Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 579 i Caravan World

Australia is a step closer to a new hydrogen production after the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) successfully refuelled two fuel cell vehicles. CSIRO Chief Executive Larry Marshall was one of the first to ride in the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo vehicles powered by ultra-high purity hydrogen, produced in Queensland using CSIRO’s membrane technology. It has the potential to fill the gap in the technology chain to supply fuel cell vehicles around the world with low-emissions hydrogen sourced from Australia. CSIRO says this technology will pave the way for bulk hydrogen to be transported in the form of ammonia, using existing infrastructure, and then reconverted back to hydrogen at the point of use. The membrane separates ultra-high purity hydrogen from ammonia, while blocking all other gases. It…

A new strategy to try to combat the issue of plastic waste in Australia's oceans has been released by Federal MP Melissa Price, Assistant Minister for the Environment. The threat Abatement Plan incorporates actions to reduce threats to marine life, including ensuring Australia’s policies on materials, supply chains, product stewardship, waste management and resource recovery work to prevent debris entering the ocean. These actions are complemented by the important work on managing plastic waste recently agreed to by the recent Meeting of Environment Ministers, said Price. “This includes the phase-out of plastic microbeads, the phase-down of single-use plastic shopping bags and working with industry to implement the Australian Packaging Covenant which addresses consumer packaging waste, a major component of marine debris,” she said in a statement. During 2010, 275 million…

There are many people in their later working life, even those who have little experience of RV travel, who have the great ‘round Australia’ plan. Once retired, they're considering buying their dream caravan, hitching up and setting off around Australia. That dream has been extended in recent years with the rise and rise of the number of ‘offroad’ caravans on the road. There are several reasons for that. One is that over the last decade or so, some previously difficult-to-get-to areas of Australia have become more practical to reach, and a second is that the caravan industry has done much to promote the ‘offroad’ dream. The third, in my opinion, is that an urban myth has established itself in which it’s considered not possible to tour Australia without having an…

KNOWING YOUR ANGLES Q Dear Caravan World team, My wife and I like free camping and on our last trip, to access campsites close to waterways, we drove our van as close to the riverbank as sensible — and on more than one occasion. This meant driving down at an angle to the natural slope of the land (to avoid bottoming out of the van) to get to a flat campsite beside the river, complete with grass or gravel underfoot, and usually with the wife shrieking in alarm beside me. While our tow vehicle (a Ford Ranger) feels extremely stable at various angles, I think it’s prudent to ask what you recommend the maximum approach and exit angles on slopes for a caravan with standard spring-leaf suspension should be?…

