Innehållsförteckning för Issue 613 från Caravan World

The ATX Premium All-Terrain Suspension is now available in the classic 'Doe Skin' or the all new second colour option, 'Onyx'. With the same price, features and performance, the new look now offers buyers another option for suspension to go under a caravan or luxury camper trailer. The new look was shown firsthand at the Queensland Caravan and Camping Supershow, held at Brisbane Showgrounds from 2-7 June 2021. The 'Doe Skin' and 'Onyx' colour range is only available on the Cruisemaster ATX systems.…

DRIVING ON THE DUNES Q We want to head to the Red Centre while the weather is a bit cooler. What are the best caravan towing techniques for sand dune crossings? John Patrick, Ipswich John Patrick, Ipswich A G’day John, It’s a good idea to head to the desert in the cooler months and also to get yourself familiar with driving on the sand before you go. In terms of tips and techniques, it is almost the same as beach driving. Lower your pressures to get your tyres to bag (balloon at the contact patch), travel as light as safely possible, carry all the recovery gear needed for self-recovery and keep your wheel and engine speed up by using lower gears to keep your cooling system flowing well and…

Wild flowers, campfires and serenity — thanks Eddie and Brigitte Roux for sending in this gem of their Grand Cherokee Overland 3.01L diesel and Crusader Excalibur Duke. “We made a long weekend and went free camping at Weira Reserve, about 260km from Perth. Sitting around the campfire and gazing at the stars … what more do you want? ” Rick and Val Heinke’s 2007 Jayco Sterling Pop-Top and the MY19 Prado look ready to roll! “While travelling back from the central Queensland gem and gold fields a few months ago, we stopped just south of Monto for produce at a farmers stall, and took the opportunity to photograph the Three Moons painted silos.” Joan and Bryan Ingleton’s recent trip from Sydney to Adelaide was long awaited due to border closures.…

Western Australia’s station stays are something special: rustic, raw and nothing short of outback realness. A vast number of working sheep and cattle stations — some over 100 years old — are situated in far-flung coastal and inland locations across the state, opening their farm gates to those who yearn for a change of pace and scenery. And what a change awaits. Behind those gates are some of the most unique, genuine travel experiences to be had. There’s no holiday fluff here. These stations offer a glimpse into rural living in lands that can sometimes be unforgiving — dry climatic temperatures, sheer remoteness, and the need to accessorise with a fly net. “Cattle stations — some over 100 years old — are situated in far-flung coastal and inland locations across…

NT ONLINE BOOKINGS TO BEAT THE CROWDS Across the top of the country — where we all want to be — holiday parks and national parks are already full to capacity, and travellers are kicking themselves for not pre-booking prime campsites in Broome, Darwin, Exmouth, the Kimberley, and right across Far North Queensland. It’s going to take some patience to contend with the crowds, and if you’ve never been much of a planner this is the season to plot out an itinerary and get onboard with online national park bookings. “This is the season to get onboard with online national park bookings” From October, the Northern Territory is finally introducing online campsite bookings, bringing the Top End and the Red Centre in line with every other national park in the…

There’s nothing worse than having a long, tiresome day of driving and then rolling into bed only to find it’s extremely uncomfortable. The Australian owned and family business, OZTENT, has provided new bedding and sleeping bag ranges to deliver cloud-like comfort when camping. The OZTENT Cirrus range consists of a pillow and self-inflating mattress that is quick to put together and built for great adventures in all weather conditions. With patented technology such as HivtecTM soft touch fabric, Tuff-TekTM fabric, Pack Assist ValveTM and Comfort Core FoamTM, you’re guaranteed to have a better sleeping experience while travelling. If it’s luxurious sleeping comfort, rapid inflation and compact storage you’re after, the OZTENT Stratus line may be more your style. The range includes a pillow, an XL single self-inflating mattress and a…

Australian-owned Narva has released new Ultima L.E.D Driving Lights, the L.E.D MK2 range, offering 30 per cent more light compared to their class-leading 2017 range, as well as a 20 per cent longer beam. As lighting performance is critical across a range of applications, Narva has also provided customisation with a range of bold new bezel colours to keep up with new vehicle trends as well as a ‘Black Edition’ kit option to increase vehicle impact while driving. The single or twin kits come standard with a slate grey trim and black adjustment knob, along with hyper green and electric blue interchangeable trim options plus clear lens protectors. The range is initially available in the 215 — producing an impressive 21,780 raw Lumens and 1 Lux of brightness at up…

