jimboomba or trackabout??? mmmmmm...

[Dazbrook]

Hi ,

We are just about to order our camper trailer.
We visited John at the end of last year ( trackabout ) and were blown away with the extenda sv.
But we weren't in a situation to purchase at that time , then as we all know trackabout shut its doors
So we went to the shows , and showrooms , and at jimboomba we liked the explorer.
It started at $15000 , but with gourmet kitchen ( don't ask , the wife insists) full awning , both batteries and a few other tweaks it came to roughly $24000.

So I am now in the position to put down a deposit , and find out trackabout are back!!!
Wonderful news all round .
BUT do I get the extenda ( love the look of it better than.the explorer) or go with the explorer
I can't imagine there would be much weight difference between the two even tho the explorer is mostly aluminum.
Anyone have any opinions or input to share please feel free to comment.

I am probably thinking out loud but there are plenty of listeners out there ( lol )

Thanks for looking

Dazza

[fuji]

Hey Daz
Is the quality still going to be there with Trackabout? I only know what I read of them in this forum. I too thought of a Trackabout. I think I would choose TA because the CT looks so much better. I really love the look of the extenda.
Wayne

[Campfire]

I like the model Jimboomba had in CTA a while back which had the add on motorbike carrier, while not having owned one I do like the write ups I've seen on them.

If I was choosing between the two from own preference the Jimboomba with the motorbike carrier would be the one I would personally go for , each to their own though.

Both campers are fine campers with good quality, it really comes down to personal preference on design and features.

Cheers

Campfire

[Isuzumu]

18 months ago for $30K you got a Jimboomba Explorer with a few extra's, here is ours

http://www.whatsupdownunder.com.au/jimboomba-camper-trailers

[Dazbrook]

Thanks for the replies so far , 50/50 split still.

Daz

[duggie]

GO THE TRACKABOUT

From a very happy Trackabout owner

cheers duggie

[luxabout]

I went and said hello to the new owners of Trackabout on Saturday - a lovely couple that have been in the industry for years...

They have had plenty of experience with Trackabout, and I believe the quality of camper they produce will be the same as JT did.

It would be worth going to see them and having a chat

[Dazbrook]

God , its a hard choice.
We loved the jimboomba , the attention to detail is impeccable.
But we love the set up time of the tent on the sv .
We did the main tent ( in the showroom ) in a matter of seconds.
Whereas the jimboomba was about 5 minutes.-- just the main.tent.

Yes I know , 5 mins..still quick
The head room in the trackabout was better up on the walkway.
But the kitchen in the explorer is awesome with smooth slides and soft closure.

I've got about 2 weeks to decide and I hope when I get one or the other I'm not left thinking " we should have got the other ".

Any negatives on either???

Daz

[Campfire]

Reading this from my own perception, it reads like although a hard choice, your slightly more convinced the Trackabout is what your after.

If that's how I'm reading it then go for the Trackabout.

[Beachman]

I would be ringing each company and checking the weight of each model. When I bought my camper I too was considering Jimboomba or Trackabout and for my order the Jimboomba was about 280kgs lighter.

Seeing I do a lot of beach camping, the lighter trailer with less rust issues won out.

[Campfire]

I would be ringing each company and checking the weight of each model. When I bought my camper I too was considering Jimboomba or Trackabout and for my order the Jimboomba was about 280kgs lighter.

Seeing I do a lot of beach camping, the lighter trailer with less rust issues won out.

Two very good reasons for the Jimboomba, weight factor and being aluminum no rust. I enjoy my coastal/ beach camping alot, and these two reasons alone would definitely put the Jimboomba at the top of my personal list out if the two ( plus I like the motorbike carrier on it).

Cheers

Campfire

[Bird]

BUT do I get the extenda ( love the look of it better than.the explorer) or go with the explorer

Slow down.

IMHO wait a few weeks and contact the Trackabout people.

I'd go and have a look at some of their stuff, talk to the new people. That may sway you one way or the other before looking at their stock and whats on offer.

You may find they are keen to get some new units out there in the market, in a good way for you or buyers.

