Off-Road Camper for 6

[CruiserNut]

Hi all.  I've also posted this on Exploroz:

I'm interested to hear what other large families are using for camper trailers, or any idea's people have.

I have 4 kids (4yo to 12yo) and want a camper that's very quick to setup/pulldown and will sleep all 6 of us. I'll be using it for bush tracks, desert trips, beach and road touring with overnight stops. Towing with a TD 200 Series cruiser.

I've been steering away from traditional soft-floor campers as I borrowed one and it took ages to setup and the kitchen was still out in the rain (took another half hour to setup extra annex  ). However it was very solid and would handle any off road track.

I've also been keeping away from the Jayco and similar wind up roof campers because of their size, weight and I doubt they'll handle the off road track's I'll be throwing at it. Also, have to set these up just to access the kitchen and food .

Am I dreaming or is there actually something out there that'll work?
(I havent found anything yet).
Cheers
NUTS!

[Bird]

What is your budget?
http://www.trakmaster.com.au/
That will tell you if your dreaming or not.

Manyh campertrailers have the kitchen out in the open. Most caravans/many hardfloors dont.. but most hardfloors dont have much room without extra rooms being zipped on - so theres your time again.

http://www.completecampsite.com.au/ do some nice things with 16ft tents on them

Some softfloors the tent can be setup in 1-2mins. The awning is always going to be a bitch if you remove it each time, but if yoru smart about it, you leave it attached and then its only 5mins with 2 people  

YMMV

[BigJules]

There are campers and there are campers. My soft floor can be setup for 6 people, including extra room, awning, kitchen etc in about 20 minutes. I doubt there is a hard floor camper that could fit you all, without requiring extra rooms as well, that could be set up sooner.

In general one gets more internal space with soft floor campers, which might be important for bags, changing etc.

Perhaps you should try hiring or borrowing a couple more, to get a broader experience? Can you come along to a Myswag meet, where you can see a bunch of campers being used?

[CruiserNut]

Ok, good point (budget).
As strange as this sounds, it depends.  A mate got a soft floor camper 'with the lot' on solid Gal trailer for $6500 new....I'd be very happy with that price, but it took ages to setup the tent.  But for a quality built trailer with good features that suits me well, I guess I'd pay up to around $15k mark?

Some softfloors the tent can be setup in 1-2mins.

Is anyone able to tell me which ones? or how to tell by looking at it?
There is just so many soft-floor campers on the market - how would I know which are quick and easy to setup and which take ages?
I went to the caravan and camping show in Rosehill recently and was amazed at how many were there.

Thanks

[Crosslander]

One that has caught my eye layout wise is Trak Shak. hard top camper with 2 x double (queen?) beds off the ground and huge tent with enough room for another 4 kids. All goes up with 3 ropes for over night stays. More ropes if windy or longer stay. The kitchen can be used insiide or moves out under the awning if you wish. The whole camper is set up for versatility.

www.trakshak.com.au

There is one for sale on the camper trails for sale thread at the moment. Plus been a few on ebay lately that looked alright.

No affiliation and don't own one - just a design I like.

[Dion]

6 people?

Heavy duty offroad?

Access kitchen easily?

Sounds like you need a camprite.

[MR MAC GU]

My KK sets up for 5 people in less than 5 minutes which includes adding the kids room on. If we just want a quick over nighter the kids sleep on a matteress on the hard floor and there is still enough room for one more but would be getting a bit squeezy, this only takes about 1 minute to set up.. My kids are 12,7 and 4. I believe the new kids room on the 2011 model is even bigger than mine.

Cheers

[earle]

Remember that once you get used to it any camper will be quicker to set up. A well designed soft floor can be quite quick for the main tent, as you say its the awning which can add the time. A 12ft tent would give you space for 2 sets of bunks for the kids. Some manufactures are also now offering a quick awning in addition to the one that is more substantial but takes longer to set up. As an example check out the overnight awning that customline offer http://www.customline.com.au/cms-options/index.phps

[Bird]

But for a quality built trailer with good features that suits me well, I guess I'd pay up to around $15k mark?

there are plenty around. You just have to go look at them yourself. What takes Darren 1minute may take others 45mins. + getting used to it can make a world of difference.

There is just so many soft-floor campers on the market - how would I know which are quick and easy to setup and which take ages?

see above.

