Offroad caravan weights

PS: Note also that Bushtracker have trialled a 'lightweight' model taking it through the Kimberley and Tanami year before last. I don;t think they have hit the market quite yet, but a search on the Bushtracker site has a bit about it.

Mh

Mrs Hen,
When you note that the BTs are measured internally, can I read into this, that others are measured externally ?
Willie.

Hi Willie, I am pretty certain Kedron are measured internally, and that the mass produced such as Jayco are measured externally. In between ones - i just don't know.

Mh

Hi Willie
It is hard to compare different types of vans when it comes to sizes as they all measure them differently. Our BT is classed as a 20' which is measured internally from the front wall at floor level to the rear wall.
Because of the way the bed goes over the spare wheels it actually measures 21' internally from bedhead to rear wall.
To get the same internal size with a van with front boot it would have to be around 22'-23' outside dimension.
Confusing isn't it
Bob

It is a surprise to me to see that the 19' BT is ony 2440. My 16 ft Bushtracker is 2000 kg tare, so the weight does not diminish a lot with a drop of 3 feet in the length.

Willie.

G'day Willie,
Pretty simple factors here I reckon.
The 3ft difference in length would equate to some 3 ft of some al tube frame up each wall and over the roof (maybe 14 'rails' or 'noggings' & maybe two full 'stud' runs each side & 'rafters' across the roof), poly insulation, plywood lining, al outer skin, floor ply, maybe an outrigger run across and of course two x 3ft lengths of chassis. Of course the heavier suspension we have would naturally be a heavier tare as well. I reckon that all up it would be about the 440 Kg or near on 1/2 tonne difference! We do have 3 x 120 Watts solar panels and 3 x 100 Ah batteries which have never run out yet!

PLUS (and this IS a BIG plus) we have very few creature comforts. We love to be free of stuff such as sound systems, washing machines, TV antenna dishes etc) These can add a huge weight to the tare before the van is even picked up from the factory!
Our approx 3200 Kg 'on road' includes 320 L (320 Kg) of water, 2 x 9 litres LPG, lots of food, tent(for places like the Bungles), inflatable HF 360 boat, and all of our usual living neccessaties.

What we really did was simply buy a very capable shelter for a bed and kitchen (with a big 12V 190 L fridge) and shower and then fit in our camping items.
You see, as we got older we got more and more physically tired from the set up and pack of camp each night and morning as we travelled long distances to see family.

So on our regular long family visit trips now, we tow our "Mobile Condominium" (AKA Mobi Condo) and simply stop, open a door, have a hot shower, eat tea and then sleep.
Then the next day get up, check the tug mechanically and the rig etc and drive off without the drag of the set up / pack up routines.
Of course we also get to 'way out places' with assurity of no breakdowns and have great comfort and weather protection.
Cheers - Mobi

Mobi,

Maybe my idea of selling the 16' BT and getting a 14' BT is a waste of time if there will be so little weight advantage in a van 2 feet shorter - it would be more agile through creek beds and on twisty tracks though.

I am just about to get three of my four solar panels replaced, as even with three new 100 amp hour batteries and just me and a few lights, the system was not coping.

As soon as Kyocera heard they were 2001 stock, they did not even want to look at them before replacement.

You sound like you are very comfortable with the set up you have.

Cheers,

Willie.

Gday Mobi and Willie,

Mine is 19' with 2580 tare and 3500 gross. I get the feeling that there is little differnce in the BT's which reflects inclusions and size but when I was looking it also surprised me that the Kedron was heavier.

Hope all is well with you guys and that life is treating you OK.

Kind regards

Theo

Hey Kim & Doug,
and from what I read around various forums, those so called "big brute fuel guzzling trucks" get VERY efficient fuel economies as well!
Any chance of some figures here to show some of the less informed of the culture that fuel efficiency is available in big rigs.
Cheers - Mobi

Hi Mobi,

We are only a few weeks back from our last trip of just over 9000km from bris to tassie and back.

The average was 25lt/100km towing the van and through some of the areas on the west coast of tassie was as high as 48.5lt/100kms, 16mt long and around 7500kg.
Over all very very happy with the rig and weights etc and although it will travel well at the speed limit and over very easily we travel a lot of the time on back roads at around 80kph

I have a picture of myself in an F250 on the Mitchell Plateau two years ago - sorry guys, couldn't help myself.
Willie.Image Could Not Be Found

Hi John

I didn't know that the present Phoenixes were that heavy. Do they go on internal measurement of length like BT and Kedron do?

Sure you say you have all the bells and whistles which we don't have, so very similar with our 18' BT TARE 2.22 t. We estimate with the 240 litres of water and all our gear we'd be getting up near 3 t, hence the move from the auto Patrol to the F250.


Motherhen

Hi Motherhen
I suppose at the end of the day weights shouldn't vary too much between brands.
The newer Phoenixes are built using mostly the same materials as everyone else.

With Phoenix there isn't much difference in length inside or out, they don't have a typical front boot like Kedron or the bed nose of the BT's.
I think Phoenix measure at bed or bench height internally and quote on that length.

The older Phoenixes used lighter weight materials inside but they stood up to anything you could throw at them.
They were fairly basic, had less bells and whistles and a lower profile so this kept them under 2t and about 2.5t loaded.
As you know from the Wattos van they had a practical finish inside, nothing flashy to look at but you didn't care if you traipsed in dirt or had dust blowing in the door.
The market has changed I suppose with buyers wanting more comfort or a van they could live in full time but this led to an off road van that sometimes ran out of track.
It still handled the corrugations but had its limits.

John