looked at the avans a couple weeks ago, any one know how they are? are they any good in strong windy weather.. etc? also like the little corimal vans, but dont know how much they weigh?
i do like the 3door toyota rav 4's , 4x4, wondering if something like that would be good for towing? i just have to wait till icome back from europe in march before i can really wok out what i want,
jimricho said
07:25 AM Nov 22, 2010
Hi Jason,
I don't have much knowledge of A Vans but earlier this year I was camped next to an A Van and the owners were towing it with a Rav 4. They were very happy with it, and said it was no issue to tow with a small vehicle. They rarely used the inside kitchen mostly setting up under their awning.
If considering a "wind up" similar to my Goldcrown (or a Jayco Penguin) I'd suggest one with the inside bed (like mine) rather the pull-out beds, it's more convenient and space is adequate for a solo traveller.
best wishes for your trip to Europe,
Jim
petengail said
08:21 AM Nov 22, 2010
Mate of mine towed a Avan with a Rav4 - did it fine,,,,
ozjohn said
11:05 AM Nov 22, 2010
Check your vehicle handbook for maximum Tow Weight. Most Rav 4's have a max Tow Weight of 1500Kg with a max Ball Weight of 150Kg, although one model has higher weights of 1900Kg and 190Kg respectively. Toyota also require an adequate WDH be used. The maximum loaded weight (Incluning full water tank) of a van is shown on the vans compliance plate as the ATM. Any ball weight shown on the vans compliance plate will be for the unladen van and will vary depending on what you put in the van and how it's distrubuted. Will handle upto the larger A-van Cruiseliner. Cheers, ozjohn.
-- Edited by ozjohn on Monday 22nd of November 2010 04:17:04 PM
elliemike said
12:03 PM Nov 22, 2010
Hi Milo We now have the "Avan" Cruiseliner. Having sold our Hiace a couple of months ago.
Tow it with a Nissan X-Trail Diesel.
The Cruiseliner was a bit bigger than we wanted. We were hoping for the smaller Sportliner. But they dont come on the market second hand very often in WA. So grabbed the Cruiseliner. Got everything we want fitted already. Exrta windows and Solar Panel etc.
But we are happy with it just the same. In fact "love it" Ooooh, "the space" after the Hiace Pop Top.
Tows very well on the Exy. You can forget it is there sometimes. Tare weight is 900 kg's But with all our gear on board including water we would be about in the region of 1300 + all up. We carry basicly what we carried in the Hiace.
I will get it weighed on the big weighbridge at work after Xmas, just before heading to Tassie when we are loaded for a long trip.
Cant comment about high wind affecting it as yet.
The awning/ annexe, is a challenge to fit (so we were informed) But, is not that bad. After a couple of trial runs at home Ellie and I got it sussed and dont have a problem. I even sussed out fitting and unrigging it single handed. Unrigging with the roof still up as well. I reckon I will fit it with the roof up as well if I can get a gizmo made to help. We use the awning all the time as we never cook inside.
Been to a couple of Avan Club weekends in WA. Interesting to see all the tow vehicles. A few RAV 4's, X-Trails, and everything else towing them Did not see any Weight Distribution hitches being used at all. But there might have been some there ????? we did not see em.
Lady camped next to us with an Avan Sportliner Had the Rav4 and loved the combination. We were interesed in the towing ability of the RAV as we used to have one a few years ago.
So far we have had 4 trips away with the Van and Exy. Got back from one yesterday. Fuel (diesel) consumption is 9 ltr's per 100 k's for us.
Regards Mike and Ellie
-- Edited by elliemike on Monday 22nd of November 2010 12:05:46 PM
Helena said
02:47 PM Nov 22, 2010
Hi Milo.
Helena said
02:50 PM Nov 22, 2010
Hi Milo,
We have the Sportsliner A.Van we tow it with a Toyota Corolla checked with the RAA before we bought the car and the van and they said it was fine to tow with. We travelled for four months into Queensland with it this year and it didn't miss a beat we are really happy with the set up Good luck with your search hope you find what you are looking for. Helena.
gillyb said
04:49 PM Nov 22, 2010
Hi Milo I too have an A'van sportliner, its perfect for 1 person (not sure if I would like it if I had a partner it would be very squishy :) I tow with a subaru liberty and I hardly know its behind me, I haven't experienced any winds yet so can't help you with that one, I was advised by the salesman I bought it from that when parked on site in a very high wind to try and have front or rear facing wind rather than the sides but he said it shouldn't be a problem Enjoy your trip to Europe Cheers Gill
VHW said
11:42 AM Nov 27, 2010
Hi Milo,
We had an A'Van Aliner (the mid range van with no boot although one model did have it before they restricted it to the Cruiseliners). We had our A'Liner for 7 years and loved it. The A'lite you have shown is incorrectly called an A'Liner, they don't make them anymore and are like hens teeth to get hold of, they would be ideal for a light tow and the RAV or X'Trail or other similar light vehicle should be ok for them.
