Author Topic: Ultimate camper for a family (Read 10986 times)

GGV8Cruza · « **on:** January 19, 2016, 05:27:08 PM »

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are for an Ultimate camper for a family of four with 2 younger kids 8 and 6.

GG

GeoffA · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2016, 05:50:27 PM »

Tambo Omeo.....

staghornflat · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2016, 05:52:04 PM »

Kimberley kamper

Swannie · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2016, 06:03:08 PM »

I think the ultimate are a ripper camper looking at SJIndustries. But you can't go wrong with a Jayco Swan ( backs away quickly)

Swannie

Bad Scott · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2016, 06:10:10 PM »

Quote from: swannie on January 19, 2016, 06:03:08 PM

I think the ultimate are a ripper camper looking at SJIndustries. But you can't go wrong with a Jayco Swannie ( backs away quickly)
Swannie

Fixed it

EDIT: PM sent GG

Bad Scott · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2016, 06:56:23 PM »

Bumped an old thread for ulti owners

GeoffA · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2016, 07:05:31 PM »

Quote from: swannie on January 19, 2016, 06:03:08 PM

I think the ultimate are a ripper camper looking at SJIndustries......

Yep, they're very nice, but not for a family of 4......IMO.....

GeoffA · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2016, 07:06:17 PM »

Quote from: staghornflat on January 19, 2016, 05:52:04 PM

Kimberley kamper

...same...

plusnq · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2016, 07:07:38 PM »

Dave (Penultimate Destinations) has one and has two kids the same age. He has just been travelling up the coast for quite a while, so I'd give him a PM.

KathyL · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2016, 08:05:02 PM »

Here are some links that may help you ...

Ultimate camper trailer with kids

The Youl family and their Ultimate Xterra camper trailer

Kimberley Adventure

edz · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2016, 09:57:38 PM »

Didnt Ultimate release a bigger version of its camper for families, thought there was one on display in Brisbane at the camping show last year .?

jk · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2016, 10:05:00 PM »

The Ultimate Nautilus is the bigger version......................but bring your coin

hillbilly · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:16:02 AM »

G'day GG,

An ultimate camper for a family I think is an awesome choice. The hillbillies in the Kimberley blog that was linked to above was the blog my family and I wrote during our 2014 Kimberley trip. We upgraded from our soft floor camper to the Ultimate purely for that trip. It was well out of our camper trailer trailer budget but we managed to make it work and having such a super fast to setup, comfortable and capable camper on our trip made it much more enjoyable.

We have two girls who at the time were 6 and 4. They slept head to toe on the lounge. That sleeping arrangement worked better than expected. On the odd occasion that one of the girls woke up and couldn't get back to sleep there was more than enough room to drag them up into the main king size bed and everyone slept soundly again.

There was also the option of one of the adults sleeping on the lounge(it seemed pretty comfy) and the kids and the other adult in the main bed. When we bought ours it came with every possible canvas option including the underbed tent/room but we only ever set that up a few times for the kids to use as a toy/play room.

The biggest downfall is the kitchen being in the same room as your sleeping area. In the evening you are constantly ducking in and out of the kitchen so little bugs always seem to be around inside the tent. We tried a few different quick open/close flyscreen variants and the one we bought from ultimate seemed to be the best but was still far from perfect.

With 4 of you clothes storage will be a problem. We stored all our clothes in bags in the back of the troops. We just had to be organised and get clothes out for the kids for the next morning before we went to bed. We did 95% of our cooking on a weber Q. This I packed up into a canvas carry bag and it sat just inside the camper door, it didn't move around at all.

I would suggest you get a stone stomper stone guard. Ultimate talk about how good the aerodynamic shape of the camper is and it deflects rocks and no stone guard is required. The protective coating was chipping off after a couple of hours on the Oodnadatta Track. 14000km later and we were back home in Sydney from the Kimberley and it was far from looking good. They don't mention how hard it is to repair the spray on coating on the front. I think the quote was around $2000 from Ultimate. I bought the product Upol Raptor about $500 and sprayed it on myself but it was a huge job. But it looked awesome!

The main reason for choosing the Ultimate for us was resale value. We made the tough decision after we got back from The Kimberley to sell the camper. We didn't want to but it allowed us to do some house reno's. We owned the camper for about 18 months. We spent 3 months travelling The Kimberley and probably another month on lots of other trips and sold the camper for the exact money we bought it for!! I don't think there are many campers out there that you could achieve that with.

Ultimate are a great camper for a young family. They do however like all campers have their compromises...

