Motherhen replied:

Check out the find print - i don't have a Coromal, but stopped considering them when i read in their brochure for the so-called 'off road' caravans;

The Coromal Pioneer range is designed to travel on and off sealed roads. They are not however designed to travel over all terrain. Travelling over rough, rocky jagged, pinnacled and potholed surfaces may amount to misuse and driver neglect. Any damage incurred as a result is excluded from the manufacturer’s warranty. Commonsense should prevail in these conditions.

Member - BBB replied:

JimDi

We where in the same position 12 months ago have a look at post 39458 I went through in detail our needs what we looked at and then a review of the van after 12 months.

I think you will find it interesting.

BBB

japmel replied:

JimDi,

I too looked at the way the A Frame is joined at the front of the Van, Just that alone put me off buying one as an Offroad Van.

Personally I think the A frame on an Offroad van needs to be the full length of the Van as part of the Chassis.

Regards
japmel

kimprado replied:

JimDi,

Caravans are not built to handle extensive travel over corrugations, no matter what the speed.

To my knowledge there are only two manufacturers in Australia who purpose build a "rough road" van.

The down side is weight and they a lot more expensive than the so called Off Road units.

If your going to buy a van of this size stick to formed roads. Otherwise, you run the risk of doing significant damage to the van.

Regards

Kim

Alan H (Narangba QLD) replied:

Check these out if you want real offroad

Site Link

JimDi replied:

Thanks to all who replied. What a great site for feedback and reassurance.
We have cancelled our order due in May 2007. Without being too delicate we have not received a phone call or email response from Coromal or the Qld dealership involved for one week now. Sales staff have put any potential breakage or damage incurred down to my poor driving Motherhen so you are right there and the truth is we would not have received this van until next May 2007. Requests for our $6500 deposit to be refunded are being ignored. And no contract signed. We are now looking at Bushtracker and Kedron. Coromal may turn out to be an expensive lesson for us but I suppose it will be a lesson none the less. They say you are never too old to learn.

Motherhen replied:

Hi Jim Di

Being short of funds, i was willing to purchase one of these so-called off-road vans and try it, then when on a holiday in the Pilbara we saw our first Bushtracker on the road. As luck would have it, they camped near us in the Karajini. After my husband looked under the BT, he would not consider anything else. Cheap is not cheap if you break down in the outback. They were hard to get pre-loved a few years ago, and the one we bought is one of the older models, not as many toys as people have in their newer ones, but it still has everything we need for easy living on the road. More toys means more weight too. Pure luxury after the fold up van. At 18' it is towable with a conventional 4wd, has loads of room for us and luggage, queen sized bed (yacht style), en suite, and looks lovely. We can tackle the back tracks with confidence.

Alan H (Narangba QLD) replied:

JimDi

I think you missed the site link on my reply.

I did not mean my camper trailer - the site link is to secondhand bushtrackers.

Trust you find what you are looking for

Alan