Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 591 i Caravan World

Australians spent 54.5 million nights caravanning and camping in the year ending March 2019, a huge 6.5 per cent increase from the previous year. Newly-released data from Tourism Research Australia reveal the total number of trips was 12.9 million, which is a rise of 8.5 per cent. Regional Australian communities appear to be benefiting from Aussie travellers, with 30 per cent of all trips to regional areas involving caravans or camping, and RV accommodation accounting for 20 per cent of all nights spent in rural destinations. Families are leading the charge in this domestic tourism boost, accounting for the largest numbers of trips at 4.4 million, with a younger mid-life demographic (and without children) following with 4.2 million trips. But Aussie Grey Nomads are leading the way in terms of…

Q Hi David, In my caravan I have the same breakaway system as detailed in Caravan World issue 587 (May 2019), on page 184 — the BreakSafe 6000. It is charged during travelling, via car, but when trying to charge through an external battery charger, it will not charge via the exposed positive/negative terminals. I need to actually pull out the battery and charge direct with the spade terminals on the battery using ‘alligator' clips. This creates a bit of an issue as I can only connect my in-car breakaway battery monitoring system (as required in NSW) direct to battery terminals as well. I am using the RF Hummingbird wireless for this, which works really well. There appears to be a fuse on the BreakSafe: would this be restricting charging…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Besides everything else, it’s a price beater” TOWABILITY “It’s a light enough van to tow but also exceptional in tight turns” LIVEABILITY “For the relative size of the van, it’s a fairly practical setup” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “It’s called an offroad van but I reckon closer to rough road” LAYOUT “Single bed layout works well here” QUALITY OF FINISH “You gets what you pays for here” BUILD QUALITY “Built to the usual Campbellfield standard” CREATURE COMFORTS “Perhaps some of the ‘comforts’ are missing but that’s the point here” INNOVATION “Basic overall structure is fairly standard” X-FACTOR “What is different about this van is that it is not a heavyweight, expensive offroader”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.18m (23ft 6in) External body length 5.5m (18ft) External body width 2.34m (7ft 7in) Travel height (incl AC)2.82m (3.07m) Internal height 2.0m (6ft 6in) Tare 2215kg ATM 2700kg Payload 485kg Ball weight 242kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti timber Cladding Aluminium composite, fibreglass roof Chassis DuraGal box section 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) Suspension AL-KO Enduro Outback, coil spring and dual shock absorber Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 2 x 95L Grey water Optional Battery 2 x 100Ah Solar 2 x 150W Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Optional Kitchen Optional Washing machine Daewoo Mini INTERNAL Cooking Swift 500 four-burner, grill and oven Fridge Three-way Dometic RUA 8408SX 224L Microwave Sphere Bathroom Dometic cassette toilet, separate shower…

While we were enjoying the sights at Milparinka, we bumped into a tag-a-long tour led by Great Divide Tours (GDT). The group were conducting a nine-day 'Outback Icons Tour' which takes in many of the sites connected to the story of Captain Charles Sturt. This particular trip had seen the group travel up the Darling on their way to Milparinka via White Cliffs. From there, they were heading up to Tibooburra, Cooper Creek and then into the Simpson and beyond. Among their other organised trips, GDT also offers a dedicated 14-day Simpson Desert tour. Others include the Madigan Line, Canning Stock Route, Cape York, the Kimberley and if you're feeling particularly adventurous, GDT also leads tours into Africa, Iceland and NZ. The value of hitching-up with operators like GDT is…

The Isuzu D-MAX — a household name in 4x4 vernacular. Caravan World recently took the crème de la crème, a 4X4 LS-T crew cab ute, on a towing expedition through Victoria’s mountainous north-east. The MY19 iteration of this workhorse stays true to the principles that have made it so popular over recent years. Again we see the powerful motor, the generous towing capacity, and the sizeable payload; plus the reasonable value. Our test model came in at $54,800 (pre-accessories) and more basic 4X4 versions start at $38,200. While the D-MAX isn’t overflowing with high-tech features and creature comforts, its bedrock of functionality and reliability make it particularly well suited to the caravanning lifestyle. ITS MOTHER'S A TRUCKER On top of passenger vehicles, Isuzu also produces trucks and specialist diesel engines.…

