Innehållsförteckning för Issue 566 från Caravan World

Packing up your stable, secure, comfortable life in order to travel full-time is no easy task. You may need to sell or rent out your house, quit your job, get rid of your furniture, say goodbye to loved ones – it’s a pretty major life decision. And giving up stable, secure work and diving into the unknown may be the scariest part of all. I did it once, at 22, when I did all of that and more and moved from my hometown of Perth to a tiny little village in Ireland. The first few months were so difficult that I vowed never, ever to do it again. Until I did, four years later... But you know what? It was the time of my life. And it’s that excitement and…

Australian Caravan Club (ACC) members who own Lotus Caravans can now join their own special interest group. The ACC recently announced the formation of the new group which will operate separately from the club’s branch structure. Similar to other special interest groups (SIG), owners can be both a member of a branch and a member of the Lotus Caravan group. ACC Chairman Craig Humphrey said the group came about after a recent Lotus Caravan Owners’ Group muster. “We all got together and decided that we had so much fun as a group, that we would start a SIG for Lotus caravan owners within our own club,” he said. The formation of the ACC Owners of Lotus Vans brings the total number of special interest groups in the ACC to six.…

Australian Motor Homes & Caravans (AMHC) is generously giving away an Avida Birdsville motorhome to raise funds for a young man tragically injured in a rugby accident. AMHC founder Ron Warden said Damian Jobson, a friend and teammate of his own son Callan, was injured during a local rugby league game, leaving Damian, a father of two, a quadriplegic. “Knowing how easily Damian’s accident could have been my son’s accident has motivated me and to do something to raise funds for a family that needs ongoing help and assistance,” Ron said. The Birdsville, valued at $152,000, will be first prize in a raffle that also includes a second prize of a $15,000 package from Harvey Norman Bennetts Green, and third prize of a $4000 voucher from HelloWorld & Cruise Travel…

In this issue, CW launches a new, monthly article – Factory Floor – where we sit down with RV industry heavyweights and get their thoughts on the latest caravanning innovations, issues and trends. We kick-off the series with AL-KO Australia/ New Zealand head honcho Peter Mannfolk, a former commercial lawyer who has a long family history with AL-KO. Peter’s father, Sven, was the managing director of the company before him, and Peter spent time working in marketing, mail-outs and on the factory floor for AL-KO while he was studying. Caravan World: I can imagine you having a hectic work schedule; but what are your hobbies and passions? Peter Mannfolk: My hobbies and passions are around spending time with my family. I’m a very proud father, I have two young children…

It’s a well-worn cliche that “the family that plays together, stays together”. I’m a stickler for this hackneyed phrase and even more so after a recent family bonding session. I took a quick break (mixing business and pleasure) with the family at the Kilcunda Oceanview Holiday Retreat which is nestled between the popular seaside destinations of Phillip Island and Inverloch on the Bass Coast in Victoria. After collecting a new pop-top Jurgens Jindabyne PT2270 bunk van from the Amazing RVs dealership in Seaford, I made tracks along the South Gippsland Highway before turning off at Lang Lang and on to the Bass Highway en-route to Kilcunda. A big part of the popularity of the Jindabyne PT2270 is its light towing weight (Tare 1407kg), allowing it to sit comfortably behind many…

“It is an interesting concept because it’s neither a caravan nor a hybrid camper trailer, but something in between” Coromal Windsor Caravans has been around a long time, and is largely associated with conventional caravan manufacturing. So when the company produced it’s Hybrid 390 Tourer and the XC offroad version at the Sydney caravan show earlier this year, it was a pleasant surprise. The Tourer and the XC models have similar body designs but the XC has an uprated suspension system and a few heavy-duty storage boxes on the front drawbar. My review 390 Tourer came from Coromal Windsor’s Sydney dealer, which is based at Penrith in the outer western suburbs of Sydney and very handy for a trip to the Blue Mountains, or as American tourists call them, the…

