Big decision

[Dogsbreakfast]

Hey guys

We (me wifey 1yo and 5yo) are getting ready to start implementing a plan for our trip around australia starting next year. Have already got the wheels in motion over trip vehicle - GU Patrol with 6.5 chev diesel (anyone in brisbane have a conversion I could suss out per chance) done by bullet - did someone say supercharger 

The other big decision is the camper choice...

With two kiddies our previous experience has been tenting or poptop camper trailers, virtually destroyed my old jayco hawk dragging it all over the joint, had a 2009 eagle outback and wouldnt trust taking it 1/4 of the places the old one did, although ease of set up and comfort had wifey happy.

My dilemma is what to get? Was thinking either


- goldstream poptop and tent - so we can leave camper sometimes and venture off with tent.
- KKamper or cub camper hard floor
- Conqueror UEV440 or Ultimate XTRK
- softfloor complete campsite or equivalent.
Has anyone done a similar trip, what did you use etc.

Will be heading around clockwise from brisbane and it will be for twelve months trying to fit as much as possible in....

cheers n beers
MT

[BigJules]

KK and kids room, great camper, excellent resale, go anywhere you want and take the camper too.

[GU Rich]

With 2 young kids the Ultimate might not be suitable for sleeping arrangements.

When we went we did it in the soft floor you can see in my Sig line, its a basic set up but that suited us. We travelled with 2 young kids too.
Sounds like a good trip.

Cheers
rich

[kiva]

Go the Ultimate   It's light and will follow you just about anywhere. Sleeping on a king size bed keeps SWMBO happy too 

The "family pack" adds in a spare room - perfect for the kids. Well, thats where Mr 2.0yo sleeps (and has done so ever since he turned 1). Miss 4.5yo chooses to sleep "upstairs" on the couch/bed. Then again, we occasionally will all sleep inside without setting up any extra rooms without any issue.

Good luck  

[D4D]

Whatever takes the least time to setup...

[Dogsbreakfast]

Go the Ultimate   It's light and will follow you just about anywhere. Sleeping on a king size bed keeps SWMBO happy too 

The "family pack" adds in a spare room - perfect for the kids. Well, thats where Mr 2.0yo sleeps (and has done so ever since he turned 1). Miss 4.5yo chooses to sleep "upstairs" on the couch/bed. Then again, we occasionally will all sleep inside without setting up any extra rooms without any issue.

Good luck  

do like the ultimate, especially the low ball weight, does the low weight have any detriments? want to take it up the cape etc, and have visions of it bouncing madly out the back of the beast 

[markymark]

We did our 6 month trip in a Trak Shak and if you've ever walked into one, your first impression is usually from the size of them - they're huge inside! Check my website link of our trip for how I found the 'Trakkie'. Apart from the size, the best thing is they have 2 beds off the ground as standard, so no bunks or anything for your kids, they sleep in the same comfort as you and the missus. You'll have no trouble dragging one of them anywhere you care to go, short rear overhang, high ground clearance and built strong. They have a heap of clearance between the tyres and guards too so even when loaded up there's no chance of scrubbing. If you're buying a Chinese made version, make sure you inspect it thoroughly before buying. We've discussed it on here before: http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=13571.0

Cheers,

Mark.

[kiva]

do like the ultimate, especially the low ball weight, does the low weight have any detriments? want to take it up the cape etc, and have visions of it bouncing madly out the back of the beast  

The low ball weight (about 30 kg when the nose is empty) makes it really easy to (literally) pick it up and move it around by hand. The plate on ours is stamped with a tare of 700 kg, though once loaded, I'd say we are closer to 1000 kg. The Ultimate is our first CT, so I don't know if any "bouncing" is just an artefact of the independent suspension, or just a lighter overall weight.

As for setup time, you can unlock the clips, flip it open, and have the structure up in under a minute; all by one person. Setting the inside up only takes a few more moments. Packing up can be done by a single person, easily within a few minutes. This was a requirement for us as we have young kids, and with the likelihood of one parent looking after the kids while the other packs up. With two people, packing up is very quick.

[Bird]

so you already have the GU with the Chev? or are looking at gettin it done.

if your still looking, consider the Duramax Conversion with the Alison Auto.. like a morris 1000 V a Bugatti Veyron in terms of power and torque.  Standard engine just tuned,willowbank 12.2 qauter - http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&h...&v=Y9wzOPq34pM

[Isuzumu]

If you think you need room then the Jimboomba soft floor.
http://www.whatsupdownunder.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216&Itemid=105

fully loaded it comes in around 1300 Kg with a ball weight of 130 Kg tows beautiful and the independent air suspension.
The built in genny is just the greatest thing, no lifting heavy things around.

[Symon]

With 2 kids maybe a Camprite is the go?

[Dogsbreakfast]

so you already have the GU with the Chev? or are looking at gettin it done.

if your still looking, consider the Duramax Conversion with the Alison Auto.. like a morris 1000 V a Bugatti Veyron in terms of power and torque.  Standard engine just tuned,willowbank 12.2 qauter - http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&h...&v=Y9wzOPq34pM

Havent done the conversion as yet. The duramax is a great bit of kit, but want the simplicity of the 6.5, dont want computers etc. Plus the runs are on the board so to speak with the chev conversions, I've had a look at and a drive of supercharged 6.5 out of bullet supercars at yatala and they are very professional - they hammer too.

In regards to the camprite, when I compared them to the conquerors - the conquerors seemed to be better value for money imo.

[sako]

We have two young kids, 2.5 and 5 months and chose the ultimate.

Very happy with it's performance and set up time.

I really like being able to move it around by hand and it tows very well.

Good luck!

[Dogsbreakfast]

damn hard choice - was looking at cape york campers as well. Good bit of kit, price puts them up with KK, ultimate and conquerors though.

[Boo Boo]

Last year we travelled for 7 weeks doing west Qld, the MySwag Gulf trip and the NT we drove some pretty harsh roads including all of the Savannah Way from Qld to the NT.  In 2009 did the MySwag Cape York trip.  So overall have covered some diverse conditions and our Trackabout Safari didn't miss a beat.

During our trip last year we met a lot of couples with families travelling around Australia but were limited to where they could drive with their choice of accommodation they were towing.  Some options maybe quicker to set up but may limit where you can go.

[ryangus]

I like the layout of the Ultimate.  Would 2 samll kids (aged 2 and 4) be able to sleep on the table/lounge area?  The extra tent would be ok, but not sure if they would sleep in it!

Obviously better than the Jayco Outback et tal for offroad performance, but I imagine a lot less comfortable for living out of for 12 months?

[kiva]

I like the layout of the Ultimate.  Would 2 samll kids (aged 2 and 4) be able to sleep on the table/lounge area?  The extra tent would be ok, but not sure if they would sleep in it!

Our kids are 4.5 and 2. They sleep quite well "top and tail" on the couch area.

[Dogsbreakfast]

hey kiva, can the lounge made into a double bed by incorporating the table?

Seen so many campers they are all blurring into one another....

[kiva]

Yes, the centre pole that holds the table up is removed. The tabletop then fits into a slot surrounded by the couch area, creating a large single bed. The mattress for the tabletop comes from using a back-rest cushion from the couch.