Putting the customer first, in simple terms, means that a business puts the needs and requirements of a customer ahead of anything and everything else. Such a business strives to build healthy relationships with their consumers by identifying their needs and providing the best-possible experience to its customers. These organisations pay special attention and emphasis on putting the customer’s priorities ahead of anything else, and end up providing a personalised customer experience. They also acknowledge and thank their customers for their business from time to time, through various different methods and avenues. Organisations that ‘put the customer first’ are commonly referred to as customer-oriented, customer-driven or customer-focused businesses. They are oriented towards serving the client’s needs, and measure customer-satisfaction levels in order to determine the success of their business. Companies…

A few years ago my grandfather went shopping for a new wristwatch. Everybody knew about it soon enough. “What’s the deal with watches nowadays?” he yelled, one afternoon, putting down his tea so he could wave his hands more freely. “What are these know-it-all, show-off watchmakers trying to achieve? I don’t need my watch to tell me how far I’ve walked, to call my kids or to show me emails. I just need it to tell me the time.” My old man’s man hit upon a fundamental design principle that day. To properly serve customers, a product needs to have clarity of purpose. To that end, it needs to keep things simple. Too many features and all of a sudden you have an unruly Frankenstein’s monster. While testing out a…

Grandeur was indeed the order of the day as we trekked through NSW’s picturesque Hunter Valley during CW's 'Lux Touring' event. Traipsing around Australia's premier wine region is an optimum RVing experience. And when you're doing it in a top-of-the-range Jayco Optimum — the world's first voice-activated motorhome — it's impossible not to notice the synergy. There aren't enough superlatives to describe this motorhome... It's first-class and flawless... It's RVing at the zenith of opulence and technology! TOUGH LUXE Jayco's motorhome range is renowned for its market-leading vacuum-bonded quad-layer wall construction. It's also well documented that the range is built on a lightweight aluminium frame for extra strength and longevity. Jayco’s 'Tough Frame' provides great thermal and acoustic insulation and is finished in high-gloss fibreglass that is hail-and dent-resistant. But…

Camper trailer brand Kimberley Kampers is operating under new management after the business folded in July 2018 following a seven-month voluntary administration process. The Queensland camper and hybrid caravan manufacturer is now operational at its Ballina, NSW, manufacturing facility under Managing Director and part owner James Cockburn, and has begun to deliver brand new campers. Cockburn has been with the company for six years and was previously the dealer principal for south-east Queensland, and was the owner of West Coast Campers in Western Australia for seven years. Prior to that he lived in London and worked in mergers and acquisitions as a chartered management accountant. The other co-owner is Brett McLaren, former Managing Director of the company and now Operations Manager. In a video on the company’s temporary website, Cockburn…

A Brisbane camper trailer company is suing the administrator of a Facebook group about ‘lemon’ caravans for defamation. Bruder Expedition Pty Ltd is taking Tracy Leigh, the administrator of the 47,000-member group ‘Lemon Caravans & RVs in Aus’, to court according to the Brisbane Times. A judge has also issued an injunction which prevents Leigh from publishing anything further about Bruder before the case goes to trial in October. The newspaper reported that the case stemmed from a dispute between Bruder and customer Charles Coles, who created a website urging potential buyers to steer clear of the camper company because he was dissatisfied with the Bruder EXP-6 trailer he purchased in 2018. Although the website was removed, a member of Leigh’s Facebook group shared the link and Leigh also then…

Country towns need to spend more money on their public toilets or tourism will suffer, says Chris McLennan, the editor of the Top End newspaper Katherine Times. He says a recent trip with his wife to several towns in south-eastern Australia has proved to him what Grey Nomad travellers have been saying for years — public loos are a tiny bit crap. Writing in an edition of the Voices of Real Australia newsletter, part of Australian Community Media owned by Fairfax, McLennan says there are a few simple rules that state governments and local councils must abide by when it comes to commodes. “We hear the same thing over and over from the Grey Nomads who can't help but call through Katherine in NT for their winter (dry season) adventure…

