CARAVAN HUNTING

Dougwe · Chief one feather

CARAVAN HUNTING

Cloak · Guru

Hahaha sounds like you went down to Seaford Doug....

I don't bother with them any more and as for jayco I asked if they would show me around the new models in Dandenong
and they told me to go back to Seaford.

Scratch Jayco here too.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Mmmmm, yet me see, um, are, mmmm, YEP.

They certainly have changed since the brothers were actually there as just the two of them. More than likely being run by Jnr and Jnr now. Very disappointed.

I nearly went past your front door too I reckon. That was just because of a last minute change in plan.

Cloak · Guru

Next time call in for a cuppa, you're welcome anytime.

I think that mob in Pakenham will let you in for a look around.

Plendo · Guru

When I was looking I found the Jayco mob in Bayswater far more interested. They were actually prepared to talk to us, explain concepts etc.

reglynn · Guru

Hi Dougwe.
while you are looking at a new tug!!!!!! PLEASE have a look at ROMA they make a lovely van to suit most people. We are soooooo VERY happy with ours.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Thanks RL, I will get the twins to find a dealer as they have to earn their keep cos they keep adding things to THEIR want list. The more CV's I look at the more info I have and just hope I reduce the list to just a couple to choose from not make a big list. Worked with the Colorado.

bab600 · Veteran Member

Perhaps you could try Van Cruiser on Frankston Dandenong Rd
We are happy with ours and that's only a personal opinion

Regards Brian. bab600

Phil C · Guru

Wow, thats a terrible situation when "sales" people wont talk to you. Our experience here in Adelaide was poles apart from yours. We went to a few shows over 3 years and met up with a lady called Lisa Cawthorne from Jayco Adelaide. I told her at first we were only doing research ready to purchase in 3 years when we retire. No pressure she said, come and take a look at these new vans. Now most sales people would say came back when you have money.

Long story short, I got sick, wife got retrenched, sold the house made heaps $$$ walked in with cash and got a fabulous deal. Yes the interior fittings leave a bit to be desired but the rest is 100% bang on.

Safe travels

gooba53 · Guru

We too have a Vancruiser . Love It. And they are making shiny red ones now. Great after sales service as well.

Dianne

ken thomas · Guru

dont forget Condor / Ian Grants
Ken

Gerty Dancer · Guru

So have you looked at that Goldstar yet Doug?

We never really intended to buy a Jayco when we were in the "looking" phase, but the sales staff were so good after a few morons, we just did it. Its true the sales people will make or break the van in your mind, yet at least one of the those Morons was selling a good product!

SnowT · Guru

Dougwe..

You forgot the number 1 Rule of shopping..

- IF you Get No Service from the Sales People.. Before you leave you are meant to go up to them and ask them "" Do You Get a Commission from EVERY sale ""...

If the Answer is " Yes ", your Response should be, "" Well, I hope you treat the next Person that comes in Better, and don't just Ignore them.. You have Just Lost a $XX,XXX Sale today "" Also Ask who the manager is and say the same thing.. Also Drop the hint that you will tell others of HOW helpful they have Been "" NOT ""

I know it work's.... I was hunting for a New Car before Xmas and had a Poor response from one dealer, and went to another as they could help me out with out being prompted.

Juergen

Glenelg · Guru

when i got to goldstar i hadn't put my foot in a van they were their. goldstar got their foot on the ball. i'm impressed.

New Wanderers · Veteran Member

We all purchase different caravans for different reasons, we ended up purchasing a Newlands Zodiac (Concept) caravan from Caravan Central at 83 Maroondah Highway Croydon, VIC, 3136 we have found them to be excellent. Good luck with your search Doug.

Brian

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Gerty Dancer wrote:
So have you looked at that Goldstar yet Doug?

We never really intended to buy a Jayco when we were in the "looking" phase, but the sales staff were so good after a few morons, we just did it. Its true the sales people will make or break the van in your mind, yet at least one of the those Morons was selling a good product!

Not yet Gerty, I fly over Tuesday 9/9 for a look see and armed with camera and tape measure. In the mean time I am looking at Retreat and possibly Condor/Ian Grants. Roma is on the list too but maybe after Adelaide.

This week is more house selling stuff.

Who said being a grey nomad is easy. Must have been wombat smile

Hendo · Guru

For what it's worth Doug, when I was looking to buy my first van I went to a large caravan repair business and asked the owners opinion what to buy. His reply was Golf, Evernew and Roadstar. When I asked about Jayco he said "they keep me in business!". Mind you that was about 15 years ago and things change. Bought a Roadstar and have had no problems buteach to his own, whatever floats your boat.

Hendo

pomme · Senior Member

Dougwe,
Check out the "SAFARI" brand at Ballarat or Campbellfield.
We are looking at the Delta range at the moment 18 foot with shower and toilet about $49,000.
Well made and also they will change to suit you, we are having two reclining chairs instead off club lounge.

Pomme.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Looks like a day or two in Campbellfield for sure as that seems to be the caravan capitol of the world for some reason.

Will do that after my return from Adelaide. I need to keep "Gold Star" one on the list or rule out and there is only ONE way to do that, go to Adelaide.

So far I have only deleted one from the list. I have to narrow the field down.

Edit....Forgot to say, the twins are starting to put the pressure on for a new Den. They also reckon it's time to take a new photo of them.

-- Edited by Dougwe on Sunday 31st of August 2014 06:00:16 PM

roadtourer · Senior Member

We went to Roberts world and they were very helpful even had two ppl helping and showing us around. We went to different places and found their assistance crap and disheartening, best of luck tho

oldbobsbus · Guru

Don't rule out a really good secondhand van mate, there are some really good deals out there and people sell their van for many reasons..

