Article Comment: Fifth Wheel Caravans

My personal opinion is that anyone who buys an American-built caravan, and uses it on Australian roads, is just looking for trouble.
They are built for American roads and conditions that are vastly different to Australia's roads and conditions.
Just a quick read of the number of Americans disappointed in the build quality, the lack of company backup, and the number of faults in Keystone 'vans, would be enough to make me remove Keystone from the 'van shopping list.
Then there's the simple conflicts between our standards and American standards.
American pipe threads are NPT, ours are BSP. Simple fittings such as hinges and catches are often brands and styles unknown in Oz.
The American vans are built to inch measures in every component. If something needs repair, you have to find a close metric equivalent locally.
Frames in American vans use American softwoods that cope poorly with our harsh climate.
Braking systems are quite often peculiarly American. It goes on an on.
Some people are happy to cope with the differences - to others such as myself, it's too much to have to deal with, to try and chase up some oddball component that no-one has ever seen, and which is unavailable locally.

Dissatisfied Keystone 'van owners in the U.S.

Cheers, Ron.

Agree with the above post. Australia is not that well served by a reasonable local 5th wheel industry..but partly because of the relatively low demand.

We are thinking of that type of van later on, but mostly even the caravan manufacturing in Australia and what comes out of Campbellfield VIC is about as good as the low quality you see in the States, and timber framing still...thats still the horse and coach technology for most manufacturers.

Buying US unit is probably going to buy problems and grief at some point as described above.

A good way to see the garbage being mostly sold in Australia if you don't know a lot about caravans under the skins is to visit damaged ones in salvage/auction yards.

Good luck.

Phil,
I have been researching camper trailers and caravans in an effort to add a little more luxury beyond my current setup for more than 5 years. Fifth wheelers aren't in scope for me but nevertheless my research has led me to appreciate that the more luxury internally the less capable off road they tend to be. I am not sure where you mean in reference to "our major dirt road" but you are correct in suggesting that corrugations and bull dust are common on limited maintenance roads. Off road caravans from my observations are designed with better clearance and to vastly varying degrees better dirt road travelling. Beyond that I haven't seen many I would take too far from the black top. I saw a few on Cape York recently who had experienced minor to significant damage on what really was pretty good road - with corrugations but not too bad. Fifth wheelers generally struggle in many of the "off the beaten track" caravan parks because of their sheer size. Others have already mentioned the draw backs in buying an American unit for use in Oz. Something they haven't mentioned is that the door is on the wrong side too I think - sounds trivial perhaps but it would be a real nuisance. If you were prepared to forfeit the luxury of the Laredo for some capability and reliability you might not have to change cars. Bushtracker and Trakmaster are two that come to mind but there are others. If you offer more info on your planned travels and vehicle there are many on this forum who can offer very experienced advice.
Good luck with your research.
Ken

After going to the link and reading more than 10 pages about poor construction and worse service I would run a mile from it.

Other things to consider. Has it been complianced properly for Australia It would need to be rewired, have double pole electrical sockets. 240 volt appliances Gas lines changed to comply with our regs.
It must have a fully functioning door either on the left side or the rear.

Check how wide it is Most USA vans are overwidth in Australia even without the awning which is included in the measurement.

If it was privately imported it could have had a stepdown tranny to run the appliances but that is not legal for onsale to someone else.

On reading the complaints about build quality I would be worried about taking one off a concrete parking lot LOL

Some good Aus built ones which you dont see problems with such as Travelhome. Despite some doing it I would never consider a USA import unless it was new and built to Aussie specs.%29%26]Look at this one Others available on that site

These look OK



%29%26%28%28%28S]First one



[/url] 2nd one


%29%26%28%28%]3rd one

Met a bloke with a fifth wheeler on the Birdsville Track a few years ago. The road was in fair condition but had nearly shaken his US built unit to pieces.
Cupboards falling off, windows shaken loose etc.
He was not a happy chappie but he should perhaps have expected it
Not for me
Ross