Innehållsförteckning för Issue 610 från Caravan World

Our feature here on roadside assistance packages proved timely for us this month. It seems remarkable, but it's been a year since the last time we set off for Lake Gairdner in South Australia from our home base in Merimbula, NSW, to attend Speedweek. Last year the country was closing down in the initial stages of COVID, and by the time we got to the lake, the racing had been cancelled. This year, what was supposed to be a leisurely three-day trip turned into an eventful and circuitous journey when we needed to detour to Clare on the back of a truck for repairs. Our Premier membership with NRMA, the NSW motoring association, gave us reciprocal rights with the local RAA. But, because it was Saturday, all the garages had…

The start of March saw the first passengers arriving on the Spirit of Tasmania under the bring your car for free program, and according to Assistant Minister for Industry Development, Jonno Duniam, the scheme is expected to be a success. “So far more than 32,800 vehicles have booked to travel under the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme, which will bring a much-needed boost to tourism right across the state,” Assistant Minister Duniam said. As with many parts of Australia, Tasmania was hit hard thanks to COVID-19, but continued to feel the effects for longer than other regions thanks to border closures and travellers continuing to travel closer to home. However, as things are settling, more people are heading across Bass Strait. “The coronavirus pandemic hit Tasmania’s tourism industry hard,…

Q I have two 120Ah AGM batteries in my caravan that are currently not in use. I recharge the batteries through a Ctek 15A charger by running a 240V lead from the house approximately once per month. My question is double-edged — is it better for the batteries to be continuously connected to a recharging source than topped up once a month? And if I were to charge them via my Projecta 25A DC/DC charger continuously through a solar panel, what size panel should I purchase? Paul Manton A Thanks for the question, Paul. It is of course always important to get this right to ensure you maximise the life of your investment in the batteries while your caravan is in storage. Mismanagement of lead acid batteries during…

ON THE TOPIC OF TOWING I read with interest Clark Flint's letter in Issue 608 regarding vehicle weights compared to the caravan and fully agree with Clark and Malcolm. I recently upgraded my pop-top caravan to a full sized 19ft Concept which has a fully loaded weight of 2600kg. The vehicle I had with the pop-top was a Toyota Kluger but as it had a maximum towing rate of 2000kg, I had to upgrade my tow vehicle as well so purchased a Mitsubishi Sports as it has a maximum towing rate of 3100kg. The Sports had plenty of power and towed the van easily but was a nightmare in cross winds or when trucks passed as it was light and has a narrow footprint. It also had a small fuel…

Queensland: beautiful one day, perfect the next. The residents’ self-assured catchphrase could be a PR banana peel if it didn’t deliver, but it does — day in, day out. With 6967km of mainland coastline, and as much jaw-dropping hinterland behind the beaches, the Sunshine State steals the hearts of all who enter. As the dry season sets in, the time is ripe for a coast-hugging northward journey. If you’re venturing above the popular Sunshine and Gold Coasts, skip the piles of marketing brochures and libraries of tourist information by reading this guide. In this article, we take you to the must-not-miss highlights of the well-travelled 1065km road between Rockhampton and Cairns. 1. CAPE HILLSBOROUGH Fifty kilometres north of Mackay, Cape Hillsborough extends as a mountainous spur into the ocean. Its…

Length: 4.5m (15ft) ATM: 2800kg Tare: 2250kg • Integrated 4 speaker entertainment system • King size bed with innerspring mattress • Cafe dinette with optional bunk beds • Internal LED lighting system • Leatherette interior seating • Exterior stainless-steel slide-out kitchen • Ensuite with shower, sink, and chemical toilet • 12V television with TV antenna • Truma Aventa Air Con • Pull-out aluminium step • Dometic wind out awning • Offroad tyres, including two spares • Fully galvanised and welded chassis and drawbar • Hitchmaster DO35 coupling • Offroad Suspension • ARC XO750 Jockey Wheel • Lifetime warranty on drawbar and chassis Price: $54,990 excluding on road costs More info: opuscamper.com.au…

Describing a van as an offroad model is simple. There have been plenty of builders that slap some graphics of muddy splatters on the side, and glue on some fake checkerplate to give the impression their van is a go-anywhere weapon capable of being dragged to the Cape the hard way. Actually building a van that can handle some abuse in the real world is a different thing altogether. According to Titanium builder, Jason Grech, if your tow vehicle is up to the task, you can take the 19ft 6in ATX anywhere you want. That's pretty creative marketing because no one in their right mind would drag their $120k pride and joy down a winding track where dead branches are going to gouge big welts in the new aluminium sides,…

