Hi to all,

I have just joined up as I am getting back into the van world after many, many years away from it. The last time I had a van (it was actually a Topagee campers) was back in the mid 70's so a lot has changed in the meantime.

I am currently self employed but looking to sell up in the latter part of 2010 & start travelling solo around OZ.

I am trying to sort out my van requirements but will need to get as much help as possible in order to make the right choice.

My tow vehicle is a VY Commodore ute (V6 with auto) fitted with a 1600kg tow package & a ball weight limit of 160kg.

My thoughts for a van are a poptop around 12' to 14' 6" in length & with either a rear door or conventional side door. The van will need to have an island double bed rather than singles.

I want to try to limit the all up (packed) weight of the van to no more than 1400kg to make long-term travel less of a strain on me & the ute.

Input from anyone with first hand knowledge of suitable vans in this range will be greatly appreciated - good or bad so don't be shy. 

More information will make the final decision easier.

Cheers ..... Alan  

Welcome Alan
A great site and hopefully you will get the information you need.
Barb

Hi Alan and welcome from me also. 

The guys on here are a fountain of knowledge and will have you set up in no time mate.

Greetings Allan,good to have you amongst us.My only input to you is to consider a Jayco penguin or similar.We have one and are very happy with it.Ours is an on road model and so far has given many happy hours of fun.Cheers.Ibbo.

Hi Alan, I have 14' Coromal rear door pop top, I have had it just on a year, and I can't fault it, easy to tow,  light weight, double island bed, all you need, and independant suspension. My tug is an Xtrail auto, with transmission cooler.
Worth a look.
Have fun
Barb.

Thanks to all for the input so far. Hi Xtrail51, that Coromal sounds just about spot-on to my needs at this point in my research. Am I correct in thinking you have both a rear & also a side roll-out awning - at least that is what it looks like in the very small pic beside your posting? Cheers everyone ..... Alan

Ok........so I'm a softie.........but try to get A/C as well Alan, you won't regret it but may if you don't........us oldies can't handle the heat like we used to.

Barb, did you have an extra auto transmission cooler fitted or are you talking about the one already fitted?  Also, do you have any trouble with dust getting in the back door?

Thanks
Vic
(X'Trail tug)

-- Edited by Vic41 on Monday 24th of August 2009 08:51:28 PM

Hi Alan, I've got a 13' Jayco Penguin off-road, queen size innerspring (but not island), 1350kg all-up (loaded) and I am more than happy with it. It's a wind-up which some do not like, but it doesn't have the pull-out beds which makes it super easy and quick to set up and pack up and it has tons of storage space. I wouldn't recommend it for two people for and extended period, but for one it's superb.

Thanks Vic,
Good point about the a/c.
I'm also getting an external auto transmission cooler fitted to the ute like Barb.

G'Day Alan,

I could be wrong, but I think you vehicle may already have a transmission cooler installed (a lot of 6cyl auto cars do), especially as it is a ute designed to take loads. In addition you had the tow pack installed which should have taken that into account, so unless you are sure I would check it out.

Just a tip on the A/C, if you are buying new, order it with the van as it is more expensive to fit them after delivery (around $1000 more with Jayco, but I think Coromal charge you the higher price whether you get it installed then or later from my past enquiries). Something to ask about anyway.

Vic

Edit:  Most new vans now come with A/C fitted as standard, but some don't.

-- Edited by Vic41 on Tuesday 25th of August 2009 11:36:06 AM

Gday Vic,

Yep, the tow package for the ute included an auto cooler but my mechanic who has serviced the ute since day 1 (apart from the initial service by Holden) suggests that it would add extra cooling in case I change to a bigger van later on. He does a fair bit of van towing himself & prefers to be well prepared.

I tow a box trailer almost every day at present with my work. It has either my ride-on mower & other mowing gear aboard or sometimes rubbish/landscape materials & those rubbish loads are often quite heavy.

I have had up to 1500kg of rocks/dirt etc in the trailer (incl trailer weight) for short distances & the standard transmission cooler copes but I wouldn't want to tow that day after day without extra cooling. I'd rather err on the safe side.

Thanks also for the tip re A/C.

You are a wealth of knowledge. I appreciate all your input mate.
Alan   

G'day Allen and welcome to the forum, the trans cooler that comes with the tow pack is barely serviceable and should be replaced with an aftermarket one if you are considering towing any weight for any distance, look for one that will add at least another litre of oil to the standard heat will destroy the trans within one decent hill ascent, using the box of cogs will help a lot here, dont let it "lug" change early, look for roughly 2,000 - 2,500 rpm, also have a look at the size of the thermo fans and see if you can get another one installed in there, a minimum of two is considered barely adequate for towing in summer on hill ascents you havent stated whether you are after a new van or a secondhand one, there are a lot of good ones on ebay at the moment, secondhand of course, I looked at a couple of 16 footers that are rated under 1100 kilo's with island bed and oven, most of the rear entry vans (such as the "little ripper") has two single beds, not island and very little room if you are on your own then this may be adequate but if there is two then I think "cosy" would be the byword even with two awnings I would look at probably the jayco, they seem to have a reasonable representation out there and have reasonable staying power for the price have a look around at a lot of van yards, try a few on for size, dont buy the first one you see try to imagine yourself doing everyday chores in it and see how you go, be prepared to bargain, it's a buyers market out there, know your price and the average price of vans before you fall in love with that particular one see if you fit on the bed, some of these buggers have 3/4 beds and I dont fit look for a lot of storage as well if you are going to be in it for awhile then you will need plenty air-con is good but if you are going to free camp then that opens up a whole new set of needs

Something like the Jayco is Goldstream Crown http://www.davebensoncaravans.com.au/page.asp?parentid=2&parent2id=124&parent3id=152 Rosie's sister has one .its offroad..and they just moved to Kununara WA from south of Adelaide.........no problems with it. Dave

Alan, I had the transmission cooler fitted, not a spot of bother, towed during last years hot weather in Vic,  kept just ahead of the fires. Air con, of course, thats a personal choice, would be cheaper fitted when manufactured.
The side awning is roll out, rear one is bag... Need pegs and poles, but great.  You can get roll out too, but mine was already built.

Vic, do you mean the back door of the van? presume thats what you mean, there is a dust hatch fitted in pop top,  just open it when on dusty roads, worked a treat when driving into Gympie Country Music Muster, last week.

Hope this is of some help guys, 'happy travels.
Barb.....

-- Edited by Xtrail51 on Thursday 27th of August 2009 02:06:55 PM

Thanks for the enlightenment Barb, to be honest I didn't know they had one, yes I was talking about the back door, feedback from a couple of people that had them said they had got dust in (not Coromal's though), I they put a cover over the door vent inside (velcro) when travelling to stop it. Regards the X'Trail, mine had a transmission cooler already, however my mechanic said the were not big enough for towing and recommended having another fitted like you have done. I must get around to it. Your van looks great by the way. Vic

Hey Vic,

You stated that your mechanic suggested adding an extra cooler to the auto.

That's exactly what my mechanic has said - quote "the standard one may not be up to towing a van long term so I recommend adding an external cooler"

I trust his suggestions but it is good to hear that other mechanics out there are on our side by keeping our auto up to the task.

Cheers .... Alan

Whatever you match the tug and van, not like this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q7K1bBhjkY.



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