Innehållsförteckning för Issue 600 från Caravan World

LETTER OF THE MONTH SWAY CONTROL ON VANS AND VEHICLES Q Hi there, I have a VW Amarok fitted with a factory tow pack which includes trailer sway control. I tow a 2018 Golden Eagle caravan fitted with Dexter sway control (DSC). As the DSC is integrated with van power supply and not connected to vehicle control, how does the DSC work in conjunction with vehicle trailer sway control which is controlled by vehicle? Does one system override the other or do they somehow work together? It's interesting that they are two completely separate systems designed to do the same function. Hope you can help, Ron Hughes A Hi Ron, That's a really good question and one that will be asked more and more as vehicles begin to offer…

Clark Flint has won an RV Inline Water Filter from B.E.S.T. Water Filters, valued at $119. With a B.E.S.T. (Bacteria Elimination Silver Treatment) water filter, you can ensure you have clean, safe water – wherever the road may take you. The filter means you can safely draw water from town, tank, creek or bore water sources to fill your caravan’s tanks, while the chemicals and sediment will be removed and the bacteria destroyed. The filter is multi-directional, can be used after long periods of non-use and involves a simple, DIY installation. For more information, visit bestwaterfilters.com.au or call 1800 240 822…

With travel restrictions in place, it’s hard leaving home to check out the vans on your short list for when the borders open again. So, in this new section, over the next couple of issues we've invited manufacturers to bring their most popular vans to you in this virtual showroom. In our first instalment we welcome the Zone RV 18.6 Off Road. If you're dreaming about exploring remote locations then this rugged offroad van might be just the shot. It’s an 18-footer that’s as hard as they come. Zone RV’s innovative build is made to last and engineered to take on the hardest travelling you can dish out. Weighing in at 2485kg, a massive 1015kg payload can take along everything you need for weeks in the bush yet still keep…

Anything that’s built to last is built on a solid foundation, whether it be a house, skyscraper, relationship, or caravan. Bushtracker Caravans is no exception. There’s no cutting corners or costs here. It’s about building the best van for customers who like to get to far-flung reaches of this harsh continent and stay there. If you spend enough time checking out different caravans, you’ll soon realise that Bushtracker models all share the same profile. The only difference with the 16ft model is the width. It’s what Bushtracker calls its ‘compact’ model, measuring only 2.17m wide. All Bushtracker vans are built the same way, along a similar principle to a house with a slab/floor and stud wall. However, a range of layouts and lengths, plus ears willing to listen to custom…

There was a time when house batteries in caravans, campervans and motorhomes were a ‘nice to have’ option. Those times are long gone. These days any RV without a battery is in the minority, especially for those who don’t stay in caravan parks or like to travel to remote places and need a reliable 12V supply. Along with the batteries comes the matter of chargers and they too have developed to meet the evolving battery scene. We have moved from a ‘hot wire’ from the tow vehicle or motorhome base vehicle alternator to battery management systems, multi-stage regulators and external sources like solar panels. LEAD-ACID BATTERY ESSENTIALS Although there have been some great developments in the world of batteries, some of the basics have not changed at all. Irrespective of…

We all love a town with a tale to tell, and despite our rather short history, Australia is full of intriguing destinations with tragic tales and ripping yarns. From explorers to bushrangers, convicts to Japanese air raids, these are stories worth building a trip around, and will take you right around the country. DARWIN, NT No other Aussie city has been bombed by the Japanese and hit by a category-5 cyclone. Known and loved for its tropical, laissez-faire attitude to life, this end-of-the-road holiday haven continues to attract free-living Aussies, and it’s not just for the great fishing, indulgent hot springs or perfect wintertime weather that travellers love Darwin. It’s quirky and fun and despite the notoriously expensive holiday park rates, there are lots of reasons to park your rig…

ZESTY BEEF PIE TOTAL TIME: 2hrs MAKES: 4 pies INGREDIENTS • 700g chuck steak, cut into 3cm cubes • 3 tbsp olive oil, for cooking • 3/4 cup flour, to coat steak cubes • Salt and pepper • 2 medium carrots, finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1 sprig rosemary, finely diced • Zest of 1 orange • 2 cups of beef stock • Dash of red wine • 1 sheet puff pastry • 1 egg, beaten METHOD Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Season the flour with salt and pepper, then toss the meat in the flour and shake off any excess. In a large frying pan, seal the meat in olive oil over high heat until browned. Set aside. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil…

