Crusader Offroad Caravan

Thanks Barbara. I am told the Crusader is manufactured by Dreamhaven Caravans in Victoria, and used to come under the umbrella of Regent Caravans. Also apparently were first produced late 1990s. I am looking for a robust van that will tolerate without any problems corrugated and gravel roads one finds out west [Birdsville; Cameron Corner, etc.]

Lynton,
It is very hard to find the van to fit those requirements, at the moment we have a Supreme Getaway 15 foot, we are selling a Jayco outbck with double bunks, but still not really satisfied would love a Kedron ATV but havent got the $
Barb

Like some otehers we have an Evernew, 2002 single anxle 17ft model with coil/shocker suspension. cost 35k on the road back then, it's now been towed 103119km (actaul tow km's not trip km's the tow vehicle has done around double that on the trips) over many roads, including the Tanami, Gibb River, Great Central, Plenty etc.. not dramas While not a perfect van (caravanning is certainly a compromise if nothing else) and did need some minor mods, like pipes, hose, wires, taps etc protection it's been a good van and it's next trip is up to Cape York via the bypass next year.

I'd not hesitate to buy another and for the $$$ we paid are pretty happy with the van. Just remember any vban will break if you treat it bad enough and most well built vans will go 'bush' where most vehicles can tow them, just needs a little care and common sense to be taken by the driver.

Buy a van that will suit the majority of what you want to use it for not the 1% of use that you may someday want to use it for. ie with cut away rear ends you lose so much storage space, we don't have cut away and it's not stopped us yet

Cheetah:

Do you have contact details so I can discuss the Evernew with you?

Lynton

Lynton,

They are on Bell st in Heidelberg. 03 9459 7516.

Cheetah:

I take it from your endorsement for the Evernew that you have owned such a van and have towed it over the roads I have mentioned. Could I please have YOUR contact details so I can discuss the matterwith you.

Regards

Lynton

Lynton,

I own and have towed a lesser known offroader (Roadstar) over those roads you mention.

Evernew could not deliver on time so was forced to go elsewhere. I had a long look around (12+months) and could not find a better built van on the market. talked to every Evernew owner i could find about their experiences. All positive. They are without doubt the best constructed van i have seen. I have seen plenty and being in the building trade i do have an eye for quality.

Bushtracker, pheonix, t/master and kedron are all very well built vans but come at a premium. Evernew is without doubt the next best for a lot less.

Ring them and go have a look. If you know what you are looking for and have time to wait, you wont go anywhere else. Unless you got lots of money to get the above mentioned. My next van will be an Evernew.

David

Thanks David for your info and advice. Very much appreciated.

Lynton

Motherhen, Some of those horror stories include the bushtracker too. Heard some sad stories about the Baroma as well. Evernew will build a van as good as anyone of the traditional offroaders for near half the price. There is no perfect van. Regards Dave

Hi Dave

Some of the horror stories are from people who believe their rig is an army tank, or who have driven on dirt roads just a tad too fast for the conditions, and without letting the tyres down enough. Like a car, a caravan needs maintenance and regular checks too. A brand new off road version of the brand you mentioned came off the Tanami needing major repairs just before we went through that way. The cost of recovery for a caravan which has broken down in a remote location is pretty daunting, and not a position i would like to be in.

In contrast, we saw two large Jaycos at Drysdale River Station off the Gibb River Road - they said they take them anywhere - just drive to the conditions - maybe it took them all year to get there! I don't know what after market reinforcements they had done before travelling the remote roads, but they drove them very cautiously.

But the bottom line is, you get what you pay for.

Motherhen

Motherhen, I have seen your chosen brand parked up and going nowhere waiting repairs . No van is invincible.

You are correct though, drive to the conditions.

A good spot to pull up for a while to get some info is Borroloola caravan park.

You get what you pay for??. Alot of the cost is for the name. Cars are a good example of that.

Nothing wrong with reinforcing a van if you think it needs it. How many stock standard Cruisers and Patrols Etc do you see in remote areas. I would dare say None.

Each to their own and what they want to spend.

cheers Dave

p.s. I know from reading your posts over some time now, you are not one of the barrel chested, look at me, tracker owners and speak from your own truths.

Have to agree Motherhen. I just travelled the gulf track with some people we met in Karumba they had a Jayco expanda i was waiting for it to fall apart. But to my surprise it handled fine it just go,s to show don't always believe what you read. Cheaper vans will get you most places just a bit slower Cheers Tony

Hi Tony

They are taking a risk all the same - some of them do come to grief and it costs them big dollars recovery or abandon ship. Not always covered by insurance, or much of it by motoring association member cover. Not a situation i would like to be in well having a holiday. Better to pay the money up front and be sure the rig fits the job.

Mh

Hey Keith

Great to hear from someone who even knows someone who has a Crusader let alone has even heard of the brand! And thank you for all the other advice you passed on. It is invaluable stuff! I shall follow up your link re suspension just as soon as I forward this to you.

Thank you again

Cheers

Lyn [Lynton]

Gday Keith, How long ago did you have your coromal. They were a great van but they have been mass produced since about 2004. I put them in the same category as Jayco, millard and windsor, all mass produced. Riveted aluminium frames dont like corrugations.

Lynton, Crusader vans are a well presented van and as good as any other onroad van. The Roadstar dealer i bought my van from was also a crusader dealer. Keith is spot on with suspension. Do not even consider getting a dressed up onroader (made to look offroad) without independent suspension.

Hi Cheetah - Our Coromal was a 2004 - so perhaps we had a good one.
You are right - riveted Aluminum frames do not stand up to corrugations,where-as a wood frame will flex - but then wood and glue/staples are also prone to damage. As I understand it, the jury is still out on the choice. The dearer brands are mainlyl welded aluminum frames.

Also - the word "off-road" gets watered down until it means smooth gravel surface.

I found the article "why wheels come off" by Collyn Rivers (see my SITE LINK above) very thought provoking. His point is that without shock absorbers, the impact from a bump/pothhole/corrugation hammers the spring/suspension up - the van weight pushes it back down where the road impact hammers it back up etc.
The tyres will remove some of the impact energy, and the springs will heat up also removing some, but the end result is likely damage to the van (esp if you have the tyres at the recommended 50psi). Lower tyre pressures help, but the whole design of shock absorbers is to dissipate that energy via heat. Price/cost cutting is the ONLY reason why "off-road" vans do not have shock absorbers . The better makes do have them.

Our Surpeme does NOT have them - but then Supreme warranty is very limited - they EXCLUDE things like wheels, suspension, stoves, fridges, awnings,, pumps, water tanks, gas bottles, battery chargers, radios, hot water system, doors, windows, etc....and if caused by any negligence on your part. So perhaps they know they can avoid almost every claim for damages -for example if your driving or tyre pressure etc contributed to the damage. (as you may suspect - I think the reputation they had, no longer applies - even in the slightest)

Our modern rushed society also puts a mind-set of going too fast. Learning to slow down is now needed more than ever....Keith