Innehållsförteckning för Issue 621 från Caravan World

If you’ve been following our socials this year, you may have seen the exciting news that we recently added another great Australian manufacturer to our South Australian dealership — welcome Kimberley Kampers! It’s a brand we’ve admired for a long time. Back in 2012, when we were contributing content for sister magazine Camper Australia, we had our first close encounter with the Kimberley Kamper hard floor — tasked with the opportunity to review this capable little offroad camper. Then the following year, we looked at the more opulent Kimberley Karavan hybrid. Back then, the Karavan was one of those dream campers you could never see yourself owning, due to the lusty price tag, innovative design, and high-end componentry. Each time we’d attend a camping show, we’d ogle the Karavan as…

Hey guys, I recently upgraded our camper trailer to a new (albeit heavier) hybrid trailer. While we absolutely love the trailer, we have one particular conundrum I’m struggling to get a straight answer on. The new trailer comes with a breakaway system that needs to be connected to somewhere on the tow vehicle. We are using a Ford Ranger to tow the trailer, but there aren’t too many places to connect the breakaway cable. I have been hooking it up to the same place as the shackles for the tow chains, however common sense tells me that if the tow ball or tow bar were to fail, the breakaway wouldn’t be too effective. I’d love to hear from you guys as to where (according to any rules or regulations) the…

Victorian based Nova caravans is something of a boutique caravan manufacturer. Building everything from the aptly labelled Metrolink to the flagship Pride Platinum, with the offroad Terra Sportz in between, the company has a relatively small but quite impressive range of caravans. Included in the Nova stable is the well-named Family Escape range, or to give the full handle, the Signature Z Series Family Escape. I’ll just stick with Family Escape for this review of the 176-8C model, which came from Penrith-based (NSW) Sydney RV. Like many dealers at this time, Sydney RV is suffering from a general stock shortage but fortunately the 176-8C was readily available for a test drive. ON THE ROAD “Like most of the Nova caravans the Family Escape has a very stylish, streamlined look” Looking…

For most people, buying a caravan or motorhome is one of the major purchases in life. Budgets don’t always run to shiny new recreational vehicles (RVs), so considering a pre-owned model is the next best option. Anyone familiar with the RV market will know that it’s changed somewhat over the last couple of years. In the new vehicle market, delivery times have stretched out considerably, and prices have increased as well. That, in turn, has affected the second-hand market both in stock availability and price — something to keep in mind before handing over any hard-earned cash. PRE-PURCHASE THOUGHTS One of the first things to consider in the purchase of any RV is budget, not only for the initial purchase but future running costs as well. That should be done…

VALUE FOR MONEY “A good example of a van loaded with features as standard for a reasonable price.” TOWABILITY “While our journey was pretty cruisy, the van remained poised at all times.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Everything you need and more for a couple to travel the expanses of our country.” BUILD QUALITY “A good example of a traditionally built van.” LIVEABILITY “A very well thought-out interior that delivers in spades.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Well equipped for power and water delivery. Sensible packing is required to stay within payload requirements.” CUSTOMER CARE “A five-year structural warranty is great. Owners of the company will be your first point of contact.” INNOVATION “Innovation comes from a collection of small but useful ideas.” X-FACTOR “Bright red panels and bold bull decals are a standout. Some…

Forget Tamworth in summer! We’re now heading to the country music capital in April, with the rescheduled 50th anniversary of the Tamworth Country Music Festival now set to be an autumn edition. Thanks to COVID-19, you can forget the 40-degree temperatures and caravan air-conditioning. Now you can enjoy buskers, line dancers, and Australia’s biggest country music stars in much milder temperatures. The April installment of the Tamworth Country Music Festival is set to be just as big and bring just as many big-name stars, with the likes of Kasey Chambers, Troy Cassar-Daley, Lee Kernaghan, and John Williamson all confirmed for the new timeslot. The 2022 Festival will live up to its name as the largest music festival in Australia, the largest country music festival in the southern hemisphere, and among…

