Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 619 i Caravan World

Q Hi David, I read with interest your article in the July edition on lithium batteries, as I am thinking of changing mine. What I would like to know is: will I have to change my charging system? I currently have BMPRO. Thank you. Regards, Greg Cura A Hi Greg, Thanks for your question — it is certainly a hot topic right now as many RVers move to the newer technology of lithium for a range of reasons — including, but not limited to, weight, longevity, greater capacity and overall increased performance. There are BMPRO systems out there that can be upgraded to lithium charging capability, depending upon the hardware and software version. Check with your RV Dealer as they will be able to assist in determining if…

In the Simpson Desert, it’s mandatory that you fly a sand flag. And it’s a bloody good idea whenever you are in sand dune country, whether on the Canning or behind a beach. That helps give any on-coming traffic a warning of your presence. Here’s more tips: • Tackle dunes head on and exercise caution on steep slopes — don’t get side on. • As you approach a dune, get a little run up so that as you hit the base of the dune, you are in the peak torque rev range of the engine. Be in either 3rd or 4th low ratio, or 2nd or 3rd high ratio, depending on how steep and tall the dune is. • If you don’t get over, don’t try and start off in…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Value is in the eye of the beholder. Take your pick of a base version at $52k, all the way through to a highly spec’d version at $67k.” TOWABILITY “The Road Owl followed along comfortably behind the early model Navara.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “The full spec variant reviewed reaches into the semi-offroad space while the base model is much more suited to caravan park stays.” BUILD QUALITY “Attention to detail is good.” LIVEABILITY “Good design principles make this a great van to enjoy time inside and out.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Reasonable off grid capability. Needs a greywater tank to go the next level.” CUSTOMER CARE “3-year warranty on complete van including supplier appliances and components. Strong after sales network.” INNOVATION “Solid, proven concepts with the chassis standing out…

While 2022 will hopefully bring an end to restrictions on international travel and the opening of all Australian borders, it’s likely that the boom in caravan and camping will continue, as Aussies continue to explore our magnificent Big Backyard. Regardless of whether your accommodation options extend to a mobile palace on wheels, a durable offroad camper trailer, or simply pitching a tent in a remote location, the common thread is we all need wheels to get there. The good news is that 2021 saw several impressive new arrivals, along with updates to existing models, so there’s choice aplenty, from lightweight soft-roaders like the Subaru Outback, to the seriously heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado, and everything in between. Just remember to always be aware of state government towing regulations and to read the…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 6.25m (20ft 6in) Overall length 9.2m (30ft 2in) Width 2.45m (8ft 1in) Height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Tare 3040kg ATM 4500kg Payload 1460kg (calculated) Ball weight 250kg EXTERNAL Frame/Cladding N/A Chassis Hot-dipped galvanised Suspension Cruisemaster XT Coupling 5000kg Hitch-Ezy Brakes Electric/hydraulic disc Wheels 17in alloy Water 5 x 83L fresh, 1 x drinking water, 1 x 83L grey water tank Battery 2 x 200Ah Lithium Solar 1160W Air-conditioner Truma Adventa Gas 2 x 9kg INTERNAL Cooking 4 x gas, cooktop and range hood Microwave Yes Fridge 285L Bushman Compressor Ensuite Shower, vanity and toilet Hot water Truma gas instant WiFi Yes, throughout the van and can be extended to outside Van odometer Yes, based on gps distance travelled Van tracking GPS monitor Television 32in smart tv…

