TVan

Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 10:14
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I am interested in buying a TVan and can't seem to find many negatives from looking at previous posts.

Has anyone bought one minus the kitchen and built there own, or modified the standard one?

Maybe having a stove that could be easily lifted out and taken to a less exposed position might be better for windy/wet days?

Paul
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Reply By: Member - Ann D (WA) - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 11:45

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 11:45
Hi Paul,

Hope ths helps


try campertrailers.org there is one on there that the person has modified

Cheers
Ann
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Follow Up By: Ups and Downs - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:00

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:00
Thanks Anne, interesting.
Paul
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Reply By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 11:55

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 11:55
Hi Paul,

I looked at TVans (and other campertrailers) last year. They are very well built and have excellent suspension, but the thing that swayed me to buy another campertrailer was the kitchen set-up. I like having a fridge in the campertrailer that is near the kitchen/stove, and also I like having some 'pantry' storage space. When I looked at the TVans, they didn't have either of these things.

Cheers
Leanne
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Follow Up By: Member - RobnJane(VIC) - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 12:41

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 12:41
Hi Leanne,

Tvan kitchen has 65lts of pantry space, according to their brochure.

In our experience the kitchen works well.

We access the fridge by simply locating it in the back of the car, simply step around the kitchen and there it is. When unhooked it goes just below the kitchen, not secure etc, but that goes with camper trailer territory really.

Paul,

Good luck in your hunt , if you decide on a Tvan I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Rgds,

Rob.

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Follow Up By: Ups and Downs - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:04

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:04
Leanne,
I suppose the reason why there are so many variations on the market (apart from just to confuse me) is that we all have different ideas on what works best. Thanks anyway.

Rob,
We will have ours similar to your method of use. We have one organised now, thanks for the encouragement. I'm sure that we will be pleased with it.

Paul
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Follow Up By: Crackles - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 20:37

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 20:37
"I like having a fridge in the campertrailer "
The TVan works well coupled with the fridge in the car for those that often go on day trips so you have your food & drink with you not back at camp flatening the campers battery. For people who usually base camp for extended periods there are probably different designs that would be more suitable.
Personally I love the compact simplicity of the kitchen which helps contribute to the low weight of the camper & it's superior offroad ability.
Cheers Craig..........
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Reply By: Peter Horne [Krakka] - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 12:46

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 12:46
Hi Paul, We found the gas stove pretty useless in any sort of breeze. So I made up a timber "cover" that sits over the top of the stove, and we simply use a Coleman dual fuel stove instead. Sits in top of the cover over the top of the original stove. You can also use the Coleman stove away from the camper if necessary also. Throw out the gas bottles as well and you have more storage space where the gas bottles were. The cover stays on top of the kitchen and slides back in with it. I put some rubber mat on the bottom of the feet on the cover to stop it moving around. Works very well.
There is a T Van forum that you can join on the Track Trailer web site that is also a very good source of info.

Regards
Peter
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Follow Up By: Ups and Downs - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:08

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:08
Peter,

I thought that we would get a Coleman as I've heard lots of good reports on them. I didn't think about not needing gas bottles, that's a bonus. They are a pain to store.

I have found, and joined the forum so hoping to get some info there for sure.

Thanks
Paul
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 23:45

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 23:45
Coleman have changed their style of burners now & aren't as good.
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Reply By: Lex M (Brisbane) - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 13:37

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 13:37
Track do a model without a kitchen. Called a Tvan Sport.
No gas bottles. Spare mounted underneath.
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Follow Up By: Ups and Downs - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:11

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:11
Lex
We are getting a Sport. May have to get the spare up though as it must be a problem at times under there.
Paul
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 23:42

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 23:42
In the trading post, there's a brand new sport for $28,500 at Alan Grahams at Gosford.

Can get a lot of kitchen for the money saved!!!!

We were going to buy the Sport and then make our own stuff, but a used Tvan with plenty of extras came up locally so went with it. The spare mounted underneath is actually a plus in my opinion. Its pretty rare to get a flat on a new tubeless tyre on a trailer. But the sport does come with the long drawbar - the long drawbar reduces towball weight - good for the smaller SUVs.

The kitchen is more complicated than what we need - who really needs a sink with a plug and electric water ????? We're happy with stainless steel bench, stove and storage space.
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Reply By: Member - lyndon NT - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 16:04

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 16:04
We have found the Tvan kitchen very good except when windy, we have also changed all the fitting over to snap on. If very windy we have a cast iron burner ring that we can use with one of the gas bottles in any position including if we don’t have the Tvan with us. This is also handy if you wish to boil a big pot to cook prawns or crabs. In regards to a fridge, we have the bed extension option, only it is 2 inches shorter than standard, this allows us to have a 40 litre Engel mounted at the end of the bed. We have found the canvas excellent quality, even in high wind and monsoonal down pours there is never a drop off water on the inside. You can have the wheels matched to your car should you be buying new. We had a couple of warranty issues, these were dealt with in a prompt and professional manner by Track. Get the longer drawer bar, even if only for resale value.
Remember you can customise some things, wheels, bed, we had 2 x 100 amp gel cells put in the front for the loss of one Jerry can holder, etc.
Anything else you would like to know just drop us a line.
P.s Wouldn’t even consider buying it without the kitchen, but that’s just us!
Good Luck.

Lyndon & Bernadette
Now is the only time you own
Decide now what you will,
Place faith not in tomorrow
For the clock may then be still

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Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 16:08

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 16:08
Hillbilly make an excellent folding wind guard that works very well with Smev gas cooktops.
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 16:11

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 16:11
I should have put a link so LOOK HERE
Scroll about one third of the way down the page.
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Follow Up By: Peter Horne [Krakka] - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 17:06

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 17:06
The Tvan comes with quite a good wind guard, but that would certainly do no harm to use in addition.
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Reply By: Dave(NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 17:13

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 17:13
Theres one for sale in the trader on this site.
GU RULES!!

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Follow Up By: Ups and Downs - Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:23

Wednesday, Feb 24, 2010 at 19:23
Dave,

Thanks for that, it looks a great buy and if I hadn't already committed to one in the West prior to that ad going in I may have been tempted to jump on a plane.

Paul
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