Jayco is our largest caravan builder by a long stretch, and their range is immense. There have been more than 200,000 Jayco RVs produced since they commenced production in 1975, so you don’t have to go far to see a Jayco on the road or in a caravan park. However, with a predominance of blacktop tourers in their range, it might not be the brand that comes to mind when we think of a van for offroad destinations. So when we had the offer to review an All-Terrain through Watsons Leisure Centre in Coffs Harbour, we were right on it. The mid-NSW north coast dealership has been in business for over 40 years, and their monster yard is hard to miss on the Pacific Highway as you drive into town…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Fairly pricey for a small caravan but you get plenty of bang for your buck, including reduced tow vehicle costs.” TOWABILITY “Lightweight caravan, well-suited to small tow vehicles.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Ideal for couples who don’t want to tow a large and heavy caravan and even better for solo travellers.” BUILD QUALITY “Overall, the fit and finish looks to be quite good and the Italian styling is something to appreciate.” LIVEABILITY “Being only 4.8m (15ft 9in) long the interior is fairly compact but fully equipped.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “For a small van, it’s surprisingly well equipped, with grey water tank and solar panel pack.” CUSTOMER CARE “Three-year warranty on the body work, other components as per individual manufacturers.” INNOVATION “Moulded fibreglass construction isn’t new but fairly unusual and…

It can easily take a week or more to properly visit all the destinations mentioned in this article. If you are lucky enough to have a bit more time up your sleeve, here are some more options: Mount Hart Station: You won’t find the awe-inspiring gorges and swimming holes that the Gibb is known for, but there are still some lovely spots to visit, such as Barker Pool and Dolerite Gorge. It is also usually one of the first stations along the Gibb to open, which makes it a great option when visiting early in the season. Charnley River-Artesian Range Wilderness Camp: Run by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), this caravan-friendly property acts as a wildlife sanctuary that you can explore on guided or self-guided tours. The nightly informational talk…

VALUE FOR MONEY “The price hike is pushing into uncomfortable territory for a non-premium brand, but where else are you going to find the ‘Cruiser’s combination of comfort, capability, performance and reliability?” TOWING PERFORMANCE “Strong chassis, well-balanced suspension, ample power and a fluid 10-speed auto make for an all-round impressive package.” HITCHING UP “The characteristic short rear overhang makes backing up easier and gives better clearance over humps. Other tow friendly features include standard trailer wiring harness, front and rear parking sensors, back guide monitor, and trailer sway control.” CREATURE COMFORTS “Undeniably one of the best seats around, the Sahara is stacked with lots of features designed to take the drudge out of a stint at the wheel or in the cheap seats.” ACCESSIBILITY OF SPARE PARTS “Dealer networks don’t…

ADELAIDE HILLS — GREENHILL WINES 2019 ESTATE GRÜNER VELTLINER — $26 For Paul Henschke, the yeast guy of the famous Barossa family, every wine produced from his nano-vineyard in the Adelaide hills is a special project wine. The Grüner Veltliner is a nice easy-drinking white, perfect for a sunny day. Aromas of passionfruit and crisp apple, pear and stone fruit hit your senses, followed by a well-textured palate of apple and pear with a long crispy citrus finish. MORNINGTON PENINSULA — OCEAN EIGHT ROSÉ — $34 When we went, we got the real ‘meet the owner’ experience. For Mike, this is a passion and a lifestyle project. He doesn’t compromise on quality, and it shows. Made from pinot noir grapes, this rosé is everything you want in the latter. It’s…

Touring with your family is a great way to spend quality time together and create memories that will last a lifetime. The term ‘happy campers’ was reconfirmed in a 2017 Real Richness report, finding not only that 94 per cent of campers believe camping generates happy memories, but also that people who caravan and camp are more likely to feel closer to their spouse and family than non-campers. There is a good reason for this, as escaping the distractions and stresses of modern life can allow people to reconnect with their loved ones and strengthen family bonds. The Real Richness report also showed that the majority of both campers and non-campers alike agree camping is beneficial for their children, providing them with meaningful lessons in social engagement, life skills, and…