“We can thank John Riddoch for the Coonawarra,” says Simon Meares from Coonawarra Experiences. I am touring this wine region with Simon, and it all starts with a history lesson. According to Simon, the gold rush brought the pioneering Scotsman to Australia, but Riddoch found his own ‘gold’ in the terra rossa soil. From setting up a fruit colony to creating a wine region, Riddoch’s legacy was cemented when Chateau Comaum was built in 1891. Known as The Gables, it’s now Wynns Coonawarra Estate. Ten wineries in two days is a big call but here’s a summary of what we discover. • Bellwether Wines cellar door started as a shearing shed, built in 1857 by Chinese migrants on their way to the Victorian gold fields. Sue Bell turned the property…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 7.63m (25ft) Overall length 8.82m (28ft 11in) Width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Height 3.02m (9ft 11in) Tare 2834kg ATM 3500kg Payload 666kg Ball weight 272kg EXTERNAL Frame Composite Cladding Fibreglass composite sandwich panel Chassis Hot dipped galvanized 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) Suspension Cruisemaster CRS coil springs, dual shock absorbers Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes AL-KO 12in Wheels 15in alloy Water 125L Grey Water 125L Battery 2 x 100Ah Solar 1 x 160W Air-conditioner Dometic Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control AL-KO ESC INTERNAL Cooking Dometic 4 burner & grill Fridge Thetford N614E 188L three way Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet & separate shower cubicle. Hot water Truma 14L OPTIONS FITTED • Leather upholstery • Second 100Ah battery PRICE AS SHOWN  $121,500 MORE INFORMATION Avida Sydney 29…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 6.86m (22ft 6in) Overall length 8.85m (29ft) Width 2.44 (8ft) Height 2.94m (9ft 8in) Tare 2465kg ATM 2965kg Payload 500kg Ball weight 250kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti timber Cladding Composite Aluminium Chassis SupaGal 150mm/6in rails and drawbar Suspension Roller rocker leaf spring Coupling Ball Brakes 10in elec Wheels 15in alloy Water 2 x 95L fresh, 95L grey Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 1 x 120W Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No INTERNAL Cooking Swift four-burner, grill & oven Fridge Dometic RUA6408X 188 litre Bathroom Thetford cassette & separate shower cubicle Hot water Swift 28L, gas and electric OPTIONS FITTED • Dark grey composite cladding • 95 litre grey water tank • 24in TV/DVD player PRICE AS SHOWN $74,990 MORE INFORMATION RV…

THINGS TO DO • The Snowy Mountains are a playground for fishing, hiking, biking and more. • Drop a line in at dozens of rivers and lakes, download the Kosciuszko National Park Thredbo-Perisher area walks guide from nationalparks.nsw.gov.au, or check out the extensive graded bike trail network at thredbo.com.au. • Grab a day pass at Lake Crackenback Resort for unlimited access to their outdoor activities, lakecrackenback.com.au. • Mt Stilwell guided walk, Snowy Mountains Walking Company, snowywalks.com. • Gaden Trout Hatchery, 224 Gaden Rd, Jindabyne, dpi.nsw.gov.au. • Thredbo Valley Horse Riding, Pender Lea Chalets, Alpine Way, Crackenback, thredbovalleyhorseriding.com. • Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre, Monaro Hwy, Cooma, snowyhydro.com.au. CAMPING • Book bush camps such as Thredbo Diggings, Tom Groggin and Ngarigo through nationalparks.nsw.gov.au. • NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park, 6 Kosciuszko Rd, Jindabyne,…

If you’re a Sydneysider, a summer trip to the Hunter Valley is a must. Only a two-hour drive and you are well and truly immersed into the rolling hills of the Brokenback Ranges, breathing in the fresh country air and indulging your visual senses. The drive from Sydney to the Hunter is enjoyable, with ever-changing scenery of rolling hills and ocean views. As you cross the bridges at Hawkesbury River, the busy city is left well behind, and the picture-perfect landscape is pre-empting a glorious weekend in the wine country. Once off the M1, the scenery changes once more, and you enter the windy road that leads through sections of bush and rainforest, before opening up to beautiful hills and vineyards as you reach Cessnock. The Hunter Valley is the…

