MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: UIZ733 on May 04, 2013, 04:44:57 PM
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We have decided to open up the choice to more than a Cub to replace our Brumby.
Thanks to all who replied to my previous post relating to Ultimate Campers.
Forum member’s insights and experiences have been appreciated.
Two other makes that will be on the list will be the Kimberley Limited and Aussie Swag Rover LX.
Realistically we should be in the market for a late model used OR perhaps new.
Both makes (Aussie Swag & Kimberley) appear to essentially be the same overall concept with each manufacturer having a particular emphasis specific to their marque.
One concern I have about the Kimberley is excessive ball-weight when laden. (Kimberley don't' mention anything I could find about this specification).
Is the Aussie Swag any better in this respect in reality?
I note Aussie Swag website says ball-weight is 120Kg. I presume this is dry and without the fridge and other load etc.
Fully/correctly laden is this figure likely to change by much?
Any comments and experiences appreciated .
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I can't help you with the two you mentioned and I don't know what your budget is or what you prefer in a camper.
But have you looked at Adventure Campers? I we recently purchased the Grand Tourer and it has to be the best design I have seen for a camper.
The bed slides out from the back of the trailer, this means that anything on the roof rack, stays on the roof rack, when setting up and packing up.
The bed is also at a nice height, larger than a standard king size, no need for a ladder and you aren't climbing over your partner to get in and out.
The drivers side is all storage 1100 lt of it. There is a total of 2000 lt of storage. The full length of the left side is the kitchen.
The other thing I like about it, is the ability to just close it up when we want to go for a walk or sight seeing. It can be locked up in two minutes with just the tent and your chairs left, everything else is locked away.
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G,day matey I do not know about the Adventure camper ,but as a owner operator of a KK the are ffin heavy on ball weight to point of when you park and unload the camper it does pay to mark the ground on your right rear tyre ,so you can back up in virtually the same position as to when you unhooked ,this is what I do,either mark the ground with your shovel or mark a line ,or a peg as to the position of your centre of our right rear ,this is what I do ,as there is o way you can easily move the hitch around
But I think you will find this with most trailers with a long drawbar and kitchen attached to said drawbar ,apart from that I love it
Must add at home on the concrete I can manoeuvre it quite easily to load on the car ,but then again I've had a couple of hours practice doing hat
But that would be my thing as to what gives me the irrits ,then again I've see the same thing with soft floor campers too
Set up times are horses for courses in my book too ,are you staying overnight /a day /a week , I actually carry a boat on top . It acts as a hard top to hide chairs ,and all sorts of other gear , and to set up for a overnight top ,probably takes 5mins ,to stay for an extended period may take half an hour, but I do not care as I generally have a beer in hand ,and I'm on holidays
Good luck in your choice of camper and happy trails Cheers. Graham
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Both Aussie swag and Kimberley have a similar ball weight when loaded, both tow well, both are built well. Either would be a good buy.
I have used both and although I prefer the kitchen layout of the Aussie swag I personally feel the build quality of the kk is slightly higher.
This is my personal opinion but others will feel differently.
Sent from Behind you...BOO
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G,day matey I do not know about the Adventure camper ,but as a owner operator of a KK the are ffin heavy on ball weight to point of when you park and unload the camper it does pay to mark the ground on your right rear tyre ,so you can back up in virtually the same position as to when you unhooked.
Sounds like you need the remote live app (provided you have two I devices) then you have reversing camera anywhere. When I unhook our KK I always put the jockey wheel at 90° to the kamper, so that I can move it from side to side if need be when hooking up.
As for AS v KK - have a look at both. Both are vey good and decide which one has the features that most suit you. Either way you will end up with a great kamper that will go almost anywhere your 4by will go.
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I have an Aussie Swag and I am onto my second one they are that good.
I did a thorough comparison between the two when I purchased my first one and the Aussie Swag won - easily.
When doing your comparisons check:
- Battery Charger size
- Water Tank size
- Warranty length
- Chassis size
- Kitchen placement (against the side of the camper or taking up vaulable awning space)
- Ease of use of the kitchen (can you access the pantry without having to take the saucepan off the cooker)
- Ease of use website to get your information (KK's is crap and very difficult to navigate to get the info you are looking for)
- Battery Capacity (I hate the way KK uses 6 x 35amp batteries - I think this is a stupid (my opinion only))
- The brakes (12' drum in the AS vs disc in the KK)
I think when you do all that you will also find that there is no real comparison. I would also have to disagree with MR MAC GU on the build quality opinion - Aussie Swag have never had a suspension failure with their current set up, I have heard that KK have had to change their design a couple of times. (Happy to be corrected). In anycase, the build quality of the AS is second to none!
As you can see, I am a little biased - but it is for good reason. :cheers:
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I have AS and think the build is better than the KK. AS is heavy so I reverse it in and unhitched and that's where it stays. Don't dismiss the Complete Campsite. AS has a small room so will look at a room to add on later when daughter is older. :cheers:
Wayne
And what JKohn said x 10.
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Agree with the comments above. We LOVE our KK - everything about it - quality, set up time, off-road capability, kitchen layout, storage, robustness etc. We carry a tinny on the top and an outboard on the swingaway at the rear. Not all campers have the spare tyre underneath (and yes, there are pros and cons) but it means we can have the spare under and the outboard motor on the rear.
The one thing we do not like about the KK is the towball weight. As mentioned above - it has a long drawbar and kitchen, fridge etc on it. We also carry a small genie in the front delta box and an OzPig and porta loo in the side gullwing - all adding to the weight. We have done some fairly rudimentary tests at home for the towball weight and it was ~ 200kg. We plan to take it to the public weighbridge and really check it out.
