Innehållsförteckning för Issue 586 från Caravan World

Have you ever wondered how Australia's Indigenous people survived living off the land — walking around barefoot, hunting for food, dealing with wild animals, the searing sun, and ravenous insects? In 2011, we gained a direct insight by participating in a wildlife safari in Kakadu. Our safari was run by Animal Tracks at the Kakadu Buffalo Farm. The latter had been set up as a tourism venture to help support the local Indigenous community with the provision of food from the slaughter of water buffalo, wild pigs, magpie geese and barramundi from the property. Indigenous guide Patsy ‘Raichiwanga’ Raglar provided the cultural interpretation and led the group. The itinerary was to explore freshwater billabongs, floodplains, woodland savannah and paperbark swamp, gathering food for our evening feast. Freshwater mussels, water lily,…

Proudly partnered by Truma, the 2019 65th Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow, held at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds (February 20-25), showcased the latest in recreational travel including an AL-KO ‘world first’, outdoor living products and touring destination information area. Other world firsts at the event were the OzXcorp Smart Caravan and the OzXcorp Gasless Recreation Platform and Centralised Energy Management System (CEMS), along with 10 additional new products for the caravan industry. The Supershow had something for practically every one of the 49,447 punters who attended during the six-day extravaganza — from young people who camp with friends on weekends, families who take short breaks, and senior adventurers who spend their time on the road. Highlights at the Supershow included three new precincts: the AL-KO Innovation Hub showcased cutting-edge…

What do World War II, Cyclone Tracy and the release of Holden’s FX have in common? All three events helped to shape the great Australian holiday, long before the Big Lap and Grey Nomads embodied the Aussie idea of freedom, and caravan parks became a permanent fixture on our landscape. Travelling out of choice, rather than necessity, is a relatively recent trend in Australia’s short, holidaying history, and before roads led west, before long service leave and super funds financed our adventures, and before 4WDs and GPS guided us safely into the outback, a hardy breed of pioneering Aussies packed up and hit the road. It was the late 1800s, and it was no holiday. ON THE WALLABY Driving bullock and horse-drawn wagons stretched with canopies of calico, animal skins…

