MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: dannyboi on May 15, 2012, 09:22:47 PM
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We are from Hervey Bay and have been procrastinating far too long in buying a CT. I've been trawling through the forums trying to ascertain if we should should go local (Austrack Campers) or buy all Aussie made. While Austrack seem to have a good rating among other fellow CT users in the forums, my biggest concern is the imported canvas they use.
Now, it seems (in here at least, reading various posts) that everyone seems to be happy with their canvas but what I'm trying to find out how it's going to perform 5 -6 -7 years down the track. Our plan is to buy a decent solid, well built trailer that is going to last the long haul as we don't plan to be doing anything other than camping , until the kids leave home at least. That won't be for a long time to come yet.
We are heading to Brisbane this weekend to look at a few different manufactures. Customline, Trackabout, Vacation Campers, Johnnos (Brisbane Bayside) and a couple of others. It seems the Dyanproof Wax Converters canvas is the bees knees and the canvas to us is as important as the trailer quality. I don't want to Shit on Austrack by any means but do you think for longevity we should really look at the Aussie canvas or would the Austrack canvas suffice.
We would really like to support someone local but at the end of the day, we are forking out a swag of cash and want to do it right the first time. As for camper trailer requirements, we would be happy to have a basic functioning kitchen, water tank, tent with annex summer/winter walls & the trailer to have electric brakes. As long as everything is solid it doesn't need to be super stainless 316 grade steel imported from Japan or recessed stoves etc... For us, practicability is the key.
The Austrack trailers come standard with 12' tent with full annex walls, so I'm hoping someone who has used their canvas products extensively for a period of time might be able to shed some light on the quality and longevity component of their canvas.
Thanks for your help,
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Danny,
Do yourself a favour and as you head down the coast, detour into Caloundra & visit Australian Off Road (15 Caloundra Rd, Caloundra West. Left hand side of road, next to Bob Jane's).
Mrs T & I have one of their Quantums. Their attention to detail is excellent and their after sales service second to none.
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Thanks for the advice but while I don't doubt they have some fantastic gear they are way out of our budget range. We might look at them in 2030 when we are retired lol
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dannyboi There is never the perfect 1st CT . When you take the plunge & treg up to something you will stasrt the MODs . Ohhh yeeer if l just change this or that & on they go .
Make a list of " Should Haves " then check out the new range to establish what you want . Now get in to the Preloved already modded CTs more bang for your buck .
As long as the base rig is in good condition to start then you 1/2 way there . After you have had you first camp dinner out there in YOUR CT all this prepurchase jitters will be gone .
Are you still driving your 1st car ??? . CTs are an ongoing thing of mods . :cheers:
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Dannyboi,
We bought our camper second hand and could not be happier. A couple at Burrum Heads had it for sale and had put most mods on it, so we were very lucky. ;D They also were very fastidious and the camper was in immaculate condition. One of the best features it had was a full king size innerspring mattress. We do get a brilliant night’s sleep. :cup: (They had the manufacturers build the camper to suite a king size mattress.) The camper is Modcon brand, made at Capalaba, Brisbane. The camper is a full off road one and we have taken well off road on several occasions and never had a problem. We have travelled about 55,000 kilometres in it now and still love it. Taking it to the red centre in June, so looking forward to that. :D
The only addiction I have fitted to the camper is a 12 volt pump for the water. Other features that we like include, set up for solar power (we have a 120 watt folding panel), long draw bar, two gas bottles, two batteries, front and rear awnings with walls, heaps of windows, 12 volt plugs on various locations, large front tool box, jerry can holder, and heaps of good pegs and ropes.
So have fun looking and maybe have a look at some used ones.
Kevin
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Everything the Speewa said mate.
Bang for buck, I reckon Austrack as as good if not better than most.
We love ours to bits']
(http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt171/Redback_2009/Austrack015.jpg)
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John Connor is selling a Trackabout CT on this forum, have a look. At 21k it's a steal. Otherwise you can't go wrong with Customline. I had one.
Wayne
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Hi Danny, sounds like you've done your homework mate. You're headed in the right direction with sticking to an Aussie built trailer. Whether it be secondhand or not, the most expensive part of the majority of all campers is the canvas so make sure you know what you're getting into. :cheers: Dave
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Danny all the campers u mentioned r good brands, also had a good look at the lifestyle, one of the best built value for money campers around.
Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.
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Danny, we have been camping out of our tent fr 10 years. I always liked the Idea of the camper trailers but as I bought a boat 3 years ago thought I would never buy one. That was until Easter when I got the Shits with how long it took us to pack up after a week of camping n a caravan park. Two weeks later, and two trips to the camping show and we have a vacation tourer on order.
Lifestyle, custom line, and camel were the others on my short list for the second trip to the show. In the end I went with vacation because they included a lot as standard, their trailers are very well built and they were desperate to do a deal so I got an awesome price.
It's daunting so good luck, but you eventually have to make a decision And not look back.
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the most expensive part of the majority of all campers is the canvas so make sure you know what you're getting into
As u go higher in the price range, more of the purchase price is in the trailer than the canvas. Plenty of examples of this in the market place.
If you are looking to keep it for a while and are planning to use it a fair bit, look for something thats relatively easy to get off and on the trailer. Seen a few that attach via caravan awning track. My reasoning is that sh*t happens like flywires die, zips and their sliders wear out etc...... Seen some attached with lotsa staples, yeeeesh.
Adjustable bows. Come across several secondhand units where the canvas is that darn taught. Gotta allow canvas to do its thing.
Decent fall on the roof. We dont a wanna swimming pool up there.
Ideally a zipped in floor, but thats not something I have seen very often.
Something thats easy to setup/packup. Some have got darn poles and spreaders everywhere. To each their own I guess, but I figure camping is supposed to be fun, not an ordeal.
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Hairymick Could you post a pic of your CT not just the model leaning against a tree ;D
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Hairymick Could you post a pic of your CT not just the model leaning against a tree ;D
Oh my God, I was going to post the same comment/joke...
:o :o :o :o
I'm on the same wavelength as Speewa!!!
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Oh my God, I was going to post the same comment/joke...
:o :o :o :o
I'm on the same wavelength as Speewa!!!
That's impossible ;D ;D
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That's impossible ;D ;D
Phew, thanks Gibbo, thats reassuring.
LJ
PS You are qualified to make that assessment aren't you?