Innehållsförteckning för Issue 609 från Caravan World

We are all to blame for the lack of new vans for sale at present — that's us, the caravan media for extolling the joys of the caravanning lifestyle, and you, our readers who are also promoting the lifestyle and encouraging so many new buyers to the caravan yards. Our predicament is that it's getting harder and harder to secure new vans for review because the yards are emptying quicker than vans can be built. Unfortunately, the lack of supply has impacted our plans for a Best Aussie Vans event we had hoped to run next month. Builders have customers screaming for the van they ordered months ago, and they simply don't have excess stock to take out of the supply chain for a week at BAV. One builder who…

One of south-east Queensland’s popular family holiday parks is now set up to accept digital currency payments. Sharp Park River Bend Bush Camping, located near Canungra, has embraced Australia’s newest digital currency, Qoin (pronounced ‘coin’), which is headquartered in Queensland. The family-oriented camping ground is situated on 20 acres of pristine Australian bushland with the Coomera River running through its centre. An idyllic holiday destination for families, Sharp Park River Bend Bush Camping offers powered and unpowered sites and provides a number of family-friendly entertainment events throughout the year. The family-run business is one of the first in the area to accept Qoin, and they’re hopeful the digital currency will help attract more tourists. “These days with COVID, you’re used to scanning barcodes and signing in,” says Dempsey Nutley, who…

Q Hi 12 Guru, I am in a dilemma. Hubby and I are in the process of working through the various van options and we seem to keep getting bombarded and consequently confused by the amount of technology that is offered in some of these vans. Can you give some guidance of what we should be looking for? Befuddled, Gracemore, FNQ A Well, Befuddled, let us try and sort through some of the various options you may need to look at to work through 21st Century caravanning. Firstly, consider separating the technology into a few categories and then from there you can decide as to what we describe to the young’uns in this world ‘what are needs and what are wants’ — simple but effective! SAFETY Arguably the…

There are vast online communities of women travelling solo which offer support, guidance and camaraderie. All three women interviewed here recommend joining a Facebook group or a club with a solo traveller arm as a way to feel connected to other solo travellers, to share travel tips and practical advice, and many times to meet up for a tagalong trip or even just a coffee in a place where their paths may cross. Facebook groups There are several Facebook groups celebrating the caravan and camping lifestyle in Australia, but our interviewees highly recommend Women Caravanning, Camping And Travelling Solo Australia, which has nearly 11,000 active and engaged members. CMCA Solo travellers The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia also has a dedicated club for single travellers called the CMCA Solos…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.92m (25ft 9in) External body length 5.84m 19ft) External width 2.48m (8ft 2in) Travel height 2.9m (9ft 5in) Internal height 2m (6ft 5in) Tare 2151kg ATM 2900kg Payload 749kg (calculated) Ball weight 230kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Auminium Composite Chassis Supagal — Australian Steel Suspension Roller-rocker leafspring Coupling AL-KO 50mm Ball Brakes 10in Drum Wheels 235/75/R15 Alloy Water 190L (2 x 95L tanks) Battery 100A Deep Cycle Solar 150W panel Air conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Reverse Cycle Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Optional INTERNAL Cooking Stove top with 3 gas and 1 electric element, full oven and separate grill. Fridge 220L Dometic 3 way fridge/freezer Microwave Finch Bathroom Separate shower and toilet, vanity unit and mirrored cupboards. Washing machine 3kg top loader Hot water…

VALUE FOR MONEY “This is a motorhome almost in a category of its own and hard to judge. For those who desire and can afford one, it won’t be relevant.” DRIVEABILITY “On the road, the vehicle performed quite well but given the height and wheelbase, a little bit of care is required with vehicle handling.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Certainly, this is a capable vehicle built with offroad travel very much in mind.” BUILD QUALITY “Being model number one, I suspect that it had received much care and attention. It was well presented.” LIVEABILITY “It’s practical but given the base vehicle, interior space is limited to some degree.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “For remote travel, the Conqueror is well set up on both the electrical and water capacity fronts.” CUSTOMER CARE “Five…

Pop-top caravans aren’t quite as common as they once used to be, but there are still manufacturers, such as New Age Caravans, which produce them in a variety of models and layouts. Once touted as a solution to excessive fuel use when towing, pop-tops today are perhaps more popular for their lower height when being stored and offering less of a wind buffer when on the road. My review van, a Manta Ray 4.9m (16ft) fitted with an Adventurer Pack, has an external length of 5.51m (18ft 1in) — the 16ft is an internal measurement. The Manta Ray was supplied by New Age Caravans in Sydney, a dealership that’s certainly been set up for comfort of customers whilst looking for their dream RV. Certainly the Manta Ray 16ft gives the…