I’m currently in Canada, that’s the country north of the United States in case you hadn’t realised. Although the two countries look similar in some respects, they are very different and sometimes Canadians take offence at being mistaken as citizens of their brashier neighbour. One of the similarities occurs in the recreational vehicle industry, in part because the RVs are designed and/or built in the USA. I’m not really here for work reasons but when visiting the multi-day Edmonton (Alberta) Bluegrass Festival, I took a look around the temporary RV parking area. Bluegrass by the way is a style of music, easy on the ear and not a form of lawn that comes from Kentucky. Here’s a bit of a snapshot from my walk-around. Many of us who have seen…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9m (29ft 6in) External body length 6.5m (21ft 6in) External body width 2.48m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.2m (10ft 6in) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 5in) Tare 2945kg ATM 3500kg Payload 555kg (calculated) Ball weight 187kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Ribbed aluminium and checkerplate Chassis 150mm x 50mm DuraGal Suspension Cruisemaster ATX 4.5t Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in electric Wheels 17in alloy six stud 265x70 Cooper tyres Water 2 x 95L, 1 x 65L (plus 95L grey water) Battery 300Ah lithium Solar 3 x 170W Air-conditioner Truma Aventa Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control AL-KO ESC INTERNAL Cooking Swift oven Fridge Waeco 218L compressor Microwave 25L NCE Bathroom Shower and toilet Washing machine 3kg top-loader Hot water Truma Vario Heat OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN…

Offroad caravans are often associated with big and boofy-looking rigs but occasionally something a little different comes along. ‘Little’ is the operative word here since the Olympic Sprinter is just 4.06m (13ft 4in) long. The Sprinter is available in road tourer form but the team from Sydney dealership RV Connection have added a few features to give the van much more rough road/offroad capability. “... it’s a pop-top – an asset when negotiating bush tracks with low overhanging branches” LIGHT AND BREEZY First up, the SupaGal chassis has been beefed up with 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) RHS rails for the chassis and drawbar. Given the van is relatively short, the sub chassis area — which includes 50mm x 50mm (2in x 2in) cross members — looks quite busy.…

A little question that intended buyers might ask about this van; is it an offroad or rough-road van? I’m inclined to think the latter and for some people the lack of a bathroom might inhibit things a bit further, as might the fridge size for extended bush stays. However, apart from the offroad ability, the camper trailer brigade for instance might well regard this Olympic Sprinter as a piece of luxury. Most camper trailers do not have on-board bathrooms but some certainly have external showers and the feature of solid walls rather than flapping canvas might be very attractive. I’m thinking that with the addition of a Porta-Potti (for those who really do like to get away from it all) and a chest freezer in the tow vehicle might make…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Offroad caravan with just about everything needed. Price isn’t over the top” TOWABILITY “Being the size and weight that it is, the van is an easy towing proposition” LIVEABILITY “I reckon a family could live in this van especially if there was an awning/annexe” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Smaller van for family use – ideal!” LAYOUT “Transverse beds all round seems to work quite well" QUALITY OF FINISH “General fit and finish of appliances and fittings looks good” BUILD QUALITY “No major issues as far as I could see” CREATURE COMFORTS “Not much here a family would be wanting for” INNOVATION “Not so much innovation in the van build but in the concept” X-FACTOR “Different to the usual bunk bed layout in a smaller van”…

