Innehållsförteckning för Issue 596 från Caravan World

The recent tragic fires across much of our country have impacted many readers, and our best wishes go out to those who are still suffering. Thousands of holidaymakers, including hundreds of caravanners, were evacuated from the NSW south coast where I live. And while travel was frustrating, from what I saw most folk handled the frustration with patience and respect for what authorities were attempting under difficult circumstances. We should not let the opportunity pass without paying respect and appreciation for the thousands of firefighters, volunteers and support personel who showed the best of the human spirit. A big thank you to all of them. Websites listed on the opposite page give donation points to help both our rural fire services and the communities that have lost so much. In…

Q I have read, with interest, many letters about the types of batteries and power management systems you can have in your caravan — the choices seem endless which I suppose is a wonderful thing (thanks technology!). But I am very interested in your advice on how to manage your usage of power in a caravan so as to not require scores of extra batteries, storage, solar panels etc. My wife and I have a 16ft pop-top van that suits our needs very well and we are not inclined to get a larger rig just because it seems fashionable. But we are always learning, and sometimes we do like to go 'off-grid' and not stay in powered parks. Looking forward to hearing your tips. Stan Wallace, via email A…

PROS Enough room for eight to ten people in comfort means endless opportunities to make unforgettable lifelong memories. Incredible water storage and practically endless supply of power make this truly a go-anywhere vehicle. Imaginative double storey design and associated technology means this vehicle lives in the rarefied atmosphere that belongs to luxury expedition vehicles. The motorhome can accommodate two to four campers without needing to put the roof up. Ideal if the kids want to stay at home. CONS The price and inevitable running costs demand deep pockets. Climbing into the second storey requires a degree of dexterity not necessarily available to everyone.…

Tare 1850kg ATM 2600kg Payload 750kg (calculated) Ball weight 135kg Suspension Independent coil spring with dual Monroe shocks Brakes 12” electric Coupling ARK 360 Offroad Hitch Chassis 150 x 50 x 4mm Drawbar 150 x 50 x 4mm Body Fully welded aluminium frame with insulation and aluminium composite sheet walls Cladding Composite sheeting Wheels/Tyres Six-stud LT265/75R16 wheels, Goodride Radial M/T Style Pop-top Hybrid DIMENSIONS Travel size 5.7m (L) x 2.05m (W) x 2.35m (H, closed) Body length 13ft closed Interior 1.9 x 4.1m when open Awning size 4.5m x 2.8m (oversized) or 3.5m x 2.7m (fitted) ACCESSORIES Gas 2 x 4.5kg bottles plumbed Water 205L (two 85L tanks and one 35L tank), with Truma HWS and SEAFLO pump to external showerhead and sink tap Kitchen Fully plumbed stainless steel kitchen…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.08m (23ft 2in) External body length 5.42m (17ft 7in) Internal body length 5.33m (17ft 5in) External body width 2.47m (8ft 1in) Travel height 3.04m (8ft 1in) Internal height 1.97m (6ft 4in) Tare 2107kg ATM 2582kg Ball weight 151kg Payload 475kg (calculated) EXTERNAL Frame Composite Cladding Fibreglass Chassis 6" hot dipped galvanised Suspension Tandem trailing arm independent with shock absorber Brakes 10in Drum Wheels 15' alloy Water 2 x 82L Battery 1 x 110Ah Solar 160W Air-conditioner Yes Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Combination oven Fridge 171L 3 way Microwave Yes Toilet Yes Shower Yes Lighting LED Hot water Yes PRICE FROM $57,990 OPTIONS FITTED Reversing camera, picnic table, external shower, 160w solar upgrade PRICE AS TESTED $59,530…

Nova Caravans have been in business for fourteen years. In the context of our age-old caravan industry, that makes them relatively young. But from the first caravan out of their factory door, Nova have been building a decent van. Today, Nova builds a wide range of caravans, from the single axle Metrolink to the upmarket Pride Platinum. In between is a selection of offroad models and for the purposes of this article, family caravans. Even within the Family Escape range of vans, there’s a selection of rear bunk and front bunk layouts in a variety of external lengths and weights. Just a bit of trivia here, the word ‘nova’ refers to something in space, something star-related — don’t ask me, not my field. But it also means a salmon that…

