Innehållsförteckning för Issue 551 från Caravan World

John Mack Mohn's background is in diamond mining in various parts of Africa and later in Australia. After retiring, he and his wife Jean farmed in the Kimberley region of WA before deciding to take off and travel. This was prompted by a serious accident John had, when he fell off the roof of the newly built, double-storey house on the farm property. This put paid to the farming life, as John was hospitalised for three months. During this forced sojourn, he took on a correspondence course ‘writing articles for publication and profit', which he says was to stop him going completely mad! John reckons he must have learned something, having had some 70 articles published over the last 10 years. Where’s your favourite place in Australia to visit and…

The Franklin X-Ception 206 R-C was born from customer demand for a tougher alternative to the popular Franklin Arrow, which was a 2015 Caravan World Best Aussie Vans finalist in the ’80N-’68N category. The [-Ception's 6.2t Cruisemaster [T independent suspension and Preston SupaGal chassis with its 150x50mm main rails, accompanied by gloss cabinetry with stylish edging, a spacious interior and liberal storage, added to the van's appeal. This is also coupled with luxury features not found as standard in the Arrow - like genuine leather upholstery and a 7mm Serspex splashback in the kitchen. I recently gave the [-Ception a serious hit-out near the base of Mount Warrenheip – an extinct volcanic pimple rising out of the flatlands east of Ballarat, Vic - and it passed the test with flying…

Chris Michel really understands caravans and exactly what his customers want to do with them. He has a passion for caravanning that has extended beyond holidaying with the family as a child to a career in the industry that saw him involved with many brands before establishing his own high-profile Freedom RVs dealership in Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Freedom RVs is a Roadstar dealership, but Michel wanted to see his personal experience in the industry reflected in his own caravan line. The result is Sunseeker Caravans, which are built by Titanium Caravans in Melbourne, Vic, to his specifications, but are sold predominantly to Queensland customers. Sunseeker’s difference is clearly in the detail that comes from this extensive experience. Michel feels a certain responsibility towards his customers, particularly those buying…

“There was a time when bathrooms in pop-top caravans weren’t even considered, but with a bit of ingenuity and some vinyl curtains, hey presto, we can now have an onboard bathroom” At the 2016 NSW Caravan, Camping & Holiday Supershow, held in April, there was a surprising number of family caravans on display. I say surprising because family caravans can be a bit of a challenge for manufacturers. If they build them too big and, therefore, too expensive, they don’t sell. Build them too small and they don’t sell either, because families need a bit of space. So manufacturers need to find that elusive middle ground. When I saw the Goldstream 1760 Bunk on display at the Parravans Caravan World dealer stand at the show, it caught my eye as…

“It adds up to a motorhome package that offers luxury travel with style and comfort in spades” Airbag suspension and air suspension seats are not usually a starting place for a motorhome review, but on my journey from the Gold Coast-based Paradise Motorhomes factory to Sydney in the Integrity Lite Geluxe (LG), I appreciated their benefits. As anyone who has recently travelled this section of the lengthy roadworks construction site that the Sacific Highway currently appears to be will probably understand. And it proved to be a good test for the Integrity LG's ride quality. You would be right to expect good handling and a comfortable suspension system in a motorhome with a price tag well over $200,000, but it’s an issue that all motorhome manufacturers in the upper end…

“We always seek to have items that are multipurpose, therefore reducing the amount of ‘stuff’ we have to carry” Adding to your rig doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of cheap items that can prove versatile additions to your setup – especially gear that serves multiple purposes. Here are a few additions that make our travelling life easier. BUCKETS WITH GOOD SEALING LIDS We always seek to have items that are multipurpose, therefore reducing the amount of ‘stuff’ we have to carry and find space for. These 20L buckets are the ultimate ‘use for anything’ accessory and are available in hardware stores. We carry four and store them stacked two high in the bathroom when travelling. Multi-purpose? Here are a few ideas and I’m sure you can think…

“Why shell out for a fancy contraption in your van when you’ve got the real Simpson ahead of you to wash your clothes?” You’ve invested all your hard-earned cash into your van setup but, for some reason, things just aren’t quite singing at camp. All of a sudden, you’re noticing interesting new features on other people’s rigs that you’d like to see on your own. You know you’ve got the smarts to make it better, but where do you start? Why not channel Robinson Crusoe with our low-cost DIY mods? Not only will they make your travelling life easier, they’ll boost your campsite credibility to boot. 4WD CEILING SHELF We love this idea, sent in by Ray Pridham, of a ceiling shelf for his 4WD. Ray made his from an…

