Euro Caravans

[stabicraft]

As SWIMBO is getting on, and me a little bit.
We have been looking at an easier way to get away.
We currently have a 20something year old CUB, that I have put quite a few extras on and has been perfect since we stopped tenting.
But it does require a bit of effort to put up and down, even with the winch.
The little woman cannot lift over the final part of the floor and hold it up while we tuck it in.

I still love my camper, but she wants something that takes even less effort.

Recently at the camper show, we looked at a few forward fold campers with all sorts of things to make it easier and I was just starting to get REAL interested when SHE saw the EURO Camper, a miniature caravan

I protested, but it looks like a done deal.
For around 26k I can get a double size bed, a table and two seats(Separate from the bed, some hanging space (When was that a problem?) and a small two burner cooker and sink.
All wrapped up in a solid fiberglass bubble with large windows and screens.
I can stand upright with a whole 1/2 inch to spare.

Has anyone had any experience with these things?
The one we are looking at weighs only 600 kg, even her car could tow that.
We would want a few mods though, SWIMBO wants a queen size bed, so we might have to adjust a few things.

The sales person (bloke) said they would do whatever we wanted.
Its an on road only van, no problem because we don't do off road with the toy 4X4 Xtrail


Any advice or help would be appreciated

[feisty]

Cant comment on the van but a 12 inch piece of 2 by 1 props up the floor easily when it comes to tucking in time. Cant believe it took me 5 years to figure that one out.

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[GeoffA]

Cant comment on the van but a 12 inch piece of 2 by 1 props up the floor easily when it comes to tucking in time.....

....as will a tent pole....

[Fizzie]

I asked the same question a few weeks ago, Stabi

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=51827.0

We're in a similar situation, as our eldest bloke is soon starting a 11 month full-time training course, hopefully then followed by a 3 year apprenticeship, which could be anywhere in Oz, so our 12' soft-floor is not only going to be too big for us, but it's also going to be too hard to erect by ourselves due to my buggered arm & shoulder & my Mrs suffering duck's disease

They look good but only 20l of water on board could be a bit of a problem - OK if you're in a park but not if you're out bush

[Paddler Ed]

I asked the same question a few weeks ago, Stabi

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=51827.0

We're in a similar situation, as our eldest bloke is soon starting a 11 month full-time training course, hopefully then followed by a 3 year apprenticeship, which could be anywhere in Oz, so our 12' soft-floor is not only going to be too big for us, but it's also going to be too hard to erect by ourselves due to my buggered arm & shoulder & my Mrs suffering duck's disease

They look good but only 20l of water on board could be a bit of a problem - OK if you're in a park but not if you're out bush

I thought we'd been through this before... I'm glad I wasn't going mad...

What about some of the smaller A-Vans and Jayco's as an alternative? These Euro vans are a lot smaller than you'd think - look at the small single axle vans of the 1970's and they;re a touch smaller than those.

[Fizzie]

I'm glad I wasn't going mad...

Ahh, but are you sure you're not

Very early day's yet & haven't even looked at anything in the flesh.

Mrs just popped it out of the blue a few weeks back that we're going to need to swap the CT for a van & probably get a new car to pull it! - knew there was a reason I love her!

Have glanced at the Avans, but at this stage, we still need beds for 3, as young bloke is still only 15. Have toyed with the thought of a 2-berth for us, plus something like an Oztent RV2 for him / them

Don't want to go up to a full-size 4wd towing a multi-ton box either.

As I said, very early days, but can start looking around seriously now that other dramas & problems are finished with.

[nab]

What about a Jayco Penguin? Just wind it up and you're set!!!

http://www.jayco.com.au/range/camper-trailers/camper-trailer-details/

[stabicraft]

I looked at the A vans, but have you seen the price, you could just as easy purchased a small van for what an A van is worth.

These Euros (the sunseeker) we were looking at is as big as an a van, but for about $26k as opposed to $45k for an a van.

Other advantages are they only weigh 600-700kg
There is nothing to erect, other than an awning.
It can be left fully set up and all you need to do is pull over and unlock the door.

Yes, its small, but from my view, only slightly smaller than my cub camper.

The more I look at them the more I like them.
I sat in one, crawled all over it and played around to get a feel.

And as I said, we will probably only have the bed enlarged to a queen size.

Cheers

[Redcherokee]

I looked in the window of one of those today. Gee it was tiny. As in, I wondered if my tail end would actually fit on the seat that isn't a bed - certainly not for more than a few minutes before it felt cramped.


Check out the second hand van market.  It you don't need an ensuite you can get some great bargains that are very light weight.

[Fizzie]

What about a Jayco Penguin?

Hey Stabi, hope you don't mind if we both talk?

The bit that I don't like about the Jayco's is the east-west bed - going to mean that one of us is climbing / being climbed over in the middle of the night

[loanrangie]

The quality is not great in these euro vans, a guy at work imported 3 and they were very light but you could push the panels in with one finger.
 I would much rather buy a locally made van even if 2nd hand.

[stabicraft]

Hey Stabi, hope you don't mind if we both talk?

The bit that I don't like about the Jayco's is the east-west bed - going to mean that one of us is climbing / being climbed over in the middle of the night

I had a look at the van sites today after reading your post.
My only complaint is that many of the vans break the 1500kg mark, that's more than my boat.

Buuuuuutttttt,
There were a couple I did like that could be possibilities.
The cost is a factor, Ill admit that, but I'm more interested in a super fast set-up, no mucking about.
The mass is also an issue, Id like sub 1000kg.

Methinks that I might just keep searching, the used van market might just be the ideal.
As you say, if I can get one without an ensuite, it would probably fit the bill.

Ill let you know.

[Fizzie]

One that I spotted that looks damned interesting is http://www.silversuncaravans.com.au/neptune/, with the twin single beds. 1290 ATM with 55kg ball. $36k is a bit of a downer though , but I suppose thats reasonable for what you're getting

May have to make a trip to BrisVegas to check it out