Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 587 i Caravan World

The lockout of approximately 50 employees at Victorian-based caravan manufacturer Jurgens in March has been explained as a “lock out by the landlord over a commercial dispute” by owner Paul Kyriacou. Staff had arrived at the Packenham premises to find the front gates locked, with a lease termination notice attached and security guarding the factory. The notice attached to the gates read: “The Lease […] has been terminated by the landlord as a result of the Tenant breaching the terms of Leases. Any parties claiming an interest in any of the plant and equipment currently located in the premises should lodge their claims with the Landlord's Lawyers.” But Kyriacou announced the settlement of the issue via a post on the Jurgens Caravans Australia Facebook page. “We are pleased to advise…

Elsewhere in this issue you’ll see I had a drive of the eVolve electrically-powered motorhome now available for hire from Britz campervans in New Zealand (see the review from page 76). Battery-driven motorhomes aren’t exactly common. There are few in the world, one being the Dethleffs Iveco Daily-based motorhome which has an 80kW electric engine. Unlike the Britz model, the battery is charged up by both mains power and the solar panels of which it is clad. It has a claimed range of 160km which isn’t particularly great — especially if you happen to live in Australia! I also understand that Winnebago in the USA is working on an all-electric motorhome but so far nothing practical has rolled out of the factory door. It’s thin beginnings to be sure, but…

MURKY WARRANTY WATERS There is a new warranty issue raising its head in Australia's RV marketplace. I would describe it as a split warranty, where the caravan manufacturer's warranty policy is limited to the caravan itself and does not include the major appliances. That responsibility falls to the item builder or supplier. What precisely is covered is all a bit grey until you lodge a claim. The warranty department will either arrange for the remedial work or arrange for the warranty department for the failed product to call you. If things are clear cut and obvious, there’s usually no issue. When things are a bit murky and the problem is less obvious, the finger pointing and 'duck shoving' starts and the customer gets lost in the middle and, in my…

Electric cars aren’t exactly common in Australia but there have been some serious developments overseas. Indeed, there are some well known vehicle manufacturers which have at least one model on their books. Tesla is certainly a name that comes to mind but the likes of General Motors, Nissan, Volkswagen, Land Rover and Renault all have their fingers in the pie. In the RV world, things are a little different of course and there are some serious engineering, financial and logistics issues that will need to be overcome before we see a battery-powered Toyota LandCruiser towing a caravan in Australia. However, there are one or two battery-powered motorhomes around. Many of us have seen photos of the German-built Dethleffs motorhome that is covered in solar panels, but there’s been an interesting…

What’s the worst thing we do today that our grandparents didn’t? You might say that we poison our food with pesticides or that we eat too much, work too hard or drive instead of walking, all of which are true. But what we do much more often than our grandparents ever did, is throw things away. The amount of waste that every Australian discards has increased tenfold in the last century to a whopping 560kg a year. What’s more, every single piece of plastic existing on the planet today will never, ever, go away, no matter how much it breaks down or how often it gets recycled. This includes plastic bags and straws, disposable coffee cups, wet wipes, polystyrene plates and more. The good news is that, as consumers, we…

Generally speaking, many a caravan these days which is longer than 6m (20ft) has a bathroom, and it is frequently full width across the rear. I must confess that’s large enough for me and I’m happy with something smaller — but what if a large bathroom is desired? Well, Sunshine Coast dealer, Caravan World (great name that one, hey?) may well have the solution in the form of an Eden Caravans Trackvan 22. It has a fairly standard layout in the form of a front island bed, nearside kitchen, offside dinette and rear bathroom. However, the bathroom is larger than usual and therefore does have a different layout. Getting down to a few essentials, the Trackvan has an external length of 6.75m (22ft 2in) and a GVM of 3310kg. The…

Photo shoot locations aren’t always easy to find but Kenilworth Camping, on Paulger Rd just off the Eumundi Kenilworth Rd, offers some great potential. It’s also great for camping and located right on the Mary River where there are plenty of sites. It is actually a working cattle farm and, on the day I visited, in addition to the resident cows and calves there were just two other campers there, so it was all very peaceful. For more information, visit www. kenilworthcamping.net.au or phone 0455 176 240.…

