Innehållsförteckning för Issue 615 från Caravan World

Our theme this month is Conscious Caravanning. It’s a wide-ranging issue, and we have some great reads from our writers offering thought-provoking ideas on reducing the impact of our travels. Being a conscious caravanner is more than the environmental cost because it includes our impact on our fellow travellers, both on the road and when camped. Check out Cathy Anderson’s Credit One story for a comprehensive check on recommended caravanning conduct. When thinking about the environment, it’s not too difficult to accept that towing a van uses a lot more fuel than driving a compact car. Unfortunately, with a background of bad news every day about the Delta strain, the latest reports from the IPCC on the world’s environmental health have taken a low profile. But it’s alarming reading, so…

Q Hi 12V Guru, Love the idea of what I hear about inverters, but my research tells me I need to be careful with my battery setup – can you explain why? Thanks. Mick Saluty, FNQ A If you’ve been off the beaten track, odds are you’ve heard of an inverter. An inverter is the holy grail of camping accessories, allowing you to use your most prized appliances anywhere on the planet. Although inverters allow you to have a cappuccino in the middle of the Simpson Desert, they also bring with them a range of complications. With all this being said, it’s a must-have accessory for any camping setup. With some forward planning and thinking, you’ll be set and having the adventure of a lifetime. Including an inverter…

NEED TO KNOW Purnululu is open during the dry season (typically 1 April to 30 November) and is accessible to high-clearance 4WDs and single-axle offroad trailers only. There are no supplies available in the park or rubbish bins. The access road to the main sites within the park is almost 50km long from north to south, so make sure you have sufficient fuel (enough for 200km of park driving). FEES Entry costs $15 per vehicle, per day (payable at the Visitor Centre, open 8am to 4pm). Alternatively, you can buy an annual Western Australia All Parks Pass ($120). Either way you will need to register your arrival at the Visitor Centre. CAMPING Both Kurrajong and Walardi campgrounds must be booked in advance online (book early, adults $13, kids aged 6-15,…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES External length 8.92m (29ft 3in) External Body length 6.73m (22ft 10in) External width 2.45m (8ft) Internal height 2.07m (6ft 8in) Travel height 2.97m (9ft 8in) Tare 2400kg ATM2900kg Ball weight 195kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Alloy composite Front & Rear/ Ally High Rib Sides Chassis 6in main with 6in A-frame, ARV Suspension Leaf Coupling 50mm ball Brakes 10in Drum Wheels/tyres 15in alloy wheels with 235/75R15 All Terrain tyres Water 190L Fresh Battery 100Ah AGM Solar 195W Battery Management System BMPRO HA 35 with Smart Connect Air-conditioner Ibis-4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control NA Dust Control NA Reversing Camera Safety Dave INTERNAL Cooking Thetford Gas & Electric with grill and full oven Fridge Dometic RMD10.5XS 2 Door Three-way AES Microwave Yes Toilet Dometic porcelain Shower Internal Lighting…

Over the years, we have had a fair bit to do with Wonderland RV, having reviewed several models seen plenty on the road and at shows. They have all been great-looking vans with plenty of presence. But despite the hints in the Hornet name, I wasn't expecting the eye-catching yellow and black version that rolled into view for our review. Not shy of delivering some very impressive vans in the past, the team has really amped up the ‘wow factor’ with this oversize family van. “Not shy of delivering some very impressive vans in the past, the team has really amped up the 'wow' factor with this oversize family van" The Wonderland team recognised the growing trend for a younger demographic joining the caravanning scene a while back. They saw…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Competitively priced, you get bang for your buck at just over $80K.” TOWABILITY “Tows like a dream on wheels — to quote Regent RV.” LIVEABILITY “Central slide-out bed is a classic.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “It will take you far enough into this harsh brown land.” LAYOUT “Agora-type internal space is a winner.” QUALITY OF FINISH “Internal panache says it all.” BUILD QUALITY “Composite construction shows pride in workmanship.” CREATURE COMFORTS “Temptation to ‘go missing’ on front club lounge.” INNOVATION “Convenient automation/ technology all-round.” X-FACTOR “Looks good inside and out.”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.1m (29ft 9in) External body length 6.4m (21ft) External body width 2.46m (8ft) (Inc Awning) Travel height 3.1m (10 ft 3in) Internal height 2m (6ft 7in) Tare 2672kg ATM 3500kg Payload 828kg (calculated) Ball weight 182kg unladen EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Wall Frame and Composite fibreglass/foam roof Cladding Composite 3mm Premium RV Panel Chassis 8in — Dual 4x2in Box Section laminated beam Suspension Cruisemaster XT Coil Coupling DO35 Wheels 265/75 R16 Water 2 x Fresh 95L, 95L Grey Battery 200A Enerdrive Lithium Solar 510W Air-conditioner Houghton Belair Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Swift 3 Gas 1 x Electric cooktop and mini grill Oven combo Fridge 224L Dometic Compressor Microwave Yes Bathroom Large bathroom. separate shower and toilet Washing machine 3.5kg Top Load…

