Innehållsförteckning för Issue 552 från Caravan World

As I write, a biting coldness has descended on Victoria, home of CW HQ. The morning frost and iced-over windshields are a sure sign that it’s time to get out of Dodge, or the southern states, at least, and drive as far north as possible. Winter has come and from where I’m sitting, it’s going to be a bitterly cold few months. Yes, wiser people than me are now packing their vans and cars, pointing their bonnets towards the Arafura Sea and kissing this woeful weather goodbye. It’s safe to say that at this time of year, there will be a lot of vanners on the highways and in our holiday parks, exploring a tropical beach, or making the most of the Dry and doing the top of the Northern…

Caravanners who retrofit stoneguards to their vans, and even those who buy vans with stoneguards already fitted, are being encouraged to ensure the stoneguard is compliant. The Caravan Industry Association of Victoria (CIAV) has issued a warning that stoneguards could be non-compliant if they block visibility of the van’s front reflectors. Caravans and camper trailers are required, by the Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 (VSB1), to have two white or colourless, non-triangular retro-reflectors fitted at the front - one on each side. The reflectors must not be more than 150mm from the outer edge of the vehicle (including the awning), must be facing forward, and must not be more than 900mm from the ground. However, that height limit may be increased to 1500mm if the structure makes it impractical to keep…

Some caravans are given interesting names that seem to come out of left field while others seem to be quite logical. I recently wasted some time mulling over the origin of a model name (was it LatinB) only to find out that the manufacturer had made it up! Rthers, like the Regent Weekender, are a bit more obvious. You won’t be expecting a rough and tumble offroad rig but, more likely, a van perfectly set up for a weekend escape. such is the case with the Weekender, although it could easily be taken on longer trips as it is quite comfortable and has all the essentials onboard, with a decent amount of packing space as well. There are several models available, most with a front bedroom and rear bathroom, but…

Queensland dealer Green RV has recently introduced a new range of caravans to its product line-up, with the intriguing name of NextGen Caravans. NextGen might be the new kid on the block, but a look over its range suggests there’s a lot of experience behind the NextGen name. My review caravan was the Blackline and the external colour scheme, in particular the lower waistline of black checkerplate, points to the origins of this name. A look inside the van might suggest the NextGen builders see everything in black and white, as that forms much of the colour scheme, although there are some shades of grey used and the rather unusual Roman blinds create a nice contrast. With a length of 6.35m (20ft 10in), there’s plenty of room inside the Blackline…

Brothers sean and Ashley Trounce have put a new spin on their Safari Delta ensuite range - quite literally! The siblings design their own caravans, and happily accept feedback from existing clients regarding their fleet's standard features, while also heeding the requirements of potential new customers. “It's very simple, if our buyers return and ask for shelving in the overhead cupboards above their seating, we make it standard,” sean said. “We regularly travel in our safari vans, so we also look for the convenience of, say, two double powerpoints in the kitchen, and make it standard in every layout.” Sean says the designs remain very similar to their initial blueprints of almost 15 years ago, except for the tweaking of floorplans due to customer response. “Our Delta 20 range is…

A myriad of caravanning voyagers prefer to follow the road less travelled as they traverse this sunburnt country. So it’s critical they not only have the right equipment but also the know-how if caravan recovery becomes reality. Experience can make all the difference when stuck (literally) in our Great Southern Land. And if it were to happen, here’s some more precious information from Glen Gall to get you on the road to recovery. “With some of the most aspired-to camp spots around this magnificent country in very remote areas, there has been major growth in the offroad-style 4WD/caravan package for people to get out there and experience it for themselves,” Gall said. “This requires them to carry more food, water and services to stay longer, and get through all types…

In recent years, we have travelled extensively in western Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and have written a series of travel stories encouraging caravanners to visit the western areas of these states, to assist the local communities trying to cope with one of the worst droughts on record. It’s a spectacular part of the country to visit, with endless outback vistas, laconic locals, plenty of wildlife and interesting heritage. And it’s wonderful to get away from the frenetic traffic on the coastal highways. Travelling out here offers a different side of Australia for caravanners to enjoy. But it requires a different approach in preparation than, say, a coastal trip, and you should go informed, with realistic expectations of the types of goods and services available in these more remote…