There are a number of factors which might govern how we run our tyres. For example, many caravan owners favour light truck tyres for their sturdier construction, but these require a higher pressure than a highway terrain type tyre. In choosing a tyre for your caravan, ensure it has enough load capacity. If you are going offroad, Bridgestone recommend an all-terrain tyre which is going to give you more cutting and puncture resistance than a highway terrain tyre. An all-terrain or light truck tyre is much more suitable for offroad use than a highway terrain tyre, Tamblyn explains, because of the thicker steel belts for puncture resistance, more natural rubber in the tread compound to resist cutting, thicker sidewalls and more aggressive tread pattern design to deal with mud and…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.46m (24ft 6in) External body length 5.62m (18ft 5in) External body width 2.31m (7ft 7in); 2.49m (8ft 2in) incl. awning and external protrusions Travel height 3.03m (9ft 11in) incl. air-conditioner Internal height 1.91m (6ft 3in) Tare 2470kg ATM 3400kg Payload 930kg Ball weight 207kg EXTERNAL Frame Compressed fibreglass panel (side walls); meranti (front and back walls) Cladding Fibreglass Chassis Trakmaster ‘NewGen’ hot-dipped, galvanised Suspension ‘Trak-One’ trailing arm independent coil Coupling Hitch-Ezy 3.5t Brakes 12in electric Wheels 16in Black Trak ROH steel wheels with 265/75 R16 BFG all-terrains Water 2x82L freshwater; provision for 80L grey water Battery 2x120Ah AGM Solar 2x150W Air-conditioner Truma Aventa Gas 2x8.5kg Sway control Optional – either DSC or ESC Kitchen Provision for slide-out barbecue or Weber INTERNAL Cooking Swift four-burner gas…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.5m (24ft 7in) External body length 5.35m (17ft 6in) External body width 2.38m (7ft 10in) Travel height 3.05m (10ft) Internal height 2m (6ft 7in) Tare 2066kg ATM 2700kg Payload 634kg Ball weight 124kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminum Cladding Aluminium composite Chassis 6in drawbar, 4in A-frame, 2in riser Suspension AL-KO Enduro Outback Coupling DO35A Brakes 12in electric drum Wheels Alloy with 265/75/R16 mud terrain tyres Water 2X95L Battery 120A AGM Solar 150W with 30A regulator Air-conditioner Houghton Belaire reverse cycle Gas 2X9kg Sway control Optional INTERNAL Cooking Swift stove with 1 x electric and 3 x gas elements, grill and full oven Fridge Thetford Microwave Sphere Bathroom Separate shower and cassette toilet Washing machine Daewoo front loader Hot water 28L gas/electric OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.5m (24ft 6in) External body length 5.3m (17ft 6in) External body width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.1m (10 1in) Internal height Customisable Tare 2200kg ATM 2700kg Payload 500kg (calculated) Ball weight 200kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Composite aluminium Chassis 6in DuraGal Suspension Trailing arm independent Coupling DO35 Brakes 10in electric Wheels 16in alloy with 265x75 AT tyres Water 2x95L, 1x95L grey Battery 2x100Ah Solar 2x150W Air-conditioner Houghton Belair 3400 Gas 2x9kg Sway control AL-KO ESC INTERNAL Cooking Swift 500 oven Fridge Thetford 184L Microwave Yes Bathroom Yes Washing machine Yes Hot water Yes Price from $61,990 Options fitted No Price as shown $61,900 MORE INFORMATION Highline Caravans 3/87 Merola Way Campbellfield VIC 3061 Phone: (03) 9357 9092 Email: info@highlinecaravans.com.au  Web: www.highlinecaravans.com.au…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 6.6m (26ft) External body length 5.49m (18ft) External body width 2.17m (7ft 1in) Travel height 2.95m (9ft 8in) Internal height 1.96m (6ft 5in) Tare 2640kg ATM 3500kg Payload 860kg Ball weight 132kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Fibreglass Chassis Hot-dipped galvanised 150mmx50mm (6inx2in) rails Suspension Simplicity independent (optional) Coupling Hitch-Ezy 5000kg Brakes 12V electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 3x75L (optional) Battery Lithium LiFePO4 300Ah (optional) Solar 3x150W, 60A regulator and mains charging system (optional) Air-conditioner Truma Aventa (optional) Gas 2x9kg Sway control Optional Kitchen Optional INTERNAL Cooking Swift 500 four-burner, grill and oven, optional rangehood Fridge 220L Danfoss Isotherm CR219 (optional) Microwave Optional Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet and separate shower cubicle Washing machine No Hot water Suburban 23L OTHER OPTIONS FITTED 12V fan, outdoor shower, grey…

Family caravans seem to be on a bit of a rise in Australia at the current time, which I’m basing on the fact that most of the larger manufacturers now seem to have at least one bunk van model in their lineup. Brisbane-based Winnebago is no exception to this, and whilst a number of its caravans are three-berth, ie fold-down the dinette for the third bed, the Mossman C is definitely the full kit with a double bed up front and two bunks down the rear. Or, as in the case of my review caravan, there is an option for a third bunk. With a length of 6.82m (22ft 4in) and a payload of 826kg, the Mossman C is well suited for family travel. Most of the Australian caravan industry…

Compact is a word that often gets bandied around the RV industry. Sometimes it is used in a rather derogatory sense but I reckon it’s a more affirmatory word that means a caravan or motorhome designer has taken a standard design feature and slimmed it down a bit without losing too much practicality in the process. "It offers both a shorter towing length and a lighter weight, yet with most of the contemporary comforts" Not by coincidence, Queensland-based Kedron Caravans has a caravan called the Compact on the company’s design books. It’s a model that has many of the features of the larger Topender and All Terrain models, but is available in a shorter length. For offroad travellers, it has considerable advantages — it offers both a shorter towing length…

