Looking at purchasing a camper trailer, and would appreciate any pointers/advantages/hazards. Hubby passed away last year so would be just the dog and I. Quite impressed with the Platinum range. Budget around 15 to 20K. Any hints or advice please? Thanks :)
Peter_n_Margaret said
08:26 AM Mar 21, 2019
Tents on wheels - too much mucking about.
I would suggest you look at campervans.
Cheers,
Peter
Yuglamron said
09:06 AM Mar 21, 2019
I'm with Peter and Margaret, Too much hassle setting up. Two regos and insurances.
Check out some of the chapters of the CMCA in your area and get in touch with some of the Lady members and have a chat. I was surprised how many solo women are out there in their MotorHomes with their dogs. Nothing worse than taking down a camper trailer in the wet and having to dry it out asap to stop mould.
Best wishes and hope you end up with something that suits you and your furry friend.
Not sure if Cindy will allow this but here is a link to The "Solo" section of the CMCA members.
I do know that the Blue wrens are from the Nowra area of NSW and they do have a large number of Solo Ladies.
https://solosnetwork.org.au/Bird_Chapters.php
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Thursday 21st of March 2019 09:18:31 AM
Driving across the Nullarbor a few years ago when I had a small Jaco pop top van a 4WD towing a camper trailer overtook and quickly disappeared. An hour later I pulled into a road house and caravan park where the camper trailer was parked and being prepared for the evening. I parked a couple of spaces away and unhitched the van but left the chains connected, wound down the stabilisers, lifted the pop top, opened windows, connected to the power box, set up table and chairs and opened a bottle of wine.
Next morning when it was time to pack up the campers were busy preparing to leave and I closed the van up and connected to the tow ball, removed the electrical cable, emptied the bucket under the sink drainage and one of the campers approached for a chat. He said that after watching how quickly I was ready the afternoon before and then in the morning ready to leave before he was that he would be looking to trade in on a van similar to mine.
Some people prefer a tent.
erad said
02:39 PM Mar 21, 2019
We used to have a camper trailer, and we loved it. It covered well over 85000 km with us. However, as we were getting older, setting it up each day was becoming a bit of a bother. I did the external stuff, my wife did the internals (setting the canvas bed ends etc). We got it all down to about 12 minutes at best for full setup. As said, we loved it, me particularly because towing it was easy and it was good on fuel. However, if it was windy, the roof used to sway around a fair bit - so much so that I finished up fitting cleats to the roof on each side so I could use tent pegs to stabilise the roof when it was very windy. You also need flysheets over the canvas bed ends when it is raining or it is very cold because you get condensation on the inside of the canvas. No big deal, just more things to do when setting up or breaking camp.
Eventually, my wife decided that she wanted a caravan. We bought a poptop caravan. It is heavier than the camper, it has more wind resistance, it is wider and we cannot easily manhandle it around in our shed. Even so, there is no way that my wife would go back to a camper trailer again. There are some small units which would be ideal for one (or two) persons. Typically they are back door vans. They are small, light and relatively easy to tow. As far as I can see, the only disadvantage of a back door setup is dust sealing - it may be a lot more difficult to properly seal it up.
Dougwe said
03:30 PM Mar 21, 2019
Have you thought of the Avan Campers benno? I had one many moons ago and loved it. Quick and easy to put up and down and no canvas on those cold windy nights.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Mamil said
04:08 PM Mar 21, 2019
My wife fell in love with the Caretta Teardrop at the caravan show.
We ended up getting something bigger but for just you and the dog it could be perfect. No flapping canvas and set-up hassles either!
we had a Mountain Trail camper trailer, it was fanatastic - electric openining, ensuite, diesel heating andhot water, very comfortable, and VERY expensive. I did love it, but set up with full annexe was getting too tiring, and also limited on seasons for travel (not a fan of heat, and too cold under canvas in winter). Maybe have a look at Jayco Jpod - look like a cross between a camper trailer and a tent, and look to be easy to tow.
Juss
EJP said
08:52 PM Mar 21, 2019
We had a Jayco Dove camper trailer some years ago and although it was light and easy to tow, and relatively easy to put up, it was a pain to put up and down in adverse weather. I have vivid memories of putting it down in a raging gale in Adelaide once and another time we pulled into Horsham in the rain at the same time a caravan pulled in next to us. By the time I had it set up and getting wet in the process they were enjoying acup of tea
montie said
09:11 PM Mar 21, 2019
benno wrote:
Looking at purchasing a camper trailer, and would appreciate any pointers/advantages/hazards. Hubby passed away last year so would be just the dog and I. Quite impressed with the Platinum range. Budget around 15 to 20K. Any hints or advice please? Thanks :)
Pam,
As other posters have pointed out camper trailers can be a lot of mucking around erecting and dismantling, plus you need to tow them.
There are a miriad of camper trailers available on the market at the moment most being a tent on wheels. If you have your heart set on a camper trailer I would suggest you look at Jayco or Avan for a basic model. A good preowned model is also an option.