Q Good day 12V Guru, I have recently upgraded my van’s 12V electric system with LiFePo4 batteries, associated charger and solar controller. As I now have plenty of 12V power, I am considering installing an inverter to run a microwave and washing machine for convenience sake. Often camp sites have water but not 240V, so it could be handy to catch up on a bit of laundry. So, in such a case, what size inverter would be necessary and how to use it? Is it connected directly to the appliance used or just plugged into van 240V input socket? Looking forward to your advice. Cheers, Ron Hughes A Great question Ron. Inverters are a great way to power some of those little life luxuries you may want to have…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 5.73m (18ft 10in) Width (Incl Awn) 2.4m (7ft 10.5in) Height (incl AC) 3.02m (9ft 11in) Tare 2488kg ATM 3088kg Payload 600kg Ball weight 203kg Ball weight/tare ratio 8 per cent EXTERNAL Frame No Cladding Nova Pro-Al sandwich walls and one piece fibreglass roof Chassis Galvanised, 150mm (6in) rails and drawbar Suspension Independent with coil springs, trailing arms and dual shock absorbers Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes AL-KO 12in electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 2 x 95L Battery 2 x 105Ah Solar 2 x 170W Air-conditioner Houghton Belaire 3400 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control AL-KO ESC INTERNAL Cooking Thetford 4 burner, grill & oven Fridge Thetford T2175L 174L 12V compressor Bathroom Thetford cassette & separate shower cubicle Hot water Swift 28L gas/electric OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE…

I headed out to the heartland of Australian caravan manufacturing — Campbellfield, Victoria — to check out the new La Vista factory and do a review on the El Toro 1. In case you were wondering, the ‘1’ designates single axle. Owners Alan Nisbet, Mary Lorenzo, and son Shane Summer were keen to greet me and show me around. Shane explained that they were small volume builders and had no plans for rapid expansion. The move to the new factory had been motivated to improve efficiency, giving them the room to set up an organised workflow for vans to progress through the build stages in an orderly manner. Compared to the big names, it is still a modest size factory at 1500sqm. But having seen a few factories from various…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 6.31m (20ft 8in) Overall length 7.6m (25ft) Width 2.36m (7ft 9in) Height 2.68m (8ft 9in) Tare 1470kg ATM 1920kg Payload 450kg Ball weight 120kg EXTERNAL Frame Integral with wall panels Cladding Fibreglass Chassis AL-KO hot dipped galvanised Suspension AL-KO Independent Rubber Suspension Coupling AL-KO AKS 3004 Brakes AL-KO override Wheels 16in alloy Water 130L Battery 1 X 100Ah Solar None Air-conditioner Truma Saphir Gas 2 x 4kg Sway control AL-KO anti-sway coupling INTERNAL Cooking Dometic 3 burner/sink combo Fridge Dometic RML 8551 159L three way Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet & separate shower cubicle Hot water Truma 14L gas/electric OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN  $63,490 MORE INFORMATION Sydney RV 9/20 Lemko Place Penrith NSW 2750 Ph: 02 4722 3444 W: sydneyrvgroup.com.au…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.7m (18ft 8in) Overall length 7.2m (23ft 7in) Width 2.47m (8ft 1in) Height 2.67 m (8ft 9in) Tare 2154kg ATM 2754kg Payload 600kg (calculated) Ball weight (at tare) 202kg Ball to TARE ratio 9 per cent EXTERNAL Frame Internal alloy Cladding Fibreglass Chassis 6in galvanised steel Suspension J-Tech 2 Independent trailing arm with shock absorber Coupling DO35 Brakes 10in Drum Wheels 16in alloy 245x70 x16in A/T Water 2 x 80L Battery 1 x 100A Lithium Solar 1 x 220W Air-conditioner yes Dometic Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Lippert INTERNAL Cooking Swift cooktop and grill Microwave yes Fridge yes Bathroom yes Hot water yes PRICE FROM $67.990 OPTIONS FITTED Reversing camera, Dometic fridge upgrade PRICE AS SHOWN $69,709 MORE INFO Watsons Leisure Centre 6 North…