In short — no he didn’t. In 1845, Charles Sturt recorded spotting lots of the ‘desert peas’ — a beautiful red flower — on his journey exploring Australia in search for the inland sea. However, specimens of Sturt’s Desert Pea were first collected by William Dampier who recorded sighting the plant on 22 August 1699. The flower was later named ‘Sturt’s Desert Pea’ to honour the later explorer. As for Sturt’s notable plant and bird findings, well, in his own words — there weren’t any: “It might have been expected that many specimens, both of Botany and Ornithology, would have been collected during such an Expedition… but the contrary happened to be the case.” (Sturt’s 1848 account of his Expedition – ‘Narrative of an Expedition into Central Australia’) STURT’S LEGACY…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Length 5.29m Width 1.86m (excluding door mirrors) Height 1.85m Wheelbase 3.09m Ground clearance 2.35m Kerb mass 2026kg Payload 1024kg Gross Vehicle Mass 3050kg Gross Combined Mass 5950kg Towing capacity (unbraked/braked)750/3500kg Towball (max) 350kg DRIVETRAIN Engine Isuzu 4JJ1-TC Hi-Power 3.0 litre turbodiesel, in-line four-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve with diesel particulate diffuser Transmission Six-speed automatic Power 130kW @ 3600 rpm Torque 430Nm @ 2000 to 2200 rpm Gear ratios 1st 3.600; 2nd 2.090; 3rd 1.488; 4th 1.000; 5th 0.687; 6th 0.580; reverse 3.732; final drive 3.727. OPTIONS FITTED Satin black steel bull bar ($2238.50), heavy-duty side rail and side-step package ($2,208.80), LED Driving Lamps ($947.10), electronic brake controller ($722.70), Satin Black Sports Bar ($844.80), black roller tonneau cover ($2512.40), 12V single accessory power socket ($264), crew cab roof rail cross…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.04m (29ft 6in) External body length 6.5m (21ft 4in) Internal body length 6.4m (21ft) External body width 2.33m (7ft 6in) Travel height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Internal height 1.93m (6ft 4in) Tare 3000kg ATM 3500kg Payload 500kg (calculated) Ball weight 180kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti with Jackodur insulation Cladding Composite aluminium Chassis 150mm x 50mm hot-dipped galvanised Suspension Oz Trekker 3.5t independent trailing arm Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in electric drum Wheels R17 265x70 Water 2 x 95L plus 1 x 95L grey water Battery 3 x 100Ah Solar 3 x 170W Air-conditioner Gree Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Tucson ESC INTERNAL Cooking Swift 500 full oven and cooktop Fridge 190L Dometic compressor Microwave 25L, 900W NCE Bathroom Ceramic toilet and internal shower Washing machine 3.2kg…

Quaalup Homestead Wilderness Retreat (QHWR) is the only accommodation in Fitzgerald River National Park, 520km from Perth via the Great Southern Highway. QHWR is 49km from the town of Bremer Bay by 2WD roads or 17km via the Gordon Inlet Track, which is 4WD only (very rough and seriously boggy when wet – check conditions). The park can be accessed from the western side via Bremer Bay or Jerramungup, or from the eastern side via Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun. The central area of the park is only accessible with a four-wheel drive vehicle or on foot. The nearest towns for fuel and supplies are Jerramungup (coming from Perth), Boxwood Hill and Bremer Bay (coming from Albany), Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun (if coming from Esperance). Accommodation at QHWR includes self-contained motel-style units, a…

As humans, we’re attracted to glossy objects. Whether it’s a magazine cover, iPhone or laptop, the same principle applies. Researchers in Belgium have shown that our preference for shiny things is deep-rooted and hard to dislodge. Apparently it’s because glossiness is associated in our primitive minds with water — a substance that we subconsciously associate with survival. The Belgian research showed that, if you present children under 18 months old with a glossy object, most will lick it ( Journal of Consumer Psychology). And while it’s unlikely that many adults let loose in a car showroom will need to have their tongues prised off the duco by the sales staff, it doesn’t take a lab coat to know that shininess is a quality that attracts buyers. The trouble is that…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 4.405m (14ft 5in) External body length 2.85m (9ft 4in) External body width 1.86m (6ft 1in) Travel height 2.27m (7ft 5in) Internal height 1.29m (4ft 3in) Tare 921kg ATM 1221kg Payload 300kg Ball weight 133kg EXTERNAL Frame and Cladding Jayco Tough Frame Chassis Hot dipped galvanised Suspension JTECH 2.0 Independent Coil Coupling Trigg Bros polyblock hitch rated to 3000kg Brakes Electric Wheels 15in 235/75/R15, GT Radial Adventuro A/T II Water 82L tank with guard Battery 12V 100Ah, BMPRO J35 battery management system Solar 150W Flexi-Panel mounted on roof Air-conditioner None Gas 1 x 9kg (2 is optional) Sway control No Kitchen Slide-out with Dometic two-burner, sink with hot/cold, working bench, 2 gas bayonets INTERNAL Cooking None Fridge 12V 45L Sphere fridge/ freezer Microwave None Bathroom None…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9m (29ft 6in) External width 2.41m (7ft 11in) Travel height 3.24m (10ft 8in) Internal height 2.01 (6ft 7in) Bed size 1.8m x 1.4m (4ft 7in x 5ft 11in) Tare 5060kg GVM 7000kg Licence Light Rigid Passengers Four ENGINE Base vehicle Iveco Daily 70c Engine 3.0L Bi-turbo Gearbox Eight-speed Hi-Matic automatic Max power 150kW Max torque 470Nm EXTERNAL Brakes Electric Fresh water 3 x 80L Grey water 1 x 80L Solar 2 x 160W Air-conditioner Dometic Harrier Gas 2 x 9kg Cooking Slide-out kitchen INTERNAL Cooking Thetford induction Fridge Three-way Dometic RUA8 216L Microwave Hafele convection Rangehood 12V with twin fans Toilet Thetford ceramic Shower Fibreglass cubicle 1100 Washing machine Sphere 3.3kg top-loader Batteries 2 x 100Ah + provision Lighting 12V Hot water Nautilus OPTIONS FITTED…

