Complete Campsite Camper trailers

[corynmelnkids]

Hi All
We are currently saving our butts of to purchase a Complete Campsite Uluru with a few extras of course.
We have had our hearts set on this particular camper for a while now and i am just after some feedback from owners of these awesome CT.
I keep trolling the for sale ads of a few different forums and publications and i have seen only a couple for sale second hand.
I have put this down to 1 of 2 things.
1 they are just that good once you buy one you never get rid of it.
or
2 there just isn't that many out there.
I hope its the first one.
Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

[Fun Police]

When we were down at Bendalong people we know sold their Jayco van and bought an Uluru.

We were staggered by how nice it was, but when they told us $35k+ for the setup I told my wife, no way!

Everthing seems to be very high quality, but does it give you that much more over a $20-25k setup?? I don't know.

We will have another good look at these at Canberra next weekend, but won't be buying one new.

There are not too many second hand.  Me thinks people hang on to them.  I think there are lots out there.

[Jenko67]

YEAH, i was turned off by ther cost of the Complete Campsite Camper trailers, way way too much for a trailer....

But ended up buying a Jayco Swan OB...

Anyway, each too their own.

[Blinky Bill]

I recall reading about them in a CT magazine of maybe 2 years ago (?) and thinking at the time that they look like a quality piece of kit. But then each CT they tested really was very good. So you I guess have to find the one that best suits.

They have some nice features:-
* I like that Nomad idea that allows you to get in & out of bed without disturbing each other.
* Also the sky light over the cooking area

If I find the magazine I will send it to you.

I guess you have read these reviews: http://www.completecampsite.com.au/editorial.html

Cheers - Wayne

[Finners]

Ok, I'll be the first of the Complete Cavesite owners on the Forum to bite. There will be others, just wait!

They are rare second hand because people hang on to them, and it's prime camping season in most of Australia now, so folks not yet doing the winter offload.
Not finding 2nd hand units is obviously a good thing for resale values, if you do buy new.

Their production volumes are ramping all the time - they've been in business for years and there are plenty of units out there. They are a passionate family owned business, with strong growth plans. Witness the model expansion to hybrids and hard floors. They recently moved to a bigger factory on the NSW central coast. I've been there for a service on my Kakadu - it's an impressive operation. And out the back on a Saturday there was another 3 customers taking delivery. Their order books are probably 6 months long (though they did have a demo model for sale recently). So bear that in mind!

The quality and attention to detail I hardly need to underscore. Superb. And I'm pedantic. But the service is even something more again... nothing is too much trouble. And they are tough and hold together. I've had mine over some narly terrain, and nothing's rattled off or broken.

As for value for money - well that's subjective. Plenty of folks pay $55K+ for a quality hard floor - so $40K+ for a soft floor at the primo end of the market is probably right. Do remember that the money will always be mostly recouped at resale time, and these units would, I suggest, depreciate at a slower rate than a chinese CT. I don't have any data to support that statement however. But if you can afford to tie up that much capital in a lifestyle choice - then you probably don't give a toss about the depreciation.

At the end of the day, CT choice is so much about emotion. You love the Uluru? You think you can save enough for it? Then sound like you're emotionally committed and I look forward to congratulating you in months to come.

- Finners

[rhillrobert]

I to am a ower of a complete campsite camper. I have had mine for over a year and have had no problems with my camper.I have the ulura 13 with extras.
As Finners say you pay for what you get and it is worth it. I have been away many times and most of the time I am the first to sit and crack a beer watching the reset set up. It is good for the family to stop on the side of the road pull the kitchen out and have lunch.
All the best in saving.


Hillbilly

[Jason B]

Hello Corynmelnkids



I am a KK owner, however I recently had a good look at the Complete Campsite Range at the Dubbo 4x4 show. I also spoke to one of the owners at length about their product. I was just looking out of interest and comparing their hard floor to my KK. What I was most impressed with however (after the owner encouraged me to have a look at/in it - as I had never considered going back to a soft floor) was one of their Soft floor models (May have been the ullaru - can't remember)

The attention to detail, storage and most notably room inside (Limited in hard floors including the KK) was fantastic. Also the ease of set up and pack up was excellent for a soft floor. To be honest it would be a fantastic camper for us and with the extra room it would probably suit our growing family better than the KK does. They were impressive.

CC are certainly a brand I will consider in the future. As previously stated if you can afford to tie up the capital and they tic all of the boxes for you than go for it. I would approach the company to see if you can hire one if possible just so you are sure. I often look at the KK sitting in the garage and think of all the other things I could do with the 30k, but at the end of the day it is still worth what I payed for it. Even if it depreciates at $1000 per year and we do 5-10 trips in it a year, that is bloody cheap camping.

