As the second post says be wary of the American imports that have 240 to 110 volt transformers.

If you are the second owner they are not legal according to that camping/caravan  guru Collyn Rivers. Seems the appliance do not meet Australian Standards so cannot be sold on. Only the original buyers can use them.

It's a buyer beware situation and many have been given compliance plates that are "Iffy"

Take care

Ontos45,

Our rig is very stable towing, even at 110 kmh on the motorway, although we rarely travel at that speed.

We have a Hijacker Hitch in our ute but I know some 5th wheelers use a tow ball connection.  I have a camera behind the cab of the ute that overlooks the hitch and I have a white line painted on the hitch and on the pin box of the 5th wheeler.  Hitching up is a one person job and is very easy.

We have electric front legs on our unit and the switch is in a locker on the front left so adjusting the height is also very easy.

Cheers,

Grevo

Thank you so much for your constructive replies, much appreciated. Good to know about electric front landing legs, that's was one of our worries (Sue and I both have bad backs and decreased lung power) We are looking at getting the unit locally built (Rockhampton) to our internal specifications, similar to a 6m container home with the front overhang for storage. Just in brain-storming stage at moment. Thanks again folks.

(pic is of a NZ mobile beach home "porta-bach" transportable by truck, similar to what we thinking about in design but not in a 6m container)

I made the comment re on-selling American Imported 5th wheelers with the transformers and 110 Volt appliances.

I read the article by Collyn Rivers who from my limited knowledge has the expertise and experience in the Caravan/ Motorhome/5th wheeler fields/Solar and electrical fields as well.

There are many of his books held up to be the definitive books about various subjects such as solar, electrical set ups etc.

I will always look carefully at anything before deciding if I believe the information given.

The article by Collyn Rivers seems to me to cast a huge shadow on the ability of anyone to legally register one of the American imports with step-down transformers and 110 volt appliances unless you are the original owner.

He in his article referenced the ADR's re  the appliances not meeting Australian Standards and the fact that a second buyer cannot register the vehicle with out a full electrical conversion.

I made the original post to draw attention to these facts and it is then up to the individual to disregard or make their own enquiries to confirm the FACTS.

I would hate to sit here say nothing and find out that a warning to check the facts first for your own peace of mind led to someone spending their hard earned dollars and ending up with an expensive electrical conversion on their hands.

Thanks all. When Sue and I looking at imported motor homes came across this USA/AUST configuration/electrical problems so steered clear of them. Speaking of Plagiarism have copied your 5th wheel avator pictures so Sue can see rigs already on the road.

Another question if you will allow: what size tow tug is recommended or is this dependant on 5th wheeler size or ball weight as with caravans? We would require a 4x4. and I hold a class "C" licence.

Thanks again

banjo wrote:

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 Without getting into a slanging match

[1], If the unit has a step down transformer 240 to 110 then it is illegal as no transformer complies to the Aussie electrical regs for use in an RV.

[2]Also in that  case the appliances are usually 110v so do not comply either as they are not type approved for Australian use.

[3]There is a rather "know it all" ex electrician on the C Forum who constantly spouts rules and regulations regarding this and it appears that to sell such a unit it has to be brought up to Australian standards to do so.

[4]To use such a unit as the original owner is fine, its just when coming to sell it one day.

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Hi

[1] Sorry, but you did not get THAT right

IT has nothing to do with the TYPE of transformer!!

The transformers being used Did have Aus approval AS TRANSFORMERS.!

It was the application that was not approved

But one needs to be a know it all electrcian to understand why such use does not meet the Aus standards

[2] correct

[3] Exactly,  AS verified by several different states'ESOs to me , more than two years ago.

[4]correct  as CR has now publicly indicated in his articles

We did have some discussion before that was put out & I referred him to a member of thge Electrical Standards committee

Peter Q

[the knowit all electrician]

Patto44 wrote:

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Yuglamron wrote:

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As the second post says be wary of the American imports that have 240 to 110 volt transformers.

If you are the second owner they are not legal according to that camping/caravan  guru Collyn Rivers. Seems the appliance do not meet Australian Standards so cannot be sold on. Only the original buyers can use them.

It's a buyer beware situation and many have been given compliance plates that are "Iffy"

Take care

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 Are you stating FACT or FICTION????

There is no law in Australia that I have heard of that prevents you from selling anything.

There are US models that are not compliant (oversize etc) and could cause problems transferring them into your name.

May be this is what you are referring to???

 

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HI

THere are Standards that Shall apply to especially to gas  & low voltage electrics

THere is a olop hole in our import law to allow people who have been or are coming in from overseas to bring in some  goods that they have bought oversees

THat is the loop hole that unfortunately is being exploited by dodgy importer T

They get the customer to buy it from overseas & then tried to modify.

Australians laws define what can be SOLD in Aus.

Each state has a list of prescribed products that SHALL have Aus Standards /Aus Approval before being SOLD

Heavy penalties can be applied for selling non approved products in Aus

The two most heavily regulated are electrical & gas  products 

PeterQ

Ontos45 wrote:

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1. Are 5th wheelers really stable to tow?

Yes, Ontos45, very stable and comfortable to drive.

2. Is hitching up to table ball easy?

Our 5-er is very easy to hitch onto the ball on our BT-50 ute (4x4), using the combination mentioned earlier of a camera on the rear of the cab and a white line on the tray (which is covered in artificial turf to cut the glare from the aluminium tray!) to help align the two. I discovered in 2012, when John was in hopsital in Bendigo for four weeks, that I can readily do this on my own; I also do nearly all of the driving at present, at least until John gets his new hip next month (and for a while beyond that!).

