Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback

[grafy82]

Mercy, where did that come from? 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Crazy isn't it. We are highlighting issues with Aussie built campers, SHOCK HORROR!

[dazzler]

Tyres.  Talking about tyres  and why the manufacturer does not recommend 10 ply.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[grafy82]

Tyres.  Talking about tyres  and why the manufacturer does not recommend 10 ply.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep, and shockies failing and the resultant chassis cracking.

[dazzler]

Because of the TYRES.

it's okay to own Chinese stuff. Truly it is. Here's a cuddle. ()()()


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[grafy82]

Because of the TYRES.

it's okay to own Chinese stuff. Truly it is. Here's a cuddle. ()()()


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Settle down Daz, I was taking the piss (JasonB seemed to get my joke). And yes, I own a Chinese tent, haha. If you read back through the thread I think you'll see that the 10 ply tyre was an issue that could void your warranty (obviously because of the harsher ride) but people were having failures regardless of the tyres, from what has been said due to shock failure. So, NO, not purely because of tyres.

[Jason B]

Settle down Daz, I was taking the piss (JasonB seemed to get my joke). And yes, I own a Chinese tent, haha. If you read back through the thread I think you'll see that the 10 ply tyre was an issue that could void your warranty (obviously because of the harsher ride) but people were having failures regardless of the tyres, from what has been said due to shock failure. So, NO, not purely because of tyres.

Lol 1/2 my posts have been tongue in cheek also...................no body usually gets my jokes.....

[grafy82]

Lol 1/2 my posts have been tongue in cheek also...................no body usually gets my jokes.....

Nor mine it would seem 

[Jason B]

Nor mine it would seem 

 

We must be special..............lol

[dazzler]

Ahhhh,   and so was mine.

Stirring young fella.  No need to throw out the 'settle' line.

So settle.   

[jetcrew]

Funny I don't see fox shocks talked about at all on here or in off road circles, so I don't know what their claim to fame is or what has convinced KK that they are the go.

Plenty of basic OME and other brands stand up to the rigours of out back travel. The dirty old ride pros on mime were recently replaced after nearly 10 years service and two laps.

Jas

Prob for the same reason they think 6 small agms in parallel is a good idea and wont accept that 36 cells is an equalisation disaster..

Keen to see the airbag, KK seem to like to be the front runner in things but as times goes on I feel they simply change things to more expensive set ups to justify the $$$ figure.

there batt fix was lithium  at a large cost to the purchaser and wont entertain 2 x 100 a/h units from factory just like 99.9% of other camper/van builders. I know of no other make that has suffered so many premature batt failures.

jet

 

Jet

[grafy82]

Ahhhh,   and so was mine.

Stirring young fella.  No need to throw out the 'settle' line.

So settle.   

Who you callin' young fella 

[rossbarb]

Hi Everyone,
Just letting you know the Canon family were the original owners of this brand of campers. They were enthusiastic campers and produced a great product
barb

[edz]

Hi Everyone,
Just letting you know the CANON family were the original owners of this brand of campers.

So that was just before they went OFF .... LOL sorry but just couldnt help myself ..

[gronk]

The owner ( Bruce Loxton ) is a very wealthy man and has probably not got the same "poor" peoples view on some things..

He has done some things a lot earlier than others ( laser cut chassis, car like production line etc ) and has tried to introduce some cutting edge ideas.....but as mentioned about batteries, he seems pretty set in his ways  ( maybe stubborn ) and won't change things easily..

The KK range is a quality bit of gear, but it's not going to stay that way if they don't listen to constructive criticism..

[Jason B]

Has anyone actually got any usefull or relevant info for the OP? Sorry about the hijack Michael lol.

[Diesel Power]

Na, it looks as if we're wasting the OPs time.
Seriously if a mono tube off-road race shock can't dissipate heat then how can a twin tube 4wd shock?
Regards

[Rumpig]

If the OP already has a Kimberley Kamper, then he should be able to access the Kimberley owners forum and search for other owners opinions of the product they have purchased. I've not seen the threads myself in regards to Karavans (I'm told there's one in relation to them), but am lead to believe it's not a forum of happy owners just patting themselves on their backs in regards to their purchase, there are apparently some unhappy owners voicing their opinions on there also, so would be worth looking at.

[Diesel Power]

Rumpig,
Would the forum be KKOG? The only problem is you have to prove that you own one or have paid a deposit for one to become a member.
Regards
Angus.