Blue · Senior Member

Phil C wrote:
Wow, thats a terrible situation when "sales" people wont talk to you. Our experience here in Adelaide was poles apart from yours. We went to a few shows over 3 years and met up with a lady called Lisa Cawthorne from Jayco Adelaide. I told her at first we were only doing research ready to purchase in 3 years when we retire. No pressure she said, come and take a look at these new vans. Now most sales people would say came back when you have money.

Long story short, I got sick, wife got retrenched, sold the house made heaps $$$ walked in with cash and got a fabulous deal. Yes the interior fittings leave a bit to be desired but the rest is 100% bang on.

Safe travels

we decided years ago that we were not going to wait till we retire to get out and see Australia.. over the past 8 years we've seen a great deal of it and could die happy now I guess smile ..

not that we want to.. wink

seen too many people wait only to be overcome with sickness, or even.. just drop off the perch..

my advice to anyone is to get out there as soon as possible and see this great land of ours..

and it doesn't matter in what or how.. some years ago when the mrs was working over xmas I hopped on my Triumph Rocket III with swag and headed across the Nullarbor...

I was really worried at the time as this was my first big trip by myself and really roughing it.. turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life..

................................

anyways.. back to the caravans.. when we were looking for our first little van we were at Geelong Jayco (and other places) and we found the 12.5 footer Poptop... but talking with the salesman, I said it was a wee bit small... he says... "ah, I have just what you want" .. it was a 13.5 footer poptop...

the only thing was, was that it was sold.. we asked to have a look in it.. but he wouldn't let us.. I said.. we wont go in.. just look in the door.. he still wouldn't let us look in it.. confuse

so we went to Ballarat Jayco and purchased one there ...

hey, im easy..

fast forward a bit and we start looking for something a bit bigger after our WA trip.. I tried to trade up with Ballarat into a 16.5 footer single axle for around 17K ... the salesman said, yes, but I have to check with the boss... he came back with 21K change over... too much... a few months later while at the Melbourne Caravan and Camping show we dealt with a Bendigo Jayco man who did the deal on behalf of the Geelong Jayco.. we did the deal for a 17K changeover... smile but with the show special we also got the solar system, drop jacks, TV areal and TV bracket, awning, Coleman AC.. and get this.. it turned up with an oven...

then since we sold our van privately while waiting for the new one to be built we got an extra 1000 off the price..

so... my advice, is to know what you want..

go to a show where they give you a few thousand worth of extras and only look at Vans that you are interested in.. as in.. if you are looking for a single axle van then only look at those.. or if it's a 22 footer then look at those... otherwise at these shows theres just too much to look at..

sorry for rambling.. yawn

Dougwe · Chief one feather

oldbobsbus wrote:
Don't rule out a really good secondhand van mate, there are some really good deals out there and people sell their van for many reasons..

Definitely not ruled out Bob, I check every couple of days but as yet nothing has tickled the fancy.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

No rambling Blue.

I know what I want just can't find it yet. I do say to a sales person (if they talk to me) what I want up front so they know what to show me. Saves my time and theirs. I will be going to the Sandown Leisure Fest (Melbourne) and will only look at tandem axle's around 18-19ft.

Blue · Senior Member

Dougwe wrote:
No rambling Blue.

I know what I want just can't find it yet. I do say to a sales person (if they talk to me) what I want up front so they know what to show me. Saves my time and theirs. I will be going to the Sandown Leisure Fest (Melbourne) and will only look at tandem axle's around 18-19ft.

ah ok... when me and the mrs were looking at the Melbourne CV show we started looking at everything... in and out CVs, it was a hot day etc and energy started to run low... so we decided to only look at single axle CVs.. well that cut out 95% of vans... and thank god.. everything was starting to turn into a blur.. after that decision, it made things 99% easier.. smile

Gus1949 · Senior Member

Don't dismiss a van because the inside fitting might not look great, they still could be just as good as the others or the salesman was not nice to you ( hardly a criteria for ensuring you get a quality van). More important is what's under the skin and how the van is built and sealed to keep water out. If you are interested in a van as for a factory tour and check out their quality control procedures, we did this and deleted some vans from out short list.

We spent three years looking at vans at shows and manufacturers and decided on a Jayco because we were happy with the overall quality after a factory tour and frankly we would have had to spend $15k to $20k more to get the same package. Over the past 12 years we have had two Jaycos (now three) and have never had problems with them and we didn't by the new one because were are welded on Jayco fans.

Gus

2014 Ford Ranger

2014 Jayco Silverline.

Gus1949 · Senior Member

Don't dismiss a van because the inside fitting might not look great, they still could be just as good as the others or the salesman was not nice to you ( hardly a criteria for ensuring you get a quality van). More important is what's under the skin and how the van is built and sealed to keep water out. If you are interested in a van as for a factory tour and check out their quality control procedures, we did this and deleted some vans from out short list.

We spent three years looking at vans at shows and manufacturers and decided on a Jayco because we were happy with the overall quality after a factory tour and frankly we would have had to spend $15k to $20k more to get the same package. Over the past 12 years we have had two Jaycos (now three) and have never had problems with them and we didn't by the new one because were are welded on Jayco fans.

Gus

2014 Ford Ranger

2014 Jayco Silverline.

Blue · Senior Member

the one thing me and the mrs have done with our last two (and only) vans is to have single beds...

because our vans are probably on the smaller size compared to a lot of these big rigs, having single beds opens up floor space...

I miss a bit of a cuddle now and again... but because our travels have been relative short, space is a HUGE plus for us.. :)

Dougwe · Chief one feather

The single bed would make for a closer "cuddle" Blue biggrin

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I am only ruling out vans for various reasons. I had a look at a couple and found the week hinge systems on cupboard doors would result in doors on the floor at my destination as I have had with my current Den.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.