3. Is lowering/raising the front support unit easy or difficult for a person with limited strength?

Like some others, we have electrically operated fromt legs, individually controllable - makes it easier to correct slight sideways tilt when parking, rather than using wedges under the wheels. We also have 4-wheel independent trailing arm suspension with airbags - another boon when levelling the van as the compressor for re-adjusting is built in!

4. Can they be obtained as "off-road" units?

The owner of Southern Cross Caravans has taken his 5-er (7.7 m, like ours, though they do make a range of sizes) to places we wouldn't dare, all over Australia; they can most definitely be taken off-road.

Definitely do lots of research - as we did; for instance, someone mentioned above the problems that can arise with lack of headroom around the bed in the front. We don't have that problem at all; in the front of ours is a club lounge and dining table. The kitchen comes next, then bedroom with a walk-around queen bed, and the bathroom is at the back of the van. We've been travelling full-time now for 5-and-a-half years, and have no intention of stopping.

Best of luck with your research; perhaps we'll see you on the road sometime!

Andrea & John

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Re Thunderchild69's post:

I'm not sure whether you're actually quoting the correct figures - towing rating is not the right figure to use for a 5-er, you should be looking at the gross combination mass of the tug, which you sometimes have to look a little further for. The GCM of our 2008 BT-50 is 5500 kg, somewhat more than the towing capacity (which figure escapes me at the moment). The GCM of the later BT-50 is more again, but you'd need to check the exact figure (we'd love to upgrade, but as they say 'It's not the principle, it's the money!'  ). You're right about the axle weight, though; our BT-50 is rated for 1300 kg, well within the range of our 5-er.

Cheers -

Andrea

Ontos45 wrote:

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Andrea wrote:

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Ontos45 wrote:

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1. Are 5th wheelers really stable to tow?

Yes, Ontos45, very stable and comfortable to drive.

2. Is hitching up to table ball easy?

Our 5-er is very easy to hitch onto the ball on our BT-50 ute (4x4), using the combination mentioned earlier of a camera on the rear of the cab and a white line on the tray (which is covered in artificial turf to cut the glare from the aluminium tray!) to help align the two. I discovered in 2012, when John was in hopsital in Bendigo for four weeks, that I can readily do this on my own; I also do nearly all of the driving at present, at least until John gets his new hip next month (and for a while beyond that!).

3. Is lowering/raising the front support unit easy or difficult for a person with limited strength?

Like some others, we have electrically operated fromt legs, individually controllable - makes it easier to correct slight sideways tilt when parking, rather than using wedges under the wheels. We also have 4-wheel independent trailing arm suspension with airbags - another boon when levelling the van as the compressor for re-adjusting is built in!

4. Can they be obtained as "off-road" units?

The owner of Southern Cross Caravans has taken his 5-er (7.7 m, like ours, though they do make a range of sizes) to places we wouldn't dare, all over Australia; they can most definitely be taken off-road.

Definitely do lots of research - as we did; for instance, someone mentioned above the problems that can arise with lack of headroom around the bed in the front. We don't have that problem at all; in the front of ours is a club lounge and dining table. The kitchen comes next, then bedroom with a walk-around queen bed, and the bathroom is at the back of the van. We've been travelling full-time now for 5-and-a-half years, and have no intention of stopping.

Best of luck with your research; perhaps we'll see you on the road sometime!

Andrea & John

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 Thank you so much for that Andrea, Sue (my carer) welcomed advice from a women. Sue was scared of the caravan and it's handling but thinks she could handle the 5th wheeler. We were look at a 2nd hand 4x4 light truck to tow with for more tray storage but now probably go the heavy 4x4 tray back way.

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 G'day Peter, if you're thinking of getting a 4x4 light truck, think about getting a dual cab. There are many on the market in great condition, mostly used by landscapers. You can use them for everything. We know someone with a 5th wheeler who changed their ute to a dual cab 4x4 light truck and reckon it was the best thing they've done. They have heaps of room in the cab, go anywhere, can take others, carry lots of stuff in the tray and their dog has the back seat all to himself and loves it. They've got an Isuzu and are full time on the road.

Andrea wrote:

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native pepper wrote:

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 G'day Peter, if you're thinking of getting a 4x4 light truck, think about getting a dual cab. There are many on the market in great condition, mostly used by landscapers. You can use them for everything. We know someone with a 5th wheeler who changed their ute to a dual cab 4x4 light truck and reckon it was the best thing they've done. They have heaps of room in the cab, go anywhere, can take others, carry lots of stuff in the tray and their dog has the back seat all to himself and loves it. They've got an Isuzu and are full time on the road.

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 Agree with you there, N P; ours is a 'Fressstyle' BT-50, with a half-cab, which is fine for carrying stuff but the seats are definitely not passenger-friendly! Even so, that extra space is great.

Andrea

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 Thanks again folks. We used to tow with a Tojo Hilux dual cab (rear seat for dog) but changed to a Land Rover Disco because of tow-ability (3.5t). Have Ebay email me on trucks but duel cabs few and far between specially in auto. Best we've seen are ex-rural 4x4 fire trucks at reasonable prices which allows some fixing up. We wanted the extra tray length to carry extra bits and pieces.