Innehållsförteckning för Issue 608 från Caravan World

According to the latest figures released Tourism Research Australia, caravan and camping is the most popular holiday accommodation type for Australians, accounting for 44 per cent of all holiday nights across Australia in September 2020. Around 1.9 million caravan and camping holidays were taken, translating to 8.4 million nights, for the September Quarter 2020. While well down on 2019 — by 28 per cent and 14 per cent respectively — it was ahead of broader tourism numbers, which is a positive sign for CIAA CEO Stuart Lamont. “Whilst caravan and camping visitor numbers still remain down on 2019, the latest data from TRA reaffirms the important role caravan and camping has in driving the economic recovery of the visitor economy,” Lamont said. “We live in a world of fragile consumer…

ADBLUE Anyone with a late model motorhome or diesel-powered tow vehicle is likely to have a vehicle that uses Adblue, which has to be topped up from time to time, at least at service intervals if nothing else. From reading a few social media posts of late, it’s become clear that while people recognise the term, not all understand what Adblue does. Adblue is a marketing term used by most vehicle manufacturers, except Mercedes Benz who use BlueTEC and like diesel particle filters a decade ago, it was introduced to meet tough European emission standards, in this case Euro 6. It’s designed to be used in the catalytic convertor of diesel engine exhaust systems. It’s injected in measured doses into the exhaust gases and burnt at a very high temperature…

Hi John, In issue 598 and 606 readers queried if the DO35 hitch will allow the rear door of a Pajero to open. I fitted a DO35 for that very reason and found if the vehicle is fitted with the factory spare wheel raiser it most definitely will allow the door to fully open (without the raiser I’m not sure). I looked at a few other off road hitches (Alco etc) but the hand brake could cause problems. The DO35 brake handle has a very low profile when released. Hope this info is of assistance. Cheers, Geoff Ervin…

WHAT TO DO • Explore stunning rock formations like Tasman Arch, The Blowhole, Devils Kitchen, Tesselated Pavement and Cape Raoul. Grab some fish and chips from award-winning food van Doo-Lishus, parked near the Blowhole. • Wander the ruins of convict settlements at Port Arthur (portarthur.org.au) and Coal Mine Historic Site (coalmines.org.au) • Hike the Three Capes Track, threecapestrack.com.au. Gear and dehydrated meals available from 3capesgearandgourmet.com.au. • See Tasmanian devils at Unzoo, tasmaniandevilunzoo.com.au • Swim at Fortescue Bay, White Beach and Stewarts Bay • Tasman Island Cruises, tasmancruises.com.au • Port Arthur Lavendar, portarthurlavendar.com.au • Federation Artisan Chocolate, federationchocolate.com WHERE TO STAY • Waterside bush camping at Fortescue Bay Campground and Lime Bay State Reserve, parks.tas.gov.au • White Beach Tourist Park, whitebeachtouristpark.com.au • Port Arthur Holiday Park, nrmaparksandresorts.com.au • Nubeena is a…

Length: (3.96m) 13ft ATM: 2500kg Tare: 2000kg • King size bed with innerspring mattress • Café dinette with optional bunk beds • Plush leatherette interior seating • Fully functional slide-out kitchen with sink, pull-out fridge and pantry • Truma toilet and hot water system • 12V television with TV antenna • Stereo sound system with two internal & two external speakers • LED internal lighting • Truma Aventa Air Con • Pull-out aluminium step • Dometic wind out awning • Off-road tyres, including two spares • Fully galvanised chassis • Hitchmaster DO35 coupling • Off-Road Suspension • ARC XO750 Jockey Wheel • Internal cooking as upgrade option • Lifetime Warranty on drawbar and Chassis Price: 47,990 excluding on road costs More info: opuscamper.com.au…