Taking off across the Nullarbor to move back to the motherland of Western Australia was not without its challenges, but I was also keen to introduce some local talent to the Caravan World mix. Enter this newest member of the Adventure Series (Extreme Offroad), the Explorex Numbat 540XOR. Explorex Caravans has been family owned since 2003. Previously, its primary breadwinner was building vans for mining companies — that is, until a steady decline in the mining industry meant reaching out to the domestic market, around 2009, was the way to go. “...everything from the chassis foundation, walls, furnishings, suspension, wiring and cabinetry are built in the factory from the ground up” Principal Greg Ferguson has since spent a lot of time perfecting what goes into making a great caravan, particularly…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.56m (18ft 3in) Overall length 7.59m (24ft 11in) Internal length 5.3m (17ft 6in) Width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Height (incl AC) 2.98m (9ft 9in) Internal height 1.99m (6ft 6in) Tare 2161kg ATM 2500kg Payload 339kg Ball weight 138kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Aluminium composite Chassis 100mm/4in hot dipped galvanised Suspension Leaf spring single axle Coupling Ball Brakes 12in electric Wheels LT235/75R15 Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 150W Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Dometic four-burner and grill Microwave NCE Fridge Thetford T1152 152L 12V compressor Bathroom Dometic cassette toilet and separate shower cubicle Hot water Swift PRICE AS SHOWN $53,990 MORE INFORMATION RV Connection 97C Glossop St St Marys, NSW 2760 Ph: (02) 9623 0400…

TASTE GREAT SOUTHERN 11 days, 30+ culinary experiences, 20+ chefs 18–28 March 2021 W: tastegreatsouthern.com.au ALBANY FARMERS' MARKETS Every Saturday from 8am until noon Collie Street, Albany ORANJE TRACTOR P: (08) 9842 5175 W: oranjetractor.com ALBANY’S HISTORIC WHALING STATION P: (08) 9844 4021 W: discoverybay.com.au PUBLIC SILO ART TRAIL W: publicsilotrail.com CHAINSAW SCULPTURE DRIVE W: chainsaw-sculptures.business.site BIG4 MIDDLETON BEACH HOLIDAY PARK P: (08) 9841 3593 E: holiday@holidayalbany.com.au W: holidayalbany.com.au ALBANY GARDENS TOURIST PARK P: (08) 9841 4616 E: info@albanygardens.com.au W: albanygardens.com.au…

AUDREY WILKINSON SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC 2019 — $23 The straw yellow with a tinge of green hue gives this wine the ‘oh so pretty’ appearance that you will enjoy before you even take a sip. Sauvignon Blanc gives this wine its signature, with aromas of passionfruit, guava and nectarines, while Semillon brings subtle nuances of lemon, green apple, and quince. On the palate this wine has lemon and lime citrus flavours from Semillon which are key to the wine’s structure, while Sauvignon Blanc looks after tropical fruit flavours that fill the mid palate. It’s a beautiful union of the iconic Hunter Valley blend. 2019 KALLESKE FORDSON ZINFANDEL — $28 This is a beautiful representation of single vineyard Zinfandel from this certified organic, biodynamic and sustainable producer. The colour is vibrant…

FOLDAWAY ANTENNAS The Fold Away Antenna was first designed in 1989 in Little Mountain on the Sunshine Coast, as a tough antenna specifically for RVs that could survive any Australian conditions. Television has changed a lot since those early days, but the Fold Away Antenna team haven’t rested on their early success. Today, the new Fold Away is designed to pick up horizontal and vertical polarised transmission of both analogue and digital television signals. The Sunshine Coast team’s reputation in the industry has certainly grown, as evidenced by the many caravan manufacturers that partner with Fold Away Antennas to include as standard features. But that doesn’t mean they’ve given up on DIY caravanners who like to install their own upgrades. Fold Away Antennas have distributors in all states of Australia,…

