Question on TVAN,VISTARV campers

A follow up question.

We are looking for something we can tour in for extended periods (3-6 months)

We are a bit concerned these campers would be a bit cramped but don't want to tow a big caravan. The VISTARV looks good but there is no inside seating room if the bed is down.

Are people going off for longer periods in these size campers?

Any opinions?

Richard

We have camped in hot weather in our Tvan, you would be surprised how much air flow/movement you get between the two roof vents, also with the end canvas flap opened up. We also sometimes have used one of those $20.00 fans from Big W etc. and just run thru a 300w inverter. The roof is bright white on the outside so reflects heat well, also have the optional roof lining inside which would also have an insulating effect. Great to tow, easy to set up and comparitavely light weight.

Regards

Krakka

Hi Richard,
We have a Tvan and have been in quite warm and very cold weather with it.
We have a Scirocco fan (12v marine type) that is gimbal mounted. With both vents open it flows air through very well.
Setting up the full awning takes a little time but we also take a 3x3m Oztrail foldup gazebo that goes up in a couple of minutes and with the walls becomes a very useful shelter around the kitchen area.
For a road side stop we just use the sail and even with the tailgate down it works well for some shade for a lunch stop or whatever.
While the Tvan has a "tent" section it is really easy and quick to set up. On the second night that we had it we were in the Vic High Country area and it was set up and secure in the rain in less than two minutes.
We are just about to leave to go out to Rudall River and then up to Broome.
Brilliant camper and worth every cent.
Cheers
Mike

Richard,
We bought ours from Dreamtime Campers in Newcastle. It is a n exhire unit and it is a testament to the Tvan and also it must be admitted Dreamtime's maintenaance policy and the attitude of their hire customers that it was in such great condition after being around Oz several times. It is a Canning with all the options plus a few of our own.
We are ourselves nearly retired and we have so far been away for two months at a time with it. In the next year or so we hope to get away for longer but the great thing about the Tvan is that if you have it loaded with the essentials you can just hook it up and go at a whim. We keep a small Engel in it running on 240v in the shed so it is just a matter of reconnecting to the 12v and away you go.
We also take the option of staying in a hotel/motel/chalet/cabin at intervals along the way but we find the bed which is the standard unit plus a latex top from Ikea so much more comfortable. We prefer to sleep feet in and the only possible issue with that is that this involves a bit of turning around to get in and out of the bed.
People say that there is not enough room. In addition to the boxes that go under the bed area we have the Engel, Honda generator, portaloo (ina seal up box just in case!!), the Coleman HWS and a Weber Q BBQ that sit across the back and you can be set up under the gazebo unit with the BBQ heating up with a glass or three of the good stuff in less than five minutes.
We met a group of Ultimate owners on the road a while ago and did just that and we were onto the second glass by the time that they had got the Ulimate deployed let alone anything else.
Give Ian Porteous a call at Dreamtime because he may well have another unit available.
Cheers
Mike

You may also want to have a look at the Vision ( Pacific Aluminium )....price and features seem pretty good !!

Hi Richard,
We've had our Tvan for nearly 4 years now and remain very happy with it. We travel for extended periods quite happily. We find for quick overnight stays either no awning or the sail awning, and then when staying longer than 3 days we get the big awning out.
We have full walls with larger windows/screens/flaps etc for really nasty weather/winter camping - hardly used at this stage.
Camping in the heat is fine (for us), however I have added some light 'carpet' as insulation to the fibreglass hatch that forms half the roof when erected.
We are heading off later in July for 3 months, and will have the dog with most of the time - just drop her at a boarding kennel for 4 weeks while we get to the Tip, then back to Cairns via Lawn Hill etc etc.
No real problem getting in or out of bed, and think many camper trailers have some odd quirk when it comes to getting in or out of bed. Certainly need to be careful getting out first thing in morning, but not a big deal.
Had a good look at VistaRV at the Caravan Show a few weeks ago, and it seems to me to be a very good unit, and would probabaly be a little more civilized on a nasty overnight stop etc.
Hope this is of interest to you.
Rob.

Richard,

Have you considered a "crossover" trailer? They are designed to bridge the gap between a camper trailer and a caravan. Have a look at the Quantum from Australian Offroad Campers as an example.

Steve

G'day Richard

You probably have had enough replies to go on with, and mine only reiterates some of the Tvan points already made.

We've camped in heat up to 35 degrees with no discomfort, and in frosts with very limited condensation (vent partly open), but under a doona and with abeanie for my bald nut. The latest models do have a roof lining to prevent the condensation issue.

