Welcome to the gang paul b, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I had many a discussion on the phone around August 2014 with 'Robbie' the then GM in Adelaide about their vans. I also studied their website in detail. So early September I flew from Melbourne to Adelaide ready to buy a 21ft van.
As I approached the van that was sitting as arranged for me to look at I thought, mmmm, not as finished the way I hoped. I then went inside, the same thought.
I decided that they were not for me as I felt no way would the interior mainly, would handle FULL TIME travel. Maybe ok for weekends away or annual leave.
I have since seen 2 of them and the owners were not happy vegemites. Things falling apart inside after a few months.
Great prices though so if you are close go check them out as everyone has different ideas.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 15th of August 2016 07:46:26 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:29 PM Aug 15, 2016
We have one in our driveway at the moment. 21ft.
The owners have had it about 4 years and are full time on the road. They recently drove the Strzelecki Track with it and no leaks, no dust and they reckon it is the best van on the road, bar none.
Cheers,
Pete
Tony Bev said
10:30 PM Aug 15, 2016
Hello Paul b
As Dougwe has already said, welcome to the forum
I am sure that if any members have that type of caravan, they will let you know, of their experience, whilst travelling with them
Edit to say that Peter and Margaret, had posted while I was typing
-- Edited by Tony Bev on Monday 15th of August 2016 10:32:18 PM
paul b said
10:39 PM Aug 15, 2016
Thanks everyone
We are looking for our first caravan so have no experience with what's a good buy and what's not
So we have come to the oracle of van owners
All experiences and advice welcome
Leather Tech said
09:19 AM Aug 16, 2016
I went to the factory 6 months ago , in my opinion they need more research and development , and a great deal of quality control before they are ready for sale. By the time I priced up all the options I wanted it was very little cheaper than the Island Star that I did purchase.
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:30 AM Aug 16, 2016
Leather Techs wrote:
I went to the factory 6 months ago , .....
The factory is in China. It is owned and controlled by an Adelaide company.
In Adelaide they add the A frame and running gear and do some finishing off work.
The construction is sandwich panel on a heavy aluminium frame. Far superior to most locally made "stick and tin" vans. The one in our driveway has an aluminium chassis.
They make mainly semi trailers as well as camper trailers.
Cheers,
Peter
Mutley said
04:50 PM Aug 16, 2016
Had a good look at them at the recent "lets go caravan & camping" show in Adelaide; I was very impressed with quality & finish of them. They were a pleasant surprise, as I'd read all the knocking on the internet before we went.
Bruce and Bev said
07:12 PM Aug 16, 2016
Paul - have you checked google for customer reviews ?? (just be careful though if the feedback is wonderful - many retailers (even including Woolies and Coles have their marketing staff post positive comments of their own sites)
tascray said
03:48 PM Nov 24, 2016
We bought a Goldstar 21 footer in January 16 our first ever caravan, so we really have nothing to compare it with. That being said, we are very happy with it. Our delivery date in Adelaide was twice delayed. That in itself presented quite a problem for us, living in Tasmania, and with limited spaces available on The Spirit for caravans, we had to change our travel dates twice. Everything in our van was as specified, but the steel frame we ordered turned out to be aluminium at no extra cost, so we were not too perturbed to be saving on the extra weight. We also stayed at a caravan park nearby for a week, to test everything before returning home. After a few short try out trips in Tassie, we headed for the mainland in July for a 3 month tour around Qld, Central NSW, and Victoria. While there we made a detour to Adelaide to have a few minor issues looked at while our van was still under warranty. Nothing was too much trouble and the team completed the work over and above our expectations. One example was the inverter (there was nothing wrong with ours) - it was replaced simply because they were now fitting better ones to their vans. Another was the main door being a little out of plumb, so rather than adjust it, they replaced the door. So, we cant speak highly enough of the service we received. We have had a diesel heater fitted since, and were toasty and warm inside despite some cold, wet, wintry weather we experienced on the mainland. So, certainly no trouble with the insulation and as the van was battered by turbulent storms around Adelaide and Kingston SE, there were no leaks at all. The van towed like a dream over the 13000+ kms we travelled. Love the look of the grey exterior with identifying decals, the clean lines, light, airy feel and modern interior presentation - it is with pride that we show our van to others. Yes, it is a Chinese van....so? Why is that an issue? You dont have to read too widely to see that there are lots of Australian vans with big problems. Or is it just that people are very quick to whinge about the bad, and we just don't hear from people who are more than happy with their vans, no matter the brand.
