Off Road Caravans Feedback

My (mechanic) mate has a 2.9TD Terracan. Tows a 18' Jayco off -road caravan with it. Tows well - after he upgraded the "spongy" suspension.
His other complaint was that the side mirrors are too flimsy to support his extension mirrors. The whole lot just "flaps back" hard against the body when a semi goes past. Same mirrors were OK on his Patrol. $100 supports were no cure either.
He is happy with the vehicle's economy, after having a petrol Patrol.
Bob

Spot on Norm, strength = weight.

Gaza, read the fine print an vans you consider. Many caravans have an 'off road' model that isn't suited to much more than bitumen, and driving them 'on road', on corrugated, stony or rough roads may invalidate warranty at best. At worst it may come to grief resulting in a costly recovery. It all depends on where you want to travel.

Motherhen

Agree with Norm and MH,

Jayco do a single axle version with a shower and scheishenhausen, 16.5 footer, "outback" version weighs about 1450 dry.

It is essentially their normal van with more lift and a bit of checker plate alloy. Great unit, but not designed for serious off road stuff.

Keep in mind your Jerry will tow up to 2500 kg. Won't do it quickly, but there are many towing greater weights with far less powerful vehicles eg 3L Patrols.

MH summed it up, strength equals weight. Decent steel chassis, robust suspension, strong frame etc.

Cheers,

Jim.

I disagree, there are a few brands of true offroad vans that would have an atm of less than 2000.

Trackmaster is one.

But he didnt state what size he was after.

Also after a recent trip too the cape there is no way IMHO that any jayco fits the bill of a "True offroad van"

ddr, I'm familiar with the Trackmaster and it is one of the brands I had in mind when I said earlier, there are about 4 'real off road van builders'.

In saying they have an ATM not more than 2,000 KG, IMO, this means a TARE of not more than 1,500 KG.

Now I don't have the specs, but I would think the only Trackmaster that might fit that weight is the smallest in their range. It is 11 feet long and 6 ft 6 inches wide. If it does have a TARE below 1,500 KG, and it is built with the same chassis and suspension of the bigger vans, then you are quite right. There is an off-road van within the required weight range.

But it is a VERY small van. I guess that's why you said 'But he didnt state what size he was after.'

Norm C

Norm I have a Kimberly with a ATM of 1990. Its 15'6 x 7'6 with shower & toilet. Hardly a small van.

The only proviso the original poster put was toilet & shower, ive seen other smaller Trackies with S&T that would easily fit under that weight.

Norm, We have a 2200 ATM Evernew it goes wherever we want to tow it. Been many dirt roads, Like Gibb River, Tanami, Plenty, Great Centra, birdsvile etc... no dramas. done over 100k km now... it was originally plated 2000ATM but we had it upgraded before pick up. Off to Cape York next winter...l