Caravans

If you are spending over 60000 have a good look at the Trailcraft caravans built in W.A. No connection just thought they looked the best in that price range at the caravan show.Friend bought one and is very happy.

We need to know the make of the van to give any sort of real advice.
If it is a popular brand then you may have a reasonable outcome.
All you can really do is check check and check again.
Most of the van makers are flat out building as amny as they can so be aware of this as quality can become a problem.
When it is finally ready for pick up go through the whole van with a fine tooth comb looking for any faults before parting with the final Dollars.
We purchased a Regal (custom built) 5 years ago and the back up service etc was great to say the least . However there were no real probs with the van, it did everything it was designed for.

The Supreme is a very good van. A guy I know who is a retired caravan dealer has bought himself a Supreme van and said that of all the vans he has dealt with over 30 years, the Supreme was the best all-round van he had come across. I am like Dodger I have a Regal and I think that it is a very good van but I would have liked a Supreme but couldn't afford the model I wanted. If you look at Jayco vans then check with people who have had them for a few years.

I've bought two vans in the last three years and have not had a problem with the dealer either time. The vans were both good with only very minor problems. The manufacturers also fixed the problems Immediately and without a quibble, mind you I think they also built a good product. I have a couple of points of advice based on my experiences.

- Do your research on the vans , the builders and the dealers.
- Be very clear on what you want before you start talking to the dealer.
- If the dealer recommends something, take it on board but don't necessarily rush into anything. Quite often what they are suggesting makes sense and you don't then have to trade a van in after one trip to get the one you really should have got in the first place, but thats a separate issue and another story I'm saving up.
- When you buy the van make sure that everything (and I do mean everything) is written down that has been agreed to and make sure you read what is being ordered very carefully. In my case, the dealer and I agreed we would have the "wooden floor look" vinyl floor covering. We ended up with a "tile or slate" look covering. It looked quite good but it was not what we asked for but when I looked at the plans there was no mention of our preference so we lat that go through to the keeper.

If you see a van that you are wanting the sister of, make sure you take lots of notes and photos of the things that attracted you to that van. Builders sometimes change small things unbeknown to anyone including the dealer. Detail these items in the plan. I missed out on a 12 volt plug inside the van because they stopped doing that and again it was not on the list.

Make sure you look at the van being built on a regular basis. Most builders don't mind and if they do then I'd be wondering why?

good luck
Toolman

Aknot

The only test that I know is to ask the dealer if they would give you the phone numbers of three clients who have bought that brand of van.

If they refuse to you'd have to ask why. If they give them to you, you never know what a chat might bring up.

But Dave Benson's has got a huge big profile in Adelaide - that must help too.

Good luck

Max

Being from Brisbane, I have no experience with Dave Benson vans so I can't comment on his after sales service.

I have owned a Supreme Getaway for the last 7 years and it has served me very well. I have had it severely overloaded most of the time and done around 250-300 thousand km's in it. The interior is still pretty good, the outside looks like it has done as many k's as it has but structurally it is still first class in my opinion. I have heard the later built one's have dropped in build quality to what I believe I got but that is hearsay until I see first hand. My experience with Supreme has been all good and I personally would go another Supreme again if the need arises to update, but at the rate of wear in my current one, that will be a long time away.

Good luck with your choice and I hope it is a pleasant as possible ownership experience.

Regards, Trevor.

Gday, we ordered our Supreme Territory from Perth and picked it up in Melbourne Where theyre made and saved about 5K (delivery and stamp duty costs). Have lived in it for over a year now with wife and 3yr old travelling Oz. Could not be happier - very little wear compared to the Jayco camper we had. Supreme use good quality laminates/ materials and were very flexible when it came to striking up a good deal. Supreme basically said that they would build whatever we needed. Even though they were a month behind on delivery dates - they threw in a few extras. All the best with the Suprme.

Bushtracker could build one for that price, they custom build 18' for around that price as a basic or starting price
Macka2