I have no doubt that many readers of this fine magazine remember film cameras. You know, those things you loaded a roll of film into before being able to take any photos? No doubt some of you can even remember the black and white film that came before colour film, and let us not forget slide film and, in particular, my favourite – Kodachrome. Who else remembers the Paul Simon song? In the good old days, after shooting your photos, you would take your film down to the local chemist for processing – which was either done on site or at a photo lab. In the 1970s, we saw the rise of the regional super labs which ran large courier fleets for 27-hour service. In the 1980s, the super labs…

In some ways, the northern coast of New South Wales is overshadowed by the glamour of Queensland’s Gold and Sunshine coasts, but I suspected the area had plenty to offer. In order to confirm my suspicions, I borrowed an Integrity Lite Supreme motorhome from Paradise Motor Homes and spent several days travelling north from The Entrance to Tweed Heads, enjoying the sights along the way. It is possible to do the entire trip in about 10 hours along the Sacific Motorway2Highway, but there are plenty of side trips along the way, so it’s worth taking your time to sample a few of them and extend the journey to really experience this pretty coastline. THE ENTRANCE For no reason other than I have not been there for at least 20 years,…

My daughter and son-in-law have some alpacas on the property where I live and I spend a lot of time watching them from my breakfast table. With the arrival of Liza, a new cria (young alpaca), I’ve been on the prowl looking for photo opportunities and was fortunate enough to have the camera ready for the below shot of mother and daughter. I think little Liza was asking for a kiss! A MARKET BARGAIN In 1992 I took a picture to go with a story I wrote about the Devils Marbles and sent it to the then-editor of Caravan World Joan Green, with the message that it would be a good cover picture. Joan used it and, as far as I know, it’s the only time a contributor’s photo has…

The humble cast iron skillet really is a do-it-all cooking appliance. Sure, they are heavy but they cook fantastically either on the stove or in the oven and, once they have been used a few times, they become seasoned and are almost foolproof. These stovetop skillet recipes are very versatile and work equally well on a gas burner, barbecue, kitchen stove or even in the pan over an open fire. Skillet Prawn Skewers I like to mix it up and use three different sizes of prawns (such as tiger prawns, banana prawns and school prawns) when I make this recipe. However, you could also use a comparable total amount of the same-sized prawn if you prefer. Preparation time: 15 minutes or so Cooking time: 5 minutes The following quantities will…

SUPPORT LOCAL We all like to get the best value for our money. We search out the specials, lowest prices and try and save a dollar wherever we can, says CW blogger Claudia Bouma in a recent post. This attitude is fine when you're living in the city as it forces retailers to remain competitive. However, it can have damaging consequences when you hit the road and frequent a lot of smaller country towns. Claudia argues that rather than stocking up in the larger centres, we need to ensure we inject money into the small towns we visit. As travellers, we have a vital role to play in supporting these communities, displaying generosity and showing locals we're willing to contribute. Many caravanners are very aware of this issue and plan…

STABILITY CONCERN I have just ordered a new 21ft offroad caravan which has Al-Ko ESC (electric stability control) as an optional extra. My tow vehicle, a 2014 Toyota LandCruiser 200 diesel, already has electric trailer sway control built into its Vehicle Stability Control System. So should I go ahead and order the van sway control option at a $1300 cost in the name of extra safety? And, if I do, will the two systems work cooperatively with each other? Or is it overkill on anti-swaying? My van’s Tare weight is around 2640kg with a 160kg ball weight. Steve, Via email The Al-Ko ESC works independently from the tow vehicle’s stability control system so they should work fine together. Because you are buying an offroad caravan, I presume you'll be travelling…

Southern Land Campers’ PT 16 is the natural progression from the manufacturer’s smaller PT 12 model. But, for Keith Leggate, who established Southern Land Campers in 2008, it was more a case of capitalising on the experience gained from the PT 12 and also from client feedback, than acquiring new skills. While the 5.48m (18ft) PT 16 is the bigger sibling – tipping the scales at 1900kg, 400kg heavier than the 3.66m (12ft) PT 12 – there are some parallels between these offroad pop-top hybrids. Last year, CW tested the PT 12 (CW544), with its defining characteristics including a ‘go-the-distance’ capability, and a durability and toughness. It reflected Neith's expertise in NASCAR engineering and construction, and his experience in building specialised race cars. The PT 16 shares these resemblances, but…