NEED TO KNOW: From Normanton to Mataranka you’ll clock up around 1400km, most of it on corrugated unsealed roads. Although the route requires no technical 4WDing, you should expect water over causeways, especially early in the dry season. Carry ample stocks of fuel, drinking water, food and spares (including tyres). Be aware that mobile phones will rarely work on this route. VISIT: Overall, you can expect drier tracks and cooler temperatures from May–September. Arrive early in the dry season (April–May) to see Lorella Springs’ waterfalls flow. June to August is an ideal time to travel. STAY: • Limmen National Park: bush camps at Butterfly Falls, Towns River, Limmen Bight River, and the Southern Lost City provide toilets, tables, and fire pits. On the Roper River there’s Didi Baba, Mountain Creek…

VALUE FOR MONEY “A lot of great engineering for the price.” TOWABILITY “Tracks well in all conditions and is a well-balanced van.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Fits the adventuring role well.” BUILD QUALITY “This build represents plenty of R&D.” LIVEABILITY “Plenty of room to move in a very comfortable van.” CUSTOMER CARE “Superb service, but written warranty should be updated.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Plenty of power and water for extended off-the-grid stays.” INNOVATION “Best of all the current trends.” X-FACTOR “It will stand out from the pack anywhere you take it.”…

If you’re noticing the images feature fewer people than you’d expect and that some of the forests are fire-damaged it’s because the bulk of the NEHC has been savaged three-times over in the last few years. First came the drought that some thought would never end then the devastating fires that caused untold damage and tragically, loss of life, quickly followed by the pandemic. We managed to make our way there as restrictions were lifting and found a resilient local community only looking forward to the possibility of sharing their space and time with us. None were pessimistic about the coming uptick in local touring but the northern edges of the region would rather not see the borders close ever again!…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.21m (30ft 2in) External body length 6.65m (22ft) External body width 2.33m (7ft 7in) Travel height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Internal height 1.94m (6ft 4in) Tare 2980kg ATM kg 3500kg Payload 520kg (calculated) Ball weight 180kg Ball weight to ATM 6 per cent EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Composite Aluminium Chassis Duragal 150 x 50mm Suspension Tandem Independent Coil Coupling DO35 Brakes 12in drums Wheels 16in Alloy Water 2 x 110L, 1 x 110L grey Battery 200Ah Enerdrive Lithium Solar 4 x 180W Enerdrive Air conditioner Yes Gas 2 x 8.5kg Sway control AL-KO ESC INTERNAL Cooking Swift stove, grill and oven Fridge 180L Compressor Fridge freezer Microwave yes Bathroom Yes Washing machine 3.5kg Hot water Yes Options fitted Nil PRICE AS SHOWN $115,000 MORE INFORMATION HIGHLINE…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.18m (17ft) Overall length 7.36m (24ft 2in) Width 2.38m (7ft 10in) Height 3.07m (10ft 1in) Tare 1902kg ATM 2500kg Payload 598kg Ball weight 192kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium frame Cladding Vacuum bonded, fibreglass composite Chassis DuraGal Suspension AL-KO IRS Coupling Ball Brakes AL-KO 12in Wheels 15in alloy Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 1 x 120W Air conditioner Belair 3500 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Mobicool 4 burner, grill & oven Fridge Dometic RM2350 90L three way Microwave oven NCE Bathroom Dometic cassette toilet and separate shower cubicle Hot waterSwift 28L PRICE FROM $55,490 OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN $55,490 MORE INFO Snowy River Caravans 2/24–32 Stanley Dr, Somerton VIC 3062 Ph: (03) 9303 6100 W: snowyrivercaravans.com.au…

