My First Camper Trailer

[dunebuggy]

Hi Folks.
Mods please move this to the correct thread if it's in the wrong place. New here.
Folks, I am looking at buying my very 1st camper trailer and I won't be doing any serious off road stuff but certainly beyond the range of any 2WD that isn't being driven into the scrub to be dumped, if you get my meaning. Fraser island will probably be the most likely spot but certainly not the only spot. I was wondering if some of you might help me out by perhaps, giving me a list of say, what benefits to look for & what to avoid?

Aluminium - Yes or No?
All Steel - Yes or no?
Zips or Velcro?
Etc... etc...

I am sure the list is endless. I am leaning toward Aluminium for the weight benefit at this point as we are also looking at getting a Great Wall X240. (time will tell if that's a mistake or not)
There are sooo many to choose from on line that I hardly know where to begin. A friend of mine just bought a Quantum which cost him around the $70k mark. I am not looking for anything that extravagant. In fact, looking at some of the 2nd hand stuff available I am currently thinking I will need to spend somewhere between $3k and $5k to get something remotely decent.

Looking forward to your input.
Many thanks in advance.
Stuart W.

[GU Rich]

Welcome mate,

There are plenty of forum mebers up your next of the woods. Good luck with the search for your camper.
I picked up my camper second hand and it has been a good honest camper. There are some good ones around if you prepared to wait!

Cheers
Rich

[mystq]

somewhere between $3k and $5k to get something remotely decent.

Good luck

[GU Rich]

I paid 5k for my current camper. I added the water tank and Trigg coupling and away we went 

[Bird]

Good luck

x eleventy

I paid 5k for my current camper. I added the water tank and Trigg coupling and away we went 
that sorta thing doesnt come along often.  a decent offroad box trailer costs more than that.

[GU Rich]

I paid 5k for my current camper. I added the water tank and Trigg coupling and away we went 
that sorta thing doesnt come along often.  a decent offroad box trailer costs more than that.

You should have put a tent on that Bruce 

[dunebuggy]

Thanks for the welcome rich.  

And I see this forum is the same as all the others I've been to. Some people have nothing constructive to say but they just can't resist sticking in their 2 cents. lol. I can play the sarcasm game too. haha. I am well aware that you get what you pay for as I am also well aware that this camper will spend more time in the back yard than actually set up at a camp site somewhere wonderful. To that end, I don't want to spend big dollars. Big dollars to some are peanuts to others but we are not all made of money.

A camper trailer, even a cheap one, will be a huge step up from the 4 man tent I have been using (I should say not using. lol) I am merely asking for some "constructive" input as to the likely pitfalls and benefits of buying these things.

[D4D]

For your price range, keep an eye out on in the for sale section.

[Bird]

You should have put a tent on that Bruce 

I was but sold it and bought ....

[hempo]

Hi dunebuggy, welcome, good to see another SEQlder.

We looked at most of the local guys in SEQ first, then looked at second hand ones for ages and couldn't find what we were after.  We too had a budget similar.  Ended up spending a few extra dollars and bought a new Jimboomba Condamine.  We didn't really need the jerry can holders etc etc.  We did however get the water tank plus the tool box was included.  The tent is big enough as there is only the two of us.  I assume as yu only had the tent there is only a couple of you also.  We liked the alloy for the light weight (no brakes required) and rust prevention as a lot will be beach driving like yourself.  We don't need to carry heaps of weight in it as we have a ute as the tow vehicle.

However we ended up increasing our budget up and up.

Good luck
Hempo

[Heiny]

Hi Stuart and welcome to My Swag

[Prado BB]

Hi Stuart and welcome to this wonderful forum.

I too went through this exercise quite recently and I am still finishing off my camper.  I decided to buy a new off road trailer and add the bits and pieces to it.  I had a budget of $6k and have only slightly gone over it, so you can do it.

I would recommend a galvanised trailer if the budget stretches for your proposed use, not speaking from experience, but if you intend on doing a lot of beach trips, then obviously gal will go the extra mile so to speak.

Good luck and again welcome.

 

[gacoxd]

Welcome Mate.

You've done the most important step. setting Budget. Without that you could take forever second guessing yourself all over the place. SEQ is awash with Camper trailer manufacturers, distributors and resellers.

Stick to your guns ad you should end up with great deal.  don't forget to check out the various trade shows.

Damo

[roughinit]

Hey Stuart,
Welcome to the forum.
I'm a newbie too. The name is Kerri.
We have our first camper as well which we picked up for $3,700. Its terrific and we're very happy with it. It came with a deep cycle battery, 80 litre water tank, Cooper tyres and the big hitch on the drawer bar. Its also totally galvanised. We feel we stole it for what it is so take your time and and patient and you'll pick up a great deal.
My partner  actually makes The Australian Off Road Campers and while they have a huge price attached we'd rather our camper as we feel they're greatly over priced. If we were to pay that kind  of money we'd buy a caravan not a camper.
Good luck with your search and we hope you find what your looking for.