Noise and dirt issues are no longer a problem when it comes to finding cable anchors where drilling is not allowed. EziFix Cable Anchors have a wide area of use: from John Lennon Airport in Liverpool to Maritimo Luxury Motor Yachts in Australia. With this degree of application, caravanners and campers are certain to have a need for such a system. The Anchors are a simple tool that is equally simple to use. Built of high impact resistant nylon with added UV light inhibitor, the anchors are backed with 3M double-side VHB adhesive tape. This tape is without doubt the leading adhesive tape available anywhere. Coupled with UHB Adhesive Primer, these anchors will remain firmly in place when they come to knock the building down. And size is not an…

The entire 4500 ticket allocation to this year’s iconic Birdsville Races has sold out in record time. The tickets, which for the first time in the event’s 139-year history, went on sale online at 9am on Wednesday 26 May and by day’s end were gone. Vice-President of the Birdsville Race Club Gary Brook said of the unprecedented record, “The horse has well and truly bolted on this one. We were expecting demand to be high, but never in our wildest dreams did we expect tickets to sell this fast. I was then watching the figures rise in thousand increments over the next few minutes. Never in the history of the event have we had such an overwhelming response." The boom in domestic travel as a result of the pandemic shutting…

Australian company The Thirsty Nomad has designed a water purifier that uses quantum physics to destroy 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses in water including E. coli — a first for the Australian caravan market. According to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, there should be no E. coli in healthy drinking water and despite the specification of 0 colony-forming units (cfu) of E. coli in 100ML of water, existing filters on the market currently have no scientifically proven method to ensure this. The Thirsty Nomad Founder and Executive Director Tory Shenstone said there is a lack of understanding in the caravan sector about microbiologically safe water. “We could see that caravanners, such as retirees with compromised immune systems and young families, were being left vulnerable to harmful pathogens in…

DO35 V3-R ALL-TERRAIN DROP-ON COUPLING The DO35 Drop-On Coupling is designed, tested, and manufactured by Cruisemaster™, home to Australia’s leader in all-terrain towing technology. With full 360-degree articulation to reduce the risk of roll-over, smooth ADR compliant locking mechanism and 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 handbrake, which is 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, 3 Wyman Place, Braeside, Vic 3195. All…

Mountain Trail RV, a manufacturer based in New South Wales, is dedicated to bringing the latest technology and engineering processes into the high-end offroad caravan, camper, and hybrid markets. Its Mountain Trail FXV 6.5 is the perfect example, using cutting-edge techniques to build the lightest, strongest, and most durable family-sized offroader possible. From the outside, the FXV 6.5 may look like an average offroad caravan — but it’s the construction and design that make it so special. The Mountain Trail team take pride in doing all of their engineering and construction in-house, including their own laser and CNC cutting, developing their own components wherever possible and designing new build processes to achieve the best results. A laser-cut RHS chassis removes 100kg from the van’s total weight, and Mountain Trail’s laser-cut…

West Australian Station Stays E: info@outbackpathways.com W: wastationstays.com.au Murchison House Station P: (08) 9937 1998 E: mhsbookings@outlook.com W: murchisonhousestation.com.au Hamelin Outback Station Stay P: (08) 9948 5145 E: hamelinoutbackstay@bushhertiage.org.au W: hamelinstationstay.com.au Mellenbye Station P: (08) 9972 3072 E: stationstaymellenbye@gmail.com W: mellenbye.com.au Gabyon Station P: (08) 9963 7993 E: gabyonstationstay@gmail.com W: gabyon.com.au Melangata Station P: (08) 9963 7777 E: melangatastationstay@gmail.com W: joclewscooking.com Wooleen Station P: (08) 9963 7973 E: info@wooleen.com.com.au W: wooleen.com.au Glenburgh Station P: 0447 173 287 E: glenburghstationstay@gmail.com W: glenburghstationstay.com Kirkalocka Station P: (08) 9963 5827 E: bookings@kirkalocka.com.au W: kirkalocka.com Nalbarra Station P: (08) 9963 5829 E: nalbarrastationstays@gmail.com W: nalbarra.com.au…

Innovation and technology are fun buzzwords, but what do they mean to those in the market for a new RV or looking to upgrade accessories for future travel? They can mean many things, said Wayne Park, Relationship Manager with finance brokerage Credit One. Every day Park deals with RV owners trying to decide on the best style of RV for their preferred method of travel. Backed by a wealth of experience within the industry, he said the type of innovation he’d seen — from construction of vans and campers to onboard power systems to smartphone-controlled functions — continues to make life easy for RVers on the road. INNOVATE OR DIE Of course, most manufacturing industries shift and change as new processes are formed, production lines become more automated and consumer…