We are on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The weather’s fine; it’s not too warm. We’re only an hour or so in, and we’re turning around to go back to where we started our journey. Ahead of us is a Toyota LandCruiser, towing a caravan. It also has turned to go back to where we started from. “Who’s idea was this anyway?” CW photographer Nathan Duff asked, a little bemused, as we swung our crew car around in a pretty little roadside stop near Kenilworth. It was a good question. After all, when Nathan asked it, we’d already travelled 150km to do a 50km trip from our starting point at Chevallum on the Bruce Highway, just north of Brisbane. What’s more, that day, we had another 50km drive before our…

When it comes to planning any trip – big or small – money plays a key role. Like it or not, your available funds dictate where you go, how long you travel and your mode of transport, as well as the places you stay and the things you do while you’re on the road. Regardless of your overall budget, keeping costs down with a few clever strategies and a bit of forward planning will help stretch your funds. We’ve recently packed up our house, left our nine-to-five jobs behind and hit the road in our 4WD, with no particular end date – basically, until the bank balance bottoms out. For us, budgeting started with our setup, which is mostly DIY. We decided to keep it simple on this trip, so…

Fairly modern SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe ride better, handle better and sip less fuel than dual-range, offroad-capable SUVs like the Ford Everest. Yes, vehicles such as the Everest have higher towing capacity and are better offroad, but what if you don’t tow a big van or go offroad? With its 2000kg/150kg towing maximums, the Santa Fe can tow many new single-axle vans, some new European tandem vans and plenty of older tandem vans (usually those without a shower toilet). So is the Santa Fe a realistic medium-sized tow tug? That’s what we aim to find out. SERIES II REVISIONS This generation Santa Fe was renewed in 2013 and then given a refresh late in 2015. That refresh saw new front and rear treatments (with LED daytime running lights…

There’s no denying it; the RV industry is booming. Latest research by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) shows unprecedented growth, with 7.1 million Australians going caravanning or camping in the past two years. Tourism Research Australia statistics for the year ending 2016 show the highest recorded annual growth in domestic caravanning and camping overnight trips and visitor nights since data was first recorded in 1998. In 2016, some 615,000 RVs were registered, securing it as the fastest growing category of motor vehicle and there are now more than 100 RV manufacturers in Australia. But with that phenomenal growth comes certain challenges and industry leaders are warning the sector could be headed down the same road as car manufacturing. CONSOLIDATION TO CUT COST Richard Barwick, chief executive of Australia’s…

Are you looking for accommodation during your Big Lap or just your next weekend away? Something a bit different to the usual caravan park setup but with better safety than a roadside camp? Caravan Overnight Farmstay (COF) is a national scheme that allows caravanners to park up overnight at accredited farms for just a small donation. COF was founded by WA couple Rod and Deb Symes. Rod said they founded the scheme when he realised how hard it was to find suitable, quiet, affordable, safe accommodation. He said the opportunity to park up on otherwise unused land benefited both caravanners and farmers by providing farmers with incremental income, while keeping caravanners and campers out of truck bays, roadside rest areas and unsafe free camps. “Our business focus is the safety…

Levelling your caravan is an all-important job that can often be frustrating and time-consuming, particularly when you are new to caravanning. SavvyLevel is a new product created by passionate caravanners who understand the need to level your van with ease. Using SavvyLevel, you can level your caravan on your own, and trust that it’ll be done precisely. With a hardware device mounted in your van and the use of the SavvyLevel smart phone or tablet app for Apple and Android devices, you can level your van single-handedly, thanks to the user-friendly visual and numerical display with a compass bearing, day and night mode and zoom feature. To begin levelling, all you do is select the SavvyLevel icon on your phone, then as you move your vehicle, the app will report…

Canberra RVers have joined the Australian Caravan Club (ACC) family, with the ACC’s first branch now formed in the capital. The ACC Capital Country Nomads branch was formed following a meeting, Happy Hour, and barbecue for interested RVers at Exhibition Park in Mitchell. The branch already has 24 members with hopes it’ll continue to grow. Steve Onus has been appointed president along with Leigh Baddeley as secretary. The ACC is one of the largest RV clubs in Australia with a membership of 4500 and growing. Anyone with a caravan, pop-top, motorhome, campervan, slide-on camper, camper-trailer or fifth wheeler is encouraged to join and benefit from free Farm Stays, social activities, musters and events. Anyone interested in joining the Capital Country Nomads, should contact membershipsupportnsw@australiancaravanclub.com.au…