[Rumpig]

Rumpig,
Would the forum be KKOG? The only problem is you have to prove that you own one or have paid a deposit for one to become a member.
Regards
Angus.

yes you need to have proof of ownership to access the forum

[Jason B]

How come I didn't know about this secret KK group!...............lol they probably wouldn't let me in anyway.

[Rumpig]

How come I didn't know about this secret KK group!...............lol they probably wouldn't let me in anyway.

when you buy from Kimberley it's mentioned in the paper work somewhere from memory. I've never been on that forum, keep meaning to but always forget about it.

[red t ute]

So out of all the above Kimberly haters one person knows a person that had issues with a with a Kimberly Karavan and it's not that I don't believe your mate had issues but it's one out of thousands.
I have a Kimberly Kamper serial 5778 it's 2012 model can the only thing that failed on it was the fridge slide and trailer plugs getting ripped of by rocks.
I have heard of the a stub axel failing in very early models but most stories always start with my mate had this or that fail on his Kimberly and that there Shit and would never buy one.
I always tell them they can't be that Shit if there sold over 6000 Kampers.
I would hazard a guess that there more Kimberley Kampers  floating around Aus that any other brand of camper.
Normally when there a issue with a product it the owner that makes the most noise about there issues.
Kimberly have installed heat stickers on the Fox Shocks to help inform them if you have over heated them. The only way I could see some one over heating them on a Kamper would be gross overloading like 4.5m boat with a 25 horse outboard and running very high tyre pressure on rough roads and not driving to the conditions.
The only reason Kimberley tell you not to run 10ply tyres is that there a over kill and they can contribute to suspension overheating or damage.
How many other camper manufactures have ever tested there campers with more than one type of tyre. Kimberly also tell you not to fit 19 tyres as it's over heats the shocks and the lack of side wall makes a big difference.

[gronk]

I have replied above, but I'm not a hater.........in fact I've owned 2 KK's...a 2005 and a 2007 model.

I still think they are the best camper made......but bad stories don't all get made up...there must be some truth to them...

If a company really knew their stuff, they could design suspension to cope with wooden wheels !!!

Bullet proof swingarms and dual shocks if they have to, but it can be done....and the line about not using 10 ply tyres is just highlighting that the suspension is not bulletproof !!

[grafy82]

I always tell them they can't be that **** if there sold over 6000 Kampers.
I would hazard a guess that there more Kimberley Kampers  floating around Aus that any other brand of camper.

WRONG! On 2 fronts; 1. You cannot judge quality by volume of sales  2. There is another camper mob that claims to have over 20000 units out there which, in turn,fully supports point 1.
  By the way, I think KK's are a marvelous bit of kit and I'd own one in a heartbeat.

[HKB Electronics]

As I also wrote in my post, I like the KK and would buy depending on what where I intend to use it.

The owner has to take some responsibility, as I said in my original post, I advised our friends against
buying the unit due to what I had read and my concerns regarding the units weight and being able to
go anywhere your car can go. I knew the friend concerned would expect it to do as advertised and
certainly would not be the type to stop every half hour or so to let shockers cool etc.

It is not one or two failures, if you do some research on the net you will find many complaining of the
same issues. Also two friends one who has experienced the failure with his own unit, the other friend
who seem similar with a KK unit last year on the club trip is not a good statistic, keep in mind where
only discussing the KK unit, not all kimberly products in general.

Friends in their action had representation from an independent engineer arguing the suspension and chassis
is not fit for purpose, ie can go anywhere you car can go, clearly in my friends case it couldn't! Kimberly didn't
even bother providing independent engineer testimony, judge asked the Kimberly representative where is your
technical expert the Kimberly person replied there's just me and the Judge replied then you know where this is
heading then. The judge agreed with the not fit for purpose.

As I said above, I would still consider buying the unit, if I didn't intend to do hard off road work. The shocker
situation I would live with as I always stop every 40 minutes or so and check anyway.

The OP asked for comment regarding the KK and I believe he should be aware of the issues to be able to make
an informed decision, it's a bit late reading about it on their forum after you have already purchased the product,
which raises another issue, if the Kimberly product is so good why do you have to own one to be able to access the forum? other manufactures forums are open, the manufactures are prepared to take the good and the bad why don't Kimberly do the same?