As we travel around this great country, we often come upon travellers turning their hand to different jobs to earn enough money to keep them on the road for a little bit longer. When we think of backpackers, for example, we might visualise buskers, fruit pickers and casual bar staff or baristas. And it’s not unusual to find avid caravanners who advertise their services as temporary caravan park managers to give the owners a break. We’ve even seen Tupperware parties held in camp kitchens! So it’s no surprise that there are blogs to tell you about any number of ways to earn money when you’re on the road. Many people who take up these opportunities have full time jobs when they’re not travelling, but for others the flexibility that comes…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 4.88m (16ft) External body length 7.01m (23ft) External body width 2.17m (7ft 1in) Travel height 2.95m (9ft 8in) Internal height 1.97m (6ft 6in) Tare 2140kg ATM 2950kg Payload 810kg Ball weight 120kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium (2mm and 3mm structural box section) Cladding Silver aluminium cladding with tough, scratch-resistant powdercoat finish Chassis Hot-dipped, fully galvanised laminated double chassis Suspension Single axle, fully independent progressive coil suspension with 60T stub axles Coupling Hitch-Ezy 5T fully articulating 4X4 hitch Brakes 12in electric Wheels 265/76 R16 Bridgestone D697 all-terrain tyres on alloy rims (six-stud) Water 3x75L (1x potable, 2x non-potable); 1x75L grey water Battery 300Ah lithium Solar 3x150W, with 60A Morningstar solar regulator Air-conditioner Truma Aventa 2.4kW Gas 1x9kg Sway control N/A INTERNAL Cooking Swift stove (four-burner), oven and…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.19m (30ft 2in) External body length 6.32m (20ft 9in) External body width 2.34m (7ft 8in) Travel height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Internal height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Tare 3000kg ATM 3500-4400kg Payload Can range from 500kg to 1400kg dependant upon tow vehicle rating Ball weight 180kg EXTERNAL Frame Interlocking C section aluminium Cladding 'Whisper Grey' gloss fibreglass for the external walls and roof Chassis Hot-dipped fully galvanised chassis Suspension Tandem-axle, XT Cruisemaster fully independent load-sharing airbag suspension with twin shocks Coupling Hitch-Ezy 5T fully articulating 4X4 Brakes 12in electric hydraulic disc brakes Wheels 285/70 R17 BFG all-terrain tyres on 17in five-stud alloy rims Water 5x83L (1x potable, 4x non-potable); 1x83L (grey water) Battery 540Ah lithium battery system Solar 4x150W with Victron MPPT solar regulator Air-conditioner Air-command Ibis…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 6.54m (21ft 5in) External body length 4.3m (14ft 1in) External body width 2.14m (7ft) Travel height 2.55m (8ft 4in) including roof hatch Internal height 2.03m (6ft 8in) Tare 1880kg ATM 2450kg Payload 570kg Ball weight 147kg EXTERNAL Frame Compressed fibreglass panel side walls; Meranti front and back walls Cladding Fibreglass Chassis Trakmaster NewGen, hot-dipped galvanised Suspension TrakOne trailing arm independent coil Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes Dexter 12in electric Wheels 265/75 R16 BFG all-terrains on 16x8 ROH Octagon alloy rims Water 2x82L, plus provision for 80L grey water tank Battery 2x120Ah AGM Solar 2x120W, plus point to plug in a portable panel Air-conditioner Provision for future fitment Gas 2x4.5kg Sway control Optional Kitchen External slide-out kitchen INTERNAL Cooking Swift gas four-burner and grill Fridge Vitrifrigo compressor…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.45m (27ft 9in) External body length 5.95m (19ft 6in) External body width 2.36m (7ft 9in) Travel height 3.13m (10ft 3in) – incl. air-conditioner Internal height 2m (6ft 7in) Tare 2646kg ATM 3500kg Payload 854kg Ball weight 142kg EXTERNAL Frame C section, Interlocked aluminium, Henrob riveted and full composite roof Cladding Aluminium composite 3mm Chassis SupaGal, 8in chassis includes 4in x 2in chassis and 4in x 2in raiser Suspension Cruisemaster 3.7T XT full independent, 2x shockers Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in AL-KO offroad electric Wheels MT offroad tyres and 16in alloys Water 2x95L Grey water 1x95L Battery 3x120Ah Solar 2x160W Air-conditioner Houghton Belaire 3400 Gas 2x9kg Sway control No Kitchen Weber BBQ INTERNAL Cooking Swift four-burner and grill Fridge EvaKool 12V compressor 208L Microwave NCE Bathroom…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 5.1m (16ft 9in) External body length 3.3m (11ft) External body width 2.1m (6ft 11in) Travel height 2.55m (8ft 4in) Internal height 1.90m (6ft 2in) Tare 960kg ATM 1400kg (maximum with the mechanical override brake system) Payload 320kg (with a full tank of water and full LPG cylinder) Ball weight 55kg (with a full tank of water and full LPG cylinder) EXTERNAL Frame n/a Cladding Closed cell foam fibreglass composite panel that is fully insulated Chassis DuraGal (all RHS Australian steel) Suspension Eye-to-eye leaf springs, with option to upgrade to AL-KO Enduro independent trailing arm (for offroad use) Coupling 50mm ball Brakes Mechanical override, with option to upgrade to electric and increase ATM to 1600kg Wheels 14in Water 1x100L Battery 1x120Ah, with option to add more…

The OzCharge Rescue Mate RM1000 is no heavy, cumbersome, always-flat-when-you-need-it traditional jump-pack; this is some techy stuff that works! With no in-built battery, the OzCharge Rescue Mate uses super-capacitors to build a powerful charge quickly, even from a flat battery – not a fully dead one, but one unable to crank your pride and joy. The RM 1000 can draw from a battery as low as 3V. Most of the time your battery is ‘flat’ it is just below usable voltage; often only as low as 12V is enough to cause many modern engines to give nothing but the ambience of your dash lights, but in most cases, there is still light at the end of the tunnel. The Rescue Mate RM 1000 draws energy (amperage) slowly, typically taking 90…