Queensland-based offroad caravan manufacturer Zone RV has released its 2022 model range almost a full year early after its 2021 inventory sold out months ahead of schedule. A huge boom in demand for RVs as a result of COVID-19 restrictions on overseas travel precipitated the unveiling of the new 2022 models. Each feature a significantly upgraded list of standard inclusions across the Off-Road, Venture, Summit and Family models, with minor adjustments to the optional upgrade list for the Base series. The company says 2022 build dates are already starting to fill up, with orders being taken now for delivery close to Easter in 2022. All Zone RV caravans are designed for offroad travel, and incorporate technology from the marine and aeronautical industries. Zone RV’s Base series, priced from $79,000 (unchanged…

In the world of RVs, new model launches are quite rare. For the most part new models aren’t, but in contrast to the automotive industry, vehicle launches are. It’s almost the opposite in the light commercial truck world — that is, base vehicles used for motorhomes. New models only happen every three or four years, and occasionally the vehicle manufacturer actually makes a splash about it — or at least as much as you can in these COVID-19 times. Iveco did this recently with the launch of its new Daily E6 cab chassis and van. In the motorhome world, the rear-wheel-drive Daily occupies the medium to heavy end of the market, leaving the lighter end to its Italian stablemate, the front-wheel-drive Fiat Ducato. There are essentially two ranges available —…

BATTERY STORAGE Q I was taught that batteries (especially when recharging) are meant to be in a well-ventilated compartment. Why do some manufacturers place these items under the bed? Is this safe? If it’s not, what would be the best place to have them stored? Sam Hitchener A Sam, Back in the day, one of the reasons that batteries needed to be stored in vented compartments was that flooded wet cell batteries produced hydrogen, a highly explosive gas, when being charged. Venting disperses the gas and reduces the risk of any sort of explosion. That's still true, however with the increased use of fully sealed batteries such as gel cell and AGM many think there’s no need to worry about compartment venting. However, a look through several battery manufacturers’ websites…

APPLY THE FIVE P’S TO YOUR TRIP Once again, it’s that time of year when folk with itchy feet are looking at the calendar, allocating slots for holidays and booking leave for some kind of trip. With most international destinations inaccessible, our Great Southern Land is (as it always has been) a great alternative. Some people like to ‘wing it’ when they hit the road, enjoying a sense of freedom on an itinerary unfettered by deadlines or locations that must be achieved every day — which is fine up to a point. But this kind of free-wheeling approach can have its drawbacks, like missing a must-see attraction down a side road or arriving at a van park with no booking at the end of a long drive only to find…

WHY IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO CONSIDER AN UPGRADE IN CONVERSATION WITH KRISTIAN RISTELL FROM IRONMAN 4x4 Ph: 1300 731 137 W: ironman4x4.com WHAT MAKES THE STANDARD SUSPENSION ON A VEHICLE INADEQUATE? A vehicle’s original suspension is always a compromise. It's designed by the manufacturer to be applicable to a range of uses so that it suits every possible owner. In the aftermarket, we tailor suspension to suit the way a person actually uses their vehicle, whether that be setting up their vehicle for load carrying, for greater comfort, or to drive on tougher terrain. Once you change the weight of a vehicle, the original suspension is no longer well configured to control that weight. If you do not upgrade, and are carrying heavier loads, you can encounter problems with…

VALUE FOR MONEY “There’s a lot of quality van for $62,539. All the popular fittings and appliances.” TOWABILITY “Sensible mid-size van that towed perfectly for over 2000km of our review.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Great blacktop couple’s tourer that can handle some dirt roads.” BUILD QUALITY “Well built Meranti timber framed van. Beautiful furniture and upholstery.” LIVEABILITY “Compromises on living space but that's the payoff for mid-size footprint. Makes the most of available space.” CUSTOMER CARE “Wins points for dedication to solving any issues.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Enough power and water for limited off grid living.” INNOVATION “Doesn't break any new ground but combines the most popular inclusions in a contemporary package.” X-FACTOR “A well-proportioned van with a enough street cred to fit in anywhere.”…