-- Edited by tascray on Thursday 24th of November 2016 03:51:10 PM
Maggie and Alex said
07:40 PM Feb 16, 2018
-- Edited by Maggie and Alex on Friday 16th of February 2018 07:43:36 PM
-- Edited by Maggie and Alex on Friday 16th of February 2018 07:49:06 PM
Welcome to the gang paul b, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I had many a discussion on the phone around August 2014 with 'Robbie' the then GM in Adelaide about their vans. I also studied their website in detail. So early September I flew from Melbourne to Adelaide ready to buy a 21ft van.
As I approached the van that was sitting as arranged for me to look at I thought, mmmm, not as finished the way I hoped. I then went inside, the same thought.
I decided that they were not for me as I felt no way would the interior mainly, would handle FULL TIME travel. Maybe ok for weekends away or annual leave.
I have since seen 2 of them and the owners were not happy vegemites. Things falling apart inside after a few months.
Great prices though so if you are close go check them out as everyone has different ideas.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Monday 15th of August 2016 07:46:26 PM
The owners have had it about 4 years and are full time on the road. They recently drove the Strzelecki Track with it and no leaks, no dust and they reckon it is the best van on the road, bar none.
Cheers,
Pete
Hello Paul b
As Dougwe has already said, welcome to the forum
I am sure that if any members have that type of caravan, they will let you know, of their experience, whilst travelling with them
Edit to say that Peter and Margaret, had posted while I was typing
-- Edited by Tony Bev on Monday 15th of August 2016 10:32:18 PM
The factory is in China. It is owned and controlled by an Adelaide company.
In Adelaide they add the A frame and running gear and do some finishing off work.
The construction is sandwich panel on a heavy aluminium frame. Far superior to most locally made "stick and tin" vans. The one in our driveway has an aluminium chassis.
http://www.tradekey.com/company/Sanmen-Liberty-Caravan-Parts-Co-Ltd-7193020.html
They make mainly semi trailers as well as camper trailers.
Cheers,
Peter
We bought a Goldstar 21 footer in January 16 our first ever caravan, so we really have nothing to compare it with. That being said, we are very happy with it.
Our delivery date in Adelaide was twice delayed. That in itself presented quite a problem for us, living in Tasmania, and with limited spaces available on The Spirit for caravans, we had to change our travel dates twice.
Everything in our van was as specified, but the steel frame we ordered turned out to be aluminium at no extra cost, so we were not too perturbed to be saving on the extra weight.
We also stayed at a caravan park nearby for a week, to test everything before returning home.
After a few short try out trips in Tassie, we headed for the mainland in July for a 3 month tour around Qld, Central NSW, and Victoria. While there we made a detour to Adelaide to have a few minor issues looked at while our van was still under warranty. Nothing was too much trouble and the team completed the work over and above our expectations. One example was the inverter (there was nothing wrong with ours) - it was replaced simply because they were now fitting better ones to their vans. Another was the main door being a little out of plumb, so rather than adjust it, they replaced the door. So, we cant speak highly enough of the service we received.
We have had a diesel heater fitted since, and were toasty and warm inside despite some cold, wet, wintry weather we experienced on the mainland. So, certainly no trouble with the insulation and as the van was battered by turbulent storms around Adelaide and Kingston SE, there were no leaks at all. The van towed like a dream over the 13000+ kms we travelled.
Love the look of the grey exterior with identifying decals, the clean lines, light, airy feel and modern interior presentation - it is with pride that we show our van to others.
Yes, it is a Chinese van....so? Why is that an issue? You dont have to read too widely to see that there are lots of Australian vans with big problems. Or is it just that people are very quick to whinge about the bad, and we just don't hear from people who are more than happy with their vans, no matter the brand.
-- Edited by tascray on Thursday 24th of November 2016 03:51:10 PM
-- Edited by Maggie and Alex on Friday 16th of February 2018 07:43:36 PM
-- Edited by Maggie and Alex on Friday 16th of February 2018 07:49:06 PM