Avan sportliner advice / info

penny1 · Member

Avan sportliner advice / info

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang penny1, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I had a Sportliner many moons back and before the rig I have listed in my signature. Great times had my myself only as a solo. Travelled well, and good on fuel in the Prado tug I had at the time. Your Rav4 might be ok on the flat but could struggle on the hills. As for your little mates, it could get a little crowded inside over night.

I always said if you go away in a sportliner married you would come back divorced.

I made changes to mine as I had a table and two small seats up front and single bed across back. I took out the table and seats and fitted a bench across front with shelves each side with gap in middle under bench. I spent most of the time outside. A small camp seat would fit between stove bench and small drawer unit on other side and I used a stable table if had to be inside. I also rewired everything for solar power as the cable in the sportliner was for toys not serious free camping.

Keep Safe on the roads.

Shirl_e · Member

Hi Penny,

I love my Sportliner, its easy to set up, and feels big and airy inside - but floorspace is small so 2 dogs could be a squeeze. I have a slide-on version, but at any Avan club gathering you'll find members happy to help out with towing advice.

Check out the Avan Club website www.avanclubaust.org.au. for gatherings. They have a solos chapter, and Avans for sale. For advice and modifications, see also the NSW South Coast chapter website www.sccavanners.com, or Canberra www.ozemail.com.au/~ekthomas. There may be others close to you.

Enjoy your Avan!

-- Edited by Shirl_e on Friday 4th of March 2016 10:08:38 AM

Vixter · Member

Hi Shirl-_e

Was just browsing as am new, and still making plans for future travel, and I saw the pic of your "rig"? seems they are called.

What is it called when you have the car bit at the front then like a van on the back part???? sorry can't describe it well, but basically your profile pic vehicle!!! Are they hard to drive. I am only 5ft...and female, so don't want to tow a caravan or drive a big bus, have seen a few people have these and they look interesting? Cheers Vicki

Shirl_e · Member

Hi Vicki

Slide-on camper/caravan is the usual term for a removable van with attached legs. Most types have a canvas-sided pop-top that extends over the cab.

I have remote-control motorised legs - easy to raise the van and drive out from under on a flat site. A little harder to drive back under, esp if some dufushascamps in front of the van while you're out (yes, that did happen).

I have a2wd single-cab ute with extra springs. It carries the camper easily, but drives not so good when the load is taken off (next trip I'm taking empty sand/water bags).

My Avan has high sides to allow for full bench height and 90l fridge. Lower side versions might be easier for you to reach to pull down - the trade-off being low bench height and smaller fridge. When buying an Avan- or any poptop van-check you can raise and lower the roof yourself - some are a two-person job. Solossometimes use gas struts, hooks, or modified handles to help.

If I were towing I would still choose the Avan A-frame. I'm told all sizes are easy to tow due to the light weight and low profile.

Cheers,

Shirley

Vixter · Member

Hi Shirl_e....thanks for your reply. Not sure what you mean by some of the information you gave, but I appreciate your time in taking to write the reply. I realise now you are saying a 2wd single cab ute (the driving part) I have seen some pic where the van part at the back goes right over the top of the cab!!! Seems a bit claustrophobic to me but I am sure it isn't. I guess need to check them out, not sure where. I missed the caravan and camping show which was on in Adelaide in Feb, but at that time I wasn't thinking so much about all this. I guess I might need to find some places that sell these types of set ups so I can have a better look.

I don't mind the idea of not much space, and I wouldn't need a big fridge as I only eat veg and fruit, don't do dairy or meat etc, so should be ok that way. I guess there is room to sleep in the van part?? I will remember Avan A frame!!! that sounds like it might be good.

Thanks again for all your info.....cheers for now Vicki

hokianga · Senior Member

There is an Avan club, perhaps you could get some ideas from them?

Vixter · Member

thanks hokianga.....I will do that...love your dog pic....or should I say 2 dogs..... biggrin

hokianga · Senior Member

Thanks Vixter, my beautiful big boy is not well at all, gearing ourselves up to say goodbye to him, he has been a great travel companion and protector when I was on the road by myself. The little chihuahua is his fur cousin.

Vixter · Member

Oh I am so sorry, it is so sad when a pet is sick, and especially when we know they won't be with us for much longer. I hope to get a dog when I start to travel, at present I have a cat, but I don't think she will be around by the time I plan to travel, which is probably better, although she is an indoor cat, so it probably wouldn't be that much of a change for her. She sleeps all day anyway.

I have been thinking a dog would be the best companion ever, as I know how much animals give us unconditional love. My thoughts are with you all....sending warm wishes and a peaceful journey for your boy.

Vicki

Dougwe · Chief one feather

We seem to be talking amongs ourselves here now as penny 1 hasn't come back to anyone disbelief confuse

acan · Member

Hi Doug I dont know why some people come in with one question and first post ever and for some reason you never hear from them again.

Ah well each to there own

Haveva good Sunday everyone

Vixter · Member

Well I don't understand it all yet but it's a great learning experience for me, so glad you guys are out there and answering back. Cheers smile

penny1 · Member

Oops, sorry, new to this 'forum thing' and don't really know your etiquette. Didn't realise I should reply to the one reply from Dougwe I found regarding my original question. I have been keeping an eye on the posting, but slide ons and replacement / dying pets didn't seem to fit my request. Thanks for setting me straight - yep, everyone to their own, as you say when talking about me. One trip away since first posting, and RAV 4 did a marvellous job, even on long hills. The 2 small ones were not a problem, good travellers, plenty of exercise morning and evening, sleeping on spare bed, and as I'm solo divorce shouldn't be a worry either. Thanks Dougwe. I might keep a low profile for awhile, the same as the little Avan.

Vixter · Member

Hi Penny, so was wondering, with your trip away, did you just use your RAV4?? That is like a more smallish 4WD isn't it??? I don't want to tow a caravan at all, and some people here have given me some good ideas to look at regarding different types of vehicles, vans etc. Did you do your trip just in a RAV 4?? As in sleep in it etc. This is what I was wondering about whether I could do? At least initially. I hope I haven't gotten it all wrong, I will have to google RAV4 to check them out. But I realise as someone said, as you get older you probably wouldn't want to be crawling in and out of a 4WD but did still wonder if I could use something like that or RAV4 and a tent attachment type thingy......as you can tell I really have no idea but all ideas are helpful.

Cheers

Vicki

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Good to hear you got away with your rig and was successful Penny. I had many great times in my Avan Sportliner and met great people along the way, both from here and other places.

Keep Safe on the roads.