I went to the caravan and camping show in Rosehill recently and was amazed at how many were there.

dozens more where they came from... most companies dont go to the shows., http://www.campertrailers.org/manufacturers.htm few more listed here, + look at the thread here 'who made your camper'....

Is anyone able to tell me which ones? or how to tell by looking at it?

as much as I hate to say it http://www.lifestylecampertrailers.com.au/lifestyle-camper-trailers-1-minute-challenge.php?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=450&width=715

[Diksta]

yep camprite, sleep 6 people up off the ground without having to add extra rooms

http://www.campritecampers.com.au/s_features.html

on the picture below, you will see the bunk set up for one side, what it doesn't show is that it can happen on both sides as well as a queen size bed.

believe me these things will go anyway you can drag them

[cootha]

i got 4 kids, and we've got an extenda with 10x10 ft tent, and two double bunks.  Was gonna get bigger, but was talked out of it.  Glad i was, it's heaps big enough for what we need and any bigger would be a major pita for overnighters.  And how much time do you spend inside the tent anyway?

[ryangus]

Those Camprite's look OK - any idea how much?

[Diksta]

Those Camprite's look OK - any idea how much?

if you can get one 2nd hand do so but they are like rocking horse Sh!t, i think the base model starts at about $36 or $38. they do come up occasionally but they are never on the market for long.

cheers

[Phantomxr8]

Here you go 10 min to set up the tent from pulling up and about 30 min till your fully setup having a beer and very solid well set up camper

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=14588.new;topicseen#new

[jaycamrie]

yep liked the look of camprites ,dont remember seeing any at brissy camping show

[Diksta]

yep liked the look of camprites ,dont remember seeing any at brissy camping show

you don't see them much over here as they are WA based but there is a mob in Brissy that hires them out if you wanted to go for a test run

http://www.goodasgoldcampers.com.au/

cheers

Diksta

[ryangus]

i think the base model starts at about $36 or $38.

Are you serious?!!!!  I'd struggle justifying half of that.

[jaycamrie]

thanks diksta yeah we are thinking about hiring a few different types before we buy a ct, so many out there .spent 2 whole days looking at show in brissy still came home confused 

[Diksta]

Are you serious?!!!!  I'd struggle justifying half of that.

 i am pretty sure that's what they asking, and yes i a serious, but they are towards the top end of the market. and no i don't have any affiliation just a happy customer.

[Diksta]

thanks diksta yeah we are thinking about hiring a few different types before we buy a ct, so many out there .spent 2 whole days looking at show in brissy still came home confused 

very easy to do, i know before we decided on our camprite we did the shows and what we found helpful was talking to people we met on the road with our experimental camper. but at the end of the day we took a hit and lashed out on what we wanted.

cheers

[4runnernomore]

Try the Spacematic or Space van range from CUB. Hardfloor flip over giving you 20 feet of living space. A number of variants and options to choose from.
 
http://cubcampers.com.au/

Cheers, Chris

[jaycamrie]

very easy to do, i know before we decided on our camprite we did the shows and what we found helpful was talking to people we met on the road with our experimental camper. but at the end of the day we took a hit and lashed out on what we wanted.

cheers

yes i am always chattin to people who pass through town ,and anywhere we go for that matter, always walking through campgrounds checkin out peoples set ups seeing whats looks good and getting ideas .when we did the cape last year was always asking ct owners about there setup  mates thaught i was  just a have a chat .missus wants one by june next year probally earlier to do a few test runs before we tackle the cape again.

[Diksta]

yes i am always chattin to people who pass through town ,and anywhere we go for that matter, always walking through campgrounds checkin out peoples set ups seeing whats looks good and getting ideas .when we did the cape last year was always asking ct owners about there setup  mates thaught i was  just a have a chat .missus wants one by june next year probally earlier to do a few test runs before we tackle the cape again.

hoping to be taking on the cape this time next yr with my camprite in tow

[Bird]

Are you serious?!!!!  I'd struggle justifying half of that.

you would hate to see the top end of the market then, or offroad caravans.. search for Lotus offroad vans.

[jaycamrie]

you would hate to see the top end of the market then, or offroad caravans.. search for Lotus offroad vans.

i seen them at the camping show would have to sell a kidney to get one of those maybe both