LOCATION Murray-Sunset NP lies in the far north-west corner of Victoria, about 550km from Melbourne and 400km from Adelaide. ACCESS Access to the park from Melbourne is via the Calder Highway and from South Australia via the Sturt Highway. Wallpolla Island, 25km west of Merbein, is accessed via Channel Road, unsealed Old Mail Road and Robertson Road. Access to Lindsay Island is via the Old Mail Road and Sandford Track. All tracks are dry weather only and closed by gates during flooding. Two-wheel drive vehicles can access the islands in dry weather, however four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. WHEN TO VISIT Autumn, winter and spring are the best times to visit. FUEL AND SUPPLIES Fuel and supplies can be obtained in Mildura (VIC), Wentworth (NSW) and Renmark (SA). CAMPING AND…

It’s been very difficult to put this column together because there are some serious national disasters going on. As I write this, just about every state and territory has or has had a major bushfire burning. For the past six weeks, regional Sydney, where I live, has been covered in a constant pall of smoke, some days being worse than others. Enormous areas of southern New South Wales, eastern Victoria and South Australia’s Kangaroo Island have been burnt out, while the fires in Queensland and Western Australia have been slightly smaller but no less tragic. There has been much life and property loss — which has been horrific — and many businesses have taken a major economic hit, something most could ill afford. Included in this list are all the…

WORLD OF CONFUSION AND MYTH Q Hi guys, I’ve been reading a few caravan reviews in your fine magazine lately, and I have a question about ball weights. I’ve noticed a lot of the vans reviewed seem to have quite low tow ball weights at tare. For example, a stock standard van as delivered might have a tare of 2400kg and a max ATM of 3000kg. But the listed ball weight is like 150kg. The general rule of thumb for ball weights is they should be 10% of the measured ATM of the van. Given the example above, the measured ATM of the van is really 2400kg (the same as the tare — no water, no gas, nothing loaded on the van) So, using the 10% rule (as hammered…

On the back of their innovative approach to interior design that shook up the industry when they launched some eight years ago, New Age has grown into one of the most influential caravan brands. The young company introduced the style and colours of contemporary apartment living to RV interiors, and they haven't looked back. And although most other vans now follow the same trend, New Age manages to stay fresh. In recent times the Walkinshaw Group took complete control of the business after a period where they were part owners. The move into the RV market followed the demise of their Special Vehicles branch with the passing of Holden. We are looking forward to the combination of an Avant Guard caravan company and Walkinshaw’s engineering knowhow, and the release of…

Back when Holden Kingswoods roamed the earth, family caravans were quite common. However, they didn’t have the look of family vans of today — or at least the ones I was familiar with didn’t. Basic features, like a two-burner cooktop, an under-bench fridge and a small washing up sink with hand or foot pumped water, were there. Beds usually consisted of a fold down or basic fixed bed in the rear and a dinette that folded down into a bed at night in a not always quick process. As teenagers, we were grateful when the canvas annexe and external bunk beds came along. If the Franklin Razor 220 bunk van I took for a spin recently was any guide, things have changed. Franklin, one of the few big caravan manufacturer…

There are a variety of websites you can use to start tracing your ancestors. Most of these charge fees for use, either monthly or annual, but some offer a free trial, or limited access to common databases for free. Once you get the basics done, you’ll need a premium subscription to access more detailed records. Some sites offer features such as DNA testing (if you choose to, your results can be used to match you with potential relatives), discussion forums and access to qualified genealogists if you need specialised help or get stuck. Here are a few tried and tested sites to get started: Ancestry.com.au FindMyPast.com.au https://www.familysearch.org…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES External length 12m (39'4") External width 2.49m (8'2") Internal height 2m (6' 6") downstairs, 1.5m (4'11") upstairs Travel height 4.2m (13' 9") Tare 20,000kg GVM 42,000kg ENGINE Base vehicle Man TGS 8x8 Engine Thetford N614.3F 18.4 litre Gearbox 12-speed automated with power distributed by a two-speed transfer case, planetary axles, differential locks on all 4 axles Max power 353kW at 1900rpm Max torque 2300Nm at 1050-1400rpm EXTERNAL Brakes Disc Fuel Diesel 1000L Fresh water 1000L Grey Water 200L Black water 200L Batteries Mastervolt Lithium 48V Bank 540Ah, Mastervolt 12V Bank 180 Ah, 3 x Mastervolt 48/3500–50 inverter/Charger mass combi ultra Solar 2kW Air-conditioner Airconditioning units x 3 — 48V 12K–15K BTU approx. — ducted system Gas No INTERNAL Cooking Diesel/induction system with electric induction cooktop and additional…

