ULTIMATE camper

Yes your right on both counts. I've had my Ulti for 10+ years and we've done 2 laps, a half lap, a trip to the Cape and several High Country trips, blah, blah blah, etc!
In reality the bed takes a couple of mins to make. Throw up the mattresses, I prefer crosswise but it doesn't matter if you prefer lengthwise. Then throw up a doona and pillows and it's done. As for the awnings, both of the small awnings or the large awning are left attached and are put up as you go. The mini awnings are held in place by fibreglass rods, the large awning uses poles and guy ropes, so a few minutes there.
Only when you want to change from small to large awnings do you need to detach, reattach and they are zipped on. The zips have cords attached so you can pull these from the ground. Some Ulti owners use a set of steps to do this, which they carry in the boot on the hooks provided for this job.

Hope that helps.

They are very good units and we've seen them in all sorts of remote locations. However for the reasons you identified (making up the bed every day and having the sleeping section under canvas) we opted for the TVan instead - and couldn't have been happier. Amazingly robust and capable unit, and in bad weather you could batten down and it was very secure and stable (and dry!!). Prices are about the same, so I'd suggest a good look at the TVan as well as the Ultimate.
Good luck!

Hi Pandora

Not sure if you have ever seen or read any of my stories here on EO, but our usual mode of travel in remote areas is the trusty old swag, and in times of trouble, our fantastic OzTent......

A couple of years ago on one of our trips to Maralinga, Michelle mum and dad were along in their Ultimate. Yes I had seem them before, knew they were expensive and could go anywhere that the tow vehicle was capable of going, but seeing one in the flesh changed our minds.

Last year again when again in true remote offload travel, John and Suz brought their Ultimate along for a true offload test.

Within 2 days of getting home from that trip we purchased our 2008 model, knowing that they were a fantastic unit.

Our real test was in June this year when we were away for a month. The bed is no issue, sets up in minutes, and the awnings not an issue, as we leave ours zipped on all the time and the spas take seconds to set up.

During that trip of over 6000 kilometres, more than 2500 kilometres was on dirt roads, from the Birdsville Track, Savannah Way, The Strezeleki Track and many more remote out of the way roads.

The Ultimate is 100% water and dust proof, including the boot and the side boots. We could have brought a new caravan for the price of our second hand Ultimate, with the one exception, ours is built to handle the true remote bush areas that we have here in Australia and knowing it will come back home in one piece.

The only main thing that I have now brought for it is fantastic Stone Stomper, for 2 main reasons.

Firstly to stop stone chips on the back of the Prado and to stop broken back windows and to stop the nose cone from chipping.

If anyone tells you that these events will not happen to an Ultimate, tell them they are dreaming and have never been on a dirt road.

I could rave on for ever, but they are just fantastic, very light and easy to town, built as tough as nails, dust proof and made to withstand the toughest tracks that you are capable of tackling.


Cheers from Stephen

One very happy Ultimate owner.

I can only echo Stephen's comments.

We've owned our Ultimate (number 56) since February 1999 and have had countless trips to remote spots. It hasn't let us down.....not once!! (unlike the various Patrol tow vehicles I've owned....but that's a story for another day)

As has already been stated, the bed "issue" is really a "non-issue". There are 3 mattresses which have fitted sheets. It takes mere seconds to move these from their travelling position on the longe, up onto the bed. A doona, likewise, takes less than 30 seconds to throw up into position with a couple of pillows.

We have found that the awnings are another 60 second job (each). Back in the early days (1999 to say 2009) when we were doing a LOT of camping, I had the entire set-up routine down to less than 8 minutes.

I can't (and won't) comment on the other options available, but can honestly say you will not be sorry you purchased an Ultimate. I do know of one that is currently available in Goulburn at an attractive price.... (a friend of mine is going all "soft" and buying a caravan hahaha).

Cheers,

Roachie

Further endorsement of Stephen L and Bill's comments. I've been travelling with John and Suzy since 2009 and have been impressed no end with the robustness, strength and comfort of their 2005 Ulti. Vikki and I picked up our 2006 model Odyssey from the Gold Coast in August and we are thrilled. Our first outing was to the recent Victorian Ulti muster at Ned's corner.

We love ours and you'll never regret the purchase of one.

Cheers Mick

Plenty of good advice there Pandora, and from some of those who have much experience.

I'm not about to buy a camper but have a question for you and others.
You say you're upgrading from the tent, I'm probably at that stage - if not exactly - certainly sleeping on the ground mostly.

Will you change you driving / touring habits after the purchase?

Regards
Alan

Hi Pandora,
I echo all of the above comments about the Ultimate. Giny & I have one and have travelled extensively!
However, ours is for sale. Why are we selling it if it's so good?
Well.....
On our last trip up the NSW coast towards Byron Bay, we decided to call in at the factory for a couple of small spare parts. We walked out a couple of hours later with a quote for a whole new Ultimate. We discussed it at length over the next few weeks and called in at Moruya again on our way home to place our order. Eventually, we will probably get a caravan, but for now the Ultimate is our ideal camper.
I can send you the link to our online ad (via a Member Message) if you are interested?
Barry

We have had an Ultimate for about 10 years now and love it. If you look on the Ultimate web site you will see a video of us negotiating Palm-Creek (Cape York) in 2102.

Another good reason to have the inside kitchen and living area is that you are away from the flies, mosquitoes and sand flies. My wife is allergic to sand fly bites and usually finishes up needing anti-antibiotics.

I timed myself in setting the Ultimate up once and after it was levelled, it took me 4 minutes and 50 seconds to put it up, including the awnings and to make the bed. I am not sure that I could repeat that now as we are using it less often than we used to.

We had our Ulti for many years and I still miss it. We towed ours up the Telegraph track and the French line to Cape York and they will go anywhere you are capable of driving to. Go for it you won't regret it.

Hi there Pandora, living in a small space there is always compromise unless you want to buy a caravan. We have had our Ultimate 334 for 12 years and really love it. With the bed area over the side you have a very comfortable living space and as the weather is not always great it's nice to be able to get inside out of the cold and rain. We put in a webasco diesel heater this year which is fantastic but that's another story. The bed doesn't take long to make, we use two doonas and sleep between them, a QS wool one underneath and a king sized feather one on top. This stops any cold draughts that might come up between the three mattresses which we use across the bed. All the bedding folds up on the couch, doonas spread out first and mattresses on top. We always cook meat outside on a portable gas stove so as not to make the canvas smell. Hope this helps, go and look at them at a show or at the showrooms in Moruya if you can, they are the best made camper on the market, totally dust-proof and strong enough to go anywhere. Hope this helps, Neil & Liz, Orbost Vic.