If you’re in the market for a large, seven-seat SUV, there is an abundance of choice these days – from the Isuzu MU-X to the Ford Everest and, of course, the perennial favourite, the Toyota Prado. The Prado is one of the very few large 4WD seven-seater wagons remaining that did not start out as a ute. Of the others, the Land Rover Discovery 4 has gone upmarket and the Mitsubishi Pajero is getting long in the tooth and no replacement is forthcoming. The Prado is the only relatively modern mainstream 4WD large wagon and the market loves it – it’s the top-selling model in the large (dual-range transmission) category. So with the introduction of a new 2.8L engine, does the Prado still make a good tow tug? That’s what…

“It takes surprisingly few months for the sun’s ultra-violet rays to start degrading the surface of external plastic fittings on your van” Over our years of caravan touring, we have made lots of little modifications to our caravan – mostly to protect it and keep it in the best condition possible. We hope you will find some of our ideas are worthwhile trying on your own rig. GAS CYLINDER COVERS We started covering our gas cylinders years ago when we noticed stone damage, and have developed our current design by trial and error. Thick blue vinyl is used to make a circular top and the skirt covering the sides of the cylinder is pleated to fit at the top. The back is left open so that gas does not collect…

“The key qualities that employers are looking for are honesty, initiative, common sense and the ability to solve problems” My knuckles were catching the brunt of the bone-chilling early morning breeze as I pushed the quad bike into the southern blocks of the 26,000 acre Lilyveil Pastoral Property, hunting out the cunning old ewes trying to evade the wool clip. Over the next couple of days, we would be bringing in some 6500 sheep for their annual appointment with the shearing team. Lilyveil Pastoral, west of Blackall, Qld, is the second property of Cracker and Deb Macdonald, whose home block Bloomfield is closer to Blackall, some 70km away. By smoko, with the temperature rapidly climbing to the high 20s, we had the mob close to the yards and the contractors…

“The notorious stretch rates as one of Australia’s most legendary stock routes, as renowned in droving history as the Canning and Birdsville tracks” Back in 1886, while droving 100 horses home to the Northern Territory’s Wave Hill Station, Matt Buchanan took a daring shortcut and, with help from Mudbarra Aboriginals, pioneered the Murranji Track, named for a desert frog able to survive long periods without water. Buchanan had previously established the Barkly Stock Route and, in 1881-82, led the largest single overland movement of cattle in Australia’s history. His new 225km cutting west of Newcastle Waters through otherwise impenetrable bullwaddy and lancewood scrub became a popular, if perilous, shortcut that shaved 600km off the droving distance between the Kimberley’s cattle runs and the markets in Queensland. The treacherous Murranji Track…

“The species diversity of mammals here is said to be the richest in any area of comparable size” Born of massive volcanoes and continental tectonics, the ranges straddling the border between south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales are places of outstanding beauty – a striking blend of extinct volcanic caldera, primeval forests and sparkling mountain streams. The region embraces large sections of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, 3600 sq km of spectacular national parks and reserves stretching along the Great Divide from Barrington Tops, NSW, to Boonah, Qld. A network of scenic drives, known collectively as the ‘Rainforest Way’, penetrates these subtropical landscapes to reveal our continent’s living link to prehistoric Gondwana. THE FALLS Approaching from the north-west, the ascent into the ranges begins near Killarney, Qld,…

As noted on page 18, the Sydney Caravan, Camping and Holiday Supershow was held in April and, as part of the show, a media briefing is held for all us RV journalists. These are usually pretty interesting affairs and offer the opportunity to get a bit of behind-the-scenes info from some of the exhibitors on their latest offerings. It’s also a good opportunity to catch up with fellow RV journos and get all the latest industry scuttlebutt, er, I mean news. The briefings attract a wide variety of journos, which can prove a bit of a challenge for organisers, as the media representatives can have vastly different levels of knowledge about RVs, as well as differing interests. Those who have been around the RV industry a while are able to…

