Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 558 i Caravan World

LAURA GRAY CW’s editor Laura Gray has worked her way up the ranks of the magazine from CW deputy editor and production editor before landing in the big chair in 2016. Laura’s introduction to life in the great outdoors came at age two, when she was packed, by day, into a Toyota LiteAce van and, by night, into a brown canvas tent with her parents and two siblings for an extended trip around the vast playground that is northern Western Australia. But WA is a pretty hot place, and canvas tents don’t come with air-conditioners, so many years and countless camping trips later, she set her sights on caravans. PETER QUILTY You might call CW staff journalist Peter Quilty a late starter, receiving a caravanning and camping baptism in his…

It was a competitive field in the $50-$65K segment at this year's Best Aussie Vans (BAV), with Kokoda's Veteran XLi Platinum — just squeaking in at $64,990 — serving up a fine balance of luxury and bush capability. While Kokoda describes the Veteran as a ‘semi-offroad' van, the truth is that any caravan of this size and weight is not going to be a natural on steep, slippery bush tracks or in soft sand. The most a van like this will handle is rough outback roads and, for this scenario, the Kokoda appears well-equipped. The 3300kg-rated Tuffride trailing arm suspension has coil springs and a shock absorber per wheel and will offer a better ride over the rough stuff than leaf-spring beam axles. An interesting feature here is the chains…

Another year and another Best Aussie Vans (BAV) win for Lennie Mifsud and Melbourne’s On The Move (OTM) Caravans. This year, it’s with his commemorative 10th anniversary Vortex, designed for offroaders who like boating and fishing, like Mifsud himself. A challenge faced by many Australian caravan manufacturers is making their models stand out from the crowd. In some ways, it’s pretty simple… just do something radically different! But that modus operandi comes with some hazards. OTM’s 10th anniversary Vortex was designed using the company’s signature green and black colour scheme. There’s no doubt it’s striking, especially inside, but it’s not something all potential buyers will be happy to live with. I found it particularly interesting at the BAV Showcase, in Apollo Bay, to watch the reactions of those who went…

Getting your hands on a small-to-medium sized SUV to tow a smaller van isn’t as easy as it sounds. Several vehicles have a decent maximum tow rating of around 2000kg, but most fall down on towball mass (TBM) maximums – it’s rare to see one with 10 per cent of max towing capacity. Even the Hyundai Santa Fe, with its 2500kg towing capability – as long as it has a manual gearbox – has a TBM of just 150kg maximum – and even that’s only provided you tick the extra-cost Load Assist Kit option at purchasing time, otherwise it’s only 100kg. The Subaru Forester is one of the few vehicles that does give you the full 10 per cent – its 1800kg maximum braked towing capacity is complemented by a…

A trip to the tip of Australia is probably on the bucket list of many caravanners and RVers who head for far north Queensland’s sunny climes each winter. That distant rocky point adorned with the simple sign confirming that ‘You are standing at the northernmost point of the Australian continent’ is the quintessential climax to many northern adventures. But you don’t have to be an experienced offroader or prepared to spend months in the wilds of Cape York just to have your photo taken beside that famous sign. The fact is, during the cooler months, you can get to the tip of Australia on roads that are far from lonely and deserted – roads that, in good weather, can be traversed without even reaching for the 4x4 lever or button.…

Just over 10 years ago, a handful of caravanners had a dream: to create a national club in which all members were equal. And now, with branches in every state of the country and 4000 members and growing, the Australian Caravan Club has celebrated its strength and diversity with its 10th National Muster. Held at the Shepparton Showgrounds, Vic, and facilitated by the Shepparton Agricultural Society, exactly 200 vans gathered for a week of good company, happy hours, activities (including ukulele lessons!), boules, and arts and crafts. And what would a caravan muster be without a bush poetry session or two? While the 42 branches around Australia hold individual musters, the national muster coincides with the ACC’s annual general meeting. This year’s national muster saw a changing of the guard,…

