The Camper Conundrum Concluded (14/4/12)

[johnyd]

Have put down  a deposit on a 2nd hand camper and will be taking it pending a minor repair to the trailer body (I'm confident that it will go well, basically just a patch in the side of the box). 

14' Tent, + enclosed annexe and small front room out the drawbar side.  All very heavy Aussie canvas, slightly dirty and has been subject to some birds nesting overhead at some point, but in very good nick.  Very tall tent and exceptionally quick to put up the main part, it only has three poles to adjust, no down poles or spreaders.  Big thick near new inner spring mattress.

40mm Square axle with springs over the top (5 leaf HD + heavy shocks), large toolbox on the front and provision for, but no boat rack.

Wired for 12V, with an Anderson plug.  Includes two 120ah batteries.

Has a small tailgate kitchen with hand pump tap with sink, water tank underneath.

[pj4800]

Check out leisure matters in Sydney. Fairfield from memory. Chinese made but come with all the options and most important a 2 yr warranty on parts and labour.

[johnyd]

Check out leisure matters in Sydney. Fairfield from memory. Chinese made but come with all the options and most important a 2 yr warranty on parts and labour.

I have them on the list, just missed out on posting it.

Will be going there, it's not far from where we're staying.

[Mace]

We have an ezytrail,
Melbourne version of top trail.

Happy with it so far (12 months, 7000km, 24 nights).

 

[namoidowns]

WWW.emucampers.com on the Goldcoast

[johnyd]

WWW.emucampers.com on the Goldcoast

Not really interested in anything I can't look at before we buy it.  Road trip to the GC takes money away from the budget unfortunately, and is a little far to drive just to look at a trailer.

[DannyG]

I would have a look at GIC with that budget. Aussie made trailer, albeit mass produced to a price, and Chinese tent.

[Nomad]

I've got an MD deluxe that I paid $4650 for. It's got an 18 ft tent, yes 6 metres, flips out both sides. Takes us about ten minutes to put up the tent proper and another half an hour to do the awning. I have recently cut the awning down by angling the sides in and only now have to do three poles rather than five.

It will sleep 8 but not real comfortably. I'd still be taking a four man tent.

I have spent a couple of grand doing electricals and stuff, but it all set up the way I want.......just saving up for a solar system from Mandrakes and that is it for what I want to do.

The best part is that when I buy a decent trailer I can take all my add ons out, if it worth keeping and install in a new CT.

Cheers Nomad.
 

[johnyd]

Urgh reading reviews is making me think they are all employing a bunch of people with bipolar disorder.

One review says they've dragged it 1700000km around Aus without missing a beat, the next says the wheels feel off before they got it out the driveway.

That tells me quality control is an issue, looking at their display models probably won't help   (Who puts the off-day work on display).  At least if we pick it up in person we can say yay or nay if it looks totally dodge I suppose.

I've got an MD deluxe that I paid $4650 for. It's got an 18 ft tent, yes 6 metres, flips out both sides. Takes us about ten minutes to put up the tent proper and another half an hour to do the awning. I have recently cut the awning down by angling the sides in and only now have to do three poles rather than five.

They set up the main part a little quicker    They have a set up video of the minimal set up done in 90 seconds.  Pegged out properly would take longer I know.
http://www.marketdirectcampertrailers.com.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=9:off-road-deluxe-v2&Itemid=122

Only a week and a half to make a plan of attack for the Sydney trip, thankfully most of the places aren't far from where we're staying.

The way you say "when I buy a decent trailer" makes me worry.  Not happy with the quality?

Ok plan of attack
http://g.co/maps/m3kk6
That visits:
B: Camptime
C: Toptrail
D: GIC
E: Leisure Matters
F: Market Direct

Austrailers added a lot to get down the Campbelltown, so unless someone thinks we really should have a look at them it will be off the list. A and G is Greystanes is where we are staying.

Here's a link to the spreadsheet I put together from the details I could find on models I looked at.
https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=6fd5eb85d16d32e0&resid=6FD5EB85D16D32E0!188&parid=6FD5EB85D16D32E0!104

[fuji]

Caravancampingsales.com.au and Trading post, you will find something for sure.
Wayne

[Nomad]

They set up the main part a little quicker    They have a set up video of the minimal set up done in 90 seconds.  Pegged out properly would take longer I know.
http://www.marketdirectcampertrailers.com.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=9:off-road-deluxe-v2&Itemid=122


The way you say "when I buy a decent trailer" makes me worry.  Not happy with the quality?


Nah the quality of mine is ok, and if you compare it to what Aussie Blue ended up with mine seemed to be streets ahead.
I guess when I say by a decent trailer I am talking about what I reckon would be my $20K spend which is obviously going to be in a different league to a MDC or whatever.

I reckon I get mine out 8 to 10 times a year and I am not doing any overland type trips so it works well enough for what I want at the moment.

As for the set up my method is as follows:

Park trailer in desired spot stand around and scratch nuts and check surf.
Crack a stubby.
Drink half a stubby
Get 4 poles out of the pole holder
Drink the other half of the stubby
Stand tent up.

I could probably do that in 90 seconds but I dont reckon thats what camping is about anyway.


Cheers Nomad.
 

[johnyd]

Looking at a few 2nd handers locally. 

There are some Cavaliers around $10000 and a "Kookaburra" of unknown origin and currently have no idea what it is besides a "camper trailer" that has two 110ah batteries and the asking price is $6000. 

[4runnernomore]

Cavalier have been around for a long time and build a good solid basic camper. I think yo should be able to pick them up cheaper than 10 k if you are looking second hand.

Good luck with the search.

Cheers, Chris 

[dazzler]

Hi Johnny

My 2c is to break it into two purchases.  (a soft floor ct is a box trailer with a tent bolted on)

1. Trailer - find some good trailer manufacturers near you that build a good 7x4 with 500mm sides.  Work out what you want on it and get them to price it.  You can make some savings here by suppling wheels that match you tow vehicle off ebay or gumtree.  They will work out the axle length off your offset.

Add what you want went they build it.  Left or right swinging tailgate?  Rear wheel carrier?  Hitch reciever off the back?  Longer drawbar?  Electric Brakes?  Side access at the front? Water tank brackets?

 Sketch up what YOU want and go for it.  Get a few prices.  Get it home and run your 12v wiring, plumbing etc while the top is off.

2. The tent top.  There are some ebay specials or ones from CT places.  (some even sell older models cheap when they are changing models)  These just bolt on with a seal around the lip of the trailer.  Maybe get a really good quality basic one and add awnings etc when the cash comes up. 

cheers

[johnyd]

My 2c is to break it into two purchases.  (a soft floor ct is a box trailer with a tent bolted on)

I was thinking about that. 

Depends on what we can do with the 2nd hand one I looked at today, the owner is away and calling them again next week to talk and see it put up.  Will look into the 2 part build if it isn't suitable.   There is supposed to be a bloke in Narromine that puts campers together as well, but that's the extent of what I've heard about him, he is male, lives in Narromine and puts campers together.

[johnyd]

Could have a camper after this weekend, looking at two second hand models over the weekend (described in the OP) that could work for what we want.

[johnyd]

Semi-concluded. 

We've made a choice, but there is a small hole in the side of the trailer that the current owner is having fixed before he sells it to us.

Few things that could be modded if we wish, but it's ready to go without anything needing doing, once the hole is repaired.