Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 599 i Caravan World

To paraphrase Lloyd Bridge’s air traffic control character in Flying High, we sure picked the wrong month to take up the grey nomad lifestyle. With the house rented and a pile of notebooks filled with enough caravan reviews to see us over for a couple of issues, we packed the van and pointed the trusty LandCruiser westward to a beach somewhere on the west coast. Our first point of call was the Gawler Ranges while we waited for friends to catch up for Speed Week on Lake Gairdner. But by the time we got there, the event was cancelled, and we joined some other disappointed motorheads making vroom vroom noises on the salt lake. With plans in limbo, we became two of the 100,000 or so contingent of full and…

The first female koala admitted to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital during the bushfires in October has been released back into her original habitat. Along with 25 other koalas, Anwen has been released earlier than expected thanks to significant rainfall regenerating bushfire affected areas earlier than anticipated. Three groups of koalas have been returned to Crowdy Bay (south of Port Macquarie) and two areas within the Lake Innes Nature Reserve. The President of Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Sue Ashton, said, “This is a heartwarming day for us. To be able to release so many of our koalas back to their original habitats, even to their original tree in some cases, makes us very happy. Anwen was our first ever female koala to be admitted during the bushfire and her recovery…

If there’s a swear word on anyone’s lips now, it must be coronavirus or COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing economies to a grinding halt with the shutdown of many businesses, threatening the livelihood of families, and putting unprecedented demands on the health system and its workers. If you’re somehow immune to all this chaos, the other relatively minor problem is that we’re confined to our homes, or at least suffering from reduced outside activity. Add to that, the borders are closed, so touring is off limits. So, forget that trip to the Kimberley this year and start thinking about a holiday closer to home. And now think closer again. Yep, that’s right, home detention or as we call it, backyard camping! We’ve thought long and hard about this and…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.12m (26ft 6in) External body length 5.5m (18ft) External body width 2.5m(8ft 2in) Travel height 3.05m (10ft) Internal height 2.03m (6ft 6in) Tare 2860kg ATM 3460kg Ball weight 210kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti Cladding Aluminium Chassis 150 x 50mm hot-dip galvanised Suspension Cruisemaster XT Brakes 12in drums Wheels 16in alloy Water 2 x 110L and 110L grey Battery 2 x 110Ah lithium Solar 3 x 150W Air conditioner Yes Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control BMPro INTERNAL Cooking Hybrid induction cooktop and oven Fridge 216L compressor Microwave Yes Toilet Yes Shower Yes Lighting LED Hot water Gas/electric PRICE AS SHOWN $98,490 CONTACT New Age Caravans, 29 Shirley Way Epping, Vic 3076 Ph 03 9305 1714 www.newagecaravans.com.au…

VALUE FOR MONEY "It’s slightly deceptive van — it's a small package but one which has plenty of features." TOWABILITY "Excellent towing prospect for a good number of tow vehicles and an easy handling caravan." SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING "A van designed for exploring some of the back blocks of Australia." BUILD QUALITY "Generally speaking, there were no obvious issues with the van construction." LIVEABILITY "Not a huge interior space but it’s the sort of van where most time would be spent outside." SELF SUFFICIENCY "Grey water tank fitted as standard. Fresh water and battery/solar capacity okay." CUSTOMER CARE "Two year warranty on van but warranty on individual appliances goes back to supplier." INNOVATION "Fairly standard van construction and features." X-FACTOR "Undoubtedly the most interesting feature is the slightly unusual…

It’s about the time of year in the Recreational Vehicle (RV) world when normally a couple of things are happening. Totally unorganised, unlike say an RV show or rally, they are still regular items in the RV calendar year. The first is the Great Migration North, where RVers, mostly from the southern states, prepare to head to the northern parts of Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland for a few months in the warmer climes. Quite differently, the other is the large number of RV travellers who prepare to put their RVs into storage for the winter period after enjoying the last of the pleasant Autumn days. The first event, however, has been forced to a halt due to COVID-19. Some state borders have closed, many a tourist area has…

VALUE FOR MONEY “This top-spec variant is a little pricey but the pay-off is in its luxurious fit out.” TOWING PERFORMANCE “Powerful engine, good spread of auto transmission ratios and a strong chassis help make Patrol an excellent towing platform.” HITCHING UP “Front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, 8-inch colour screen and all-round camera view make hitching up relatively painless.” CREATURE COMFORTS “Top-spec Ti-L comes loaded to the gunnels with safety and convenience features.” FUEL ECONOMY “A big V8 pushing a heavy wagon means it likes a drink even when unladen, and the thirst only increases when towing.” SOLO PERFORMANCE “Big, superbly comfortable and with ample performance, the Patrol is a delight to drive.” ENGINE POWER “Nissan knows a thing or two about building great engines and this superbly…

