Off Road Van

Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 10:25
ThreadID: 108646 Views:2350 Replies:7 FollowUps:9
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Hi All, new here and would like to say some great information and help too be had on here.
I know its been done but I see no real new discussions on off road vans and seems there are so many companies doing them now, so who builds one around 20ft that can take off road seriously, we want to do Gibb River Road, Dampier Peninsular and head to the NT,QLD and still be comfortable.Because the van wont be just for off road use we don't want a camper.
Does anyone know or have a Elite Balistic ? the Armageddon pack is one we liked from a show here in Perth.
And any pointers in what to look for will be very helpful.

Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Alan H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 12:49

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 12:49
Used Bushtrackers

Have you seen these?

Hope you find what you seek

Alan
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Follow Up By: Knothome - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:40

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:40
Thanks good site.
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Reply By: Member - Silverchrome - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:34

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:34
Hi KH,

If you are in WA you have a good off road manufacturer right there in Explorex. Check out their web site.
There are a few off road manufacturers in SE Qld such as Bushtracker, Spinifex, Kedron, Sunland, Phoenix etc.
These 6 mentioned make the real deal full off road vans if that is want you want. There are many others that make crossovers, off road camper trailers etc but if you are after a full van I would start with the above 6 (either new or second hand).

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Knothome - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:43

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:43
Yep thanks just went down to Explorex and got some info and have made a list like yours from earlier searching on here.
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Follow Up By: Member - bungarra (WA) - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 15:43

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 15:43
we are happy owners of an Explorex...purchased new...if you want any feedback feel free to contact me

no affiliation etc.......just a very happy customer

cheers
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Reply By: Steve - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:35

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:35
Have a look on the Caravanners' forum: there has been plenty of good discussion on the different options including/other than Bushtracker, Kedron, Trackmaster, Phoenix etc


http://caravanersforum.com/index.php?sid=ee7c153421934edbb1ee2ac347ec36ac

There are so many around and apart from looking at suspension, cabinetry quality, hitch etc, the way it is put together is equally, if not more important
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Follow Up By: Knothome - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:45

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 13:45
Thanks another good site.
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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 15:41

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 15:41
Your intended tow vehicle ?
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Follow Up By: Knothome - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 09:55

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 09:55
Will be upgrading to what ever will do the job easily, I'm looking at the Landcruiser 76 series maybe a 200 series but i believe they are too heavy to much good as a 4X4 even maybe a new Isuzu DMax. I want to be able to still get the car off road and back.
I have a 2010 Navara D40 ATM but that is 2.5t towing and after this piece of rubbish i wont get another Nissan.
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Follow Up By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Friday, Jul 11, 2014 at 12:13

Friday, Jul 11, 2014 at 12:13
Yep - heaps of factors to consider in a rig and most of them working at cross purposes :-). Keep in mind the 200 series has 30% more power than the 'work truck' cruisers - same engine but configured for more power. Whatever rig you end up with, you'll still have a collection of compromises to ponder. BOL with it.
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Reply By: Member - Chris_K - Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 16:06

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2014 at 16:06
Try these guys:

www.australianoffroad.com.au

I suppose we have a vested interest, in that we did our research for offroad campers/vans, and bought one! Almost bullet proof...

Chris
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Follow Up By: Knothome - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 10:00

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 10:00
Thanks the Aurora looks good.
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Reply By: Member - BUSH CAMPER - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 13:24

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 13:24
We have the very 1st Elite off road van that they built. It was built to our requirements and we have travelled the GRR, Oonadatta track and may more outback tracks. The suspension is control rider, it is the Goulburn, 17' with full ensuite, washing machine, slide out BBQ, solar, diesel heater, single beds.
If the Balistic is built like ours it won't let you down.
They are very expensive, we saw one at Gregory downs last year and they were happy with it. With their options, I think they paid about $120,000 for it.
My opinion is that the big off road vans are more of a nuisance as you are limited to getting them in and out of some lovely places.
Hope this helps, Hugh
AnswerID: 535733

Follow Up By: Knothome - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 16:42

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 16:42
Thanks good to hear from an owner, I hope they still do that good a job, we saw one at the show here and it was $90,000 and dintnt seem to need anything added. I would prefer around 17/18ft but the better half wants 20/21ft now why could I not get here to have the same opinion when we bought the boat ????
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Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 18:04

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 18:04
Knothome,

one of the very important specs that people seem to ignore when looking at a van of any sort is its payload, ie, the difference between its ATM and TARE weights.

You need to look at these two figures and ask what configuration the van was in when weighed for its TARE.

Then you need to add in what you would carry that wasn't considered at the initial weigh-in. These will definitely include water tanks (1 litre is 1 kilo), maybe gas bottles, maybe batteries (about 30kg per N70Z size AGM). Then work out your personal items etc. It doesn't take much to go over the ATM.

A lot of normal vans have a payload of only 400kgs. Some of the major off-road vans have a little more, some a lot more. My Bushtracker has a payload of 840kg and every trip we go on I'm leaving more and more at home, just being extra cautious. Whatever doesn't see the light of day on a trip, gets left at home.

Even then, I still take the entire setup, vehicle and van and us, over a public weighbridge at the start of each trip, just so I am aware of my starting point.

Hope this helps.


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Follow Up By: Knothome - Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 21:49

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2014 at 21:49
Thanks and yes very helpful i have considered it but haven't really looked into it on the vans Ive checked out so far. We tow a 22ft boat away on long trips and I go to the weigh bridge and check it as it becomes the trailer too.
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