New research suggests car cushions used for comfort during long trips by older Aussie drivers could increase the chance of injury in a crash. Researchers at the Transurban Road Safety Centre at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) found items to sit on or place behind their necks such as seat base cushions, seat back cushions, back support or head-rest cushions could pose a health risk. The safety researchers conducted more than 130 crash test simulations to make the findings. “Around a quarter of older drivers use an aftermarket accessory to improve their comfort. But these products often have not been tested for safety,” said Associate Professor Julie Brown, Joint Director of the Transurban Road Safety Centre at NeuRA. People over the age of 65 are reportedly nine times more likely to…

Our place is buzzing with excitement. For the first time in nine years we’ve invested in a new offroad hybrid camper and, for once, we’re ticking all the right boxes. Finally, we can keep a camper packed and ready to hit the road at a moment’s notice. You may remember back in 2010, when we purchased a pre-loved Series 1 Topaz for an extended getaway (13 months). With a body length of around 4m (13ft 1in), it had everything we were looking for at that time. It was offroad-rated, had insulated walls and roof for extra protection from the elements, easy setup, hot external shower, and an inside dinette for working on the road. Our requirements haven’t changed that much. We still love to tour offroad and the outdoor lifestyle…

VALUE FOR MONEY “That's a lot of van for the price, and it's packed with loads of useful options” TOWABILITY “It's well balanced and smooth, but you need to moderate that by realising it’s also heavy, so it needs a big tow vehicle” LIVEABILITY “There's room to move and plenty of storage” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “If you want a big van for the long haul, hitch it up to a Ram and head off into the sunset” LAYOUT “Standard layout but functional bench space, a roomy, comfortable lounge and a spacious bathroom” QUALITY OF FINISH “CNC-cut furniture, well-upholstered leather lounge with quality hardware and fittings throughout” BUILD QUALITY “Chassis welds look neat and complete. Underpinnings are well-protected, and the suspension is the best you can get off the shelf”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 5.64m (18ft 6in) External body length 4.06m (13ft 4in) External body width (incl awning) 2.14m (7ft) Travel height (incl AC) 2.29m (7ft 6in) Internal height 1.88m (6ft 2in) Tare 1300kg ATM 1750kg Payload 450kg Ball weight 175kg EXTERNAL Frame Timber Cladding Aluminium cladding Chassis SupaGal 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) Suspension Independent coil spring Coupling Ball Brakes 12in electric Wheels 15in alloy Water 60L Grey water No Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar Optional. Provision on the roof Air-conditioner Optional Gas 1 x 9kg Sway control No External kitchen No INTERNAL Cooking Swift 500 four-burner and grill Fridge Dometic RM 2350 90L Microwave Sharp Carousel Bathroom External shower Hot water Suburban 23L OPTIONS FITTED All options are discussed with the customer and have been fitted…

