Tvan or not Tvan that is the question

[FNQ_DOC]

Hi to the forum

I'm new to Myswag as am just in the process of deciding on a Kimberley Kamper Platinum or a TVan Murranji.  There seem to be great things about both & am really struggling to decide.  The included items in the Kimberley are making me lean that way, especially the larger kitchen, included hot water & large (75l) eutectic fridge included in the price.  The Murranji looks to have the edge on build quality, security, storage (acres of internal space) & aesthetics.  I am sure which ever way we went we would be happy with the choice.  However I wonder if I could put out there to the forum a couple of questions that might help us decide...
1. We live in Far North Queensland & most of the use of the trailer would be relatively local.  It'd be great to be able to use it into the wet season but do any forum members have experience with either of these trailers in hot & humid conditions, especially at night?  The TVan sells itself on the tracktrailer.com site as being cooler than other trailers.  Given that there is only the 2 small hatches over the bed there seems limited ventilation & this concerns me.  The KK has large windows in the canvas around the bed but is there any weather protection for these - i.e. can you keep ventilation when it is raining?
2. Is the integrated hot water in the KK really a good thing?  I wonder if a portable hot water system such as the aquacube or coleman system is better given portability?
3. We have 2 small kids that would be sleeping on camp-beds.  There is any major difference between these 2 trailers if travelling with a family.  Before any Jayco owners jump in we don't fancy a full caravan!
4. Do any forum readers have any experience with good auto-electricians in the FNQ region as I need to get an Anderson plug installed in my LR Disco 3 for the trailer?

I'm such I'll think of more questions in due course & thanks in advance for any responses to the above.  I look forward to contributing more to myswag.org once we finally take the plunge & get out there!

Cheers...

[oldblade]

Sorry can't help on either product but I can say we love out Tracktrailer Topaz the quality is fantastic

Welcome to the forum

[rockman]

For an auto-elecy , use Pat @ Bright Spark Automotive on Spence St .
Very neat and quite anal about his work  .

Try laying down in a TVan , there is not alot of room .

Cheers

[Draggin]

Probably not going to help much but I'd opt for the Tvan in the wet - much less wet canvass to pack up, on the other hand the KK has more room for a family. The hot water is great but what size tanks are you talking about and what amount of water does SWAMBO use for a shower? Given that you will use the camper locally - does that mean overnighters or extended stays?

Tvan for convenience with short stays. KK for convenience in setting up a larger living area and staying longer (if you have enough water for hot showers).

Cheers

[Tim - Stratford]

Hi FD,

We changed over from an '05 KK to an '11 KK a couple of months back and haven't looked back. Nothing wrong with the '05 - just more luxuries on this one 

You're right about the eutectic fridge - they are brilliant. Draws a fair bit of power when first turned on but we do this at home the day before with the KK plugged in to 240. We mainly camp in the High Country and on most trips of 3 to 4 days don't turn the fridge on at all! It maintains temp very well, although I haven't used it in tropical FNQ conditions.

The kitchen setup is brilliant on the KK - It was a hard decision whether to go the BBQ or the cooker - ended up with the cooker as most of our cooking is on the campfire and we don't do caravan parks.

The hot water and heater.....I can't say enough about this - temps in the minus' and 30c in the kamper at night watching movies with the kids! The hot water - also brilliant - just watch usage - we got the extra tank and will probably plumb them together in the future. For the shower - we just use a large bucket and pump from that to the water heater - endless hot water as long as the kids keep filling the bucket with river water.

Haven't encountered the 'hot' kamper due to locations camped in -but the new tent design has the permanently attached weather shield to the drivers' side window - this window can be opened in torrential rain and remain dry on the inside - there is also a small fan in the flyscreen at the top to expell hot air. If the awning is on then you can have the passenger side window and head window open with no rain coming in.

We've got the kids room and it is spacious. Our kids use full size swags and two fills it - with our old KK (kids smaller) we used COI bunks and there was still room with them on the hard floor for quick stops when we didn't want to use the kids room.

Try hiring one to give it a test run - I'm a bit biased with the KK but have never had a problem - apart from wet canvas - which is a pain in the *&^% - took us a week to dry everything after last time (got home to floods/rain) but it was our choice to go bush when we knew the forecast - couldn't help ourselves 

Hope this helps,

Tim

[Captain]

With a family I would prefer the extra room of the KK. We also have 2 kids so too have the issue of fitting them in space-wise. Also, do yourself a favour and look at the AORC Odyessy hard floor camper. Its a direct competitor to the KK and IMHO has several advantages. One in particular is the excellent kitchen on the Odyessy, the best in the business IMHO and won the 2011 Camper Trailer of the Year. Also, the aftersales support of AORC is second to none.

http://www.australianoffroadcampers.com.au/camper-trailers/odyssey-export-signature.html

Cheers

Captain

[WilSurf]

We were in the same boat, tossing up between the Tvan and the KK.
We decided for the KK.
The Tvan is a great thing, but less practical with kids in our opinion.
The KK has more room to move.
With ventilation, our KK has an extraction fan in the tent to get rid of condensation/hot air.