After three years of planning since being passed into law in 2018, new legislation around motor vehicle production and importation comes into effect on 1 July this year. While the laws apply to all road transport, they will particularly impact the construction of caravans, campers, and motorhomes. The Australian Government has said the legislation responds to changes in global markets and improvements in vehicle technologies over the last few years, with legislation set to provide stricter compliance and quality for both locally-made and imported vehicles. The Caravan Industry Association of Australia said the new legislation is the most significant change since GST and the laws will completely transform the industry as we know it. Under current laws, caravan builders self-certify that their product is compliant with Australian Design Rules. This…

In the recreational vehicle industry, there’s been something of a rise in the use of technology. There’s little doubt that the RV industry in Australia has been at the forefront in the uptake of technology, at least on the electrical side of things, with LED lighting, lithium (Li-FePO4) batteries, solar panels, inverters and battery management systems all becoming very common in many an RV not long out of the factory. Indeed, a few manufacturers are moving towards having very high-capacity battery systems as a standard feature. A very good example of this has not long rolled out of the Retreat factory in the form of the ERV 210R CL van. To say the least, it’s quite an impressive design on the electrical front. In addition, not only has the technology…

SPICY BUFFALO WINGS HOT TOTAL TIME: 1hr SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS • ¾ cup flour • ½ tsp paprika • ½ tsp cayenne pepper • ½ tsp salt • 20 chicken wings • Oil (for frying) • ½ cup melted butter • ½ cup hot sauce • Cracked pepper • ½ tsp garlic powder METHOD Mix together flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt in a bowl. Put chicken wings in the bowl and toss in flour mix until evenly coated. Cover bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Heat oil in a campfire oven over a hot fire. Fry chicken wings in batches for 10-15 minutes until brown. While wings are frying, in a saucepan, mix together butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder over medium heat. Stir until well blended and…

They don’t call Australia a sunburnt country for nothing. When on the road, our vans can feel like a sweat box in summer, while midwinter nights can leave them so cold you’d be forgiven for fearing a dose of hypothermia while seated around your lounge. According to the US Department of Energy, up to 87 per cent of our rigs’ heat is gained through its windows, and 40 per cent of its cosy warmth is lost the same way (most likely when you need it most!). When we’re off grid, many of us can’t make the most of our air conditioners. It would take an electronics upgrade, 5kW of lithium batteries and 600W of solar up top to justify their use for extended periods. So, what can we do about…

In a move that will strengthen Dometic’s product offering and distribution network around the world, the company has entered into an agreement to acquire Front Runner Vehicle Outfitters. Front Runner provides vehicle specific hardware for most four-wheel-drives and the company saw net sales last year of approximately $35 million USD, which will see Dometic’s earnings per share (EPS) soar. “This is our fourth announced acquisition this year and our pipeline of potential future acquisitions remains strong,” said Juan Vargues, President and CEO of Dometic. The privately owned South African company has approximately 320 full-time employees with headquarters and manufacturing near Johannesburg and these employees will maintain their positions as the acquisition is finalised. Closing is expected to take place during the third quarter of 2021.…

Still in its initial stages with two years to go, a new virtual reality project is coming to the Flinders Ranges that will allow virtual tourists to be ‘teleported’ into the deep past. UNISA geologist Tom Raimondo has been virtually documenting the geoscientific significance of the 600-million-year-old landscape in support of the South Australian government's bid for world heritage status. Once completed, the 360-degree tour will take viewers on a journey through time and illustrate why the landscape has captured the world’s attention — not only for scientific reasons, but also for its rich Indigenous and mining heritage. Phase One of the project was funded by private donations and the Project LIVE team is actively seeking further support from stakeholders across the environmental, mining, tourism, and heritage sectors to expand…

SWAN SONG Travel ‘Round Australia Come travel ‘round Australia, and see its wondrous sights From the outback to the cities, from the daytime to the nights Where the splendour of our country, will swell your heart with pride And fill your eyes with beauty, that will keep you satisfied. Whatever takes your fancy, from van to motorhome Enjoy the spoils of freedom, wherever you may roam A basic camper-trailer, or fancy caravan The memories last a lifetime, so travel while you can. The leisure of this way of life, true nomads on the road Without a care for anything, without a fixed abode It’s great for relaxation, to come and go at will The freedom and the friendships, your dreams you will fulfil. From the Gulf of Carpentaria, to the…

There’s a good selection of family caravans available in the RV marketplace at the moment. In many cases, those vans have evolved into a standard layout that has a front island bed and a rear area with both bunk beds (either triple or double) and a full bathroom. That results in a van length of about 6.5m (21ft 6in). However, it’s possible to get a shorter and lighter family caravan by introducing a bit of compromise and by rearranging the furniture. That’s exactly what Ocean Breeze Caravans has done with its 18ft 6in bunk van model. Ocean Breeze, a regional Melbourne based manufacturer, builds a small range of caravans that has of late been taken on by Sydney dealer Parravans Caravan World — and the team was keen to show…

