Comment: Bush Tracks of Victoria-Spiral Bound

Hi Kevin,
From a content point of view, you are touching on areas that I can look into. I really enjoy working closely with members of our audience when they offer consturctive criticism about our content so that I tackle the issue by working with those that know, those that need.

Now... when you say that the site lacks material for helping "off road caravan owners' find treks, but our content is suitable for camper trailers, I don't see the difference... Given this viewpoint, can you please give me some more information into what it is you need me to change/alter/add to the site to address the concern you have raised here. Clearly, I'm in the dark, and genuinely intersted in your feedback.

Thanks Michelle

Michelle,
Thanks for responding. This type of interest from the proprietors is one of the things that make ExploreOz such a good site.
Do I understand you to be saying that you don't see a difference between a camper trailer and an off road caravan? It seems to me that some camper trailers are morphing towards being an off road van but I see the difference as being the environment in which they are used. A camper trailer seems to me to be an extension of camping while an off road van is an extension of caravanning. It is a development that is bringing these activities closer together.
I don't know if you can do to much about it - at least in the shop. You can only sell what is available and most writers in this field seem to go for the more adventurous stuff. Camper trailer manufacturers are also part of the trend as they seem to be offering to the market more units suitable for towing through more rugged environments.
Caravan manufacturers seem to be following the same trend. Jayco appear to have added off road versions to more of their popular models, as have Coromal and others. We are taking delivery of a Coromal Magnum 526 off road version in a month or two. That has partly driven my interest in this segment of the market. I am trying to plan trips in the new unit and not finding much material to help me to decide where I can safely and reasonably take it.
I read off road and caravan magazines. As I look in the news agent for my favourite titles I see much material about camping from a 4WD or camper trailer and plenty of the use of a conventional caravan. The genuine off road caravan does not receive much coverage at all.
So that's where I am coming from. You might be able to point out to me that I am wrong, and that would be good. It would mean that I am missing something that is already there. It seems to me that off road caravan ownership is a developing segment of the RV market and that off road media should give it more attention.
Thanks Michelle.
Kevin

Hi Kevin,
In the top of this post, it appeared to me that you were seeking tracks where you could go with your "offroad caravan" and were commenting that our site content focussed well on camper trailer suitable tracks but not for offroad caravans. What I am saying, is I feel a track (as shown in our published Trek Notes section) that is graded suitable for camper trailer should be considered relevant/suitable for an offroad caravan. And in fact, if its a true offroad caravan could also probalby be suitable for many of the 4WD tracks, provided there isn't any special comments regarding any towing restrictions or complications.
I am only really able to focus on the Trek Note content side of things, but I know this really came about due to a moderator linking a book in our shop to your post as a possible reference of interest that might cover your previous forum post query.
As publishers and experienced outback campers (and trailer towers), we approach the content issue as one that is more about the destination and attaction and less about the mode of transport. Very few tracks are impossible for "offroad" caravans and if an offroad camper trailer can traverse a track then so too can the offroad van. As publishers, we don't tend to make a distinction between the two is my point I guess. Perhaps however, we could do better to show more pictures of offroad caravans to illustrate the content ? Would that make you (and other 'vanners) more inclined to feel the content was relevant? Thanks for your time on this. Happy to discuss in the open forum in case others have something to say on this too.
Cheers, Michelle

Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Michelle. To cut to the chase, there are a couple of areas where I think some changes will help. More pictures of off road caravans on bush tracks in articles and web sites will probably help to identify suitable areas for their use, and in the case of ExploreOz will help owners to identify with the site.
I have looked at a few EO treks where a caravan symbol is shown and haven't been able to pick a pattern. What sort of a van is it meant to be? It looks like a large conventional caravan. Is it feasible to have both conventional and off road symbols so that the meaning is clearer. EO tracks seem to be conservative rated, understandably, so treks rated camper van are probably OK for off road vans. An additional symbol in your armoury will make the situation clearer.
I note tonight a comment on the Rooftop range of maps. It looks like they could provide some of the information that I started looking for with my original thread.
Thanks for your help.
Kevin

Thanks for continuing to provide the feedback on this issue Kevin. I agree we could make the symbology in the Trek Note rating a bit clearer, because I'm sure you're not the only one to miss the fact that if you click on the symbol you will open the symbol legend - there is just so much text one can display on the page so we often create content that is "push" to receive if you like.

Thanks for your other contributions, and best of luck with your new adventures in your new offroad van. We hope to see you more on the site with your stories!

Regards,
Michelle