VALUE FOR MONEY “You get a lot of van, and accessories, for your money” TOWABILITY “Handled the blacktop and offroad conditions well” LIVEABILITY "A great van to take the whole family away” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Built to tackle extended offroad touring” LAYOUT “Clever use of space, with good separation between the adults and the kids” QUALITY OF FINISH “High quality custom interior finish from top to bottom” BUILD QUALITY “Well above average” CREATURE COMFORTS “Comfy bed and living area, and the kids will love the tablet holders” INNOVATION “Cutting edge use of new materials and manufacturing processes” X-FACTOR “A no-fuss van that will get the job done”…

It’s a sign of the times as to just how important dual cab utes have become to many car makers, that upgrades which once took years to appear are now coming thick and fast. In the case of Nissan’s workhorse Navara, it seems like only yesterday the MY17 model was released with upgrades that included improved suspension damping. Then, early last year Nissan followed up with a raft of MY18 model upgrades, including further changes to the suspension. Unlike pretty much all of its rivals, Nissan is differentiated in the top-tier of its dual cab 4X4 ute variants by the use of coil springs on the rear suspension, instead of the more common leafs fitted by rivals. Nissan’s commitment to this undeniably more comfortable and sophisticated suspension configuration has, however,…

Sunland Caravans enjoys a reputation as one of the more boutique offroad caravan manufacturers in Australia. That means it is a specialist builder, which also means its vans come with something of a pricetag. However, in recent times Sunland has reworked its Blue Heeler model to create a van that sits under the $90K mark. The idea is to build a van with the essential Sunland features but while also reducing some of the more expensive items. A PAWFECT MIX The Blue Heeler has some great statistics. For a start, it has an external length of 6.02m (19ft 9in) which means it offers buyers that happy combination of a caravan that isn’t difficult to tow, yet has enough space for an internal layout with few compromises. “Also keeping the weight…

When we first saw a BOG OUT vehicle recovery kit we thought: “What a nifty idea … but what about a real winch?” But then we thought again. After all, how many overlanders actually fit their rigs with a winch? Scanning a few back copies of Caravan World, it looked to us like not many of our CW readership do so. Sure, heaps of us fit bullbars and nudge-bars — but winches? Not so much. Determined to apply a bit of scientific rigour to the issue, we headed out, bought a cup of coffee and sat by some traffic lights for an hour to watch the passing vehicles. Sure enough, only one-in-10 4X4 or AWD were fitted with a winch. “...in a country renowned for rapid changes in climatic conditions,…

The designers are clear that you should first test-fit the BOG OUT in the safety of your own front yard. This is because of the variabilities in rim profile, tyre size and brake design. The BOG OUT will fit on tyres that have a tyre width of between 165 and 345mm as the knots have to be on the tyre wall for it to work (and not slip off), which is fine as this covers most tyre sizes. Of note however, is that Method 1 as shown on the packaging will suit 85 per cent of vehicle makes and models whilst Method 2 can be utilised on all makes and models. This is because of the design and fitting of brake components. So unless you want to be stranded somewhere…

VALUE FOR MONEY “For what you're paying, there's a lot to it” TOWABILITY "Did not tow the van" LIVEABILITY "Everything you need to stay away from civilisation for extended periods” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Built to be taken offroad, with the gear to keep you there” LAYOUT “Practical layout with heaps of storage options” QUALITY OF FINISH “Only the best for Bushtracker vans” BUILD QUALITY “Definitely built by people who care about what they're doing” CREATURE COMFORTS “Plenty of power outlets to keep our power-hungry lifestyle fully charged” INNOVATION “The new pivoting front storage box is a nice feature” X-FACTOR “Traditional Bushranger caravan that doesn't pretend to be anything it's not”…