Luxury motorhome retailer Concorde Motorhomes has begun to distribute a range of 11 locally-built range of caravans, each named after famous racing tracks. The Cosy Cab range is targetted at a wide range of adventurers and holidaymakers ranging from young families to Grey Nomads, according to Concorde General Manager Allan Stocker. Prices for the vans will range between $50,000 and $60,000. “Our price point is typically $10,000 – $15,000 cheaper than caravans of a similar build or specifications,” he said. “We had a look at the local market a year or two ago when we were selling primarily top-end imports and thought, ‘We can do better than that’. So, we negotiated the rights to distribute the Cosy Cab range and found a strong demand, which is translating into 80-100 units…

“The trick with the Forgotten List is to store it where it won't get lost, otherwise it becomes the Lost List!” If you’re anything like me, when it comes to packing for an RV adventure, the first thing you do is pull out that trusty packing list, which has all the items required for an enjoyable trip. The list can be quite extensive as it includes seasonal items, as well as others dependent on the type of terrain expected. A lot of this kit will be pre-packed in your RV in dedicated spots, but other items will be packed into the car. If you go away frequently, you’ll have this process down pat, running through the list and making sure it's onboard. If you’re super organised, you may have a…

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. The DO35 V3 is easy to install and compatible with all major WDH systems out of the box. Valued at $405, the DO35 Drop-On Coupling gives you peace of mind on your next adventure.…

Many travellers these days will tell you that when the bitumen ends, the real excitement of Aussie travelling begins. Whilst of course, there are countless great spots to see and enjoy right around the country without getting dust on your tyres, the ability of both drivers and their rigs to safely travel ‘offroad’ opens up a huge range of splendid travels to some of our lesser known, but equally as good, scenic locations and memorable outback experiences. Heading off the blacktop however, certainly isn’t for everyone. Firstly, unless you are experienced (or willing to gradually build up your ability to handle offroad conditions), driving out there can put you well outside your comfort zone and will likely add a degree of stress to your travels. This can not only take…

For many years vehicle owners were brought up on what was called the ‘four-pound rule’. Under this system, after 10 minutes of driving a check of tyre pressure should not have gone up by more than 4lb. If it did then your initial cold tyre pressure was too low, causing the tyre pressure to rise excessively as a result of unnecessary flexing of the sidewall. If the pressure had risen by anything less, then your initial cold tyre pressure was too high and the tyre was staying too rigid. Bridgestone’s Jon Tamblyn says that is no longer a suitable approach. “That might have been a good rule of thumb once but there are so many different sizes now that that’s not a reliable indicator any more,” he says. “Any decent…

We are doing things differently in this review — it is effectively split in two and running over back-to-back issues. Coromal has been in the news a lot with Apollo's acquisition of the brand (and that of Windsor) being the main story but it has also been creating a buzz with the release of a new construction method and new models. It is for the latter that we are splitting this review, that and we are often asked to validate living with test caravans more than is often possible in our typical day or two of testing. So the plan was to spend a few days in the Perth, WA factory getting to know the new ideas and methods and how they translate into a caravan. Then, a few weeks…

When you’re on a good thing, stick to it. And that hackneyed phrase explains why Trakmaster resists breaking its iconic offroad mould (call it DNA) with the latest addition to its range of fixed-design offroad caravans — the Pilbara S Series. Certainly, the high-end, fixed-format tandem-axle offroader CW recently witnessed in the flesh looked right out of the ‘family tree’. DNA is what makes you unique, and there’s a definitive heredity about the Pilbara S Series. Unquestionably, this model exhibited all the ancestry of a Trakmaster. PILBARA PEDIGREE Smooth as silk and voguish on the inside and hard as nails on the outside, the 5.62m (18ft 5in) Pilbara S Series we tested is purpose-built for single-minded outback exploration — designed to tackle the harshest environments. It’s ideal for out-of-the-way travel…

