l am in the process of changing vans to a full height. So I did what any smart person would and asked Doug by pm for his advise on Chinese imports As he had viewed them last year. After viewing them for myself yesterday I must concur with Doug that there product is still in the research and development stage and I don't personally think it's ready for the AU market. With that said I am going to buy a used van to keep within budget.
Thanks again Doug for your opinion, invaluable as usual.
Kind Regards Peter
Dougwe said
10:30 AM Feb 10, 2016
Glad you agreed LT. Good to see I got it right, for a change
Shame really as the "Price is right" but unfortunately the quality has a little further to go before classed as good. Never mind plenty of "good" quality out there.
As I said also to you, probably good for weekends or maybe annual leave holidays but not for full time on the road.
All my opinion of course. Yours too obviously
Keep Safe out there.
pomme said
12:10 PM Feb 10, 2016
Just a matter of interest Dougwe, when you were looking at caravans i suggested looking at the "safari delta" caravans, I have since bought one, a 20 ft with recliners as there is only the wife and myself using the caravan.
So as i say interested to know whether you took the time to look and wondering what made you prefer your caravan, the one you got seams similar to the safari apart from the price.
If you think i am being to nosy, i do apologize.
Pomme.
Dougwe said
01:24 PM Feb 10, 2016
Pomme, not nosy mate just asking.
I did look at the Safari but like the Retreat they both took my interest but just didn't have the "wow" factor and were both over my budget. When I saw the "Chief" it hit me head on with the "wow" factor. As I approached the demo it had DOUGWE written all down the side and across the floor when I walked inside. Chief also were more than happy to do the changes I asked for.
I appreciated all input from fellow forumites at the time, so happy to do the same in return to others if asked.
Desert Dweller said
02:04 PM Feb 10, 2016
Hope Chinese caravans are better than their vehicles. Brother-in law was towing his Geist caravan with a SsangYong when someone waved him over to the side of the road. The rear half of the vehicle had separated from the front half of the vehicle with a gap of around one inch! A total write off not covered under warranty. After buying a Range Rover Discovery the drawbar of the Geist caravan snapped & the van ended up in a roadside drain with him towing just the drawbar. After getting the van repaired the gearbox of the Range Rover blew up. He's not a keen caravaner any more, I wonder why? Stick to popular well known brands & you can't go wrong.
rockylizard said
03:44 PM Feb 10, 2016
Desert Dweller wrote:
Hope Chinese caravans are better than their vehicles. Brother-in law was towing his Geist (German manufacturer) caravan with a SsangYong (made in Korea) when someone waved him over to the side of the road. The rear half of the vehicle had separated from the front half of the vehicle with a gap of around one inch! A total write off not covered under warranty. After buying a Range Rover (separate vehicle to a Discovery)it's a Land RoverDiscovery (Made in UK but now owned by Tata India) the drawbar of the Geist caravan snapped & the van ended up in a roadside drain with him towing just the drawbar. After getting the van repaired the gearbox of the Range Rover blew up. He's not a keen caravaner any more, I wonder why? Stick to popular well known brands & you can't go wrong.
Gday...
cheers - John
Desert Dweller said
04:16 PM Feb 10, 2016
rockylizard wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
Hope Chinese caravans are better than their vehicles. Brother-in law was towing his Geist (German manufacturer) caravan with a SsangYong (made in Korea) when someone waved him over to the side of the road. The rear half of the vehicle had separated from the front half of the vehicle with a gap of around one inch! A total write off not covered under warranty. After buying a Range Rover (separate vehicle to a Discovery)it's a Land RoverDiscovery (Made in UK but now owned by Tata India) the drawbar of the Geist caravan snapped & the van ended up in a roadside drain with him towing just the drawbar. After getting the van repaired the gearbox of the Range Rover blew up. He's not a keen caravaner any more, I wonder why? Stick to popular well known brands & you can't go wrong.
Gday...
cheers - John
Yes I know they're not made in China, just an example of lesser known brands letting their owners down as would a Chinese caravan. Been on a tour of the Rover factory in the UK when we were there back in 2006, not a Chinaman in sight. Brother-in law had a long wait for spare parts from Germany for the Geist. They've disappeared from Oz now haven't they? Draw bar failure was caused by using a WDH causing bending under load. Had over a hundred cracks in the floor frame of the van as well, had to be strengthened by welding new steels. Cost thousands & he got rid of it straight away!
Papou said
08:39 PM Feb 10, 2016
They dont honour their warrenty too well either....Think the caravan Industry or should i say a fair bit of the Industry could do with a good shakeover :)...Stick to Aussy made me thinks and maybe best a secondhand , at least one thats had its issues hopefully sorted out....
Baz421 said
09:01 PM Feb 10, 2016
The main thing I would be worried about with a Chinese van is steel quality in the chassis etc IMHO.
If you have ever welded Chinese steel you will know what I mean - welding along and blows a hole on a regular basis with impurities in the steel.
Many Oz companies tell us they use xyz Oz steel for that very reason, both in engineering and civil works.
Hi guys
l am in the process of changing vans to a full height. So I did what any smart person would and asked Doug by pm for his advise on Chinese imports As he had viewed them last year. After viewing them for myself yesterday I must concur with Doug that there product is still in the research and development stage and I don't personally think it's ready for the AU market. With that said I am going to buy a used van to keep within budget.
Thanks again Doug for your opinion, invaluable as usual.
Kind Regards Peter
Glad you agreed LT. Good to see I got it right, for a change
Shame really as the "Price is right" but unfortunately the quality has a little further to go before classed as good. Never mind plenty of "good" quality out there.
As I said also to you, probably good for weekends or maybe annual leave holidays but not for full time on the road.
All my opinion of course. Yours too obviously
Keep Safe out there.
So as i say interested to know whether you took the time to look and wondering what made you prefer your caravan, the one you got seams similar to the safari apart from the price.
If you think i am being to nosy, i do apologize.
Pomme.
I did look at the Safari but like the Retreat they both took my interest but just didn't have the "wow" factor and were both over my budget. When I saw the "Chief" it hit me head on with the "wow" factor. As I approached the demo it had DOUGWE written all down the side and across the floor when I walked inside. Chief also were more than happy to do the changes I asked for.
I appreciated all input from fellow forumites at the time, so happy to do the same in return to others if asked.
Hope Chinese caravans are better than their vehicles. Brother-in law was towing his Geist caravan with a SsangYong when someone waved him over to the side of the road. The rear half of the vehicle had separated from the front half of the vehicle with a gap of around one inch! A total write off not covered under warranty.
After buying a Range Rover Discovery the drawbar of the Geist caravan snapped & the van ended up in a roadside drain with him towing just the drawbar. 
After getting the van repaired the gearbox of the Range Rover blew up. 
He's not a keen caravaner any more, I wonder why? 
Stick to popular well known brands & you can't go wrong.
Gday...
cheers - John
Yes I know they're not made in China, just an example of lesser known brands letting their owners down as would a Chinese caravan. Been on a tour of the Rover factory in the UK when we were there back in 2006, not a Chinaman in sight. Brother-in law had a long wait for spare parts from Germany for the Geist. They've disappeared from Oz now haven't they? Draw bar failure was caused by using a WDH causing bending under load. Had over a hundred cracks in the floor frame of the van as well, had to be strengthened by welding new steels. Cost thousands & he got rid of it straight away!
The main thing I would be worried about with a Chinese van is steel quality in the chassis etc IMHO.
If you have ever welded Chinese steel you will know what I mean - welding along and blows a hole on a regular basis with impurities in the steel.
Many Oz companies tell us they use xyz Oz steel for that very reason, both in engineering and civil works.