New Ultimate Owner

Submitted: Sunday, Apr 07, 2013 at 21:46

ThreadID: 101562 Views:2833 Replies:6 FollowUps:13

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Diamantina Drover

Hi, I'm new to the forum and have just purchased a '96 Ultimate Elite. This is my first camper trailer and would appreciate it if anyone had any tips or suggestions.....

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Reply By: Member - willawa - Sunday, Apr 07, 2013 at 22:04

Sunday, Apr 07, 2013 at 22:04

Greetings and welcome Diamantina Drover.

Have you checked out the Ultimate Owners Forum? worth a look.
You'll get heaps of info there, as well here at ExplorOz.
But you need to be a little more explicate on want you would like to know.
cheers and good travelling

Ed

Cheers

AnswerID: 508449

Reply By: Diamantina Drover - Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 00:00

Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 00:00

Thanks mate, will certainly check that out. I am mainly chasing any ideas that will make living with the Ultimate easier and also any suggestions for updating or improving the camper (not that is much to improve on). The unit I have purchased is very tidy but like anything, there are always things that can be added. Like I said before, I am new to campers and it is all a big learning curve.

AnswerID: 508454

Follow Up By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 08:31

Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 08:31

Welcome to the forum mate. Some of the best fun is just getting out there and working out what you did wrong. You seem to remember it better that way. There are heaps of Ultimates out there. Have a look at Mick O's blogs as he travels with people that tow one. I reckon they would have taken theirs to the extreme. Cheers,Bob

FollowupID: 786000

Reply By: Mick O - Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 10:55

Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 10:55

Mate, welcome aboard. You certainly picked one from the top shelf first time out. From my experience the Ulties are a top unit. I’m just waiting for them to bring out the tray top model…mind you I might have an issue getting that one past the Minister for War and finance.

I travel with Jaydub and Suze who have taken their Ultimate to some places that would make you cringe. It’s handled it every time. They have put a top brand of MT tyre on though to assist in coping with the tough conditions. Theirs is extreme travel though and somewhat more involved that your average adventuring.

Have a look at a few of these from our journey into the Great Sandy;

Mowing a path towards Joanna Spring

Stakes, Dunes and Hard Going!

Success in the Desert

Cheers Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

Lifetime Member
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AnswerID: 508465

Follow Up By: racinrob - Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 16:06

Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 16:06

Mick O. I have come across a slide-on Ultimate camper in my travels, evidently the company tried with a prototype many moons ago but didn't proceed for whatever reason.

rr

FollowupID: 786032

Follow Up By: Mick O - Tuesday, Apr 09, 2013 at 06:44

Tuesday, Apr 09, 2013 at 06:44

RR, yes there was one made. I've spoken to them at recent camping shows and they have a lot of enquiries about a tray back. They have indicated it will be their next project once the Nautilus is thoroughly bedded down (maybe next 6 months or so). We will have to wait and see if they come through.

Cheers Mick

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 786068

Follow Up By: Diamantina Drover - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:25

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:25

Thanks Mick,
Watched the videos and loved them. Really makes me want to get back out there again. The Ulti I have bought has Cooper STT's on it which will probably do for the moment.
Interested to see someone actually using the R&R BeadBreaker as I have been looking at buying one for some time now.
All I have to do now is wait for my new car to arrive so I can go and pick up my camper. Patience is not a virtue :)

Cheers, Toby.

FollowupID: 786253

Reply By: olcoolone - Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 13:15

Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 13:15

The only real piece of advice I would give you is to get a spare pin and a few spare lynch pins and "D" shackles...... spare wheel nuts don't go astray either.

We are on our second Ultimate and even that the build quality is not as good as or first one we still love it.

Another thing is fit a water filter if it hasn't already got one.

AnswerID: 508471

Follow Up By: Diamantina Drover - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:34

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:34

Thanks mate, haven't picked my Ulti yet so not sure what you mean by a 'spare pin'.

Not the first time I have heard that the build quality was better on the earlier models which makes me happy as I have bought #17.

Do Ultimate sell the water filters?

Cheers, Toby.

FollowupID: 786255

Follow Up By: Peter McG (Member, Melbourne) - Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 00:25

Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 00:25

So welcome to the Veteran Ultimate club! We're no10.

Peter

Peter
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Follow Up By: Diamantina Drover - Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 00:47

Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 00:47

Sweet! Hope to see you out on the tracks.

Toby

FollowupID: 786263

Reply By: Mark - Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 18:28

Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 18:28

We bought one a few years ago and the only thing we did was to get a custom made inner spring mattress (two that zip together). Its as good as the bed at home now.
As mentioned there are loads of tips etc on the ulti forum, replacing lighting for LED, how to pack up wet, installing diesel heaters etc etc.
Cheers
Mark

AnswerID: 508487

Follow Up By: Diamantina Drover - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:41

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:41

My wife really jumped at your post.

She wants to know who you got to make the zip together mattress.

Will be joining the Ulti forum as soon as I take delivery of my unit. Apparently I can't do so until then.

Thanks, Toby.

FollowupID: 786258

Follow Up By: Mark - Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 17:33

Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 17:33

Hi Toby,
We got the mattresses made to size by
http://www.madetomeasuremattresses.com.au in QLD. The zip is optional and to be honest I don't think we bother zipping them most the time as they are a good fit and dont move apart.
I can probably dig out the dimensions etc if you are interested.
Also Ultimate have an under bed mat, EMP I think its called and it works really well to stop condensation. It puts an air gap between the mattress and base.
Cheers
Mark

FollowupID: 786329

Follow Up By: Diamantina Drover - Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 18:22

Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 18:22

Thanks Mark,

Would appreciate any info like measurements that you might have.
The unit I have bought already has the EMP under bed lining.

Cheers, Toby.

FollowupID: 786334

Follow Up By: Mark - Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 19:00

Thursday, Apr 11, 2013 at 19:00

Hi Toby,
Found the invoice and the details are as follows;
2 x Traveller Superior mattresses @ 1880 x 880 x 180mm zipped down centre.

It might also be worth asking if they can sew in handles to help you put them into position, we didn't but think to ask at the time.
My Wife manages to put the bed up etc on her own though while I do the outside stuff, its better that way ; )

Cheers
Mark

FollowupID: 786343

Follow Up By: Diamantina Drover - Sunday, Apr 21, 2013 at 00:11

Sunday, Apr 21, 2013 at 00:11

Hi Mark,

Sorry about the late reply but have not had time to go near my computer with my shift work keeping me at work or in bed.

Thanks for your efforts in looking up the details about the mattress. We will be looking into it as soon as we pick up our camper. Still another few weeks to go before the new car is delivered, so will just have to bite the nails and dream :)

Thanks again,
Toby.

FollowupID: 787290

Reply By: Peter McG (Member, Melbourne) - Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 23:53

Monday, Apr 08, 2013 at 23:53

Hi there,

Call Ultimate and let them know your camper number so that they can record you as the current owner. They will then give you access to the Ultimate forum and you'll then have enough ideas to keep you use for a few weeks.

Congrats on a smart move.

Cheers

Peter

Peter
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Follow Up By: Diamantina Drover - Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:50

Wednesday, Apr 10, 2013 at 23:50

Thanks Peter,

Will be doing that when I pick up my unit in a couple of weeks. Have a round trip of over 4000km to get it but that is half the fun.

Any excuse for a trip through the outback ( yes, it is not the most direct route by a long shot, but what would be the fun in that with a new camper).

Cheers, Toby.

FollowupID: 786259