Location Great Lakes, NSW Gear Canon IDs Mark III, 200mm, ISO 800, f2.8, 1/160th second Composition Depth of field and the rule of thirds give the subject (which is a mere 10cm in size) a colourful and textural frame, as well as helping draw attention to it. Handy hint The easiest way to grasp the effects of the f-stop selection of a specific lens is to experiment with the lens while shooting in aperture priority mode. Take a picture of the same subject from the same distance with different f-stop values. When you examine the images on your computer, you’ll the see relationship of f-stop and depth of field. Focal length of the lens has a huge impact on the effect of depth of field so experiment with this, too.…

“Yep, they’re going to eat mud, get dirty, trip over a rock, eat the bait, get stuck in barbed wire, fall in, and learn plenty of life lessons– all under the banner of ‘going fishing’!” My old man, bless his soul, had me fishing before I could walk. Was he a good fishermanB Nah, not really. Was he a great teacherB \ou bet! But success certainly helped keep my interest. My very first fish was a rather suicidal trout in the \arra River at \arra Jlen, Vic. I still remember the thrill of the float going under as the worm was engulfed. \arra Jlen is now almost a suburb of Melbourne but it was a Îcut lunch and a water bottle' drive back then with my family, all our picnic…

CHARGING AHEAD Hi, thanks for the great work the team does on the mag. We read it from cover to cover every month. I have read an awful lot about the battery options/systems available, however, one thing I am not sure of is this: If I change from a 100Ah battery to 200Ah, or greater (for example), is it a simple matter of installing the appropriate batteries or do I also need to make some adjustment to the onboard battery management/charger system in my van? Does the system simply respond to whatever load is applied from whatever batteries are hooked up to it? Probably a silly question but, as I said, I have not seen it addressed anywhere so thought I'd ask. I have visions of fittings blowing off the…

Jurgens is best known for its distinctive caravans and pop-tops which have a European and South African look and a lighter weight than many of their similarly-sized counterparts. Those themes continue with one of the latest vans out of the Murgens stable, the Travado TR2505, which is built for good handling on country dirt roads (rough road, not offroad). Jiven the way the van is built, and its good ground clearance, it may look to some like a full offroader but Murgens makes it very clear that the van is not built with offroad use in mind. The tandem-axle’s suspension system is Vehicle Components Cruisemaster Country Road Suspension (CRS), which is designed for exactly that purpose. Murgens says the hot-dipped galvanised chassis was designed using Finite Element Analysis which means…

“The end result is a practical caravan which does not require an overly large tow vehicle – a benefit for those looking for a more economical way to travel around Australia” It’s been a few years now since well-known motorhome manufacturer Avida introduced its caravan range into the world. Avida’s vans are a little different from many in the mainstream caravan market as the manufacturer uses a different construction technique with a lighter chassis and a more substantive body structure. To date, Avida’s caravans have all had tandem-axles, so I was keen to check out the new single-axle Avida Hmerald. I got my first look at the Sydney caravan show in April and, while I was sitting in it, I listened to the comments of several showgoers also looking through…

The newly revamped Evolution Luxliner retains its previous size of 6.4m (21ft) but has undergone significant improvements from its predecessor, receiving a new chassis, fridge, pantry, washing machine and air-conditioner, to name just a few. It’s also received some cosmetic changes, such as a switch from silver to black checkerplate, and matte white internal walls rather than an embossed finish. I tested the renewed Luxliner on Victoria’s charming Mornington Peninsula and was suitably impressed with the external and internal upgrades. Perhaps the most noteworthy development on the Luxliner is the 150mm (6in) Austrail RV chassis, with spacers and a tray on the A-frame, which is robotically welded for accuracy, consistency and durability. The 50mm (2in) main frame raisers give adequate clearance for the roller-rocker suspension. The full-length drawbar returns to…

Vans these days come with a raft of inclusions but, as you spend more time on the road and at camp, you will always come across things that will make your setup just that little bit better. Here are some simple DIY projects that can make the world of difference to your rig. PVC ANNEXE POLE CARRIER Sick of having your annexe poles rattling about the placeB Here's an easy fix. Rbtain a suitable length (usually just short of the width of your RV) of round, 150mm diameter PVC tube and two push-on end caps from your plumbing supplier. You will also need supporting brackets and two 180mm long by 8-10mm diameter bolts or T-pins with clevis. Because the end caps are effectively ‘pushon’, not screw-on, they require an attachment…