Wilsons Promontory is a place of extremes. It’s barely 160km east of Melbourne, yet contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria – over 500sq km. Being the most southerly tip of the Australian mainland, surrounded on three sides by the Bass Strait, the peninsula can be blissfully balmy under shining azure skies one day, then lashed by squalls and howling gales the next. Its human landscape was forged in the mystic Dreamtime of the Gunai-Kurnai people and shaped by 200 years of European exploitation. Once plundered for its wildlife and natural resources, it is now the state’s oldest existing national park, protecting a vast array of plant and animal species. Ironically, the national park’s peaceful isolation proved an ideal training ground for commandos who practiced their deadly and clandestine…

f you’re an avid caravanner, you’ve probably heard the name Lionel Mussell. Sure, he is a columnist in Caravan World, having written ‘On the Wallaby’ since the early 1990s. Or was it the late 80s? In any case, he’s been a fixture of this magazine for such a long time that his touring exploits and run-ins with the dreaded ‘Murphy’ are known far and wide. But you wouldn’t just need to be a CW reader to know of him. He’s a stalwart of the Australian Caravan Club who has been on the road, in caravans and now a motorhome, for donkey’s years. He’s also dispensed practical advice to old hands and RV newcomers via his website for a very long time. Yes, Lionel is as experienced as they come. And…

Whew, AL-KO Best Aussie Vans (BAV) 2016 is over… well, at least the judging and photography/video week. No sooner had I arrived home, though, there were emails from CW editor, Laura using the words ‘early’ and ‘deadline’ in the same sentence. Now, that’s guaranteed to bring any magazine contributor out in a cold sweat. In this issue, you will read the results of the first two categories and, I have to tell you, it was a tough week, judging wise. I should also mention our fearless video and photography crew, who didn’t always have the option of running for shelter (like I did) when the inclement weather delivered varying quantities of rain. But back to judging. Determining the scores for each van is not always straight-forward and, at times, there…

Location Great Ocean Road, Vic Gear Canon EOS 1DX, ISO 100, f14, 1/80th sec, 24mm lens Composition I’ve left the stairs and greenscape in the lower part of the image for context and scale. Handy hint You have to be quick-sticks with magical natural phenomena a such as rainbows. If you’re not decisive, the moment can be gone before you know it. Look for dark rain clouds and the bright sunny breaks nearby, particularly near water, as this often results in a rainbow. Photographic fact Rainbows are not solid objects and, thus, great photographs benefits from a clean, uncluttered background with contrast, such as moody, dark clouds. Polarising filters can often enhance the colour saturation and background contrast so experiment with them as well.…

When the going gets tough, the tough go fishing. Sometimes it's nice to pick up the ol' fishing pole and head to your favourite spot on a beautiful day to frolic in the sunshine. As long as you have bait in the water, you have a chance at catching a fish, no matter the weather or time of day. However, if you really want to get serious about the catching, and not just the fishing, you might want to consider some rough conditions to increase your chances of success. Fish get active in rougher conditions, particularly in our more accessible shallow bays, inlets and lakes for a variety of reasons. They are just like humans; the more oxygen we breathe the more active we feel, and the hungrier. On larger…

Shimano’s new Kairiki SX8 braid is smooth, supple and sensitive, and well-behaved on the reel spool, with even lay and less propensity to throw off annoying wind knots. Its smooth finish means it creates less friction over rod guides when cast, and it slips through the water with reduced resistance and thrumming on the retrieve or when trolled. An exclusive process that the raw material undergoes before braiding enhances abrasion resistance. The line is then braided with less friction, retaining the integrity of the material for fewer imperfections. This makes it a tough line for use in difficult terrain. Available in 11 breaking strains from six to 80lb on 150-metre spools at the lighter end and 300 metres from 20lb up, its neutral Mantis Green colour means it is every…

The Australian-designed Boomerang BBQ and Fire Pit system is a space-saving and weight-saving travelling solution. Many gas barbecues and cast-iron hotplates are cumbersome, and difficult to clean. And even if they flat pack, you need the proverbial crane to lift them onto your rig. But the Boomerang, which can be purchased completely or separately, flat pack down to 25mm (BBQ at 1.7kg; Fire Pit at 4.5kg). Both can be set up in seconds, and come with their own washable carry bag. Made of quality 316 stainless steel, this open-fire system also has a cool-to-touch Boomerang arm that allows you to control your barbecue height above the fire. And the adjustable grill can be used as a smoker, for baking small dampers and scones, or to cook larger cuts of meat…

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” – if you didn’t sing that line in your head, go back and do it again. No, I’m not talking about Christmas, although that is almost upon us as well – it’s Best Aussie Vans time! It’s the time when some of Australia’s best vans descend on one location in what is, without a doubt, Australia’s biggest caravan test. Over the course of a week they are photographed, videoed and gone over with several fine-tooth combs by our judges in a bid to be named Caravan World’s Best Aussie Van! This year, we welcomed AL-KO as our event partner and were pleased to have them join us and the participating vans for the week. THE LOCATION We like to choose iconic Australian…