A van is essentially a big box with wheels that attaches to your vehicle and weighs a tonne – literally. And it’s attached to a single point. It’s true that manufacturers try to create for you the largest possible living space, while maintaining the lightest possible weight, but if you don’t take care, towing a van can turn a good day into a bad one very quickly. Consider these risks: • Overtaking, or making sudden lane changes, can send you out of control when you’re pulling a caravan or camper trailer. • Swerving (to miss an animal, for example) can cause oversteer, taking you out of your lane and into other traffic. • All caravans and some camper trailers have a large box-shaped side profile – in maritime terminology they…

Gordon and Trudy McBurnie found this great spot at Venus Bay, Vic, on a trip to the west. “Our 70 Series LandCruiser is a great towing vehicle for our Galaxy Odyssey van,” they write. As part of their Big Lap in a Leader Palladium 22ft, Sharna and Rod Mulach camped at Broken Creek Bush Camp, near Benalla, Vic. “It was great to be able to relax around the campfire with our two children and show them what fun it can be to free camp,” they write. Matthew and Kym celebrated the impending birth of their first child by spending Australia Day in tropical Port Douglas, Qld. Pictured is their Patrol and Jayco Swan Outback at the gateway to the Daintree. “Our beautiful free campsite beside Lake Cargelligo, NSW,” write Lyn…

Tasmanian caravan dealer Dennis Austin has been awarded the caravan industry’s highest honour at a gala dinner. Austin, of Austin’s Caravans & Leisure Centre in Somerset on Tasmania’s north-west coast, was presented with the Eric Hayman Award for Excellence at the Caravan Industry Association of Australia’s 2016 national conference. Austin is a long-term board member of the association and is the current treasurer. He has spent 15 years representing the interests of caravanners and manufacturers in Tasmania and at a national level. First awarded in 1990, the Eric Hayman Award for Excellence recognises people, companies or events that have made an outstanding contribution to the caravanning and camping industry on a national scale. The award is named in honour of Eric Hayman, who started manufacturing towbars in 1951 and then…

As Caravan World’s deputy editor, Ali is immersed in the world of RVs and RV travel on a daily basis. Despite spending more time working on the mag behind her desk than behind the wheel, Ali relishes any opportunity to get out and explore the countryside. A lover of travel from an early age, Ali has toured extensively around Australia and the globe, and packs up the 4WD as often as possible, heading to national park campgrounds – preferably near the beach – for time away from Melbourne’s hustle and bustle. She enjoys nothing more than waking up to the sounds of the birds and the waves crashing, and believes time among nature is the best way to recharge and reset! Where’s your favourite place in Australia to visit and…

HITCHMASTER® DO35 All-terrain drop-on coupling The HITCHMASTER® DO35 is designed, tested and manufactured in Australia by Vehicle Components and valued at $405. This coupling provides an easy drop-on connection no matter the road surface. Featuring a smooth, spring loaded lock mechanism, a bumper and safety cap, an ultra low profile housing, and weight distribution hitch (WDH) compatibility for most vehicles. The winner will receive a HITCHMASTER® DO35 V2-R which includes a spanner, tow pin and tow pin cover. How to win If you’re stumped by a technical or towing problem, send your question to caravanworld@bauertrader.com.au with ‘Tech Talk’ in the subject line or send a letter to Caravan World Tech Talk, Locked Bag 12, Oakleigh, Vic 3166. All entries must include your full address (not for publication).…

When Max Taylor’s camper trailer was stolen last year, the search began for a replacement RV suitable for his family – including wife Stacey and their three kids, Ethan, eight, Jasmine, four, and Ashton, two. As the managing editor for CW and sister magazine Camper Trailer Australia, Max was well aware of the cross-section of innovation within the Australian RV sector, but his growing family had very specific needs. The Taylors wanted an offroad-capable rig that was comfortable to tow and offered sufficient payload, storage and space for the plethora of family-related daily needs. Weight was a factor, too, with Ruby, the family’s petrol-powered 80 Series LandCruiser, already carrying a considerable load. Bedding was also a major consideration as Max didn’t want to be assembling annexes and bunks on every…

Caravan design is quite simple: you build a chassis, add a set of wheels, build a body on top and it’s more than halfway there. Well, more or less. There are a few other minor details to decide on, like how long the van body will be and where the entry door might go. Both these things will affect where the axles are located, and where items like the water tanks should be installed so, apart from anything else, the ball weight is not excessive. All that helps to explain why the wheels on one of Option RV’s latest caravans – 5.64m (18ft 6in) Traction Limited Edition (LE) – look to be set further back than normal in the van’s body. In this case, it’s the length of the van…