Sure, there are back-up features such as safety chains and break away devices, but you would hope you never have to rely on them to prevent your van taking a solo voyage. We paid a visit to Andrew Phillips from The RV Repair Centre to step us through guidelines for basic torque checks, adjustments, and visual inspections that a competent DIYer should be able to undertake. There is nothing overly technical here, but the stakes are high — so if you are in doubt, take your van to a professional! Even if you decide this is not for you, it’s still helpful to know what to look out for in between scheduled services. There are a variety of couplings on the market. Here, we will deal with by far the…

Well, here we are again. As I write this, a fair chunk of the east coast is in some sort of lockdown and everyone is again getting familiar with Zoom, WhatsApp, Facetime et al. Around my neighbourhood, there are plenty of caravans parked up and not going anywhere. I have seen an owner or two doing a bit of maintenance or maybe pretending they are on the road somewhere. Those who are travelling, apart from constant checks on border closures, are, I would imagine, making sure their phone and Wi-Fi accounts are kept financial. Difficult times for many, I know, whether you are travelling or sitting at home getting frustrated like this writer. Right about now I should have been having a week or so on the ski slopes, here…

Hi Guys, I have a question that I don’t know if anyone has raised, and it has to do with to balance or not to balance your caravan wheels? I have had ours done and the guy told me there were no weights on the rims and they were out of balance by heaps, therefore they have never been balanced. I have not noticed any difference in towing but surely the van must ride better. Our van is 2018 Paramount Commander XT dual axle and has the Cruisemaster suspension. Thanks heaps and keep on teasing us and keeping us keen to one day getting out there. Kind Regards, Derek and Yolanda Duffie A G’day Yolanda and Derek, Because you have a hand on the wheel you might feel the vibration…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It will be hard to beat the F3 for value, really hard.” TOWABILITY “Perfect for blacktop touring and light-gravel work.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “It has just enough of everything to keep a family on the road for a long time.” BUILD QUALITY “It is built to a price so expect a few compromises.” LIVEABILITY “Good room inside and good if not common layout make for a comfortable van.” CUSTOMER CARE “One of the few builders that have strong dealer networks and an understandable warranty.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Enough, just of everything you need to live off-grid.” INNOVATION “Not the F3 strong suit but that’s not a slight on it.” X-FACTOR “Jaws will drop if you tell the neighbours the price.”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.1m (29ft 10in) External body length 6.9m (22ft 8in) External body width 2.45m (8ft) Travel height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tare 2980kg ATM 3500–3990kg Payload 520–1010kg Tare Ball weight 240kg Per cent ball to tare 8 per cent EXTERNAL Frame Structural ply WonderWalls Cladding Marine Grade Dibond Cladding Chassis Roadking Wonderland Spec Off-Road Suspension ALKO Outback 4.1T Independent Coil Coupling Cruisemaster DO45 Brakes Disc Brakes Wheels 16in Water 2 x 100L Fresh, 70L Dedicated Drinking & 100L Grey Battery Lithium Lab 560Ah HED Battery Solar 600W Air-conditioner Dometic Harrier Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Nil Kitchen External: Custom with Weber Internal: Thetford Cooktop Cooker INTERNAL Cooking Swift Minigrill Fridge Dometic Compressor 224L Microwave Swift Bathroom Ensuite with separate toilet &…

“My wife and I decided we would sell our business, licences and home to travel Australia” My father Russell Snook, born in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), arrived in Australia in the early ‘70s with a childhood full of hunting, self-engineering knowledge, an obsession for spearing and a fascination of the Great Barrier Reef. This led him to being one of the pioneers of Marine Aquarium Fish Collecting. In 1985, I was born into the industry and taught the ropes of Aquarium Fish collecting and Coral Harvesting which led to me owning my own wholesale business from 2010, exporting all around the world. But having spent my whole life in the industry, my passion was starting to wear thin. By 2019, even though our family had grown to five, my mind was…

