Author Topic: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback  (Read 31636 times)

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Offline Coiled

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Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« on: September 17, 2014, 09:04:33 AM »
Hi All,

I am looking at upgrading our Kimberley Kamper to hybrid/crossover and currently set on the Kimberley Karavan in Eco Suite spec. I am drawn to the KK as I have been nothing but extremely impressed with our current KK's quality, functionality and offroad capability. In addition to the things seen on others in this segment the other things that I like are the massive amounts of permanently mounted solar (528w) and batterty capacity (>400amps useable from the lithiums), low towing height, adjustable air suspension and the introduction of bunks to name a few.

I have read the below thread which is quite old so I am looking for any further feedback from others on options they consider must haves things they opted for and don't use, anything that can be done at the factory as a tweak which will make things better and also any other issues experienced. I am aware of the reliability issues experienced in some of the earlier models with the lifting mechanism but believe this to be completed resolved after a mechanism update a few years ago.

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=13408.msg201167#msg201167

Ps. If anyone is looking for a deal, I will shortly have a 2013 Kimberley Kamper Special Edition up for sale that has been optioned higher than a platinum and which has been fitted with some rarer options such as lithium batteries (150amps useable which is equivalent to 300amps of AGM without the weight) and 345w of solar (220w of this is light weight slim panels which can be permanently attached to tent for instant setup).
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Offline chester ver2.0

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2014, 10:31:31 AM »
We went camping with friends of ours who have one somy comments are as follows

I found the batteries especially their price overkill i would have been happy with just 2 120 amp hour gell batteries for a quarter of the price of the lithiums

The shower is to small you cant dry yourself so the whole Karavan looked like a water park inside after 4 or us had give the shower a go

Apart from that i loved the compact idea of it however i would not buy one because

Even when folded down it is still to high to get in the standard garage or carport

The expence takes me straight into a very nice offroad caravan
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Offline HKB Electronics

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2014, 12:05:36 PM »
Friends have just finished a VCAT case against a certain manufacturer for their off road
caravan, the chassis cracked on their first 4 month outing, and the shockers failed.
The manufacturer pretty well have the shocker failures sown up by telling owners it
is your responsibility to make sure they don't overheat.

Court case was thought on the grounds of not fit for purpose, ie Manufacturer advertised
the Caravan can go anywhere your car can go, clearly this was not the case and the judge
or whoever presides agreed.

Result, Caravan returned to manufacturer, friends got a full refund.
« Last Edit: September 17, 2014, 12:57:57 PM by HKB Electronics »
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Offline Diesel Power

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2014, 04:40:19 PM »
HKB
There is no point mentioning what you have above, unless you tell us who the manufacturer is or a clue to whom the manufacturer is.
Regards
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Offline HKB Electronics

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2014, 05:41:25 PM »
The OP was asking for info regarding the Kimberly Karavan, I provided what I believe
is relevant feedback regarding the same without naming names and leaving the forum
open to threats of legal action.

I looked at these units for a period of around 3 years as I decided on what my next unit
would be. I liked the Kimberly Karavan but was concerned about its all up weight and their
advertising as to it can go anywhere your car can go, maybe on tarmac or reasonable
dirt/gravel roads but serious off road? I expressed my concerns regarding the same to
our friends when they were considering purchasing the unit knowing they intend to take
it anywhere and everywhere and it would seem my concerns were not unfounded.

I believe chassis and shocker failures in these units are not an uncommon event, another
friend recently did a trip to the west, one of the group had a KK and a 200 series, his unit
also suffered shocker failure and I believe a shocker mounting broke away from the chassis
and the chassis had to have temporary repairs done.

Friends unit on same trip was a TVAN, he didn't experience any issues with his unit, I know
he did the CSR on the same trip but I can't recall if the KK also did the CSR.



 
« Last Edit: September 17, 2014, 05:59:48 PM by HKB Electronics »
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Offline Jason B

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2014, 07:39:13 PM »
The issue with the top spec fox shocks has been around for a while. Overheating is known to kill them. I have the (lower spec according to KK) ride pro shock's on mine and have never had an issue. It has done two laps. Sometimes simple is best.

Also there was a recall due to a welding penetration issue the year before last. I believe most of the effected units were fixed under warranty. Certainly if your shock failed and seized/bent the shaft I wouldn't expect the Shock mount to last long.

Personally I would avoid the fox shocks and look at an alternative, even the lesser spec ride pro gas shocks in mine don't appear to have the same issues.

Jas

Offline gronk

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2014, 08:39:13 PM »
The issue with the top spec fox shocks has been around for a while. Overheating is known to kill them.

Jas

Funny that as when I bought my KK camper back in 2007 ( with Fox shocks ), they were saying it was the only shock they tested that had no issues with heat buildup..

After some obvious failures ( although like me, most wouldn't have heard of them ) I'm surprised a company like them hasn't rectified any weakness in their products..

Pity, as bad publicity gets around the internet pretty quick these days..

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Offline Jason B

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2014, 08:56:53 PM »
Funny that as when I bought my KK camper back in 2007 ( with Fox shocks ), they were saying it was the only shock they tested that had no issues with heat buildup..

After some obvious failures ( although like me, most wouldn't have heard of them ) I'm surprised a company like them hasn't rectified any weakness in their products..

Pity, as bad publicity gets around the internet pretty quick these days..

Yep to true.