The NSW Tourism Awards have smiled on the Caravan and Camping Industry Association NSW (New South Wales). The organisation was recognised with a gold award for its 2021 Caravan Camping Holiday Supershow. Designed to encourage tourism organisations to strive to exceed industry expectations, the award acknowledges and celebrates tourism excellence in addition to rewarding businesses that demonstrate significant achievements during the year. The award criteria and categories are determined by the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC). NSW category winners have the opportunity to progress to the national level and compete in the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.…

From time to time, I delve into the sometimes murky world of social media to get an idea of what’s going on in the RV world. There’s a huge range of different interest groups out there, some devoted to a particular manufacturer or even base vehicle (in the case of motorhomes), some more general, and some devoted to the quality or not of particular manufacturer’s products. Like many, I have come to the conclusion that social media platforms like Facebook are very much a double-edged sword. Some of the information given by so-called experts leaves something to be desired — then again some of the questions being asked also has me wondering about the person asking the question. WEIGHT MATTERS The issue of caravan towing weights remains a serious puzzle…

BEWARE THE WATER A Dear John, I feel compelled to put pen to paper to correct some misinformation in Caravan World's November issue about Rockhampton. It reads: “Rockhampton is 40km from the sea on the fertile river plains under Mount Archer and the Berserker Ranges. Yeppoon and Emu Beach might beckon for a few days if you yearn for some salty revival but beware — crocs are lurking.” This is factually incorrect. Having grown up in Rockhampton and having spent many weekends and holidays at our beach house at Yeppoon I can assure your readers that there are no crocodiles along these lovely Capricorn Coast beaches. I would hate to think that travellers might be dissuaded from enjoying this beautiful part of the country due to a fear that…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Priced at under $80K, it’s a well-appointed van.” TOWABILITY With a more than adequate tow vehicle up front, the tandem axle van is a breeze to tow.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “With the combination of a bunk layout and a rough road tourer, it’s a van for the family that likes a bit of back block touring.” BUILD QUALITY “Generally speaking, the fit and finish of the Nova looks quite good.” LIVEABILITY “Van is well appointed with a relatively good amount of living space for a family.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Fresh water, grey water, battery and solar panel capacity all make this a good prospect for extended remote stays.” CUSTOMER CARE “Three-year warranty on Nova manufacture, other components subject to individual manufacturer’s warranty.” INNOVATION “Slightly different construction technique to…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 5.8m (19ft) Overall length 8.3m (27ft 3in) Width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Tare 2320kg ATM 2800kg Payload 480kg (calculated) Ball weight at tare 200kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti 50mm x 25mm throughout Cladding Aluminium profile / checker plate Chassis Intelligent Engineering 150mm Suspension Tuff Ride Independent Suspension Coupling Cruisemaster DO-35 Brakes 10in Wheels 16in alloy rims with 265/75 R16 tyres Water 2 x 95L fresh, 1 x 95L grey Battery 2 x 100Ah Lithium Solar 2 x 190W Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Reverse Cycle Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Tuson INTERNAL Cooking Gas/Electric Full Oven Microwave 25L Fridge 188L Compressor Bathroom Ceramic Toilet / Shower and Basin/Mirror Hot water 23L gas/electric PRICE FROM $82,500 OPTIONS FITTED Extra spare wheel PRICE AS SHOWN…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Like many RVs this van seems have had a price rise in recent times, still it’s reasonable value for a family.” TOWABILITY “The relatively lightweight van made towing a breeze.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Family caravanning with a budget that doesn’t require an excessive budget.” BUILD QUALITY “The van seemed mostly well put together using a slightly unconventional (for Australia) construction method.” LIVEABILITY “For a family the van does not have a particularly spacious interior, but it’s well kitted out with all the necessary items.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Lack of solar panel and fresh water capacity does limit extended stays.” CUSTOMER CARE “Two-year warranty on the van construction, seven-year water ingress warranty and individual component manufacturer warranties.” INNOVATION “Construction technique is not new and certainly not for European built…