Improper maintenance could lead to injury, death or property damage. Maintenance work of this nature should only be undertaken by persons with suitable mechanical competence. Information provided is general in nature and can only be taken as a guide. Individual discretion must be exercised and persons undertaking described tasks do so completely at their own risk. Publishers and creators of this content accept no responsibility for loss or damage. Thanks to Andrew Phillips and the team from the RV Repair Centre, 120 Canterbury Rd Bayswater Nth Vic 3151, Ph: (03) 9761 4189.…

Australians believe the move to Electric Vehicles (EVs) is important to curbing climate change. A survey of 1001 Australians by Savvy has revealed that 73 per cent agree that the move is important to reducing CO2 emissions and keeping global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees. The survey found that younger Australians are more likely to buy EVs, but 79 per cent of those surveyed believe affordability needs to improve before they will purchase. With the current prices, 40 per cent stated they may purchase EVs in the future, with seven per cent saying they intend to buy one within the next 12 months, and 30 per cent said they cannot afford one. Influencing buyers' decision to change to an EV are improved government subsidies, improved infrastructure and improved driving range,…

WONDERDOME, the largest 360 cinema experience ever in Australia is being held in Sydney’s The Entertainment Quarter until Sunday 30 January 2022. This ‘Pop Up’ theatre combines fully immersive visuals with leading-edge technologies to dissolve the boundaries between digital and physical where audiences can experience a new reality. Captivating crowds at Coachella and Burning Man in recent years, the extrasensory experience is currently in Australia where art, film and music fuse together to create a unique virtual reality experience — without the goggles. WONDERDOME Co-Founder, Chris Decker, said the boundaries of the screen are dissolved in the dome, allowing viewers to become part of the film. “Viewers are immersed into multiple worlds, from thrilling rides through galaxies to emotive journeys navigating natural landscapes,” he said. The program features a catalogue…

There’s no doubt that many people who struggled through the latest round of COVID-19 lockdowns are bursting to hit the road again. For those who already own an RV, it’s mostly a matter of planning, packing up, and heading out. For those that are either sadly waiting on an extended delivery time for their new RV — something very common at the moment — or don’t have any immediate ownership plans, then that’s not going to work. When that’s the problem, another possibility is to arrange to hire a motorhome (or caravan in a smaller number of cases) for the experience of RV travels. Indeed, this was something very popular with people who liked to travel overseas and rent a motorhome when they arrived at their destination — be it…

I am considering upgrading my standard 50mm ball hitch as some constant wear is evident on the ball. Ninety per cent of my travel with a 3-tonne van in tow is on the bitumen, but then regularly I will pull in to ‘free camp’ style country which certainly extends the articulation between van and ute! Also, when traversing corrugated gravel roads with dangerous washaways I am concerned about relying so much on the garden-variety 50mm hitches. Do you think it is worthwhile investing in a stronger hitch for a traditional budget-conscious grey nomad like myself? Thanks for your interesting and educational column, Rob Barker A G’day Rob. If you are at the limit of articulation, you are possibly putting stress on the cast coupling and your drawbar and A-frame so…