We are both "over 60", and we occasionally mumble about getting in and out of bed, but uit's no big deal.

We have done just about all the rough road travelling we want to do over the past 5 years, and are currently looking for something that provides a more live-able inside platform than the Tvan. That's no criticism of the Tvan which really is a remarkably well engineered and versatile camper.

We've regualrly done 2-month trips, but for us, that would be about the limit. Anything more than 3 months, and we would be looking for something different. It's all horses for courses though.

Cheers
John

Hi, We have just had 2 days at the Brisbane C & C show trying to find a solution to Richards and our dilemma. We appear to have the same requirements. A good option we have seen is a smaller and more basic version of the AOR Qantum called the Eclipse. It is 300mm shorter and 150 narrower than the Qantum ie body length is 3.9m and 1800mm wide. There is no inbuilt toilet and shower or hot water and the departure angle is sharper. The bed is queen size and there is a permanent 2 person dinette. Base price is $54,000. An external hot shower and cubicle setup is +$3500.
We looked at the Topaz and although it is the same dimensions as the Elipse a two person dinette setting cannot coexist with a long bed. I need a bed length of 2 metre so the standard east/west bed config is too short.

I have heard Dreamtime Campers have a demo VistaRv in Newcastle we will ring them tomorrow and may go down for a look next week. Disappointed they were not at the show.
The Eclipse is very tempting especially with a show special of 120w solar panel and reg.
We will advise further.
Les

Les,
Did you get to see the VistaRV.

If so how did it compare against the Quantum.

I have tried to get info about the Quantum Eclipse but with out success.

I sent an email and even rang AOR but no reply so far.

If you have any pics on it I would appreciate a look.

Richard

Hi Richard,
I apologise for not getting back to you sooner I have been sick and tied to a toilet in a CP cabin in Kempsey for the last 4 days and probably more to come.
And just to make typing more difficult the X, C, V keys on the laptop have ceased to function. I bought an external keyboard today so we are back on air again.

Yes we seen the VistaRV on last Sunday and loved it. If Ian would have released it for sale there and then we may have bought it on the spot but we have to wait to late July so we will think about it some more.

It is very well built and I would be confident to take it along the roughest roads and tracks. The body shape is sleek and overgrown tracks could be handled with just a little more care than with our AussieSwag.

True, it is a little cramped inside but with the roof up I had plenty of head clearance and with only 2 occupants we would soon learn to work around each other. The dinette to queen bed conversion was easier than expected. Ian has suggested a strap attached to the mattress would aid in pulling the down over the table. He also demonstrated how in really cold weather the roof can be closed to retain the heat and we could still sit up straight at the dinette.

My wife liked the outside kitchen, her only reservation there was no outside pantry meaning she would need to go into the trailer many times gathering ingredients for meals. A cupboard just inside the door at floor level would be the place for often used cooking utensils and is easily accessible while standing outside and reaching in.

The equipment arrangement on the drawbar took some absorbing with hinged items, locks, swing up covers but we would soon learn it. The various storage compartments can hold quite a bit of gear.
Cleaning dust and mud from this area could be quite a task.
I am a little concerned about ventilation in the tropics as the door does not have a screen door. Thought i could make a mesh screen somehow.
Ian demonstrated the sail awning and annex were easy to erect.

Where to from here? We liked the VistaRV but a final decision is so difficult!
The AORC Eclipse is only another $4000 and offers a bit more space and comfort but is not as quite as able off road simply because it is larger.

lAnd now with my current illness, the cold weather and our ages in low 60's we really are questioning how much longer we want to tour the hard to access places of Oz. $50k is a lot of $$
Cheers
Les

Les,
Also - I take your point re heat and the tropics - one of the reasons I started this thread.

We have got by to date in a canvas topped camper with a fan but was a bit unsure about a construction like the Vista (or TVAN for that matter).

The Vista does seem to have a lot of ventilation up top (I think) but would be good if could open side windows.

This is another of the things I want to have a closer look at and would like to see the quantum.



Richard

Les,
Thanks again for your comments.

We did see the VistaRV at Maitland but could not remember how much space is left when the bed is down. One of the reasons we plan on another look.

We have not seen the eclipse although the info sent to us was good and did not look at a Quantum as it was out of our price range (at Maitland - not sure if they were there). Until we do I guess we are leaning towards the VistaRV.

We have looked at others like the Trackmaster which is good caravan as well. But as we are coming from a camper, which we are mostly happy with we like the idea of keeping what is towed as small as possible.

It sounds like you are leaning the same way. If we both end up in that direction we should start a Vista club :).

Any way thanks again and take care of yourself,
Richard