'Carafans' descended on the Gold Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo in March in exceptionally large numbers, with 15,000 people attending the show in total, a 26 per cent increase on previous years. Families, nomads, and young caravanners enjoyed displays from 120 exhibitors, showcasing over 500 recreational vehicles, ranging in price from $10,999 to $350,000. “We experienced record-breaking attendance at this year’s Gold Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo, highlighting that just like a caravan or camping holiday, no matter the weather, the ‘vanlife’ has a high appeal, particularly amongst families,” said Caravanning Queensland general manager Jason Plant. “The event saw more families and young couples than ever before flood through the gates of Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium, with attendees and exhibitors alike expressing their delight at the variety of product on…

The nation’s most-loved children's entertainment group, The Wiggles, and Australia’s favourite holiday park brand, BIG4, have just announced an exciting three-year partnership. The exclusive collaboration will allow The Wiggles to share the BIG4 experience with a new generation of families where they can enjoy a fun, safe, and memorable break connecting with loved ones. The Wiggles, Paul Field, said the partnership was the perfect fit for the nation’s most popular children's entertainment group. “Just like The Wiggles, BIG4 deliver great experiences for young families right across Australia. We both share a deep commitment to the positive development of growing families. We could not have picked a better partner than BIG4.” BIG4 Holiday Parks CEO, Steven Wright, was equally excited about a partnership that he deemed a “natural alignment”. “The education…

Write to: Caravan World Postbag, 125 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North, Victoria 3161 or email: submissions@ emprisegroup.com.au Please include your full address (not for publication). Letters chosen will be edited for publication, may be shortened, and may appear online. Q Hi Dave, we have recently changed our 90L three-way fridge to a 110L compressor fridge and have realised we need more battery storage, so am looking to put a second battery in the caravan. The current battery in the caravan is 105A. Can the second battery be a higher capacity, say 120A, or do they have to be evenly matched ie 105A and 105A? Thanks, Eric and Robyn Hull A Hi Eric and Robyn, Your dilemma with requiring more energy storage to keep your caravan fully powered is…

PALM COVE 20KM NORTH OF CAIRNS It’s one of the prettiest scenes in the tropics: a long stretch of sweeping, golden sand, fringed by towering melaleucas and shaggy-topped coconut palms and nestled against a lush green backdrop of rainforested hills. Facing seaward, an elegant strip of sassy bars and relaxed luxury resorts lures a well-heeled crowd, but the best real estate lies at the end of esplanade and it’s reserved exclusively for campers. The pet-friendly Palm Cove Holiday Park is a spacious place to spend Easter, close to a patrolled swimming area and right opposite the town jetty. You won’t find a jumping pillow or water park but you won’t need them either, so well located is this spot to the north’s best watery attractions. From the jetty you can…

AL-KO’s major release in the Innovation Hub was a revolutionary new lightweight chassis — AL-KO LightR — which has the potential to revolutionise Australian caravan design. The development of the chassis was announced in February by AL-KO, a global leader in caravan chassis technology. Developed by AL-KO in Melbourne over the past two years, AL-KO LightR is a highly engineered chassis concept, offering the opportunity for significant weight savings versus a traditional Australian caravan chassis while also retaining the strong and durable characteristics required for the tough Australian conditions. “Currently, there is an issue with Australian caravans — they’re becoming too heavy,” said AL-KO Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Peter Mannfolk. “Not only are caravans getting bigger, they’re also being filled with more extras such as generators, solar panels…

Complete your ultimate Big Skies adventure by camping out at the grounds of Jimbour House and take the time to explore the region. Campsites are set at 10mx8m and can contain a vehicle and single caravan, campervan, motorhome or trailer with an awning; or two tents, a gazebo and a vehicle. Sites are unpowered, with toilet and shower facilities available. Camping is available from one night to a full 10-day package, with the campsite opening from Friday 26 April. Tickets for all Big Skies events, including Day on the Plain, are available now at bigskiesevents.com.au…