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 D250 Price: $82,466 (MRLP) Engine: 3L inline six-cylinder twin turbodiesel (183kW/570Nm) Transmission: Eight speed automatic Towing unbraked/braked: 750kg/3500kg Kerb Weight: 2,385kg (5 seats)/2,441kg (5+2 seats) Gross Vehicle Mass: 3200kg (5 seats)/3,280kg (5+2 seats) Payload: 815kg (5-seats)/839kg (5+2 seats) Gross Combined Mass: 6700kg (5 seats)/6780kg (7 seats) Fuel Capacity: 89L Fuel Consumption: 7.9L/100km (ADR Combined Cycle) Safety Rating: 5-Star ANCAP (2020) Warranty: 5 years/unlimited km…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Loads of inclusions that you didn’t even think about.” TOWABILITY “It's heavy, but will tow well behind the right rig” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Designed for off-grid, offroad touring” BUILD QUALITY “Excellent attention to detail.” LIVEABILITY “Everything you need for the family for an extended time.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Fitted with a pair of gas cylinders, decent solar panel capacity and grey water tank, the van is certainly good for a few days of remote travel.” CUSTOMER CARE “Any repairs will be organised where ever you are” INNOVATION “Some great innovations included.” X-FACTOR “An excellent quality van that doesn’t need to shout about it”…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s certainly not a budget van but does have a high level of appointment.” TOWABILITY “Relatively heavy van but with right vehicle tows quite well.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Well kitted out for rough road travel.” BUILD QUALITY “Generally speaking the van seemed to be well put together but with a few minor issues.” LIVEABILITY “Not hard to sit back and relax in this layout.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Fitted with two 100Ah batteries, a 160W solar panel and a 125L grey water tank.” CUSTOMER CARE “3-year factory, 5-year structural, 2-year Avida RV Help.” INNOVATION “Avida’s composite body structure is certainly a little different.” X-FACTOR “The slide-out creates a layout that’s a little different to the usual.”…

Interested in climbing aboard the RV bandwagon? Credit One is Australia’s best-rated caravan finance broker and has access to a large number of financiers that can tailor a loan to suit your individual needs. That being either borrowing the entire amount or topping up with a partial loan to get the unit you really want. Having flexibility inside the loan to make extra repayments or to pay out the loan early is fast becoming the preferred option for many borrowers while keeping costs down. The Credit One Caravan team has a 22-year history of getting more people into this great lifestyle with a tailored loan as they deal with industry professionals day in and day out. For more information about financing your dream or to obtain a pre-approval prior to…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s a van that offers a considerable living space.” TOWABILITY “Mid to large size tow vehicle needed but the van certainly tracks along very nicely.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Road going van with room to move.” BUILD QUALITY “Most things were where they should be and opened and closed as required.” LIVEABILITY “An easy living van with room to move.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Has all the electrical essentials but no grey water tank.” CUSTOMER CARE “Two-year manufacturer warranty, components as per individual manufacturers.” INNOVATION “Nothing particularly notable.” X-FACTOR “Rear club lounge layout.”…

VALUE FOR MONEY “That’s a lot of caravan and engineering for the price.” TOWABILITY “Needs some weight upfront, but it tows well.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Plenty of comfort and technology.” BUILD QUALITY “Has a modern well-finished appeal.” LIVEABILITY “An entire oven and a bigger fridge would be perfect.” CUSTOMER CARE “The company and ABCO know how to look after their clients.” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Another panel and battery would be better.” INNOVATION “It’s the technology the buying public is asking for.” X-FACTOR “Not showy, but it’s a winner for those in the know.”…

IRONGATE ESTATE 2019 PRIMERA SEMILLON ($25) Being a white that can be aged, 2019 is quite a young vintage for semillon, which is apparent by its emerald-green colour. It’s light colour perfectly harmonises with lifted aromas of lemongrass and ginger spice, passionfruit, and lime zest. It stays consistent on your palate — ripe lemon walks a gentle line and provides support to notes of pear, stone fruit, and beeswax. LEOGATE ESTATE 2020 BROKENBACK VERDELHO ($22) Bright lemon yellow colour is very vibrant and inviting — this is a great fresh but complex white to lift up the mood. Fresh aromas of white peaches and melon define your experience from the very start, and you know you're in for a treat. The palate is equally as fruitful with notes of melon,…

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) has highlighted that more needs to be done to help rural tourism operators connect with Electric Vehicle (EV) users. CIAA has acknowledged the Australian Government’s release of the Future Fuel Fund but is calling for a matched grants scheme for caravan parks and other regional accommodation providers to invest in charging stations that are suitable to charge all types of electric vehicles. The CIAA has estimated that a $3 million investment from the government would provide an additional 2000 chargers across 1000 caravan parks in regional Australia. Stuart Lamont, CEO of CIAA, said sometimes the only accommodation in regions are the caravan parks which are ideally placed, and therefore, are where EV charging points should be as EV owners base their road trip…