The team at Trakmaster have been very busy over the past year or so working on ways to improve their business and continue to offer great service to their customers. Trakmaster was purchased by AF Gason Pty Ltd back in July 2016 with a clear vision to grow the business and offer customers the best possible experience from the first point of enquiry right through until final handover of a caravan. Ron Larkin, general manager of Caramax Pty Ltd trading as Trakmaster, and his new-look team, were asked to take a look at the business in terms of assessing opportunities for improvements and achieving growth of the well-known and respected brand. One area that stood out as holding the business back was the fact that most of the vans were…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It might only be 17ft 6in long, but the Mirage Sport packs in a lot of gear and value” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “You cannot beat a single axle for ease of turning but lower vans use less fuel and tow better in the wind” LIVEABILITY “It might be a bit cramped but it has everything you need to get by” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “The optional grey tank is all that is missing as standard” LAYOUT “Very well laid out if a bit squeezy for big people but that's being pedantic” QUALITY OF FINISH “Nothing was out of place. No excess Sikaflex no gaps in the cabinets; a good build” BUILD QUALITY “From the chassis up the Mirage Sport felt tough and well put together” CREATURE COMFORTS “A good…

VALUE FOR MONEY “A well-equipped rough-road travelling van with a long list of standard features” TOWABILITY “Well balanced design which is lightweight and compact for easy towing and manoeuvring” LIVEABILITY “Enforcer comes with the comforts and essentials for a couple to travel extensively” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Set up for a couple to undertake extended rough-road travel and it has the goods for a comfortable journey and the sturdy undercarriage to cope” LAYOUT “Sensible use of space allows a north-south bed and a full-width ensuite while leaving room to move around” QUALITY OF FINISH “Furniture looks modern and durable with close tolerances and quality fittings; all appliances are name brands and are installed with pleasing attention to detail” BUILD QUALITY “The exterior has a rugged appeal, and the chassis welds…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Very much in the eye of the beholder but you get what you pay for” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Not difficult to tow but a large tow vehicle needed” LIVEABILITY “Everything more or less where it should be” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Offroad travel in mind? No problem at all!” LAYOUT “Bit narrower than a standard van but everything well laid out” QUALITY OF FINISH “Bushtracker would never dream of using inferior components!” BUILD QUALITY “Seems mostly well put together” CREATURE COMFORTS “Nothing missing in the comfort department” INNOVATION “Bushtracker isn’t always a lead innovator but more to be tested and tried” X-FACTOR “Compact but practical layout”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.4m (27ft 7in) External body length 6.82m (22ft 4in) External body width (incl. awning) 2.49m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.04m (10ft) Internal height 2.02m (6ft 8in) Tare 2124kg ATM 2950kg Payload 826kg Ball weight 144kg EXTERNAL Frame N/A Cladding Fibreglass composite panel Chassis Hot-dipped galvanised Suspension AL-KO IRS Coupling Ball Brakes 10in electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 2x82L Battery 1x100Ah Solar 1x150W Air-conditioner Aircommand Ibis 3 Gas 2x9kg Sway control No Kitchen No INTERNAL Cooking Thetford three-burner and grill Fridge Dometic RMDX three-way 190L Microwave Camec Bathroom Thetford cassette and separate shower cubicle Hot water Truma gas/electric 14L OPTIONS FITTED Thule bike rack (two bikes); grey water tank 82L; rearview camera with colour screen; bed, third bunk; leatherette upholstery PRICE AS SHOWN $73,674 (drive away/plus…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.2m (23ft 7in) External body length 4.9m (16ft) External body width 2.29m (7ft 6in) Travel height 3.0m (9ft 10in) Internal height 1.99m (6ft 6in) Tare 2285kg ATM 2750kg Payload 465kg Ball weight 265kg EXTERNAL Frame Interlocked and huck bolted, aluminium Cladding Aluminium Chassis Hot-dipped galvanised Suspension Kedron KRS independent Coupling AL-KO Click Lock 3500kg Brakes AL-KO 12in electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 100L and 65L drinking Battery Lithium LiFePO4 200Ah Solar 2x150W and 60W awning Air-conditioner Aircommand Sparrow Gas 2x4kg Sway control AL-KO ESC Kitchen Barbecue and fridge INTERNAL Cooking Dometic four-burner, grill and oven Fridge Vitrifrigo Slim 150, 240V/12V 140L Microwave Yes Bathroom Thetford cassette and separate cubicle Hot water Truma Aqua Go OPTIONS FITTED Diesel heater; drawers and linen tray under bed; 3x12V…

It is not always simple to get a chassis and suspension image but the Kedron factory had a vehicle hoist and it makes it easy to see how the chassis and Kedron KRS suspension all fits together. A keen observer might note this particular van has tandem axles and airbag suspension. It’s just about impossible to see how a caravan is constructed when it is complete but a wander around the factory will reveal a van or two sans cladding and an opportunity to see the van’s frame and insulation materials.…

