Hi there,
We are in the process of choosing a caravan. We know we want an ensuite and a van around 20ft and have been looking at Golden Eagle Eureka, Jayco, Millard and we really don't know whether one brand is better than the other.
Can anyone recommend or give warnings against a certain brand?
We are new to the caravan world and are going to head off soon,  for years to come.
Cheers
Grace

Welcome to the Nomads. You have lots of fun ahead of you. What will you be towing it with? The size is good for 2 travelling anywhere. You've looked already at a few of the most available vans. There are so many out there. Compass, Regent, Roma, A Van, Coramal. It's good to do some homework on the internet. Pick and brand and read up on it. If you live close to a place where there are several van yards, go walking around to check them out. There are some good secondhand vans out there too. New van, new lifestyle, didn't like it, sold the van. Or a partner passed away and all travel plans are cancelled, sell the van. Quite often the teething problems have been resolved, and they may have added a few handy extras. The roll-out awning/annexe, airconditioning, and other trinkets. It's best not to talk to the salesman until you have a clear head about what best suits you and how much you want to spend. When you know you can talk turkey. Oh, vans. Sorry! They can take advantage of your innocence and blind you with van-speak. One of the Nomads lives down your way. He may be able to give you more assistance in person. He's quite cluey in these things. All the best. Chris

Welcome to the forum...you don't have to be mad to be here. (but it helps!)

Make sure your tow vehicle is more than adequate for the task of pulling the rig you are considering.

I hear many "urban myths" about some of the more popular brands, but I've yet to hear any owners of these brands confirm any of these stories.

(disclaimer: my rig is not one of those referred to above)

PS: I'm probably the GN that Chris (Cruising Granny) is referring to. Feel free to PM me if you wish to get in touch. I may not be a big help as my rig is much smaller and not what you're looking for.

(PM is Greynomad speak for private message...to do this, click on my "screen" name on the top left hand side of this "post" then in the window that appears, click on "send message" under where it says "private messaging" on the left hand side. (hope I got that right). You'll need to be logged in.)

Jim

-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 15th of November 2009 06:06:20 AM

Thanks Jim. Yes it was you I had in mind. It's more about the experience than the size. Ooops! Keep up the good work. Cheers Chris

Thanks for the guidance and networking, Chris and Jim. I will try to PM Jim. I actually don't know where I put this message. I had to click the link on my email to find it. I think it is in Solo, oops! Oh well I'll get the hang of it. What a maze..... it does help to be a bit crazy... Grace

A lap around the block last year revealed some very bad complaints from jayco owners, many other stories as well ,cupboards falling off the wall going up the hwy.

We had a jayco camper many years ago ,a peice of junk, got rid of it very quickly .

We now run a Regent Parklane , 10yr old ,no probs.

Look hard & long,check wardrobe depth with a coat hanger ,depth of cupboards for dinner plates etc

Dont just look at the dollar sign ,look at what you are getting or not getting for that dollar.

Many run extendable bed basses,[particualy the  ones across the van ]
they leave very little space to get around to the other side .
 
Look very hard & compare ,take your time ,make notes etc ,

may be take a camera & reveiw them at home when you have time to think clearly

Now that you are totaly confused  I'll leave it up to you .

good luck.

PS. just read your bio, long tearm ,keep that in mind as you are living in it ,
need room to move .


-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Sunday 15th of November 2009 07:45:20 PM

-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Sunday 15th of November 2009 07:48:47 PM

While you're there Just Cruisin', which places would you not take your van? After seeing the map, there are clearly some tougher places than others, so I was just wondering if you'd take that van back over some of those places.

Cruising Granny wrote:

---

While you're there Just Cruisin', which places would you not take your van?
After seeing the map, there are clearly some tougher places than others, so I was just wondering if you'd take that van back over some of those places.

---

Hi Granny .
All of the outback rough  trips were done years ago with a home made off road camper trailer that i built here in the shed .[ and still going strong ].