Unlike caravans, offroad motorhomes are not that prolific. Indeed, some manufacturers don’t offer them at all. There are two main reasons for this; one is the cost, the other is the lack of readily available base vehicles for the medium-sized motorhome market. However, for those prepared to make a few compromises — mostly in the size category — there are a few good options. Sydney-based Suncamper Motorhomes has some considerable expertise in this area and its Sherwood model has been around for several years. Technically the Sherwood is a C class motorhome but given its size, it’s more like a junior C class. Based on the venerable Toyota HiLux cab chassis, there are a number of Sherwood layout options available, five to be precise — the E, L, R, S…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.5m (18ft 1 in) Internal length 4.9m (16ft) Overall length 7.56m (24ft 10in) Width 2.41m (7ft 11in) Travel height 2.58m (8ft 5in) Tare 2050kg ATM 2450kg Payload 400kg Ball weight 160kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti timber Cladding Aluminium Chassis Hot dipped galvanised, 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) main rails Suspension Cruisemaster XT independent with coil springs Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes Electric 12in Wheels 16in alloy Water 110L Grey water 110L Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 1 x 150W Air-conditioner Truma Saphir Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Thetford four-burner and grill Fridge Thetford N514E.3f 169L, three-way Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet and separate shower cubicle Hot water Swift 28L OPTIONS FITTED Cruisemaster XT suspension; Cruisemaster DO35 hitch; recessed coupling; extended A-frame; weatherproof floor…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.4m (17ft 7in) Overall length 7.8m (25ft 6in) Width 2.2m (7ft 2in) Height 3.05m (10ft) Tare 2510kg ATM 3500kg Payload 990kg Ball weight 220kg EXTERNAL Frame Galvanised steel, fully welded Chassis Explorex hot dipped galvanised offroad Cladding 3mm composite Suspension Tandem axle Cruisemaster XT Freestyle coil fully independent system Coupling Cruisemaster D035 Brakes 12in electric drum Wheels 16in Water 2 x 82L tanks in steel protection trays, 50L grey optional Battery 2 x 100Ah gel Solar 2 x 150W Air conditioner Dometic Ibis4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control optional INTERNAL Cooking Thetford cooktop and grill with Panasonic microwave Fridge Dometic 188L fridge and freezer Bathroom Full ensuite separate shower and Thetford toilet Hot water Swift 28L gas/240V OPTIONS Explorex has a list of additional…

PLANNING YOUR TRIP: The Atherton Tablelands covers a large area in the North Queensland hinterland, from Tully Gorge in the South to Danbulla National Park in the North. Some attractions are best accessed via the inland National Highway 1, while others are exclusively accessed on the more coastal Bruce Highway. Hence, you may like to complete a loop circuit from Townsville to Cairns and return. BEST TIME TO TRAVEL: March through October are commonly recognised as the best months for touring. During this time, there will be more blue skies and moderate temperatures. On the other hand, the wet season (or the green season) will be when waterfalls are flowing heaviest and the rainforest is thriving. WHERE TO STAY: There are several full-facility caravan parks in the Tablelands where you…

VALUE FOR MONEY “For what it is, the MFlow is a good economic all-in package. No more to pay.” TOWABILITY “Tows quite well and a good towing prospect for a good range of tow vehicles.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Good on-road tourer offering most of the usual caravan comforts.” BUILD QUALITY “Generally speaking, most things were OK although a few items in the sub chassis area were a bit messy.” LIVEABILITY “Relatively compact interior given length of van but for two, there’s room to move.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Grey water tank is an option, otherwise the van is set up for limited off-the-grid travel.” CUSTOMER CARE Five years ??? TBA INNOVATION “Nothing major on the innovation front, with construction and build technique fairly standard.” X-FACTOR “Definitely the external length and weight…

Flexibility and adapting to whatever presents itself at any given time is the key to relaxing travels. Road closures, bad weather, and catastrophic fire warnings are just a few possible speed humps that can throw a spanner in your travelling plans. Then there’s COVID-19. All it needs is one or two cases and borders can close overnight, requiring an alternative plan. As you may remember, we’d put together plans to meander down the Anne Beadell Highway and beyond this year, to explore some of Western Australia’s most remote desert regions. We’d purchased a Tvan late last year specially for the trip to keep our accommodation as compact and lightweight as possible, and we’ve been gearing up to go. Downsizing from a hybrid, it’s been an interesting re-adjustment, with some camping…

Not everyone hauling a van or commanding a motorhome is a retired grey nomad couple or a young so-called 'nuclear family' with a gaggle of kids pumped up for their next adventure. A growing number of women are hitching up their campers and caravans, transforming light vehicles into campervans and getting behind the wheel of their motorhome to set off into the sunset. Women travel solo for many reasons — they prefer the freedom of making decisions on their own, they are single and happy to simply do their own thing or may have lost a partner with whom they planned future trips and are continuing on with the dream by themselves. So what’s it like cruising Australia’s highways and byways on your own? Here, three capable, adventurous Aussie women…