Don't compromise on what you want other wise you may forever be disappointed.


Regards

Jas

[Pete_R]

Ok, another reply from another CC owner. I would put the lack of 2nd hand units down to the fact that owners keep them as they like them that much.

We looked for over a year at many camper trailers including the Jayco swan etc, but something just made us keep coming back to the Complete Campsite - it was the attention to detail & build quality, the ease of setup, & to top it off the friendliness of the staff. Once we decided on the Complete, we had a budget for the Jabiru with some extras but then decided to upgrade to the Uluru XT 16 with some additional extras.

We could not be happier & like Finners said, nothing is too much trouble - for example I decided the other week that I wanted some small extras added, so called up last Friday morning & about 90 mins later we had the trailer back at the factory to have the work done.

Yes, I am probably bias because I own one but I am glad I made the decision to buy the Complete over everything else we looked at. Probably the only negative is the weight of the trailer - because it is a quality trailer, it is not light compared to most of the other soft floors out there, but because of that I am confident that I could take this trailer basically anywhere in Australia I wanted to without worrying about it falling apart.

Anyway, if you have your heart set on one, my advice is to save up & get it as you certainly will not regret buying one.

[WilSurf]

We had a look at them as well, but found it too heavy.

[Withy]

x2 PETE_R and Finners.

Weight was an issue but Silvo convinced us to purchase another vehicle.

We have the Kakadu without the independant suspension and it's great.

We started with the Jabiru and up it went for there.

Save for what you believe you need and you'll be more than happy.

Only problem is there is not enough days in the weekend to use it, this campertrailing thing becomes addictive and you meet some great people and that sunday arvo packup  just comes to quick.


See Carl is getting some mods done.

Mike.

[NewcastleKnight]

G'Day Corynmelnkids,

I don't own a CC and must admit that I have never really looked at them much although I had a bit of a squiz when Silvo got one.

What I do know however, is buy what you and yours want and what you have your heart set on.  If you settle for less you will regret it and probably still buy what you want eventually anyway but along the way it may cost you more.

Follow your instincts and at the end of the day it is what you are happy with.

 

[Fivid]

Another happy CC owner here,  ours is nearing 5 years old, was a year old when we got it as it had been a demo model and there have been quite a few improvements and changes since we bought ours.  Having said that, we are very happy with ours.  We had been looking at CTs from various manufacturers for around 5 years before we found CC and everything just fitted for us.  We did consider buying a base model and improving it as time went by but often that costs more than an initial outlay and we would be spending time doing mods when we could be using it. 

As for second hand...  Ours wont be available for many years yet and when the time comes that we want to change we will certainly have CC at the top of our list for the next one.

 
Dave

[Sixtys Guy]

I don't own a CC and must admit that I have never really looked at them much.............

What I do know however, is buy what you and yours want and what you have your heart set on.  If you settle for less you will regret it and probably still buy what you want eventually anyway but along the way it may cost you more.

Follow your instincts and at the end of the day it is what you are happy with.

 

X2!!! We bought a Cameron Camper that is similar $$. My wife had her heart set on it (so did I on the inside!). I offered up all sorts of (cheaper) alternatives but we ended up buying it. I was quite apprehensive about spending that much on a (soft floor) camper when most others are a lot cheaper. Now, I've forgotten about the cost and we have exactly what we want. Couldn't be happier!

[corynmelnkids]

To those with the CC's on averange how long does it take u 2 set up?.....is it really as fast and easy as Grant showed us?

[CRW]

To those with the CC's on averange how long does it take u 2 set up?.....is it really as fast and easy as Grant showed us?

OK time for me to have a go.

We have a Complete Campsite Kakadu XT 16.  This is the biggest of the soft floors that CC have. I can have this set up on mine own is 10 mins having a beer.  If you want the awning set up on my own add 10 mins and if you want all the walls set up on the annex add about another 10 mins, these are max times so in about 30 mins at the most every thing can be set up bu one person.

Like all the CC owners here, best investment I have done in years.  Not getting into a pis..... Comp with anyone else but ours have been quite a few places where others won't go.  It handles the rough stuff with ease and you could possibly say where we go I use and abuse both the 200 series as well as the camper. Even Grant and Neil at CC like hearing the stories where their campers have been, they are built tough and also have the build quality that you pay for.

