V8Diesel replied:

Just back from a trip around the Yilgarn towing a Pioneer CT.

Quick to set up, virtually dust free, tows very well, no bugs, flies or mossies, heaps of storage that's easy to get to, comfy bed, OK kitchen.........I'm a convert. My swag on the ground will never be the same I'm afraid.

You can hire them for bugger all these days and you'll always have the latest and greatest with no maintenance worries.

Willem replied:

Hey Rambler

How are the new knees progressing. Is the recovery good? Still on crutches?

I opted for a bush trailer with an Oztent for camping. Can also sleep in the truck if I need to. Can't afford them fancy CT's. Anyway the trailer does me.

Cheers

The Rambler( W.A.) replied:

Hi Willem,
My recovery on my knees has been amazing and even the surgeon is suprised.Iwas driving after 4 weeks and gave away the crutches at 6 weeks.It's now just over 8 weeks and Ican walk a fair way now.The only downside is I get a bit of pain at night still and have to take a pain killer but other than that I am almost ready to hit the road.The campertrailer has been on my mind for a while but like you I have been very happy with my setup over the years.

Kev M replied:

G'day Rambler,

Have you had a look at the Coota Campers?
site link
www.cootacampers.com.au

They are about the same size as a kimberly camper but come in either single or tandem axle.
I was looking at them at the Wauchope show and they looked pretty good when compared to the Kimberly.
From what I can remember the tandems ball weight was about 100kg for a tare weight of around 1500kgs that with the 250l water tank filled.

I have no affiliation with these campers just adding food for thought.

Cheers Kev

Member - Brian (Gold Coast) replied:

Rambler...
we bought an 11 year old Cavalier two years ago and love it! We have just returned from almost 3 weeks of wandering around NSW, the most nights we stayed in one place was 3, mostly we o/nighted. 10 mins of easy set up, although a little longer to fold up in the morning, but we didn't get tired of it. Matter of fact, we both wish we were still out there doing it!

Towing, not a problem, particularly with a turbo fitted to the diesel. I got used to seeing it in the mirrors real quick.

I can't comment on the brands you mentioned, but I can say trailers are worth their money!

Member - Ian W (NSW) replied:

Hi Rambler,

If you feel that both Campers are pretty much on a par then go for the lighter, by the time you've towed it a coupla thousand k's the 200 kg weight saving will really make a difference.

Don't worry about going "soft", we all get that that stage, at 60 years of age I'm well there. What's the point of a camping trip if your not comfortable and later can't get a good nights sleep. Anyone can be a macho man and be miserable, then expend more effort trying to convince themselves and everyone else that they're having a good time.

Tents and swags are a great way to camp but unfortunately we all of us get to the point where we move on to better things or give camping away.

Ian

Sand Man (SA) replied:

Rambler,

Another plus for the Pioneer is that they would be about $10,000+ cheaper than the Kimberley.

Have sussed them out myself. I particularly like the standard Argyle model. Just enough Bells & Whistles.

Good luck with your choice.

Jimbo replied:

Have you considered a CUB. Hard floor makes setup a breeze and they are very light.

Can't say I've used one myself, but they do look good.

The thing that really impressed me was this; whilst camped along the Murray last week I was chatting to a bloke who had a CUB. "Had it long?" I asked. "About 30 years, it is number 13", he replied.

ATB,

Jim.

cam_champion replied:

another one to consider, which we have just bought, is a camprite. the set up design allows for a large undercover area without putting up the awning. It will also sleep up to six people inside the camper which is a plus for those of us with young kids

www.campritecampers.com.au

PatrolBen replied:

Considered a TVAN?
They are expensive but extremely capable. My dad paid $35k for one and in two trips to the cape, simmo and tasmania hasn't had a problem. The advantage of these is that the canvas isn't stored over the bedding or your gear so putting it away wet is a non event. Due to its shape wer call it the 'compactor'!!!!!
Also suspension is independant and he was able to have the shocks and springs matched to the tow truck so all spare parts are interchangable. Also matching wheels and tires so again a bonus.
If you wanted to go all out, then there is the Kimberely Kampervan.

Alan H replied:

Hi Rambler.
We've had a Pioneer Argyle for a few months and think it's great. Good to set up/take down, reasonable kitchen and heaps of storage under the bed and in the front boot.
Fit of the canvas could be better as it tends to bag a bit but nothing really bad.
We sold a pop top Windsor Rapid so that we could go further off road and are pleased with our choice and as someone else said, they're far cheaper than some of the others, yet the build quality is still strong and well done and they look good.
I was at Pioneer not long ago and they had an Onyx, their top of the range model, and they were fitting a microwave in the front box and a fridge in the gull wing box!
(Someone needs all the comforts of home so why bother leaving it?)
Whatever you want they can do it and do it well.
Ring Nigel Fleet and chat with him.
I hasten to add I have no affiliation with Pioneer except as a fairly well satisfied customer and as the cook (wife) likes it, the camper must be OK.
Happy travels.
Alan H.

Boxhead replied:

www.aussieswag.com.au/index.html

Richard & Leonie replied:

We have an Aussie Swag Rover Mk2. They are a bit expensive and a bit heavy but are well made and setup. It was the most popular hard floor CT at a recent campertrailer get together at Copeton Dam. After a lot of investigation and talking to owners we short listed the Aussie Swag, the Ultimate, the Cape York and the Kimberley. A friend of a friend had an Ultimate, the suspension collapsed on not too rough a road, Cape York did not answer emails (a problem a few other people have told me they had), the Aussie Swag won on price being about $2000 cheaper than the Kimberley. Initially we crossed out the Kimberley until they put the gull wing doors over the kitchen. I think that improved them no end. After all the options were added the Aussie swag came out on top though. A friend sold theirs recently for basically the same price they paid for it.
Richard (I am 64 and was finding the ground a bit hard and hard to get up from.)

Darian (SA) replied:

I use a Campomatic - one of the flip-over/hard floor types - been excellent to date and its done some decent hard working trips - ease of setup, and the slide out top quality kitchen are features - 120L of water, 60L of fuel and 8kg of gas are all handy. As you say, the Adventure seems really big - bit like the Trak Shak - made for numbers. The only other one that I have seen working first hand in the field is the KK - a quality built and designed unit overall (better finish than my Campo) - Campomatic are enjoying a "mixed press" at the moment (that's code of course) - some owners seem "less than enthused" (more code)....... the people from Aussie Swag (Noel and Julia) seem good types when I've come across them at the local show - always happy to spend good time with any enquirers - never heard an iffy word about the AS - only praise - and I've seen quite a few in our travels - the most numerous make seen on recent 10k trip to the top end was far and away the KK - hoards of them ! Think of the advantage you can enjoy in spreading your camping load over 6 wheels - the other 4 will enjoy longer, puncture free lives ! And you can carry firewood on the top....... and the bed is great....... and they are wired for 12V and 240V are good in a caravan park.......... I'm finished now - BOL.

mattie replied:

Hi Rambler
don't know anything about the pioneer other than the bed was smaller than the kk, we bought a kk and we had the choice narrowed between the aussie swag and kk both had great things the other didn't, the 3 things that won me over was a queen size bed, resale value and the most important to be considered is the fact that it can be set up to track the same as most of the popular tow vehicles and for an off road trailer should be a big consideration.

Mattie