If you are anything like me, you’ve realised there’s no smartphone app or digital offering that will satisfy your soul in the same way that good mates, star-filled skies, cold beer and a touch of adventure can. And you’re probably also well past snuggling into the stony gibber in a weather-proof swag, so you need to upgrade your travelling abode. It’s quite a trick to determine if your next home on wheels should be a camper trailer, caravan or motorhome, so here’s what you need to consider to decide what on-road accommodation will work best for you. CARAVAN CULTURE For many, the best memories are made of things such as the sound of rain on a caravan roof or the cool breeze stirring the flaps of the annexe as the…

In the 1960s Dennis Jackson, a design engineer for Wiltshire Cutlery in Melbourne, thought that 'a knife that sharpens itself is the answer!' So he invented the ‘Staysharp’ knife with its individual spring-loaded sharpening block. After testing it in Perth over the festive season in 1969, he unleashed it on the world. Since then, more than eight million Staysharp knives have been sold. While the invention has proven to be incredibly convenient, it’s had two unfortunate side-effects: 1. Those of us who bought them forgot how to sharpen knives manually; and 2. By ripping the Staysharp through its bespoke knife block before every use, we wore the blades down so quickly that we had to keep buying more Staysharp knives! Welcome to the throw-away society...…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Bushtracker vans aren't the cheapest on the market, but you do get exactly what you pay for” TOWABILITY N/A (CW did not get to tow the van) LIVEABILITY "Compact size but its many features would make extended trips a breeze” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Built to be taken offroad, and its compact width is great for those tight tracks” LAYOUT “Functional layout with great use of available space in a compact van” QUALITY OF FINISH “Only the best products, that have passed months of rigorous testing, are used throughout” BUILD QUALITY “Hard to find fault here with exceptional craftsmanship from start to finish” CREATURE COMFORTS “Separate shower and toilet is a nice touch” INNOVATION “Most of the innovation is not seen – ie composite floor and flame-retardant…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Plenty of bang for your hard-earned money” TOWABILITY “Felt nice and stable from soft sand up to highway speeds” LIVEABILITY "All the right equipment to get the job done with a minimum of fuss” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “An offroad van with everything you need to keep you off the grid too” LAYOUT “Practical layout with more storage than you could wish for” QUALITY OF FINISH “High quality finish from top to bottom” BUILD QUALITY “Attention to detail is evident throughout” CREATURE COMFORTS “Multiple power outlets and energy-efficient LED lighting” INNOVATION “Borrowing ideas from the marine industry will continue to push the boundaries” X-FACTOR “Proven design that doesn't follow the trends just for the sake of it”…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Just over $90K for a 14-footer you might say but it's jam-packed with features” TOWABILITY “The Trakmaster fleet tracks beautifully, and this model is no exception” LIVEABILITY “The amount of living space really takes you by surprise” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “As I said at BAV almost three years ago, it's 'an audacious pocket-rocket designed for resolute outback adventure'” LAYOUT “For such a compact van, the walkway to the bedroom talks the talk!” QUALITY OF FINISH “The high degree of excellence starts with the gloss acrylic cabinetry” BUILD QUALITY “The fibreglass composite construction, combined with thermal and acoustic properties, takes the cake” CREATURE COMFORTS “Due to its dimensions there has to be some comprise, i.e. no ensuite and climatic comfort” INNOVATION “Offroad aficionados will love the extreme…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Excellent for anyone on a budget!” TOWABILITY “A very easy van tow with a relatively lightweight vehicle” LIVEABILITY “Fairly tight interior, so al fresco activities looking good” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Great for lightweight touring with mid-sized tow vehicle” LAYOUT “Space is something of a premium but even with the bathroom cubicle, it’s been well sorted” QUALITY OF FINISH “In some ways it is quite a basic looking van but the overall finish looks quite good” BUILD QUALITY “Appears quite good to me but given the van can be fitted with rough-road suspension, that’s to be expected” CREATURE COMFORTS “Limited but that’s not surprising” INNOVATION “Nothing spectacular but building a small, lightweight van is almost innovative in itself” X-FACTOR “Definitely the weight and construction factors”…