During the past year, CW has enlightened readers with a bimonthly series covering wide-ranging RV finance topics. We've taken you through the finance process to assist you in wading through the 'leisure loan' hodgepodge. So it comes as no surprise, due to popular demand, that we're continuing the informative series. In this installment, Credit One’s managing director and founder, Michael Rojek, offers his expertise on how to best finance an RV purchase. And Rojek is adamant that financing your RV is the smarter option. “Some consumers will use up all their capital on the purchase, leaving no money for accessories and planning that round-Australia trip,” he says. “Consequently, on many occasions, their RV is left 'sitting at home' for months on end! However, like most large purchases such as a…

Campervan and motorhome rental business Cruisin Motorhomes Pty Ltd has paid a penalty of $12,600 after overcharging customers who paid by credit card. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued an infringement notice for an alleged breach of the excessive payment surcharge laws in the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Cruisin Motorhomes, which has branches in Hobart, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns, is alleged to have charged VISA and MasterCard customers a two per cent surcharge, despite the cost of processing the payment ranging from 0.41 to 1.48 per cent. The excess payment surcharge laws stipulate that businesses can only pass on to customers what it costs them to process a payment. For example, if the cost of acceptance for MasterCard debit is 0.41 per cent, a business can…

An Australian landmark trial has wiped out more than 80 per cent of the world’s most widespread disease-spreading mosquitoes, the Aedes aegypti. In an international partnership between CSIRO, Verily and James Cook University, scientists used specialised technology to release millions of sterilised male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes across the Cassowary Coast in Queensland in a bid to combat the global pest. CSIRO Director of Health and Biosecurity Dr Rob Grenfell said the results were a major win in the fight against diseases-spreading mosquitoes. “The invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito is one of the world’s most dangerous pests, capable of spreading devastating diseases like dengue, Zika and chikungunya, and responsible for infecting millions of people with disease around the world each year,” Dr Grenfell said. “Increased urbanisation and warming temperatures mean that more…

It will be time to boil up the billy over the weekend of October 6 and 7 as more than 7000 tourists are expected to descend upon the small Queensland town of Millmerran for the annual Australian Camp Oven Festival. It’s a biennial festival that offers a very ‘Aussie’ program including camp oven cooking competitions, cooking demonstrations, damper throwing contests, billy boiling, bush poetry recitals, blacksmithing and bush craft displays. There will be live music entertainment all weekend, and this year’s event will feature two celebrity guests – Luke and Cody, country-boy contestants on Channel 7’s DIY renovation reality show, House Rules. Since the show, the popular brothers from the Darling Downs have made appearances on Creek To Coast, Queensland Weekender and The Great South East programs. They are passionate…

Hi CW, I want to venture into offroad touring but I want to make sure I have all the power I need for spending up to a week off the grid. What would your suggestions be for my basic setup, and perhaps a little extra? Thanks, Allan Gayle, via email Hi Allan, Sounds like you are getting ready to join the growing number of adventurers who want to experience life beyond the bitumen and really get to know some of what Australian offroad touring can offer. In regards to setting yourself up with a power management system that suits your requirements, the first thing to understand is what do you expect your power needs to be. Matching these and then adding a buffer margin of energy storage is critical to…

BLOW OUT BUNGLE I've just read Caravan World issue 578, which had some very interesting letters in it regarding safety, which is always a top priority with me. In one of them (On the Road to Safety), Bill Tanks mentions that he is frequently told, “tyres don't blow out anymore”. Well I can tell you that tyre blowouts do still happen. My biggest fear when towing a single axle caravan was always a tyre blowout, due to the swaying effect on the caravan — especially if you aren’t ready for it. So I had an ESC retro fitted to my caravan and am so pleased that I did. On a recent trip east I blew a tyre and it was absolutely shredded by the time I stopped. Due to the…

The tyres which roll beneath our caravans get relatively little or no thought from most of us. They might occasionally get a pressure check when we are filling with fuel or, if we are conscientious, before a major journey. But unless they go flat that is often the limit of our consideration. But all that time we are sitting on a ticking clock that counts down to the day when one or more of them will give out, potentially in the most disastrous fashion and at the worst possible time. An incident like this can leave us stranded or even jeopardise the significant investment in our caravan and its contents or, even worse, injuries to ourselves, our family and other road travellers. The simple fact of the matter is that…