Rhino-Rack have just released a new backbone roof rack system for Nissan Navara NP300 RX or ST Dual Cabs. The new rack connects to the roof via three bases on each side and helps to evenly distribute the weight of your gear to minimise impact on steering and handling, and thereby increase your control on and off road. Rhino-rack has constructed the rack out of noncorrosive stainless steel to ensure best possible durability. You can further maximise your carrying potential by pairing the backbone with a new Pioneer platform that the team at Rhino-Rack have developed. Specifically designed to carry most existing Rhino-Rack accessories, the incorporated accessory channels in the front and rear extrusions of the new Pioneer enable you to mount add-ons such as a kayak carrier or spare…

Without fridge freezers, where would we be? One intuits that man wouldn't have made it to the Moon. He would have capitulated somewhere in the lower atmos. And, closer to home, man certainly wouldn’t have made it across the Simpson desert all of those times. There’s a glut of brands and it can be hard to pick. One option that it certainly pays to be aware of is Brass Monkey, an Australian owned brand, who say that, over the last few years, they’ve “developed a range of reliable, efficient and low-cost 12V portable fridge/freezers but at only half the price of other brands and all backed by a three-year warranty.” In their own words, again (and you’ll see why because this next phrase is eminently quotable), “The refrigeration compressor (the…

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has a brilliant offering for those struggling with a bad case of cabin fever during COVID-19. Working with Google, NPWS rangers and staff hit the tracks and trails in mountain, coastline and outback areas across the state to capture over 1350 kilometres of imagery and footage from more than 50 NSW national parks, using Google’s special backpack-mounted trekker. Thanks to their efforts you can hit an old favourite track that you’ve been missing, or explore an iconic walk you’ve always wanted to see. To explore from your couch, all you have to do is drag and drop ‘Pegman’ along the track in Google Maps, just like you would for Google’s street view. 360-degree views of these incredible places may be as close as…

TRACK has acquired the long-standing Australian brands Trakmaster and Pioneer, TRACK Director Gerald Waldron and Wayne Gason of MD Gason Industries jointly announced in early April. The deal, which had been in negotiation since December 2019, will see all brands remain on Australian soil. TRACK now owns all intellectual property for the design, manufacture and marketing of both acquired brands. Accordingly, TRACK’s Outback HQ showroom and service centre in Victoria will provide service and parts for both brands and warranty services on behalf of all Gason-manufactured products. “The Australian RV industry was already on notice 12 months ago that the federal RVSA legislation would bring light trailers into a similar compliance scheme to that existing for cars and trucks,” Mr Waldron said in a statement. “The challenges of this and…

The DO35 Drop-On Coupling is designed, tested and manufactured by Cruisemaster™, Australia’s leader in all-terrain towing technology. With full 360-degree articulation to reduce the risk of roll-over, a smooth ADR compliant locking mechanism and a patented ‘Check Lock’ system, the DO35 means added safety whether on the highway or going offroad. Valued at $405, the DO35 V3 is easy to install and compatible with all major WDH systems out of the box. (Note: this model does not include a handbrake, sold separately for $70.) How to win If you’re stumped by a technical or towing problem, send your question to submissions@emprisegroup.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…

Readers John and Cath Burges stopped to take this snap of their rig during their exploration of the history of Western Australia’s Wheatbelt. “Travelling in our Concept Innovation caravan and Jeep Cherokee, taking a break at Pingelly WA with the old Exchange Hotel in the background. There is a lot of history in these small wheatbelt towns and most are so well kept, clean and friendly which makes for a really good stop over.” Like so many of our readers, Sharon and Robert Druery have been experiencing life in a whole new way, and this included their Anzac Day commemorations. “Due to COVID-19, this Anzac Day was much different than any other we have experienced, with our son’s Leader caravan parked up at home. We conducted a driveway service to…

Single panel technology and monocoque construction is inspired by high-end marine techniques. Genuine fibreglass composite panels for the walls, roof, and floor, fully bonded together, create an extremely strong and lightweight structure. Zone RVs are 100 per cent timber free to guarantee the elimination of rotting, deterioration or inconsistency in strength. Lithium batteries, C-Zone digital switching system with dimming 5in screens as standard, solar, battery and water tank level monitor, under bench smartphone charging points, GPS odometer, electric jack, electric bed lift are all standard luxurious technological features in the Off Road series. Enjoy safer towing due to industry leading low off-road tare weights, electronic stability control and reverse cameras. The Zone RV Off Road drawbar is engineered for strength and positioned at the safest, most comfortable towing height. Raptor…

