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Offline AJC2

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High-end Hard Floor
« on: November 21, 2016, 10:03:48 PM »
Hi all, 

I'm back and looking for suggestions / comments.

I had a Outback Campers Birdsville (basic side fold soft-floor); moved to a Jayco Swan Outback; then to a Jayco Expanda Outback (just sold).

Now I want a good quality hard floor camper. Brands that spring to mind are:

- Kimberly Kamper
- Aussie Swag
- Complete Campsite
- Mountain Trail
- Australian Off Road / AOR
- Rhinomax
- Altitude
- Pioneer
- Campomatic
- CUB (maybe)

Given their cost, I want a brand that has good re-sale value, and given the demise of many smaller Australian manufactures given the onset of competition from Chinese manufacturing, I am keen on a stronger more premium brand.

Am I missing anything? I know there are alternates like Ultimate / CampRite / Adventrue Campers / Trak Tvan / Track Shak however I am keen on a hard floor with loader so I can carry bikes and kayaks on top yet still be reasonably slip-streamed behind a wagon.

I'm also aware the Chinese sourced trailers like GIC Black / Mars / Market Direct have lifted their game over the years so happy to hear any comments there.

I'm inclined to keep it simple and just look for a Kimberly Kamper but before i do that, am keen to get opinions.

Cheers,

Al

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Offline gronk

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2016, 05:41:53 AM »
If I  was going back to a hard floor it would still be a KK. If only for quality of finish and resale.
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Offline Bill

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2016, 05:47:15 AM »
Love our Aussie Swag and they do hold their value extremely well...
Bill
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Offline GeoffA

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2016, 06:04:10 AM »
Aussie Swag. The kitchen doesn't bisect the living area......
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Offline MarkVS

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2016, 07:31:10 AM »
Before we decided to go hybrid, we were going to get a hard floor and had it down to 2.
Complete Campsite and Aussie Swag.


BTW..AOR don't make hard floor anymore.

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Offline SimpleSi

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2016, 09:06:49 AM »
Hired a KK last year, and viewed an Aussie Swag recently.  To me, the AS was better designed.  KK looks like the copy!  Go Aussie swag.
« Last Edit: November 22, 2016, 11:58:53 AM by SimpleSi »
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Offline tryagain

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #6 on: November 22, 2016, 09:10:55 AM »
Seems to be a fair few people going for the Mountain Trail EDX  I think that would be my well worth a close look. Might not yet have the same reputation of say of KK but from all reports has at least the same build quality. The bonus resale wise would be that it is fairly innovative so where as some other brands current offerings  may lack some of the features people will be wanting in yrs to come, it should be reasonably future proof.
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Offline JCOJ

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2016, 10:02:27 AM »
I did hundreds of hours of research and comparisons when we were in the market for a hard floor.  Aussie Swag won hands down - so much so that we even bought a second one a few years later!
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Offline GBC

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2016, 10:21:15 AM »
Swags also have a longer rear overhang and batteries behind the axle etc which is a bonus in terms of weight distribution.
I own an import camper (MDC Cape York) and they are not in the company of the trailers you are talking about. Having said that, mine was exactly 1/3 the price of the ones mentioned. It all depends on what you want from a camper and how much you are willing to pay to do less work. For me, $40k can be used in other ways (2 years of bloody school fees!) and I am happy to have 'only' $20k tied up in a camper.
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Offline Lobster

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2016, 10:44:00 AM »
We will put the vote for the Mountain Trail EDX.  :cup: The quality is second to none and a bit cheaper than the KK.
 
Just remember, everyone will have there own opinions on which camper is better than others. Some are one-eyed bias opinions (like mine). You will need to sift through others likes and dislike to form your own choice.

Whichever camper you choose I am sure you will have many camping trips to enjoy.
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Offline RonnieQ

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #10 on: November 22, 2016, 12:40:35 PM »
Don't over look an Australian made Modcon Forward Fold
I cant fault our Modcon Imperial.
There are a lot of pluses for the FF design.


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Offline oldmate

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #11 on: November 22, 2016, 12:46:59 PM »
I think the Aussie swag would be my choice out of that pick. Based on layout.



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Offline gronk

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #12 on: November 22, 2016, 07:04:32 PM »
Quote from: SimpleSi on November 22, 2016, 09:06:49 AM
  To me, the AS was better designed.  KK looks like the copy! 

Actually, the other way round.....KK has been around before all others !! But everyones got a preference !!