There’s no doubt that the Australian RV industry has begun to embrace new technologies to make caravanning safer, more tech-savvy and increasingly enjoyable. Innovation has played a key role in this shift, as we have discovered in the series of stories the Caravan World team has run on this topic over the last few months. Innovation is somewhat of a buzzword right now. In its most basic definition, it means a shift towards out-of-the-box thinking to make processes more efficient, to find new ways to solve old problems and, in a very RV-specific sense, adapt to ever-changing ways that Aussie travellers are using their vans. It’s often assumed that for something to be called innovative, it has to be on the same scale as inventing the smartphone or creating the…

Normanton Tourist Park Tel: 1800 193 469 www.normantontouristpark.com.au Gulfland Motel & Caravan Park (Normanton) Tel: (07) 4745 1290 Leichhardt Lagoon Camping Ground Unpowered sites only Tel: (07) 4745 1330 24km SE of Normanton on the Gulf Developmental Road Burketown Caravan Park Tel: (07) 4745 5118 Hells Gate Roadhouse Unpowered/powered sites from $10pp/$45 per night www.hellsgateroadhouse.com.au McArthur River Caravan Park (Borroloola) Powered sites $30 for two/unpowered $25 (kids $8) Tel: (08) 8975 8734 www.mcarthurcaravanpark.com.au King Ash Bay Fishing Club campground Non-member powered sites $37 per family/ unpowered $22 Tel: (08) 8975 9800 www.kingashbay.com.au Mataranka Homestead Resort Powered sites $30 per couple/unpowered $26 (plus $5/child) Tel: (08) 8975 4544 www.matarankahomestead.com.au 12-Mile Yards (Elsey National Park, Mataranka) nt.gov.au Bitter Springs Cabins & Camping Powered sites $35/unpowered $30, $5/ child Tel: (08) 8975 4838…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.5m (27ft 10.5in) External body length 6.3m (20ft 8in) External body width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tare 2645kg ATM 3395kg Payload 750kg (calculated) Ball weight 174kg EXTERNAL Frame N/A Cladding Composite Chassis FRV Suspension Esy-Tow Sport X Rally Wishbone Heavy Duty Suspension Coupling AL-KO Click-Lock Brakes 10in electric Wheels 16in steel with 265x75 AT tyres Water 2x80L, 1x110L grey Battery 2x100Ah Solar 2x150W Air-conditioner Dometic Gas 2x9kg Sway control Yes INTERNAL Cooking 1 electric, 3 gas hob Camec Fridge Nova Kool 190L Microwave 25L Bathroom Separate shower and toilet Washing machine Camec top loader 2.5kg Hot water Gas OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN $86,100 MORE INFORMATION Coromal Windsor 25 Harrison Rd, Forrestfield WA 6058 Phone:…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s not within everyone’s budget, but those with the ‘big bickies’ will tow away an offroader of immense quality” TOWABILITY ““Unfortunately, it wasn’t put to the sword – albeit it gives every impression that traversing rugged terrain is its forte” LIVEABILITY “Certainly evokes a feeling of internal red-carpet treatment” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “It’s a go-anywhere van courtesy of its sturdiness and self-sufficiency” LAYOUT “Boasts an intelligent, space-saving configuration” QUALITY OF FINISH “The L-shaped kitchen and gloss acrylic cabinetry are the pièce de résistance” BUILD QUALITY “Exudes high attention to detail, from the flawless fibreglass sheathing to the impregnable underbody protection” CREATURE COMFORTS Comprises its fair share of requisite mod cons, but there’s some obvious omissions” INNOVATION “Fixed-format direction simplifies the purchasing process” X-FACTOR “The all-new Pilbara…

We spent a day with the Sunseeker Mirage Sport 17’6 on Noosa’s northern heads, a great day-camping spot with plenty of opportunity to find a bit of beach for yourselves. We chose that location as it also gave us a chance to test the Mirage Sport's suspension as well as checking its clearance in soft sand and to avoid the damage rocks can do. What we came away with was a feeling that the 17’6 was a capable offroader, even for a full-bodied caravan. “Getting off road is two-fold, there is getting there and then there is staying there. The Mirage Sport, with its AL-KO Enduro Outback suspension has the articulation and clearance needed to bound most obstacles” TOUGH SKIN Even though the Mirage Sport 17’6 is a full-bodied van,…

