MDC XT 10 Hypercamper Thoughts Please

[glenm64]

Im seriously considering an AT10 evo(now the AT11). I checked Lifestyles out for about an hour at Perth caravan show, and they look pretty good bit of gear.
Walked past MDC and decided to compare. As per previous post, gaps in folding section, also most bits feel like cheap products.
The slide out kitchen had sharp edges in many places, steel felt thinner, sliding runners felt flimsy, interior quality and finish not in the same league.
I was quiet surprised in the difference between the 2.
When you consider theres not much in the price, I would choose a local product that gives quality parts and back up service.Plus the ability to change layouts to suit is also a big plus
Cheers Glen

[gronk]

Not sure why anyone would consider a chinese product when the original aussie product is a similar/same price ??

Regardless of quality/build issues..

[Market Direct Campers]

I had a good look at one of these at the Rockhampton camping show last year and was incredibly disappointed with the quality of finish. Could never justifying spending my hard earned on something so poorly finished.

Have you seen the new 2015, V5 ?

http://youtu.be/9It82BL3tK8?list=UUMjoehlkYGZ2VqW7vLfMujg
	Small | Large

If you really want to see what the Range of XT Offroad Caravans are capable of, then get yourself a couple of these DVD's http://www.lowrange.tv/

Happy Camping
MDC Insider 

out of retirement 

[shrek4]

Interesting to have a MDC rep pass comment in this thread yet not take the opportunity to respond to the claims they've copied the Lifestyle AT-10 product and respond to why one should consider their company given the price similarity to the Australian made and original, Lifestyle product.

Silence is golden.


BTW we're in the build que for a new Lifestyle AT-12

[glenm64]

Have you seen the new 2015, V5 ?

http://youtu.be/9It82BL3tK8?list=UUMjoehlkYGZ2VqW7vLfMujg
If you really want to see what the Range of XT Offroad Caravans are capable of, then get yourself a couple of these DVD's http://www.lowrange.tv/

Happy Camping
MDC Insider 

out of retirement 

Yes I just checked out the latest at the Perth Caravan and camping show 2 weeks ago and as I said in previous post, not in the same league as
the Lifestyle campers that appears to have been copied.

cheers Glen

[xcvator]

Interesting to have a MDC rep pass comment in this thread yet not take the opportunity to respond to the claims they've copied the Lifestyle AT-10 product and respond to why one should consider their company given the price similarity to the Australian made and original, Lifestyle product.

Silence is golden.


BTW we're in the build que for a new Lifestyle AT-12

If you want to start a hate/slanging match of you did this, you did that, start your own thread 

I'm NOT interested in innuendo, rumours or 2nd hand garbage or opinions, sorry for the rant but this sort of thing is happening more and more when somebody asks a question and members with no bloody idea about the subject start muddying up the water 

[The punter]

If you want to start a hate/slanging match of you did this, you did that, start your own thread 

I'm NOT interested in innuendo, rumours or 2nd hand garbage or opinions, sorry for the rant but this sort of thing is happening more and more when somebody asks a question and members with no bloody idea about the subject start muddying up the water 

How is this muddying the water? All Australians should think carefully about supporting the Chinese ripoff option. The manufacturing industry in this country is in tatters because of it. Not every kid can go to uni, nor should they. in times past the industry has employed so many young Australians, trained them and set them up for life. An entire generation of skills is being lost right now due to the buying decisions of all of us.

[xcvator]

How is this muddying the water? All Australians should think carefully about supporting the Chinese ripoff option. The manufacturing industry in this country is in tatters because of it. Not every kid can go to uni, nor should they. in times past the industry has employed so many young Australians, trained them and set them up for life. An entire generation of skills is being lost right now due to the buying decisions of all of us.

Read my op

[The punter]

Read my op

I did, you asked for the good, bad and ugly. This is a forum where posts may be read by many other prospective buyers and not just you. The ugly truth is that these are a poor imitation built in China with idea stolen from an Australian company's IP - A point that is worth taking into consideration.

Im a toolmaker by trade, I looked at these at the show in Adelaide. They are flimsy, poorly constructed and thrown together with little skill or care. If that's your thing then go for it, but I don't understand why anyone with the interests of Australian jobs as at least a consideration would'nt pay the bit extra to get the genuine thing.

[xcvator]

 I looked at these at the show in Adelaide. They are flimsy, poorly constructed and thrown together with little skill or care.

That part of your comment is a fair comment,  the rest is just muddying the waters with your personal opinion of the company and it's ethics which may or may not be true, and then trying to politicize the thread   

[The punter]

That part of your comment is a fair comment,  the rest is just muddying the waters with your personal opinion of the company and it's ethics which may or may not be true, and then trying to politicize the thread   

Buying Australian isn't necessarily a political thing. It's a family thing, investing in your kid's future.