Bob Pattison and Kathy Cooper have been avid caravanners for many years. The married couple from Cooroy in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast have travelled far and wide and both done the almost obligatory Big Lap of Australia. But until relatively recently, they hadn’t travelled together. Bob, 75, and Kathy, 72, were both widowed and, finding a kindred spirit with a sense of adventure in one another, married in 2016. “I have had a caravan since I was 24, so for 50 years,” says Pattison. “That was something I really missed when my wife passed away. It’s just not the same when you are on your own. You can’t talk about the sunsets with anyone. “Kathy and I knew each other but she didn’t know I was a caravanner and I found…

"Show them parts of this great land and the diverse people who live here. Take them to iconic places you saw as a young traveller, expand their horizons and stimulate their imaginations." So, you want to take the kids on a trip. Maybe it’s the grandkids, or the children from next door, but the offer has been made and you now face the realities of the situation. Where do they sleep? How will you entertain them? Can this be a safe, happy and enjoyable experience for all? It seems simple and worthwhile — get them into the open air with lots of exercise, away from screens and the digital doldrums that must surely be eating away at their bodies and minds. Show them parts of this great land and the…

ESCAPE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.36m (27ft 5in) External body length 6.76m (22ft 2in) External body width (incl awn) 2.21m (7ft 11in) Travel height (incl AC) 2.92m (9ft 6in) Internal height 1.94m (6ft 4in) Tare 2335kg ATM 2938kg Payload 603kg Ball weight 215kg EXTERNAL Walls One-piece Pro-Al sandwich constructed walls Chassis SupaGal 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) Suspension Tandem axel leaf spring Coupling Ball Brakes 10in elec Wheels 15in alloy Water 2 x 80L Battery 2 x 105Ah Solar 1 x 160W Air-conditioner Houghton Belaire 3500 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Al-Ko ESC Kitchen (ext) No INTERNAL Cooking Thetford Minigrill four burner and grill (three gas, one electric) Fridge Thetford N614.3F 184 litre Microwave NCE Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet & separate shower cubicle Hot water Swift 28…

Caravan World has always had a love affair with Bushtracker. Like many Queensland based custom caravan manufacturers, the Kunda Park company always pushes the limits of what can be done with our homes away from home. Known for low-volume bespoke caravans, the wait can be a year or more for a new build but the time is spent where it matters — building the van well. Owners are invited to be more than just a buyer, they become part of the family and fabric of what Bushtracker does. Ideas are shared from existing owners and personal touches are welcome, though there are some limitations. To prevent a potential liability leaving the factory the team limits builds to known chassis specifications and standardised body sizes. With most buyers on their third…

Almost every Christmas Shaun Noble, co-owner of Goldstream RV, and his family settle into a caravan park on the shores of Hume Weir. Days pass with waterskiing, boarding and zooming around the long reaches of the upper Murray. Nights see them all snuggled up in a campervan. Noble has his pick of any of the vans from the Goldstream RV range but up until recently a camper has been his choice of holiday accommodation. This year things are different. In a moment of reflection, Noble decided to mix things up and design a family retreat based on the company’s popular 15’ Remote pop-top. Goldstream started operations as a camper trailer builder back in 1993, and their solid foundation was established on their Wing, Storm and Thunder campers. Gradually they added…