Family caravans come in all shapes and sizes, particularly the offroad variety. Often to accommodate families with bunk beds, the caravans are quite long and heavy, which in some ways reduces the offroad ability or else requires a substantial tow vehicle. At Sunseeker Caravans, Manager John Cullen and his team have come up with a very interesting solution to this particular conundrum in the form of their Marvel Golden Child, an interesting name if ever I heard one. “ Unlike many an offroad caravan, the Golden Child has a remarkably clean looking drawbar area with just two 9kg gas cylinders and other usual items” BUILDING BLOCKS For a start, the Golden Child is just 5.5m (18ft) long and weighs in with a Tare mass of 2215kg which might have you…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Certainly competitive for what you get” TOWING PERFORMANCE “In its element when lugging big loads” HITCHING UP “Goes on smooth and rides level” CREATURE COMFORTS “Focused on practicality over cosiness” ACCESSIBILITY OF SPARE PARTS “Decent representation Australia-wide” FUEL ECONOMY “A teetotaller of a ute. Camel-like” SOLO PERFORMANCE “Smooth and well-behaved for a big unit” ENGINE POWER “Feels even better than numbers imply” INNOVATION “Few changes from the previous year” X-FACTOR “X in the oomph and optioned-up looks”…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Hard to beat on price for what’s included for a van this size” TOWABILITY “Smooth and quiet on the road, but care is needed on tight tracks as it's high and long. Standard ESC adds to safety” LIVEABILITY “Extremely comfortable inside, loads of headroom and the big lounge is a beauty” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Hit the Gibb River Road with confidence. Set up camp at your favourite out-of-the-way spot and stay as long as you like in style” LAYOUT “Standard van layout will suit most couples, with the option to customise design within the footprint to suit your requirements” QUALITY OF FINISH “Offers quality inclusions and hardware, beautiful leather upholstery, designer chic and stylish exterior” BUILD QUALITY “Attention to detail is high and the design stays…

It was retail magnates Harry Selfridge and Marshall Field that are famously attributed with the following saying: “The customer is always right.” And from there, a myriad of business moguls have adopted this stance — the most notable including Raymond Albert Kroc. “If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours,” he said. Kroc, is of course the man behind the exponential growth of a once little fast-food chain known as McDonald’s! And now he is accredited with creating one of the most successful fast-food operations in the world, and for many years overseeing its worldwide expansion. In fact, Kroc was also included in Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Important People of…

What does Polymimetic mean? It is a trademark of RestorFX International, Inc. Looking at the Urban Dictionary, you’ll find that the term applies to a situation where an object can take the form of another object of equal size ratio when (or after) each of the two objects touch. If you’ve heard the term Polymimetic before, it was probably linked to the Terminator series of movies where the T-1000 and its successors were able to change into any shape or form that it touched — provided that the object was of similar mass. While RestorFX and ClearFX can’t achieve this degree of transformation, it will certainly make your duco tough as nails.…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Attractive pricetag. $23K for all you need for a getaway” TOWABILITY “Much lighter than many caravans with offroad suspension and tyres” SETTING UP AND HITCHING UP “Minimalistic setup; rollout awning is the one old-school touch” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Well targeted to quick weekend getaways for couples” LAYOUT “Very basic and campervan-like; you cannot stand inside” QUALITY OF FINISH “Good, though minor touches not world-class” BUILD QUALITY “Appeared well put together and sturdy; solid production techniques” CREATURE COMFORTS “Lapses behind bigger vans; no toilet, shower, dinette, etc” INNOVATION “A reworking of the teardrop, new but not unrecognisably so” X-FACTOR “No shortage of X, with its refreshing simplicity and offroad cred”…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Basically the whole kit and caboodle for just over $230K” DRIVEABILITY “Effortless, considering its dimensions” LIVEABILITY “A quintessential home away from home” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “It takes luxury touring to a new level’” LAYOUT “Plenty of versatility, aided by the slide-out bed” QUALITY OF FINISH “Quite simply, it oozes luxuriance and verve” BUILD QUALITY “Sheer excellence – inside and out” CREATURE COMFORTS “The ensuite and galley are the leading lights” INNOVATION “My 'voice command' says absolutely brilliant” X-FACTOR “Opulence and technology”…

Astoneguard is the ‘frontline’ of protection for your caravan or camper trailer and highly recommended. Keeping stones and loose gravel from chipping your van, damaging its underbelly and smashing windows should be avoided at all costs. Sharper rocks on many of Australia’s toughest tracks can also knock out plastic drainage pipes etc. Another vulnerable component is the exposed copper plumbing for twin 9kg front-mounted gas cylinders. Not only are they sitting targets for stones, but there is also the potential of fracturing from the constant vibration from corrugations. And that’s why it’s imperative to invest in proper stone protection for your rig before setting off on any trip over rugged terrain, ensuring this extends to exposed areas underneath. There are several reasons to fit a stoneguard, with most placing paramount…