Sorry man but it's just a bugbear of mine, I have watched the thriving industry that I grew up in die, to the point where I had to change tack and get out. I was lucky, so many I knew were not.

[Snow]

Go easy y'all, this thread is being watched.

[xcvator]

Sorry Marvin Snow
 I was just trying to keep the thread on the track of the PHYSICAL good, bad or ugly and not bring morals, emotions or politics into the discussion 

[Homer_Jay]

That V5 in the YouTube clip above is a good looking bit of gear!

My only concern is the size of that toilet holding tank (seems small), and the longevity of the back folding bit. Once it is ten years old and been opened and closed a thousand times, will it all still seal up nice and tight.

[Titch]

I have an XT10.

I typically do not respond to forums because they are too often full of hearsay, opinion and untruths. For those who want genuine comment from an MDC XT10 owner, read on.  Please note that I will not respond to hearsay, “in my opinion” or emotionally motivated posts.
 
Tow vehicle: 2012 Ford Ranger 3.2 Auto (4inch lift, Long Range Tank, bar & Winch, 6 wheel tire pressure monitors)
 
Hybrid camper: MDC XT-10, 60 litre Engle and gas BBQ. (+ two adults)
 
Trip: Brisbane, Birdsville, Boulia, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon loop, Katherine, Roper Bar, Borroloola, Burketown, Normanton, Townsville, Brisbane. (Using the Donoghue/Plenty Hwy and Savannah way)
 
Distance: Total 10,000km, gravel road 2,000km - over a period of 4 weeks. To cover this distance and still have a few days at Birdsville, ‘the Rock’, Katherine and Townsville I was often using persistently higher speeds than I expect most travellers would on the heavily corrugated roads and through the (hundreds) of dips/creek crossings.
 
I have XT-10 build number 9, I experienced no failures, there are no cracks and everything opens and shuts as it should.  The spare tires have dual locking mechanisms, a primary and a secondary.  I did break one of the secondary latch possibly by me over tightening it.  The dust suppression was acceptable, (there was only slightly more dust in the van compared to what we got into the car), the new three point latch door (see below) will improve this further. 
 
Being one of the first production models, MDC were keen to get my feedback. I made the following recommendations: Stiffer and taller coil springs (improved full load height and stability on gravel at speed), dual shock absorbers (improved heat transfer during high temperatures on persistently heavily corrugated roads). Three point door locking (improved dust sealing).  Reduced tow hitch weight (easier manual handling and stability at speed on gravel).  Loctite on all latches and knobs (prevent them vibrating loose over enduring corrugations).
 
I understand that MDC have implemented all these recommendations on the current models. 
 
As a personal preference, and at my own cost I changed the tow coupling.  I say this was a personal preference because the supplied coupling was made in Australia and in all respects compliant and fit for purpose.
 
To make it perfectly clear to the small number of wallies that seem to dominate these forums - I have no family or financial involvement with MDC..

[grafy82]

I have an XT10.

I typically do not respond to forums because they are too often full of hearsay, opinion and untruths. For those who want genuine comment from an MDC XT10 owner, read on.  Please note that I will not respond to hearsay, “in my opinion” or emotionally motivated posts.
 
Tow vehicle: 2012 Ford Ranger 3.2 Auto (4inch lift, Long Range Tank, bar & Winch, 6 wheel tire pressure monitors)
 
Hybrid camper: MDC XT-10, 60 litre Engle and gas BBQ. (+ two adults)
 
Trip: Brisbane, Birdsville, Boulia, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon loop, Katherine, Roper Bar, Borroloola, Burketown, Normanton, Townsville, Brisbane. (Using the Donoghue/Plenty Hwy and Savannah way)
 
Distance: Total 10,000km, gravel road 2,000km - over a period of 4 weeks. To cover this distance and still have a few days at Birdsville, ‘the Rock’, Katherine and Townsville I was often using persistently higher speeds than I expect most travellers would on the heavily corrugated roads and through the (hundreds) of dips/creek crossings.
 
I have XT-10 build number 9, I experienced no failures, there are no cracks and everything opens and shuts as it should.  The spare tires have dual locking mechanisms, a primary and a secondary.  I did break one of the secondary latch possibly by me over tightening it.  The dust suppression was acceptable, (there was only slightly more dust in the van compared to what we got into the car), the new three point latch door (see below) will improve this further. 
 
Being one of the first production models, MDC were keen to get my feedback. I made the following recommendations: Stiffer and taller coil springs (improved full load height and stability on gravel at speed), dual shock absorbers (improved heat transfer during high temperatures on persistently heavily corrugated roads). Three point door locking (improved dust sealing).  Reduced tow hitch weight (easier manual handling and stability at speed on gravel).  Loctite on all latches and knobs (prevent them vibrating loose over enduring corrugations).
 