Cheers Kerri

[mystq]

Hey Stuart,
Welcome to the forum.
I'm a newbie too. The name is Kerri.
We have our first camper as well which we picked up for $3,700. Its terrific and we're very happy with it. It came with a deep cycle battery, 80 litre water tank, Cooper tyres and the big hitch on the drawer bar. Its also totally galvanised. We feel we stole it for what it is so take your time and and patient and you'll pick up a great deal.
My partner  actually makes The Australian Off Road Campers and while they have a huge price attached we'd rather our camper as we feel they're greatly over priced. If we were to pay that kind  of money we'd buy a caravan not a camper.
Good luck with your search and we hope you find what your looking for.

Cheers Kerri

So your partner works there and you think they are asking to much for there campers?

[dunebuggy]

Wow, so many more posts now. I assumed I would be automatically notified of replies like some other forums I have been on but I just found the "notify" button at the bottom of the thread so, I've got that sorted now.

Anyway, as has been mentioned, there are loads of companies making them and that just makes the choice more difficult.
One of my questions was what to look out for. What kinds of features/faults have you all come across that you would avoid like the plague if you were shopping for you next camper trailer?

Thanks to everyone for the input so far.

[GU Rich]

Look for good quality zips, they cop a flogging. Particularly if you have kids..

[gacoxd]

Look for good quality zips, they cop a flogging. Particularly if you have kids..

AMEN!!  I reckon that is the best piece of advice I have seen ...

Damo

[roughinit]

Yeah but that's just our opinion. In saying that they are very popular and must obviously have what people are looking for as they sell really well and get Camper of the year so our opinion is just that.

[bluedogman]

If you are buying new, never sign up untill you have seen the factory and the step by step manufacturing operation with your own eyes.
Take a experienced tradeperson with you
Dont be mislead by a large shed and lots of activity
Its ok to buy imported.....as long as THEY tell you from the get go.In your price range imports abound.

[dunebuggy]

I don't particularly want to buy new but if I do, a friend of mind recommended Trackabout at slacks creek but even their cheapest one was a bit more than I wanted to spend. I liked the look of hers and the quality though. More than likely though, I think I will stick with something 2nd hand. We are due to replace both of our vehicles too so a big chunk of dollars is already slotted to that. The other reason I don't want to spend big dollars is that out of all of the days we will own it, a large proportion of that time it will be just killing grass in the back yard. Much as I would like to just pack up an bugger off somewhere but my 80 year old mum is moving in with us this week.

The most use it will get is for weekend kayak fishing tournaments so, mostly one or 2 night trips but I like to be comfortable. Sleeping in the back of my old wagon gets a bit old. lol. I would also like to take old mum to a few places but they will have to be reasonable level grounded places as she is't too good on her feet these days. I just want her to get out and see a few things while she still can.

Noone has said anything about wheel size or stud patterns, axle sizes. I assume they are all pretty similar and that bearings are as easy to locate as they are for a boat trailer. They don't come with something weird and hard to get do they? Might be a stupid question but, If I don't ask I won't find out will I ?! Anyway, I have another question but I think this is the wrong thread/section to ask it so I will ask it elsewhere. Thanks for all the help so far. 

[hempo]

I read a lot of people recommending same tyre size, stud pattern etc as towing vehicle that way you have plenty of spares and what not.  Okay if you are building a custom trailer and have a high budget.  As you are looking second hand you may not find the exact match.  I have seen some where they buy a second hand (or new) trailer and then put larger tyres and wheels on and then their tent is a couple of inches off the ground. 

You also mention you are updating your vehicles.  You may buy a trailer that matches now but not your new car or may match one car and not the other.  As the trailer will most likely come with one spare, unless you are going somewhere punctures are a high risk, then you can always carry another spare.

Our trailer wheels don't match our current car, not to say they won't match a future car we buy.  I expect to have the trailer longer than I do cars.

Bearings etc are standard off the shelf products.

[dunebuggy]

Hey folks I just found another camping trailer manufacturer and there cheapest model falls within my "proposed" budget but you get what you pay for. Has anyone had any experience with these campers?  http://www.tpcampertrailers.com.au/index.html

[Bird]

not looking back through the thread, whats your budget, and tow vehicle?

[dunebuggy]

not looking back through the thread, whats your budget, and tow vehicle?

My budget is tentative but from what I have looked at on the net so far I figured $3k to $5k  would get me something to suit my needs.
Towing vehicle will tow 1700kgs Braked according to the specs. Ideally, I would like the trailer & all food, clothing, bedding etc.. to be no more than 1000kgs. I'm probably dreaming there though.