Crossover Comparison - VistaRV vs Commender UEV

Submitted: Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 14:57
ThreadID: 83797 Views:16111 Replies:4 FollowUps:15
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Hi Guys and Gals,

I have my options narrowed down to 2 crossover style campers.

The Vista RV Crossover

or the

Conqueror UEV 490

There is just the 2 of us travelling and in the past we have travelled very light (standalone vehicle with swags). Most of our travelling as remote desert.

Initially, I was almost ready to sign the cheque for a VistaRV, but now have seen the UEV490 I am quite keen on that. It has a lot more bells and whistles (not sure if this is good or bad thing :) ) but is also heavier than the VistaRV.

Has anyone done the comparison in the flesh.

Any other thoughts?

Cheers,

Peter
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Reply By: tg123 - Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:13

Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:13
Hi Peter!
Have not seen the Vista RV but did fly to Brisbane a few months back & checked out the Conqueror 490 Evolution at their HQ. Spent around 3 hours there so had a lot of time to 'get to know' it. Thought it had a lot of really good ideas/ innovations and ticked most of the boxes. Downside is that I thought if I purchased one there were quite a few mods I would need to make to be happy with it eg the metal table between the seats has sharp corners designed to do serious crutch damage and a really bleep poor hinging set up. The door locks are a PITA and need handles or something fitted. The awnings weren't exactly a five minute setup - no idea how to change that. When I thought about it I decided that for $58K (?) I shouldn't have to 'fix'/change stuff so decided to stick with my Adventure Offroad Camper which is dimensionally smaller and around 400kg lighter.
I guess you'll need to look closely at both and decide whether one appeals over the other - different strokes for different folks.
PS - I am certain that if I didn't already own a great camper the Conqueror guys would probably have got a sale out of me - just couldn't justify approx $20k changeover.
Best of luck with your dilemna!!
Cheers
Trevor
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Follow Up By: Pete Mac - Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:25

Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:25
Thanks Trevor,

Yes, the big picture looks great with the UEV. It's good to hear of some of the nitty grittys.

Unfortunately I'm in Perth so a long way to have a look at the UEV's....

Thanks for the input.

Pete
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Reply By: KiwiAngler - Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:22

Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:22
Hey Peter

I have purchased a Conqueror UEV490 - it has just arrived on the Wharf in Brisbane and will be ready to hand over in about 2 weeks once the gas and electrics plus matching wheeels and tow bar to my Nissan Patrol specs

I am like a kid at Xmas - cant wait to get my new 'toy'

Is it here yet?? - is it ? huh is it "-)))))

I have a bit of a thread running on this website that tracks how impatient I have been :-)

http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=9128.0

Cherrs

KA

AnswerID: 442587

Follow Up By: Pete Mac - Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:24

Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 17:24
haha - thanks KA - I have seen your thread in my past days of googling...LOL

Lucky it didn't get swamped.
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Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:00

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 21:00
wahoooo

Just had a phone call from Dan at Conqueror Australia to tell me that my new UEV 490 will be ready for pick up in less than 2 weeks (Friday 11th Feb) if I was excited before then I am REALLY excited now :-)))))

The guys at Conqueror have done an excellent job of keeping in touch with how the UEV has been progressing. Dan in particular has always returned calls and e-mails and has been a pleasure to work with

Already got my 'shake down' trip sorted - it will be spent in Livingstone National Park about 35 kms from Wagga - or - if I cant wait that long on my front lawn :-)))

Will post some pics when I get it

Cheers

KA
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Follow Up By: Pete Mac - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:08

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:08
haha - great to hear!

We are now both owners - purchased one today :)
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Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:17

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:17
well done PM

Now you have to go through the excrutiating wait until you get it - but it is all worth it.

I ordered mine late last year and thought I would handle the wait easy - but it gets to you - I have even dreamed of touring around some of my favourite spots already :-)))

All the best

KA
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Follow Up By: Pete Mac - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:18

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:18
did the handshake on this;

Link

All going well pick it up Tuesday.

May have to make some changes though for remote desert.

Cheers!

Pete
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Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 17:07

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 17:07
Pete

WELL DONE MATE - you have managed to ellude the terrible waiting worries - well all most :-)

Welcome to the Conquerors Club - we will all have to meet up one day and drool over each others rigs :-)

What changes would you make for remote desert?

Rgds

KA
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Follow Up By: Pete Mac - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 17:13

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 17:13
I'd like the water tanks to be seperate - so I can keep town water in one, and put bore water in the other.