'Upcycling’ is a social trend that permeates many aspects of our lives. A term coined in the late 1990s, upcycling commonly describes a process of converting materials and products into new materials of better quality or utility. It’s another way of saying ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. Whether it’s utilising old round garbage bins or bathtubs as outdoor planters, stripping vintage clothes apart to make fresh duds, or refurbishing old furniture, it seems that many of us are playing our part to reduce unnecessary waste. It’s the same with old caravans. As we go about our daily lives, we can often see them languishing on their lonesome — unused, unloved and deteriorating. How many of us have wanted to rescue these old ladies and bring them back to life? Perhaps you…

Our review saw us drive to Innamincka, down the Strzelecki, through Adelaide and across the Great Australian Bight with the goal of avoiding blacktop where possible. It’s crazy to expect anyone to do the type of trip we did with a full-size camper, let alone a hard-body one with a travel height of nearly 2.5m (8ft 2in), width of over 2m (6ft 6in) and weight around 2000kg. But that’s exactly what we did, and the Expedition Series vans stood up to everything we could throw at them beautifully. CONSTRUCTION ZONE ZONE RV pioneered frameless, composite bodies after years working in the marine sector. The walls and roof here are 29mm thick, and the floor 32mm. All panels are foam core (the floor has an added polymer infusion to give it…

Who knew spending time in picturesque regional Queensland could bring so much joy? Well, the people of Stanthorpe in the Granite Belt did. Who knew eating fresh produce, tasting wines, kicking back with a beer, enjoying country hospitality, celebrating festivals and shopping for local artisan products could mean so much? Again, the people of Stanthorpe. Stanthorpe is the centre of a regional tourist hub, about 2.5 hours south-west of Brisbane, famous for its apple and grape production and 35 wineries with cellar doors. Well, it was a hub until mother nature struck a devastating two-pronged blow. First the drought hit and stayed for three years, sucking the life out of the region. “Some growers will not get a crop this year — again,” says local Allan Foster, who runs Granite…

Chances are if an Aussie doesn’t live near the coast, they cling to a river somewhere, and none is more significant to our lifestyle and economy than the mighty Murray. With headwaters in the Snowy Mountains, this great river wanders lazily along its 2506km course to its destination, the ocean at the Coorong in South Australia. That the Murray is third only to the Amazon and Nile as the longest navigable river in the world is made possible through a series of locks built in the early nineteenth century. But everyone along its meandering path is thirsty for water, and by journey's end, it can sometimes be little more than a brackish pool. The Murray sustains many of our largest inland cities and towns and is the lifeblood to the…

What are the two main things we try to prevent getting into our caravans and RVs? You’d probably agree the answer is dust and water. Usually caused by leaks in joins, door and window seals, vents and apparatus mounted on the roof, the campfire stories we tell about problems caused by unwanted dust and water would probably fill a book or two. We recently acquired an ex-military 1989 6x6 Land Rover 110 Perentie along with a rear module that we’re converting into mobile home. This will be a true offroad RV, so much so we affectionately call her the B.O.V. or Bug-Out-Vehicle. The rear module is from a General Maintenance Vehicle which had been cannibalised for parts to keep others in the aging military fleet on the road. In fixing…

There’s no two ways about it, the first third of 2020 has been a shocker. Regions everywhere are facing their own, individual trials, brought about by bushfires and a pandemic. Places that depend on tourism have had to turn away travellers — not a financially or emotionally easy thing to do. However, some places are doing their all to emerge stronger, and Gippsland numbers among them. The Yarram community has unveiled 12 new murals on the walls of the town, each depicting a fascinating historical character, vital to the region’s history. Yarram is a town of over 2,000 people, two and a half hours south-east of Melbourne, near Tarra Bulga National Park, Agnes Falls, Port Albert, and 90 Mile Beach. Local resident, Eric Greenaway, had the idea and street and…

The Spirit of Tasmania, which transports travellers between the mainland and Tasmania via sea, is set to be relocated from Port Melbourne to Geelong. Michael Grainger, the chairman of TT-Line, which runs the Spirit, explained that the relocation would remove operations from the significant on- and off-water congestion of the Port Melbourne area, noting that such congestion is prone to causing delays in loading and discharging passengers. The port home of the vessel will, in time, become Corio Quay in GeelongPort. The relocation is expected to generate 75 construction jobs over its two year build, and is projected to inject $174.1 million into the greater Geelong region by 2029. Caravan Industry Association of Australia CEO Stuart Lamont commended the decision. “Having inspected both the new facility and the plans for…