In the words of Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley: “If you don’t start somewhere, you’re gonna go nowhere.” And the initiation to caravanning is no different. In that respect, New Age Caravans has got the entry-level market down to a T. According to New Age, it’s all about getting a foot in the door, and the company is unwavering in its doctrine. And vans like the MR18ER, a finalist in the $50-65K category at Best Aussie Vans (BAV) 2016, make it easy to get started in your caravanning life. It is an ideal rig for the caravan park set, and for those who like to venture a little further afield. The price tag of $61,990 may seem a little high to be considered ‘entry level’ but, the simple fact is, the…

Sunseeker Caravans made its Best Aussie Vans (BAV) debut in 2016 and impressed all those who stepped inside its offroad Desert Storm. Sunseeker vans are built in Victoria but much of the specification work is done by Queensland dealer Chris Michel. South-east Queensland is home to many manufacturers who specialise in rough road/ offroad caravans and Michel is making his mark there. The Desert Storm is one of the newest vans in Sunseeker's range. First impressions are excellent - it's a high-riding, striking van with a silvery grey composite and black checkerplate colour scheme enhanced with bright red decals, colour-matched wheels and even red suspension trailing arms. If red is not your colour, you can choose a colour to suit your own tastes, and that goes for the silver and…

“With a truly unique location directly opposite the beautiful beach and surrounded by the Otways’ mesmerising eucalypt forest, it’s not surprising this is such a popular holiday destination” The friendly, picturesque Big4 Wye River Holiday Park in Wye River, Vic, played host to the large contingent of caravans and crew that arrived for the 2016 ALKO Best Aussie Vans (BAV) awards. And our group – comprising Caravan World (CW) judges, photographers and videographers, and delegates for the 11 competing caravans – were greeted with open arms, lush green grass, beautiful grounds and typically Victorian weather – hailstorms and gale-force winds one minute, cloudless blue skies and bright sunshine 10 minutes later. With the competing vans dotted around the grassy park, nestled at the base of the surrounding hills and perched…

When Caravan World asked for a volunteer to write a story about quirky small vehicle and van combos, it wasn’t so much me stepping forward from the ragged line of disheveled contributors as much as everyone else taking a large step back. I should have known that playing on my phone would cost me more than a Pokémon stop one day. So what we have here, in a country overflowing with expensive and leviathan vehicles and vans, is a combination that you don’t have to blow the super on in one hit and that you can just about park next to your lawn mower in the shed. When you’re refuelling on tour, you can be confident that the bill will be a quick wave of PayPass every time, no matter…

Most great organisations had small beginnings and the Australian Caravan Club (ACC) is no exception. When Max Watkins and Grant Stable started chatting during a happy hour at the Golden Beach Caravan Park, Qld, they both recognised the need for a nation-wide body that could become the active voice of RVers and address various problems within the RV industry. After a couple more drinks – in true Aussie style – it was agreed to establish the Australian Caravan Club (ACC), which is now in its 10th year and boasts 4500 members around the country. The ACC plays a unique role in the world of RVing which is a rapidly growing industry. Many small caravan clubs, dotted all over the country, serve an important purpose but their size limits their influence…

There’s something rather captivating about a lonesome pub situated on a long stretch of nothingness or in a tiny one horse town, and nowhere does that ring more true than the outback. Here, temperatures soar and distances between shady places with cold drinks are vast. The pub becomes the meeting place for otherwise disparate locals and weary travellers alike; a social hub in a lonely landscape. It’s little wonder the outback pub is so revered. As the editor of Travel In NSW (travelin.com. au), I have enjoyed my fair share of schooners at remote watering holes west of the Great Divide. But some are more interesting than others – for one reason or another – so here’s my selection of the most unique pubs of Outback NSW.…

“The tower gives a great view over the whole area” We decided Wallaman Falls, the highest single drop waterfall in the country, deserved another look. The last time we visited, it was on about 25km of dirt road and in a new Triumph TR7 sports car. It was a fun trip roaring up that dirt road: we were much younger then. We usually bypass Ingham on our way north, but other travellers had suggested staying at the back of the Ashton Hotel, about 23km northwest of Ingham, and about halfway between the Broadwater National Park (NP) and the falls. It’s one of a group of country pubs that allows camping in their grounds. The first stop was at the Tyto Wetlands and visitor information centre just as you come into…

Once in a blue moon, the life of a journalist can get very interesting. Actually, if you ask my wife, she’ll tell you there must be a lot of blue moons around here. She thinks my life is one of perpetual enjoyment and endless travel. Which makes it really hard to kid her that things like my recent trip to South Africa are actually work at all. But it was work. Sort of. Maybe a little teensy bit of fun as well. Okay, maybe heaps of fun. I’ll stop at the airport on the way home and buy her a nice souvenir box of chocolates or something to atone for my sins. The occasion was an invitation by South African company Front Runner to come over to Africa and test…