In regards to the 1998 A'Lite A'Van, if you were interested in it I would offer no more than $10,000 (although it is now a collectors item and could be worth buying it for that alone), I am pretty sure for about the price and year they have quoted you could just about get a used Sportsliner, which would give you more room. Those who have a Sportsliner may like to comment about the used prices. The next size up is the A'Liner, then of course the larger Cruiser and Cruiseliner, the difference in these last two is one has a boot. Richo's suggestion of a Penguin is also good.
Just keep looking like you have until you return from your trip (unless you want to get the A'Lite before it disappears as they are rare), there are plenty of the other types of A'Van campers that come up on the market from time to time.
Mike and Ellie,
In regards to the wind, it is mostly when you are erecting it, hang onto it tightly and don't allow the wind to get under the roof part you are raising. It is generally better in high winds to face the van towards the wind with the overlapping roof wing facing the wind, although we never had a problem with ours in 7 years. Make sure both the inside levers and bolts are secure. With regards to the awning/annex, if we were only doing an overnighter or a couple of days usually we didn't worry about putting the awning up, and in 7 years only used the annex twice.
Milo, I will try to put a pic up of an A'Lite at an A'Van Rally in Nuriootpa (SA) if I can find it, Mike and Ellie, Gary & Sue (WA Club) are coming over our place for afternoon tea today, we are good friends.
-- Edited by VHW on Saturday 27th of November 2010 10:26:14 PM
VHW
thanks for the pic, is like the one posted,
im going to have to waite and see what i want after the uk trip,
jimricho said
06:45 PM Nov 28, 2010
Regarding the Goldstream "Goldcrown" or "Crown" (like mine) or the Jayco Penguin; to the best of my knowledge these are the only ones in the Goldstream or Jayco range that do not have pull-out end beds and are the only vans/camper trailers of this style that I would recommend to a solo traveller (of which I am one). I believe in my case pull-out beds would be a pain in the proverbial.
My Goldcrown is the "off road" model and is quite heavy at 1350 ATM for a rig of its size and I think would be a bit much for a Rav 4. I think (not sure) that the "on road" versions, especially the Jayco, would be lighter and maybe ok.
However, it is my "gut feeling" that you are on the right track with the A liner.
-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 28th of November 2010 06:53:02 PM
Connie said
09:16 PM Nov 29, 2010
We borrowed an A-liner for a trip from Sydney to Brisbane, towed with our Peugeot 406. We hardly knew it was on the back! On the trip north, we had a headwind but no problems with stability at 100kph.
PeterD said
04:27 PM Dec 1, 2010
Go to this link and see for yourself what the weights are. Add up to 300 kg to the tare weights to get the ATM (the weight you really want to know.)
If you particularly want the model in the link you gave, grab it pronto, they no longer manufacture this model.
are they any good in strong windy weather.. etc?
also like the little corimal vans, but dont know how much they weigh?
something like
http://avannsw.com.au/index.php?option=com_rdautos&view=detail&id=80%3Aavan%3Aaliner%3Aalite&Itemid=26
i do like the 3door toyota rav 4's , 4x4, wondering if something like that would be good for towing?
i just have to wait till icome back from europe in march before i can really wok out what i want,
Most Rav 4's have a max Tow Weight of 1500Kg with a max Ball Weight of 150Kg, although one model has higher weights of 1900Kg and 190Kg respectively.
Toyota also require an adequate WDH be used.
The maximum loaded weight (Incluning full water tank) of a van is shown on the vans compliance plate as the ATM.
Any ball weight shown on the vans compliance plate will be for the unladen van and will vary depending on what you put in the van and how it's distrubuted.
Will handle upto the larger A-van Cruiseliner.
Cheers, ozjohn.
-- Edited by ozjohn on Monday 22nd of November 2010 04:17:04 PM
We now have the "Avan" Cruiseliner. Having sold our Hiace a couple of months ago.