Nova Caravans has been recognised for its manufacturing at the Caravan Trade and Industries Association of Victoria Hall of Fame Industry Awards. Held in Melbourne in July, the awards recognise pioneers who have contributed to the caravan industry. Nova Caravans was awarded with the 2017 CTIAV Business Award for Caravan and RV Manufacturer of the Year. Other award winners included AL-KO’s Craig Greenaway (George Pantazopoulos Young Achiever Award), Ian Grant’s Caravans’ Ian Grant (Charlie Tebb Service to Industry Award), Carac Caravan Accessories (Excellence in Dealer/Retailer of the Year Award) and Advantage Caravan Repairs (Excellence in Service & Repair). John Davis, Ian Ritchie, Richard Thickens and Ken Tibbits were inducted into the Hall of Fame.…

WEIGHTS CONFUSION In CW559 (Jan 17) Dan Everett talks about towing dynamics. I have a question as I’m confused – for example, if the tow vehicle GVM is 2000kg, the trailer GTM is 2000kg, and the tow vehicle can tow 3000kg does that mean I’m 1000kg overweight? Paul Via email To start with, a vehicle’s kerb mass includes all fluids topped up (coolant, brake fluid, oils and fuel). Some vehicles use Tare weight as the base weight instead: under Australian Design Rules, this is the vehicle weight with all fluids topped up, except for the fuel tank, which has exactly 10L in it. Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is the total permitted mass of the vehicle and its payload, which includes all occupants and cargo. Payload is GVM minus Kerb Weight.…

Idon’t know about you, but the first time I try something new, I’m a mix of apprehension and excitement. I love new adventures, but a slight fear of the unknown buzzes under the surface. There’s nothing like adrenaline to keep life interesting! Needless to say, as the newest CW recruit, heading out on my first review for the magazine along with my experienced editor Laura, was a tad nerve-shaking. Wanting to impress the boss in the office is one thing, but not making yourself look like a fool out in the field is another. Nevertheless, I put on my big girl boots (and my lucky red beret) and headed out to meet Laura and photographer Stu at the Melbourne 4x4 Training and Proving Ground at Mount Cottrell, Vic. It was…

A couple of hours south of Sydney, you’ll find the little coastal town of Shoalhaven Heads. Right on the mouth of the Shoalhaven River, it doubles as a holiday town and retirement area. It also happens to have good fishing spots, surfing beaches and some great wineries. Not to mention the nearby historic town of Berry and the somewhat busier regional town of Nowra. So I thought it quite reasonable to collect an Olympic Marathon caravan from Carlon Caravans at Unanderra (south of Wollongong) and take it for a spin down the freeway and then take the Gerringong/ Gerroa road to Shoalhaven Heads. THE CARAVAN There’s been a bit of a upswing towards single-axle caravans recently, especially since manufacturers have figured out how to get a front island bed and…

Avida, well-known for being Australia’s largest motorhome manufacturer, stepped back into the caravan market in 2013. Avida is based in Sydney, rather than Melbourne – the capital of caravan manufacture in Australia – so its caravans don’t always follow conventional lines. Earlier this year, Avida produced a surprise by unveiling its Wave range of electric pop-top caravans. When most people think about pop-top vans, they also think about the hassle of the process which usually involves lifting the pop-top roof by undoing the corner clips and exerting a bit of muscle on the lift mechanism, sometimes by clambering on the bed! But not so with the Wave. Lifting the roof involves nothing more than the press of an electric button. There are several models in the Wave range but, for…

“You could save yourself thousands by buying pre-loved or second-hand” Can’t afford a brand new caravan but still want to get out and enjoy the caravanning lifestyle? Never fear – there is another way! If you do your research, know what to look for and what to avoid, you could save yourself thousands by buying pre-loved or second-hand. While caravans, historically, hold their value exceptionally well, there’s always bargains to be had if you’re prepared to dig for the buried treasure. And there are far more places to find second-hand bargains these days than ever before, as well. But buying second-hand is not without its risks and there are several pitfalls and traps unwary buyers could fall into. You wouldn’t head off to cross the Simpson Desert completely unprepared with…

