Hi has anyone every hear a bad report about this caravan as we are looking to purchase one, also we are looking to put the AL-KO ESC braking systerm on it also.
We've been looking at Diamond Caravans for a couple of months in preparation for an eventual purchase in 12 months when we retire.
Have climbed over and under the Diamond Product and am impressed with what I see and the limited amount I have heard. They have a reasonable Website, Facebook and Adventure Caravans as agents seem to speak the right words.
I too will be interested in the replies that come to you. The Marquise is too big for us (limited parking space) but certainly looks the goods. My wife loves The Little Gem.
Hiya all....i was wondering where my 1st post was going to come in and here it is. the mrs and i saw the Diamond vans at the show in Brisbane 2 weeks ago. We weren't even aware they were there until we got talking to another couple who were extolling the virtues of the Diamond range but were dismayed they couldn't get the trade-in they wanted. They certainly looked well made and the Marquise was impressively appointed - it was easily my first choice after 6 hours of looking and talking to wheeler dealers ('scuse the pun). We're not ready to buy yet - we want to buy something to live in for the next 10-15 years as we travel around and work, but the Diamond Marquise definitely made an impression.
There was certainly no pressure to commit to buy on the spot and they seemed to accept that we were quite literally just starting the evaluation process. It didn't stop them spending 20 minutes with us answering questions (unlike some who shall never see us or our $$ again).
We have just finished the lap around Australia in our Diamond Marquise Caravan. We are very happy with it and the manufacturer Jason and the boys that built it. If you want to save money go direct to Jason on his web page or ring him he will be only to happy to help. Our van is not an off road but has done us great service on the roads we have travelled. Unfortunately we may be looking to sell our beautiful van due to health in the near future. It will be a very regretful sale as we love our van. We hope if you buy a Diamond caravan you too enjoy it as we have.
Thanks for the comment about the van, i meet up with jason at the brisbane van show and he explained to me how he builds them, we already got a good discount on the van and looking forwards to picking it it. Sorry to hear about your ill health and hope it all works out for you in the future.
thanks neil and/or ruth. it's a good forum with a wealth of information and experience. we're both certainly looking forward to adding to the database of knowledge.
rod, it's good to know you got a few miles on the van. what sort of roads did you take it over? did you just stick to the blacktop or were you slightly adventurous? was there anything you felt could have been done better with the van and was there anything you felt was overkill and not really worth the cost? i admit that i'm thinking a 2 or 3kg washing machine can't really be worth the cost when you can just use a washboard and a big plastic tub. same goes with a full sized oven, when i have every intention of taking my well-worth-the-money zeigler and brown bbq with us. why have an oven when you can do it all outside and keep the heat and smells down to a minimum.
Hi Sean
Some places we went you didn't have a choice but to hit dirt and the caravan took it in it's stride, albeit we had to take it slow and steady. We are living in our van so we wanted all the comforts, doing a lot of free camping. Having the washing machine comes into it's own when you pay $4 or more for a small load in a caravan park. A wash board and tub has to be stored somewhere and storage space is at a premium. It's a personal choice about the full oven, however at times the weather doesn't permit outside cooking and we have used our oven frequently, if you have it you use it. We have the café fold back table in the dining and would have liked a power point near the table for ease of plugging in the computer. A generator box area in the van would have been handy, which we don't have. We did get Jason to fit pelmets in the van, as well as the block out blinds and Lainie made sheer curtains. Just a personal choice, but when you have the block out blinds down everyone can see straight through the van. The outdoor shower we have not used, but you may like that option. The drop down table on the outside should have a 12 volt connection and TV antenna connection, we don't have this and wish we did. At times sitting in our annexe it would be nice to watch the footie with friends. Once again that's a personal choice. Oh.. and one thing we don't have is 2 filler caps for the 2 water tanks. I think Jason has corrected this now, but trying to fill the water tanks from one inlet is time consuming and fiddly.
I think we have covered most things but if you have any questions, we are happy to help.