“Make sure you know what you’re getting into before you start and ensure you have the correct tools” If you’ve ever wanted to modify your caravan but aren’t sure what to tackle and where to start, don’t be discouraged. With some inspiration, a bit of careful planning, the right tools and a bit of skill, these modifications can help improve your caravanning experience. POWERFUL MOVE Xnder-bed storage is fine for storing extra blankets and other bulky items but, for some, having the caravan battery under the bed is a bit of a nuisance. If this is an issue for you, one solution is to move it under a dinette seat. Experienced caravanner and dedicated DIYer Jim Edge-Williams reckons he found moving his battery easy, if just a little fiddly. The…

“Try to avoid sharp angles and uneven ground” Connecting a caravan to a vehicle is fairly uncomplicated, but there are a few tricks that you learn from experience. These are the top five things I've learned about hitching up over the years that can bypass problems before they arise. GET OUT THE SCALES You might have a fair idea of what your van should weigh from the compliance plate but, with optional extras that might have been fitted after the van was built, not to mention the gear you pack, the Tare mass figure, as well as any figure given for the unladen towball mass, may have changed significantly. A towball mass that is much higher than originally estimated can make life very difficult after you've hitched up the van.…

“The caravanning infrastructure is excellent, the coastline quite spectacular, and the people very friendly” A week to spare, the weather is looking good, and it's a good time of year for fishing. The van and truck are in good nick, so where to go? The Yorke Peninsula, an old favourite, gets the nod from me. You could spend a few weeks roaming the ‘boot’ but, with limited time, we decided to head straight to the southern region to just sit at a couple of spots and take it easy. The first stopover was Point Turton, a very comfortable 260km cruise from Adelaide. This is an ideal base to explore the south-western region of the peninsula, including Corny Point, Marion Bay, Foul Bay and Innes National Sark (NS). The roads in…

Brian Dare sits with his wife Debbie on the verandah outside the office-cum-reception area enjoying a morning coffee. Behind them, the wall is papered with photographs; people holding cod or yellowbelly mostly, and the sun is always shining. “It's like a big aquarium actually,Í Brian said, looking out across the expanse of Jlenlyon Gam. “The fish are partly stocked here, but there's still plenty of breeding that goes on.Í To illustrate this last point, we go down to the dam wall and Brian points to a spot in the green water. “The cod are getting ready to breed,Í he said. sure enough, as your eyes become accustomed to the glare off the water, you can make out the movement just a few feet below the surface. A huge Murray cod…

It started as it always does – with a bit of bluster at the bar. “Nah, your setup’s got nothing on the van when it comes to comfort, Porker. None of that folding stuff in and out, and poles and all that, just climb out of the car, unlock the door and pop a cork. Suits me and Toots all the way, mate.” Johnson put down his beer as if that was that, point made. “Yeah, but you’re not going to drag it down the inlet track on Straddy, are you mate? You’ll be too busy plugging in power cords at the town park to get back in the Nissan and get to where the fish are. And anyway, nobody pops corks these days except those jet ski nongs who…

Back in CW549 (Mar ‘16), we looked at mid-sized SUVs and the increasing number of pint-sized RVs to suit. Downsizing has many ramifications, particularly on storage, reducing the capacity to carry all the gear you want. so it's fitting that, this month, we turn our attention to making the best use of the available space, with the emphasis on safety, particularly for those offroad forays. For blacktop adventures, you may well get away with tossing all your gear into the back of the car and RV, with little consideration to additional restraints, but travelling across bumpy terrain requires a total rethink. Here's my top five considerations for the safe carriage of your gear for outback touring. EASE OF ACCESS It goes without saying that easy access to your belongings bodes…

QLD – Noosa Noosa is a bustling coastal town on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. GETTING THERE It’s 45km north of Brisbane on the Bruce Highway. ATTRACTIONS Noosa is blessed with the excellent combination of beautiful beaches, lush hinterland and stunning national parks right on its doorstep. VISIT The nearby town of Eumundi hosts a twice weekly market, with arts and crafts, food and produce, fashion, jewellery and plenty more on offer. It’s the perfect place to stock up! TOURIST INFORMATION Noosa Visitor Information Centre, Hastings St, Noosa Heads, (07) 5430 5000, info@visitnoosa.com.au QLD EVENT OF THE MONTH Jul 15-24: Noosa Long Weekend Festival, Noosa. Experience 10 days of arts and culture through a diverse program of music, theatre, dance, film, food, literature, visual arts and workshops, with over 75 free and…