Author Topic: Digs for 5  (Read 5869 times)

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Offline LachStClair

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Digs for 5
« on: April 25, 2016, 07:19:33 AM »
Am hoping to tap some collective wisdom on here and point me in the right direction.

I am married with 3 kids so need to accomodate 5. We are planning a trip touring at the end of the year which will hopefully be the first of many and I need a new trailer/van. I have a campomatic ranger m3 and , whilst it is great, it is just too small for all of us.

My question is, what do people with 3 kids use for touring?

Things that are important:
Easy set up beds
Strong off road construction
Ideally hot water/shower/toilet (I understand this may have to be portable)
Not too concerned with internal dinette or kitchen
Good external kitchen
Heaps of storage

Does anyone know of a trailer or hybrid that will suit?

scrapsD40

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Digs for 5
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2016, 07:24:10 AM »
Depending on your budget, I'd suggest looking at a Trackabout Safari SV Extenda CT

Offline GeoffA

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2016, 07:52:32 AM »
What's your budget?

For a family, have a look at TrakShak.
http://www.trakshak.com.au/

Also, take a look at the pre-loved units for sale on here.
I'd be all over one this if I was in the market for a family camper.
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=45000.0

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Offline pedrogb

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2016, 09:25:34 AM »
Hi all
We are in the same position (need room for 5)
I rented a Kimberley Kamper with kids room first, and it wasn't quite big enough unless you used bunks.
We  then rented a Johnno's with kids room, it was ok but very basic.
We decided we wanted the kids on stretcher beds and not have to climb over each other to get out of main bed.
We ended up buying a used Cameron Camper with kids room.
It sets up pretty quickly, takes just as long again to put up kids stretchers!
When I was looking I also liked the Tambo Omeo and Complete Campsite with XT (extended) tent. They had plenty of floor space in tent and the walk up bed.
Not many Omeo's around, Complete Campsite hold their value and not much to choose from in FNQ.  I was prepared to drive to pick up but found ours locally.
We are happy with it, there are always compromises.
Pedro


Offline Watty2975

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2016, 01:35:25 PM »
We are in exactly the same boat. We have a Campomatic M3 and with the 3 kids it is just a bit small. I have looked at hybrids, cross overs etc. something with sleeping for 5 is usually ridiculously expensive and becomes too big to get into the places we like to go.
The set up time of the campomatic is great.
We are trying a small tent for our eldest. So far seems pretty good, she sets it up as we do the camper. The other 2 have Ourdoor Connection bunks on the hard floor, which are fairly quick to set up.
This years Cape trip will sort out how well this works.
We have also looked at having a room added to the camper, but didn't think it would work very well.
Landcruiser 200 TTD GXL with a few goodies & campomatic camper
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Offline GanG

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2016, 06:26:50 PM »
How old are the kids? We had ours in their own tents early on (about 9yo) put them right beside us so we could hear them, never had a problem, Now they are all >16yo have their own swags and want to camp as far from parents as possible :)
Light travels faster than sound............that's why some folks may appear bright until they speak

Offline shanegtr

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2016, 07:24:09 PM »
Camprite can be made to sleep 6, however I dont find the storage all that great compared to some on the market.

Offline LachStClair

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2016, 08:11:39 PM »
We are in exactly the same boat. We have a Campomatic M3 and with the 3 kids it is just a bit small. I have looked at hybrids, cross overs etc. something with sleeping for 5 is usually ridiculously expensive and becomes too big to get into the places we like to go.
The set up time of the campomatic is great.
We are trying a small tent for our eldest. So far seems pretty good, she sets it up as we do the camper. The other 2 have Ourdoor Connection bunks on the hard floor, which are fairly quick to set up.
This years Cape trip will sort out how well this works.
We have also looked at having a room added to the camper, but didn't think it would work very well.

That watty. Had a spare tent last trip but that was sit tight for a few days sort of thing. If touring, the constant set up will drive me nuts.

Camprite look good, just not sure what I am giving away on storage. Can't be much room in there


Offline Bird

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2016, 08:24:50 PM »
-
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Gone to a new home

Offline GeoffA

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Geoff and Kay

1999 GU TD42T wagon
2005 Coota Camper - gone, but never forgotten
2020 North Coast 15' Titanium - tandem, of course

Land Cruiser.....the Patrol that Toyota try to build.....

Offline Bird

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2016, 08:29:38 PM »
:-* :-*

That's Barra's....
yup.. only been on market years LOL!
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Gone to a new home

Offline GeoffA

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2016, 08:30:45 PM »
yup.. only been on market years LOL!

Like a few others....and your tyres....
Geoff and Kay

1999 GU TD42T wagon
2005 Coota Camper - gone, but never forgotten
2020 North Coast 15' Titanium - tandem, of course

Land Cruiser.....the Patrol that Toyota try to build.....

Offline Bird

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2016, 08:33:53 PM »
Like a few others....and your tyres....
I know :(
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Gone to a new home

Offline tk421

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2016, 09:08:27 PM »
Tiny rear fold soft floor. 1.85x1.85 tent area. Kids in Swags or an Oztent.  It's got a side opening kitchen so we have had two on the floor and one in the tub. :)   Spend most of our time outside and only sleep in the tent.

I don't have a lot of pics but this will give you an idea:


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Offline cheif carlos

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2016, 11:26:33 PM »

When I was looking I also liked the Tambo Omeo and Complete Campsite with XT (extended) tent. They had plenty of floor space in tent and the walk up bed.
Not many Omeo's around, Complete Campsite hold their value and not much to choose from in FNQ.  I was prepared to drive to pick up but found ours locally.
We are happy with it, there are always compromises.
Pedro
Have a complete campsite camper, they are over priced about $5k have some good points and can fit 4 kids in the larger tent but have many issues with water leaks which can be fixed. All comes down to to owners wanting to take responsibility for their product with design being able to fix and I have fixed the problems, and I have spoken to a few other people with the same problems.
Need to get the backside into gear and get out camping

Offline Jaysea

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #15 on: April 27, 2016, 08:03:10 PM »
Yep- in the same boat wth three kids.  We ended up wth the Adventure Camper (see my sig below for link) which works well for us.  Huge bed allows two adults and our eldest daughter and the other two in stretcher beds on the floor.  I do like the idea of an oztent and a hard floor camper as the kids don't mind being separate now they are older and there will soon be a time when they won't come.


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Offline smartyingreen

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Re: Digs for 5
« Reply #16 on: April 27, 2016, 11:08:08 PM »
Yep, also have the Cameron Camper with concept top and kids room for our 3. Kids generally sleep in their swags which get thrown on main bed for packup. If in CP usually push out kids room and set them all up in there.
Toilets, showers and hot water all individual aftermarket products of going down the path of the Cameron.
We love ours and have now done plenty of kms and nights camping with it.
Highly recommend if within your budget.

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