I visited two showrooms today

[mrdenn1s]

So, I have about $8k to spend on a CT after the RACV kindly gave me some dollars after my 1973 Trailblazer pop top burnt down at Xmas (no one hurt)

Today I visited two factories.

One was Market Direct Campers in Campbellfield. The other was Blue Water Campers in Pakenham. Lots of driving, but hey, $8k is a lot of money top spend

Let's start with MDC

Great showroom, with all the model on display. I was interested in the T-Box so went to have a closer look. First, the tent. It's huge and I'm sure is made fine. Spreaders? $150 extra. What?

Trailer? Well, it has been spot welded rather than continuous welds (if that's what you call them?) everywhere. I don't know if this is good or bad, but it just appears weak. The kitchen felt weak. I didn't want to put any weight on it. The checkerplate used for all the "boxes" was really thin. The seals where getting caught in the doors and stopping them from closing. There were hardly any grommets anywhere where hose or wire went through a hole. Apart from that, looked ok

Lot's of stuff for the price, but apart from the tent which looked fine, the trailer looked and was presented "cheap".

Oh, I also asked if they were doing teh caper show at Caulfield Racecourse? "No, we are too busy to send anyone"...ok

So I left there knowing that I wouldn't buy an MDC. I didn't trust that it would last very long and having to pay for spreaders on such a large tent just gives the message that they are like Jetstar. everything costs...no frills. Baggage? Oh, that will be $150 please

Blue Water Campers was interesting. The staff were really knowledgable. The owner explained that the trailers were made in china but the factory then goes over all the welds. You could tell. Everything felt and looked...clean, tidy and had weight.

The tent is only 12 ft so feels smaller than the MDC naturally. However, spreaders, etc all included inc ropes and poles. The annexue has some cool flys over the windows. The poly water tank has an extra checkerplate guard. The powder coated kitchen is just so solid. The door open shut with the weight you get from Mercedes Benz doors.

Blue Water also through in the 50 amp Anderson plug wired in and 2 x 60cm LED strip lights and 3 x 12v sockets.

On both models, you also get the bike rack receiver, which is really cool.

When I asked Blue Water if they are going to the Caulfield Show, the reply was...

"Yep. Had their inspector out the other week. They check all the engineering certificates and make sure everything is ADR compliant. If you can't prove it, they don't let you in anymore."

Make your own summation on what that means : )

So, I'm off to the Ballarat show this Sunday to show the missus the Blue Water Tanami. $7300 plus a few hundred for some electrical mods. Hopefully she likes it

[dazzler]

Following my recent apology I aint saying nothing!




Oh dammit - spot welds are used to tack stuff before welding in my books.

Maybe punch a hole in the canvas where the spreaders would go and use it collect rain water in buckets.

There is a delightful second hand tambo in the classifieds. 

 

[McGirr]

You make the decision that suits what you want, has the features your looking for and the one the wife thanks she would like. 

Good luck in your decision making.

Mark

[oldmate]

Following my recent apology I aint saying nothing!




Oh dammit - spot welds are used to tack stuff before welding in my books.

Maybe punch a hole in the canvas where the spreaders would go and use it collect rain water in buckets.

There is a delightful second hand tambo in the classifieds. 

 

Pmsl. You crack me up. 

[D4D]

When I asked Blue Water if they are going to the Caulfield Show, the reply was...

"Yep. Had their inspector out the other week. They check all the engineering certificates and make sure everything is ADR compliant. If you can't prove it, they don't let you in anymore."

Make your own summation on what that means : )

Maybe it is like comp trucks that need to be 'road registered' in order to pass scuitineering

Good luck with your selection process.

[#jonesy]

Have a look at Aussie Jays.  It is a bit of pot luck as to what they can show you, as they are made to order. 3 trailers with either of 2 tents.  Mostly the crusher.  But you get to see them in all stages of production.  Trailer is great quality. Nothing extra to buy (other than a battery)
There are a few things I would like different,( personal set up and not build/quality issues)

They don't do the shows , the reason they gave  is $$$$$$$$ to have a display, to the which they need to sell lots to justify it.  They normally get an influx of orders after the shows

http://www.aussiejayscampers.com/campers/ridge-didge/

[Ashes]

2nd the above...

[woolgoolgaoffroad]

copy that and nice feedback

[crackacoldie]

There is a delightful second hand tambo in the classifieds. 

 

I would second this advice

[evans52]

So, I have about $8k to spend on a CT after the RACV kindly gave me some dollars after my 1973 Trailblazer pop top burnt down at Xmas (no one hurt)

Today I visited two factories.

One was Market Direct Campers in Campbellfield. The other was Blue Water Campers in Pakenham. Lots of driving, but hey, $8k is a lot of money top spend

Let's start with MDC

Great showroom, with all the model on display. I was interested in the T-Box so went to have a closer look. First, the tent. It's huge and I'm sure is made fine. Spreaders? $150 extra. What?

Trailer? Well, it has been spot welded rather than continuous welds (if that's what you call them?) everywhere. I don't know if this is good or bad, but it just appears weak. The kitchen felt weak. I didn't want to put any weight on it. The checkerplate used for all the "boxes" was really thin. The seals where getting caught in the doors and stopping them from closing. There were hardly any grommets anywhere where hose or wire went through a hole. Apart from that, looked ok

Lot's of stuff for the price, but apart from the tent which looked fine, the trailer looked and was presented "cheap".