After sales service is great and I would have no trouble in recommending them to anyone. I would compare the guys there and their service and dedication to be also on par with Johnny Trackabout.

No there are very few used ones for sale as when you get to this level of camper no one wants to get rid of them.  Yes they are not cheap but then again you only need to look at them and the build quality to see the price.  Yes you can buy cheaper and do your own mods but then by the time you do all that you are in the same price anyway.  Do you buy a new car to then spend money to put mods on them??

Anyway that's bias opinion

Cheers

Carl

[CRW]

YEAH, i was turned off by ther cost of the Complete Campsite Camper trailers, way way too much for a trailer....

But ended up buying a Jayco Swan OB...

Anyway, each too their own.

Twist to this, I started out with. Jayco Swan OB and ended up with a Complete Campsite Kakadu

Cheers

Carl

[Stormchaser]

To those with the CC's on averange how long does it take u 2 set up?.....is it really as fast and easy as Grant showed us?

We have a great bank manager who has loaned us a CC Jabiru XT base model.
It was originally built for someone else but wasn't done with the storage cupboards down each side it has the normal gas cylinder and jerry can holders so they needed to manufacture another trailer for him and we bought this one at last years sydney supershow.
It is quick to set up on my own or with the other half about 20-30mins actually its quicker to set up on my own, this was a prerequisite for us especially me as its a dry camp till the camper is set up.
We have had a couple of problems since owning it, the first was a dragging brake which I noticed after getting it home for the first time which turned out to be an adjustment we took it to a local mechanic and the costs were covered by CC.

The second problem and still ongoing are the compression locks on the boot leak like a sieve through the orings on the lock pivot arm a bad design on the lock manufacturers behalf I think not CC's fault, they have replaced them once with another brand but still the same outcome so at the moment we make sure the tent cover is over the box completely if it looks like rain not sure how to resolve this problem as yet?

But as all the others have said quality, not enough weekends to use it,  ease of set up, they also tow well, ours has independant suspension which moves around a bit compared to leaf spring trailers but once you get use to that your sweet!

I also looked for a good second unit but could not find any so we ended up biting the bullet and buying new.

[Silvo]

Weight was an issue but Silvo convinced us to purchase another vehicle.

Mike.

WHAT!! that wasn't!! i maybe just planted the seed.!

I am a CC hardfloor owner. but have usedthe Uluru XT soft floor as well. Prior to me getting a CC i had another brand softfloor. The uluru took me about 10 minutes to setup. i had the help of a friend, but it could have easily been done in that time by myself. this was also the first time i had setup the tent, with no prior instructions how on to use it. it was s loaner from CC while they were building my hardfloor.

the cost is a massive factor in the CC - they aren't cheap, but, i believe the quality to be there and the depreciation to be slower on one of these than on another brand.

while i bought the hard floor, when my wife saw the soft floor going up she commented that w probably didn't need to have the HF anyway and could have just bought one of those.

they are heavy though as stated - mine is probably one of the heavier of the bunch weighing in around 1.4T Dry. then add all my gear and the water.

plenty of owners on here happy to give you a run down of their trailer's i'm sure.

i have no plans on getting rid of mine anytime soon, and i think this is the reason they aren't on the 2nd hand market.

Dan

[Fivid]

Our setup time varies depending on what we set up.  An overnight stop is 10 min but it depends when you start the clock.  It usually takes me 10 min to get the CT positioned in the location SWMBO says it must go.  Once happy with that it is fold back the boat rack, unzip the cover, wind down stabilisers, lay down tarp (we use an extra tarp under the soft floor part as extra protection against stones, sticks, etc and also to stop the underside getting to dirty) then we just fold out the tent and insert the two internal poles.  Ours is also a 16' version so we then need to extend the inner frames to hold the canvas tight. 

On longer stops we usually put up the second awning, sometimes the walls that enclose it, we also have another awning again the same size as the first awning and an ensuite which goes out the front end adjacent the drawbar.

To set the whole lot up with the floor mat in the annexes, etc can take us up to an hour but that isn't constant work, could probably do the whole thing in 40 min or so if we just "worked".  We usually tend to be in relax mode from the time we jump in the car to start driving though.  In the 4 years we have owned ours we have only set up the last awning 3 times but when camping with a big group or in bad weather it is a good option to have.

