Looking for some impartial advice

[SteveK]

Hi folks,
After years of tent camping it looks like a change to a camper is on the cards. My wife and I are looking for a rear-folding, soft-floor camper that is not stupidly expensive. We've narrowed it down to two at this stage, being Outback Campers and Great Aussie. They are similarly priced and look the goods.

Is anyone out there able to give us any feedback on either of these two campers? Pros, cons, things to be wary of. We will be offroad so it will need to be well constructed. We drive a 120 series Prado and have our fridge and drawers in the rear - will I be able to open the rear door with or without an extended drawbar?

If there are other suggestions that would be great.

Thanks
Steve

[xvprado]

Southern Cross in Melbourne did a rear fold soft floor a few years ago that I thought was exceptionally good. Dont know if they still do or what it was called, sorry. But the build quality was excellent

[db]

Southern Cross in Melbourne did a rear fold soft floor a few years ago that I thought was exceptionally good. Dont know if they still do or what it was called, sorry. But the build quality was excellent

http://www.southerncrosscanvas.com.au/camper-trailers/bushman/

[fuji]

Hi ya
I went to the Outback factory and their trailers look the goods. I have a 90 series and i think you might have to get a hitch that is lower than the rear door. They advertise occasionally on 4wd Action mag. If i find it I will let you know. Cheers
Wayne

[D4D]

Have a chat with Sam http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=4689

[Fun Police]

Great Aussie brilliant! I'm biased I suppose since I've ordered one of their side fold.

Just go visit them if possible.

We did. No problem adding, deleting or modifying from standard. Quality is great.

[SteveK]

Thanks for the feedback so far. I emailed Southern Cross but got no response. I might try them again as I have one of the touring tents and it's just great. I will be in Sydney in the next week or so and am planning to visit the great aussie factory to have a look around. What I am hearing is that they are are both not bad.

Thanks

Steve

[Desert lover]

Hi Steve,
We have a Challenge C/T (Meridian Model) Fantastic strong build, lots of options. Great after sales service.  We tow with a GU patrol and the treg hitch is just cleared by the barn door if we are careful.  If it looks tight I stand on the hitch which puts it low enough to open the door.  We are very happy campers!
Good luck with your choice.

[Carry on Camping]

Hi Steve,
What a coincidence, having done a lot of research and checking out this great forum we visited a local camping and fishing show. Armed with all this info we to were looking at a rear fold , only the two of us now so wanted something quick and easy to put up for around 15K budget.
It was p....sing down rain so we gave the imports a miss as they were leaking through the canvas, there were some very good hard floors but they blue the budget so that narrowed it down to the Out Back or the Great Aussie. There was little between them for quality and value, we walked around both of them for hours in the pouring rain but finally put down a deposit on the Great Aussie.
We just found Claus & Shane such hands on experienced campers and knowledgeable, there philosophy is to keep it simple they like to build the camper around a bullet proof chassis and trailer with good quality 15oz aussie canvas, the rest is up to you how you option it up.
We went for the basic Off Road Dharug with the following options :
Stainless steel kitchen
300 w pure sine inverter
Extra annex wall
Heavy off road upgrade

And came into budget.

Now before we get into a who,s campers best argument, there are lots of good soft floors out there but these were the only ones there to compare with. We pick it up in two weeks and tow it behind a black 2007 Twin Cab SR5 Hilux 3.0 Litre Diesel we will head south and spend a couple of nights in Kangaroo Valley, will take some picks and let you know how it goes, can,t wait !!!!!!!!!

Regards

CoC       



             

[Bird]

Thanks for the feedback so far. I emailed Southern Cross but got no response. I might try them again as I have one of the touring tents and it's just great. I will be in Sydney in the next week or so and am planning to visit the great aussie factory to have a look around. What I am hearing is that they are are both not bad.

Their prices arent cheap, but their gear is rock solid. Try calling them on that old thing called a ... Phone was it?

Outback also do some good stuff...

[macca]

Stevek

I got a mate that dropped in on the weekend and told me he is selling his Outback Offroad I can get some more info off him tomorrow if you like, from what i remember its in really good nick and has a fair bit of gear with it, I know it has 12v and electric water pump. think its got a fridge and toilet / shower setup going with it as well, I will give him a ring tomorrow, might throw it in the classifieds for him

[SteveK]

Thanks for the feedback so far
It's looking like the Outback Sturt at this stage - mostly because it has the swing over boat rack not the "H" frame. We will keep looking for the time being and let you know.
Steve

[Bird]

So what is your budget?

[Crisp Image]

This is my Sturt.
http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=11161.0
We love it.
Tow it behind a 150 Prado and sits well.
Easy to set up and pack up. Plenty of storage and fitted with an OZ hitch the prado door opens over the top.
Sam's has a 300mm longer drawbar to ensure his door opens all the way. I don't but can open the door 3/4 if in line or all the way if a little bent.
PM me if you want any more info. The tradingpost is a good spot to pick up a second hand one.
Regards
Crisp Image

[Redcherokee]

We also have a Sturt.    It is very good value.

We had a few things that we needed to get the hang of, but that would be true of any new camper. 

Only issue that I do find disappointing is we had some pretty severe seam leaks last trip out, despite having done the seasoning what we thought was properly, and having had minor rain on earlier trips we would have expected to have finished that process.   It was lots of wind driven rain.   I will be applying wax to seams very generously this weekend, and I expect that will sort it.  I have been having water ingress problems at home too, so I might just be some kind of rain god.

Happy to go into detail for any questions via PM if you want to follow up.