RACV (Vic): racv.com.au and racv.com.au/content/dam/racv/documents/on-the-road/era/era-terms-and-conditions.PDF (terms and conditions) RACQ (QLD): racq.com.au and racq.com.au/roadside-assistance/compare-roadside-options NRMA (NSW and ACT): mynrma.com.au/cars-and-driving/roadside-assistance RAC (WA): rac.com.au RACT (Tas): ract.com.au AANT (NT): aant.com.au RAA (SA): raa.com.au/en/motor/road-service Jayco Roadside Assistance: jayco.com.au/roadside-assistance and jayco.com.au/insurance New Age Assist: newagecaravans.com.au/customer-wellbeing/new-age-assist Avida: avidarvclub.com.au/members-benefits/roadside-assistance Coromal Caravans Assist: coromal.com.au/menu/built-by-apollo4X4 Club: club4x4.com.au Ken Tame insurance: ktainsurance.com.au Aussie Assist insurance: Search for ‘Aussie Assist’ on racv.comau and racq.com.au…

Essentially, shock absorbers do two things. Not only do they absorb the shock — as the name implies — caused by jarring and strain that comes from travelling over rugged terrain, potholes, and unexpected dips that you inadvertently hit too fast — they also ensure we have a smooth ride, reducing the vibration fatigue on your caravan’s parts and fittings, and preventing damage to the things we pack inside. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, shock absorbers keep your tyres in contact with the ground at all times by controlling the springs. Any time a tyre's contact with the ground is broken or reduced, your ability to drive, steer and brake is severely compromised. Like all man-made things that move, shockies will fail eventually. Under normal conditions, shockies stop functioning perfectly…

This is not a history column per se, but here’s a question for those of you who have been around for a while: when did Australia adopt the metric system? If your answer was around the 1970s, you'd be correct — mostly. Australia legally adopted the metric system way back in 1947, signing the Metre Convention, known in French as the Convention du Mètre. This was driven in part by the desire for some conformity both on economical and practical bases in the post-WWII world. Imagine, for instance, being an aircraft mechanic at a temporary wartime airfield in the Northern Territory and not being able to fix a vital bomber aircraft because your toolbox of Whitworth spanners didn’t fit the nuts and bolts on the US-built Hudson plane. The toolbox…

NOISY WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH Q Hi, I’ve been using a weight distribution hitch for about a year now. Recently I noticed this becomes quite noisy when turning due to the metal rubbing at the connection points. It can be quite embarrassing when entering a quiet caravan park! I put a small amount of grease at the connection points to reduce the noise, which worked, but I’m wondering if this will pose any safety problems? It seemed quite worn on the metal when I looked at the underside of the WDH connection points. Is this normal or are you meant to regularly grease them? Also, I noticed that the bars of the WDH rub on the chassis if my turning circle is too tight. Apart from the slight wear marks…

Good day. Thank you for an interesting and informative magazine. I enjoyed the article ‘10 Myths About Buying a Van’ in Issue 608. Myth #2 — Bigger is Best made me smile and caused me to write. Your reviews of caravans make for interesting reading, however the vast majority are of larger vans that require a large high powered vehicle to tow and have little relevance to me, or what I believe is a sizeable part of the caravan market. I am part of what appears to be a forgotten group of small/er caravan owners. Could I ask for some reviews of the caravans that are able to be towed by 4-cylinder and small 6-cylinder cars? I drive a Toyota Kluger, having replaced a Toyota Rav4. My caravan is an…

NEED TO KNOW:  The entrance to Keep River NP is off the Victoria Highway 50km east of Kununurra in Western Australia, and 468km west of Katherine in the Northern Territory. Unsealed gravel roads within the park are suitable for 2WD vehicles, caravans, and camper trailers in dry conditions but may be closed due to flooding during the wet season, which is usually November–April. Kununurra is the nearest town for fuel and supplies. VISIT:  The best time to visit is between May and August, when temperatures range between 10–35 degrees. STAY:  There are two camping areas: Goorrandalng, Jarnem, respectively from the park entrance. Facilities include tables, wood-fired barbecues, and composting toilets. Limited drinking water is available at Jarnem, and along the road just past the Ranger Station turn-off. Camping fees are…

PROS Top class Suspension and chassis Superb fit-out Class leading electronics CONS Only available to order for middle of 2022 Weighty for its size THE BUILD Titanium is a builder that saw the potential for a robust, custom-built van using modern materials and technology. Any van destined for rough road travel must ensure enough strength and flexibility is built into the caravan body so it can stand up to the punishment, without cracking the frame or chassis, or all the cupboards landing on the floor after the first unexpected cattle grid from hell. And while it might be true that a timber frame can flex, latter-day caravan buyers are scared of the horror stories about rot that can lead to expensive repairs or worse. An aluminium frame avoids the rot,…