The State Government of Victoria has announced a $10.5 million upgrade to seven iconic 4WD drive tracks plus other tracks and facilities across Victoria. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, has indicated that the tracks marked for upgrade include Wonnangatta, the Otways, Snowy River, Davies Plain, Grampians, Mallee and River Red Gum Drive. An additional $945,000 will be spent improving signage, toilet facilities, picnic tables and new fire rings at six campsites across the Alpine National Park, Howqua Hills and Mansfield State Forest. “Four-wheel driving is a great way to explore Victoria’s great outdoors, and the improvements being made to these vehicle tracks and campsites will make that experience even more enjoyable,” she said. Four-wheel drive clubs and conservation and tourism operators inject more than $120 million…

It only takes the actions of a small few to spoil it for everyone else! Take rubbish disposal for example. Why is it people can’t think ahead and dispose of their rubbish properly? Is it ignorance, lack of care or downright disrespect of our beautiful natural resources? We spent the week over Christmas holidaying in a beautiful caravan park on the Mornington Peninsula, catching up with family and racking up a few more nights in our new camper. Apart from a few cigarette butts scattered here and there, our campsite was spotless. While on its own that may not appear to be a big deal, it reminds us of the many other indiscretions we’ve seen, particularly when bush camping. It’s reinforced at a time when bushfires are ravaging almost every…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.89m (25’8”) External body length 5.8m (19’) External body width 2.5m (8’2”) Travel height 2.95m (9’7”) Internal height 2.03m (6’6”) Tare 2120kg ATM 2720kg Ball weight 140kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Raised profile Aluminium Chassis Preston Chassis 50 x 100mm Duragal Suspension leaf spring Roller Rocker Brakes 10” drum Wheels 15” alloy (235 x 75 tyres) Water 1 x 110L Grey Water No (optional) Battery 1 x 110Ah Solar No Air-conditioner Yes, Gree Gas 1 x 9kg Sway control Yes INTERNAL Cooking Thetford Mini Grill Fridge 164L three-way Microwave Yes, NCE Toilet Yes Shower Yes Lighting Yes Hot water Yes PRICE FROM $49,990 OPTIONS FITTED Comfort pack — Winegard aerial, a Gree air conditioner and a 100Ah battery from the optional Comfort Pack. PRICE AS…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.68m (28ft 6in) External body length 6.81m (22ft 4in) External body width (incl awn) 2.4m (7ft 11in) Travel height (incl AC) 2.9m (9ft 6in) Internal height 2.03m (6ft 8in) Tare 2462kg ATM 2987kg Payload 525kg Ball weight 138kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti timber Cladding Aluminium composite Chassis SupaGal 150m x 50mm (6in x 2in) RHS Suspension Tandem axle leaf spring Coupling Ball Brakes 10in electric Wheels 15in alloy Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 160W Air-conditioner Ibis 3 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No Kitchen (ext) No INTERNAL Cooking Swift 4 burner, grill & oven Fridge Dometic RMDX21 190L 3-way Microwave NCE Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet & separate cubicle shower Hot water Truma 14L gas/elec OPTIONS FITTED Fiamma bike rack PRICE AS…

I’ve never started a review with so many misgivings. My misgivings grew because we’d usually head bush and rumble this style of rig over uneven ground somewhere. But circumstances meant there was no opportunity for an adventure, big or small. Nonetheless, here’s a yarn of heroic proportions, of promise and of hope and of a production team with a love and passion for the work they do. Working midnight shifts to meet a tight deadline, they’ve made one of the most memorable rigs ever featured in Caravan World. Let me explain. ROAMING BEYOND THE HORIZON Global roaming rigs, or expedition vehicles as they’re called in up-market circles, are the type of RV that’ll carry you over any landscape, from the haunting back country of Iceland to the ancient, harsh Sahara.…

As a Melbournite, I savour any chance to get up north — so I felt blessed to find myself on the banks of Coochin Creek recently. This waterway flows into Pumicestone Passage, the narrow channel between Bribie Island and mainland Queensland. I was there with Adam Mathieson, General Manager of Swag Camper Trailers, who lives up this way himself. It was interesting to hear Adam reminisce fondly about areas even further north; we all seem magnetised towards the equator. As he ran through the set-up of the Raptor X13 Explorer, Swag’s family-friendly six-berth hybrid priced at $39,990, he pointed out a tinny on the water and said, “We used to pull drag nets through creeks like this in North Queensland. You wouldn’t do that anymore. Too many crocs.” It was…

