Ultimate camper rental and TVan

If you are thinking of Tvan you really should also consider a Vista RV Crossover, check it out HERE

We always wanted to end up with a Tvan having previously had Track campers & knowing of their excellent quality.
After seeing the Vista RV Crossover we could see that it was much more practical in the long term, so we bought one instead of the Tvan. We certainly have compromised build quality or "go anywhere" ability!
We didn't consider the Ultimate as it seems impractical for quick overnight stops, ie: pulling up at midnight & climbing straight in to bed for a few hours.

G'day Old Smiffy

If looking at a Tvan there are a few things you should check out and I think this applies to many other brands as well.

I bought a Tvan and it wasn't sealed up on the rooftop near the rear door hinges and the rain could just seep straight into the plywood of the side panels.

The Tvan has its floor Urethaned/Sikaflex to the side panels and inner guard metal panels. Whoever made my side panels and guards didn't remove the waxy surface off the panels before making the van and the sealing didn't bond to the sides and dust came in. You could post a letter through the gap. I have pictures of this gap.

The rear metal panels where it meets the rear door seal are laminated and rain was able to rundown the hinges and go inside by capillary action, where it ended up dripping off into the tent section. A good 1 or 2 cupfulls overnight usually.

Some (4) Phillps head screws on the rear door had their head stripped out when tightened.

In some of the left hand side panels there was pop rivet runs not completed, missing/not there.

The left kitchen access door shut ok but you try and get it open. Improperly fitted door surround screwed in too tight and the pressure malformed the plastic of the surround.

The axles are on mine are not machined to the same profile as the inner of the bearings and instead of the bearing face fitting against the axle shoulder, it made contact on the inner radius of the bearing. No amount of explanation could get them to see/admit it was wrong. Big $$$ involved.

So when looking at alleged quality products of any description don't look at the features, look at the actual way it is finished. I consider myself fairly aware but a few things didn't appear or were noticed until later.

My experience with the Tvan is happening all the time with various makes, only the issues vary.
I shouldn't have had to find all these items and get Tvan to fix them, their quality control person should have done his job.
If allowed access to the quality control team at Tvan I would kick their bums until their noses bled. Possibly something the management really should do.

The Tvan is a good machine but all vans have their good and not so good aspects no matter what design or brand.

Ross M

Old Smiffy,
In Sydney you can hire Tvans from
http://www.outbacktracks.com.au/

for quick and easy setup and no canvas it has to be the Vista but the Ultimate Gold has it's own hot water and ext. shower. Depends whaaat is most important. TVan is excellent off road and quick basic stup but it is basic and storage options could be better. Excellent value for a true solid offroader.