VALUE FOR MONEY “The price tag isn’t cheap, but for an offroad van that offers much, that might be a secondary issue.” TOWABILITY “Tows well and level behind ute type vehicle. Anyone considering loading up towards the ATM should consider a heavy-duty tow vehicle.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “An offroad caravan that offers plenty of ground clearance yet is not excessively heavy.” BUILD QUALITY “For the most part, the van looks to be well put together with considerable thought given in the construction method.” LIVEABILITY “With one exception, it’s quite a user-friendly interior.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Water tank and 12V electrical capacity is good for serious remote camping time. Options make it even better.” CUSTOMER CARE “Most manufacturers are moving beyond a 12-month warranty these days.” INNOVATION “Use of composite panels…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.63m (28ft 3in) External body length 6.42m (21ft) External body width 2.45m (8ft) Travel height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Internal height 2.02m (6ft 7in) Tare 2550kg ATM 3500kg Payload 950kg (calculated) Ball weight 195kg at tare EXTERNAL Frame Tig welded RHS alloy Cladding 3mm Alubond panelling Chassis ARV RHS boxed Supergal ARV RHS BOXED SUPERGAL Suspension Alpha components, 4.2T twin shock/coil trailing arm Coupling DO35 Brakes AL-KO 12in drum (disc optional) Wheels 265/70X16 10PR All-terrain Mudzilla Water 2 x 95L, 1 x 95L grey Battery 2 x 120Ah AGM Solar 2 x 190W Air-conditioner Dometic IBIS 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Optional INTERNAL Cooking Swift 240/gas cooktop and grill Fridge 188L Dometic compressor 12V Microwave DeLuxx Bathroom Full ensuite Washing machine Camec 4kg front…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Sub-$60K offroad family van is darn good buying.” TOWABILITY “What little towing we did, it felt good behind the dual cab.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING Will be a great partner to family offroad adventures.” BUILD QUALITY “A little bit more care on the wiring under the van required.” LIVEABILITY “A bit tight inside, but you'd expect that in a 5.6m (18ft 6in) bunk van.” CUSTOMER CARE “Solid warranty with dealer support network.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Enough to keep you away from civilisation for a few days.” INNOVATION “A bit of floorplan trickery to get that north-south island bed.” X-FACTOR “That price with the standard inclusions will tempt a lot of young families.”…

AMAROO 2100RC-A WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9m (29ft 6in) External body length 6.4m (21ft) External body width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.1m (10ft) Internal height 1.95m (6ft 5in) Tare 2700kg ATM Up to 3500kg Payload calculated 800kg Ball Weight 160kg EXTERNAL Frame Structural grade ply Cladding Dibond composite Chassis Roadking 12in lightweight chassis Suspension AL-KO Outback 3.7t Coupling DO35 Brakes Alko 12in electric Wheels 265/75R16, with Goodrich tyres Water 2 x 100L (fresh), 1 x 100L (grey) Battery 1 x 200Ah lithium Solar 2 x 150W Air conditioner Aircommand Ibis 4 reverse cycle Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Gas stove, with grill Fridge Dometic compressor 188L Microwave Sphere 23L Bathroom Separate shower and toilet Washing machine Camec front-load 4kg Hot water Swift gas/electric 28L…

Delivery day is one of the most exciting of every traveller’s journey, but the road to buying a new caravan or RV can be long. The challenge in navigating today’s buyers’ market is finding the ideal rig to suit your individual idea of adventure, so to debunk the myths and cut through the confusion, here’s my best advice on finding your perfect rig. “Take a seat and jot down everything you think you want in a caravan, then, for every feature you've just noted, ask yourself why you think you need it" MYTH #1: THE EXPERTS KNOW BEST As obvious as it sounds, YOU are the only person who knows exactly what you need. Not the caravan show salesperson, not the caravan reviewers and journos (like me), and not…

