What is the best size to buy in a camper trailer?

What brand do you have with the 3 kids? Are you happy with it?

Hi Karicher,
We have a bitsa. I've changed things over and over the last few years. I've modified it to suit our needs as things have changed and the kids have grown up.It's a 7" x 4" Trailerworld trailer, with at 1.8M draw bar.Tool box on the draw bar with tarps and accessories in it, 9kg gas bottle next to the Jockey wheel. 6" pvc pipe for the poles and spreader bars. Two gerry can holder, one either side, 1 3Kg gas bottle near rear tailgate. 7' pull out kicthen, 80 ltr water tank in trailer. I have just extended the side wall of the trailer to get it to the right height for the tent top, 1080mm. The trailer has wind down caravan legs The tent i bought on Ebay for $1590 delivered.
A 7x6 tarp goes over the top if we stay anymore than a couple of days somewhere. http://home.exetel.com.au/hairfysh/My%20World/Camping%20Pics/
New%20camper%20without%20Trailer/index.html
Here are a couple of pics without the trailer under it. All up now it has cost some $8000.00 and we're very happy with it.I'm sorry I don't have any pics with it sitting on our trailer.
Hope this helps. I do like the idea of Martyb's with an extra room just of the side of the draw bar. It is a bit of wasted space on a site. We'll probaby modify this as things change and we find better ways of doing things.
It's addictive this camping thing.

Hi Karicher,
Sorry here is the Ebay address.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Explorer-12-Camper-Trailer-Top-Tent-New-Design_W0QQitemZ180211773066QQihZ008QQcategoryZ9882QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers.

Hi Sand Man,
Thanks for posting the link to Campertrailers.org. Very informative.
I'll spend days, no weeks in there.
Can some one tell the Cook where I am.

Cheers.

Thanks heaps. I'll take a look at campertrailers.org now.

I love the Trak Shak but it's out of my budget. I phoned today and they said it starts at $29,000! Our budget is about $13,000.

For some reason I thought the Camprite was only for 4 people. I'll have another look. If i remember right, I think it's out of our budget :( All the good ones I like are.

Hi Karicher

The Camprite can be fitted with bunks (factory option) on both single beds so that you can sleep 4 kids if required.

Cheers

Captain

Yep, looks great, but out of the budget I am sorry to say :(

hi Captain,

What does canvas look like on a well travelled and well used camper trailer?

Hi Karicher,

Canvas generally softens a bit with age, new canvas is fairly stiff whereas older canvas is relatively easy to fold. You will always get dirt and grime in high traffic areas and the roof of the camper (bird droppings, tree sap etc...) will never clean off like brand new.

Red dust tends to colour the canvas even after washed but the main thing is that there should be no areas that are very thin from wear ie. set the camper up in daylight and you can see varying amounts of sunlight (shadow?) thru the canvas.

Canvas will last for ages if looked after right, the main thing not to have is areas of mould/mildew from being packed up wet and left folded without drying.

Remember that a brand new camper will become "old" very quickly with a few trips. Ours was still like brand new after ~5 trips but now with ~30 nights away in ~10 trips you can tell its not brand new but still in excellent condition.

Not sure if this helps, its very hard to describe but really easy to see the difference.

Cheers

Captain

Thanks Captain.

We looked at a 2nd hand Camper today. 10K. Would cost me 18K to buy the same now.

It was a 2004 model. It certainly had no Mildew/Mould and we didnt notice any areas thin from wear.

It just had marks/colours on it. Mainly on the roof. Hard to explain as I have never looked at any other used campers. I guess it just had that well used look without being worn in anyway.

There was a small hole in one of the window flyscreens that they said a mouse had chewed its way through to get the biscuits on the table inside. But they said they would fix that.

They said it has never leaked and no dust ever gets in to anything.

The owners were lovely and have kept it well maintained.

They have traveled a lot over the last few years. They estimate they would have spent about a year in total in the camper. They have up graded to a new off road Jayco Eagle.

I guess I'm used to buying "new". But, it suits our budget and has everything we need.

I would have prefered it to be slightly bigger with the kids. It's 13ft in total. Probably just have to get a set of bunks for the kids to make more room. Could use the top bunk to store the bags on.

What a stress. Have to hurry as it probably wont be on the market long as I am sure there are others who wont be as fussy as me!

Good point. I had not considered that. Now that you mention it, I think the Cavalier one we looked at was like that.

Can you tell me any brands that have the door placed in a different position?

Hi Karicehr,
jumbuck, Ding are 2 that I know of

Hi,
jumbuck, Dingo are 2 that I know of

Thanks, that would be great.

tiger@netspeed.com.au

What brand is your trailer?

Hi, Email has been sent.

from Marty.

Kids are all young. 3,5 & 7.

We looked at a second hand camper today. It's a 13foot. I am presuming when you say 8ft, you don't include the bed on the trailer.

I was a bit worried it may be a bit tight, but hubby thinks that since you only sleep in the tent part it would be fine. Could always have 1 set of bunks I guess. It came with a full annexe, so if weather is bad, we would use that as living area.

How old is your camper? What are the normal wearings on canvas for a trailer that is well travelled?

Yes the 8ft is just the tent extension.
Bunk beds would work well for the kids.
My camper is 18 months old so the only issue i have with the canvas is the red dust. I consider the canvas to still be as good as new. We have probably spent about 50 nights in it.
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