Seeing our own country is the new travel destination for thousands of Australians. Holidays offshore seem a long way off, and the local tourism industry is set for an inevitable boom as we hitch up the van and hit the road. The lure of the outback and lonely places off the beaten track has many of these new converts to the caravan lifestyle yearning for a setup that can handle rough roads. Whether they are young families packing up the kids, bikes, and toys, or mature couples finally breaking free from a life of work, they share a common expectation — a tough van with loads of self-sufficiency and a comfortable interior they can call home. Eden Caravans began a decade ago back when owner, Paul Nedanis, started the family…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s expensive, but there is a lot of van and technology for price.” TOWABILITY Needs a tow vehicle capable of big loads but it’s well balanced and has proper offroad suspension.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Plenty of room and battery power for comfortable long-distance travel.” BUILD QUALITY “A Meranti frame with good weather protection will last the miles.” LIVEABILITY Room move beautifully appointed inside.” CUSTOMER CARE “Three years on the build but appliances are handled by the relevant supplier. Dedicated warranty staff.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “The Enerdrive system has plenty of punch and the water supply is sufficient for long stays with frugal use.” INNOVATION “Great layout and use of space.” X-FACTOR “You won’t miss this big setup in a sea of grey caravans.”…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Represents good value for money.” TOWABILITY “Well-behaved behind the tow vehicle.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Road touring caravan, ideal for a couple with a mid-duty tow vehicle.” BUILD QUALITY “Mostly well put together with attention to detail.” LIVEABILITY “Condensed but still user-friendly.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Has battery and solar panel capacity but no grey water tank.” CUSTOMER CARE “Five-year structural and two-year general warranty.” INNOVATION “Quite an attractive looking van, both inside and out.” X-FACTOR “Semi-imported van with Australian-approved appliances.”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.49m (18ft) Overall length 8m (26ft 3in) Width 2.44m (8ft) Height(incl AC) 3.02m (9ft 11in) Tare 2290kg ATM 2700kg Payload 410kg Ball weight 240kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium TIG welded box Cladding Aluminium composite walls, fibreglass roof Chassis SupaGal box section Suspension AL-KO IRS torsion Coupling Ball Brakes 12in elec Wheels 16in alloy Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 1 x 150W Air-conditioner Belaire 3400 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Swift 4 burner, grill and oven Fridge Thetford N4175A 175L (current), Dometic 225L (future) Microwave oven Sphere Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet & separate shower cubicle Hot water Swift 28L gas/elec PRICE FROM $64,990 OPTIONS FITTED NONE PRICE AS SHOWN $64,990 MORE INFO Auswide Caravans 250 Princes Highway Nowra, NSW…

Back in 2010, we were loyal to the Track Trailer brand, having progressed through the range — from a soft-floor Desert Eagle to a Tvan, and then finally to a Topaz hybrid. With comfortable, go-anywhere capability, dependability, and ease of setup, we began to push the boundaries on where to travel, undertaking more remote trips with confidence. Offroad touring had thoroughly etched itself into our subconscious by then. It was something we were continually thinking about, with trips ranging from weekenders, long weekends, and extended forays, all planned well ahead of time. Being a member of a 4WD club had its advantages too, as there was always plenty of club trips on offer to participate in, without exerting too much planning effort. Writing for magazines such as Caravan World only…

The Daintree Rainforest covers approximately 1200 square kilometres and is Australia’s largest swathe of tropical rainforest. From the Daintree River, the area extends north to Cooktown and west to the Great Divide. A small, pretty town named Daintree, with little more than a pub and few cafes, lies on the southern side of the river. The Daintree River is 106km north of Cairns and 50km north of Port Douglas. Crossing is via car ferry only, and cars towing a caravan can cross for $25 one-way or $43 return. While the crossing itself only takes a few minutes, allow up to 30 minutes of wait time, particularly during peak travel hours during the week (that is, 10am to noon heading north, and 3pm to 5pm heading south). The ferry operates daily…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.2m (30ft) External body length 6.4m (21ft) External body width 2.46m (8ft) (including awning) Travel height 3.13m (10ft) Internal height 2m (6.5ft) Tare 2797kg ATM 3500kg Payload 703kg Ball weight 172kg unladen EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium wall frame and composite fibreglass/foam roof Cladding Composite 3mm pro bond panel Chassis F&P Chassis 8in — Dual 4x2in box section laminated beam Suspension Cruisemaster XT Coil and dual shockers Coupling s DO35 Wheels 265/75 R16 Water 2 x fresh 100L and 100L grey Battery 200Ah Enerdrive lithium Solar 510W Air conditioner Houghton Belair Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking 1 x electric stovetop and mini grill combo Swift 3 Fridge 224L dometic compressor Microwave Yes Bathroom Separate shower and toilet Washing machine 3.5kg top load Hot…