GETTING THERE Portland is 357km south-west of Melbourne via Geelong and Mortlake (388km via Ballarat). Casterton is 365km west of Melbourne via Ballarat and Hamilton. BUDJ BIM CULTURAL LANDSCAPE Explore the ancient Budj Brim Cultural Landscape and learn about the Gunditjmara people’s extraordinary aquaculture system with Budj Bim tours. budjbim.com. GREAT SOUTH-WEST WALK The Great South-West Walk is a bushwalking trail suitable for most ages and abilities comprising short two-hour loop walks, full-day walks or, for the hardy, the entire 250km loop.greatsouthwestwalk.com. PORTLAND MARINE DISCOVERY AND VISITORS’ CENTRE Situated on Portland’s foreshore, the Portland Maritime Discovery and Visitors’ Centre has displays about local maritime history, whaling, shipwrecks, marine life, and the story of European immigration and settlement. You can also sign up to Whalemail to receive emails when whales are…

KI Connects Fast Ferry and Campervan or Motorhome Rental The fast ferry takes about 30 minutes to cross Backstairs Passage to Penneshaw, and you can hire a campervan or motorhome on arrival. The ferry costs $50 per adult return, or there is a ferry and hire option. Hire starts at $150 per day for a campervan or $300 for a motorhome (conditions apply). Contact: Email info@kic.com.au, phone 0419 100 100 or go to kic.com.au Sealink Vehicle and Passanger Ferry The crossing takes about 45 minutes to reach Penneshaw. Costs from 1 April 2020 will be $98 per adult return, and vehicles start at $196 return. Contact: Email bookings@sealink.com.au, phone 131 301 or go to sealink.com.au Where to Stay • Kangaroo Island Seafront Holiday Park seafront.com.au/ki-shores • Campgrounds along Chapman River…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Good value for an easy to live with and well-appointed van.” TOWABILITY “Well balanced on the road with no vices. Sensible weight won’t be a problem for most twin cabs and the larger tow vehicles.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “This is a couple’s van with loads of room in an easily towed package.” BUILD QUALITY “Robust engineering and well finished inside. The composite construction sets it apart, and the suspension is a proven performer even on rougher roads, if driven sensibly.” LIVEABILITY “The slide-out makes all the difference and adds welcome living space. The compact kitchen is a necessary compromise in this size van.” SELF SUFFICIENCY “There’s enough battery power, water and electricity to keep you off-grid for a few weeks if you keep the showers to…

As we navigate our way through the coronavirus crisis, it’s clear that this is no time to take shortcuts on personal safety and protection. Even though we may not be on the road for a while, there’s still things we can be doing to stay safe. When you’re plugging in your van at home, make sure you’re connecting legally and safely; because if you’re using a modified lead to connect to your home power, you’re literally playing with fire. Using a modified lead risks overloading the circuit. Modified leads will allow more current through a circuit than it’s designed to handle and this overload can quickly spark an electrical blaze. Plugging in your van at home to use it as an extra room, study or cubby house may not be…

Ecologists at Flinders University have found amphibians are more at risk of extinction in hotter, drier climates compared to birds and most mammals. Amphibians breathe, in part, through their skin and must stay moist; a challenge as much of Australia is drying due to climate change. Also, most amphibian eggs and larvae are fully aquatic, and will fail if freshwater pools dry too quickly. “Amphibian populations are in decline globally, with water resource use dramatically changing surface water hydrology and distribution,” said Rupert Mathwin of Flinders University. “Intelligent manipulation and management of where and how water appears in the landscape will be vital to arrest the decline in amphibia.” The report details several pointers for land management including: extending water availability in temporary pools by excavating, lining and pumping water;…

Q Hi David, I own a 2018 Concept Innovation caravan which is fitted with a Battery Plus 35SR BMS MPPT/ BMPro trek charger/controller, a 100Ah battery and a 150W solar panel on the roof. Up until now the solar panel has kept the battery fully charged when stored at home, but I’ve recently had a carport built to store the van under and, of course, the solar panel isn’t getting enough light to work. I’ve found the battery runs flat after about four weeks even though the only thing drawing power is the controller and a small luminated mirror light switch. To get a reading on the controller I turned on a light which draw 0.5A and had 149 hours left in the battery. Twenty hours later I turned…