I also need to change the rims/tyres to match the tow vehicle (this would have been included in the new price).

I also need to look at upgrading the suspension as this has the South African spec springs/shocks as opposed to the Aus version.

This one also has only a ball coupling together with override brake. Need to look at changing this to Aus spec.

So there are a couple of things that are going to cost me to get to Aus spec... but did make a bit of a saving on new purchase price...and also avoided the wait! Which was the main thing :)

Oh, and for remote desert, one of these would be nice so I can run my business from anywhere;
Satellite Internet

Yep - definitely have to catch up on the road! We are based in Perth - so when you are down this way give us a buzz!

Cheers,

P
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Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 17:31

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 17:31
Hey P

You have done well mate - really pleased for you

I also have thought of splitting the water into 2 seperate tanks - spoke to Dan aboiut it and we kinda agreed to wait and see what I reckoned after using it for a while (which makes sense)

Re the ball coupling - I have the tregg unit on mine but, again, after I have used it for a while, may decide to change to this instead


HichMaster DO35

I have travelled a lot of Australia since I arrived here in 2000 but have purposely left WA until last

I reckon I will have a ball working my way around the coast from Noresman (where I strated the CSR) to Broome - so yeah - a good possibility I wll see you in Perth one day

Look forward to meeting you

Keep us 'in the loop' with any trips and/or devlopmenst with the Conqueror

Rgds

KA
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Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 20:25

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 20:25
If you change the coupling, go the DO35 :) I had the treg on my Camprite and now have the DO35 on the Quantum. There is simply no comparison, the DO35 is SO much easier to hook up, its self centering, you can simply back under it and lower it onto the "ball". I used to have all sorts of issues with the treg in soft sand, was fine on a hard surface though. Both eliminate the slight knocking you tend to get with a ball, but the DO35 wins due to ease of attaching.

Cheers

Captain
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Reply By: VistaMax - Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 22:51

Friday, Jan 21, 2011 at 22:51
Sign the cheque.

The Vista is great. You will get quality and good after sales service, not that I would expect you to need any. It has more than enough whistles if not enough bells. Carry them in your vehicle.

We are very satisfied owners, obviously. We also travel mainly in the outback, Gary Junction, Kimberleys, Diamontina area etc. But it's also acceptable in the caravan parks on the eastern coast.
AnswerID: 442621

Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:24

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:24
We also have just taken delivery of a new Vista RV Crossover.
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Reply By: barracuda - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 00:04

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 00:04
hi guys; i can give a big thumbs up to the commander/uev490. i own a conqueror commander and have just completed a six month trip with my wife and our 2 kids ,9year old and a 11 year old from perth and have no complaints with the commander. it took us everywhere we wanted to go and easily, we couldnt even get close to what this trailer is capable of offroad ,and it tows like a dream.
As for set up it was a breeze and after a week we were getting completely set up in under 10 minutes. the big plus was on the days when we pulled up late at a camp or for overnighters or when mother nature roared, we simply opened the door and all crashed in the main bed without having to set up anything, and this was 4 of us side by side , so 2 people would be a dream.
i cannot say enough good comments on this camper, it really is luxury living for off road campers and its size and manouvrability helped us get into places other could only dream off. unfortunately we are selling it to fund a year in the usa for our next adventure and its been a hard decision to let it go as its not often these days to buy a product and be completely satisfied with your purchase.
in my opinion after looking seriously at everything on the market and used this trailer in every type of terrain in australia, buy one and you will never wont to go home again. its in a class of its own.
cheers
paul

AnswerID: 443744

Follow Up By: Pete Mac - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 00:14

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 00:14
Thanks Paul - a secondhand one would be even better if it is on the market!
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Follow Up By: barracuda - Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 02:31

Tuesday, Feb 01, 2011 at 02:31
hi pete; it will be advertised in trader section on this site tomorrow with all details.
cheers
paul
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Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:18

Wednesday, Feb 02, 2011 at 23:18
I see it is the Trader section today, ready for someone to take to a good home :-))))
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Follow Up By: KiwiAngler - Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 17:42

Thursday, Feb 03, 2011 at 17:42
hey barraCuda


Sorry you have had to sell the Conqueror but good to see it is going to a new home and will be on the road again soon

Hope it all works out well for you in USA and when you get back you can always see dan and the boys in Brisbane and get another UEV490 :-)))

Chhers

KA
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