Marvel’s Sea Breeze is well named. The Marvel brand is part of the Sunseeker RV group based in Warana on the Sunshine Coast, a few sandhills away from the Pacific Ocean and home of the regular easterly that tempers the summer heat. We have been after a Marvel to review for a while, and the offer of an extended review of the van to coincide with our tour of the New England High Country region of New South Wales was too good to pass up. Marvel was born a few years ago when Sunseeker owner, Chris Michel realised there was a gap in the RV market for a value-packed caravan built without compromising on quality. The Sunseeker team has years of caravan experience, and they set to designing a brand…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.85m (19ft 2in) Width 2.21m (7ft 3in) Height 3m (9ft 10in) Tare 3140kg (full fuel and water) GVM 3620kg Payload 480kg MECHANICAL Base vehicle Toyota SR HiLux Engine 2.8L turbodiesel Max power 150kW@3400rpm Max torque 500Nm@1600–2400rpm Gearbox Six-speed auto Wheels 17in EXTERNAL Water 95L fresh, 43L drinking Battery 1 x 120Ah Solar 405W Inverter 2000W Air-conditioner Optional Gas 2 x 4kg INTERNAL Cooking Thetford two-burner Microwave Optional Fridge Thetford DE105 90L 12V compressor Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet/combo shower Hot water Swift 28L gas/elec PRICE AS SHOWN $194,990 MORE INFORMATION Suncamper Motorhomes Unit 3, 9 Sefton Rd Thornleigh, NSW 2120 Ph: 1300 416 854 W: suncampermotorhomes. com.au…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Van does seem to be pricey for what it is, but there are a number of items included as standard.” TOWABILITY “Lightweight van and well behaved behind tow vehicle.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “For an on-road/rough road caravan, the Cruisemaster suspension setup seems almost an overkill.” BUILD QUALITY “Generally speaking, the van appears to be fairly well put together, with not even the sawdust and swart that’s often found in a new van.” LIVEABILITY “Well laid out as a smaller van for two but the overall internal storage is limited.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Fit-out includes a grey water tank but the battery capacity might be the limiter for extended off-the-grid travel.” CUSTOMER CARE “Has a three-year manufacturer’s warranty and 12-month customer assist package.” INNOVATION “It’s a well-appointed van…

What to do • Mary Valley Rattler, Gympie: maryvalleyrattler.com.au • Gympie Gold Mining & Historical Museum: gympiegoldmuseum.com.au • Gympie Region Heritage Trail: gympieheritagetrails.com.au • Platypus paddle on Mary River or Yabba Creek: rideonmary.com • Horse riding at Mary Valley or Rainbow Beach: maryvalleyadventuretrails.com.au or rbhr.com.au • Doors-off helicopter flights: rainbowbeachhelicopters.com.au • Double Island Point — Kayak with dolphins, turtles, and whales (Jun-Nov), or surf Australia’s longest wave: epicoceanadventures.com.au • Feed wild dolphins at Tin Can Bay: barnaclesdolphins.com.au Where to stay There are plenty of campsites across the region, from beachside at Inskip Point, creekside at Borumba Dam, or shady bush camps at Kilkivan. Download the full guide (including dump sites) from visitgympieregion.com.au/our-region. Where to eat • Farmer and Sun, Gympie — fresh local produce and gourmet cafe: farmerandsun.com.au • Vespa…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s a little on the pricey side, but you’re paying for its offroad capability, which is on par with its competitors in this market.” DRIVEABILITY “It’s a neat package that handles the bumps nicely.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “It’s compact enough to feel comfortable touring anywhere.” BUILD QUALITY “Chassis and frame built from the ground up in the factory, with all industry standards and quality measures adhered to.” LIVEABILITY “It’s not big enough for two people to hang out in but you’ll be spending most of your time under the awning al fresco style or offroad.” CUSTOMER CARE “Ten-year structural warranty on factory built chassis and frame, but outside party warranties vary with lesser warranties on components.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “With twin batteries, 300W of solar, a good…

Caravans that have external lengths of 6.1-6.7m (20ft–22ft) are all too common these days. While it does allow a generous interior space that many appreciate, it has the disadvantage of being an increasingly heavy caravan. Also, a more expensive one. Quite a few manufacturers, though, do produce smaller caravans, many with a single axle, which is a weight reduction factor in itself. Millard is one such manufacturer with its 17ft 6in MFlow caravan. Currently there’s a boom going on in the caravan industry, with a shortage of stock in many saleyards. But, after an internet search, I discovered said van at RV Connection, located at St Marys west of Sydney. A few days later — before the van was sold — I was hitched up and ready to roll. By…