We have an older van , but as we're seriously thinking of life on the road we will need to up gradeto a more modern reliable van. we've accessed ebay and Trading Post and have found some very attractive European vans in an affordable price range. Understandably they don't haveanAwning. A couple of the vans were a little compact inside but the last one we viewed looked quite spacious! We wonder how they would fare on our Australian roads? has anyone had any experience with European made Caravans? if so could you please offer us some advise. This would be greatly appreciated. Thanks heaps!
jimricho said
06:40 AM Jan 29, 2010
This link was posted on this forum a little while back......
There are pro's and cons for the european vans; Pros Light weight very well finished off economical to tow spacious comfortable to live in The alco hitch is brilliant
Cons not very well suited to australian roads Parts can be hard to get Some repaires won't touch them
I will qualify the above by saying we owned a 23' Adria and towed it 22.000K's last year. We enjoyed the van but you are limited to the black top.
After saying that we met a couple in the west macdonalds ranges who took it wherever they wanted, drove to the condition and were prepared to accept damages if any.
In my opion if doing highway travel only they are hard to beat in cost and features.
We have traded ours in on an australian built van as we want to spend more time off the beaten track.
This link shows the testing the adrias undergo in Europe.
-- Edited by Cully on Friday 29th of January 2010 01:05:16 PM
jimricho said
05:55 PM Jan 29, 2010
I have an idea that the Ecotourers were Aussie made but are now made in China. I was talking to an owner in Mission Beach last year and I think that's what he said. Don't treat this information as "Gospel" as I may have the bull by the tail.
Cully said
11:39 PM Jan 29, 2010
You are right Jim, the started building them in Oz, but now have the bodies made in China and I am not sure what else. I think they may still assemble them here and I am pretty sure there is something on their website about their current manufacture.
Maybe there is an owner or two on the forum that could help us. A friend of mine has one of the first ones made in Oz when they were first sold.
eureka said
01:46 PM Feb 2, 2017
xHi Rob and Jacqui, I own a 14ft British Swift and love it....after some alterations.
On my first camp out traveling about 90k on a slightly down hill, bendy road the caravan started fishtailing. A bit scary but came off the accelerator and didn't (panic) break, coasting till it righted. I was not caring a full tank of water at the time and I knew the front end was way to light as I could lift the caravan up myself.
I replaced the floor of the boot with a solid base with holes for gas, moved the 9k gas bottle over and added another smaller gas bottle on the left of the spare and I carry the choofer, Dutch oven and fire tools, hoses and a few tools on the right.
I replaced the single lounges/beds with a south/west small double bed, can easily lift bed to access under as well.
Opened the outer storage box internally to access under the bed so I can store longish items like chairs, shade poles etc...total towing weight is around 1100k easy work for my xtrail.
The xtrail tows the caravan comfortably now after the alterations and have taken it on good dirt roads, some downhill windy rough ones too. The screws to the shower door came loose so I replaced with thicker ones, no other problems have come to light.
My caravan came with a wind out awning, was skeptical about it at first but have never had any problems with it.
I have to say I am not a speedster on the roads, sitting between 90 to 100kph on highways and 80k on secondary roads and maybe 40 on dirt. It scares me when caravans pass me doing 110+ ....just asking for trouble I say.
I've been told of a "European caravans in oz" forum that I haven't checked out yet. I'm looking for information on how to fit a small single comfy lounge/recliner, maybe an impossible idea though.
I've been researching & looking at European caravans for quite some time. Missed out on a Swift, had organized a cover note but didn't get the it long story best forgotten.
In my discussions with CIL for the Swift they said they will insure Swift & Baileys as parts and repairs are available. CIL also said I would get a 10% discount on the policy for having Alko Hitch.
Next one I considered was an Avondale, made an offer to buy subject to insurance due to CILS information. Owner assured me no problem and showed me his insurance but couldn't show me the compliance papers even though it had WA plates on it.
Contacted his insurer to see if I could continue the insurance in my name, no problem until I asked did they have a copy of the compliance papers. Opened a can of worms, no they didn't and did not have it as an import. Insurance denied. Turned out no one would insure the van and consequently I didn't purchase it.
Check with your insurance company before parting with any cash. There are a lot of imports out there now and maybe things have changed insurance wise.
As every one says says consider where and how you are going to use it. For me one of these is ideal as it can go where my Holden Calais does as I'm only a short tripper. Work restricted. Good luck with it hope this is of some help.
