Spouse & I are looking to buy our first van - coming from a tent for many years and then a camper trailer in more recent years (still use the tent on more remote trips). We are looking at a small van - basically just a place to sleep safely without worrying about wet canvas, torn canvas, thievery etc and somewhere to cook if the weather is inclement. Also looking at small as I think it will be easier to tow and get into and out of tight camping spots.
After our initial research we seem to have settled on an Olympic Sprinter (P 136 X 70-1 model) but with the upgraded off-road independent suspension with tyres matching the LandCruiser. We like to travel outback roads so figured the extra cost to upgrade the suspension would be worthwhile to cope with corrugations, washouts, rocks etc. Well aware of the need to drive to conditions, tyre pressures, speed etc.
If anyone has an Olympic Sprinter would you please comment on the van - likes and dislikes etc.
Would also be interested in any other Olympic owner comments re how good the company is to deal with, warranty etc.
Also if upgrading the suspension is there anything we should consider re what's on the inside to cope with rough roads?
Hi Moose,
We have an Olympic sprinter single bed van, just coming up to 20 months old. We have done 15-16,000 in it in that time and love it.
We bought for the same reasons as you, upgrading from a tent. Tows like a dream. Well built, and we have not had any problems with our van.
If I was ordering a new one again , I would get them to fit a Trifold table as we think it would give you more lounging room if you know. What I mean.
We got access doors put on the side of the van under the single beds, great for getting things out without having to lift the bed.
I would also get an access door on the front right hand side under the kitchen area , it's a bit hard to reach in there.
We fitted a sirocco fan at factory, got 12 volt sockets inside and out.
These vans com e well finished and sealed, with your suspension mods I'm sure it will serve you well.
I also fitted a stone stomper, best thing going for keeping the stones from hitting the front of the van.
Probably can't tell but we love our olympic sprinter.
Hope this helps, there is also a users group on this site for Olympic.
Cheers
Jetta
Don't get rid of your other gear when you buy a caravan. We kept our off-road camper trailer & tents when we bought a van. We still use them heaps. If you like going remote like us you'll still use them too. Caravanning isn't the be all & end all of getting around. Happy travels.
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Cheers Desert Dweller.
Our land abounds in Natures gifts. Of beauty rich and rare.
We have an Olympic, but its a 20ft van, not a Sprinter. We have the offroad pack and have taken it over most of Australia over the past 5 years without any real issues. We never had to deal with the company for any warranty issues so can't really say what their response is like. The only thing we had break while under warranty was a cupboard latch which had been badly put on, we contacted our dealer and he mailed out a new one at our request as it was easier for my husband to fit it himself than take the van back to the dealers on the other side of Melbourne. We have never regretted our choice.
-- Edited by Meredith on Thursday 26th of November 2015 03:14:16 PM
Thanks for the Welcome Chief Doug. Yeah - research is the key. Thought I'd found another candidate but the reviews I located were not very flattering so scrubbed that one off the list. I never realized there were so many manufacturers out there! Thankfully in the space I'm looking at the field ended up being quite restricted. And luckily, based on what I'm hearing here, we are looking at a 'good' manufacturer in Olympic.
