MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: lightweight on July 14, 2011, 09:06:28 AM
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Hi,
I have a small dilemma… I have a late model Kimberley Kamper that isn't getting the use it should. My family has grown from Just my wife and I, into Wife and two kids pretty quickly, when I bought it i got the "kids" room, which is really just a very small storage area and hardly up to the task. I currently do not have any enclosed awnings, just the "KK Quick Awning" which is really only a sun shade at best. What I am trying to get an idea from any other KK owners out there is what they have done, or what setup do they have to sleep kids? Does anyone have the 'Bedowin" or other fully enclosed awning packs from KK? If so can they provide a pic of it setup? Something that is all weather as well, as I seem to attract vast amounts of wind and rain whenever i venture outdoors.... Any help appreciated as I don't want to have to sell it.
Thanks
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I have the older model Kimberley. We only ever use the small annex. There are 4 of us and we have never really had an issue. Everyone is different though.
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Does your annex have sides/walls? The one i have has no sides or walls, maybe OK for an adult to sleep under, but not for kids.
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Darren, don’t you sleep in your swag next to your Kimberley admiring it :)
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what about bunks on the inside of the main tent for the kids?
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We have the 2010 model SportsRV with the Kwik Awning. no side walls.
The 2 kids are either sleeping in the CT on the hard floor or in their own little tent.
But my daughters are 8 and 5.
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Does your annex have sides/walls? The one i have has no sides or walls, maybe OK for an adult to sleep under, but not for kids.
If 4 of us are in the camper there is 2 in the bed and 2 on the hard floor. I do have walls for the larger annex but i keep them in the roof of the house and i have never got them out of their bag. I nearly almost always only use the small awning which is like the quick awning only with poles.
And yes. Most of the time i just sleep outside.
But as i said, were all different..
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Darren, don’t you sleep in your swag next to your Kimberley admiring it :)
I actually only bought my camper for the status... I prefer to sleep outside 8)
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Why do you think the kids room is not up to the task may I ask? Is not big enough to take a set of bunks of stretchers or whatever you would like your kids to sleep on?
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If they are only Little People, they won't need much room. The Man's 17yo has slept on the floor of the camper through very wet weather, but usually sleeps in his own tent somewhere far, far away from the camper. Apparently teenagers like their privacy ;D
Kit_e
P.S. Our Swag has optional canvas. We got 2 ends, a kitchen cover and draught flap for along the base. Haven't had to use it all as yet, but that draft flap alone is worth every dollar. There is another option for a complete front wall, but the pictured worked well through some pretty nasty weather (hail, thunderous downpour, and a gusty wind). Haven't used it in anything remotely cyclonic though, but nothing another tarp or two can't solve.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_SckPMuLN99Q/TNAFBbdVm1I/AAAAAAAAACU/hKAE4AwzSKs/s320/AS+Annex+Pack+1+ours.JPG)
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we have 2 kids (aged 8 and 3), on short weekend trips they sleep on the hard floor, longer stay in one place trips i put the extra bedroom on the back for them. personally i think there's heaps of room for the 2 of them, even when they are on the hard floor on weekends, but as some have said already, everyone has their own needs and wants for space.
cheers.
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kids room , i still can,t get the the kids out of bed with us ,we are looking at campers me thinks the kids will be in bed with mum and i will be in the swag outside ;D
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In our older kamper (kids room sticking out side) our two were on bunks - enough room to get out of bed and get changed etc. If only a quick stop then the bunks went on the hard floor and I didn't worry about setting up the kids room.
Our new KK has the kids room at the end (longways) of the extended annex - Master L (15ys) wasn't going to stay inside, prefering his swag - but the last trip he put his swag in the kids room to take advantage of the heater!
Below photo is of the old kids room sticking out the side of our old kamper.
Tim
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In our older kamper (kids room sticking out side) our two were on bunks - enough room to get out of bed and get changed etc. If only a quick stop then the bunks went on the hard floor and I didn't worry about setting up the kids room.
Our new KK has the kids room at the end (longways) of the extended annex - Master L (15ys) wasn't going to stay inside, prefering his swag - but the last trip he put his swag in the kids room to take advantage of the heater!
Below photo is of the old kids room sticking out the side of our old kamper.
Tim
Which set up do you prefer, the one on the end of the tent looks good to me, how do you find it??
GG
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Which set up do you prefer,
GG,
I reckon the end one wins - easier to find a campsite as you don't have to worry about something 'sticking' out the side. It is also bigger - easily sleeps three across. The 'side bedroom' is taller though - can stand in same.