The caravan components sector in Australia employs thousands of skilled workers. In essence, it is a multi-million dollar industry. Recreational vehicle components, aftermarket accessories and technical accessories are an incredible growth segment. Many components are essential, while others can be considered a luxury. CW has compiled a directory of the most popular or best-selling products from some of Australia’s major components manufacturers and suppliers in five key areas - entry doors; windows; skylights; 12V hatches; and doorsteps. RANGER RV SUPPLIES Ranger RV Supplies specialise in caravan and RV accessories. With more than 15 years of industry experience, its main demographic is manufacturers whom Ranger works closely with to ensure its products are developed for the right application. From aluminium sheeting, windows and skylights to water pumps and steps, Ranger RV…

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with camping chairs. They’re often heavy, clunky and prone to shaping your spine into a curled up ball if you spend any amount of time in them. But this is certainly not so with Helinox’s chairs. We recently hit the road with two of the Helinox range – a Sunset Chair and a Camp Chair – and I can report that both exceeded my lounging expectations. Let’s start with the weight. Helinox specialises in lightweight adventure gear and these chairs certainly tick the box on that front. Built on alloy frames, the smaller of the two, the Camp Chair, weighs just 1335g (packed) and the slightly larger Sunset Chair comes in at 1475g (packed). This is substantially less than most I’ve come…

Make life easier for yourself on your next journey, with the new aluminium folder ladder from Rhino-Rack. The ladder simply connects to the edge of your Rhino-Rack Pioneer System on either side, making access to the roof a breeze. It doesn’t matter what kind of terrain you find yourself in, the folding ladder performs in all environments. The extra wide and adjustable feet are crafted for stability, and allows the ladder to extend up to 2.3m. Install the ladder on any side of your vehicle for convenience. It folds down a compact metre for easy storage, and it’s also lightweight so packing it up and removing it is easy. Made from aluminium with a black powder coat finish, it’s strong and durable, weather resistant and finished with case steel hinges.…

Owners of caravans similar to the style of the 1960s-era Globetrotter (above), are urged to get involved with a program to help disadvantaged children. United Way SA provides free books every month into the homes of children aged five years and under in some of Adelaide’s most at-risk suburbs as part of the ‘United We Read program’. The organisation will hold a Book Week event on Saturday, August 26 at the Playford Civic Centre called “Are We There Yet?” based on the children’s book by Alison Lester. In the book, Alison and her family travel around Australia in a caravan and United Way SA would like a group of caravans similar in style to the rounded Globetrotter van to be present at the event. If you are interested, please call…

OLD FAMILIAR WHEELS We are avid subscribers to your magazine and especially enjoy Postbag, Readers’ Rigs and all the new gadgets and gizmos that come on the market within an ever growing caravan industry. Back in 2014 we upgraded our much-loved 2002 17.6 Jayco Westport to a 19.6 Retreat Fraser which is, quite simply, luxury on wheels. We sold our Westport, which we had from new and were sad to see it leaving our driveway for the last time. Since then, we often wondered what had become of our then pride and joy. So you could imagine my surprise when I thumbed through to the Readers’ Rigs section of CW563 (May ‘17) and there was our Westport being towed by Paul and Robyn Maynard! It was great to see that…

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 submissions@adventuresgroup.com.au with ‘Tech Talk’ in the subject line or send a letter to Caravan World Tech Talk, 125 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North, Vic 3161. All entries must include your full address (not for publication).…

When you think about it, a caravan is a bit like the ultimate escape plan. It lets us hitch up and nick off at a moment’s notice and, if you’ve got something like the XT12 hybrid from MDC, you can do it relatively cheaply and in a fair bit of comfort. Most of us work our butts off for the majority of the year, so when you finally get a bit of well-earned freedom, I reckon a caravan that makes camping easy is worth its weight in gold. We’ve all seen that bloke at the campsite struggling to open his awning up and having a fight with the wife because they forgot to pack the blankets. So for this test, I wanted to see how easy it was to use,…