Thank you for your continued advice and opinions, we do listen. The reason for this email is to get just that, your opinion. Having visited various caravan shows and dealers, I’ve narrowed my choice for a caravan down to a Jayco Journey. Now, the next decision — do I go for the Outback version or not? Essentially, I’m not planning much offroading and will stick to the tarmac for 98 per cent of my big lap. Is the additional $6000–8000 for the Outback worth it? The caravan sits higher which will increase the air resistance, and alongside the extra Tare, should have a tangible increase in fuel usage. Notwithstanding this, the Outback version does have a few more extras and a noticeable better resale value. I look forward to your…

My Recreational Vehicle (RV) lifestyle started in the early 70’s with my parents, younger brother and sister. Prior to that time, camping under canvas was the family holiday but my folks had had enough of wet flapping canvas and decided that solid aluminium walls and roof were something to consider. AT THE SHOW Off we all went to a caravan show. I don’t exactly remember all we looked at, but I know my folks were honing in on a 14ft (4.27m) or 15ft (4.57m) Viscount Royal. Back then, Viscount made a huge range of caravans but one of the characteristics of the Royal models were curved perspex windows on each corner. I always thought they gave the caravan a stylish look. I mention the possible lengths of the proposed purchase…

Australia’s history is littered with booms and busts and every state has its ‘ghost towns’. Many were bustling mining towns or centres of commerce before misfortune or fickle circumstance rendered them obsolete. For one reason or another their populations just drifted away. A few such towns have experienced a revival, but most languish in quiet oblivion, with empty streets, forlorn hovels and a dry pub with a drooping veranda. The sun-bleached timbers, crumbling masonry and rusting relics have a story to tell and despite their eerie stillness, or perhaps because of it, many of these melancholy places attract tourists who want to hear it. It’s not known exactly how many ghost towns we have, but here are ten that offer a tangible glimpse of the past. ARLTUNGA, NT In 1887,…

Tales of bushrangers and police have captivated Australians ever since Ned Kelly and his gang slipped iron helmets over their heads and took on the might of colonial law. Perhaps these common images and reports of better known bushrangers have prevented us from learning more about other wrongdoers from our past, whose exploits are just as tragic or maybe even contain a touch of humour. A knowledge of our bush criminal past helps us understand how far we have come in relation to modern law and order. Even today, our bushranger history is constantly reinterpreted in a modern setting and these historical characters are being given new life. The most recent commemoration took place in February at Boorowa in the central west of New South Wales. Australia Post unveiled a…

From an impressive range of dozens of layouts across six models, the Grove 16ft single axle van sits as a compact dirt-road capable tourer in Billabong’s Drover Series of mid-level offroaders. There are so many variations across vans from 16 to 19ft and so many options available that the company has every right to call itself a custom builder. Even in the 16ft versions, there are four different layouts with choices of full or combination ensuite, L-shaped or cafe lounge, central or rear door and options with bunks. The van on review, with a central door, cafe lounge and full width ensuite at the back, is proving to be most popular with travelling couples. The layout makes the most of the small footprint and delivers a relatively lightweight model with…

In Caravan World’s long history, we’ve had the chance to review some amazing caravans, from blacktop tourers, to family vans, palaces on wheels and hardcore offroaders. In honour of our 600th issue, we take a look back at three of our favourite caravans for offroad adventurers in recent years — the Bushtracker 16, ZONE RV Expedition Z-10.0 and the Titan Blackhawk 480 Hybrid. We think these represent three of the best offroad caravans available to Aussies today. Of course, manufacturers are always looking to improve and update their designs. Our review of Titan’s Blackhawk 480 was relatively recent, published in March this year, but both the Bushtracker and ZONE RV have seen upgrades from the models our reviewers tested back in April and June 2019, respectively. With each of those…

How do you maintain fitness while on the road? It’s a question that has plagued generations of travellers. Driving long distances, sitting comfortably in the heat-regulated cab, picking up Coca Colas and pastries from pie-warmers, exerting oneself only by pressing in the handle of the diesel pump — the lifestyle certainly doesn’t make it easy. Some may be happy to gain their fitness from the walks that happen to crop up while travelling, while others may have their ways of actively seeking out opportunities to stay fit. If you number among the latter, you may be interested in the next Norvan LD 2 range of sneakers by outdoor brand Arc’teryx. Improving upon an earlier range by moving towards lighter and more durable materials, the Norvan LD 2s offer versatile tread…