The term ‘conscious caravanning’ encompasses many ideals. There’s the environmental aspects of travel — ensuring you are mindful of the natural environment and attempting to reduce your carbon footprint; then there’s the philanthropic aspect, where you devote some of your travel time to help others by volunteering in rural communities or ensuring you spend your money to help local businesses. But another true measure of conscious travel is the respect with which you treat your fellow travellers — both the strangers you encounter along the way and the ones along for the ride with you, says Wayne Park, Relationship Manager with caravan and RV finance brokerage Credit One. Park deals with RV owners in the process of buying their first RV or upgrading to a different model and, as an…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES External length 7.1m (23ft 4in) External Body length 5.1m (16ft 9in) External width 2.44 m (8ft) Travel height 3.0 m (9ft 10in) Internal height 1.96 m (6ft 5in) Tare 2180kg ATM 2680kg Payload 500kg Ball weight at tare 160kg Ball weight to tare 6 per cent EXTERNAL Frame Frameless Cladding Fibreglass composite panel construction Chassis In house fabricated DuraGal chassis with Raptor coating Suspension type independent arm suspension with air bags Suspension brand Cruisemaster XT Suspension rating 2600kg Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in Cruisemaster drum brakes Wheels/tyres ROH 16in rims/Falken Wild Peak A/T Water tanks fresh 260L (2 x 130L independent tanks) Water tank grey 95L Battery 400Ah lithium Solar Enerdrive 540W (3x 180W panels) with external solar outlet Inverter Enerdrive 2600W Gas 2 x 9kg Sway…

VALUE FOR MONEY “All the options you will need at a very competitive price.” TOWABILITY “Well balanced and without vice. Needs a capable tow vehicle.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Rough road travel and a comfortable retreat.” BUILD QUALITY “Beautifully finished inside and out.” LIVEABILITY “Roomy and comfortable for a big lap.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Lots of solar and enough water for long stays off-grid.” CUSTOMER CARE “Coffs Coast Caravans and the builder make sure the customer is happy.” INNOVATION “Alloy frame, composite floor and roof and powerful electronics.” X-FACTOR “It's the real deal, and it looks the part.”…

Despite recent Australian lockdowns, Airbnb recently reported bookings increasing up to 52 per cent as COVID-19 restrictions ease around the world. To help holidaymakers in their planning, Money.co.uk utilised Forbes’ bucket list of the top 50 places in the world to visit and searched each destination and review score on Airbnb to create an overall average. Waikato, New Zealand, took out the top score, with an Airbnb popularity rating of 100, closely followed by Beijing, China at 98 and Kerry, Ireland at 96. Waikato is widely known for containing the longest river in New Zealand, the Waikato River, and the largest lake, Lake Taupo. With the suspended travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand to be reviewed in September, travel-hungry Aussies might have something to look forward to.…

It’s funny how you get used to doing things the same way as you’ve always done. Recently, we’ve seen the light and purchased some new tools to make fixing things so much more enjoyable. But before we go there, we’ll give you the backstory. Many years ago, we purchased one of those great little combo Bahco tool kits. It’s packaged in a sturdy poly case and has a good selection of metric sockets, spanners, and an assortment of screwdriver and associated parts, matched to a small ratchet to make good of repetitive tasks. It’s compact, not too heavy, and lends itself for a variety of applications, and partnered with a good set of screwdrivers, pliers, cutters, a hammer, and assorted tools, it’s a good package. This little kit has served…

There is a lot in the name of the Essential Cruiser Design 22”10 F3. It tells you it is a 22-footer, sits in the family Design range of Essential caravans and the F3 is a layout — I’ll keep it simple and call it the F3 or we’ll run out of space to talk about the finer points. I picked up the keys to the F3 to deliver a photoshoot for Essential. We had three vans to do in two days which gave me the chance to have a really good look at what life was like with an F3. Hitching it up behind a new and also borrowed D-MAX, we shot off to one of our favourite spots, about 130km north of Melbourne, near the Macedon Ranges. It's a…

GARY JUNCTION ROAD CONTACTS Central Land Council 27 Stuart Hwy, Alice Springs P: (08) 8951 6211 W: clc.org.au Ngaanyatjarra Council Shop 6, 56-58 Head Street, Alice Springs P: (08) 8950 1711 (transit permits) P: (08) 8956 8658 (camping) W: ngaanyatjarra.org.au Papunya Community Store P: (08) 8956 8506 E: ppy@outbackstores.com.au Mount Liebig Community Store (08) 8956 8591 Kintore Community Store P: (08) 8956 8575 Kiwirrkurra Roadhouse P: (08) 8956 4935 E: kiwiroadhouse@bigpond.com Kunawarritji Roadhouse P: (08) 9176 9040 E: kunawarritji@bigpond.com Punmu Community P: (08) 9176 9110 E: punmucorp@bigpond.com Warrawagine Station (Mills family) P: (08) 9176 5900. E: stationadmin@warrawagine.com.au…