[Jon]

Another option.
good value for 4 and independant of the ground.

http://www.modcon.com.au/model_details.php?m=5

I am contemplating a dodgy shed copy

[morgue]

Another option.
good value for 4 and independant of the ground.

http://www.modcon.com.au/model_details.php?m=5

I am contemplating a dodgy shed copy

x2,

I checked them out at a show...very underated, the modcon...up to the top of my list,
Tvan was there, as well as KK,...as was Pioneer....
But the Modcon...very interesting...blew me away when demoed to me.

As uncle Molly use to say..."Check them out".

[rossbarb]

Hi all,
We have owned both a Kimberley and a a Tvan. We sold the Kimberley and kept the Tvan. We were also nice friends and loaned both to friends of ours, they did a fortnight trip in both and they also chose the Tvan as there preferred van. The puuting up is similar in time but the Tvan is so much easier to put away I can do it by myself( a 53 yr old female). The bed is really good to sleep in space not an issue, not much difference in the space on the floor  to put the beds for kids. you can just put their beds up on yours and shut the lid leave them made up. We kept both for a while until we made up our minds, then sold the kimberley. As for the heat the heat in the Tvan is so much less as you have insulated fibreglass over the top of you not canvas so it is surprisingly cool. We live on the North Coast of nSW so it does get hot. The after sales service is fantastic. We bought ours second hand and it was 6 years old and hubby wanted to do some stuff and they provided everything just like it was still under waranty but the waranty had run out, it was amazing.  We have camped in pouring rain and it is so fantastic to put away in the rain NO wet canvas near your bed at all. Hope this helps. Email me if you want to ask specific questions at mclachlanclan@yahoo.com.au
Barb.

[FNQ_DOC]

I am really grateful to all postees!  What a friendly & helpful forum MySwag seems to be. 

On-going suggestions, opinions & advice continue to be very welcome to help us come to our decision & thank in advance for those.  I will keep the forum posted as to what we will decide on & how the van shapes up.

Cheers

[JCOJ]

Have you considered the Aussie Swag Camper?

In my opinion it is a better option than the Kimberley - 80lt fridge, swing around kitchen that doesn't take up awning space, 130w solar panel as opposed to a 80w, 210a/h with a 60ah charger, 4 burner cooktop as opposed to a two, underbed storage tray that you can pull out, 130L water tank as opposed to a 120L, and a vent in the roof for better ventilation, and the factory is in Qld.

We have two boys and on overnighters they sleep on the hard floor on their camping matresses and for longer stops we have the side kids room which offers heaps of room.

http://www.aussieswag.com.au

[TOPNDR]

G'day Doc,

If your in the Cairns region I'll second Pat at Bright Spark (cnr Spence & Hannam). He's not the cheapest but as I told a friend looking for a recommendation today, I've never had to have him fix a bodgy job.

Mrs T & I have an AORC Quantum.  As Captain says, AORC's after sales service is excellent, as is their build quality.  We moved from a Kimberley Kamper ('05 Platinum) to the Quantum.  We found the TVan somewhat claustrophobic.  Obviously this would be a very personal thing.

I'm heading up to Herberton Fri for a couple of nights camping. If you'd like to have  look at a Quantum, even if just to assess AORC's build quality, just drop me a pm & we'll sort something out.

Cheers
G

[JCOJ]

AORC's after sales service is excellent, as is their build quality.  

Glad to hear you are happy with your Quantum's but a close friend of mine has an Eclipse and has had issues with it from day one and AORC's response has been nothing but delayed and dismissive until pushed.  8 months later they are still waiting for things to get rectified.  The Quantum may be good as they do higher volumes of it as opposed to the Eclipse.

In his words: "AORC promote themselves as having a Rolls Royce product but their build quality is that of Daewoo"

[TOPNDR]

G'day John,

Your friend's experience doesn't gell with mine or others that I know of.  On the AORC Owner's forum, there is chat about two issues on the Eclipse that have proven difficult to resolve but there is input from the manufacture on the forum detailing what they are doing to resolve them.

The only other complaint I've heard about AORC was from a guy who rolled his Odyssey and then complained about the trailer being damaged.

[gibbo301]

Have you considered the Aussie Swag Camper?

In my opinion it is a better option than the Kimberley - 80lt fridge, swing around kitchen that doesn't take up awning space, 130w solar panel as opposed to a 80w, 210a/h with a 60ah charger, 4 burner cooktop as opposed to a two, underbed storage tray that you can pull out, 130L water tank as opposed to a 120L, and a vent in the roof for better ventilation, and the factory is in Qld.