Consideration of your ‘extended family’ is paramount to a relaxing holiday for all. It’s nearing that time of the year when most of us hang up the working boots for a few weeks and trundle off to our favourite beachside location for some quality RV relaxation. If you’re a pet owner, that means considering your extended family. MANAGING PET ANXIETY Believe it or not, pets suffer from stress and anxiety issues just as we do, particularly as they grow older. Uprooting them from their familiar surroundings and dumping them at the local boarding kennel may not be your pet’s idea of a stress-free break! Alternatives could include asking a family member or friend to do some pet sitting at your place or theirs. At least it’s familiar territory and/or people.…

QLD AUSTRALIAN SAND SCULPTING CHAMPIONSHIPS Feb 5-28 Watch artisans carve a sand trail of large DreamWorks characters across the Gold Coast amid related events and exhibitions. Sand Safari, Surfers Paradise, (07) 5584 3700, www.surfersparadise.com MORETON BAY CARAVAN, CAMPING, BOATING AND 4X4 EXPO Feb 17-19 Check out some of Australia’s best camper trailers, caravans and boats with plenty of travel, camping and 4WDing accessories and advice on show! Redcliffe Showgrounds, www.bayexpo.com.au CHINCHILLA MELON FESTIVAL Feb 16-19 Partake in adrenaline-fuelled action with iconic events including melon bungee, melon-skiing, dash for cash and tug-of-war, before kicking back with live performances, farm tours, and markets to browse. Chinchilla, watermelonfest.com.au QUEENSLAND TRIATHLON SERIES ROUND 7 Feb 26 Join in or cheer on competitors partaking in the finale of the Gatorade Queensland Triathlon Series at Raby…

Phil has been driving, testing and writing about cars since his early 20s for a variety of newspapers and magazines, including Wheels, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, South China Morning Post, 4x4 Australia and Motor. He began tow-testing on a 4WD magazine before joining CW as chief tow-tester and general tech-head in 2007. The caravanning bug bit soon after and he bought his first van, a 1979 Viscount Grand Tourer, which he restored before selling it. Phil now combines his love of all things automotive with RVs. Your favourite place in Australia to visit and why? Kakadu National Park. Steeped in Aboriginal history, a beautiful place to camp and with the best swimming holes I’ve ever seen Your top mechanical tip for life on the road? Check, check and…

CRUISE NO CONTROL? I refer to you writing in CW 556 about not towing in cruise control. I have always felt the same but now own a 3L VE Holden sedan and the handbook for this car recommends towing in cruise control. I now abide by this and so far without problems. I get very good pet-rol consumption (12-14L/100km.) while towing my 1380kg van. The handbook states maximum weight to pull is 1600kg and recommends a WDH. Strangely, Holden doesn’t quote maximum tow-ball weight in this handbook, just advising about 10 per cent on the ball should give the best balance. As my van has a 179kg ball weight, I rang Holden’s customer service department to find out if this was okay. They were unable to advise me so put…

Value for money Taking everything into account, does this van offer good value for money? How many features are included, and what are the dimensions of the van? Is it a lot of van at a good price and does it give buyers what they’re paying for? Self-sufficiency Is this van suitable for extended periods of remote touring, or a couple of days of free camping? Setting up and hitching up Easy or unnecessarily fiddly? Suitability for intended touring How does the van perform in its intended purpose, and is it adequately fitted out and built for the purpose? Layout Is the van visually appealing inside, and has enough thought gone into the layout for easy, convenient touring? Is there enough storage, and is it designed sensibly? Quality of finish…

Jurgens caravans are distinctive in the Australian RV scene. They are assembled outside of Melbourne but their body construction and chassis work is much more European and a just a little bit South African, given Jurgens’ parentage in that country. The Lunagazer J2405’s chassis provides the first clue to the overall Jurgens approach. Instead of the more common 150 or 100mm (6in or 4in) main rails and 50x50mm (2x2in) cross members ( all in RHS), the main and drawbar rails are all 150mm (6in) C-section, joined together with much lighter cross members. Most of the steelwork is up front and around the Al-Ko IRS suspension mounts, with a much lighter framework at the rear. It’s all hot-dipped galvanised and mostly bolted together rather than welded. Two 60L water tanks sit…

