What Camper to buy?? Jayco V Modcon V Mirage V Cameron

[bad mudder]

Hi everyone.
I’ve just joined your forum as I’m in the market for a Camper trailer. I’ve done extensive travel around Oz in a swag and OzTent but now with 3 kids it’s time for a bit of luxury. My 3 children are all under 7 years of age but I’m hoping to have this CT for a while so must think about space and sleeping arrangements for everyone in the future as they grow.
So what to get? I’m looking for some input from everyone so have your say. I think I’ve narrowed it down (but you can persuade me otherwise).
Firstly, what do I need?
1. Must sleep 5. 2 Adults, 3 kids (that’s a no brainer)
2. Quick and easy to set up (for overnighters and my ever-increasing laziness)
3. Cost of around 30-35k.
4. Must be able to take corrugated roads and mild off-road situations (this is the factor that makes my decision the hardest).
I like the Jayco Dove Outback (this is the wife’s choice). Jayco Swan’s are just a bit too big (although is better suited to a family of 5 than the Dove). However, I don’t think the Jayco’s will hold up to outback conditions (prove me wrong). Forward Folding CT’s like the Modcon, Blu Water, Southern Cross and the Mirage could be the way to go. By the way if you haven’t seen the Mirage Oasis, which is new to the market in the last 3 months, check it out it’s awesome!! I don’t particularly like soft floor campers but the Cameron CT is very simple to fold out. 
So, what would you go for?? Open to other suggestions too.
Thanks,
BM.

[smartyingreen]

Hi BM,

I cannot make comment on anything here but the Cameron. We've only had ours for about 8 weeks (second hand) and had it out on 4 occasions so far. Like you we have 3 rugrats under 10 and wanted something that could be setup in minutes for that overnighter but also big enough if setting up camp for a week or more.
The concept with kids room extension I can setup on my own with inflatable mattress on the ground for the kids in approx 6-7 mins. And this gets quicker when and if the wife or eldest choose to help!
The trailer is built strong with old school solid axles and leaf Springs and the overall finish is very good (I believe they 2 pack the new ones rather than powder coat). These can and will go anywhere from what I have been told by other Cameron owners.

Good luck with the decision.

Shane.

Sent from my GT-N8020 using Tapatalk 4

[rossmob]

BM I now you mentioned that soft floors aren't your cup of tea but I can recommend Trackabout, bought a SV Extenda and very happy with it so far, only 2 months old. Only have done one trip so far but the space and setup is great.  Relatively quick for the main tent and annex, still working n the order of things.  Would recommend you have a look.  I understand they bringing out a rear fold one but don't know the details or timing..

The other type we were looking at was the Explorer range in Sydney .... Happy hunting
Cheers Stu

[99disco]

Mate we have a jayco type camper, I think value for money you can't beat them, with a proper kitchen including fridge as well as proper beds for the family they can't be beaten. You do read and see people towing the outback jaycos along the gibb and that sort of thing but not sure how well they'd put up with it over a period of time.

 But as a suggestion have you looked at the camprite? You'll get a fairly me one in you budget and they are a solid off road unit with bedding for up to 6.

I have no doubt that soft floor campers have their place, but I can see setting up stretchers or the like for the kids every night getting old very quickly if you were to do a few over nighters in a row. Plus having to store the bedding somewhere while traveling.

Just my thoughts mate, good luck with the decision.



Shane

[HEM19X]

bm, welcome to the forum.

We have a Modcon Elysium and even though they are a great Ct, I am not sure that they would be suited to a family of 5, Kerry was making a "Quattro" at one stage that had 2 single bunks but even this would be of little use with 3 kids once they get a bit older.

The Mirage certainly looks smick & states 6 berth sleeping [not sure where based on what I have seen however] but as Stu said, maybe a soft floor may better suit.

Good luck with the search.

Hem 

[DaveCQ]

Bad mudder,

The campers you have listed are all completely different. I recommend that you go to the shows etc to narrow it down even further.
 I agree with HEM19X and agree that a Modcon would not be suitable for a family of 5. If you are going to set tents/extra rooms up you may as well go for a soft floor. I seriously looked at the Modcon myself and decided it did not suit a family of 4. I have had a Jayco Eagle and went back to a soft floor Trackabout due to a number of reasons. The Jayco's have their place and people do travel around Australia in them, some on Outback roads. After my experience, I wouldnt. But that's just me and my opinion. I cannot comment on the other trailers you have listed as I have no experience with them.

Cheers,
Dave.

[Lori]

My parents have a forward fold camper that we borrowed for a quick overnight we a few months back.

