Trakmaster Kimberley 14 foot pop top with shower and toilet

Submitted: Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 11:32

ThreadID: 83860 Views:7451 Replies:3 FollowUps:5

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Off Road Caravans

This article discusses the features and advantages for off road caravans and in what circumstances you should consider the additional expense of a specialised off-road van.

Peter Eltham

We are considering a Trakmaster Kimberley 14 foot pop top with shower and toilet. Can anyone provide any advice on the Trakmaster Kimberley 14 foot pop top with shower and toilet. As we want a shower and toilet we cannot have the Cross Country Body option. Does the standard TM Kimberley give sufficent departure clearance for most off road usage?

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Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 13:58

Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 13:58

The problem with your query is the [ most off road usage ] part :-o)............there is nothing 'real' to go on I suggest..... that said, like most vans (of any make) in that size and with that clearance, it can go into many 'rough and tumble' places given due care. It is expensive to simply try a new one though ! Short of joining the TM Owners' club (you can, once you order a unit), the secretary might be able to put you in touch with some Kimberley owners. You can contact him via TM headquarters. Mine van is an 18' Nullabor.

AnswerID: 442901

Follow Up By: Peter Eltham - Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 14:16

Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 14:16

Thanks Darian
Cheers Peter

FollowupID: 714944

Reply By: wendys - Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 15:47

Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 15:47

We have a Trakmaster Kimberley 14 foot inside measurement. Pretty sure it is a standard one, at the back - it was one of the early models. We have towed it off bitumen for approx 35,000km of the 100,000+ it has been towed - and had no issues with the back clearance.

AnswerID: 442909

Follow Up By: Peter Eltham - Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 15:59

Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 15:59

Hi Wendy,
Thanks for response.
Cheers Peter

FollowupID: 714955

Follow Up By: Peter Eltham - Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 16:07

Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 16:07

Hi Wendy
Saleperson has suggested I do not need the checker plate front protector as the standard Trakmaster Vinyl Pebbleguard front protector is sufficient because it is flexible and absorbs the energy of pebbles hitting the front of van. With the checker plate pebbles can be deflected at high speed onto the rear of the tow vehicle. Do you have standard vinyl Pebbleguard front protector on your TM? Any comments on effectiveness of standard vinyl Pebbleguard front protector on Trackmasters.
Cheers Peter

FollowupID: 714958

Follow Up By: wendys - Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 20:59

Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 20:59

We have not had any problems with stones being deflected onto the back of the Defender. The angle of the front, as well as the Pebbleguard vinyl may account for this. We do have a drawbar that is a bit longer than usual, because of a mount setup to take our bike rack; I don't know if that has any influence on lack of stone damage. We have travelled over lots of stony tracks (Oodnadatta; Great Central Road, Gulf Track come to mind). The stone hole in the pebbleguard in 2009 was, we think, done on the dirt road into Carnarvon Gorge - grader at work had brought some very large "pebbles" to the surface.

FollowupID: 715001

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 18:40

Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 18:40

G'day again Peter - re stones - IMV, none of the front cladding options on vans will prevent untold damage to your car, both glass and duco - you need a positive barrier of some sort between the car and the track taken by airborne stones - my choice is a shadecloth trampoline strung elastically between the car and van (homemade, effective, but not entirely 'pretty'). We chose checkerplate for the van front because we thought it looked much 'nicer'. Costs of course (hell.... everything we wanted was extra I think, but that's Aussie built vans :-o).

AnswerID: 442934

Follow Up By: Peter Eltham - Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 18:46

Monday, Jan 24, 2011 at 18:46

Thanks again Darian,
A friend showed me an advert for commercial trampoline arrangement the other day. I may try a DIY version myself in the future.
Cheers Peter

FollowupID: 714980