COLOURS — Choose a specific colour, and have your kids look for and photograph things that colour. STARTS WITH — Ask your kids to find objects that start with a certain letter and photograph them. THEIR NAME — They could either find objects that start with the letters in their name or they could look for things that look like letters to make their name. SCAVENGER HUNT — Create a list of 20 items they need to find in the house or in the yard. Hand over the camera and have them photograph the options as they find them. Be sure to throw in something of a challenge. THEMES — Choosing a certain theme, eg, lines, doors, shapes, and have kids photograph them is a great way to both engage…

It’s said that Jayco command half the RV sales in Australia every year. That’s a lot of vans across their vast offering of campers, pop-tops and caravans, and with a dedicated research and development crew they are continually updating their products with fresh ideas. The Journey on review is a case in point. It was so new that when we arranged the test, they still hadn’t decided on a model name! So let’s call it the Journey Cargo for its innovative bunk bed design, which converts to a very useful cargo hold. The Journey 17.53.3 is a seventeen footer in Jayco’s caravan catalogue of budget tourers. It can be optioned as a smooth road Touring version or the dirt road Outback model on review here. Layouts in both versions are…

The biggest decision for some will be where does everyone sleep? If you have a van with bunk beds it’s likely that you do this regularly. If you haven’t done it before, or have a small van, then this can be a bit of a juggle. If you have bunk beds, unless the number of children exceeds the number of bunks your night-time accommodation worries are really non-existent. Most caravans will have the option to lower the dinette table or to bridge a gap between seats with an insert to create another bed. It can be fiddly to set up and pack away each day, but you can make it part of the adventure and for all but the smallest it can be part of their responsibilities. For one or…

Northam Caravan Park Contact Details: Phone: (08) 9622 1620 Email: northamcaravanpark@bigpond.com Web: northamcaravanpark.com Pingrup Caravan Park Contact Details: Phone: (08) 9820 1101 Email: pingrupcrc@gmail.com Web: pingrupcrc.com.au/caravan-park Katanning Caravan Park Contact Details: Phone: (08) 9821 1155 Email: katanningcaravan@gmail.com Web: katanningcaravanpark.com Premier Mill Hotel Katanning Contact Details: Phone: (08) 6500 3950 Web: premiermillhotel.com Albany Caravan Park Contact Details: Phone: (08) 9844 3267 Email: albanyhappydays@bigpond.com Web: albanycaravanpark.com…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.15m (30ft) External body length 7.32m (24ft) External body width 2.4m (8ft) Travel height 3.1m (10ft) Internal height 2.03m (6ft 6in) Tare 3840kg ATM 4495kg Ball weight 225kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium box section welded and double riveted Cladding Fibreglass Chassis Steel Suspension Simplicity LSC (Load Sharing Coil) Brakes Electric Wheels 20” (matched to tow vehicle) Water 450L (90L potable drinking / 360L non-potable) Battery 900A lithium / 3000W inverter / 120A charger / 2 x 50A DC to DC chargers Solar 1,400W (6 x 180W panels, 4 x 80W panels) Air-conditioner 2 x Dometic Ibis 4 inverter Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control N/A due to it being standard on the tow vehicle INTERNAL Cooking Thetford twin induction Fridge Dometic RUC8408 224L compressor Microwave Panasonic…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.2m (23’6”) External body length 4.65m (15’2”) External body width 2.28m (7’5”) Travel height 2.25m (7’4”) Internal height 1.95m ( 6’3”) Tare 1639kg ATM 2239kg Ball weight 144kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Composite aluminium Chassis 100x50 Duragal Suspension AL-KO Enduro independent Brakes 12” drums Wheels 15” alloy Water 2 x 82L Battery 1 x 100ah Solar No Air-conditioner No Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking 3 burner cooktop Fridge 93L Microwave Yes Toilet No Shower External Lighting LED Hot water Gas PRICE FROM $50,200 OPTIONS FITTED Air conditioner, fridge upgrade, external shower, gas bayonet, two awning lights, Finch TV, chassis mount battery, gloss furniture, picnic table. PRICE AS SHOWN $54,990…