Have you ever felt like you’re bashing your head against a brick wall when it comes to RV finance? Well, stop wasting your time… Here’s how you can break down the barriers, according to expert industry advice from Credit One. The feeling of freedom that having an RV and no set time schedule affords is second to none. Whether you’re considering taking the family on the trip of a lifetime around Australia or searching for an adventurous way to enjoy retirement, purchasing an RV is a yearning for many. However, when it comes time to purchase your dream RV, there are countless questions that must be answered and numerous decisions that need to be made prior to settling on the perfect ‘mobile home’. One of the biggest conundrums experienced by…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Very much in the eye of the beholder this one but fitness for purpose is a factor” DRIVEABILITY “I reckon this is a very easy-drive motorhome and that makes for a relaxing trip” SELF SUFFICIENCY “Very well equipped for remote travel” LIVEABILITY “Not an overly generous interior yet one I would be prepared to accept” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Desire a 4X4 motorhome that is equally at home on the freeway or a rough bush track? This is it” LAYOUT “Very practical and one that works well for two people” QUALITY OF FINISH “It’s clear that Horizon doesn’t use anything inferior and also does a fair bit of product testing” BUILD QUALITY “Horizon is something of a boutique manufacturer in the RV world and does seem to…

The number of women embarking on caravan and camping trips has increased significantly in the last five years, with a million more trips being made by women in 2018 compared to 2013, according to new data from the Tourism Research Australia National Visitor Survey. In the year ending September 2018, 5.2 million caravan and camping trips were taken by Australian women with a total of 24.4 million nights spent around Australia. This is compared to 2013, when women took a total of 3.9 million caravan and camping trips and spent a cumulative total of 18.5 million nights caravan and camping in Australia. The largest age group was 30 to 54, which accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the trips, followed by the 55-plus group, who made up almost 29…

Are you using sustainable camping methodologies? Have you ever pulled into a dedicated camping site, you know, like one in a national park where there’s a limited amount of real estate only to find a big puddle in the least convenient spot? It’s not so bad for general bush camping, as you can just move on. But where there’s a limited amount of space and only one or two orientation options, it can be a big deal! In most cases, this pool of water hasn’t fallen from the sky, but rather from another RV. It could have been the shower spot or discharge from the washing machine. Whatever the source, it’s poor form to dump a volume of water onto the ground. Sustainable camping is all about consideration of the…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES External length 5.82m (19ft 1in) External width 2.2m (7ft 3in) Internal height 2.1m (6ft 11in) Travel height 2.8m (9ft 2in) Tare mass 3085kg GVM 3600kg ENGINE Base vehicle LDV EV80 Engine EV-80 electric with lithium iron phosphate battery GearboxSix-speed auto Max power 100kW Max torque 320Nm EXTERNAL Fresh water 90L Grey water 90L Batteries 100Ah Solar 135W Air-conditioner No Gas No INTERNAL Cooking Phillips induction Fridge Isotherm CR85EL Microwave Camec Bathroom Thetford cassette plus flex hose shower Lighting 12V LED Hot water 240V instantaneous MORE INFORMATION Contact Britz, www.britzev. com/the-ev or the RV Super Centre (Auckland), www. rvsupercentre.co.nz…

Australia has one of the highest extinction rates in the world: One out of every three mammal extinctions in the last 400 years has occurred in Australia. There are lots of reasons for this, but climate change is now playing a big part, in ways we don’t even understand yet. So what exactly do we have to lose? These are some of Australia’s most endangered animal species. MAMMALS: Mountain pygmy possum, Gilbert’s potoroo, northern quoll, Tasmanian devil, black-flanked rock wallaby, numbat, black-footed tree rat, brush-tailed bettong (woylie) and the rufous hare-wallaby (mala). MARINE CREATURES: Grey nurse and great white sharks, Australian sea lion, short-nosed sea snake and green sea turtle. BIRDS: Southern cassowary, red-tailed black cockatoo, eastern curlew, gouldian finch, orange-bellied parrot, western ground parrot, paradise riflebird, black grasswren and…