The Jayco name certainly needs no introduction. To say the company is well enmeshed in the Australian RV industry, with a claimed 170,000-plus RVs built over the last 40 years, would be an understatement. And among the manufacturer’s extensive offerings is a large range of motorhomes, which it has been building for around a decade. On a recent trip to Bathurst, NSW, to attend the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia’s (CMCA) 30th anniversary rally, we managed to get our hands on the latest Optimum IV.28-5 – the largest and most luxurious of the Mayco fleet. Built on an Iveco Daily cab chassis, the 8.7m (28ft 7in) Optimum has received an upgrade in its latest incarnation, and features a large offside slide-out that encompasses the bed and dinette, as well…

Steve McNaught, part-owner of Tough Toys Offroad Accessories in Hillcrest, Qld, has some solutions to common problems that could potentially bring you to a stop. “With the right tools and some ingenuity you can fix most problems well enough to carry on with your trip, or at least get you to the nearest town,” McNaught said. “Don’t take short cuts with safety – there are some things you just can't fix on your own - but don't let minor mishaps ruin your tour either. “If you know what you’re doing it’s amazing what you can deal with. Not only is a GIY fix cheaper than calling for recovery, it’s a lot more satisfying, too!” RATTLES “When you’re driving along a corrugated track there’s no chance of you missing it when…

“Driving’s a skill – not a right.” Your parents may have said something like this to you when you were learning to drive. Indeed, you might have said something like this to your own kids more recently. And it’s the same sentiment that may come to mind when you see inexperienced drivers taking to the roads and driving recklessly. But have you reflected on those words and what they may imply for your own driving today? Did you know that to be granted a military driver’s licence to drive a 4WD or tow a trailer in offroad conditions, you have to complete a ‘simple’ 16-day course in a military Land Rover 110 Perentie? During this time, students not only have to negotiate a range of terrains in different conditions, they…

Lake Sambell Caravan Park is ideally located just a short walk from the centre of town, and boasts the title of being the only caravan park in central Beechworth. The park sits on the banks of the picturesque Lake Sambell, which offers ample opportunities for fishing and swimming. Sue and Roger Humphris have owned the park since June 2006, though the park has been operating since the 1960s. In this time, the park has been perfected, and it now offers an extensive range of amenities to suit all types of travellers on all types of budgets. Lake Sambell Caravan Park offers more than 100 powered and unpowered sites. The generously-sized level sites feature concrete slabs for caravans and motorhomes or grass for tents and camper trailers, with TV cables and…

A new caravan range, boasting what its manufacturers claim is “one of the largest slide-outs on the market” has made its debut. Soul Caravans, based on Queensland’s Gold Coast, was due to launch at the Queensland Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow in Brisbane earlier this month (June 8-13). The vans are billed as ‘luxury studio apartments on wheels’ and are built using boatbuilding techniques, rather than traditional caravan construction methods. Soul Caravans managing director Curtis Goldring said the vans will appeal most to caravanners looking to buy a second or subsequent van, rather than new buyers. Goldring and fellow director Adam Skelton have a background in building luxury boats, which is where their vans’ unique look and shape comes from. This means a moulded fibreglass construction, instead of the more…

If you hook a barramundi at Lake Belmore in the Gulf Savannah, Qld, chances are that it started life in Karumba at the Barramundi Discovery Centre. The Carpentaria Shire Council hatchery supplies barramundi fingerlings for a number of Gulf waterways, including the Albert River in Burketown and the Norman River in Karumba, in order to boost their stocks. And, during peak tourist season in the Gulf, the Discovery Centre is throwing open its doors to visitors who want to hand-feed and learn more about the Gulf’s most famous fish. Centre coordinator Chris McDonald said freshwater bodies like Lake Belmore would be devoid of barramundi without the hatchling program. “We had a record spawn last year of 428,000 fingerlings and 70,000 of those went into the Norman River alone so, in…

