 creek crossings. The only other place in Oz we did not feel comfortable with taking a trailer was the Mitchell Plateau in WA. Otherwise, the CT did not cramp our offroad abilities.

* You will appreciate the storage/living space afforded by a CT if you are on the road for a long time. I think we'd go crazy trying to live out of a tent/back of a Defender for months on end - especially with kids. Yes, it could be done, but not as enjoyable.

* Rent a CT one weekend and try before you buy

We have 2 girls, 15 and 11, and still find our Cape York softfloor big enough. I got a type3 full body version with extra kitchen annexe walls and heavy duty axle/suspension upgrade, delivered to Melbourne from Cairns, regoed and including GST close on 17K.

The CYT has been towed through some pretty average tracks, long stretches of corrugations and bulldust, lots of heavy rain and mud, and 20K of travelling so far with no issues, except my fault in not remembering to retension the suspension after 5000km and having to drop by the workshop when back in Cairns to get a few more U bolt nuts and washers... They are somewhere on the Bloomfield track.

We hired one of these for 10 days and took it across the gulf area and Karumba, Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Mary Kathleen, Fountain springs, Camooweal, Lawn Hill Nat Pk and couldn't fault it for a tough, well built and simple trailer. Even Telstra FNQ use these exact units without the camper tent etc as their work trailers. Fully hot dipped and all fittings are Stainless steel, Aluminium is also used for the front storage box and jerry can holders.

I would recommend one in a flash. They are no supermodel to look at, but I wanted something to last 20 years...

JC

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Also, where is the best place to look for second hand campers? Is there a campersales.com.au ?

www.rvpoint.com.au
www.campertrailers.org
www.tradingpost.com.au

* In the winter months, northern australia can be quite dry with not a lot of storms. We had no rain from Archer River on the Cape all the way across to Carnarvon in WA. As a result, for one night stands, we did not need to peg our soft-floor CT nor erect the annex. This can save a lot of time. We got a quick awning which provides shade, no need for the full setup unless staying a while

* A pull-out kitchen saves time in set-up/pack down each day And for roadside stops

* Absorption type fridges (eg Chescold RC1180) don't seem to handle corrugated roads nor tropic temperatures of the Cape. Buy a compressor type fridge (Evakool/Engel/Waeco) and mount in the back of your vehicle/trailer and leave it there to save setup/packdown time. Interesting, hadn't heard this, KK came with an AutoFridge 70L and I'll have my trusty 40L Engel in the 110

* Use versalite style 12V lights instead of gas lights. More kidsafe and no mantles/glass to break. LED lights are the way to go on everything, low power usage, good light. We also got a couple of LED rechargeable lanterns. The trailer is all LED too.

* Fit rover hubs to the trailer so you can run the same rim/tyre on the vehicle and the trailer. Thet are not expensive if you have to retrofit. Yep, but remember D2/D3 rims have a smaller PCD and so you may end up with lighter bearings, stick with Defender/D1 hubs and wheels if possible.

I have been starting to browse around. The ultimate looks cool but it looks to me like strictly a 2 person camper. That's one off the list (not that I'm saying there is a list at this point).