VALUE FOR MONEY “The Vision is competing in the top end of the market, so the price is great value.” TOWABILITY “Tows supremely well. I understand why there isn’t remote operation of the suspension, but it could be useful.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Intended for off-grid remote travel and it fits the bill.” BUILD QUALITY “Engineered by people who know what they are doing and do it well.” LIVEABILITY “Compact size is necessary for efficient offroad travel so the living space is a compromise.” CUSTOMER CARE “Three year’s warranty and a nationwide repair ability should cover most situations.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “270L of water and a 150Ah Lithium battery will keep you off-grid for weeks at a time if you keep an eye on water use.” INNOVATION “Little touches and design…

2020 SERAFINO BELLISSIMO PINOT GRIGIO — $25 This wine is crisp and refreshing, making it a perfect candidate for a beach outing. It’s floral aromas, with hints of tropical fruit, like honeydew melon, scream summer and the palate, full of stone fruits like peaches, apricots and mango, put it right into the category of crowd pleasers with it’s not too dry, not too sweet taste. 2019 10X PINOT NOIR — $34 This wine is heaven for those that love different smells! It has everything: seductive fruit setting up the scene with strawberry and red cherry aromas; spiciness and herbaceous keeps the interest going, until it finishes with a hint of vanilla and forest floor. On the palate this wine is equally as exciting, starting with blackcurrant intrigue, progressing into dried…

Following months of devastating bushfires, K’Gari (Fraser Island) is opening for tourists after the fires have been brought under control. The fires, started by an unauthorised campfire, decimated around 87,000 hectares, mostly in the north of the island. Risk assessments are now being conducted in the affected areas to determine the extent of the damage. QPWS have lifted restrictions on visitors, with access permitted to designated sites and camping areas. A vehicle access permit must be purchased and displayed in the windscreen before arriving on K’Gari, which is only suitable for high clearance 4WD vehicles with low range capacity. More information can be found at parks.des.qld.gov.au/paForks/kgari-fraser. Four men in their 20s have been charged with lighting the campfire that sparked the fires and were due to front court in late…

It goes without saying that long weekends are busy on the road. Holidaymakers keen to make the most of their leisure time, will often tack on an extra day or two to make the best of it. Yet this sheer volume of punters is enough to keep other holidaymakers at home, fearing traffic chaos and over population at holiday hot spots. It’s ironic, but every Australia Day as former Victorians, we did just this, flocking to the seaside destination of Beachport in South Australia, joining 4WD clubs across the southern states to experience this unique area. In the south-east, a network of sandy trails intersects the coastline, in the ultimate test of skill and vehicle capability against the ever-changing environmental conditions, pummelled by the blustery winds off the ocean. Super…

For most of us, buying a caravan is a big deal. It can be the most expensive commitment we make outside of signing up for a house, and many buyers spend months or even years before making their final decision. With so many brands, styles and sizes of vans to mull over, there’s an almost endless list of possibilities. So, let’s break it down and see if we can help. SIZE MATTERS Across the many brands available — there could be as many as 100 local and imported caravan companies — sizes generally range from 4.6-7m (15-23ft). I’m not sure why, but most dealers and builders still talk in imperial measurements, so younger folk might have to resort to their device for a translation. There are custom vans that are…