Leaving the city canyons behind and delving into the thick, rich brown scrub of the Aussie bush is a challenge for any caravan, but the Trakmaster Pilbara Explorer is well-equipped for just such forays. Generally, for offroad caravans, the smaller the better. So the Trakmaster’s relatively compact 4.32m (14ft 2in) body length and an upswept rear, affording a 40° departure angle, are definite pluses for offroad travel. The hot-dipped galvanised chassis is 150x50mm along its full length, giving the Trakmaster a solid base. The lateral beams are set high on the chassis, with the benefit of better ground clearance through the centre of the van’s footprint. Trakmaster’s signature features on this van are cyclone tie-down points at each corner. In the tropical north, this is a feature you’d hope you…

One of the most dangerous events that can happen on tour is sway. Passing or being passed by large vehicles, being hit by excessive side winds, and evasive manoeuvres to avoid hazards can start that sickening side-to-side movement of the caravan – sway – that’s very hard to stop. The end result can be complete loss of control and a crash. At Best Aussie Vans this year, many of the caravans were fitted with AL-KO's Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and AL-KO's tough new offroad suspension, Enduro. Best Aussie Vans finalists and winners including the Jurgens Lunagazer (see review page 56), Kokoda Veteran Platinum XLi (see review page 68), and Winnebago Mossman (see review next issue of CW) were all fitted with ESC as standard, something increasingly more manufacturers are doing.…

CRISTINA VICENTE Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, SA Cristina Vicente is a woman of passion who loves what she does as a ranger at the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, SA. “Since I was a kid I knew I wanted to work in conservation,” Cristina said, with a smile. After finishing a Master's Degree in environmental science, she travelled through Mexico and Australia where she worked with marine turtles – her ultimate favourite. When she joined the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) in South Australia six years ago, she learned about the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) and knew she wanted to work there. “I fell in love with the ADS so when a position came up, I took my chance,” she said. “It's like a dream coming true, working with these…

One Saturday in September, 2006, my life changed forever, when I started an association with the newly-formed Australian Caravan Club (ACC) which has lasted for 10 years so far. My wife Vi and I were members of the RACV Caravan Club and had managed their camping area on the foreshore at Sorrento, Vic, for some years, but I believed there was a need for something more: a united voice for caravanners similar to the Caravan Club in the UK with its more than 35,000 members and fantastic member benefits. I’d expressed these views through my ‘On the Wallaby’ column (see page 216) in Caravan World a number of times but it wasn’t until that fateful day at Queensland’s Golden Beach that I found what I’d been looking for. A number…

The east Kimberley is 121,000 square kilometres of beautifully remote country where you can experience a kaleidoscope of outback adventures and behold many breathtaking attractions. One of these you’ll have trouble missing is the amazing Lake Argyle, a man-made reservoir that covers a vast expanse of historic Argyle Downs Station. And not only is it big, it’s easily accessible too, only 70km from Kununurra on sealed, all-weather roads that you can drive in the average family sedan. You could pack the experience into a day trip but, you’ll certainly wish for more time to take in the region’s stunning beauty and enjoy the many recreational opportunities on offer around the lake. The best place to do that is the Lake Argyle Resort and Caravan Park – just one kilometre from…

In last month’s On the Wallaby, I mentioned the great trip I’d enjoyed in 2016. Now I’m looking forward to what awaits me in 2017, a year that’s just a blank sheet at the moment. A lady, who obviously doesn’t read Caravan World, thought I was disparaging her Irish compatriots when she happened across a reference I’d made to Murphy. She didn’t realise that my nefarious friend Murphy and his Law which says that ‘anything that can go wrong, will go wrong’ appeared in my first On the Wallaby way back in September 1997. Murph has been travelling with me for a very long time and some readers will remember that some time ago I even published a little book called Living with Murphy. WHAT DID YOU DO TO CAUSE…

Chicken wings and legs are ideal for barbecues, pre-dinner drinks and simple snacks. Satay Chicken Drumsticks Preparation time: 10-15 minutes plus two hours marinating time. Cooking time: 20-30 minutes. The following quantities will serve two people with three drumsticks per person as part of a main meal. Handy Hint 1: You could substitute one chicken Maryland (i.e. whole leg = drumstick and thigh) per person instead of the drumsticks in this recipe. Handy Hint 2: The satay sauce can be prepared (and cooked) beforehand. Marinade Ingredients Six chicken drumsticks 1 tsp grated ginger 2 red chillies, seeded and finely chopped (or ½ tsp chilli paste) 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 tsp ground coriander 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tbsp lime juice Method Mix all the ingredients…