new member lookig for advice

brimhunter · Veteran Member

new member lookig for advice

Dougwe · Chief one feather

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

The main thing to make sure is you have sorted and understand is that the tow vehicle can tow your chosen Den safely and with all listed weights. Don't believe everything the 'sales person' tells you. Do some homework.

As far as a Den goes, it's all personal choice really but maybe look at a 16-18ft full van not poptop. That way you just stop for the night and open the door with nothing else to do but cook dinner and get a nice cold drink out of the already cold fridge, sit down, enjoy and relax. IMO.

I have what is listed below after having a Avan Camper Trailer and would not go back. I am full time on the road and love it.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Tony Bev · Guru

A warm welcome from me also, Brimhunter

I do not have your type of vehicle, so cannot help in that respect

Doug above has given you good advice, there are some small and light caravans, around these days

As you say that your very basic camper trailer takes a while to set up, then the ones with all the bells and whistles, will probably take longer

STRETCH ARMSTRONG · Senior Member

hey brimhunter, a 2.7 is that petrol/what year. I'm familiar with the 2.8 diesel non turbo. I would be looking at your vehicles tow capacity first. That info will then give you a maximum you vehicle handle. Also depends on what comforts you want. My first serious rig was a 1980 troopy and trailer. Slept in back of troopy and trailer was kitchen, fridge and everything else. Now semi offroad full van. stretch

Kebbin · Guru

Towing capacity will depend on the year model eg. 2002 model 1800kg max braked, 2011 2250kg max braked, 2017 2500kg max braked.

brimhunter · Veteran Member

Hi again all
my vehicle is Toyota Hilux 2014-15 2.7 lt 4cyl single cab ute
maybe a small van would be the way to go don't really want to buy new vehicle if I can help it

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Plenty good camper trailers around .i see they weigh 1500 kg so your fine !!

macka17 · Guru

Hi.

You'll get fed up with the up\down with campers of any sort.

I'd be looking at a POP top van with a single cab. Otherwise you towing a block of flats behind you.
Coromal do a nice Lightweight pop top or two.
Made in WA so you'll have plenty of choice. There are good and bad in there.

I have 535 Tandem full van 1.85t. Alloy frame.

Toyota's are gutless at best of times. I'd be looking at around 1.4\1.5 ton MAX.
I had a nice Compass 16ft 4in, inside. went. 1.45t.
and expect to burn a bit of juice.

Don't know what Toyota's are like on gas. A nice 100\120ltr tank or 2.
on tray?. Check the valves. (Stellite) and seats.

I have a mate had a Single cab yrs ago. Bought a van.
LWB. Had to shorten the TRAY behind axle.
it bobbed all over the road beforehand. (Just a thort.)
Measure the dist from rear of your axle housing to tip of hitch with ball on.
Compare to a shorty \Dual cab
At least you can get a load in front of axle though. Bonus.

Have fun.

HunnyBunny · Senior Member

Welcome Brimhunter. I have a very different set up, a slide on camper on my Effie. This works for me but would not be for everyone. As has already been mentioned, your choice of van is a very personal choice, you are the only one who knows that suits you. If you only want a small van there are numerous choices. I like the rear entry, small vans. A pop top wouldn't work for me. As Doug mentioned, it's nice to simply pull into a camp site, put your chair out & not have to do much to set up. I like to take my boat so the slide on suits me. Best of luck with your choices & happy trails.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hello brimhunter,
Some of the little more upmarket camper trailers (around $19,000 & upwards) available today have hard floors & are pretty well self erected, folded up with the aid of a boat winch & gas struts, so they are easier to set up than the camper we started with 21 years ago. You don't need to go to a Kimberly that costs the earth either.

You don't mention the drive of your ute but I think it is 2wd. Even so, with care you can drive on "not the flash-est of roads", but if you want to go to "out of the way" places, your camper, van, etc may need a little more ground clearance than standard on-road units.

One of the more important things these days is your weight - if you're going to the "van thing", watch your weights as to what you can tow, carry.

We went to a pop-top & so far are happy although being rather tall, I've taken to wearing a cap when I get inside the van with the lid down as I've shed some blood a few times on a led light on the ceiling. Pat can walk inside it ok with the lid down. There are a lot of full sized vans that I cannot walk into because their roof is 2-3 inches too low - & then they add air conditioners for me to hit too!

Have a look at www.campertrailers.org - they too are a helpful bunch of people.

Happy looking & camping

matildatraveller · Guru

Helloooo Brimhunter,

A hearty welcome to our travellers world. It has been sometime since I was in your shoes looking for a camper to suit my baby 2.8lt Toyota Hilux single cab 4X4.

Since purchasing a 'ACTIVE CAMPER' slide on my travels have not looked back. The camper is fibreglass outside with Marine Ply inside. There is all the mod cons you could need. Its tare weight is only 450kg and sits perfectly on the tray chained down by 2 side rigs and 2 back chains. Nothing moved after my 4x4 dirt trip to Longreach, Bedourie, Birdsville, Cameron's Corner and south to Broken Hill via the Strzelecki track.

I have reinforced my tray welded it with solid steel so it will not budge even on the most rugged 4X4 tracks. It has 2 solar panels running the length of the roof, 75 lt water tank, shower and toilet, gas cooker and a 90lt fridge/freezer. The bed is king size over roof full mattress with internal storage inside including hanging space. Outside under storage the length & width of my slide-on with room for all my fishing gear, jerry cans, annex, yabbie pots, fold away table and toolbox.

Happy travels & hope you stay safe wherever you end up, there are many of us out there! Do come and join the crew on the 'PICK THIS PLACE' site when you have an interesting photo to share......WELCOME..........Gwynnie

Inskip & Lennox Head Trip 2017-12-03 003.jpg

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Soooo many different types out there .. Some are custom made and not commercialy available .. Some now are easy to set up some take a long time with two people ? We have a motorhome we just see what others at times go through .. It is hard to be exact when thereâs nothing specific . Your vehicle will have no issues towing . Itâs the weight as said .. Have you made any decisions ?? As you asked some time back There is some very clever people out there . The custom or own built are great to check over some very small too !!