Off road caravans

Here is a good place to ask as its a dedicated owners group
Ask here

How much you want to spend would be good to know as a real off roader is not cheap even at the size you state.
Also what are you going to tow it with.

More info = better answers

Sometimes a good second hand one is worthwhile

Used Bushtrackers

Here is also a site worth reading

Alan

Hi Johno,

I think the first question should be what do think off road means? if you mean formed gravel roads like the Birdsville track then any van with independent suspension will be fine, if however you mean no roads or tracks at all then a specialist builder is what you are after. My thoughts are that any van at 18 ft is to big to be a true off roader. Bushtrackers have a reputation for being the best of the best but geeze how far off road can you really get one? especially if you need an f series truck to tow it?

Peter...

We have a Crusader X-Country and have found it to be most satisfactory. It has Control Rider Suspension from G&S. We travel gravel roads with it but if we want to do 'real' 4wdriving we take our Vista RV Crossover which is designed for such tracks.

Di

We own a New Age MR16E Deluxe van - full height, single axle offroad. 16'is the inside length but closer to 18'outside. It's the sort of van the caravan "forum experts" would say is not a proper offroad van.
But at $67k on the roadit cost half the price of a Bushtracker and had a few more inclusions.
The limitation to offroad travel quite simply the height (3.2m), the width (2.4m) and the weight (2430kg ATM).
You can't take it on the Anne Beadell Hwy because its overgrown.
You can't take it across the Simpson because its too heavy and you'll get bogged. And you can't take it into some secluded camps because it won't fit under the trees to get in there.
But the Tanami, Gary Junction Rd, Gibb River Rd, Cape Yorke, Birdsville Track, Innamincka are all fair game. All those roads regularly see a grader these days and are not the tracks they once were.
The suspension is Vehicle Components Independent 2.6T with 4 shocks and adjustable wheel alignment and greasable bushes; wheels are 1450kg, tyres are Cooper STT, 12" Alko brakes, I don't expect any of this to be an issue.
The chassis is duragal and not hot dipped but made by a specialist chassis manufacturer (Preston). The stone protection underneath is lacking and that would be my main criticism of the van for the usual outback roads, but was easily fixed.
But we got a lot for our money. The build quality was superb - nothing has needed warranty in the first 12 months although I fixed a dribble from a water tank myself. For the money we got a diesel heater, 240W of solar, 35A power supply and 15A charger, ALKO ESC, Reverse camera, gas/electric water, air cond, leather, marine BBQ, etc etc
I added a 3rd water tank and grey water tank, bike rack, and as I said, added some stone protection.
But we have kept our Tvan and it gets used by our family. And the Tvan is superb when we go somewhere unsuitable for the caravan.
My advice is to consider the height/width/weight and rear overhang which is what will limit your offroad travel.

We have a 19'6" Seachange 595 from the Haines group, tows well with a Pajero or Prado.
If you can find a 2nd hand one it would be an excellent buy


I don't think there is a Bushtracker that you could tow with a Prado

Myles

LandRover recommends, and this is endorsed by Robert Pepper, that an offroad trailer should be no more than about a third of the max ATM stated as suitable by the tug's manufacturer.

'Unsealed road' is different.

Gday all
I'm not a van owner , I do have a 4x4, camper trailer ,Isuzu truck based motorhome and motorbikes.
Doesn't matter what your travelling with be towing something or just 4x4 or a motorbike, if you go hard you'll break anything!
We came down from Birdsville last year on bikes, I couldn't believe how fast some people towing various trailers and vans were going. Just asking for s..t to break. Maybe they were gunna sell them when they had done the trip!
Buy the highest quality you can afford, but if you thrash it it will break!
Cheers
Robbo

Trakmaster have been making offroad vans since 1990's. They are regarded as one of the "proper" off road vans. We had a 14' (interior) Kimberley poptop for some 14 years. Towed it about 130,000kms in that time, and over some pretty rough tracks. Only sold it due to health issues - and we know that since its sale it has been back up to the Kimberley, taking the Tanami, Gibb, Mitchell Plateau etc . Great product..

You will be limited to what you can buy because of the Prado's tow capacity of only 2500kg.

As far as I know no one has manged a GVM upgrade on a Prado and even if you did it wont increase the tow capacity and as it has a stated GCM it may in fact lower it.

Sad but true.

As a matter of interest, which model Prado has a 2.8 diesel?

In my view, after travelling extensively off-road for several months each year for the past decade, you have to look beyond the "pretend" and real off-road vans, and anything too big or heavy - even if strongly built - won't travel along narrow windy tracks.
I reckon the best on the market comes from the following - Australian Offroad at Caloundra; Track Trailer at Bayswater (Melbourne), Kimberley Campers at Ballina, and Complete Campsite (Grafton I think).
I admit to bias because we had a Track TVan which performed faultlessly for the past four years, and their larger Topaz is a great unit. Now we have had an AOR Ecllipse, which is a fantastic unit behind our Hilux.
Whatever you get, make sure it's made in Aus, not in China or imported and just locally assembled - we've had travelling companions whose "bargain" fell apart on the road.
And do your research by talking to or visiting the manufacturers, and getting on to their owners' forums to check on things like warranty and after sales service.
Good luck with the search!!

If you are like me you probably can't afford one but this looks like a good new toy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2VvmqADlrY

Your requirements are probably met by what is termed 'dirt road capable' van , plenty of manufacturers make these . We have a Billabong Broometime 2 - 21'6" - no problems at all on our trips these last 6 years , Birdsville , Lake Eyre , Kimberley etc