Which Campervan is best?
Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 11:46
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GEG
Hi now that you wonderful knowledgable beings assisted in the decision making process of my new truck purchase...any ideas on which campervan to get?
I dont want the tent on wheels style, as Im a woman usually travelling alone with my 3
young children who dont really like assisting me to set up
camp for too long, unless I stand there screaming at them with the hammer in one hand...then they oblige quite readily..so I would rather avoide the screaming scenarios at most costs and consider more seriously about purchasing one of those jayco campervans, or pop top...Yes we will be taking it off road, but it wouldnt be going too much further off road than to Fraser or Similiar
beach camp. I will be using it on the highway a bit as I do a
Melbourne trip at least once every 10 mths.
I am leaning more to the campervan at this stage due to their taking up less space to store at
home, and I assume they dont chew up as much petrol when you tow them, cos they fold down lower, and they appear to be lighter, they also over more bedspace? But how much difficulty is involved with setting them up? Be very interested to hear from other woman on the manageability of setting up campervans? Thanks, I so look forward to all your advice...
ps. van will be pulled by a v8 cruiser & I my eldest is a 13 year old boy, taller than me and capable of at least holding something should he need to.
Reply By: Bronco2 - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 12:29
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 12:29
Hi there!
Well, i gotta tell you from the outset..I do not favour pop-tops! Particularly if you intend going off the bitumen with it. Lots of friends of
mine who have owned one seem to complain that things tend to go wrong with the mechanism ( probably get some stick from current owners!) Other thing is (so I'm told)..they tend to leak a little in the wet weather. However, having said that, they are okay to tow (low profile) and appear to be fairly
well set up inside (compact). My choice, if I were in your situation, would be to go look at the Avan series..very
well constructed, and proven to be robust. However, your talking to a camper/trailer man..a little bias! happy hunting!
Bronco
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Follow Up By: GEG - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 13:45
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 13:45
I cant anything on the avan series...? Are they very expensive?
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Reply By: flappa - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 14:02
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 14:02
Just a clarification to make sure we are talking about the same things.
Campervan, I'm assuming you are talking about the Jayco Style , end push out , type things . . . Now called Campertrailers , just like their Box Trailer type Campertrailer Brothers and Sisters.
Campervans are really now the Converted Hiace/Sprinter/Troopy . . . Hire Vehicle . . . type things.
So , assuming you ARE talking about the Jayco style trailers . . .
They are pretty easy to setup. The roof is winched into position , not lifted , and the Beds are on runners. I cant think of too much where heavy lifting is involved. I would think they should be managable by a lady easy enough.
I would think 30mins tops , to have it setup to sleep overnight.
Its basically, wind down the support legs , pop the roof , push out the ends , put in supports . . . Job done.
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Follow Up By: GEG - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 14:18
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 14:18
yep thems the ones flappa...Did I not mention Jayco?
Well thanks for the run down on how to set them up. Sounds real easy. More time to enjoy the holiday destination, or the bottle of wine Ive just opened.
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Follow Up By: flappa - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 14:39
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 14:39
Yeah you mentioned Jayco in one sentence , and then Campervan in another . . . Just making sure we were talking about the same thing.
I actually regret not buying a Jayco and buying a regular camper trailer.
The Jayco would have suited our requirements better , but , live and learn.
One downside you might want to think about is , they aren't designed for a quick roadside "cuppa". The kitchen is not easily accessed without the roof being up. You need to have seperate Cuppa/Lunch facilities available to you.
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Follow Up By: GEG - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 21:43
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 21:43
I saw a goldstream version and it had an outside slot on the side of the van...which took a small stove and another slot when folded down turned into a little table...very handy i thought...
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Reply By: Jarse - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 14:47
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 14:47
I've got a Coromal Silhouette PS391. I'm quite happy with it. It appears to be
well made, and is easy to set up. It tows really
well, i.e. doesn't affect handling much, and I've had very few problems with it so far.
Beds are standard, i.e queen at the front and double at the back. Plus the dinette folds down so you could sleep a child there.
You could set up the camper by yourself, but the assistance of one or more of the kids inside makes it far easier - like pushing the beds and kitchen out. You can give them each a simple task and that'll make it fun for them.
There's heaps of info on this site about the different brands and relative strengths and weaknesses of each. Whichever brand you get - just get it! You'll never look back.
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Follow Up By: GEG - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 15:03
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 15:03
I like the coromal, but fear they may be past my budget. How much did you pay for yours..did you get new or used.??
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Reply By: Keith_A (Qld) - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 18:47
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 18:47
Hi GEG. We have owned this style of camper for about 20 years.
They are great. Previous posts have asked simliar questions on this
forum.
On the top of the
forum page, to the left of the search field you will see a space called ' Post Find'. If you know the post number, you can type it in.
So - have a look at these posts - No 30549; 21724; 18127;25897 and 5761.
You can also search for say - Swan; Dove; Coromal or Goldstream.
They may help with additional info on these style of campers.
We currently own a Coromal Magnum offroad. Paid $17,000 2nd hand.
Good luck with your research......................Keith.
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Follow Up By: GEG - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 21:46
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 21:46
fantastic, thats about what I want to pay for a second hand one too.
do you have any problems towing it?
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Reply By: Jimbo - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 20:48
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 20:48
GEG,
There is no, one, perfect camper. It has to suit your needs.
We've progressed from "tent on wheels" (albeit with a QS Bed, side kitchen,
water tank, full awning etc) to a Jayco Eagle Outback.
The Jayco is very comfortable, reasonably quick to set up, would tow behind your LC with ease. Still, keep in mind you have to sleep three kids. If one is happy to kip with you and two are happy to share the other end it is a breeze. If perhaps the 13 year old lad wants to sleep solo, you will have to drop the table each night.
Storage room is not huge (but a lot better than a "tent on wheels") so you have to work out what goes where. The back of the Cruiser would hold plenty.
All I would suggest is walk every Caravan dealer available to you and examine the offerings in detail. Make no mistake, they look great in a Caravan Yard, empty, but it is a diiferent scenario once you load them with all of your gear.
Cheers,
Jim.
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