An article featured in Caravan World 584 wrongly referred to Perth-based caravan manufacturer Explorex Caravans as Explorer Caravans. The article was featured on page 11 and was entitled 'Small WA manufacturer helps fight war against meth'. We'd like to formally apologise to Explorex Caravans for this mistake. Explorex Caravans have showcased their newly released 18ft Numbat at the Perth Caravan & Camping Show in March, as a part of their ‘Adventure Series’. The Numbat comes in single or tandem axle configurations and is the perfect fit for those wanting to move up from a camper trailer or small pop-top caravan - the perfect size van for those wanting quick weekend getaways or extended offroad touring. To find out more about the Explorex Caravans range, visit explorex.com.au…

As this is issue of Caravan World has in part an ANZAC theme, I thought I would digress into something a bit more personal this month. I have no relatives who have ever been in the Australian army but my father Dennis, who died 18 months ago, was a national serviceman in the British Army, as was an uncle of mine. Like many who served in a war, Dad rarely talked about his experiences. We knew where he had served but not so much about things he had seen and done. It was only after he died that I found out about his personal history and gained more insight into what he had been through. Because of his age, he was not conscripted until later in the war but, like…

LEVEL UP Q I’ve got a question about load levellers. I tow my 7m (23ft) caravan with a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee turbodiesel. Do I need load levellers if the Jeep doesn’t drop down when the caravan is hitched up? It tows the caravan at 110km/h with no sway at all, and both the Jeep and caravan are level. Kevin Shadlowl, via email A Thanks Kevin. I would say no, you don’t need a load leveller (a weight distribution hitch). It sounds to me like you have a great combination. The fact that you say the Cherokee doesn’t droop suggests to me that you have a relatively low towball weight. And if there’s no sway, that's fantastic. If I could recommend one thing, it would be to get your van…

ELECTRICAL ISSUES I read with interest 'Easy Electric Fix' in issue 584. This prompted me to pass on an experience I had in March 2018 whilst touring Tasmania, where the brakes on my caravan were activating by themselves intermittently. To remedy this, I inspected all things electrical associated with the brake circuitry and 'jiggled' all connections and wires to check that the job had been done professionally. There were no more problems until the next leg of the journey from Strahan to Tarraleah — just when you really need caravan braking assistance — where the caravan brakes locked on intermittently but continuously. Being an electrician I thought, 'I can fix this, how hard could it be'? I disconnected the breakaway battery, to no success. I disconnected the caravan supply battery…

AL-KO also had interesting information available about the first hybrid power chassis concept for motorhomes that has been developed in Europe. The EU Parliament's Environment Committee has held discussions regarding a significant reduction in CO2 emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Manufacturers are to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of their new car fleets by 45 per cent by the year 2030 (measured from the base year 2021). In addition, a sales target of 40 per cent of emission-free and low-emission cars — electric cars and plug-in hybrids — is to be achieved by 2030. AL-KO Vehicle Technology already has an intelligent solution proposal for this current requirement. Together with Huber Automotive AG, an established specialist for embedded automotive electronics, the chassis technology expert presented a world…

While there’s no clear answer where the name comes from, Jimbour Station served as the first fully stocked cattle station on the Queensland Darling Downs region in the early 1840s. Irishman Henry Dennis settled in the area running the homestead on behalf of the owner, Richard Scougall, with a flock of 11,000 sheep and 700 head of mixed cattle. Ownership changed hands in 1844 when it was purchased by Thomas Bell and records indicate the station was registered under the name ‘Jimba.’ The name is likely to have evolved from there. The house also briefly lodged Australian explorer and German immigrant Ludwig Leichhardt, credited for the journey from southeast Queensland to the then settlement of Port Essington, northeast of Darwin, standing as one of the greatest tales of endurance and…

For those of you who have been lucky enough to get your teeth really stuck into outback travel, you have no doubt encountered the venerable spinifex grasses of our remote regions. Now, there are two main kinds of spinifex in Australia: an older, harder form suited to our arid environments; and a softer form, which can be found in our more tropical climates. Regardless of species, spinifex is well adapted to thrive in some of the harshest habitats this country has to offer. After hitching the 2019 SpinifeX EpiX up behind the 200 Series LandCruiser of owner Steve Thompson at the Deception Bay HQ of SpinifeX Caravans, and chatting with him on our way to Bribie Island, it didn't take me long to realise just why he had chosen SpinifeX…

