Pioneer Camper Trailer Owners?

Thanks for the reply, I am looking for set up, packing & pack up advice etc.

As I mentioned above, I'm not really having any issues, would really like to talk to an owner to get some tips & ideas.

Thanks for the heads up, certainly worth checking.
It isn't that I didn't want to know, I just didn't want it to appear that I was having problems other than trying to get tips on storage & packing up.

No dramas give me a yell if you ever want to know. Other tip is be extremely careful with the tap, easy to break the inside tags and tap flies off.

We find it much easier to close camper with myself in usual hard floor position (to side and pulling canvas) and wife at rear lifting floor off ground.

Had to make glove like cover to fit over opening of kitchen and rear door to stop dust. Ie if travelling over hundreds of k's will definitely get dust in Kitchen. We increased seal profile size on kitchen which also helped. Careful of rocks being flicked up on top of draw bar box. They tend to roll back and fall down gap between box and main camper and cause a bit of damage, we fill with foam.

Only pack things you don't want regularly to rear of camper (under bed). Get a water proof sheet to throw on top of bed. If canvas wet when closing will open to wet/damp bedding. Check what style of battery switch used. Ours wouldn't switch back on as voltage cut out was lower than the voltage at draw bar due to voltage drop. Make up a second sink hose supplied one to short. With above tap issue, close kitchen fully at night or even just in a couple of inches will disable the pump. Rear legs have no lock nut and thumb screws face down. Have a habit of loosening on rough roads and fall off, just fit a lock nut. Would suggest going over every nut and screw on camper, had a number of things fall off on rough roads. Including bleeder nipple which meant full brake flush.

Be very careful of door zip at bottom. It may not be an issue as depends on how canvas cut. Ours was very easy to get screen caught in zip. Make sure centre canvas pole thumb screws very tight in wind. Don't get caught putting in large items under bed that you need to get out without lifting floor. Am sure you've noticed can't get full height items out door due to lip. Carry hard flat plate to put under jockey wheel in sand and mud. Am told you can leave short awning on when folding camper. We didn't bother as didn't use that often but wonder how much harder it would be to close up. We fitted egg shell mattress to top of supplied mattress, made a huge difference. Wouldn't put heavy tins of food in Kitchen as bearings are not that strong. Really only designed for plates etc which makes sense. We fitted that nylon covered stretchy wire to the sides of the kitchen for tea towels etc.

Don't use cleaners on canvas as will damage proofing so best bet is if you don't want spots on canvas, don't camp under trees. We didn't worry about it but can get heaps of sap, bird droppings etc. Lift canvas flap regularly and clean where seal fits when closing. Especially on dusty roads.

Will post some more if I think of others.

Thank you!

Hi Shaker and Austravel,

We have just ordered a Pioneer ONYX and hope we don't have all these problems. Thanks for the info, is worth keeping, just in case.

Thanks P&J

Hi P&J,

Not having a go at you but unless they've made some major changes to quality control I can't see why not. To be fair since the last director left they've made a lot of changes. The major one is trying to rectify complainants. They did try to sort out my dramas but pretty hard if you don't live in near the manufacturer.

I'd suggest you go over it with a fine tooth comb before accepting delivery. Not kidding get a couple of spanners and go over the camper. Unless things have changed it's unlikely they've used any flat or spring washers. Be mindful of the kitchen tap. If they still use the plastic caravan tank underneath make sure the stone protection goes top to bottom. Ours didn't' hence stone damage. The foam protection used on the brake lines lasts about 100k on dirt roads. The design is very prone to stone damage, you'll probably need a stone skirt. Yes I know most do but they've cut the stone deflector back to narrow and you get damage on the leading edge of the kit door and mud guards. The latest addition of rubber strips on the front of the camper helps.

Look not trying to knock them to much as I'm sure the new management will make it better. Just trying to make you're aware of the pitfalls. If you know them check out the camper before delivery and ask questions then all should be ok. The impression I got is that the new guys are certainly willing to listen.

Difference is they are relatively new and while all the design faults of the other older brands have been ironed out, these guys have a way to go.

Good luck and I"m sure you'll enjoy it just do some checks before handing over the cash and keep a good eye on the potential leak spots.

Just one more thought. If you can get them to use parallel bearings instead of tapered. I'm pretty sure you can get it as an option. Will be much, much stronger and no dramas with adjustment.

The only reason was price. We were traveling for 3mths and wanted a hard floor camper for that period and probably sell on the return. Havn't sold for various reasons but the only reason was price. Didn't have a real opportunity to properly check out the others and they were 5-7K dearer hence the reason for this one.

You get what you pay for of course.

Oh that's a shame, would have been nice to be able to compare a few similar ones in the same price bracket.

Shaker,

As a point of interest, why did you change from the Track Desert Eagle? I have'nt seen much in the way of bad stories about them.

Gramps, to say it is breaking my heart to part with the Track Desert Eagle, would be the understatement of the century!

Unfortunately my wife has rheumatoid arthritis which at times can make accessing the bed difficult.
This is the ONLY reason that I am parting with my beloved "Eagle".
(The final decison was also arrived at, after determining the comparative cost of changing my wife!)

Shaker,

I thought there must have been a very good reason for the change. Wish you and SWMBO the very best with your Pioneer.

Thank you!

Hi shaker,

I'm in the same boat so to speak. Diagnosed last year and now suffering. Haven't used the camper in that period. How do you close the camper up? It's certainly becoming a struggle for me to help. Hence the reason my wife lifts the rear while I drag on the canvas.

Would be interested in your technique.

Good to hear they must have made quite a few changes.

I've spoken to 4 other owners while tripping around and two didn't think they had any problems until I looked at the leak points and it was just they hadn't noticed. Pealed up a corner of the carpet and there was rust. Actually one of them had the faulty water fillers fitted. There was a large run of water fillers that used to pop off and you'd run water directly into the camper. Also some including mine had no hose clamp, they'd used a zippy tie instead. Filler wan't Pioneers fault it was a Camec brand.

That's great you've had no problems would still keep a very keen eye on those two spots for leaks. The one inside the tyre well will be and if the gap lets go will leak. I'd be interested in how they've fixed the side plates near the rear bar. If they are pop they will snap on rough roads. Tried that with SS and they lasted a couple of weeks. Had to resort to 5mm bolts to lock it all in place. These issues did happen across the and Gibb so had a decent work out. Would have thought however it would be fine as they are off road campers.

Can you let me know which tap they now use. The previous one is very poor quality, a white lay flat unit. You have to be very not to turn off to far as it flexes and breaks a couple of tags inside the tap. Tap can fly off at any time and pump drains the tank.

Quite a few dramas I had were quality control so that may have been looked at with the new management. Also as per previous found the new willing to listen and help were possible.

If you ever want photos of the problem areas to look out for let me know.

No dramas. What email address??