Started researching first camper trailer purchase... options

[lb84]

Hey folks,

My wife and i are expecting our first child very soon, which means in a few months when we want to go camping the swag is no longer going to cut it, and I've been told she won't be climbing down from a rooftop tent to attend to bub's needs...

I'm looking at a few options, varying in price:

Mars Extremo 12k - hard floor, chinese, cooker, 12v setup, irs, fridge slide toolbox
From what i can tell mars are one of the nicer chinese camper companies to buy from

MDC Voyager 10k - hard floor, chinese, cooker, 12v setup, irs
not a massive fan of the flashy look or all the reviews I've heard from customers who've had a poor after sales experience.

Mars Vanguard 8.5k - hard floor, chinese, pov pack, bare bones 12v no battery, no cooker, leaf sprung

Sar major trekker 12k - soft floor, all aussie made, 12k once i tick the options i want... smaller tent and annexe than chinese equiv, no kitchen (can fit drifta at extra expense), no cooker, leaf sprung, no 12v at all... i currently have a sar major 6x4 box trailer (nearly 10 years old) and really like the build quality. And i like aussie made, but my wallet is cringing...

Black series sergeant 7.8k - soft floor, chinese?, 12v setup, irs, kitchen  (no cooker)
I know no-one wants to publicly discuss this company so please pm me with experiences/advice/opinions. It's made the list because of its specs.

MDC Gal Extreme 7k - soft floor, chinese, 12v setup, kitchen (no cooker) irs included on current offer, no mattress (wtf?)
Basic, brand new, cheap, it's made the list based on price and specs.

Irs was something that i counted as important, but the chap at sar major swore by the leaf setup they use and said irs is more likely to fall to bits on rough roads... there is no 2nd hand aussie stuff with irs and most aussie irs setups are quite exxy.
I'd like to hear people's experiences on each of these models please.
Also considering second hand aussie built soft floors, even with imported tents ie allied pacifac (sar major trailer, import tent).

Thanks in advance for your views, thoughts, assistance and time

[Streetkid]

Wait a few months and see if you still want to go camping.

[tryagain]

How many more kiddies you have and how long you plan on keeping it can be a factor in what type of camper you buy. If more than two are on the horizon it can get a bit squishy in a hard floor.

[lb84]

First nearly here, aiming for 2 total. You think kids may put us off camping?
Still probably 12 months away from buying, realistically. Possibly longer, depending on a second child. And a minimal 2nd income for a while...
If I buy new I'd like to keep it for awhile (10 years plus), second hand I'd compromise on a few features and upgrade in a few years without hopefully losing much in the process.

Also thought about an older jayco outback camper for 10-15k but not sure they'd be suitable for the intended usage (cape york, vic high country, Gibb river etc, rough roads, steep and or tight tracks etc.) Tow vehicle is 2012 Mitsubishi triton 4wd ute.

[Bigfish]

Irs is not important compared to the must haves in a camper. Vast majority of campers out there are still leaf sprung...and with good reason. They are cheaper and do a good job.  Dont get sucked in by all the glitzy advertising bullShit. Buy a good secondhand one and if you find you still like it in a couple of years..upgrade to something flasher if you want.  Soft toppers can be a pain to set up if in a hurry. Forward and rear fold do not have the same space capabilities as the soft toppers.  Most of the rear and forward fold campers weigh  a lot now (some up to 2.0 tonne...so ball weight can be huge).  Why not hire a couple and then see what you prefer..Hire it again and if it fits your needs..buy a good second hand one..

cheers

[weeds]

IRS? Is that independent suspension?? I wouldn't class it as a must have, unless it has airbag suspension (means you can level the camper) I don't see a lot of benefit in having independent suspension, low speed it does nothing that lead does...high speed may have some slight benefits. Although more and more Campers have independent suspension fitted as standard.

If you go soft floor go with the smallest tent size.....easier quicker to put up, means you take less stuff, lighter etc

If your doing cape York, high country than quality of build would be high on my list.


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[Rumpig]

2 people I know have Mars Campers and are happy with them...soft floor or hard floor is up to you as everyone's needs / likes are different. We have 2 kids that we've travelled extensively with them sleeping on the hard floor of our camper on self inflating mattresses, i'm personally not a fan of soft floors,  though if you camp in one spot for extended periods or if you get wet weather, the extra room inside they usually have is better then.

[Alan Loy]

We bought an older 2nd hand camper trailer as our 1st.  Sold it for almost what we paid.  We were happy that we could try it with little financial risk (cost $6000).  Older Australian built campers can be tough and cause few problems if you intend going  on rough roads.

Ours was an Outback rear fold soft floor Canning model (Sturt's are similar)  We bought it because they have a great reputation as a tough camper and though an old fashioned design still included what we thought was necessary (kitchen, water tank, battery etc).  It took about 20 minutes to put up and slightly longer to pack up.  Enough space in the tent without being to difficult to handle.

edit The Outback campers have independent suspension if thats what you want

[tryagain]

Camping with young kids is certainly more work, but you get enjoyment out of them having fun. I choose having them to be a reason to go as opposed to being a reason not too.

Two kids plus touring trips, I'd say go for a hard floor over a soft floor, Contrary to weeds advice I think the advantage of a soft floor is the size it offers, If I didn't need the size I would go a hard floor instead of buying a small soft floor.

[Merts]

We bought an older 2nd hand camper trailer as our 1st.  Sold it for almost what we paid.  We were happy that we could try it with little financial risk (cost $6000).  Older Australian built campers can be tough and cause few problems if you intend going  on rough roads.

Ours was an Outback rear fold soft floor Canning model (Sturt's are similar)  We bought it because they have a great reputation as a tough camper and though an old fashioned design still included what we thought was necessary (kitchen, water tank, battery etc).  It took about 20 minutes to put up and slightly longer to pack up.  Enough space in the tent without being to difficult to handle.

x2. Have a look at 2nd hand Aussie built campers as an alternative to the cheaper Chinese ones you've mentioned. We've had a Sturt Outback (bought it new in 2004) and it was excellent when we were camping with the kids. Stacks of room, and reasonably simple to setup and pack away.

It's for sale at the moment actually (there's a post in the for sale section of this forum) if you are interested? 

We've upgraded to a hybrid as there is only two of us these days and it's quicker to setup, and less room isn't an issue anymore.

[Bird]

Also thought about an older jayco outback camper for 10-15k but not sure they'd be suitable for the intended usage (cape york, vic high country, Gibb river etc, rough roads, steep and or tight tracks etc.) Tow vehicle is 2012 Mitsubishi triton 4wd ute.

With minimal income, you'll be doing well to do all those trips with young kids anytime soon.

You want to make things as easy as you can while you have young kids - it can be ****in hard work with 2 YOUNG kids... Theres a hell of a lot more Shit to take with you than you have now.

The Jayco would be a lot easier with young kids, and more comfortable.

High country you could do most places in 2wd. Its not the hard core wheeling mecca people carry on about...  its more the scenic mecca..