WHERE Sheepyard Flat is approximately 4 hours north of Melbourne WHEN November to May is the best time to travel, and avoiding this popular destination on weekends and holiday periods, or after heavy rain is recommended. Tracks in the surrounding ranges are seasonally closed between the beginning of June and November. DRIVING CONDITIONS Access to Sheepyard Flat is by a good all-weather gravel road suitable for a standard caravan and two-wheel-drive vehicles. Most other tracks in the area should be considered 4WD only as they can be rough and potholed depending on weather and maintenance. Roads and tracks are narrow and winding. Be alert for oncoming traffic. Reducing your tyre pressures (25–30psi) will improve ride comfort. Anyone planning to explore the myriad 4WD tracks of the High Country should have…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Good buying for an offroad capable van.” TOWABILITY “Smooth and lightweight with sway control.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “A compact and capable pop-top.” BUILD QUALITY “Some trim and finishing details could be improved.” LIVEABILITY “The compact size and pop-top mean some compromises are in order.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Should be good for a week off-grid if you are careful with water.” CUSTOMER CARE “Good backup but should include all the inclusions in the warranty document.” INNOVATION “Adding a pop-top fills out the adventure range.” X-FACTOR “The well-balanced and tough look wins me.”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 4.8m (15ft 9in) Overall length 6m (19ft 8in) Width 2.22m (7ft 3in) Height (incl. AC) 2.46m (8.0ft) Tare 1180kg ATM 1500kg Payload 320kg Ball weight 60kg EXTERNAL Frame Monocoque structure, frameless Cladding Moulded fibreglass Chassis AL-KO Suspension AL-KO IRS? Coupling AL-KO AKS3004 Brakes AL-KO Overrun Wheels 15in alloy Water 70L Grey water 70L Battery 110Ah Solar 200W Air-conditioner Truma Aventa Gas 2 x 4kg Sway control AL-KO INTERNAL Cooking Dometic 2 burner Fridge Dometic 90L, 12V compressor Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet, combo shower Hot water Truma Combi 4E 10L Space heater Truma Combi 4E PRICE AS SHOWN$69,990 MORE INFORMATION Hinterland RV 12 Gateway Boulevard Morisset NSW 2264 Ph: 02 4911 9444 W: hinterlandcaravans.com.au…

Length 4980mm Width (excluding mirrors) 1980mm Height 1950mm Wheelbase 2850mm Ground clearance (unladen) 235mm Kerb mass 2560kg Payload 650kg Gross Vehicle Mass 3280kg Gross Combined Mass 6750kg Towing capacity unbraked/braked 750kg/3500kg Towball download (max) 350kg DRIVETRAIN Engine F33A-FTV 3.3L twin turbocharged V6 diesel, 24-valve DOHC, chain drive Transmission 10-speed automatic Drivetrain Permanent AWD with low range transfer case and centre-differential lock Power 227kW @ 4000rpm Torque 700Nm @ 1600-2600rpm Fuel Consumption (combined) 8.9L/100km Fuel Consumption (on test) 3L/100km Gear ratios 1st 4.923, 2nd 3.257, 3rd 2.349, 4th 1.944, 5th 1.532, 6th 1.193, 7th 1.000, 8th 0.801, 9th 0.661, 10th 0.613 Reverse 4.307 Final drive 3.307 Transfer gear ratio – high/low 1.000:1/ 2.618:1 GENERAL Fuel capacity 110L (80L main tank/30L sub-tank) Suspension Independent, double-wishbone (front); four-link rigid axle, coil springs, stabiliser…

Many caravans in Australia are fitted with a hot water service such as a Suburban branded unit. They have steel tanks which are prone to corrosion but are protected by a clever gadget. A rod made out of magnesium, known as an anode, is fitted inside the tank. It corrodes more easily and ‘sacrifices’ itself, minimising steel corrosion. Once the anode is corroded, the steel parts will begin to corrode more rapidly, shortening the life of the hot water service. Fortunately, the sacrificial anode is relatively inexpensive and simple to replace. The anode needs to be removed from the tank periodically for physical inspection. Suburban advises that when the anode has reduced to around half of its original diameter it is time to replace it. A new Suburban anode is…