We have two boys and on overnighters they sleep on the hard floor on their camping matresses and for longer stops we have the side kids room which offers heaps of room.

http://www.aussieswag.com.au

x2

[Captain]

Glad to hear you are happy with your Quantum's but a close friend of mine has an Eclipse and has had issues with it from day one and AORC's response has been nothing but delayed and dismissive until pushed.  8 months later they are still waiting for things to get rectified.  The Quantum may be good as they do higher volumes of it as opposed to the Eclipse.

In his words: "AORC promote themselves as having a Rolls Royce product but their build quality is that of Daewoo"

Hi John,

I am very suprised at yours mates comments, in fact they go completely against everything I have seen and heard about AORC. My own experience has been nothing short of exceptional. Two simple examples, one is I had a slight leak from the internal flick mixer tap - now this is a supplier quality issue but one phone call to AORC had them send across a replacement. On opening the pack, there were two in there, the other in case I had a future problem with the outside tap!

The second example was when I replaced my QLD rego to WA. The number plate was rivetted on and upon removal, there was silcone behind the plate rivets to ensure there was no dust getting in by the rivet holes. The typical owner would rarely replace the number plate to find the level of detail they go to to minimise dust entry.

Anyway, enough of off-topic converstaion, but am truly suprised your mate has had any issues as AORC have gone above and beyond on any single issue I have heard about. But then again, there is no pleasing some people.... 

Cheers

Captain

[gronk]

There are 2.  (Yep....only 2 !! ) top of the range hard floors.....ones got khaki canvas and the other has that crappy blue canvas....and the T Van....which is not classed as a true hard floor, but non the less a very good camper........but they are a bit different in how you want to use them....you really need to use both types to see what suits YOU!!!!!

With kids, I wouldn't have either......a Camprite is tops

But I don't have kids, so the KK does everything right....for. ME. !!!!!

It's a lot of money to spend....so you need to find what suits  YOU.  !!!

[WilSurf]

If you can, test camp them both.
Hire them and see which you prefer.
They are both great campers with different pros and cons.
I like the kitchen of the KK as you are facing your family when cooking.

[jaycamrie]

With kids, I wouldn't have either......a Camprite is tops

But I don't have kids, so the KK does everything right....for. ME. !!!!!

It's a lot of money to spend....so you need to find what suits  YOU.  !!!

yep we have kids and  we like the camprite aswell and i got to see one the other day dont see to many where we live and he was good enough to show us although did not open it up will try to get a look at one set up, but my pic stll leaning towards kk i cannot see me travelling without a boat sofar we have narrowed it down to kk,aorc, or camprite

[sako]

We are a family of 4.
I have always wanted either a Tvan or an Ultimate.  We decided on an ultimate now that we have kids, it gives a touch more room and a few extra comforts which to us make the camper more versatile.

Good lock with your decision, I took years to finally bite the bullet.

[FNQ_DOC]

Still debating the trailer purchase - am leaning now towards the TVan having gone over the one at TJM in Cairns.  I wish I could be more decisive! 

We got the Anderson plug & brake controller installed on our Disco 3 this week by Pat at Bright Spark 12V Centre on Spence St in Cairns - thank you for the recommendations posters!  As mentioned by those who recommended Pat - a very tidy installation and a pleasure to do business with.  I'd recommend Pat highly.

Hopefully going to decide on the camper in the next fortnight - will post as soon as have decided.  Got to check out a Kimberley Platinum one more time.

[tjwrexy]

I recommend the spreadsheet method so you can see the pros and cons of your shortlist, it worked for me and as others have said ..... it is a personal choice.

We have an Aussie Swag and love it.

Good luck

Tammy

[rockman]

Still debating the trailer purchase - am leaning now towards the TVan having gone over the one at TJM in Cairns.  I wish I could be more decisive! 

We got the Anderson plug & brake controller installed on our Disco 3 this week by Pat at Bright Spark 12V Centre on Spence St in Cairns - thank you for the recommendations posters!  As mentioned by those who recommended Pat - a very tidy installation and a pleasure to do business with.  I'd recommend Pat highly.

Hopefully going to decide on the camper in the next fortnight - will post as soon as have decided.  Got to check out a Kimberley Platinum one more time.

What about hiring a Kimberly .... there is a guy next door to Nimo Bruce  gun sports or down from Saint Aurgustens ?.
Or Tom Mitchell Engineering on Scott St , he has / had one ,maybe have a chat to him ... he is a nice bloke .

Cheers

[Chris-Vi]

Have you checked out Cape York campers? Made in Cairns and very similar to a KK.