CUB Camper Trailers - Any First Hand Advise?

No first hand experience with them Peter, but my search identified this model is available in both on-road and off-road configurations. The difference will be in the type of suspension.

For an outback trek you will most likely need the Off-road suspension unless you are sticking to the blacktop. So, check the type of suspension it has and if it suits your requirements you will be doing OK.

We have a 10 year old cub. It has been to the Cape, the Kimberly and many other places. It is still in good condition. Just check if you can put 16" tyres on it as this will assist you with spares. Ours tows very well ands is comfortable. We added a foam mattress to extend the comfort.

Hope you have as enjoyment form yours as we have had from ours.

Jim

We've towed a cub camper all over Oz, bought the first one in 1979 and the second (off road supamatic) in 1988, both are still going strong. The basic cub's need some modifications and strengthening but are a good unit. The later ones I've not looked at and as our kids have grown up we mostly use the shippshape these days for the two of us.

My parents have just completed a lengthy journey with their Xtrail and Cub camper with touring pack. See post 27471.

We have learned that it is possible to get to most places (except the extreme where you would not tto be towing anyway) with the rule 'Drive to the conditions' with appropriate speed the main ingredient.

They didn't have any trouble on their journey with us across the Plenty and then later across the GCC.

Bundy

Peter I don't have personal experience of having used a Cub but I have looked very closely at them & they are near the top of my shortlist at the moment. The Spacevan is the high sided one yeah? If it is I reckon it is a beauty and much cheaper than a lot of others eg Pioneer & Kimberley. ORE sells them in WA. Cub have been making them for a long time & are still in business so you would think since they haven't gone broke and disappeared they must know a bit about building them eh? What I like about them is you don't have to climb up steps to get to the bed. Also you can get off end of the bed to get out rather than have to climb over the person on the outside of the bed which is a pain when nature calls during the night and is common with most of the soft top types where you sleep along the trailer rather than across it. Also being a hard top they are much more dust proof. I found with a Cavalier I borrowed from a workmate recently the dust literally poured in through the zip even though the canvas cover was pulled down all round with occy straps. Another plus with the hard top is fewer pegs to put in unless you want to put up the annexe or second room. I found irrespective of what people say I couldn't sit down for drink in under an hour from time of backing into the camping bay with the Cavalier. That does include the annexe with ropes and pegs, all lights up and leads plugged in, fridge plugged in, etc. Regards the suspension it seems coils or leaf springs is a bit like the Holden v Falcon argument. It depends who you talk to. I have to say the independent trailing arm set ups with coils and shockies looks good but whether you really need it I am not sure. Apparently there are some problems to be aware of with electric brakes off road. Not sure exactly what the specifics are but would be worth looking at prior to purchase.

I think generally , the Cubs are pretty good. The only issue I have heard over recent time , is some of the Quality control , mostly in regards to wiring , but pretty ordinary. I have heard that those issues have been resolved.

I purchased a Spacevan about 8 weeks ago and have done a trip up to Shark Bay and Francios Perron NP - not much rough stuff, but it held together, was 100% dustproof (but have to seal fridge vents in hte worst dust) and towed really well. I previously had a soft floor camper trailer which was tough as nails and we enjoyed, but now we love the CUB. I am now intending to tow it along the Connie Sue Hwy to Uluru and back along the great central to Perth.

Hard floor is 100% the way to go, and the extra side height allows me to store heaps of stuff just on top of the bed (including bunks about 90% set up and six plastic drawers for clothes etc). Setting up/down is so easy and quick compared to the old camper and the inside kitchen was great when the sou-westerlies were blowing, interior space is excellent (sleeping 2 adults and 3 kids), fridge & interior is great, I would say yes, it does work as it should. We were also able to camp in spots that the soft floor never could - on a sloping site, a rocky site and straight on the beach sand (without pegs).

A couple of lesser points: it is very hard to make the bed, we use 10 - 15% more fuel than when towing the old trailer (about the same weight) behind a 4.0l petrol Prado, it takes up more room in the shed, it took a long time from order to delivery (12+ weeks), and although you can access the fridge/cupboards etc when on the road, it is not quite as easy to have a roadside meal as the old trailer (which had a taligate kitchen).

If you are ordering a new one make sure you get a door on both sides to access the area under the bed, and maybe the better mattres. We also have the roll out BBQ, which is really quick and easy.

I am probably biased, but I am also very happy with what was a significant purchase.