VALUE FOR MONEY “A big offroad van with all the fruit.” TOWABILITY “Tows well for its size but needs a big tow rig.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Room for four kids on a big adventure.” BUILD QUALITY “Beautifully finished and engineered.” LIVEABILITY “Best use of space for a big family.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Plenty of power and water for staying off-grid.” CUSTOMER CARE “Formidable reputation for looking after their customers. Third party warranty for fixtures.” INNOVATION “Family friendly and good mix of technology.” X-FACTOR “A big standout van with all the bush cred.”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 7.77m (25ft 3in) Overall length 9.12m (29ft 11in) Width 2.4m (7ft 10in) Height 2.95m (9ft 8in) Tare 2899kg ATM 3500kg Payload 601kg (calculated) Ball weight 180kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Fiberglass Chassis Raptor coated Suspension Torsion Coupling 50mm ball Brakes 12in Wheels 235/75/R15 Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 200Ah Lithium Solar 1 x 170W flexible Air-conditioner Harrier Plus Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Lippert INTERNAL Cooking Dometic fan-forced oven Fridge Dometic RUA6408X 188L Microwave NCE 23L Bathroom Separate shower and toilet Hot water Fogatti instant HWS Shower Fully moulded with shampoo shelf and footrest Toilet Ceramic cassette OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN $81,490 Melbourne excluding delivery charges MORE INFORMATION GREEN RV SALES & SERVICE 3775-3777 Pacific Hwy, Tanah Merah QLD, 4128…

Get some country music in your summertime trip with a visit to Tamworth in January for the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival, from 14-23 January 2022! If you’ve been missing live music, festival atmosphere and fun in the sun, plan a stop at Tamworth for your next big trip. The Tamworth Country Music Festival is Australia’s largest music festival and one of the top 10 in the world. The Festival and Awards are held at the beginning of the year to celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year and the variety of country music on offer is endless, with over 700 performers across 120 different venues. For those young and young at heart, the festival is a cornerstone summer celebration and must-see experience for every age group, with family events,…

VALUE FOR MONEY “High end van, high end price, but when you add up what you get, it stacks up.” TOWABILITY “Stable at highway speeds, effortless towing through winding mountain roads and well equipped for corrugated road applications.” BUILD QUALITY “Contemporary materials used throughout with attention to detail evident.” LIVEABILITY “Strong focus on outdoor living with a good blend of indoor living features”. SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “If you want to put a young family in a small van with plenty of capability this is hard to beat.” CUSTOMER CARE “Reputable component suppliers make it possible for Wallaroo to co-ordinate solutions nationwide. For van construction solutions Wallaroo use a network of independent repair centres.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Plenty of off-grid power at your disposal. Good fresh water and grey water capacity…

When Jason and his father Joe started the Titanium brand in 2012, they operated from a small shed making timber framed touring vans. Jason had just finished his plumbing apprenticeship, and Joe had many years of experience building vans behind him. In 2013 the pair decided to go in a new direction — they could see a future for offroad adventure vans and invested in tooling to build aluminium frames better suited to the harsh conditions of outback roads. “Aluminium is stronger, lighter, can’t rot, and maintains a constant weight,” Jason said. “But it needs special tooling like stampers, riveting guns, and cutters — and not everyone can afford the investment.” Henrob rivets interlock the 25mm C-sections of aluminium together in a way that allows the completed frame to flex…

2020 SOUMAH SINGLE VINEYARD BLANC DE BLANC (SUSTAINABLE) — $29 This wine starts with a refreshing aroma of freshly peeled mandarins and oranges and continues with tropical sweet fruit. On the palate this easy-going wine starts fresh and citrusy with hints of stone fruit. 2020 ANGOVE ORGANIC PINOT GRIGIO (ORGANIC) — $18 Welcome to the field of flowers and apple and pear orchards. The taste follows with a similar profile and guided by a line of grapefruit and citrus. Very fresh and inviting! 2021 SAMM ORGANIC SKIN CONTACT SAV BLANC MARSANNE (NATURAL) — $35 Combining Sauvignon Blanc with Marsanne is a genius move and you can see why straight from the nose. Aromas are inviting, combining tropical fruits from Sauvignon Blanc, while Marsanne donates ginger spice and sweet candy tones.…

Stuck for ideas about what to cook on your next trip through the country? Look no further as Viv Moon has combined her two previous cookbooks into an all-inclusive and expanded guide to cooking while travelling. Outdoor and Travellers’ Cookbook contains 513 recipes and is only available in ebook form, meaning there’s no extra weight to carry on your journey. The cookbook is written specifically to help travellers get the most out of cooking while away, whether they are 4WD touring, camping, caravanning or simply holidaying, or even at home! The recipes inside are easy, simple and delicious, using readily available ingredients wherever you will be travelling and have been selected to suit cooking in a wide variety or circumstances. Travellers will learn how to use a camp oven to…