One of the benefits of buying a caravan from a manufacturer like Jayco - Australia’s largest - is that there’s something available for every wish and budget. When Caravan World is looking for caravans to review, manufacturers will often offer their top-line models, which can be quite large and heavy. However, I like to make an effort to look at all aspects of the market, particularly the smaller, lighter and cheaper models - hence, the subject of this review; a Jayco Starcraft 15 pop-top, kindly supplied by Jayco Sydney, which rings up the register at a measly $34,789 (NSW)! SIZE ISN’T EVERYTHING One of the most noticeable things about the Starcraft 15 is its size - or lack thereof. It’s just 4.9m (16ft 1in) long and has a travelling height…

About 25-30 years ago, campervans were the little kings of the motorhome world. By that, I mean they were everywhere in Australia and were not overshadowed by the bigger brothers and sisters we see on the roads today. No doubt, many readers will remember the ubiquitous VW Kombi, which more or less had a monopoly on the market until the Toyota Hiace arrived on the scene. Over the years, the campervan has waned in popularity, and a variety of base vehicles have come and gone, but both the VW and Hiace are still around today. Similarly, van converters have declined in number to the point where there are just a few specialists left, so it was interesting when Australian giant Jayco entered the market with its Hiace-based Freedom campervan. Another…

Experiment in the kitchen Our budget isn’t that tight because the reason for our travel is to see as much as possible of our magnificent country. However, we rarely eat out. We love cooking and much prefer to experiment with the Weber. Jenny Foster, via Facebook Work it out before you go During the weeks before you go, plan your budget and prepare frozen meals to take with you. After a long day travelling, your evening meal is thawed and takes no time to warm in a microwave, which saves you money buying expensive takeaway. Richard Morse, via Facebook Keep the tank full Always make sure your fuel tank is filled to capacity to allow you more scope to find cheaper fuel ahead. Ian and Annette Petersen, via email The…

I reckon camp cooking is one of the best parts about the whole camping experience. Sitting around the fire, freezing your butt off while everyone tucks into a nice warm feed is all part of the fun. In fact, I’d go as far as saying it’s often the most memorable part of a trip away, especially for the young whippersnappers. The funny thing is, even if your bank balance is looking a bit sad, you can still cook up a feed fit for royalty. To prove the point, we’ve put our money where our mouth is (all 10 bucks of it, that is), and challenged our team to come up with the tastiest camp feed imaginable for under 10 bucks. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, as always, there’s a catch…

The weekend I was originally scheduled to visit NSW’s Northern Rivers region, tropical cyclone Debbie hit the Queensland coast, causing widespread flooding and significant storm damage in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. Parts of the Northern Rivers were deemed disaster zones and some towns were evacuated to escape the rising floodwaters. So when I arrived at Ballina Airport a month later to clear, sunny skies and a gentle, subtropical breeze, it was hard to imagine the chaos that must have been. What was apparent, though, was how much the local communities had banded together in the clean up to help those who had lost everything in the floods. This strong sense of community is something that really strikes you as you travel through this area - from neighbours…

The Wolfes have a hot tip for anyone travelling to Carnarvon, WA – pay a visit to the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum. “We were caretakers at the museum, a wonderful place to visit,” writes Brian Wolfe. “It shows how Carnarvon played a role in the manned space program of Apollo and Skylab missions to the moon. Also, it explains the communication program along with the tracking stations.” Greg Amor sent in this pic of his recent camping trip. “This is all set up on the shores of Copeton Dam in our 2009 Windsor Genesis for a relaxing weekend of free camping and fishing. “It was our dog Diesel’s first camping trip and he loved it, too.” “This is a picture of our rig at Irvinebank (near Herberton) in north…

Nothing can destroy the joy and relaxation of a holiday faster than theft, particularly if it’s your car that’s stolen. According to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, 57,173 vehicles were stolen in Australia in the 12 months to March 2017. And with more cheap electronic devices becoming available everyday to make thieves’ jobs easier, it’s never been more important to be vigilant with car security. While thieves may be getting smarter, one device designed to defy them is an Australian designed and developed locking device called CopLock. This simple mechanical locking device attaches to the brake or clutch pedal. CopLock was designed and developed over more than two years by a retired Australian Police Officer and Police Prosecutor with a vast experience in dealing with car thefts. Its…