Noels island Star caravans would you recommend them

BAILEY · Veteran Member

Noels island Star caravans would you recommend them

ozjohn · Guru

Hiya Bailey,
Spaceland have had a good reputation for many years.
They now only make Scenic (Melbourne) and Island Star (Adelaide) brands.
Both brands sell well.
Cheers, Ozjohn.

Cruising Granny · Guru

Can't speak for the vans, but the dealer doesn't have a good reputation for after-sales service and warranty honours. Good luck.
It's a zoo out there when buying a van, especially if you're new at it.
Keep asking questions.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Hi Bailey,

cannot answer your question, we have a Future System van, if you have not looked at them I think you should, you maybe only able to get second hand vans now.

http://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/used/future-system/caravans/

http://www.motorsm.com/Aus/caravans/000.asp?catid=4041

not sure if these sites are up to date but its a start, I do know that Frank still builds vans but not on the scale he did before going bust, both he and his wife were too nice to their customers, very good at building vans but the buisness did need a buisness manager to take care of buisness.

DavidC · Member

I know this is a really old thread, but I feel obligated to share this. Island Star are lemons, with wooden frames. Here's pics of a van I bought, and luckily, I was able to return it, because it was advertised with an aluminum frame.

When I bought it, I was starry eyed, it looked awesome, inside and out, and I knew nothing about caravans, (I learned a heap during this experience, lol). When I got it home, I could smell mildew, and opened the cupboards to give them a clean with beach, that's when I discovered some oddities with the panels, the more poking around I did, I discovered the ENTIRE frame, from drawbar to bumber bar was completely rotted. Every panel I pulled off had rotted frame behind it. I was digging it out with my hands, and most of it was completely mushy and wet. I don't even know what was keeping the entire structure from collapsing

I was quoted $3000 per side, and $2000 for repairing the front, and $1500 for repairing the rear. It was a right-off in other words.

Yes, I know that one of the previous owners obviously didn't maintain the integrity of the external seals, but wooden frames are old school tech from the 1960's, and you never know what is really going on behind the paneling. But with a van with an aluminum frame, the stress factor is reduced so much

I even contacted Noels Island Star in Adelaide (in stealth mode), to ask what the frames of their new vans were made of, and their reply was, "We're happy to advise, that all our vans are constructed with Timber frames". That's why they are a lot cheaper than Jaycos and the like.

Give them a miss, and get a van with an alloy frame

-- Edited by DavidC on Friday 5th of March 2021 02:53:18 PM

FMC · Veteran Member

I purchased a second hand "Golf" caravan from Noel's vans and found them to be totally outstanding with their service and aftersales care. Nothing but gold stars from me. blankstare

montie · Guru

DavidC wrote:
I know this is a really old thread, but I feel obligated to share this. Island Star are lemons, with wooden frames. Here's pics of a van I bought, and luckily, I was able to return it, because it was advertised with an aluminum frame.
When I bought it, I was starry eyed, it looked awesome, inside and out, and I knew nothing about caravans, (I learned a heap during this experience, lol). When I got it home, I could smell mildew, and opened the cupboards to give them a clean with beach, that's when I discovered some oddities with the panels, the more poking around I did, I discovered the ENTIRE frame, from drawbar to bumber bar was completely rotted. Every panel I pulled off had rotted frame behind it. I was digging it out with my hands, and most of it was completely mushy and wet. I don't even know what was keeping the entire construction from collapsing
I was quoted $3000 per side, and $2000 for repairing the front, and $1500 for repairing the rear. It was a right-off in other words.
Yes, I know that one of the previous owners obviously didn't maintain the integrity of the external seals, but wooden frames are old school tech from the 1960's, and you never know what is really going on behind the paneling. But with a van with an aluminum frame, the stress factor is reduced so much
I even contacted Noels Island Star in Adelaide (in stealth mode), to ask what the frames of their new vans were made of, and their reply was, "We're happy to advise, that all our vans are constructed with Timber frames". That's why they are a lot cheaper than Jaycos and the like.
Give them a miss, and get a van with an alloy frame

-- Edited by DavidC on Friday 5th of March 2021 04:01:08 AM

So you purchased a used with with woodrot, obviously because water leaks were not detected and fixed by previous owners.

How can you conclude from this that the manufacturer builds "lemons"? Statements like that on a public forum can have repercussions.

FYI most vans on our market are still Meranti frame.