There is no free camping (including pulling up for the night in a motorhome) in the Douglas Shire and council officers regularly inspect beaches, parks and council reserves. Here is a list of caravan parks and campgrounds to book instead. BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park 70 Mowbray River Rd, Port Douglas Ph: (07) 4098 5922 Web: www.glengarrypark.com.au Cape Tribulation Camping Cape Tribulation Rd, Cape Tribulation Web: www.capetribcamping.com.au Daintree Rainforest Village Cape Tribulation Rd, Daintree Rainforest Ph: (07) 4098 9015 Web: www.daintreerainforestvillage.com.au Daintree Riverview Lodges & Van Park 2 Stewart St, Daintree Village Ph: 0409 627 434 Web: www.daintreeriverview.com Dougies Backpackers Davidson St, Port Douglas Ph: (07) 4099 6200 Web: www.dougies.com.au Jungle Lodge Cape Tribulation Ph: (07) 4098 0006 Web: www.oceansafari.com.au/jungle-lodge Koala Daintree Campsite & Resort 491R Cape Kimberly Rd,…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 9.34m (30ft 8in) External body length 6.75 (22ft 2in) External body width (incl awn) 2.39m (7ft 10in) Travel height 3.22m (10ft 7in) Internal height 2.05m (6ft 9in) Tare 2760kg ATM 3310kg Payload 550kg Ball weight 220kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Aluminium composite walls, fibreglass composite roof Chassis DuraGal box section Suspension Cruisemaster XT coil independent Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 2 x 95L Grey water 1 x 100L Battery 2 x 130Ah lead crystal Solar 2 x 160W Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No Kitchen (external)Option for Weber BBQ in front storage bin with slide-out INTERNAL Cooking Swift four-burner, grill and oven Fridge Evacool EL208-01 168L + 40L freezer, dual compressor Microwave Mida Bathroom Dometic…

What do they say about Queensland? Beautiful one day. Perfect the next. Yeah, I think that's how it goes. Well, in the case of this little story, it was more like this: “Thunderstorm from hell one day … perfect the next!” On the Monday afternoon before our review of Wonderland’s Amaroo 2100 was to take place, the mother of all storms unleashed on the northern side of Brisbane all the way to the Sunshine Coast and beyond, dumping plenty of rain and bringing down trees. Early on Tuesday morning, when picking up the van from Aussie Escape Caravans, the sun had not long risen and there was barely a cloud in the crisp, blue sky. Yep, perfect. Our target for the day was the Glasshouse Mountains, nestled in behind the…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Length 5255mm Width (excluding mirrors) 1850mm Height 1855mm (+15mm) Wheelbase 3150mm Ground clearance (unladen) 228mm (same) Kerb mass 1979kg Gross Vehicle Mass 2910kg Gross Combined Mass 5910kg Towing capacity Unbraked/braked750kg/3500kg Towball (max) 300kg DRIVETRAIN Engine 2.3L intercooled four-cylinder turbodiesel, dohc Transmission Seven-speed automatic Power 140kW at 3750rpm Torque 450Nm at 1500-2500rpm Gear ratios First 4.886; Second 3.169; Third 2.027; Fourth 1.411, Fifth 1.000; Sixth 0.864; Seventh 0.774; Reverse 4.041; Final drive 3.357; High/Low1.000/2.717 GENERAL Fuel capacity 80L Suspension Independent, double wishbones, coil springs (F/R); live axle, coil springs, multi-link (R/R) Brakes Ventilated discs (F/R); drums (R/R) Wheels 18in alloy Warranty Three years/100,000km Roof load An evenly disbursed 56kg OPTIONS FITTED Leather accented seat trim ($1500), premium paint ($550), towbar ($1000 fitted), electric brake and fitment ($970), soft…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.36m (27ft 5in) External body length 6.02m (19ft 6in) External body width (incl awning) 2.41m (7ft 11in) Travel height 3.93m (9ft 11in) Internal height 1.96m (6ft 5in) Tare 2282kg ATM 3500kg Payload 1218kg Ball weight 174kg EXTERNAL Frame N/A Cladding Fibreglass composite Chassis Galvanised Suspension Cruisemaster XT coil independent Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 12in electric Wheels 16in alloy Water 1 x 190L Battery 1 x 110Ah Solar 1 x 180W Air-conditioner Aussie Traveller 3600-50 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Optional Kitchen (external) Optional INTERNAL Cooking Thetford Minigrill, four-burner and grill Fridge Dometic RM4606 186L Microwave Camec Bathroom Dometic cassette and separate shower cubicle Hot water Girard GSWH-2 instantaneous OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN $89,9990 (drive away in QLD) MORE INFORMATION To enquire about…