It certainly has a quick setup, though it would only beat our 12ft softfloor setup by a maximum of 5 minutes. The winner was the packup, not as fiddly as the softfloor (no zippers)
We didn't use the awning or kitchen for our stay, it was purely a place to sleep.

On this occasion we took our eldest daughter, so we setup the dining area as a bed area. It was awful, there was simply no room for manouvering or to store our stuff (of which we only had enough for an overnighter for three people) it felt crowded and uncofortable. As an occassional setup, using the dining as a bed would be okay but if I had to do it permantly.... Just no.
Imagine building a cubby house under you dining table, now live in it! That's how it felt and that was only a few short (or long) hours.

It's perfect for my parents needs, two people traveling and enjoying the sights, but in my opinion is a far from ideal family setup.

[Bm0]

Hi BM,

I have used 2 types of camper... a soft floor which we borrowed a LONG time ago and our jayco.

The softfloor we borrowed was good, but the setup was not quick, probably at least double the time as our Jayco takes.. In saying that, others may be able to offer wisdom on better softfloors.

We love our Jayco, we have taken it all sorts of places, nothing that I would call extreme, but through lots of corrogated roads on stations in our north west, and have got it some lovely bush pinstriping. The jaycos are not as tough as some of the other campers out there, but I dont think they get as much credit as they deserve.

They are wide (2200mm) so a fold out will get you more places, however for us the comfort inside won over that.

We have the dove, but have a look at the Eagle. Our friends that we travel with have just upgraded to an Eagle, they travel with their Great Dane and have found that its much better in the Eagle to be able to leave one of the couches as a bed (for the Dane) as you would have to for one of your kids.

In the Dove you either have a table or a bed at any one time, the eagle allows you to have both at the same time.

[Bird]

I think you should be looking at Jayco.

It depends on what your definition of *quick* set up is too. The tent on our trailer inc unzipping the cover is 5 mins. Wind down 2 legs 1-2 mins.. but Im never in a race.

If you wanna cheat, if the trailer is unhooked from car, feet down, cover off the tent section, the tent section alone (12ft) is up in <1 minute. There is or was a vid on the manufacturer website.

[Hairs]

G'day bad mudder,
Welcome aboard.
We too have three kids.
We had a trailer tent before our current Jayco.
Soft floor was light to tow, but setup time was a PITA and lengthy. Eg, setting up a set of double bunks, getting the kitchen out and set up. With the sidewalls detached it really felt like you were out doors.
The Swan is heavier(More fuel to tow), store a heap more gear(This adds to the weight), Kitchen inside, on-board 90lt fridge with 11lt freezer and can be set up in 10 odd minutes from unhitch. No double bunks to setup(although the girls have a tent now and use the double bunks again  ).
Now that the kids are older, they each have their job to do, which makes setting up heaps quicker than it did when they were younger some 5 years ago. This may make it feel like it doesn't take as long.
It would be interesting to see how long it would take to set up our previous camper if the kids were the age that they are now. 
Even with smaller kids, I reckon a Jayco would still be the go, after the kids leave the nest I reckon we'll go back to a soft floor.
Just my two bobs worth, happy camper hunting 

 

[D4D]

I say we have a competition at the next National Gathering, 'who can set their camper up the quickest'

[Bm0]

HAHA it comes down to A) how many times have you done it (we all get our systems down pat) and B) how long are you staying.

I have never timed my Jayco setup, but we do a lot of trips where we travel into the night on the first night (after work) so that our young daughter goes to sleep. We generally setup the Jayco at about 11pm and its a very basic setup, just to sleep for the night. (no awning, usually no bed flies) I think i can do that by myself in about 5 minutes (but it could be 10.. I have never timed it)

[bad mudder]

Hi everyone. Thanks for your input.

But as a suggestion have you looked at the camprite? You'll get a fairly me one in you budget and they are a solid off road unit with bedding for up to 6.
Shane

Hi Shane. I would buy a Camprite tomorrow if they were better priced. Even ones a few years old are nearing 40k. May end up looking for an older one. Thanks.

BM I now you mentioned that soft floors aren't your cup of tea but I can recommend Trackabout..
Cheers Stu

Hi Stu. Have looked at the Trackabout and I do like them. They're off road ability looks great. Could be another possibility. BM.

I recommend that you go to the shows etc to narrow it down even further.
I have had a Jayco Eagle and went back to a soft floor Trackabout due to a number of reasons.
Cheers,
Dave.

Hi Dave. I will be going to the next show in November to have a look. What are the reasons you went back to the soft floor Trackabout?

My parents have a forward fold camper that we borrowed for a quick overnight we a few months back.
On this occasion we took our eldest daughter, so we setup the dining area as a bed area. It was awful, there was simply no room for manouvering or to store our stuff

Hi Lori. Thanks for the insight. I thought setting up the bed on the dining table looked simple but didn't really think about the space it took away. Cheers, BM.