We aquired our van about 6yrs ago, it is a hwy van.& has only been used on the black top so far ,although it is going to have to start sneeking into a few more places.

When we bought i could not come at theprice of the so called off road units,so we keept the trailer & mix & match to the trips.

This year was the first long term  with the van ,as quoted in the 09 trip report .

Some people try to take standard vans into these places ,& then wonder why they fall apart .

I know my trailer is bullet proof ,dust & water proof.
It will be going back to the NT next year into the gulf fishing again .
Possibly come back home ,pick up the van & head off some where else. 


 

 

Great looking outfit, Jim.

....But do you really have to port around two 44 gal drums of fuel for the tug?

Thanks Cruisin01. I am relieved to learn you are equipped for all trips. Very resourceful. I will only take Roma on the black top, or good open surface roads. No off-road outback tracking for her either. Even the so-called off-roaders have their weaknesses. I'd like the best of both worlds, but I am equipped to go bush in Rosy if I want to. Once again I get the sh.ts with doing it all by myself all the time. For all sorts of reasons going bush is not to be done alone. Towing the van around from van park to park isn't as daunting by myself. I haven't free camped either but I may change my mind about that. I guess the fuel is essential if you get out of range of roadhouses and stations when you really go bush. Thanks for the response. Safe travel.

Rolly wrote:

---

Great looking outfit, Jim.

....But do you really have to port around two 44 gal drums of fuel for the tug?

---

This photo is on the banks of the Roper river NT .

The drums of  fuel I bought on site for the boat .

A freight truck brings fuel & some supplys down from Darwin on order & takes crabes 

back for the crabers on the Roper ,

Very handy as it saves us a 100kl round trip to Roper Bar for fuel .& cheeper.



 

 

Gidday to all the members. I'm new to this, but could not help replying to this topic, as I feel I have a lot to offer, and also a lot to learn. I lost my husband early last year. We had travelled around Oz with a slide-on Jayco Sportster over a 2004 Toyota Landcruiser ute, and towing our rather large plate alum boat (22'). We lived like this for 3 years before deciding that we had left the best fishing behind in the Tropics of Nth Qld. So we spent some time researching and planning for our dream home, to finally decide on a 20' (ext) Kedron off-roader. This van was all we ever dreamt about and more. And it is not until one gets off the beaten track that the real Australia is discovered. These vans are more than capable of going anywhere (as the Gall Boys' videos will attest) and with the off-roaders "bible" - Camps Australia - showing all the free and cheap camping places, we had an amazing adventure in our new van - complete with QS full bed, ensuite, 340L fridge/freezer, diesel heater etc etc - for 6 months before my husband died. I really want to continue our lifestyle and have now decided to get another Kedron - much shorter 17'6" - and about half a tonne lighter to tow with my medium-sized dual cab. The Kedron's are well worth looking into, not only because they hold their re-sale value, but because of their strength, and the after-sales service received at the Kedron factory. There is currently a wait for a new van to be built by Kedron until Sept next year, which could be one reason why the 2nd hand one's are usually snapped up. If anyone would like more information on my current van which I am selling, or about anywhere that we went or my future planned travel adventures, I would be very happy to pass this info along. Cheers Jan

Hi Jan and welcome to the forum. 

Sorry to hear you have lost your mate but you sound like your times together were very fulfilling.

I love the Kedrons, what I have seen of them and the research I have done on the net. We have a Jayco Hawke Outback which is serving us very well at the moment but are looking to go for that extra bit of comfort and a wardrobe would be heaven.

Kedron is for sure, one we will look at seriously. Do you have any pictures of yours mate? 

Thanks for the welcome Firefly. It has been nearly 2 years since my mate passed away, but I just know he is with me forever, and will continue on my journey with me. Not sure how to upload photos to this website, but if you would like to give me your e-mail address, I can send them to you. Cheers Jan