YANDINA CARAVAN PARK Situated on the banks of the South Maroochy River, there are a variety of accommodation options available. Cabins are available from $95 per night, while powered and unpowered sites start from $35 per night. P: 07 5446 7332 E: info@yandinacaravanpark.com W: yandinacaravanpark.com EUMUNDI RV STOPOVER Located behind the markets, unpowered sites cost $20 per night and powered sites cost $25 per night with a strict two night limit. Amenities include free shower, toilet facilities and BBQ as well as a dump point. P: 0412 566 671 E: carparking@eumundico.com.au W: experienceeumundi.com.au/places-to-stay/eumundi-rv-stop-over COOROY RV STOPOVER Sites are $12 per night and are only available to fully self-contained RVs for up to four nights — only amenities are a dump point, drinking water and bins. P: 0458 650 285 W:…

VALUE FOR MONEY “It’s nearly $100k, but given the level of quality fit-out, high grade suspension and electronics, I think it fares well against the competition.” TOWABILITY “Well-balanced and smooth over all the road conditions we encountered. Loaded to its full capacity, it will need a powerful tow vehicle.” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “It's a dirt road tourer without claims for full offroad, but these are the conditions most owners will face on their travels and driven sensibly it should be just the shot for adventurous touring couples.” BUILD QUALITY “New Age interior and engineering is superior and the quality shows — some will still have worries about a Meranti frame van.” LIVEABILITY “Comfort and room are restricted by the 18ft length, but that's the compromise if you think a…

I feel like I should put this in capital letters for any eagle eyed readers who spot a possible problem with my towing setup. For this caravan, a mid sized tow vehicle or something like a Ford Ranger/Isuzu D-MAX/ Nissan Navara ute would be ideal. However, on the photo shoot day, there was a tow vehicle problem and I had to settle for a Ford Falcon ute. It has a tow rating of 2300kg, which given the van has a tare mass of 1850kg does mean it is a legal towing combination. However, it does limit the use of the full payload of 750kg and there’s always the GCM of 4890kg to consider in the weight calculations. From a weight point of view, while the Falcon may not be the…

Official QPWS visitor guides warn that high-clearance 4WD vehicles with low-range capacity are essential for Cooloola’s sand tracks and beaches. Small caravans and camper trailers can get into some camping areas but must have high clearance. Freshwater Road is narrow, with high berms close to the track in some places and limited opportunities for head-on traffic to pass. The track itself has long stretches of deep, loose sand, especially in dry conditions, and is quite rough in places. The last hill above Freshwater camp is a long, soft slope that would be difficult to climb with a heavy van. Kings Bore Circuit is similar, with added features of washouts, difficult terrain and steep hills — all good 4WD fun but definitely not the place to take a big rig. Driving…

There was a time when recreational vehicle (RV) electrics were very simple indeed, way back when they didn't have 240V mains power at all — anyone remember LP gas lights? Many of our readers will recall when caravans and motorhomes had a few 240V power points and dome lights that came with both 240V AC and 12V DC incandescent light globes. There were no 12V batteries of any sort and the 12V supply came from a ‘hot wire’ to the tow vehicle, while fridges were mostly 2-way, 240V AC and LP gas. Very simple, hey? TECHNOLOGY PLUS Things have changed, have they not? Even basic vans now have both 240V AC and 12V DC systems, and a 12V DC battery is very much an expected feature. Then there are solar…

Getting there The Gawler Ranges are in South Australia, 200km west of Port Augusta. Access is off the Eyre Highway from Iron Knob, Kimba, Wudinna or Minnipa. When to visit In late autumn and winter, the park is green and refreshing, perfect for campfires and bushwalks. After rain, the creeks flow and most pools are alive with aquatic life. From late winter into spring, the park teems with wildflowers in incredible shapes, sizes and colours. In spring, you can see the brilliant flowers of local crimson mallee, and the plains are carpeted with native grasses and bluebush. Summer can be scorching, but if you're prepared to work around the weather, you'll have calm days, extraordinary sunsets, and unobstructed views of the starry nights. National Parks booking and information Port Lincoln…

There’s a song that keeps going around in my head at the moment. It’s 'Getta Bloomin’ Move On'. In case you don’t recognise it, it is perhaps better known to devotees of the 1960s film The Italian Job as 'The Self Preservation Society'. Given the current COVID-19 times I merely change one word to get it current, i.e ‘The Self Isolation Society’. I find myself a bit cautious writing about current events given print media lead times. Something I recently wrote in another publication (encouraging touring in bushfire/drought affected areas) was out of date by the time it appeared in print, but I suspect the self-isolation society we are now living in isn’t going away any time soon. Just getting back briefly to The Italian Job — the original, not…