Forget you ve : doesn’t matter! Please allow me to momentarily digress... It’s documented that bees can carry their own weight in pollen while flying; ants can lift 40 times their own bodyweight; and spider webs, weight-for weight, are five times stronger than steel. OK, that might be enough from the ‘Ministry of Useless Information’. Enter the 4.3m (14ft 1in) Trakmaster Pilbara Explorer — a diminutive dynamo that is small in stature but big in heart! The ‘tale of the tape’ reveals this offroad pop-top is one of the smallest and lightest members of Trakmaster’s ‘Pilbara’ family. KNOCKOUT BLOW Once again, don’t let size deceive you! The Explorer certainly punches well above its 1880kg Tare weight. Amazingly, it packs a similar offroad thwack to its bigger and bulkier siblings such…

There’s no doubt that there is currently a plethora of caravan makes and models in the Australian RV marketplace. For the newcomer, there is also the slightly confusing choice of an on-road van, an offroad van or something in between. On a recent visit to Coffs Harbour, NSW, caravan dealer Caravans Coffs Coast gave me a look over the Titanium 'Southern Star' range, in particular three vans that each fitted into the aforementioned three categories and the various differences between them. For this review I'm going to focus mostly on the heavy end, that is the offroad Hardcore but will also take a brief look at various on-road/offroad requirements, as well as a few layout differences. “Titanium’s Hardcore caravan is, as you might imagine, built for the rough stuff with…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Well priced for an offroad van” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Very well equipped, including a grey water tank” LIVEABILITY “Nice and easy living in an offroad van” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Very well equipped for this purpose” LAYOUT “Standard front bed/rear bath layout but no real compromises” QUALITY OF FINISH “Uses mostly contemporary materials and appliances” BUILD QUALITY “No more than the usual number of build issues that I could see” CREATURE COMFORTS “Has just about all of them in this amount of space” INNOVATION “Nothing particularly spectacular, although the body structure is different” X-FACTOR “An offroad van that isn’t particularly heavy”…

Lightweight caravans are something of an enigma in the Australian RV scene. There’s something of a perception amongst buyers that they are not suitable for driving around the country which does discourage manufacturing interest. However, the addition of (mostly) extra steelwork to 'strengthen' up a van for 'Australian' conditions (however they are defined) does add considerably to the weight, requiring a much larger tow vehicle and a heavier combination. I’m not suggesting that those caravans purpose built for serious offroad travel shouldn’t be built in the way they are, but few Australian manufacturers seem to be seriously considering ways of shedding weight in a helpful way for road touring vans. Apart from a few brave importers, there are several local manufacturers who are making inroads and one of those is…

"Regular use and cleaning around the internal/ external window frame will ensure smooth operation over time” The wind-out Camec window is commonplace within the Australian RV industry and will provide years of trouble-free service. However, like all devices, the lack of use rather than overuse can cause damage to the internal mechanism particularly when the window is not opened for a number of years and hence the window blade sticks hard and fast to the frame. Regular use and cleaning around the internal/external window frame will ensure smooth operation over time. One benefit of this design compared with a strut window for example is that the owner can adjust the window to the desired or flexible opening range whereas the strut design has specific opening stages. The image opener shows…

Although most caravans have awnings and internal living space, some folks prefer to expand their living space even further, choosing an option with more airflow and greater ease of entry and exit. Enter the fabled gazebo. Get it wrong or buy cheap and you could end up dealing with unwieldy poles going everywhere. Get it right and you’re set. A decent new option on the market is the Sombra Shelter by BlackWolf, a dome-like structure with a heavy-duty canopy boasting a UPF 50+ sun protection rating. Made with spacious relaxation in mind, the main unique feature of the shelter is its ability to prevent sunburn and ageing skin; the high sun protection rating is meant to block 98 per cent of harmful UV rays. The fabric itself keeps things cool…