I understand that MDC have implemented all these recommendations on the current models. 
 
As a personal preference, and at my own cost I changed the tow coupling.  I say this was a personal preference because the supplied coupling was made in Australia and in all respects compliant and fit for purpose.
 
To make it perfectly clear to the small number of wallies that seem to dominate these forums - I have no family or financial involvement with MDC..

Welcome to the forum Titch. Nice first post....

[xcvator]

Thanks Titch for posting, interesting read



ps, welcome to the forum 

[UIZ733]

I have an XT10.

I typically do not respond to forums because they are too often full of hearsay, opinion and untruths. For those who want genuine comment from an MDC XT10 owner, read on.  Please note that I will not respond to hearsay, “in my opinion” or emotionally motivated posts.
 
Tow vehicle: 2012 Ford Ranger 3.2 Auto (4inch lift, Long Range Tank, bar & Winch, 6 wheel tire pressure monitors)
 
Hybrid camper: MDC XT-10, 60 litre Engle and gas BBQ. (+ two adults)
 
Trip: Brisbane, Birdsville, Boulia, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon loop, Katherine, Roper Bar, Borroloola, Burketown, Normanton, Townsville, Brisbane. (Using the Donoghue/Plenty Hwy and Savannah way)
 
Distance: Total 10,000km, gravel road 2,000km - over a period of 4 weeks. To cover this distance and still have a few days at Birdsville, ‘the Rock’, Katherine and Townsville I was often using persistently higher speeds than I expect most travellers would on the heavily corrugated roads and through the (hundreds) of dips/creek crossings.
 
I have XT-10 build number 9, I experienced no failures, there are no cracks and everything opens and shuts as it should.  The spare tires have dual locking mechanisms, a primary and a secondary.  I did break one of the secondary latch possibly by me over tightening it.  The dust suppression was acceptable, (there was only slightly more dust in the van compared to what we got into the car), the new three point latch door (see below) will improve this further. 
 
Being one of the first production models, MDC were keen to get my feedback. I made the following recommendations: Stiffer and taller coil springs (improved full load height and stability on gravel at speed), dual shock absorbers (improved heat transfer during high temperatures on persistently heavily corrugated roads). Three point door locking (improved dust sealing).  Reduced tow hitch weight (easier manual handling and stability at speed on gravel).  Loctite on all latches and knobs (prevent them vibrating loose over enduring corrugations).
 
I understand that MDC have implemented all these recommendations on the current models. 
 
As a personal preference, and at my own cost I changed the tow coupling.  I say this was a personal preference because the supplied coupling was made in Australia and in all respects compliant and fit for purpose.
 
To make it perfectly clear to the small number of wallies that seem to dominate these forums - I have no family or financial involvement with MDC..

Welcome to the forum and taking the time to review this product in calm and un-emotive language.
Your final statement is valid unfortunately as increasingly it appears some cannot let a post progress without inane banter and unsubstantiated drivel.

[edz]

Titch it would be nice to see some pics of the trip and set up, Think we may be  looking at one of these style little units  in the near future. 10,000 km in a month is way to hectic a pace for me .

[gronk]

Not sure why anyone would consider a chinese product when the original aussie product is a similar/same price ??

Regardless of quality/build issues..

I still stand by this comment......whether it be chinese, japanese or new zealand......for a similar/same price, I don't understand the logic of avoiding aussie made....UNLESS it was proven that the aussie product was inferior !!!!

[xcvator]

I still stand by this comment......whether it be chinese, japanese or new zealand......for a similar/same price, I don't understand the logic of avoiding aussie made....UNLESS it was proven that the aussie product was inferior !!!!

As I have said BEFORE I am looking for FACTS FACTS FACTS nothing more, nothing less, so unless you have some FACTS about the PHYSICAL construction and capabilities of this camper please BUT OUT 

[gronk]

Just go and buy one..........you have chosen to ignore and belittle anyone who has posted up about it, so quit asking questions and spend your money..

BTW, it's BUTT out !!!!   

[grafy82]

As I have said BEFORE I am looking for FACTS FACTS FACTS nothing more, nothing less, so unless you have some FACTS about the PHYSICAL construction and capabilities of this camper please BUT OUT 

If you're looking for facts you're kidding yourself because as far as the internet is concerned, its all here say (unless you actually know the good folk on here personally). Anyways, sounds like you've already made your mind up. Good luck

[xcvator]

Why do people make assumptions about things like this 
At no time have I suggested that I was going to buy this or any other camper ffs 
All that I have seen about this camper/caravan is either MDC advertising or a hate "Chinese campers" syndrome with all that entails 
Has the thought crossed your minds that I may just be interested in the facts in case at sometime in the future I may downgrade to a caravan

[evolution]

sometime in the future I may downgrade to a caravan

 
sentence of the year I think

Cheers
Evo