“I think of artificial intelligence as any computer system that can come up with clever answers to tricky problems by itself,” said Adam Berry, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the University of Technology Sydney Data Science Institute. “It is behind what Netflix recommends you watch next, how Siri understands what you’re asking, and how your phone can tell you how long it will take you to get to the nearest petrol station — which is pretty important when your fuel gauge is hovering about the red line.” David Tuffley, Senior Lecturer in the School of Information and Communications Technology at Griffith University, said that artificial intelligence (AI) reflects the ability of technology to complete human tasks and operate like the reasoning human mind. “AI is tech that emulates the…

In Part 1 of our exploration of Gwydir Shire, we showcased some of the region’s hidden gems, such as Warialda and Bingara. In this month’s issue, we explore Gravesend, North Star and Cobbadah. It’s not just their histories that make these towns so interesting. It’s their unique and niche offerings, attractions that you simply cannot find in larger towns or regions. So, make a cup of tea, put your feet up and read about your next big adventure! “It's their unique and niche offerings, attractions that you simply cannot find in larger towns” Gravesend Located 25km west of Warialda, the rich history of the town of Gravesend seems disproportionate to the town’s small size. Proclaimed a village in 1911, Gravesend expanded from a lone livestock station when it built a…

MT ISA TO CLONCURRY (120KM) Between Mt Isa and Cloncurry, the eastern section of the Barkly Highway snakes through the spectacular Selwyn Range. This dramatic landscape of buckled ridges and valleys provides one of the most scenic drives along the Overlanders Way. These are the traditional lands of the Kalkadoon Indigenous people, a proud tribe who waged a fierce guerrilla campaign against European pastoralists for many years. This conflict culminated in a pitched battle with paramilitary forces in September 1884, which claimed the lives of more than 200 Indigenous warriors. The first Europeans to pass through these lands were Burke and Wills, who crossed and named the Cloncurry River in January 1861. The town that later grew at the crossing took its name from the river. Prospector Ernest Henry discovered…

In a word, yes. And that's not just me speaking — our reverent leader, John Ford, was equally as impressed as I am with the offroad-focused 480X Blackhawk from Titan. It’s a technological masterpiece, it’s a bargain, it's capable, and as Titan grows, it’s accessible in most centres in Australia. Before we go into the layout, value and capabilities, those who know me know I love advancements in design — and this hybrid tickles my fancy. “It's a technological masterpiece, it's a bargain, it's capable, and as Titan grows. it's accessible in most centres in Australia” THE BUILD We first saw frameless, composite walls and roofs in European imports decades ago but it took until the highly innovative Zone RV refined the build process to eliminate issues caused by our…

The Glenelg River begins its journey in the Gariwerd (Grampians), a majestic mountain range rising out of flat farmlands in southwestern Victoria, and winds its way 350kms amid rich pasturelands through Balmoral and Casterton to the coastal village of Nelson. The Glenelg was like a highway to Aboriginal peoples, who have lived in this region for thousands of years – Gariwerd alone is home to around 140 Aboriginal rock-art sites up to 22,000 years old. The Kanalgundidj, part of the Jardwadjali language group, held large corroborees at a site now called Island Park, near the banks of the Glenelg River in Casterton. Reports from early European settlers in the 1840s describe more than 800 people gathered here. Island Park is now home to Casterton’s football oval and other sporting facilities,…

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when we say the word ‘fossils’? Was your first answer dinosaurs? A T-Rex maybe? How about fossil sites? Many of us have marvelled at the fossil artefacts at Naracoorte in Victoria, as well as at Riversleigh in Queensland, and along the ‘Australian Dinosaur Trail’ near Winton. There are more fossil sites around you than you might think. For instance, there are fossils literally falling out of the ground in Tassie around Fossil Bay, Fossil Cove, and Fossil Bluff, while over here on the mainland myriad fossil sites reveal a history of life spanning billions of years. New South Wales also has a wealth of fossil artefacts waiting to be found. From fossilised fish to mega marsupials, there are treasures in the ground,…

We've all heard that not all wine vintages are born equal. Some believe in the uncanny magic of an even year, while others collect special bottles based on the birth years of their children. But are these good determining factors for your next collectable? In a product like wine, where potential setbacks at every step of the production process are as normal as the creative solutions that offset these issues, is there such a thing as a better vintage? You bet there is! And if you believe that, you may as well start believing in weather gods too! Going back to my favourite concept that good wine starts in the vineyard, let's take this as our starting point. From the very beginning of bud burst in the vines, grape growers…