Windsor rapid

disco1942 replied:

I think they make rugged road versions - check them out with an agent. If Windsor do not make them, other manufacturers make similar things that are ruggedised.

PeterD Thumbs UpThanks 0

Old Gold replied:

G'Day Chips. I have a Windsor Rapid but not the off road version, according to the the agent where i purchased it he told me the off road and on road are the same apart from the suspension of course.All fixtures such as cupboards and what not are secured to the main frame of the van and not just bolted,screwed or riveted to the floor.

Cheer's Thumbs UpThanks 0

Member - Captain (WA) replied:

Hi chips59

I had a Rapid and proably pushed it to its limits. I eventually sold it after having to re-clad both sides and replace the awning after ripping it off on tracks it was simply to big for. Apart from the cosmetic damage, it handled it really well with no problems to cupboards etc (except where the branch pierced into the van!).

I have had it bogged in dry creeks, sand tracks etc... and taken ot many miles of corrugations ad the only issue was a light fitting unscrewed once and another time I forgot to lock the fridge closed(that was an issue!).
!MPG:3!
I reckon the Rapid Offroad will be able to go weherever you can take it. At the end of the day, it is simply too big for 'real" offroad tracks and is why I changed over to a Camprite camper trailer.

Cheers

Captain Thumbs UpThanks 0

colanjen replied:

Hi Chips,
I have an off road Windsor Rapid and have done thousands of ks on corrugated roads and alpine tracks. I have to be careful that i research tracks that the van will make it thruogh due to it's size. I have had to upgrade the springs as the seven leaf ones have collpsed due to the hard work i have done. Overall i am rapt with the van and will be tackling more remote tracks in the future but always being mindful of it's limitations (size and weight)
Regards from Col Thumbs UpThanks 0

colanjen replied:

I was also contemplating taking the van from Oodnadatta through to Mt Dare and then onto Finke and Maryvale. I was then going to leave it there and go into Chambers Pillar, camp overnight and return to the van. I have driven there 8 years ago and the only dificulty i may have with the van from Maryvale was some bulldust holes, but by memory, we would have no other problems towing the rapid in but conditions could be quite different now. I was planning this trip in late August. Previously i went in by approaching the Pillar by the Hugh River Stock Route to Maryvale.
It would be interesting for Windsor Rapid (off road suspension) owners to let people know where they have taken their vans, so others would know where they could possibly go in the future.
I'm willing to say where iv'e been and would be interested in other trip reports as well so i can have confidence in tackling tracks knowing that Rapids have made it through.
Regards from Col Thumbs UpThanks 0

colanjen replied:

Hi,
I've only had my van 3 years so no i didn't tow my van down the Hugh River Stock Route. My recollections of that track are that we would have no problems in taking our rapids through there, but conditions may have changed. The track from Maryvale into the Pillar was a more dificult one than the Hugh River track but could still be done, towing our Rapids, maybe!
This unknown factor is that we are the only ones who know our vans capabilities but the track conditions are unknown to us and it is dificult to compare to others we may have conquered.
It is good for me to see you have towed from Oodnatta through to the Alice as i was concerned about that track. Was it very sandy and did you have to lower tyre pressures etc.
Regards from Col Thumbs UpThanks 0

Johnny boy replied:

Hi all I have noticed allot of you guys are not mentioning van size and tow vehicles
I'm very interested because I have just bought a new 14.6 rapid ATV ( dealer will not commit to saying off road or 4wd pack ) tow 4b 100 ser T/D I'm keeping an ear out for any minor faults I have been told by another owner that the rear bar is too flimsy for dirt tracks and that his and his mates both gave them trouble his sheared the bolts holding the rim and his mate broke the weld on the u bolt under the van as it was tack welded to the chassis, all that I have done to mine is change from a twin 4 kg gas bottle set up to a single 9 kg even though the dealer said it cant be done because there was no clearance so is there any other mods other than what I have mentioned that we all should watch out for ( oh watch out for the A/C holes in floor under van no protection from stray rocks to radiator thingo)

Regards J,B. Thumbs UpThanks 0

colanjen replied:

G/day again,
Some details about my rig. I have a 14' 6" Windsor Rapid with off road suspension. Modifications i have done are as follows, 9kg and 4.5 kg gas bottles, twin 60 litre water tanks with an additional 35 lt tube tank fitted between the bumper and van, (bumper eased further out to accommadate tube) I've replaced 7 leaf springs with 8 leaf as 7 collapsed. I've raised by 50mm the two rear stabilizer stays to give greater ground clearance. Solar power system, twin panels and deep cycle batteries. Cooper ATR 265/75x16 tyres These were the same size and stud pattern as my vehicle but as i'm about to upgrade my car in the next month, which will then have 18" tyres. Internal mods are plenty with pot and clothes drawers tv/dvd cd stereo etc etc. I currently have a NP (2003) petrol/gas Pajero which i will be trading in on a NS turbo diesel/gas as the NP was under powered to pull the van in the rugged areas that i go. I'm rapt in the van and internally everything is as new even though i've taken the van to places that most people would not take a off road van of this size.

with regards from Col, Thumbs UpThanks 0

colanjen replied:

I recently had my van weighed on a weigh bridge while it was still hooked up on the car. The car was off the scale so we measured just the weight of the van over the wheels/suspension. Everything was loaded to the hilt (full water tanks etc) and the weight came in at 1600kgs give or take 10 kgs. I then went back to the manufacturer of the chasis who then suggested the 8 leaf spring. Yes i'm probably heavier than the standard Rapid but it gives me the versatility to go bush for longer and some of the other mods keeps the better half happier. The exact size of my solar panels i would have somewhere but by memory they were roughly twin 80s or there abouts. They produce heaps of juice, my sound system has a 300 watt amplifier with a 12 stacker cd with 6 internal and two external speakers and with all the other crap, sorry, gizmo's i always have power to burn even after prolonged overcast conditions.
Regards from Col Thumbs UpThanks 0

colanjen replied:

Hi chips59, again,
What type of hitch do you have. On previous van i had a tregg hitch but found it a pain to line up on occasions so now have just a standard coupling. I figure the size of our vans will limit access to the really dificult places where the better hitch would be required. Whats your, or any body elses opinion ?
Regards Col. Thumbs UpThanks 0

colanjen replied:

Hi Slush,
I hope i'm not showing to much ignorance here but what is a hyland hitch ?
Regards Col Thumbs UpThanks 0