Dirt roads van

Stefdogs · Member

Dirt roads van

Bunkerbob · Senior Member

Most "Off Road" vans are only so because of a possibly stronger Suspension and a possibly stronger chassis. We have a van built on a G&J chassis which is deemed "Semi Off Road". It has a 150 x 50 draw bar from the hitch to just in front of the axles. It has 15" Off Road, Light Truck tyres. There was a report in one of the caravan mags a few months ago saying even if your chassis and suspension is "Off Road" does not mean that the box on the chassis is "Off Road".

If you are looking at towing to the Cape, a normal van won't cut it, you would need a full off road camper trailer. If you are just looking at graded roads, taken with care and not rattling your teeth out, most if not all "Semi Offroads" should do the trick.

Check out your van, underneath, chassis rails, tow hitches, etc for signs of "Off Road" damage. Chips, abrasions, dings, Mud. All could, not will, cause future problems.

As they say, let the buyer beware.

Bob

barina · Guru

My brother has what I am sure is called a TVan and he goes off road and has been up to the top of Aus.

Stefdogs · Member

Thanks Bunkerbob. Yes that is what makes it quite confusing and that is why I wanted to hear from members - to see which brand they have bought and whether it worked. We wouldn't take it to the Cape but on dirt roads which sometimes can go on for several Klms.

deverall11 · Guru

Stefdogs,
One thing you may wish to add to your list of 'things to check' is how will the interior of the van stand up to corrugated roads. The chassis may be fine, however, we have come across a few people who had the experience of whilst the van was in one piece externally, most everything inside had come to grief, cupboard falling off, vibrations causing things to crack ect.
Good luck

bill12 · Guru

Two that come to mind are Kedron and Bushtracker. My mate has a Bushtracker, and has taken it to the top, and across the tanami track. I think independent suspension is great, and ground clearance front and back, should be checked.I have a slide on with a courier 4wd, and have taken it on some rough roads, but don,t recommend it.I have reinforced it, but its still a wooden frame.Metal framed vans or strong fiberglass construction seems better.I have thought about an off road van, but am still looking. Bill

-- Edited by bill12 on Monday 13th of January 2014 06:58:02 PM

Gerty Dancer · Guru

The stronger the caravan, the heavier, its all a compromise.

Stefdog, we have a Jayco Outback with Simplicity suspension so in theory it should do dirt roads no trouble. It has quite a high clearance which is useful, but corrugations will shake loose the internal fittings. Theres a warning on the warranty that if the caravan is damaged by extended travel over corrugated roads the warranty will be void. disbelief

Stefdogs · Member

Thank you Gerty for this specific info. Very helpful. Have you been on any such roads with your van?

bill12 · Guru

One thing about the Kedron and Bushtracker is the welded spaceframe metal construction, which is similar to the way they make aeroplanes. I have not heard of any failing, except in crashes.Timber frames seem to relly on the fasenings. and will give way with time and punishment. Bill

-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 14th of January 2014 06:36:26 AM

Nelly · Guru

I thought that you could drive to the Cape on a development road which was a big gravel road. It was off roaders that went on the Old Telegraph Track - could someone please enlighten me - thanks.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Stefdogs wrote:
Thank you Gerty for this specific info. Very helpful. Have you been on any such roads with your van?

We bought the van with the intention of going on the Gibb River Road. At Kununurra we were persuaded not to do this by a couple of experienced caravanners who said we were likely to have the interior fittings shake loose.

However we've taken it over shallow water crossings and over many graded or mildly corrugated roads. In WA after 3 or 4 trips of about 20k each on dirt roads the microwave came off its mountings, had to store it under the bed till we got to Port Hedland to get some tools/screws. Some of the drawers have come off their mountings too, and door/drawer catches have failed. My partner has fixed most of them because we were always too far away from a Jayco dealer, but we have no complaints about their service, they've replaced/fixed several things in Darwin as well as NSW, including a leaking sink, leaking mains water inlet.

The van is now 3 years old. None of these problems are terribly serious although inconvenient, no leaks from rain that we are aware of, and the price and weight of Jaycos compared with stronger/heavier vans was very attractive. Weight was a consideration, the Prado has a limit of 2.5 tons but my partner wanted to tow well below that.

If we did it again we might get a starcraft with a shower/toilet, as they are lighter than the fibreglass vans. We travel with a tent, and leave the caravan behind to get to places like the Bungle Bungles or Palm Valley, or anywhere we cant take the van.

PeterInSa · Guru

On the CF there are many good comments about Evernew Caravans, if I was looking at buying another van I would talk to the guys at Evernew prior to any decision.

caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php

We own a 21'6" Traveller caravan, with a good payload that we take off the Tar.

Peter

Legendts · Senior Member

Our Evernew semi off road is heavier than the equivalent Bushtracker, so stronger does not always equate to heavier. At the end of the day it's horses for courses and you get what you pay for....sometimes. Can't say Evernew insulation is very good, but then it's not much different to most. Do yourself a favour and ask the hard questions with regard to how you want to use it and get it in writing, if they won't do that, walk away and find something else. My two bobs worth.

Vic41 · Guru

PM Dunmowins (they may not see this thread, but do visit the forum) I am pretty sure their off roader is a Kedron, but I could be wrong.

PeterInSa · Guru

Re Vic41 comment re Kedrons

I have watched a DVD where a Kedron van was taken to the Cape via the 4x4 route, Kedron have released a number of DVD's of their vans being taken off road and are good viewing, but not the places I would take our van.

I though the OP was looking at a semi off roader not a Kedron, Bushtracker or......

Peter

brian · Guru

You may have noticed that when the Kedron lot do their videos there are always at least 2 backup vehicles to get them out of trouble, and you never get to see the condition of the van after the event

dogbox · Guru

when they do the videos they treat those vans worst than a person who owns it would but can't say ive ever seen what happens inside those vans are they even fitted out

turps2 · Member

My Trakmaster 12yr old has done a lot of corrugations and not one thing has come loose yet.

Plendo · Guru

There is a new series of videos on the web, where Retreat Caravans organised a trip with three vans from Melbourne up the Gibb River Rd, it looks as if they used there normal vans with the optional Control Rider independent suspension.

The series starts with a time lapse showing part of the build of one of the vans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ecuPcdwG0Q

-- Edited by Plendo on Monday 27th of January 2014 07:12:14 AM