Oh, I also asked if they were doing teh caper show at Caulfield Racecourse? "No, we are too busy to send anyone"...ok

So I left there knowing that I wouldn't buy an MDC. I didn't trust that it would last very long and having to pay for spreaders on such a large tent just gives the message that they are like Jetstar. everything costs...no frills. Baggage? Oh, that will be $150 please

Blue Water Campers was interesting. The staff were really knowledgable. The owner explained that the trailers were made in china but the factory then goes over all the welds. You could tell. Everything felt and looked...clean, tidy and had weight.

The tent is only 12 ft so feels smaller than the MDC naturally. However, spreaders, etc all included inc ropes and poles. The annexue has some cool flys over the windows. The poly water tank has an extra checkerplate guard. The powder coated kitchen is just so solid. The door open shut with the weight you get from Mercedes Benz doors.

Blue Water also through in the 50 amp Anderson plug wired in and 2 x 60cm LED strip lights and 3 x 12v sockets.

On both models, you also get the bike rack receiver, which is really cool.

When I asked Blue Water if they are going to the Caulfield Show, the reply was...

"Yep. Had their inspector out the other week. They check all the engineering certificates and make sure everything is ADR compliant. If you can't prove it, they don't let you in anymore."

Make your own summation on what that means : )

So, I'm off to the Ballarat show this Sunday to show the missus the Blue Water Tanami. $7300 plus a few hundred for some electrical mods. Hopefully she likes it

Have a look at an Ezytrail if they're at the Show. All spreader bars included. Have done a couple of trips in it in all conditions and no real problems yet.

Best way to look at camper - at show. Good luck with the purchase.

[mrdenn1s]

I would love the Aussie Jay, but can't afford $11k plus mods. Why is the Tambo so good? What am I missing?

[Bird]

The tent is only 12 ft so

How big do you need? We have had 3 kids and all the bags, clothes and the works inside mine with space to spare....

There's some Shit hot used trailers in the trader for around 8 grand

[Black Diamond]

Personally I'd rather spend my hard earned on a proven Quality second hand trailer than a new lesser quality one. There's plenty around.

BD

[dazzler]

I would love the Aussie Jay, but can't afford $11k plus mods. Why is the Tambo so good? What am I missing?

hi

The tambo like many other aust built and sourced campers is very well made. They closed for a while but are back.

A few on here believe that there is better value in second hand aust built campers than new imported/assembled ones.

The issues u identified are symptoms of the issue not usually manifest in aust built ones. Your 11k would buy a great strong quality aust trailer.

Some think we are having a go at what people can afford but that's not the case.

Manifest - haven't used that word for years. Manifest. I like it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GGV8Cruza]

Why is the Tambo so good? What am I missing?

Great well built trailers with quality fittings. Some of the best canvas going round. I am a little biased but have owned two of them, and am extremely happy with mine.

GG

[noel_w]

This would fit the bill nicely


http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=35371.0

[Bird]

Great well built trailers with quality fittings. Some of the best canvas going round. I am a little biased but have owned two of them, and am extremely happy with mine.

You also never see threads complaining about the quality, or "I knew I'd have to spend blah blah to make them useable before buying"

[Market Direct Campers]

Hi mrdenn1s,

Thanks for your enquiry and post yesterday.

I will be in contact with the Melbourne showroom today and see what is going on in this situation.

Our standard is all electrical cables going through steel walls be insulted with corrugated tube and Rubber Grommets.
this has been standard practice for some years?

Our Trailers certainly are not tack welded, but I think you may be referring to where the Tent is welded to bed Frame.
These welds are about 15mm long, and not considered a tack. You do not require seem welds when connecting the tent to the frame.

I believe a one inch weld can hold several tonne of weight. We use to bolt the tents to the frames, but have been welding them for some years now.

I'll get back to you when I have more information.

Happy Camping
MDC Insider
 

[mrdenn1s]

I am sure the trailers are fine, but they were not presented well.

I even found some areas where screws were missing.

Is this tack welding? I'm not sure of the terminology



Also, the struts seeded to be really pushed to lift up. No way my wife would be able to do it

I have nothing against MDC. It's just not for me after what I saw.

[Swannie]

.

[Market Direct Campers]

Thanks for the reply.

Ok, got ya.
That is only in the front boot and is by no means structural.
The whole outside of the box is seam welded

We won't be seam welding the inside of the front boot, there is no need for it.

I have spoken to the sales team there, and they had mentioned they would throw in the spreader poles.
Maybe you mentioned you were a member here

Good Luck in finding the right camper trailer for yourself and your family.

Happy Camping
MDC Insider

[gronk]

To be fair to MDC ( and I have said things about them before regarding copying of other trailers ), even though that IS tack welding, it's only in the front alloy box....not what I'd call structural in any shape or form..

I haven't seen any of their campers up close underneath, but until a photo of their chassis shows tack welding , I'd be inclined to disregard the "tack" welding inference !!


Sorry, I was too slow typing !!!!

[Market Direct Campers]

Last time I was in Melbourne, there was a trailer belly up on display in the front of the showroom.
I'm not sure if the layout is still like this though.
We are happy for anyone to come down and inspect at anytime.



Happy Camping
MDC Insider

[swanny]

Personally I'd rather spend my hard earned on a proven Quality second hand trailer than a new lesser quality one. There's plenty around.

BD

Couldn't agree more, do your research mate, the used market is going nuts with plenty of Aussie made CT's, which are designed and built for our conditions.

With the $$$ you wont to spend you will pick up a cracker, and most times you will get the mods your thinking of adding already included in the price.

Have a look thru the classifieds on the forum and you will see wat I mean.

Happy hunting, BUT don't discard the used market.

Swanny 

[dazzler]

I'm not sure if the layout is still like this though.




Happy Camping
MDC Insider

Maybe they have tied the A frame into the front spring hanger on the new ones?  Triangles.  Triangles are good!