I understand KK put heat indicating paint on them. If they over heat (due to abuse in their eyes) and the paint changes colour warranty is void...............

Offline D4D

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2014, 08:58:31 PM »
That doesn't sound very 'king of the off road' worthy
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Offline Jason B

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2014, 09:07:25 PM »
That doesn't sound very 'king of the off road' worthy

Funny I don't see fox shocks talked about at all on here or in off road circles, so I don't know what their claim to fame is or what has convinced KK that they are the go.

Plenty of basic OME and other brands stand up to the rigours of out back travel. The dirty old ride pros on mime were recently replaced after nearly 10 years service and two laps.

Jas

Offline GeoffA

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2014, 09:11:55 PM »
I understand KK put heat indicating paint on them. If they over heat (due to abuse in their eyes) and the paint changes colour warranty is void...............

An admission that they're not up to the task???
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Offline HKB Electronics

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2014, 09:58:51 PM »
This may not be the case but I believe Kimberly have changed hands a few times,
seems a common thread, someone starts a company and puts a lot of work into
it to build it up and earn a good reputation, then eventually they sell and move
on. Buyers have brought it as a going business with a good reputation, trouble is
the passion is no longer there, they just see it as a cash cow. Eventually without the
passion it will fold.

As I wrote they have the shocker failure problem bound up tight, owner is warned
about the tell tails, any failures due to overheating is owners is a fault.

As for the go anywhere your car can, if think their may be a few other manufactures
rethinking that advertising also when the find out about the results of the VCAT case.
I know I mentioned it to the manufacture of my soon to be delivered very well regarded
unit and he responded with "that's very interesting" and I could hear the wheels turning, they
may also want to reconsider their advertising just to cover their butts though I haven't heard
of any issue with their unit and they have just upgraded their suspension as more are wanting
two water tanks.
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Offline gronk

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #12 on: September 17, 2014, 10:43:45 PM »
KK has been owned by the same person for at least 10 or more yrs..

Maybe this is one reason they have now gone to airbag suspension ??

I know they used to do a lot of testing......I wonder what happened to their quality ??


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Offline Jason B

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2014, 11:20:32 PM »
KK has been owned by the same person for at least 10 or more yrs..

Maybe this is one reason they have now gone to airbag suspension ??

I know they used to do a lot of testing......I wonder what happened to their quality ??

Agree Bruce Loxton has owned it for as long as I can recall. All of the components are the same and the suspension hasn't changed at all in design. The issue I believe is just the shocks failing, specifically the fox ones. I don't believe their manufacturing or processes have slackened off at all and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

The failures are not all that common considering they are up to about chasiss number 6800 now on the Kampers alone.

I had a good look at the air bag set up and can see some benefits but it all seems a bit OTT to me.

Jas

Offline KeithB

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2014, 11:50:44 PM »
You can also blow your warranty by fitting ten ply tyres because the suspension can't take the loads from a stiffer walled tyre. That's set alarm bells ringing for me.
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Offline Diesel Power

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #15 on: September 18, 2014, 07:01:29 AM »
Do you really need ten ply tyres on your trailer? Your trailer shouldn't be that heavy, maybe for staking protection in Mulga country.
Regards
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Offline Jason B

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #16 on: September 18, 2014, 07:04:33 AM »
You can also blow your warranty by fitting ten ply tyres because the suspension can't take the loads from a stiffer walled tyre. That's set alarm bells ringing for me.
Keith

Why would you wan to change their factory tyres? They come standard with BFG AT's. Surey you would replace them with crappy coopers jobbies LOL.  >:D




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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #17 on: September 18, 2014, 07:09:48 AM »
10 ply can cause a harsher ride which leads to jarring. The tyres are actually part of the suspension and absorb a lot of shock. Maybe that is the experience the company found.


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Offline Diesel Power

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #18 on: September 18, 2014, 07:42:04 AM »
That's right, just like when you deflate your tyres down to 28-30 psi when on dirt roads.
It helps the unsprung weight of the suspension " conform" to the roads profile and a little flex in your sidewalls gives you a smoother ride.
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Offline dazzler

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #19 on: September 18, 2014, 07:53:35 AM »
That's very poetic for this hour of the morning!  :)


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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #20 on: September 18, 2014, 08:56:32 AM »
10 ply can cause a harsher ride which leads to jarring. The tyres are actually part of the suspension and absorb a lot of shock. Maybe that is the experience the company found.


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A lot of people will fit 10 ply tyres and then run them at 50psi cold because that's what they are told to do. Once the tyres get up to operating temp they may be running close to 60psi and are as hard as a rock which would kill almost anything IMO.


Offline grafy82

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #21 on: September 18, 2014, 09:47:01 AM »
This is getting out of hand people. Remember we only 'apparently' bash Chinese campers on this forum  ;D
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Offline Jason B

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #22 on: September 18, 2014, 11:49:45 AM »
This is getting out of hand people. Remember we only 'apparently' bash Chinese campers on this forum  ;D

Nah........we also kill tall poppy's LOL.  ;D

Offline grafy82

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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #23 on: September 18, 2014, 12:07:56 PM »
Nah........we also kill tall poppy's LOL.  ;D
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Re: Kimberley Karavan - Seeking owner feedback
« Reply #24 on: September 18, 2014, 02:32:15 PM »

This is getting out of hand people. Remember we only 'apparently' bash Chinese campers on this forum  ;D

Mercy, where did that come from? 


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