[Dazbrook]

Once again thanks everyone for your input and words of wisdom.

Daz

[Isuzumu]

One other thing about the Jimboomba is they have a very high roof making it much cooler, our's is heaps cooler than any other camper I have been in.

[Matto]

Hey Dazza,

Having a Trackabout, you can guess what I'm going to suggest . I dropped our camper into a creek at Easter, and landed the whole weight of it on the number plate support panel. It's dented (as you'd expect, but with a bit of 'readjustment' it'll be good as new again. If I can't break it, then it must be bombproof.

As has been noted already, the canvas on the Trackabouts is fantastic. I can have ours up and down by myself in no time.

That said, I do like the Jimboomba gear a lot. They're well built, they're well thought out, and they make a lot of sense. The canvas is very well regarded. Speak to Jimboomba owners, and they're much the same as Trackabout owners.

Personally, while I like the idea of low weight and no rust, two things concern me. Firstly, my personal thinking is that the dry weight of the bare trailer probably doesn't matter as much as you'd think once the heavy gear (canvas, water tanks, toolboxes, all the crap we take along, etc) is added in. Secondly, repairs to aluminium isn't as easy or as available as simply welding steel. True or not, they're the main points that swayed me from a Jimboomba and onto a Trackabout.

Good luck with a difficult decision!

Cheers!
Matto

[Bird]

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=21414.0;topicseen

[cootha]

I got a 'collectors item'  trackabout too.  The thing with trackabout now is are they gonna have the same people building them as they used to?  I mean JT was a great salesman and all, but it was the guys and girls in the factory that built the stuff, and had been building them way before JT came on the scene.  They put their blood, sweat and tears into trackabout over many years.  So they got laid off months ago, are the new owners gonna get them back, or what?  Would love to know.

Jimboomba campers don't know anything about, but I have all the usual cliche concerns about aluminium trailers which I'm sure the owners have heard 1 bazillion times before...

[Dazbrook]

One other thing about the Jimboomba is they have a very high roof making it much cooler, our's is heaps cooler than any other camper I have been i

That's true , one we had priced up included the tropical roof.
Sue and Terry said they would never camp without one again.
It made that much.difference.
Think I'm swaying more Jimboomba at the moment.

Daz..

[BigJules]

SV Extenda for sure. The Jomboomba campers are lovely, but I don't think you can go past the ease of setup on the latest trackie tents.

[Beachman]

I suppose the question is what are you planning on using it for??

While I am happy with my Jimboomba, I knew when I bought the camper I wouldn’t be doing any extended rough tracks like Cape York or across the desert etc.

If places like that was on the horizon, then I probably would have been swayed to the Trackabout.

[McGirr]

Dazza

We had 3 trackabouts that we use to hire to the Cape for 4 years. They were great and apart from stone chips and bearing maintenance they never let us down only the hirers did.

Each camper did at least 9 trips a year to the Cape. You cannot get a better testing ground.

Mark 

[Dazbrook]

Hey Daz
Is the quality still going to be there with Trackabout? I only know what I read of them in this forum. I too thought of a Trackabout. I think I would choose TA because the CT looks so much better. I really love the look of the extenda.
Wayne

I have just phoned the new owners who sound like great people.
They will be starting to manufacture in about 2 weeks but are open for enquiries and orders.
They are going to be doing everything in house.
The guys who worked there before are also.back on board.

I'm going down this sat to have another look.

Daz

[Matto]

I'm going down this sat to have another look.

Dangerous move.

$10 says you buy one on Saturday. 

Cheers!
Matto

[fuji]

Hey Dazbrook
Make sure you let us know what is going on up there at TA. I amin Melbourne but really interested in the extenda. Thanks
Wayne

[Squalo]

I went and said hello to the new owners of Trackabout on Saturday - a lovely couple that have been in the industry for years...

They have had plenty of experience with Trackabout, and I believe the quality of camper they produce will be the same as JT did.

It would be worth going to see them and having a chat

Hmmm... I wonder if Vacation Campers has anything to do with the 'new' Trackabout.