TheHeaths said
07:25 AM Feb 9, 2017
Cathy and Helen, doubt you will get a reply as RoJaq have not been active on site since 2013.
Info may help others here however.
PeterD said
08:22 AM Feb 9, 2017
TheHeaths wrote:
Cathy and Helen, doubt you will get a reply as RoJaq have not been active on site since 2013.
Yes, watch the dates on the original post. Most people will not be back after a few weeks as they will have had their answer by then and will have acted on the info.
http://www.roadahead.com.au/caravanning/crackdown-on-caravans
may or may not be relevant.
Pros
Light weight
very well finished off
economical to tow
spacious
comfortable to live in
The alco hitch is brilliant
Cons
not very well suited to australian roads
Parts can be hard to get
Some repaires won't touch them
I will qualify the above by saying we owned a 23' Adria and towed it 22.000K's last year.
We enjoyed the van but you are limited to the black top.
After saying that we met a couple in the west macdonalds ranges who took it wherever they wanted, drove to the condition and were prepared to accept damages if any.
In my opion if doing highway travel only they are hard to beat in cost and features.
We have traded ours in on an australian built van as we want to spend more time off the beaten track.
This link shows the testing the adrias undergo in Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceJdQ_XKD3Y
it looks good but..................
make up your own mind.
http://www.ecotourer.com.au/
and http://www.ecotourer.com.au/Caravan_World_August_2005.pdf
I think their is an Eco Tourer Owners Club but can't find a link for them.
Another option in this type of concept although slightly different and cheaper are A'Van folding camper trailers, see;
http://www.avan.com.au/
http://www.google.com/search?q=a%27van+club+of+australia&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=
-- Edited by Cully on Friday 29th of January 2010 01:05:16 PM
Maybe there is an owner or two on the forum that could help us. A friend of mine has one of the first ones made in Oz when they were first sold.
xHi Rob and Jacqui, I own a 14ft British Swift and love it....after some alterations.
On my first camp out traveling about 90k on a slightly down hill, bendy road the caravan started fishtailing. A bit scary but came off the accelerator and didn't (panic) break, coasting till it righted. I was not caring a full tank of water at the time and I knew the front end was way to light as I could lift the caravan up myself.
I replaced the floor of the boot with a solid base with holes for gas, moved the 9k gas bottle over and added another smaller gas bottle on the left of the spare and I carry the choofer, Dutch oven and fire tools, hoses and a few tools on the right.
I replaced the single lounges/beds with a south/west small double bed, can easily lift bed to access under as well.
Opened the outer storage box internally to access under the bed so I can store longish items like chairs, shade poles etc...total towing weight is around 1100k easy work for my xtrail.
The xtrail tows the caravan comfortably now after the alterations and have taken it on good dirt roads, some downhill windy rough ones too. The screws to the shower door came loose so I replaced with thicker ones, no other problems have come to light.
My caravan came with a wind out awning, was skeptical about it at first but have never had any problems with it.
I have to say I am not a speedster on the roads, sitting between 90 to 100kph on highways and 80k on secondary roads and maybe 40 on dirt. It scares me when caravans pass me doing 110+ ....just asking for trouble I say.
I've been told of a "European caravans in oz" forum that I haven't checked out yet. I'm looking for information on how to fit a small single comfy lounge/recliner, maybe an impossible idea though.
Good luck with your research. Helen
In my discussions with CIL for the Swift they said they will insure Swift & Baileys as parts and repairs are available. CIL also said I would get a 10% discount on the policy for having Alko Hitch.
Next one I considered was an Avondale, made an offer to buy subject to insurance due to CILS information. Owner assured me no problem and showed me his insurance but couldn't show me the compliance papers even though it had WA plates on it.
Contacted his insurer to see if I could continue the insurance in my name, no problem until I asked did they have a copy of the compliance papers. Opened a can of worms, no they didn't and did not have it as an import. Insurance denied. Turned out no one would insure the van and consequently I didn't purchase it.
Check with your insurance company before parting with any cash. There are a lot of imports out there now and maybe things have changed insurance wise.
As every one says says consider where and how you are going to use it. For me one of these is ideal as it can go where my Holden Calais does as I'm only a short tripper. Work restricted. Good luck with it hope this is of some help.
Info may help others here however.
Yes, watch the dates on the original post. Most people will not be back after a few weeks as they will have had their answer by then and will have acted on the info.