As a solo traveller (excluding Fido), maybe you should investigate the possibility of a motorised campervan. There are some really good value preowned units on the market under $30k and they can offer a more convenient and secure option for you.
landy said
09:48 PM Mar 21, 2019
I have had two camper trailers and they were both just about physically impossible for a single person to open and close. I'm not saying that there's not better ones out there but as others have said I think you would be better of with a small caravan or motor home. Landy
Warren-Pat_01 said
11:58 PM Mar 21, 2019
Hi Benno,
I guess it depends on your age & fitness.
A lot of the newer camper trailers are relatively easy to erect & pack up but they can cost more than your budget. My neighbours recently bought a SUV CT - complete with air conditioner! The cost = ?
We started with tents, then built a camper trailer which by today's standards was quite basic BUT it went where we wanted to go, was well ventilated for the tropics but warm with a fan heater in the cold & gave us good service - even in a strong gale near Flinders Chase on Kangaroo Island. From there we went to a Jayco Eagle (a little larger than EJP's Dove) but although I could put it up & take it down alone, it was a lot easier with two & freezing cold mornings made the vinyl difficult to fold up. Being a bit larger & heavier than our earlier camper trailer, it did restrict us a little (but not too much).
The Avan camper is one option, as is the Teardrop but the latter too may be beyond your budget for a new one (& one company not so long ago went bust). There are a number of websites that show you (or handy relatives) how to build a tear drop.
Possum suggested looking at the Little Nipper or similar - another alternative.
You need to ask yourself how much room you need (especially in wet, dismal weather). You might find the Avan, Teardrop & motorised campers a little cramped but awnings can be added. After our experience on Kangaroo Island, we made a policy of staying in a cabin or motel if foul weather (strong winds) was coming!
One problem with the motorised camper is that if you can only afford one car, you have to drive the camper everywhere or you may have to sell it.
Take your time & have a good look around. Visit some caravan parks, walk through & ask people the pros & cons of their outfits. When you think you see the best for you then check out the new/second hand markets.
Warren-Pat_01 said
12:22 AM Mar 22, 2019
Benno,
Just another site you might find interesting - www.campertrailers.org/ - have a look at some of their tabs (above the white "Welcome to")
Cheers
dabbler said
09:25 PM Mar 23, 2019
I would second any thoughts of a teardrop. You can use as much or as little extra canvas as you prefer so setup can be as easy as parking and opening the rear galley to cook/boil billy. Adding awnings, gazebos and tents and you can spend weeks in one spot comfortably. One advantage over a campervan is the tow vehicle can be updated without effecting much else. Down side is you can't necessarily drive off if feeling uncomfortable for personal safety.
Warren-Pat_01 said
10:23 PM Mar 23, 2019
Hi again Benno,
Just following up on dabbler's comment.
The first Teardrop I had seen was a 1936 model at Glendambo (SA) being towed behind a vintage 1930s Dennis fire engine. They (two big burley fire crew) were on a 1910 - 1920 car rally to Darwin & were exempted from the range age of the rally cars/bikes because of the rig's rarity. The men had no problems sleeping in their "van" but some gear had to be left outside.
Then we saw another "flash one" similar to the one above. The first time we saw it was at Head of Bight, the second time at Norseman (WA). The lady had a "Hot pink" car & it was towing a Teardrop of the same colour with black trim, mudguards - both looked great! She too had a small dog for company.
As I said before, have a good look around before parting with your cash.
benno said
11:33 PM Mar 27, 2019
Thanks guys. The newer trailers set up literally in about 8 minutes. We have a Toyota bus that we were converting into a motorhome, but it was never completed. I just think a trailer would be better 'cos I can unhook the car and go places. But..... still looking at all options, so thank you for your advice and ideas. i am also looking at buying this so the kids + partners/dogs/kids can use it. Saw the Teardrop at the Perth C&C show...... a bit cramped!
I really appreciate all the info, and especially links to websites.
Thanks everyone. I hope by this time next year to see some of you on the road. :)
-- Edited by benno on Wednesday 27th of March 2019 11:45:58 PM
Looking at purchasing a camper trailer, and would appreciate any pointers/advantages/hazards. Hubby passed away last year so would be just the dog and I. Quite impressed with the Platinum range. Budget around 15 to 20K. Any hints or advice please? Thanks :)
I would suggest you look at campervans.
Cheers,
Peter
I'm with Peter and Margaret, Too much hassle setting up. Two regos and insurances.
Check out some of the chapters of the CMCA in your area and get in touch with some of the Lady members and have a chat. I was surprised how many solo women are out there in their MotorHomes with their dogs. Nothing worse than taking down a camper trailer in the wet and having to dry it out asap to stop mould.
Best wishes and hope you end up with something that suits you and your furry friend.
Not sure if Cindy will allow this but here is a link to The "Solo" section of the CMCA members.
I do know that the Blue wrens are from the Nowra area of NSW and they do have a large number of Solo Ladies.
https://solosnetwork.org.au/Bird_Chapters.php
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Thursday 21st of March 2019 09:18:31 AM
A short story.