Many offroad caravans built in Australia often have similar characteristics — they are relatively heavy and usually require a heavy-duty vehicle, like a Toyota LandCruiser, for towing. It was something of a surprise, therefore, when I came across a Summer Life RV Xplorer 5.8 caravan, which is built for offroad use, but has an external body length of 5.8m (19ft) and a tare of just 2300kg. Summer Life RV is headed up by James Kaufmann and based at Newcastle, NSW. It has been around for quite a while but previously concentrated on the fifth wheeler and slide-on camper markets. More recently though, Summer Life made a move into the caravan sector, using the same building techniques as in its other RVs. STEELWORK Starting at the base, the Xplorer 5.8 has…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Exceptional value for a family van of this size and capability.” TOWABILITY “Needs a hefty vehicle to tow it around but it has the engineering to cope.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Equipped well for family travel and has a sensible layout and room to move.” BUILD QUALITY “Excellent interior fit-out, exemplary aluminium frame and composite exterior.” LIVEABILITY “Roomy, comfortable and well-appointed, although food preparation space is tight.” CUSTOMER CARE “Five-years cover on the vans build is leading but not including appliances under the contract should be addressed even if the company’s intentions are positive.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Sufficient power and water for reasonable stays off-grid.” INNOVATION “Urban is one of only a few builders dedicated to TIG welding the frame. The layout is a favourite for families.” X-FACTOR…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 6.53m (21ft 5in) Overall length 8.32m (27ft 4in) Width (incl awn) 2.44m (8ft) Height 2.87m (9ft 5in) Tare 2384kg ATM 2984kg Payload 600kg Ball weight 192kg EXTERNAL Frame N/A Cladding Nova ProAl sandwich walls and one piece fibreglass roof Chassis G&S Chassis DuraGal Suspension AL-KO tandem axle leaf spring Coupling Ball Brakes 12in electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 2 x 95L Battery 2 x 105Ah Solar 2 x 170W Air conditioner Belaire 3400 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control AL-KO ESC INTERNAL Cooking Thetford Caprice MKIII 4 burner, grill & oven Fridge Thetford 184L Bathroom Thetford cassette and separate shower cubicle. Hot water Swift 28L OPTIONS FITTED N/A PRICE AS SHOWN $69,990 MORE INFORMATION Sydney RV Group 9–20 Lemko Place Penrith, NSW 2750 Ph: 02…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s an ultimate offroader for just under $110K.” TOWABILITY “Tracks as straight as a die, but it’s a hefty beast with 2700kg tare.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “A home-away-from-home, with a five-star motel feel.” BUILD QUALITY “Unique framing process highlights attention to detail.” LIVEABILITY “The club lounge and split ensuite bring comfort and efficient use of the space.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Ample power and water for off grid living.” INNOVATION “Combines style and offroad ability. Innovative Interlocking wall construction.” CUSTOMER CARE "Excellent warranty protocol and great after-sales service." X-FACTOR " “Stands out from the offroad crowd.”…

SHAKSHUKA (MIDDLE EASTERN BAKED EGGS) TOTAL TIME: 1 hour SERVES: 2 INGREDIENTS • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 small red onion, halved and sliced • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1 red capsicum, halved lengthwise and sliced thinly • 1 tomato, diced • 400g crushed tomatoes • 1 tbsp tomato paste • ½ cup vegetable stock • 1 tsp paprika • 1 tsp cumin • Salt and black pepper, to taste • 4 free range eggs • 2 tbsp fresh parsley or coriander, roughly chopped • Pita or crusty bread, to serve METHOD Heat oil in a medium size cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook until onion is translucent. Add capsicum and cook for 1 minute. Add diced tomato and cook for 2…

If you have managed to get through your camping and caravanning experience without being stuck unexpectedly in some strong wind, then I'd say you have been lucky. For many years, Peter Taylor had been a regular camper and caravanner when he set out to develop a safer and more reliable way of securing guy ropes for awnings and annexes. His screw in tent peg has a unique plastic anchor that helps the peg located at an optimal 30 degrees for maximum holding power. We recently tried the system, and the results were impressive. The Caravan Starter Pack is designed to secure an annexe in hard red outback ground as well as in the sandy, loamy soils of the coastal regions. The kit comprises four 280mm coastal pegs and four 200mm…

Q We have just started travelling around Western Australia after the various COVID lockdowns and have noticed that we were not getting the power out of our dual battery setup. I checked the batteries and there was heaps of corrosion around the terminals. Is this likely to be causing our issues and, if so, can it be prevented? Mark Able, Lower King, WA A Hi Mark, Glad that you have been safe over in WA and have been able to get your wheels rolling and get back out exploring. There are multiple reasons as to why your battery bank may not be performing to what you consider the optimal level. It is important to identify and address the cause as otherwise you are likely to experience a continued…