Highline Caravans has been building its range of vans for only five years, but the two brothers behind the brand have years of experience in the caravan industry. With a team of a dozen workers, including two full-time draftsmen, they have established a niche market for themselves by offering great looking, semi-custom models at a very competitive price point. Now there are eight vans in the range, five of which are offroaders, including this single-axle Enforcer. “As far as looks go, the compact Highline is already on the right track with its tall stance and lots of rugged appeal” With a name like Enforcer, this 5.3m (17ft 6in) offroad caravan has a lot to live up to, and it needs to be capable and tough-looking to carry it off. As…

There is no doubt that there are any number of offroad caravans on the road around Australia. Or at least many labelled as offroad — those which have a beefed-up and raised chassis along with a fully independent suspension. However, it’s in the body work where much counts for the rough outback tracks and therefore, the overall structure matters. It’s no coincidence that there are quite a few specialist offroad caravan manufacturers in South East Queensland and one of those is the well-established Bushtracker, a company that has created something of a reputation for itself. Because of the nature of offroad caravans, Bushtracker has a name for building large and heavy caravans as it does for good reason. But the manufacturer also builds smaller vans which, in many ways, are…

CAMPER - MARINE SPORTS BAG Huge main compartment with an extra wide U-shaped zippered opening made from 500D water-resistant polyester tarpaulin with PVC coating and 1680D ballistic polyester base. Including moulded rubber reinforced quick grab handle on both ends, oversized panel webbing for extra strength and durability, rubber feet for added protection, detachable/ adjustable padded shoulder strap and heavy duty oversized zippers and accessories. CAPACITY: 77 Litres DIMENSIONS: 60cm W x 37cm H x 35cm D COLOUR: Black CAMPER RAINCOAT Core Micro Fleece Lined Jacket. Windproof, lightweight and waterproof (2000mm). Inner: 180g 100% Polyester microfleece, includes reflective tape across lower back panel, full-length front zip, microfleece collar facing, fold away - waterproof hood and elasticated cuffs. SIZING: Mens - S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL COLOUR: Black CAMPER BEANIE Warm…

VALUE FOR MONEY "For a family RV with all the comfort essentials, it's worth taking junior members along for a look " TOWABILITY Even though a family caravan, it can be towed by a good range of tow vehicles” LIVEABILITY "As a family RV there is room to move, but meal times may be restricted" SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Well fitted out for family travel” LAYOUT “Is very well proportioned for a bunk bed layout and certainly has a decent-sized bathroom” QUALITY OF FINISH “Quite good – most of the components are familiar manufacturers” BUILD QUALITY Mostly OK, although a few rough edges are to be found if poking around” CREATURE COMFORTS "Kitted out with most essentials" INNOVATION It s not new but the composite wall structure is a step…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Offroad caravans aren’t cheap, so downsizing a bit makes it more affordable” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Not an overly heavy caravan, so good towing prospect” LIVEABILITY Compact quite practical SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Given towing length, weight and remote capability, very good” LAYOUT “Some compromise in layout because of van length but otherwise quite practical” QUALITY OF FINISH “Good quality product used throughout” BUILD QUALITY “Everything opened and closed as it should” CREATURE COMFORTS “Has all the essentials and more!” INNOVATION “Basis structure hasn’t changed but it’s clear that Kedron has been trying out several new products” X-FACTOR It might be a small package but it is packed with plenty of features!”…

The versatile Trail-A-Mate is a hydraulic jockey wheel that transforms into a jack by interchanging the wheel for a solid base plate. This ‘two-in-one’ system is easy to assemble and user-friendly to operate. And more importantly, the Trail-A-Mate fully complies with the Australian Mandatory Safety Standard for caravan and trailer jacks Each year in Australia numerous accidents can be attributed to the incorrect use of vehicle jacks. Deaths and injuries (ranging from amputation and fractures to crush injuries) result from vehicles falling off vehicle jacks, so don't risk using an unapproved jack. The Trail-A-Mate is designed so that it is operated from a standing position using a minimum amount of effort, preventing you from having to climb underneath your van. This makes it not only easier, but a much safer…