Tim
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GG,
I reckon the end one wins - easier to find a campsite as you don't have to worry about something 'sticking' out the side. It is also bigger - easily sleeps three across. The 'side bedroom' is taller though - can stand in same.
Tim
tim is that the tent style room on the end , we are looking at kk,s at the show the bloke there told us you could fold the tent up with the rest of the hard floor is this correct
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tim is that the tent style room on the end , we are looking at kk,s at the show the bloke there told us you could fold the tent up with the rest of the hard floor is this correct
i've never done it myself with ours as we have the kids matresses on our bed and their sleeping bags also when we pack up, so the back room would be to much extra for us. i was told you can either leave the rear room on or leave the quick awning on but not both at the same time, we don't do either due to the extra stuff we already pack ontop of our bed when we close it up.
cheers
Mal
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tim is that the tent style room on the end , we are looking at kk,s at the show the bloke there told us you could fold the tent up with the rest of the hard floor is this correct
G'day Jaycamrie - we don't leave the kids room on or the awning on as per Rumpig's post. We use the bed to store other stuff so I haven't tried leaving anything else attached.
Tim
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Gronk
We are having the same conversations at the moment. My KK didn't come with the zips fitted for the side kids room (2005 model bought second hand). We are currently considering having the zip fitted which will cost about $1000 by the time the tent is removed by a KK dealer posted to KK and refitted. I like this option because it is all factory KK. However for the same money I can get a 3rd party to modify my KK (not extended tent) with a zip on the end instead of the side, and make a kids room similar to the factory KK one on the end.
I am reluctant to go this way (even though it is better value and will suit my needs better) because of resale etc.
We have two young kids 6 and 3 who currently sleep in the bed with mum and I sleep on the hard floor or outside (depending how many beers I have had) in my swag similar to Darren.
We do have the large annex and all of the walls as well as the 1.8m sun awning. If I am staying in one place for a while I use the 2.4m awning and add the walls if they are required. The missus loves the full set up. If I am only staying for a weekend I use the small awning. If over nighting I use nothing unless it is raining. Setting up the KK including the full awning, walls floor etc takes me and the missus 40 mins and I expect we will get this down a bit once we do it a few more times. It is great for the kids in bad wheather and there is heaps of room in it. The worst part is that it is a massive and heavy amount of canvas to carry around.
I have also seen a KK with one of those square looking 30 second tent things set up at the side door.
Regards
Jas
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We have a 2006 model that came with acres and acres of canvas. After using the 2.4m awning for a few months we then bought a kwik awning from KK as they had some deal going where I could have one plus the poles for $300. Since putting that on I have not taken it off and all the other canvass, including a side kids room, stays at home.
Our 7yo son sleeps on a camp bed on the hard floor and there is still plenty of space to get changed etc. If we had two kids we would probably get double bunks that would occupy the same amount of floor space.
Our solar panels travel on the bunk and the kamper gets folded up with the quick awning in place without any problems.
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"we then bought a kwik awning from KK"
I would buy the kwik awning also and would prefer one to my 1.8m sun awning however I don't think KK make one to suit the standard tent models (not extended tent).
Regards
Jas
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I would buy the kwik awning also and would prefer one to my 1.8m sun awning however I don't think KK make one to suit the standard tent models (not extended tent).
Regards
Jas
Have no idea - ours is the extended version!
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Looking at the price of add-on family room $1590, xtended bedroom $890. Our kids are now grown up and we are now looking towards taking the grandkids with us. When mine were younger (about age 8+) they could not wait to be in their own tent. We are looking at getting the oz tent for them. Can be carried on the rack, 30sec to put up, cheaper than the add-ons, we can throw it on the roof of the 4x4 if we are going where the KK will not.
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We also have the Quick Awning and 3 kids. Our girls are still little at 3, 6 & 8. I bought the annex that comes with the awning as well as the kids room, but we have only used the kids room once. The kids are sleeping on a self inflating matress on the hard floor (mind you the 3yo is in our bed before 1am anyway). They all have their own -10 rated sleeping bags so they are warmer than us usually. I am looking at getting bunk camping beds for them as when we use the shower, the moisture stays under the bed. The annex is quite good and we only put it up when it is windy and wet.
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Jas, in picture IMG_1956.jpg, what is the name of that awning and the size of it?
That is what i am after!
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Jas, in picture IMG_1956.jpg, what is the name of that awning and the size of it?
That is what i am after!