Even with smaller kids, I reckon a Jayco would still be the go, after the kids leave the nest I reckon we'll go back to a soft floor.
 

Yeah, I think that might be the way to go while the kids are young. I could always downsize later and get the kids to sleep in swags when they're older. It worked for me for the last 20 years!

I say we have a competition at the next National Gathering, 'who can set their camper up the quickest'

Ha Ha. It's not such a bad idea though. Really, I bet people are curious to know what Ct's set up quicker than others without the sales pitch.

It seems many of the soft floors these days are getting easier to set up. I just think about my mates with their cheapish soft floor CT's that have a million poles to set up, bunks and roll out mattresses to set up.
A good condition Jayco can be bought second hand for 20k. That leaves me with plenty of money for mods. What have people done to their Jayco's to make them more durable to Outback conditions?? (that could be another thread right there - maybe I'll do a search). The question is do you buy a Jayco for 20-25k and mod it or bite the bullet and spend 35k on a Softflloor CT that is purpose built for the ruff stuff. ??

[D4D]

What have people done to their Jayco's to make them more durable to Outback conditions??

Upgraded to a Goldstream

[Bird]

Upgraded to a Goldstream

I'd love to have bought your old thing, how long until you upgrade to one?

[shakey55]

In my opinion, stay away from the Jaco if your going to be driving corrugated roadways, will have nothing but trouble.

I have a Central Coast Camper trailer (NSW). It is Australian made (quality A1), it is very roomy but a soft floor. It will also be a lot less than your & 30k


'shakey'

[Bird]

In my opinion, stay away from the Jaco if your going to be driving corrugated roadways, will have nothing but trouble.

[Bm0]

In my opinion, stay away from the Jaco if your going to be driving corrugated roadways, will have nothing but trouble.

I have a Central Coast Camper trailer (NSW). It is Australian made (quality A1), it is very roomy but a soft floor. It will also be a lot less than your & 30k


'shakey'

Have to strongly disagree with you here Shakey. We have had our Jayco for a while now and we havent really looked somewhere and gone 'nope.. not with the Jayco' except some very narrow tracks or some extremely gnarly stuff I wouldn't want to tow anything through.

Would i do 100kmh down a corrogated road with the Jayco? NO.. but i probably wouldn't if i wasn't towing at all. Comes down to adjusting your speed to the situation.

The only thing I have had happen on a corrogated station track with the Jayco is that the bolt on wheel carrier that I added (because the previous owner cut the factory one off) came loose. That was more about me possibly having too many beers while fitting it and not doing the bolts up enough (after I tightened it it was fine...)

[Swannie]

Upgraded to a Goldstream

D4D that really is uncalled for 

Swannie

[chester ver2.0]

I have a goldstream and it still sufferes the same problem as a Jayco yes it is a little bit tougher but the dust ingress is what brings you undone.
I have sealed it down as hard as it will go taped around door and vents but it still leaks dust

Handles fine on the corrugations the weight and width will get to you on the really hard stuff

But when i am set up i love the comfort so happy to wipe a little dust out

[Bm0]

I have a goldstream and it still sufferes the same problem as a Jayco yes it is a little bit tougher but the dust ingress is what brings you undone.
I have sealed it down as hard as it will go taped around door and vents but it still leaks dust

Handles fine on the corrugations the weight and width will get to you on the really hard stuff

But when i am set up i love the comfort so happy to wipe a little dust out

Have to agree. We have had a small amount of dust, nothing that really bothers us and generally its on the floor inside the door where you walk it in anyways.

[Swannie]

I have only ever had the jayco & at this point haven't taken it offroad due to the tow vehicle more than anything else. I have a 11,9 & 2.5 year old ( 2 in one bed & the little one on the fold down table in the swan. I use a safety bar across it so she doesn't fall out. Last year we spent over 70 nights in it and it works great form a set up and pack up point of view and accommodates all the family which for me was important.

Why don't you hire a jayco and give it a shakedown?

Swannie

[Bm0]

Why don't you hire a jayco and give it a shakedown?

Swannie

This is a good idea.... Most of the hire companies probably dont want you taking it offroad though (insurance, dirt etc)

Also look at hiring a softfloor... The best way to make this decision is by testing with your family.

[Bird]

I have only ever had the jayco & at this point haven't taken it offroad due to the tow vehicle more than anything else.

Never under estimate where your car will go.. Vince did the high country and Blue Rag in his wifes X5...  No damage...

[Bm0]

Never under estimate where your car will go.. Vince did the high country and Blue Rag in his wifes X5...  No damage...

+1 Get out there!!