National Park Travel

Thank you RMD
Yes apologies for the lack of terminology ??. Looking at a hybrid pop top not camper trailer ) if that makes more sense ).
We will be more “Glampers” I suspect and our ensuite was more around the loo not so much the shower. We don’t fancy getting up in the middle of the night heading outside to the loo. I can but a bit harder for the ladies. We do love outdoors living but I also am concerned about cooking outside when it’s cold and miserable, so great point, and yes I don’t really think of taking a seperate cooker. I assume you do that with refrigeration too ?

Terrific advice, thank you Jim

And just make sure to check where your selected camper is built - despite looking good, there is some awful imported rubbish around at enticing prices

Thanks Wildmax. The quantum has been on our support list but does t have inside cooking. Not that we have decided what we want yet, it is an good option. Thank you for your advice.

Quantum family does have inside cooking as an option. We had one with it fitted so do know. It adds incredible value and amenity when the weather outside turns bad. But the fridge remains outside so that becomes another first world problem.

After four years and 140,000km of out back travel we recently took delivery of a Matrix Full Height as bad weather always seems to find us when you spend 3-5 months per year on the road.

Best to take a look at the Complete Campsite range as well. But look very closely at the hard differences between those two Australian manufacturers, particularly in regard to the 140l black tank and marine macerator toilet with AOR and a small chemical cassette toilet with pretty much most others. Some are now looking at providing non-water/chemical based toilets AOR included

Rob

We had the similar specifications as you when we were looking to buy 12 months ago. Our narrowed down list included Kimberley Karavan, AOR, Complete Campsite, Rhinomax(?), Track Topaz(?), Mountain Trail & Zone.
I hope you understand you are looking at $70k + even for 10 years old?

Do your sums on what your max tow weight your vehicle has, then deduct a min of 500kg from it and that should be the maximum ATM of what you buy if you are considering GRR (Kimberley), Cape York etc. Your vehicle may be rated to 3T say, but you are mad taking anything over 2.5T on extended corrugated roads with it.
The reason I say all this is there are some great looking new Chinese built Hybrids around significantly cheaper, but there ATM is close to 3T. I am not knocking or questioning the quality of these hybrids, but the above Australian hybrids have much lower ATMs. In addition they are proven and most importantly you can get parts & service.

Thanks Mark,
Great advice. I’d be interested in what you ended up selecting and why if you wouldn’t mind sharing ? We are very conscious of the international brands and we have made a point (rightly or wrongly) to choose an Australian manufacturers product to support the local industry and because we believe the build quality should be better even though we understand the higher cost.

Regards
John

Complete Campsite Exodus 14. Complete Campsite (CC) closed /went bust in 2020, but two former employees have a business repairing and servicing CC units on the NSW central coast. We liked the AORs as well, but as Pluckachook had closed the border for much of 2020, we couldn't venture into Qld to see them. Those half dozen brands I listed we thought highly of, just comes down to what suits your specific requirements best and $s.
Mark

I thought Complete Campsite (Genesis) had recently had a phoenix-like return from a near-death experience, much like Ultimate and Kimberley in 2018-19. They exhibited at the show in Sydney in April. Although I concede that was one owner showing one van on behalf of the factory, rather than the factory showing multiples, but someone still paid the not insubstantial exhibitors fee.

And FWIW, that van had a Nature's Head composting toilet fitted as an option.

I generally agree with Mark's list.

I might be over thinking this, but AOR doesn’t have a fully galvanised chassis compared to some Aussie brands. Anyone know the X15 off road from North Coast Off Road RVS ?
Is a fully galvanised chassis better which seems to be the case from what I read ?
John

NCC has a fully hot dipped chassis with inside & outside shower & inside & outside galley.
Cheers
Batsy

Re "I’d be interested in what you ended up selecting and why if you wouldn’t mind sharing ?", I was waiting for Mark to answer but I eventually realised that he did, he bought a CC Exodus 14. I'll also answer, as my shortlist pretty much matched his.

First up, none of these are cheap if purchased new. I ended up ordering a Kimberley Karavan. A large part of the reason was its compact height for storage, meaning I can store it at home. I may _just_ be able to with the Complete Campsite Exodus, but it would be tight. Were I to seriously consider one I'd want to know a little more about the current state of this small company given its recent difficulties.

Other than size, the things that attracted me to the KK included the ability to cook either indoor or out, and an internal shower and (composting) toilet. A lot of the hybrids on the list only have external kitchens, although I see that internal may be an option for some. The advantage of external is that there's no internal gas, so I wonder how they would option an internal kitchen. The current KK has an induction cooktop and a microwave inside - if you've got enough battery capacity you could use a portable induction cooktop inside on a van with an external kitchen.

The other van that impressed me was the Mountain Trail LXV series, although their hybrids are full-height, just narrower. They seem well thought-out and well-built and seem to have a good reputation - you could probably say that for nearly all the brands on Mark's list.

Hey Bob

That Sirocco looks the goods and would suit me perfectly - only minor trouble being I'm about $55,000 short of the purchase price - without any extras :)

Doesn't matter - I will just keep travelling this big brown land sleeping in my 30 yo trusty DB swag.


Happy safe - and comfortable travels if you have a Sirocco

Cheers
Gazz

Thank you for the tip. Looks similar to the AOR Quantum and a good option.

Or you could talk to Chris Murray at Murraybilt onFacebook or Instagram. Very customisable. Top quality stuff. He does a few different sizes.