The composition of the National Board for Caravan Industry Association of Australia has been updated following an election by the state caravanning associations. For the first time, almost half of the nominations were females, with four of the nine board members now women. Kate Meldrum, Martin Cotterell and Grant Wilckens were re-elected, with Nikki Milne, Chris Woods and Margaret Shannon joining them, while Donna Cocking, Brad Slater and Gerard Waldron will continue to serve for another year ahead of a ballot in November 2022. Stuart Lamont, CEO of CIAA, said they look forward to new debate ahead. “The industry has many challenges and opportunities ahead of us, and we welcome the addition of three individuals just as committed and passionate about what lies ahead as those who have retired today,”…

Sitting in your favourite camp chair around the fire that you’ve nurtured from a few twigs to its current toasty state, it’s time for a cold one. You twist a lid, pop a cork, or remove a lid with an opener. What happens next is your defining moment. ARE YOU A LITTERER? Going from our last few bush camping experiences, it seems that the all-too-common response is to drop the lid on the ground. Beer and soft drink caps are the most discarded items, so it’s possible that males need the most education. Waste management is an ongoing issue in the bush, from unburied human waste (code brown) and the associated confetti toilet paper, cigarette butts, beverage lids, and other general rubbish. Bush camping is a privilege. In many cases,…

Beaches are best driven when you can drive on the ‘firm pack’ between the high and low tide marks. That makes low tide, or close to low tide, the best time to drive on any beach. Above the high tide mark, the sand can be very soft, making it pretty tough going. As well, local nesting birdlife and, in places like the west coast of Cape York, nesting turtles, all set their nests above the high tide mark. Some beaches get closed to vehicle traffic then, and for good reason. If forced to drive above the high tide mark at any time, watch out for the nests of our feathered friends and their turtle mates. Here’s some more tips: • Stick to any existing wheel tracks — the vehicle in…

ESPERANCE MUSEUM P: (08) 9083 1580 E: musem@esperance.wa.gov.au W: esperance.wa.gov.au/esperancemuseum LUCKY BAY BREWING P: 0429 777 714 E: info@luckybaybrewing.com.au W: luckybaybrewing.com.au TAYLOR ST QUARTERS P: 0457 232 039 E: missq@taylorst.com.au W: facebook.com/taylorstquarters RAC ESPERANCE HOLIDAY PARK P: 1800 871 570 E: reservations@racesperanceholidaypark.com.au W: parksandresorts.rac.com.au/esperance/ LUCKY BAY CAMPGROUND W: parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/lucky-bay Still want to see more around Esperance? Take a scenic flight to see the stunning pink hue of Lake Hillier with HeliSpirit or Fly Esperance Scenic Flights. HELISPIRIT W: helispirit.com .au FLY ESPERANCE SCENIC FLIGHTS W: flyesperance.com Or visit Woody Island, the sole island out of 105 islands and 1200 rocky outcrops in the Recherche Archipelago to boast woodlands. WOODY ISLAND ECO TOURS P: 0484 327 580 E: admin@woodyisland.com.au W: woodyisland.com.au…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.85m (25ft 9in) Body length internal 5.77m (18ft 11in) Travel Width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Height (closed) 2.65m (8ft 8in) Internal Height 2.03m (6ft 8in) Tare 2290kg ATM 2890kg Payload 600kg (calculated) Ball weight at tare 160kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti timber Cladding Silver hi-profile stucco cladding c/w rear mould kit and recessed spare wheel Chassis Walkinshaw hot dipped galvanised Suspension Cruisemaster CRS2 Coupling Recessed 50mm tow ball Brakes AL-KO 12in electric drum Wheels 245/75 R16 tyres and wheels (manufactured by Goodyear) Water 2 x 110L water tanks Battery 1 x 100Ah AGM Solar 1 x 150W solar panel c/w controller Air-conditioner Floor mounted reverse cycle Gas 2 x 9kg gas bottles Sway control BMPRO Sway Control / BMPRO Trail Safe INTERNAL Cooking Thetford 4 burner, mini…