Whatever technique you use, vehicle recovery is an intrinsically high-risk activity. So prepare yourself with some prior training, planning and preparation. Then apply a disciplined approach to the recovery task. Take your time and take care. Check you have applied and secured your recovery equipment properly, and then check it again. Ensure that no-one is in a position that places them at risk Apply a ‘buddy-system’ wherever possible – after all, when we’re in a stressful or unfamiliar circumstance, it’s easy to make mistakes. When it comes to vehicle recovery, the costs could be fatal. We say: Aussie made, high-visibility and bloody good RRP: $159 for a single, $279 for a twin pack From: BOG OUT online and in stores. More info: www.bogout.com…

Just like the Germans had the Panzer in WWII, and the Allieds had the Sherman tanks, us Aussies have the Bushtracker caravan. These vans are built like a tank to endure the harshest conditions this country has to offer. The company’s 19 Foot (5.79m) offering is distinctly Bushtracker, with its 45-degree departure angle and front nose cone that provides an excellent spot for spare tyres and twin 9kg gas bottles to hide. There's a clever thing about that nose cone — it gets you a bonus 275mm inside the van. So your 19ft van becomes a 19ft 11in (6.07m) van. So to speak. “Almost everything is customisable when it comes to a Bushtracker van” That's what happens when you take one part good design, one part research and development, one…

SPICY BBQ RIB RUB This spicy rub can be kept in the cabinet and pulled out for seasoning and marinating your BBQ ribs, steaks or roasts, slow cooked in the oven or on the BBQ. TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes MAKES: Enough to coat two racks of ribs or about 3kg-4kg of steak. INGREDIENTS • ½ cup sweet paprika • 2 tbsp dark brown sugar • 3 tbsp cracked pepper • 1 tbsp chilli powder • 2 tsp mustard seeds (ground in a mortar and pestle) • 2 tsp celery salt • 2 tsp garlic powder • 1 tsp sea salt • 1 tsp cayenne pepper METHOD Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Rub generously into ribs, steak or roasts, drizzle with olive oil and refrigerate for at least four…

Write to: Caravan World Postbag, 125 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North, Victoria 3161 or email: submissions@ emprisegroup.com.au Please include your full address (not for publication). Letters chosen will be edited for publication, may be shortened, and may appear online. Q I am considering buying a new BMPRO lithium charger and 2 x 100A lithium batteries as I find our current single 120A AGM caravan battery just keeps running out of power on cloudy days. I am confused by the price of lithium batteries as a single 100A lithium can range from $500 to $2000. Why? How much should I spend on a lithium battery to meet my needs of performance, safety and reliability? David Sajfar Keilor, VIC SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO WIN! We are giving away BMPRO’s Hema…

