Hi my wife and I are planning to join all you nomads full time we have been looking for a van for some time and have come up with a Coromal Princeton we are thinking about buying it do any of you guys have one and what do you think of it
Desert Dweller said
04:30 AM Feb 16, 2018
Coromal have been making caravans for a long time, they must be doing something right. We haven't heard any bad reports on our travels.
It may be best to do a few extended trips away first to see if the living in a caravan lifestyle is for you before burning your bridges.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Friday 16th of February 2018 04:58:29 AM
Kebbin said
09:12 AM Feb 16, 2018
Welcome Macdee to make a decision on the Princeton would require a little more info like the ATM and your tow vehicle make and model. Apart from that a friend has a Coromal Element and is quite happy with it.
Possum3 said
09:53 AM Feb 16, 2018
MacDee, suggest you get information from Caravan Council of Australia - Note this is a different organisation than the Caravan Industry Association (Manufacturer's Association) see www.caravancouncil.com.au/compliance
All information relevant to Caravan Purchase is fully covered by Caravan Council of Australia - and it is free to peruse or Download.
rockylizard said
10:01 AM Feb 16, 2018
Gday...
Good advice as always Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan ... but are you on some sort of commission rate per post?
cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Friday 16th of February 2018 10:01:23 AM
mezza56 said
02:22 PM Feb 16, 2018
I was thinking the same thing , possum loves that caravan council
Possum3 said
06:25 PM Feb 16, 2018
It is just that there are so many Rogue Dealers and Shonky Manufacturers conning the Unwary buyers - Colin Young the main man at Caravan Council has put together a lot of sound advice and checklist's for intending Caravan and Motor Home Owners.
His credentials if placed on top of each other would make a pile so high "Jack Spratt" couldn't jump over.
If passing on some good information can help any Newbie I'm for it.
And some of us that have owned vans for decades can also still learn from their site.
PeterD said
08:26 PM Feb 16, 2018
I support the councils advice as well. I see too many come onto the forums that have a van that should really be towed by a Ford F truck or similar or a light European flat top truck. We should be giving all the places to explore for advice or posting that advice here.
Peter, many years ago the advice given to new vanners was to choose a van that is 80% total weight (ATM) of the maximum loaded weight of their tow vehicles max loaded weight. This gives a good safety margin for most towers particularly newcomers. Back in those days the maximum towing capacities of out tow vehicles was more in keeping with those thoughts of the size vans we should be towing. Since those days the tow vehicles maximum towing capacities have increased significantly more than the growth of the size and weights of their products. Are these maximum towing weights safe towing weights? Yes they are for compact heavy trailers like horse floats. However when you come to caravans that are much longer and higher the situation changes significantly. The increased height and particularly the extra length makes caravans far less stable. We thus should be voluntarily derating the modern tow vehicles to take this reduced stability into consideration. The Caravan Council certainly does, it is run by engineers who understand the behaviour of vans. The tow vehicle salesmen certainly know very little about the and thus reckon you can tow less stable vans up to the manufacturers specifications.
Peter (and possum) ... I too agree the Council's website is an excellent source of advice.
As is the comment you make in your post re 'times past'.
The two sites you provided are also recommended reading and good to have them trotted out on a regular basis - not just for the inexperienced but also those who are 'experienced' ... we should always be keeping up to date with developments and advice.
In passing, my playful dig at possum for providing the link to the Caravan Council was just that playful - note the
It was just interesting that it, and the words in the post, keep appearing in post after post.
As I said then ... good advice as always ...
Cheers - John
MacDee said
11:46 PM Feb 16, 2018
Thanks to one and all I certainly will take the advice and check out the Caravan council thanks for that Possum and thanks to Peter D for the advice from years ago. I must say Im finding the ATM GTM and Tare a bit confusing we have a Prado but are considering changing depending on the van we eventually get.
Possum3 said
10:20 AM Feb 17, 2018
John, I was well aware that it was only a dig - But I am just so aware of the absolute grief and heartbreak of those being flim - flammed by slick commission salesmen. I try to make all newcomers aware of the potential for hazards of vanning. I s'pose the words are similar as it is the same message - Take Care.
iana said
11:27 AM Feb 17, 2018
Coromal sold to the same crowd that owns Camac (I think), not the same vans, infact the Coromal now is identical to another brand, maybe conquest, made here in Perth, same van painted different.
PeterD said
12:16 AM Feb 18, 2018
Let's get things straight as to who is up ho and who is paying the rent - Fleetwood Corporation.
Hi my wife and I are planning to join all you nomads full time we have been looking for a van for some time and have come up with a Coromal Princeton we are thinking about buying it do any of you guys have one and what do you think of it
Coromal have been making caravans for a long time, they must be doing something right. We haven't heard any bad reports on our travels.
It may be best to do a few extended trips away first to see if the living in a caravan lifestyle is for you before burning your bridges.
-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Friday 16th of February 2018 04:58:29 AM
All information relevant to Caravan Purchase is fully covered by Caravan Council of Australia - and it is free to peruse or Download.
Gday...
cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Friday 16th of February 2018 10:01:23 AM
I was thinking the same thing , possum loves that caravan council
His credentials if placed on top of each other would make a pile so high "Jack Spratt" couldn't jump over.
If passing on some good information can help any Newbie I'm for it.
And some of us that have owned vans for decades can also still learn from their site.
I support the councils advice as well. I see too many come onto the forums that have a van that should really be towed by a Ford F truck or similar or a light European flat top truck. We should be giving all the places to explore for advice or posting that advice here.
Peter, many years ago the advice given to new vanners was to choose a van that is 80% total weight (ATM) of the maximum loaded weight of their tow vehicles max loaded weight. This gives a good safety margin for most towers particularly newcomers. Back in those days the maximum towing capacities of out tow vehicles was more in keeping with those thoughts of the size vans we should be towing. Since those days the tow vehicles maximum towing capacities have increased significantly more than the growth of the size and weights of their products. Are these maximum towing weights safe towing weights? Yes they are for compact heavy trailers like horse floats. However when you come to caravans that are much longer and higher the situation changes significantly. The increased height and particularly the extra length makes caravans far less stable. We thus should be voluntarily derating the modern tow vehicles to take this reduced stability into consideration. The Caravan Council certainly does, it is run by engineers who understand the behaviour of vans. The tow vehicle salesmen certainly know very little about the and thus reckon you can tow less stable vans up to the manufacturers specifications.
The other problem you will come up against is that most vehicles will not tow a van of maximum allowable weight with a full load in the tug. I will possibly get chipped like possum for this oft repeated link but here goes. See this links. The truth about 3500kg towing Why a 3500kg tow rating may not really be a 3500kg tow rating
Gday...
Peter (and possum) ... I too agree the Council's website is an excellent source of advice.
As is the comment you make in your post re 'times past'.
The two sites you provided are also recommended reading and good to have them trotted out on a regular basis - not just for the inexperienced but also those who are 'experienced' ... we should always be keeping up to date with developments and advice.
In passing, my playful dig at possum for providing the link to the Caravan Council was just that playful - note the
It was just interesting that it, and the words in the post, keep appearing in post after post.
As I said then ... good advice as always ...
Cheers - John
Let's get things straight as to who is up ho and who is paying the rent - Fleetwood Corporation.