DEVONPORT VISITOR CENTRE 145 Rooke Street, Market Square, Devonport P: (03) 6420 2900 E: tourism@devonport.tas.gov.au BURNIE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE 2 Bass Highway, Parklands P: (03) 6430 5885 WYNYARD VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE 8 Exhibition Link (off Jackson Street), Wynyard P: (03) 6443 8330 STANLEY VISITOR CENTRE 45 Main Street, Stanley P: (03) 6458 1330 DISCOVERY PARKS — DEVONPORT 13-19 Tarleton Street, East Devonport P: 1800 880 201 or (03) 6427 8418 E: devonport@discoveryparks.com.au W: discoveryholidayparks.com.au MERSEY BLUFF CARAVAN PARK 41 Bluff Road, Devonport P: (03) 6424 8655 E: bookings@mbcp.net.au W: merseybluffcaravanpark.com.au ABEL TASMAN CARAVAN PARK 6 Wright Street, East Devonport P: (03) 6427 8794 E: info@abeltasmancaravanpark.com.au W: abeltasmancaravanpark.com.au BIG4 ULVERSTONE HOLIDAY PARK 57 Water Street, Ulverstone P: (03) 6425 2624 E: info@big4ulverstone.com.au W: big4.com.au/ulverstone PENGUIN CARAVAN PARK 6 Johnson’s Beach Road…

In the Australian RV industry, particularly the caravan sector, slide-outs are something of a dilemma. There’s no doubt that they add interior space to any layout, but they also add weight, extra electrics and moving parts — something of a consideration in contemporary vans. It was with those dynamic thoughts in mind that I approached my review of Avida’s slide-out fitted Topaz C7652SL tandem axle caravan. This review has been some while in the making because of delay’s caused mostly by COVID-19 lockdowns. Consequently, when the van, along with a brand new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Sahara tow vehicle, became available from Clintons RV, aka Avida Sydney, I made haste to get the tow vehicle keys in my hot little hand. Not only was I interested in the van, but I…

There’s no doubt that we have all become very used to Toyota’s LandCruiser 200 Series and for good reason — it’s been around for the best part of 14 years and is a good tow vehicle — a long model run by anyone’s standards, Toyota certainly followed the ‘when you are on a good thing’ mantra. In the world of heavy caravan and boat towing, the 200 Series was the vehicle of choice for many a caravanner and for good reason. Its weight made it a very stable towing proposition and the big 4.5L turbodiesel made caravan towing an easy proposition. Just checking a few other facts on the 200, the V8 delivered a maximum power of 200kW@3400rpm and a maximum torque of 650Nm@1600–2600rpm via a six-speed torque converter gearbox.…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURE Overall length 8.53m (27ft 4in) External body length 6.66m (20ft 8in) External body width 2.39m (7ft 9in) Travel height 3.22m (10ft 6in) Tare 2527kg ATM 3500kg Payload 973kg (600kg standard) Ball weight 132kg Ball weight to tare 5.2 per cent EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Fibreglass Chassis A-frame 6in/ Chassis 4in/ Raiser 8in Suspension Tandem Torsion 3.5T Coupling 50mm Ball Wheels 235/75/R15 (Good Ride) Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 120 AGM Solar 1 x 200W panel Air conditioner HB3500 Houghton Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Lippert(optional) INTERNAL Cooking MiniGrill Fridge Dometic 173L absorption Microwave 20L Bathroom Ensuite Washing machine 2.5kg Top Load Hot water system Swift PRICED FROM $73,440 OPTIONS FITTED Black Single Kitchen Bowl Oval Basin & Swivel Tap Black Kitchen & Ensuite Tapware…