As travellers, how we shop, drive and camp affects the precious places we journey so far to experience. The choices we make as soon as we hit the road can be positive too, and it all starts with using less: less water, less fuel, less pollutants and less plastic. The upside for savvy travellers is that by creating a softer travel footprint, you’ll not only protect local environments and wildlife, you’ll save a stack of money as well. To improve your stamp on the world in 2019, adopt these 10 habits and feel better about how you explore. 1. POWER DOWN “Reconsider your need for those power-hungry home appliances — coffee machines, bread makers and microwaves” Before you hit the road, take the time to make your rig as self-sufficient…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Plenty of bang for your hard-earned money” TOWABILITY “Felt nice and stable from soft sand up to highway speeds” LIVEABILITY "All the right equipment to get the job done with a minimum of fuss” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “An offroad van with everything you need to keep you off the grid too” LAYOUT “Practical layout with more storage than you could wish for” QUALITY OF FINISH “High quality finish from top to bottom” BUILD QUALITY “Attention to detail is evident throughout” CREATURE COMFORTS “Multiple power outlets and energy-efficient LED lighting” INNOVATION “Borrowing ideas from the marine industry will continue to push the boundaries” X-FACTOR “Proven design that doesn't follow the trends just for the sake of it”…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Pricey but fitted with a considerable number of extras” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Freshwater tank/battery/solar panel capacity all good” LIVEABILITY “Everything is where it should be with few compromises” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Fitted with independent suspension and a good ground clearance” LAYOUT “Room to move throughout the van” QUALITY OF FINISH Most items seemed to be of industry standard or better” BUILD QUALITY “Generally speaking the fit and finish was quite good” CREATURE COMFORTS “Has just about all of them, except maybe for a chauffeur” INNOVATION “A few things such as the keyless entry door, dual compressor fridge and lead crystal batteries” X-FACTOR “Either the external colour scheme or the large bathroom, take your pick”…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Length (caravan) 6.5m (21ft 4in) Length (overall)8.8m (28ft 10in) Width 2.43m (8ft) Travel height 3.05m (10ft) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tare 2700kg ATM 3500kg Payload 800kg Ball weight 155kg EXTERNAL Frame CNC router-cut jigsaw interlocking marine grade ply Cladding Diabond composite aluminium panelling Chassis fully galvanised Suspension Tandem axle, XT Cruisemaster fully independent coil suspension with twin shocks Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 offroad coupling Brakes Cruisemaster 12in electric Wheels 265/75R16 all-terrain tyres on 16in alloy rims (six-stud) with 1 x spare Water 2 x 95L tanks (potable), 1x100L grey water Battery 240Ah Lead crystal battery system (2 x 120Ah) Solar 2 x 150W panels Air-conditioner Ibis 3 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Hayman Reese INTERNAL Kitchen Modern CNC cut double laminated ply with laminate benchtops and…

If you’re planning a trip to the Riversleigh Fossil Fields, an interesting preview to this amazing prehistoric world is the Riversleigh Fossil Centre in Mt Isa, 250km south of Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park in northwest Queensland. Even if viewing ancient fossils is not high on your bucket list, the Centre will change your mind. The Centre is part of the ‘Outback at Isa’ experience and is designed to educate visitors about the fossils found at Riversleigh. Its wide-ranging collection spans everything from tiny bat's teeth to the bones of a huge flightless bird and other mega-fauna ancestors of our modern day mammals. Beginning with an audio-visual presentation in the theatrette narrated by David Attenborough, a self-guided tour of the Centre proceeds through a series of dioramas in which the…

VALUE FOR MONEY "You can buy cheaper these days but not necessarily better " TOWING PERFORMANCE "Gutsy diesel with excellent transmission" HITCHING UP "Slightly higher ride height doesn't hinder the hitch" CREATURE COMFORTS "Cabin is well appointed and comfortable" ACCESSIBILITY OF SPARE PARTS "Strong Aus-wide dealer network " FUEL ECONOMY "Diesel is a solid performer in the sipping department " SOLO PERFORMANCE "Coil springs give it a ride comfort edge over rivals" ENGINE POWER "Twin sequential turbos provide excellent response" INNOVATION "The around-view camera is a handy tech upgrade" X-FACTOR "With each upgrade Nissan builds a better mousetrap but category leaders like Ranger still offer more wow factor "…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Relatively speaking, it scores very well” SELF-SUFFICIENCY “Budgetary factors kick in here but this would improve with options” LIVEABILITY “Is this the sort of van you could walk into, sit down and relax? I think so.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Sunland has plenty of experience with offroad caravans” LAYOUT “Most things are where they should be and there’s nothing major that is oddly placed” QUALITY OF FINISH “Sunland isn’t known for using inferior components and this van is no exception” BUILD QUALITY “Built to Sunland’s high standard” CREATURE COMFORTS “Nothing major left out” INNOVATION “Mostly hidden but the weight factor is one of them” X-FACTOR “Full composite body construction”…