TRAVELLING BUNYA Hi CW, In Issue 606 I read Chris Whitelaw’s article about travelling through the Bunya Mountains during 2020. At the end of the article is a comprehensive side note about towing caravans and trailers in the area. In particular in the elevated and mountainous zones. These roads are signposted as unsuitable for RV’s and for good reason. They can be a challenge in a normal car or SUV. Add a caravan or laden trailer to the equation, this becomes dangerous and potentially lethal in poor conditions. People make bad decisions. The signs are there to stop them from making what could be their worst one so far. These signs are advisory, but they are put in place by QMR and revised on a regular basis. Tourist information provided…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.8m (19ft) Overall length 7.3m (23ft 11in) Width 2.48m (8ft 2in) Height (incl DRS)3.27m (10ft 1in) Tare 2300kg ATM 3500kg Payload 1200kg Ball weight 180kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Fibreglass composite Chassis 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in), DuraGal® & 2 Pack paint Suspension Cruisemaster XT independent Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 160L fresh, 100L grey Battery 2 x 100Ah lithium Solar 2 x 180W Air conditioner Truma Saphir Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Lippert INTERNAL Cooking Thetford 3-burner Fridge Thetford T2175 12V comp 175L Bathroom Dometic cassette toilet, separate shower cubicle Hot water Truma Combi 240V/LPG 10L PRICE FROM $115,200 OPTIONS FITTED Lippert Sway Control Front storage box Front storage box generator slide Sizzler stainless steel BBQ on…

WARRANTY Two-year structural / three-year chassis, one-year appliances and fitting RVMAP Accredited? No WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.39m (24ft 3in) External body length 5.64m (18ft 6in) External body width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.15m (10ft 4in) Internal height 1.95m (6ft 5in) Tare 2120kg ATM 2700kg Payload 580kg (calculated) Ball weight 140kg Bed size Queen (north/south) EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Composite panels with composite roof Chassis 6in steel drawbar and chassis Suspension Alpha X-treme Duty Independent Suspension with twin shocks and coils Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in electric drum brakes/brake safe unit Wheels 16in alloy rims with 245/75R16A/T tyres Water 2 x 95L (potable), 1 x 100L (grey) Battery 2 x 100Ah AGM Solar 2 x 160W Air-conditioner Houghton Roof A/C Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control AL-KO ESC…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Van is well priced for what it has in it.” TOWABILITY “With an ATM of under 3000kg, the van is well behaved behind the tow vehicle.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “A good road tourer with room to move inside.” BUILD QUALITY “Nova seem to do a reasonable job on the general construction and finish.” LIVEABILITY “It’s a layout that does not feel cramped.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Two 105Ah batteries, two 170W solar panels and grey water tank give a good free camping ability.” CUSTOMER CARE “Three years on Nova manufactured items, everything else the respective appliance manufacturers.” INNOVATION “Apart from the frameless wall structure, not so much in the innovation department.” X-FACTOR “Probably the general look of the van, both inside and out.”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURMENTS Body length 5.05m (16ft 6in) Overall length 7.32m (24ft) Width 2.07m (6ft 9in) Height 2.6m (8ft 6in) Tare 2050kg ATM 2800kg Payload (calculated) 750kg Ball weight 216kg EXTERNAL Frame High density XPS sandwich panel German composite Cladding High density XPS sandwich panel German composite Chassis Hot Dipped Galvanized (Australian Made) Suspension Air Bag Coupling DO35 Brakes Ventilated Disc Brakes Wheels 285/R70/R17 Allied Spider Wheels (in 5 or 6 studs with zero or +35 offset) Water 270L (3 x 90L) Battery 300Ah Lithium Solar 450W (3 x 150) Air conditioner Optional Gas 2 x 4.5kg Sway control N/A INTERNAL Cooking External: Hinged slide-out kitchen with dual induction cooktop, Internal: Dual induction cooktop Fridge External: 96L ARB Zero dual fridge/freezer, Internal: 150L compressor fridge/freezer Bathroom Combo shower with composting…