Bulloak camper

[Gonewalkabouts]

Just curious

Does anybody have any experience or know much about the bulloak campers, there is one which looks likes a covered hard top trailer with a foldout tent on top. They look pretty beefy.
I have considered in the next 6-12 months of selling my little green machine and going for something bigger. Im also looking at Modcon camper and couple of others

GWA

[D4D]

If it was me, I’d be buying a camper where the manufacturer was still in business

[OffRoadDave]

I can confirm what D4D said, Bull Oak are no longer as of about a year or so ago from memory.

[GU Rich]

Yep been out of business since Feb or march

[DaveL]

Not sure exactly how the fact that Bulloak Campers are not still in business why that should affect buying one second hand?

The Bulloak Campers are built well, and most of the canvas work on them was done by Southern Cross in Melbourne.

The thing with Bulloak Campers is that with the exception of their last 12ish months of trading, all their campers are custom built, so just about every one is different.

- David.

[D4D]

Not sure exactly how the fact that Bulloak Campers are not still in business why that should affect buying one second hand?

I like to be able to talk to the manufacturer

[OffRoadDave]

Not sure exactly how the fact that Bulloak Campers are not still in business why that should affect buying one second hand?

The Bulloak Campers are built well, and most of the canvas work on them was done by Southern Cross in Melbourne.

The thing with Bulloak Campers is that with the exception of their last 12ish months of trading, all their campers are custom built, so just about every one is different.

- David.

True David, I must say I never heard of any quality issues with the Bull Oak campers.

[DaveL]

I like to be able to talk to the manufacturer

Why?  Once warranty has expired what does it matter?  There are hundreds of engineering firms and other trailer manufacturers out there that can repair or modify a trailer, and that also goes with canvas?  This is a difference case with a more complex product like a motor vehicle or caravan for example which are made up of manufacture specific components, but a camper trailer like just about all the soft floors out there I don't see this a relevant.

Once you have gone through the purchase process and all the initial issues are ironed out during the warranty period, the manufacture is just another service provided.  And specifically with the Bulloak campers, they are made from readily available components so lack of them still trading has no bearing on the trailers resale value.

I will declare that I myself have a Bulloak camper, and I knew the guys there quite well before the doors closed but I also don't think this is swaying my judgement on this.  My relationship with the product only changed the fact that I opened this thread, had the topic been on a Trackabout, TruBlu or any other camper I wouldn't have looked a the thread, but my opinion would still stand.

GWA,

Because the Bulloaks are mostly unique and their product range change considerably over their time, post up some pics of it and I might be able to help with some info.  Sounds like it might be the Tauro which was one of their later campers.

- David.

[D4D]

Why?  Once warranty has expired what does it matter? 

For example, I needed a wiring diagram for my camper and I was able to contact the manufacturer and get one and discuss modifications I had in mind and what they thought of them. With a soft-floor you may not need this but it was one of the factors in my purchasing decision.

[Redback]

Aren't Southern Cross out of business too

[FamilyTruckster]

I used to work for Bulloak (also there sister company Aikman Engineering) and all I can say is that there was probably a reason why they went out of business. Bad management and questionable build quality don't make for a good product. As with most companies the occasional "good" product might slip through, but I say "might". After leaving this company I started work elsewhere, where I got to know two guys that had both bought a Bulloak. One was so upset with the quality off the welding work that he rang them up too get this problem fixed, and was told pretty much where to go. He ended up re-welding it himself, got it re-powder coated and sold it straight away. The other guy had some issues, which were eventually fixed, but lost faith in his camper, and also sold it.

Please don't think of this as a dig at a former employer, as I left on very good terms, and as they no longer exist I would have no cause to lose them business anyway. I am glad that some people out there are pleased with their camper, but I also hope that everyone does some further investigation of the product before they purchase. If it was me then I would so no to buying one, but then I wouldn't have seen it. It might have be one of the "good" ones that slipped through. Good luck with whatever way you go.

[Gonewalkabouts]

I used to work for Bulloak (also there sister company Aikman Engineering) and all I can say is that there was probably a reason why they went out of business. Bad management and questionable build quality don't make for a good product. As with most companies the occasional "good" product might slip through, but I say "might". After leaving this company I started work elsewhere, where I got to know two guys that had both bought a Bulloak. One was so upset with the quality off the welding work that he rang them up too get this problem fixed, and was told pretty much where to go. He ended up re-welding it himself, got it re-powder coated and sold it straight away. The other guy had some issues, which were eventually fixed, but lost faith in his camper, and also sold it.

Please don't think of this as a dig at a former employer, as I left on very good terms, and as they no longer exist I would have no cause to lose them business anyway. I am glad that some people out there are pleased with their camper, but I also hope that everyone does some further investigation of the product before they purchase. If it was me then I would so no to buying one, but then I wouldn't have seen it. It might have be one of the "good" ones that slipped through. Good luck with whatever way you go.

Thats one hell of a response you put up, and was some very interesting reading, thanks for putting it out there. The only reason I was curious, was they had a pruduct called the cube, which looked like a big box on wheels with a fold out tent on top. I was very interested in this concept and wanted to know more. 

[FamilyTruckster]

I had left before the "Cube", so I don't actually know anything about it. Sorry I can't be of any help there.

[DaveL]

Thats one hell of a response you put up, and was some very interesting reading, thanks for putting it out there. The only reason I was curious, was they had a pruduct called the cube, which looked like a big box on wheels with a fold out tent on top. I was very interested in this concept and wanted to know more. 

I thought the Cube was the camp trailer with the large awning on it and it in itself wasn't a camper as such.  The Tauro was the box with a Howling Moon rooftop tent on top of it.  However both the trailers where very similar.

I had some draft flyers here on the Tauro that I cannot find but will post them up if I can find them.  Also Campertrailer Australia I thought did a review on the Tauro if you know someone that has a heap of back issues.

- David.

[rockman]

I liked the concept of the Tauro , I would have brought one in a heartbeat  ...........especially the bit in the mag ' innovative approach , the compays now hitting its stride ' LOL.
Have a look at most of the campers in SA and the States , look similiar or what ?

Cheers

[Buzz]

I used to work for Bulloak (also there sister company Aikman Engineering) and all I can say is that there was probably a reason why they went out of business. Bad management and questionable build quality don't make for a good product. As with most companies the occasional "good" product might slip through, but I say "might". After leaving this company I started work elsewhere, where I got to know two guys that had both bought a Bulloak. One was so upset with the quality off the welding work that he rang them up too get this problem fixed, and was told pretty much where to go. He ended up re-welding it himself, got it re-powder coated and sold it straight away. The other guy had some issues, which were eventually fixed, but lost faith in his camper, and also sold it.

Please don't think of this as a dig at a former employer, as I left on very good terms, and as they no longer exist I would have no cause to lose them business anyway. I am glad that some people out there are pleased with their camper, but I also hope that everyone does some further investigation of the product before they purchase. If it was me then I would so no to buying one, but then I wouldn't have seen it. It might have be one of the "good" ones that slipped through. Good luck with whatever way you go.