This month’s winner will receive a Purple Line Saracen Ultra Hitch Lock, valued at $189. Saracen Ultra is a highly visible, simple to use, compact, high security lock which works both hitched and unhitched to keep would-be caravan thieves at bay. It fits to most standard 50mm ball hitches on caravans, camper trailers, boat and car trailers, and even work trailers. For more information about this and a host of other vanning accessories, visit purpleline.com.au. Just email your most travel-inspiring picture (2-3MB) of yourself, your family and your friends with your rig, along with a brief description to submissions@emprisegroup.com.au with ‘Readers’ Rigs’ in the subject line, or send a print to Caravan World Readers’ Rigs, 125 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North, VIC 3161. All entries must include your full postal address…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Body length 4.88m (16ft) Overall length 7.21m (23ft 8in) Width (incl awn) 2.21m (7ft 3in) Height (incl AC)2.81m (9ft 3in) Tare 1850kg ATM 2600kg Payload 750kg Ball weight 150kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Fibreglass composite and aluminium side cladding Chassis Box section hot dipped galvanised 150mm/6in rails Suspension Cruisemaster XT independent Coupling Cruisemaster DO35 Brakes 10in elec Wheels 17in alloy Water 2 x 95L Grey water 1 x 100L Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 1 x 150W Air conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No (opt) INTERNAL Cooking Dometic 3 burner Fridge Dometic CRX 1110 12V compressor 109L Bathroom Dometic cassette and separate cubicle Hot water Swift 28L gas/electric OPTIONS FITTED Electric entry step Ibis 4 air conditioner Colour upgrade Double battery box…

Before the world got turned upside down by good old COVID-19 and gatherings of large numbers were still allowed, the crew from Sunseeker and Marvel Caravans on Queensland's Sunshine Coast held their annual Owner's Rally. When Chris Michel from Sunseeker Caravans first contemplated an owner's rally a couple of years ago, he thought that he could make do with a BBQ, a couple of kilos of snags and a marquee. Little did he realise that the owners of Sunseeker and Marvel Caravans would jump on board the idea, and before he knew it there were 80 vans at the inaugural meet-up. This number grew to 125 for the second year, and for its third year, 140 vans and their owners descended on Habitat Noosa, on the banks of Lake Cootharaba…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Length 5175mm Width (excluding mirrors) 1995mm Height 1955mm Wheelbase 3075mm Ground clearance (unladen) 273mm Kerb mass 2861kg Gross Vehicle Mass 3500kg Gross Combined Mass 7000kg Towing capacity unbraked/braked 750kg/3500kg Towball (max) 350kg DRIVETRAIN Engine 5.6-litre, quad cam, direct-injection petrol V8 Transmission Seven-speed automatic Power 298kW at 5800rpm Torque 560Nm at 4000rpm Gear ratios 1st 4.887, 2nd 3.170, 3rd 2.027, 4th 1.412, 5th 1.000, 6th 0.864, 7th 0.775 Reverse 4.041 Final drive 3.357 High/low 1.000/2.679 GENERAL Fuel capacity 140L Suspension Independent, double wishbone, coil sprung, with hydraulic motion body control (fr & rr) Brakes 358mm ventilated discs (fr) 350mm ventilated discs (rr) Wheels 18in alloy Warranty 5 year/unlimited km (expires after 60 months) Roof load 100kg More information nissan.com.au RRP $92,790 (plus on-road costs) ACCESSORIES FITTED Metallic paint…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.22m (26ft 9in) External body length 6.4m (21ft) External body width 2.42m (7ft 11in) Travel height 3.12m (10ft 3in) Internal height 1.9m (6ft 3in) Tare 2516kg ATM 3116kg Payload 600kg (calculated) Ball weight 126kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminum Cladding Fibreglass Chassis 4in and 8in riser Suspension torsion -1.8T ea Coupling 50mm Al-Ko Brakes 12in drum Wheels 15in alloy 205/70 tyres Water 2 x 95L Battery 2 x100Ah Solar 2 x 120W Air conditioner Yes Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control Optional INTERNAL Cooking recessed oven (fan-forced as optional upgrade) Fridge 185L Microwave Yes Bathroom Full-width Washing machine 2.5kg top load Hot water Yes PRICE AS SHOWN $64,990 MORE INFORMATION To enquire about this caravan, please visit snowyrivercaravans. com.au or phone your closest dealer: NSW: (02) 4421 2055…