what makes a serious off road caravan

IMHO a true offroad van is basically the same width and track as the tow vehicle and of a size that can be towed anywhere the tow vehicle can go.
Something like the current crop of crossovers and things like the Kimberley Karavan.
The "normal" sized vans like Bushtrackers etc can never be true offroad as the majority of current tow vehicle would be incapable of towing them on most remote tracks due to width and weight considerations.
Most are approaching the tow vehicles towing capacity for bitumen use and the offroad towing capacity would be far less.
Most of the big vans should be considered all road rather than off road/trackless terrrain.

Certainly agree with Peter re. width and track. I'd suggest that suspension and design aspects such as clearance, underfloor protection, hitch type and chassis exit angles has to be considered as well.

Mark

G'day Al.
Things I'd be looking for are:
Serious ground clearance.
A full length 6" frame.
Trailing arm or independent suspension.
A good articulating coupling.
Exaggerated departure angle.
Protection for under floor water tank and fittings/plumbing.
That's just for a start, I have a Royal Flair Discovery off road van and it has all those as standard.
rr VKE237 6678

Al,

In the 90's when I went off-road for work I was given one of those commercial type white caravans. I can't remember the brand however I would imagine that type would be still used (Steel I think). It was a dual axle, leaf sprung two door. Had a shower, washing machine and sink in one section. The other larger section had cupboards, kitchen, seats/table and 4 beds. (I had my choice as I was alone)

I took it all over the place however my most memorable trips were when I was camped on the shore of Lake Goongarrie for over a month, and when I took it on the "hard core" track from Ullawarra and Glenflorrie Stations, it did sustain some damage on that track - I bottomed it out on the rear drop steps.

I towed it with a Troopy. Gunbarrel and AB would have been doable, I don't think it would handle sand dunes very well though.

Cheers
Alan

AL,

A lot depends on the speeds that are sustained on inferior roads, with any 'van. Back when we were running a tank sinking plant, in 80's, we towed the old Viscount, about 27', all over the Barkly Tablelands, and never did any major damage. The wife even towed it through a grid near Urandangie, that had most of the rails missing, after damage by some road trains. There were the odd rivets that showed some wear, on the ply walls, but none of the cupboards collapsed, and the walls/ceiling didn't sag.

Think much of the credit can go to the old HJ45, in background of the photo. It didn't have the power to pull the 'van, much faster than a trot. Van had bogie axle, heavy chassis, and "normal" rocker type springs. Only thing it didn't have was a shower, which is a necessity in that line of work.

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We were caught in the rain depression, following Cyclone Kathy, in 1984. Rained for 15 hours straight, and got 425mm in that time. Bride and I spent much of the night, hanging empty margarine containers off the ceiling ply, as leaks came in everywhere......and the kids slept through it all!

Bob.

Clearance, departure angles, not too much ball weight, a van which isn't longer than the tow vehicle and most importantly, a suspension which is suited to offroad use and actually works. Not many of offroad vans have a soft riding compliant suspension, and many vans are far too big to be called off road.
Just because the "----boys" might tow a monster somewhere doesn't mean others will be able to do it too. You don't hear of their troubles, only their claimed successes.

Ross M

Hi Al

Aside from toughness of built exterior and interior fittings, and all components underneath well protected, for tracks such as the Anne Beadell, i would say size. Definitely narrow as already mentioned, and short as well. Personally i would choose to take a tent rather than a caravan on some of these roads. People have come to grief with trailers.

Motherhen

For a serious off road van, consider the Vista RV Crossover. Last september, we took it down the Anne Beadell along with a Kimberley Camper and an Oddysey camper. It handled the corrugations and narrow overgrown track better than the Troop Carrier, though it did sustain many penstripe cratches.

Serious off road should be small, fairly narrow, and have supple strong suspension.

Suspension, suspension,ground clearance!! if you get a chance watch some footage of a buggie running the fink desert race then you can understand how a good suspension works, corrigation is the biggest killer of so called off road vans and vehicles !!
Jeff