It took a lot to put this trip together. It happened during the peak of Victoria’s lockdown which meant a 14-day stay in quarantine for our author Tim before he could take on the 12-day journey as well as some big wrangling to arrange the Marvel caravan, Marlin camper, a pair of Isuzus, and the team. It also took a hell of a lot of support from the regions who had invited Caravan World to visit since before the 2019 fires. A special thanks has to go to Chris and the team from Marvel Caravans on the Sunshine Coast for the loan of the Sea Breeze, to Steven from Marlin Campers for not only the use of his camper but also for his passion to see the NEHC with us;…

Over the years I have reviewed more than half a dozen Highline Caravans for various publications. On top of that, the team there has been participants in the Caravan World Best Aussie Vans events, and it’s only a brave and confident builder that fronts those judges. In all of my contact with Vlad and his brother Alex, I have been impressed by their passion and professional approach to building caravans. That passion and commitment show through in the vans and they are always seeking ways to make each new model more usable and appropriate for customers. They seek feedback from dealers and customers about changes can they make, and they always ask what we think about the van. And with Vlad and Alax, it’s not just for show — often…

Snowy River Caravans is a little different to the average Australian caravan manufacturer. That’s because the Snowy River caravans, or at least the body and chassis components, are fully built offshore in China. They are then shipped to Australia for the necessary fitting of all the appliances and components, as well as the plumbing and wiring. Despite this process, no steps are missed along the way — and Snowy River produces well-appointed caravans that cleverly integrate all of the essentials. “Caravans can feel cramped, however this one combats this effect with understated yet clever design features including curved overhead lockers, large windows, and a light interior.” SNOWY SUCCESS An initial look over a Snowy River caravan might suggest it’s fully built here in Australia, and there's good reason for that.…

No. The 4JJ engine is real a teetotaler. Due to the added weight of the new tech and stricter testing, the official combined consumption for an unladen X-Terrain has crept up to a still impressive 8L/100km. We’ve seen better than that without a trailer, but it’s actually when towing that the Isuzu impresses most. im van Duyl, our content director, has been driving D-MAX’s in shoots since their launch last year and reported that a typical full-body van, like the excellent Marvel in the opening spread, raises consumption to around 17L/100. That’s still fantastic and with small campers, like the Goldfields also seen in this feature, he saw around 12L/100, impressive for what was a weighty camper…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s not a budget van, but it's still affordable for a family that will get a lot of use out of it.” TOWABILITY “Good for a range of mid-sized tow vehicles.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “A family van that’s not oversize, but still has all the essentials .” BUILD QUALITY “Generally speaking, okay, but there were signs of rust in the odd place.” LIVEABILITY “For a family of four it’s going to be close quarters. An awning and annexe would be helpful for extended stays.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “No grey water tank, but the battery and solar panel capacity is certainly good for several days of off-the-grid travel.” CUSTOMER CARE “Five-year structural warranty and two-year general warranty should instil confidence in buyers.” INNOVATION “I reckon it’s the choice of…

2018 PIMPERNEL CHENIN BLANC — $40 This variety never disappoints those that love navigating different aromas layers in wine. It starts floral and lifted, perhaps with a bit of fresh honey there too. But, it wouldn’t be a Chenin Blanc without beautifully balanced aromas of apple, pear and melon. Subtle green apple-like acidity is there on the background every step of the way holding this wine together, layered with peach and quince flavours. 2019 BOAT O’CRAIGO BLACK SPUR CHARDONNAY — $32 This is a definition of classic Yarra Valley Chardonnay. Primary aromas are uniquely varietal, with the winemaker’s mark is not far behind. Citrus and orange peel on the front is backed by stroke match and ginger spice. The palate displays a similar dynamic — apricots and honeysuckle come first,…