Enjoy

Hillbilly

rark · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2016, 09:33:07 AM »

We took an Ultimate through the NT for a couple of months last year with 2 kids (10 &

. We tried the head to toe sleeping of kids on lounge bed but ended up having 8 year old up along side us on the bed (king size so plenty of room). Having the family room attachment defeats the purpose of this type of quick camper and with the kids growing we recently shifted into a Tvan. We didn't cook inside the Ultimate but found the bench and cafe seating space handy. Couldn't fit all clothes under the seat, but had a full canvas bag sit on the floor during transit without issue. Loved the Ultimate but only gripe was fridge was basically inaccessible when the camper was closed.

Bird · « **Reply #14 on:** January 20, 2016, 09:40:51 AM »

Has to be anything out of China.

Kangaron · « **Reply #15 on:** January 20, 2016, 10:02:58 AM »

I'd take all who have a internal kitchen off the list.

GGV8Cruza · « **Reply #16 on:** January 20, 2016, 10:12:08 AM »

Thanks For all the replies so far, keep them coming. This is not a camper for my family, but for a friend who has a soft floor at the moment. I myself like the outdoors felling while cooking

GG

GeoffA · « **Reply #17 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:10:29 AM »

It all comes down to the compromises that can be tolerated. All campers have them in some form or other.

For us, the lack of access to food, fridge and cooker when travelling would be the deal breaker with an Ultimate.

Just depends how your friends like to do it, and how badly they want an Ultimate.

Bad Scott · « **Reply #18 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:24:05 AM »

Quote from: GeoffA on January 20, 2016, 11:10:29 AM

It all comes down to the compromises that can be tolerated. All campers have them in some form or other.

For us, the lack of access to food, fridge and cooker when travelling would be the deal breaker with an Ultimate.

Just depends how your friends like to do it, and how badly they want an Ultimate.

We use the rear right hand locker for everyday food. Pantry inside for long shelf life/ don't use often stuff. Fridge access isn't as bad. Depends on what you put in front of it.
But what works for one may not work for another. Its all the ideas you get and adapt it to suit your style.

madmax · « **Reply #19 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:38:03 PM »

Hi Folks

We keep (all) drinks and lunch ingredients in the car based Engel. Indoor fridge and storage for breakfast, evening meals and food not requiring regular access.

We also cook outside 95% time with the exception being hot water for coffee and oats if looking for a quick departure. Weber Baby Q or open fire for cooking generally, depending on where and who we are with.

But our kids are now adults and either don't come with us or if they do choose to sleep in either a small instant tent or swag.

I agree with Hillbilly, they (Ultimate Campers) are difficult to keep insects out of.

oldmate · « **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2016, 02:29:14 PM »

They are fine for a family. Even though it is just the 2 of us, I know heaps of owners with kids.

Fridge access. Yes when closed and travelling it can be a pain to get to fridge. Solution, we have a car fridge also, and keep our lunch and snacks in that. When we did our cape trip, we never needed to access the fridge during the day with a bit of morning planning.

Cooking. I only cook inside when it is crap weather, I mean who wants to stand in 4" of water trying to cook some tea while the wind keeps blowing out the gas? Apart from that, it's a fire and gas BBQ for me.

Agree with the others on the insect thing, we have a flyscreen in the door that does help a bit.

A fully knitted out version will weigh nothing like a kk, and and you can also set up in some pretty iffy terrain, as long as 2 wheels are on the ground that's all you need.
We set up in spots opening over bollards or small scrubs.

Ps I am a bit biased though.

Good luck, not every camper is perfect for everyone, that's why we have such a large choice.

BigJules · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2016, 02:35:27 PM »

An Ulti would be fine. Every style has compromises, and the Utli has it's share for families. On the upside the kids are in their own tent and have to get out of that, up the stairs and through the door to get into your bed.

Why are they moving away from soft floor? I'm finding more and more people who don't know how to properly put them up and down, and so think they're not as easy as they can be.

Bird · « **Reply #22 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:05:15 PM »

Quote from: BigJuleS

I'm finding more and more people who don't know how to properly put them up and down, and so think they're not as easy as they can be.

What he said...

GeoffA · « **Reply #23 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:08:51 PM »

Quote from: Bird on January 20, 2016, 03:05:15 PM

What he said...
[/quote

Ummmmmm........

Basel · « **Reply #24 on:** January 20, 2016, 07:45:57 PM »

We have an Ulti and have two kids aged 5 and 3. Sometimes all 4 of us sleep on the bed which is ok for a night or two but not long term. We just got the lounge infill so the 6 year old will sleep there and then 3 of us on the bed which will be much better.

I love the Ulti, so quick to set up and pack away.

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Author Topic: Ultimate camper for a family (Read 10986 times)