Cheers
Rod & Lainie
Hi Sean Some places we went you didn't have a choice but to hit dirt and the caravan took it in it's stride, albeit we had to take it slow and steady. We are living in our van so we wanted all the comforts, doing a lot of free camping. Having the washing machine comes into it's own when you pay $4 or more for a small load in a caravan park. A wash board and tub has to be stored somewhere and storage space is at a premium. It's a personal choice about the full oven, however at times the weather doesn't permit outside cooking and we have used our oven frequently, if you have it you use it. We have the café fold back table in the dining and would have liked a power point near the table for ease of plugging in the computer. A generator box area in the van would have been handy, which we don't have. We did get Jason to fit pelmets in the van, as well as the block out blinds and Lainie made sheer curtains. Just a personal choice, but when you have the block out blinds down everyone can see straight through the van. The outdoor shower we have not used, but you may like that option. The drop down table on the outside should have a 12 volt connection and TV antenna connection, we don't have this and wish we did. At times sitting in our annexe it would be nice to watch the footie with friends. Once again that's a personal choice. Oh.. and one thing we don't have is 2 filler caps for the 2 water tanks. I think Jason has corrected this now, but trying to fill the water tanks from one inlet is time consuming and fiddly. I think we have covered most things but if you have any questions, we are happy to help. Cheers Rod & Lainie
That's excellent information mate, thanks very muchly. You bring up a good point about the oven, but i'm still not sold on the washing machine. I know the missus loves the idea (bloody girls just cost more and more the longer they stay attached to you) but i'm more than happy to have 7 pairs of shorts, 10 khaki shirts, a pair of boots and the akubra......i reckon i could go a month on that lot. throw in a pair of thongs and you'd be set for a black tie outback bash with class and panache to spare...
Well today was the day we picked up our new Marquise 21' off road van, and what a van it is.
Firstly I would like to thank Jason who builds the vans, for spending time with us to explain how these vans are build from strength and detail and the finish product.
Secondly the sales person Danika (wow what a little dynamite she was) right from the start we told her that we were not looking at purchasing at this time and even although the stand was very busy at the show she still took twenty minutes to explain to us in detail the working of the van and then she introduce us to Jason, in which we had one thing in common both being carpenters so I understood straight away what he wanted to achieve in this product.
We then went away and looked at other vans and once they found out that we were only looking (you would be forgiven from thinking that we had bad B O),they could't get away from us quick enough and one was even rude to tell me to come back when we have some folded bills. Guys next time you have a caravan show take some time to see how being friendly and see how Adventure Caravans go about business, guys ignore my last comments don't do this as I don't want their business to suffer in any way.
We then went back and meet Paul the owner of the business, as the sales people get commission only on what they sell, Paul did not try to steal us for himself he went away and got Danika (any car sales people out their take note this is the moral way of doing business), we spoke to her again and as far as she knew we were still only looking to purchase at a latter date. The van really jumped out at us and although I used to sell cars myself I didn't show any emotion or interest in purchasing. It was a very hot day and she offered to purchase some bottled water for us and we chattered over a cold drink. Paul came back over and then we started discussing price, extras and need I say the rest is history.
We went down to pick up the van this morning and meet with Colin, Rod at the yard and what a pleasure it was to find that everything I had asked for was put on, and their was no hidden extras that some people try to hit you up for. Rod explained the entire working of the van which took a couple of hours and he left no stone unturned, but you can bet I will forget a lot of things so it will be trial and error, till we get used to it (slow n steady) sounds like a name I should put on the back lol . I hope I haven't waffled on to much but guys 10 out of 10 for the way you promote Diamond Caravans and your own business. (ADVENTURE CARAVANS CENTRE) Logan Holme Qld
We then went away and looked at other vans and once they found out that we were only looking (you would be forgiven from thinking that we had bad B O),they could't get away from us quick enough and one was even rude to tell me to come back when we have some folded bills. <-- This is a really valid point - at the last show in Qld a few weeks ago we made sure we told all the salespersons that we were starting our evaluations and we would not be buying until about mid next year. 2 people just gave us a shiny brochure and literally walked off, one kept reminding me that "all you need to do is put down a $1000 deposit, we've had heaps of people do it today, just $1000 and we'll hold your van for you and work to your timetable......" and when i said he wasn't getting the grand he actually had a go at me for wasting his time. So many of the salespeople left you in no doubt at all that they just weren't interested unless you were going to hand over $$$ there and then. We crossed several manufacturers off the list that day - a couple of them were large well known brands too - and we threw their shiny booklets into the nearest bin or refused to accept them.
One caravan sales yard on the sunshine coast told us to "come back when you have a car that will tow these..." and turned around and walked back into the office.
Fantastic news on the purchase wazza, don't forget to put up some pics so we can all see, and hopefully the Diamond vans really are as good as their customer service. They're certainly starting to become the front runners for us too. Well done and congratulations......enjoy the new toy...
What a fantastic idea, we are going to South West Rocks N.S.W just outside Clybuca in late August to 4th Sept if you want to come along and anyone else with a Diamond Caravan
This is us, somewhere inWA last year. This year we are travelling to The Grampians, Eyre and York Peninsulas, Broken Hill, Tibbooburra, then through NSW to QLD, touring QLD for the rest of year.