 
Dave

[corynmelnkids]

Thanks for all the very interested replies it has been great reading and has been very helpful.
I must say that we have also looked at nearly every brand of CT on the market but we are always comparing them to the CC.
As a few people have said buy what you want don't compromise or you will be unhappy with it.
My main concern was forking out all that hard earned cash on a soft floor camper but after reading all your replies we will definitely buying a CC now.
Just have to save up the coin and then the fun will start. Our long term goal is an extended tour around Australia so i only want to spend the money once and get something that will cope with this great country we live in.
Cant wait.
P.S.
The sun is shining today in Taree no rain i might finally get the CT packed away from our last trip a fortnight ago.

[Withys Wife]

My husband and I are proud owners of the Complete Campsite Kakadu. As per his comments in this thread, we started at the base model and ended up a the top end.

Like all CC owner I could write a novel on why we choose our camper. These campers are well built have a great service team behind them and will follow you wherever your vehicle goes without a problem.

We have only had ours since Sep 2011, but to date have spent 31 nights in it, and not once during this time did I long to be home (and I like my luxuries, but I have them with me). The camper is truly wonderful, and I urge you to save up and purchase one.

Setting up (for the Supervisor) is a non event, it can take anywhere from 10 mins to 40 mins (depending on the pace and what you are setting up) and where you are setting up, we found that setting up in a carvan park is very time consuming, due to time it takes to position the camper on sites. We have a 13' and have no problems fitting on sites, it just takes a little more thinking to get the position right.

In my option, there are very few thing that are built to this quality and detail, and I can say that I am a very proud owner. So for those of us that are lucky enough to use and stay in a CC, we don't want to part with our home away from home, so you won't see many of them on the market!

Like many have written before me, we will be having may adventures for at least a decade or two before we contemplate departing with our CC (we owned out tent for 11 years before upgrading). For us, it's all about seeing our great country and doing it in comfort, and with a CC you certainly do.

All the very best with buying your camper, and hopefully it gives you years of wonderful adventures.

[Pebble]

I remember when we were buying our All Terrain back in 2007, the All Terrain I thought was quite similar in style to the Complete Campsite, we had a good look at both. From memory the All Terrain suited our budget a better at the time.

But anyway (arguably) having owned something similar I would tend to think they're just one of those trailers where people get exactly what they're expecting, and it suits them so they keep it until they're ready to go even more upmarket or circumstances change.
In saying that we sold ours because we changed cars and then were strapped for cash while building a house as well. I must say for a soft floor camper I'd pick pretty much the same thing if I was buying again otherwise it would be something completely different (Ultimate, TVan whatever). Although must admit I think CC has a better reputation than the AT we had, but then again if the cost is $35k you'd expect it to be better!

[Garry]

Well I too am a proud owner of a Complete Campsite

My friends are always asking me to sell it to them at a discounted price but they all get the same answer.

Just earlier today a mate was asking about it and could not justify the money of the Complete Campsite camper (or any other high end unit) and was hinting of a good middle range camper without any extra's

My reply was why spend the next 2-3 seasons trying to get it right with modifying the electrics, finding space and a good spot to fit the fridge not to mention the storage issues that will arise with the constant modification I know he will do and at what cost? He is one of the capable ones who can though.
I like the easy option, and for me it was a good one

It took us 3 outings to get our set up right and we have never looked back only forward to our next outing

Now I know some people love building and modifying their CT's and I raise a glass to them as I am definitely one of the many that unfortunately does not have the skill to do such deeds

In essence what I am saying is Complete Campsite put together a very well thought out one stop Camper that is easy to use and a pleasure to get away from it all in.

Garry

[Fun Police]

I love the fact they have all the lockable compartments on the outside.

That appeals to us and is one of the non negotiables in our search for a CT

[Jenko67]

Well I too am a proud owner of a Complete Campsite

My friends are always asking me to sell it to them at a discounted price but they all get the same answer.

Just earlier today a mate was asking about it and could not justify the money of the Complete Campsite camper (or any other high end unit) and was hinting of a good middle range camper without any extra's

My reply was why spend the next 2-3 seasons trying to get it right with modifying the electrics, finding space and a good spot to fit the fridge not to mention the storage issues that will arise with the constant modification I know he will do and at what cost? He is one of the capable ones who can though.
I like the easy option, and for me it was a good one

It took us 3 outings to get our set up right and we have never looked back only forward to our next outing

Now I know some people love building and modifying their CT's and I raise a glass to them as I am definitely one of the many that unfortunately does not have the skill to do such deeds

In essence what I am saying is Complete Campsite put together a very well thought out one stop Camper that is easy to use and a pleasure to get away from it all in.

Garry

Hey Garry, is that a couple of dog cages I see in the tent???