Need help with a technical or towing problem? Ask Philip Lord Keeping your caravan in good order is important, so a thorough check of all the mechanicals should be on your regular to-do list. Although I’ve used the term ‘mechanical’ here, what I’m really talking about is the caravan’s moving parts and associated components that help to get you safely and reliably to where you want to go. Sure, a caravan doesn’t have any ‘mechanicals’ in the way of an engine or gearbox, but there’s plenty that can go wrong if you don’t look after it. A caravan’s running gear is very simple, and it’s often missed maintenance that is the cause of component failure. The trap is to focus too much on the tow vehicle’s maintenance and to forget…

Word on the street was that Kedron Caravans had produced something that was about to set the caravanning world abuzz. Rumour had it that Kedron’s Glen Gall and family had been secretly working on a new technology for the past five years. Industry buzz was that it needed to be tested and it centred on Kedron’s new TopEnder 5. Presented with a caravan whose name suggests wild times exploring the remotest stretches of the country, and with the rumour that this caravan represented a watershed event in the industry, we took the TopEnder 5 for a test along the unforgiving roads in the shadow of Queensland’s Glass House Mountains to see what the hubbub was all about. THE GREAT UNVEILING On first impressions, it's clear the TopHnder 5 is a…

Being in the zone: it's about finding a sense of connection and having a wonderfully comforting and free feeling. That’s what I had in mind when I took Zone RV’s 18.6 Off Road caravan for a spin around Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, near the majestic Glass House Mountains. I wanted to see if I could be in the zone in the Zone RV. CLEARING THE GROUND My first impressions were visceral. This van has the right stuff. From the aggressive look of the drawbar, the angular guards and corner trims to the shape and slope of the front wall, it all says, ‘look out wilderness, here we come’. Our 18.6 Off Road review van with optional airbag suspension has 675mm of ground clearance when the airbags are deflated. Sump up the…

“It was acceptably quiet when cruising on the plains, and the transmission was very smooth and subtle in its shifts” With no Pajero replacement on the horizon and the Challenger also becoming dated, Mitsubishi’s offroader wagon portfolio was beginning to look very stale as the calendar rolled into 2015. Then, late in the year, Mitsubishi breathed some fresh air into its range with its Challenger replacement – the Pajero Sport. Like the Challenger before it, the Pajero Sport is a ute-based SUV. In this case, the Pajero Sport shares much with the new-in-2015 MQ Triton ute. So it gets the same engine, front suspension, most of the chassis and dashboard. Rear suspension in the Pajero Sport is a three-link coil-sprung live axle instead of the Triton’s leaf-spring live axle, and…

Geoff and Sharon McLean of Utow/Resort Caravans van hire, dealership and service centre in Somerville, Vic, pull out of the drive and head off on a caravanning pilgrimage every winter – and they love to get off the grid. Geoff said some simple planning goes a long way to ensuring their trip will be another with no problems. “Just as you will take the flu shot to protect you from a vacation pit-stop, your caravan also needs some preparation,” he said. While breaking down can be a holiday wrecker, some sensible planning and preparation can help turn the breakdown into a non-event. First on the agenda is to get the caravan serviced, making sure you tell the service centre that you are planning on doing a long trip. “Some items…

Humble and simple leaf springs have been – and still are – under the majority of new caravans and trailers sold in Australia to the present day. I must emphasise ‘present day’ because the balance is shifting in favour of trailing arm independent systems which usually, but not always, employ coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers to control wheel movement. So why the change, when most experts agree that leaf springs and a beam axle connecting opposite wheels is all you need on a towed trailer on smooth, sealed roads? The indisputable fact is that, in recent years, more Australians are going further afield in larger, better-equipped and, as a consequence, usually heavier, caravans. This means that all the components, from the chassis to the body frame, cupboard hinges and…

When you’re tasked with finding the best campsites in a region, it makes sense you’ll be doing a lot of setting and packing up. How grateful we were, then, that the van of choice for this trip was Complete Campsite’s Exodus 11. A go-anywhere offroader, the Exodus 11 is the second smallest model in the brand’s wildly successful line-up of hybrid campers. Riding on independent suspension with a rock-solid chassis and excellent clearance, the Exodus provides the comfort of a caravan with the maneuverability and attitude of a camper trailer. The Exodus 11 easily traversed the mixed terrain of the Great Lakes region. Built just a little further south on the Central Coast, this was, pretty much its backyard. From steep, rocky hill climbs to sandy beach tracks, if a…