Tow it with a Nissan X-Trail Diesel.
The Cruiseliner was a bit bigger than we wanted. We were hoping for the smaller Sportliner. But they dont come on the market second hand very often in WA. So grabbed the Cruiseliner. Got everything we want fitted already. Exrta windows and Solar Panel etc.
But we are happy with it just the same.
In fact "love it" Ooooh, "the space" after the Hiace Pop Top.
Tows very well on the Exy. You can forget it is there sometimes. Tare weight is 900 kg's But with all our gear on board including water we would be about in the region of 1300 + all up. We carry basicly what we carried in the Hiace.
I will get it weighed on the big weighbridge at work after Xmas, just before heading to Tassie when we are loaded for a long trip.
Cant comment about high wind affecting it as yet.
The awning/ annexe, is a challenge to fit (so we were informed)
But, is not that bad. After a couple of trial runs at home Ellie and I got it sussed and dont have a problem.
I even sussed out fitting and unrigging it single handed. Unrigging with the roof still up as well. I reckon I will fit it with the roof up as well if I can get a gizmo made to help.
We use the awning all the time as we never cook inside.
Been to a couple of Avan Club weekends in WA. Interesting to see all the tow vehicles.
A few RAV 4's, X-Trails, and everything else towing them Did not see any Weight Distribution hitches being used at all. But there might have been some there ????? we did not see em.
Lady camped next to us with an Avan Sportliner Had the Rav4 and loved the combination. We were interesed in the towing ability of the RAV as we used to have one a few years ago.
So far we have had 4 trips away with the Van and Exy. Got back from one yesterday. Fuel (diesel) consumption is 9 ltr's per 100 k's for us.
Regards
Mike and Ellie
-- Edited by elliemike on Monday 22nd of November 2010 12:05:46 PM
I too have an A'van sportliner, its perfect for 1 person (not sure if I would like it if I had a partner it would be very squishy :) I tow with a subaru liberty and I hardly know its behind me, I haven't experienced any winds yet so can't help you with that one, I was advised by the salesman I bought it from that when parked on site in a very high wind to try and have front or rear facing wind rather than the sides but he said it shouldn't be a problem
Enjoy your trip to Europe
Cheers
Gill
Hi Milo,
We had an A'Van Aliner (the mid range van with no boot although one model did have it before they restricted it to the Cruiseliners). We had our A'Liner for 7 years and loved it. The A'lite you have shown is incorrectly called an A'Liner, they don't make them anymore and are like hens teeth to get hold of, they would be ideal for a light tow and the RAV or X'Trail or other similar light vehicle should be ok for them.
In regards to the 1998 A'Lite A'Van, if you were interested in it I would offer no more than $10,000 (although it is now a collectors item and could be worth buying it for that alone), I am pretty sure for about the price and year they have quoted you could just about get a used Sportsliner, which would give you more room. Those who have a Sportsliner may like to comment about the used prices.
The next size up is the A'Liner, then of course the larger Cruiser and Cruiseliner, the difference in these last two is one has a boot.
Richo's suggestion of a Penguin is also good.
Just keep looking like you have until you return from your trip (unless you want to get the A'Lite before it disappears as they are rare), there are plenty of the other types of A'Van campers that come up on the market from time to time.
Mike and Ellie,
In regards to the wind, it is mostly when you are erecting it, hang onto it tightly and don't allow the wind to get under the roof part you are raising. It is generally better in high winds to face the van towards the wind with the overlapping roof wing facing the wind, although we never had a problem with ours in 7 years. Make sure both the inside levers and bolts are secure. With regards to the awning/annex, if we were only doing an overnighter or a couple of days usually we didn't worry about putting the awning up, and in 7 years only used the annex twice.
Milo, I will try to put a pic up of an A'Lite at an A'Van Rally in Nuriootpa (SA) if I can find it,
Mike and Ellie, Gary & Sue (WA Club) are coming over our place for afternoon tea today, we are good friends.
-- Edited by VHW on Saturday 27th of November 2010 10:26:14 PM
My Goldcrown is the "off road" model and is quite heavy at 1350 ATM for a rig of its size and I think would be a bit much for a Rav 4. I think (not sure) that the "on road" versions, especially the Jayco, would be lighter and maybe ok.
However, it is my "gut feeling" that you are on the right track with the A liner.
-- Edited by jimricho on Sunday 28th of November 2010 06:53:02 PM