AORC Cross Terrain camper could this be it?

[Roo]

Hi Swaggers,
I need the benefit of your combined experience as campers, tourers and owners of some of these beds on wheels. Story goes like this....
I'm on the hunt for the right camper for the wife and I to call home for a year or 2 while we travel far and wide around Oz. We're relatively youngish(40 & 39) and used to bush camping in our tent/tarp setup for a few days at a time. the things I'm looking for in a camper are:
Quick setup.
Kitchen that you can use for extended touring.
big enough to allow self sufficiency for extended periods(10-14 days)
Rugged reliability for pretty much anything that you can tackle with a trailer.
Space to escape from the bugs/flies.
Need to be able to carry a small boat ....preferably on the CT's racks (outboard on drawbar)
The tow is a 100 series TD Landcruiser. plenty of ponies but I don't want to drag a 21ft van

I was hell bent on a hard floor camper from one of the majors but due to the GFC, global downturn, etc etc etc the budget has been clipped to a Second hand unit in the high 20's to low 30's mark.

I'm not super keen on the pop top options....unless the Gall boys designed it
I like the mini caravans like the Quantum's etc but they are out of the budget and means the boat has to go on the Cruisers roof rack(not ideal).
I came across the AORC Cross Terrain...seems to be a good compromise for what I need but I haven't read much about them anywhere. Maybe they were not popular?

Anyone have any experience with these?

I have found 2 for sale and one is in budget.

Cheers.

[JCOJ]

I haven't heard of the Cross Terrain.

I know they have the Odyssey, Eclipse and Quantum.

Just checked their website and didn't see it there either.

Can you post a link of the ones you have found?

[Bird]

http://www.australianoffroadcampers.com.au/our-campers.html

not listed on their site.

[jaycamrie]

Australian Off Road Cross Terrain ZS Camper @ ExplorOz Trader

[jaycamrie]

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[Pipeliner]

I thought I knew all of the AORC products, but I've never seen this one either at shows or in their showroom at Caloundra.  Just looking at it, and comparing it with their other models, I would guess that there is very little room inside the main tent for anything except the bed and the toilet.  Other than that it seems to have all the usual AORC features.

Possibly it was an experimental model between the Odyssey camper trailers and the Eclipse and Quantum caravans.

[Red Dog 4x4]

Thay have a new one coming out called "The Matrix" it is a full hight van not much info on them yet just a couple of photos,


http://www.australianoffroadcampers.com.au/news-a-articles/57-easter-in-the-matrix.html

[JCOJ]

Thay have a new one coming out called "The Matrix" it is a full hight van not much info on them yet just a couple of photos,


http://www.australianoffroadcampers.com.au/news-a-articles/57-easter-in-the-matrix.html

It would be good if they made the effort and got the Eclipse right before they started on a new one!!!!!

[Red Dog 4x4]

I like the Eclipse i would love to buy one but the $$$$ is the BIG factor here.....

[toad]

 G'day Roo,
 The Cross Terrain was only produced in small numbers. It is quite an ingenious craft, a bit like a big Odyssey, but I think the subsequent Eclipse was more "main stream" if you like.  I suggest you call Steve Bowden, the owner of AORC and discuss it with him. He is a nice guy and very approachable. All AORC products are good things.
Cheers and good hunting.
Gary

[darren]

They still have blue canvas....

[toad]

They still have blue canvas....

That's the clincher....

[Pipeliner]

  I suggest you call Steve Bowden, the owner of AORC

Steve Budden, actually.

[toad]

Steve Budden, actually.

Yeah, that's him. I saw one of those Cross Terrains at last years AORC Easter get together in Armidale.

[BigJules]

My wife would love that, and it might be a reasonable compromise between soft floor and hard floor. AORC make good stuff, but at $45K, I wonder if you'd be getting a bargain? I'm pretty sure you could get a new hard floor with boat loader, shower, all the fruit for the same money, and not have a limited run model.

[Pipeliner]

They still have blue canvas....

I think you'll find that they are going away from the blue canvas.  Last time we were up there Steve was talking about a different colour - I think more like a grey.  Check the photo gallery on their website..

[Roo]

My wife would love that, and it might be a reasonable compromise between soft floor and hard floor. AORC make good stuff, but at $45K, I wonder if you'd be getting a bargain? I'm pretty sure you could get a new hard floor with boat loader, shower, all the fruit for the same money, and not have a limited run model.

There is another one with a few less bells(no toilet, no aircon, no generator) which fits into the budget nicely and really is more suited to my list of wants and needs. Last thing I want is a dunny at the end of the bed. Aircon would be awesome but a bit removed from reality for me when It comes to camping...I know the first time I'm sweating it out on a stinking hot summer night/day I'll be thinking otherwise;)

G'day Roo,
 The Cross Terrain was only produced in small numbers. It is quite an ingenious craft, a bit like a big Odyssey, but I think the subsequent Eclipse was more "main stream" if you like.  I suggest you call Steve Bowden, the owner of AORC and discuss it with him. He is a nice guy and very approachable. All AORC products are good things.
Cheers and good hunting.
Gary

The small production numbers can be a blessing and a curse....while it may make them cheaper second hand now....it also may make parts harder to get and obviously resale more difficult....that said, I reckon it would probably have copped most of its depreciation and could plateau much like the "main stream" Hard floors do at around the 20-30K mark after 6-8 years.

other contenders are the Modcon Imperial HF and very old Ultimate's although the ulti has boat issues for me.

thanks all for the feedback.
Cheers.

[oldblade]

Thay have a new one coming out called "The Matrix" it is a full hight van not much info on them yet just a couple of photos,


http://www.australianoffroadcampers.com.au/news-a-articles/57-easter-in-the-matrix.html

thats great we can trade the topaz in on one in about a year