What camper trailer

brimhunter · Veteran Member

What camper trailer

villatranquilla · Guru

we had a cub camper and loved the fact that it had a hard floor that was about 6" above ground - great if it rained

jules47 · The Happy Helper

My late husband and I travelled for ten years in a camper trailer - it was not 4 x 4, but offroad you couldn't beat it. It was fairly high off the ground, because our 4by was high - only reason we got out of Marble Bar one time - could feel the water pushing the trailer for a bit - something like seven creek crossings on that road - all overflowing with unexpected heavy rains.

Anyway - my advice is to get a fairly basic one, we had sort of three sets of cooking types - gas bbq, campfire cooking, and electric (jug and toaster and electric frypan - luxury) a set of good plastic drawers for pantry and also crockery, cutlery and the like.

We could pull up in the dark and have it up in about 10 minutes, and be in bed five minutes later.

The brand was DINGO - they were in Dandenong Victoria. We sold it for $800 less than we paid - not bad. The less poles the better, and NONE in the tent area should have to be removed - we never got wet, great little camper trailer.

Kebbin · Guru

A pain in the butt wouldn't go near one, packing and unpacking continuously in wet or dusty conditions, harder to move then you think. If your set on one buy a cheap 2nd hand then you won't loose to much.

hako · Guru

I'll second the Dingo campers - bro-in-law has one and it is well made and very versatile. The website is at:

http://www.dingocampers.com.au/

Good Luck.

Cupie · Guru

My Daughter has just taken delivery of a Mod Con forward opening off road camper trailer.

It looks the goods & we'll be trying it out this weekend weather permitting.

They decided on it after lots & lots of research.

Oka374 · Veteran Member

A hard floor is a must, especially if you are touring and on the move most of the time, much easier to open and shut, no need for perfectly level and smooth campsites, can be left hooked up for overnight stops, smaller footprint. We towed one for 30 years from the late 70's until the early 20's, initially with just the two of us and then the family and then back to the two of us.

dogbox · Guru

Cupie wrote:

My Daughter has just taken delivery of a Mod Con forward opening off road camper trailer.
It looks the goods & we'll be trying it out this weekend weather permitting.
They decided on it after lots & lots of research.

if your going for a camper trailer forward fold has my vote 5 minutes an your bed can be ready for use

Possum3 · Guru

We've seen a few of these outback in some rugged areas - owners are well pleased. Made in Australia in Tamworth. www.aussieinlander.com.au/

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

They are ok . Just like awnings etc on van or motorhome . The more you set up the bigger the job . Unless stopping for longer than a few days just set basic camper up . Thing is they are so easy to tow . Large wheels for clearance etc is preferable. If same as tow vehicle ? Even better !!

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Thats what we did AK - no awning unless for several days, so easy to put up - ok soft floor - (less weight) we put marine carpet on ours, take it home, hang on clothes line and hose clean.
Because ours wasn't a "fitted out" with kitchen - we had a kitchen set up in the back of 4by - stop for lunch, all there, thermos of hot water, 12v kettle, all done. Loved my Dingo!

Woody n Sue · Guru

If your plan is to do lots of camping then my 2bobs worth would be a forward fold camper easy setup in under 10 min less with practice .
I guess it depends also on your budget which will also depend on how much you think you will be using it to get the value out of it .

We have a Black series Dominator which we are setting up for some of the rougher stuff, like birdsvile track and Oodnadatta track in July August this year .

Do some googeling.
If on face book join some of the camper trailer pages and read the comments

Woody

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Son bought the Black series too . For $9k was a top buy . I often tow it behind motorhome . Donât even know itâs there . Added solar, electric water pump, shower . Great !!! Seen similar for near double what he paid .

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Brimhunter,
There are oodles of camper trailers out there. As Jules said - KISS. The more complicated they are, the more likely that something may break when you are on your own with no communications.
You can always add the luxuries later.
The essential item if you are heading into the tropics is VENTILATION - have plenty of it! You can always close the flaps if the weather is cold. I have seen Victorian (& one Southern Qld) made campers up here in North Qld & the occupants were sweltering.

I completed the assembly of a quite basic (by today's standards) trailer in 1996 & it did us well, seeing all states except Tasmania & WA over all sorts of roads & weathering a severe storm one night just out of Flinders Chase (KI).

Point of interest - a side folding tent - the width of the tent is the length of the trailer.
a forward or rear folding tent, the width of the tent is the width of the trailer. There could be quite a difference.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

The bed in our Dingo 2000 was queen size - plus, good to keep books, glasses - also room to get off wall if it rains. Side folding - miss the old girl - hope shes being treated well.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Two extra points - with a soft floor camper, you can leave the bed (they are generally always QS) made up & we kept our clothes bags on top of the bed.
Often with hard floor tents, this is impossible.

Erecting hard floor/soft floor campers took about the same time - folding up, the hard floor unit was quicker

Jules, I would consider your camper to have been too hot for the tropics with the small windows in the "room" area. Nights where the temps are still in the high 20s & humidity above 75% - yes, we camped in those conditions. Our worst night was at Emerald, I recall & the fan couldn't give much relief!

Friends bought a famous name camper made from just out of Brisbane - it was over priced (pay for the name, I assume), difficult to put up (Where does this pole go? Hey, Honey you put the wrong one there, etc), the battery management system was a techo's nightmare, ventilation was poor & the colour (dark blue) was all wrong. It was an expensive mistake.