Driving across the Nullarbor a few years ago when I had a small Jaco pop top van a 4WD towing a camper trailer overtook and quickly disappeared. An hour later I pulled into a road house and caravan park where the camper trailer was parked and being prepared for the evening. I parked a couple of spaces away and unhitched the van but left the chains connected, wound down the stabilisers, lifted the pop top, opened windows, connected to the power box, set up table and chairs and opened a bottle of wine.
Next morning when it was time to pack up the campers were busy preparing to leave and I closed the van up and connected to the tow ball, removed the electrical cable, emptied the bucket under the sink drainage and one of the campers approached for a chat. He said that after watching how quickly I was ready the afternoon before and then in the morning ready to leave before he was that he would be looking to trade in on a van similar to mine.
Some people prefer a tent.
Eventually, my wife decided that she wanted a caravan. We bought a poptop caravan. It is heavier than the camper, it has more wind resistance, it is wider and we cannot easily manhandle it around in our shed. Even so, there is no way that my wife would go back to a camper trailer again. There are some small units which would be ideal for one (or two) persons. Typically they are back door vans. They are small, light and relatively easy to tow. As far as I can see, the only disadvantage of a back door setup is dust sealing - it may be a lot more difficult to properly seal it up.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
My wife fell in love with the Caretta Teardrop at the caravan show.
We ended up getting something bigger but for just you and the dog it could be perfect. No flapping canvas and set-up hassles either!
Juss
Pam,
As other posters have pointed out camper trailers can be a lot of mucking around erecting and dismantling, plus you need to tow them.
There are a miriad of camper trailers available on the market at the moment most being a tent on wheels. If you have your heart set on a camper trailer I would suggest you look at Jayco or Avan for a basic model. A good preowned model is also an option.
As a solo traveller (excluding Fido), maybe you should investigate the possibility of a motorised campervan. There are some really good value preowned units on the market under $30k and they can offer a more convenient and secure option for you.
I guess it depends on your age & fitness.
A lot of the newer camper trailers are relatively easy to erect & pack up but they can cost more than your budget. My neighbours recently bought a SUV CT - complete with air conditioner! The cost = ?
We started with tents, then built a camper trailer which by today's standards was quite basic BUT it went where we wanted to go, was well ventilated for the tropics but warm with a fan heater in the cold & gave us good service - even in a strong gale near Flinders Chase on Kangaroo Island. From there we went to a Jayco Eagle (a little larger than EJP's Dove) but although I could put it up & take it down alone, it was a lot easier with two & freezing cold mornings made the vinyl difficult to fold up. Being a bit larger & heavier than our earlier camper trailer, it did restrict us a little (but not too much).
The Avan camper is one option, as is the Teardrop but the latter too may be beyond your budget for a new one (& one company not so long ago went bust). There are a number of websites that show you (or handy relatives) how to build a tear drop.
Possum suggested looking at the Little Nipper or similar - another alternative.
You need to ask yourself how much room you need (especially in wet, dismal weather). You might find the Avan, Teardrop & motorised campers a little cramped but awnings can be added. After our experience on Kangaroo Island, we made a policy of staying in a cabin or motel if foul weather (strong winds) was coming!
One problem with the motorised camper is that if you can only afford one car, you have to drive the camper everywhere or you may have to sell it.
Take your time & have a good look around. Visit some caravan parks, walk through & ask people the pros & cons of their outfits. When you think you see the best for you then check out the new/second hand markets.
Just another site you might find interesting - www.campertrailers.org/ - have a look at some of their tabs (above the white "Welcome to")
Cheers
Just following up on dabbler's comment.
The first Teardrop I had seen was a 1936 model at Glendambo (SA) being towed behind a vintage 1930s Dennis fire engine. They (two big burley fire crew) were on a 1910 - 1920 car rally to Darwin & were exempted from the range age of the rally cars/bikes because of the rig's rarity. The men had no problems sleeping in their "van" but some gear had to be left outside.
Then we saw another "flash one" similar to the one above. The first time we saw it was at Head of Bight, the second time at Norseman (WA). The lady had a "Hot pink" car & it was towing a Teardrop of the same colour with black trim, mudguards - both looked great! She too had a small dog for company.
Jayco also produce a small van called a jPod - see www.jayco.com.au/promo/jpod-range
As I said before, have a good look around before parting with your cash.
Thanks guys. The newer trailers set up literally in about 8 minutes. We have a Toyota bus that we were converting into a motorhome, but it was never completed. I just think a trailer would be better 'cos I can unhook the car and go places. But..... still looking at all options, so thank you for your advice and ideas. i am also looking at buying this so the kids + partners/dogs/kids can use it. Saw the Teardrop at the Perth C&C show...... a bit cramped!
I really appreciate all the info, and especially links to websites.
Thanks everyone. I hope by this time next year to see some of you on the road. :)
-- Edited by benno on Wednesday 27th of March 2019 11:45:58 PM