Birdsville Races The iconic Birdsville Races have arguably put Birdsville on the tourist map. Part of the annual Simpson Desert Racing Carnival also incorporating the Bedourie Races and Rodeo and The Betoota Races, The Birdsville Races now take place each September (this year it’s 6-7 September) and offers a rich purse of $200,000. Begun in 1882, a princely sum of 200 pounds was offered to the winner among the 150 owners, managers and stockmen who had gathered. The event is now run by the Birdsville Race Club and attracts more than 6000 attendees. You can just imagine how the camping areas swell during this time… The current track, which was established in the 1930s about 3km southwest of town, is 2000m in circumference and sits on a claypan amidst surrounding…

These are the steps to apply: 1. Identify a recovery anchor point (the beauty with BOG OUT is that you don’t need a massive tree because it’s essentially acting as a locker and you’re driving yourself out of most situations). 2. Attach your tow rope/tree guard/extension to the anchor point, and then attach it to the BOG OUT strap. 3. Attach the BOG OUT strap to your wheel in one of two ways: either method one or two as shown on the bag – and depending on what tyre and rim size you have. 4. Engage low first gear and go slow (forwards or backwards). There are two ways to remove a BOG OUT strap from the tyre: 1. Detach from the anchor point and drive a safe distance from…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Length 5.79m (19ft) Length 7.92m (26ft) Width 2.4m (8ft) Height 2.95m (9ft 8in) Tare 2760kg Payload 740kg EXTERNAL Frame 2mm and 3mm structural box section aluminium Cladding White aluminium with tough, scratch-resistant powdercoat finish Chassis Hot-dipped fully galvanised laminated double chassis Suspension Tandem axle, fully independent Simplicity load sharing system with 60T stub axles Coupling Hitch Ezy 5t fully articulating 4X4 Brakes 12in electric Wheels 265/76R16 Bridgestone D697 All Terrain tyres on alloy rims (five-stud) Water 3 x 90L tanks (1 x potable, 2 x non-potable) 1 x 90L grey Battery 300Ah Lithium system Solar 3 x 150W panels with 60A Morningstar regulator Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control N/A Kitchen Durable laminate over marine grade ply or solid timber carcasses INTERNAL Cooking…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 6.96m (22ft 8in) External body width 1.99m (6ft 6in) Travel height 2.78m (9ft) Internal height 1.92m (6ft 4in) Tare 3700kg GVM 4490kg Payload 790kg ENGINE Base vehicle Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 519CDI Engine 3L turbodiesel Gearbox Five-speed auto Max power 140kW@3800rpm Max torque 440Nm@1400-2400rpm Brakes ABS disc EXTERNAL Fresh water 100L Grey water 95L Batteries 200Ah lithium Solar 200W Air-conditioner Optional Gas 2x4kg INTERNAL Cooking Dometic three-burner Fridge Waeco CRX 1110 12V, 110L Microwave LG Bathroom Thetford cassette toilet, flexible hose shower Lighting 12V LED Hot water Truma Space heater Optional (Webasto diesel) OPTIONS FITTED Electric sliding door; black steel bullbar with 9500lb synthetic winch; bash plate; Mercedes-Benz reversing camera, 2000kg towbar and floor mats; black kangaroo leather upholstery; double dinette; innerspring mattress infill; 2x Sirocco 12V…

The Breaksafe breakaway system is a safety device required by law to be fitted to any towed caravan/trailer over 2000kg GTM, and is designed to apply the trailer brakes and brake lights if the caravan/trailer is accidentally separated from the tow vehicle. If your caravan/trailer becomes uncoupled while being towed, the electric brakes are activated at full power for a minimum of 15 minutes. A small battery-powered unit is mounted on the caravan/trailer and connected to the tow vehicle with a metal cord, and a breakaway switch with a pin is mounted to the A-frame of the caravan/trailer. The pin is pulled from the switch if the caravan/trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle, and this engages the electric brakes and brake lights. The breakaway system also has a built-in battery…