On some of the hard floors, there isn't any legs on the hard floor part to level it......I've never found a dead flat campsite yet !!
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Offline SimpleSi

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #13 on: November 22, 2016, 07:15:54 PM »
Quote from: gronk on November 22, 2016, 07:04:32 PM
Actually, the other way round.....KK has been around before all others !! But everyones got a preference !!
Hmmmm, thought I'd look into it.  Anyway, completely off topic.

Quote
Kimberley Kampers started building “flip over” hard-floor camper trailers in 1996 in Ballina.
Quote
Aussie Swag Campers began in 1985, and since 1987 have been designed and manufactured in Brisbane, making us one of the oldest and most experienced camper trailer manufacturers in Australia.
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Offline Watty2975

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #14 on: November 22, 2016, 07:46:40 PM »
We have the Aussie made Campomatic, now produced in China. I love the easy setup. Flick the two front latches and let it go. Completely set up apart from the annex.
I think the Aussie Swag is in the same category. Have seen a few up close and they are very good quality. The kitchen is a very versatile setup.

When we were buying I didn't like the tent set up on the KK. You fold it over and then go inside to extend the end of the tent out. Seems like an additional step.

Good luck with what ever you choose, in that end of the market you can't really go wrong.
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Offline GBC

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #15 on: November 22, 2016, 07:58:10 PM »
Quote from: SimpleSi on November 22, 2016, 07:15:54 PM
Hmmmm, thought I'd look into it.  Anyway, completely off topic.

I think you'll find campomatic predates those again.
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Offline gronk

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #16 on: November 22, 2016, 08:07:34 PM »
KKK started in 1865..

Couldn't find info on the others !!  ;D
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Offline LisaMoose

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #17 on: November 22, 2016, 09:36:20 PM »
We've ordered a mountain trail EDX touring edition to pick up in Feb. Our shortlist was Mountain trail, KK, Aussie Swag and complete campsite. We went into things feeling sure we would go KK. After much online research and developing comparative spreadsheets we spent 2 days at the Penrith camping show looking at all 4 trailers. Complete campsite and Aussie Swag were first off the list. We didn't go KK because once we started adding all the extras the weight and ball weight really started to add up. There didn't seem to be as much usable storage space in the KK and there were just too many decisions to be made in their option department. It did our head in. Once we saw the EDX it was hard to go past it. Supreme build quality, most innovative, quickest and easiest to set up, good storage, huge fridge and Nick and Heidi really know their product. I can't really comment on resale. They are a much younger company than the others but really seem to be going places. We plan to keep it for a long time so I hope we picked the right one. They are all great trailers. Don't think you could go wrong with any of them. Comes down to personal preference and needs. Good luck with your research.  ;D
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Offline AJC2

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #18 on: November 22, 2016, 09:59:05 PM »
Thanks all.

Consensus seems KK or Aussie Swag, with Mountain Trail following up.  None of my other 'Premiums' were mentioned in dispatches so I will limit my research to those three, maybe add in Complete Campsite.

I expect I will get best buying (and re-sale) from those brands.

Sorry FF advocates, not a fan of that concept. Reminds me of the Jayco Swan style camper too much. Each to their own.
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Offline aussieducker

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #19 on: November 23, 2016, 10:24:51 AM »
My vote for Aussie swag. And you wont loose on resale if looked after. I can vouch for that.

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Offline GeoffA

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #20 on: November 23, 2016, 11:48:12 AM »
Hey AJC2,

Have a good look at this one. They're a serious unit.

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=49368.0;topicseen

Fly up to inspect, then a short drive up the road to collect.....

 :cheers:
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Offline filcar

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #21 on: November 23, 2016, 11:58:04 AM »
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Offline wakychapmans

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #22 on: November 23, 2016, 01:45:30 PM »
I was selling "Kangaroo Kampers" at Kangaroo Tent City in Newcastle in 1981 just after I left school. Hard-floor flip over design.

They were NZ designed and Australian made if I remember rightly. Torsion bar suspension. Light enough that (at 16 years of age), I used to lift one corner up off the ground at outdoor demos.

here's a recent pic of one...

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Offline jk

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #23 on: November 23, 2016, 03:22:17 PM »
Quote from: GeoffA on November 23, 2016, 11:48:12 AM
Hey AJC2,

Have a good look at this one. They're a serious unit.

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=49368.0;topicseen

Fly up to inspect, then a short drive up the road to collect.....

 :cheers:


I was wondering when they would get a mention  :cup: ,  we love ours and it's been unbreakable in the 11 years we've owned it.  Well worth considering and having a look  :cheers:
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Offline Gazman53

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Re: High-end Hard Floor
« Reply #24 on: November 23, 2016, 08:34:35 PM »
I'm a Pioneer man. They make a good product. I have a Gascoyne and it has performed admirably.


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