DavidC · Member

FMC wrote:
I purchased a second hand "Golf" caravan from Noel's vans and found them to be totally outstanding with their service and aftersales care. Nothing but gold stars from me.

Golf vans have alloy frames, and I'm not saying they provide bad customer service

DavidC · Member

So you purchased a used with with woodrot, obviously because water leaks were not detected and fixed by previous owners.

How can you conclude from this that the manufacturer builds "lemons"? Statements like that on a public forum can have repercussions.

FYI most vans on our market are still Meranti frame.

I didn't mean to offend you, and I did say that one of the previous owners obviously didn't maintain the integrity of the external seals. From the research I've done since then, customers have had heaps of issues with Island Star, too many to list here, but I can get them if you want, just give me 24 hours.

My take on all this is that after what I've experienced, I wouldn't touch a timber frame van with a barge pole, and if you went through what I went through, (the possibility of losing $12000), you wouldn't either.

The guy who started the thread asked would you recommend buying that brand, and my reply was a clear no, with documented facts. Nor am I worried about repercussions from posting this information, what can they do to a person who tells the truth, and states facts?

I still standby my statement that timber frames are a nightmare, and outdated technology, what I suffered is living proof. Buying a timber frame van makes as much sense as selling your car, and traveling around by horse and cart.

All caravans will develop leaks eventually, no matter how good you are, or how good the brand name is, it's just a fact, and I believe that when that happens, it's far better in a van which has an alloy frame, and I think most people here would agree with me.

-- Edited by DavidC on Friday 5th of March 2021 02:48:13 PM

montie · Guru

DavidC wrote:
So you purchased a used with with woodrot, obviously because water leaks were not detected and fixed by previous owners.
How can you conclude from this that the manufacturer builds "lemons"? Statements like that on a public forum can have repercussions.
FYI most vans on our market are still Meranti frame.

I didn't mean to offend you, and I did say that one of the previous owners obviously didn't maintain the integrity of the external seals. From the research I've done since then, customers have had heaps of issues with Island Star, too many to list here, but I can get them if you want, just give me 24 hours.
My take on all this is that after what I've experienced, I wouldn't touch a timber frame van with a barge pole, and if you went through what I went through, (the possibility of losing $12000), you wouldn't either.
The guy who started the thread asked would you recommend buying that brand, and my reply was a clear no, with documented facts. Nor am I worried about repercussions from posting this information, what can they do to a person who tells the truth, and states facts?
I still standby my statement that timber frames are a nightmare, and outdated technology, what I suffered is living proof. Buying a timber frame van makes as much sense as selling your car, and traveling around by horse and cart.
All caravans will develop leaks eventually, no matter how good you are, or how good the brand name is, it's just a fact, and I believe that when that happens, it's far better in a van which has an alloy frame, and I think most people here would agree with me.

-- Edited by DavidC on Friday 5th of March 2021 02:48:13 PM

It's not me you need to be worried about offending, I have no affiliation to Island Star, but it's possible they might take offence to some of your comments about their products.

You need to be careful what you say on social media these days.

DavidC · Member

Thanks for the heads up, and I totally get what you're saying.

Relax-n · Guru

From personal experience, NO, NO and again NO.

Others may not have had any issues at all.

I would suggest to anybody going there, double check things, get everything in writing, and check things again.

Cupie · Guru

These old posts that come to the head of the queue really do my head in ..

In this case the post by my good friend Crusin' Granny caught my attention. Chris hasn't posted for years.

Then there was Ozjohn with his posed can of soft drink & straw avatar .. another oldie from the past.

Next there will be one from Dave08. That'd really get the forum pumping!

It would be great to see Just Crusin' back again though.

Back to the topic ..

I agree that it is quite dangerous for the poster & perhaps the Forum owner to post 'lemon' type comments on social media.

BTW my 21 YO Jayco Westport fortunately has an aluminium frame along with a few (fixed) leaks. I have never been a fan of timber frames.

Bill B · Guru

Cupie wrote:

Then there was Ozjohn with his posed can of soft drink & straw avatar .. another oldie from the past.

Ozjohn passed away several years ago.

yobarr · Guru

Bill B wrote:
Cupie wrote:
Then there was Ozjohn with his posed can of soft drink & straw avatar .. another oldie from the past.
Ozjohn passed away several years ago.

30/08/2014.

bilbo · Senior Member

"Noels island Star caravans would you recommend them"

Malcolm Blight would.

cheers Bilbo