Lightweight
That awning is the 2.4m Awning mate, with the complete wall and draft skirt kit. It is approximately 2.4m (roof width) x 6.7m (Length) In reality it is a fair bit bigger than that as the walls taper out so you probably have an additional 0.5m all the way around at floor level. It is massive, and we find it has heaps of space for the kids in bad weather. The down side is putting it up and carrying it around as it is about 50KG of canvas. We generally only take it for extended stays of 4 days or more and use the smaller awning the rest of the time.
Regards
Jas
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I came accross this earlier in the week, it may be of interest to you.
http://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/buy/details.aspx?R=10769478&PriceToCaravan=1558&__Qpb=1&Cr=1&__Ns=p_StockHasPrice_Int32|1||p_StockPrice_Decimal|0||p_StockRankSort_Int32|1&SearchAction=N&__N=1552%201549%201600%201602%201601%204294964593%201558&silo=1701&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=251&__sid=12F742FD8D51
NICK
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Hi Jas,
Ok thanks for that, exactly what I am after.
I agree that it would be mainly used for extended stays, the last time i was away it rained hard for 7 days straight, and with only the quick awning there wasn't much room for the kids to stay dry, or be protected. I have the room in the back of the defender so no issues with its size.
Did you get it with your original purchase? or did you get it after? I hear they are not cheap but can't get an exact price from anywhere.
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Hi Jas,
Ok thanks for that, exactly what I am after.
I agree that it would be mainly used for extended stays, the last time i was away it rained hard for 7 days straight, and with only the quick awning there wasn't much room for the kids to stay dry, or be protected. I have the room in the back of the defender so no issues with its size.
Did you get it with your original purchase? or did you get it after? I hear they are not cheap but can't get an exact price from anywhere.
Mate mine came with my unit, when I purchased it. I believe they are quite expensive (About $3500) with all of the walls etc new. They do pop up on the forums for sale from time to time, second hand. I know a few guys on here have them and don't use them, maybe one of them is keen to do a deal. Might pay to ask around.
Regards
Jas
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Ok, thanks for that.
IF anyone has a second hand one they might be interested in selling, PM me...
Thanks.
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What about one of the OZ TENT 30 second jobs for the kids
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I am after a fair bit more room and one package, the kids room would be OK, if I had a full size awning.
I am not that keen on the oztent. I have done tents and swags for years. A mate has one and they are fantastic pieces of kit, just not what I am after.
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Give 5 star campers at Belmont a ring...they used to be KK dealers and they MAY have a big awning lying around..
If not, any decent canvas maker should be able to do you a copy....and a lot less $$ than KK charge ..
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I have just finished going over with the canvasser a full annex and paid the deposit. Made exactly to the way I want it. I am sure it will be better than the KK version when complete. Can't wait till next trip in November to test it out.
YKK zips, best aussie canvas, in the same colours with Windows where I want them and draught skirts.
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Great decision.
I have a 2005 KK and the kids are starting to take up a bit of room on the hard floor. As I won't be in a position to upgrade for a couple of years I am also looking at some custom canvas options for the kids room.
I have the full extended annex from KK and to be honest it would be hard to get one made to the same level of detail and workmanship. It is a piece of art, but it would want to be for $3k. The down side of it is the size and weight of it to lug around.
Are you getting a kid room as well??
I am considering talking to Southern Cross Canvas about modifying my tent and making a kids room for the end of it. KK are not interested in the work and their kids rooms on the end only suit the extended tent model.
I am keen to see how yours turns out it sound like a fantasic plan so far.
Regards
Jas
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When I finally finish my camper I am getting an Oz tent rv5 for guests and kids and or otherwise storage. I like to keep my main awning free of obstructions and useful things out of sight. Anyways what do you think??
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I like Darren's style, mum and kids in camper, dad outside in swag :cheers:
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I like Darren's style, mum and kids in camper, dad outside in swag :cheers:
Thats my form to at the moment.
I got a quote today from Southern Cross Canvas $2.5k to make a kids room that fits off the end of my kk and is essentially the same as the rear section of their ultimate Trekker tent. So it is held up by one hoop pole only and will be very similar to the factory KK room. Price includes removing and refitting the tent from the trailer, modifying the end wall to include a zip and velcro. All done with WCT Canvas in the factory KK colour and weight.
I think this is the option I will go for, much cheaper than uprading the KK at this stage and Southern Cross are at the top of the tree for canvas products IMHO.
I can't wait to see Lightweights awning and annex It sounds like a crakka.
Regards
jas