Having said all that, we now have HD airbags and springs in the back end of the Pajero and that makes a difference. (Paj also has fridge and drawers in the back). You would not want to tow a big KK with anything less though.
For us, the strength, capabilty and carrying capacity of our camper were key criteria.
This pic was with the old air bags that weren't helping. Note the saggy back end of the Paj. We did have a lot of our windsurfing gear on this trip as well though.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/154981_10200283667642107_268824735_n.jpg)
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I forgot to mention that it really is a personal choice too, so whatever one you think works best for you!
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"I note Aussie Swag website says ball-weight is 120Kg"
Whether it's an AORC, Aussie Swag, Kimberly or Cape York the ball weight when loaded will be high ( depending on weather or not you use the space in the front storage section ), we have a Cape York which is different but similar to the others and our ball weight is about around 200kg when loaded for a trip ( I put it on the weigh bridge at work ) depending on the trip duration and destination. It's not a problem a long as you have suspension upgrades and don't excede the manufactures ball weights !
Whether you go for the Kimberley or the Aussie Swag you can't go wrong :cup:
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I have an Aussie Swag and I am onto my second one they are that good.
I did a thorough comparison between the two when I purchased my first one and the Aussie Swag won - easily.
When doing your comparisons check:
- Battery Charger size
- Water Tank size
- Warranty length
- Chassis size
- Kitchen placement (against the side of the camper or taking up vaulable awning space)
- Ease of use of the kitchen (can you access the pantry without having to take the saucepan off the cooker)
- Ease of use website to get your information (KK's is crap and very difficult to navigate to get the info you are looking for)
- Battery Capacity (I hate the way KK uses 6 x 35amp batteries - I think this is a stupid (my opinion only))
- The brakes (12' drum in the AS vs disc in the KK)
I think when you do all that you will also find that there is no real comparison. I would also have to disagree with MR MAC GU on the build quality opinion - Aussie Swag have never had a suspension failure with their current set up, I have heard that KK have had to change their design a couple of times. (Happy to be corrected). In anycase, the build quality of the AS is second to none!
As you can see, I am a little biased - but it is for good reason. :cheers:
Battery charger size ...bigger
Water tank size ...bigger (can't have 2 tanks on as unless moving spare to rear bar)
Warranty length ...longer
Chassis size ...very heavy box not angle
Build quality...I cut my finger on the edge of the kitchen of as not a problem with kk
Suspension failure...none I have heard of other than a couple of broken shocky mounts 2yrs ago caused by a faulty welder.
Usable internal floor space ...kk wins
Diesel hot water more efficient than gas
Shower tent is accessed from inside kk no need to go outside
Electric hydrolic brakes option kk only
Exterior lighting ...kk hands down
Need I go on...
Nothing wrong with as they are a great second choice
Sent from Behind you...BOO
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now now, play nice boys! ;D
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now now, play nice boys! ;D
Lol
Sent from Behind you...BOO
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let the pissing competition begin..
(http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/seamartini/seamartini1201/seamartini120100028/12073003-smiling-popcorn-box-in-cartoon-style-for-snack-design.jpg)
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Battery charger size ...bigger
Water tank size ...bigger (can't have 2 tanks on as unless moving spare to rear bar)
Warranty length ...longer
Chassis size ...very heavy box not angle
Build quality...I cut my finger on the edge of the kitchen of as not a problem with kk
Suspension failure...none I have heard of other than a couple of broken shocky mounts 2yrs ago caused by a faulty welder.
Usable internal floor space ...kk wins
Diesel hot water more efficient than gas
Shower tent is accessed from inside kk no need to go outside
Electric hydrolic brakes option kk only
Exterior lighting ...kk hands down
Need I go on...
Nothing wrong with as they are a great second choice
Sent from Behind you...BOO
X 2 with this for me, KK hands down. Much rather the chassis set up than angle. Don't like the way the AS kitchen sits against he canvas under the bedroom window. Drum brakes are crap next to electric/hydraulic disks.
AS has a much smaller anex area also. They are both good campers but KK would get my $$$ again.
Jas
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Another consideration for us was access to a KK agent/rep for any service or advice. The crew in Perth at KK were great for us, even though we bought our camper on the private market. They helped us find a second hand boat loader, ordered and fittted our swingaway 'knuckle', did a service and then went through a full typical camper 'handover' with us as if we had bought it from them.
During our research, we actually considered a QLD-made hard floor camper but the business owner could not have been less interested in supplying/servicing WA if he tried. I cant comment on Aussie Swag as we see very few of them on the road or for sale here so we didnt look at any. I know that KK are made in the east: my point being we are happy with the local rep/service we have received.
Maybe check out your local reps for both makes and see how you feel about their service, attitude etc. Hopefully you will never have a problem but it's good to know what you might be dealing with too.
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Battery charger size ...bigger
Water tank size ...bigger (can't have 2 tanks on as unless moving spare to rear bar)
Warranty length ...longer
Chassis size ...very heavy box not angle
Build quality...I cut my finger on the edge of the kitchen of as not a problem with kk
Suspension failure...none I have heard of other than a couple of broken shocky mounts 2yrs ago caused by a faulty welder.
Usable internal floor space ...kk wins
Diesel hot water more efficient than gas
Shower tent is accessed from inside kk no need to go outside
Electric hydrolic brakes option kk only
Exterior lighting ...kk hands down
Need I go on...
Nothing wrong with as they are a great second choice
Sent from Behind you...BOO
- Battery charger and water tank are NOT bigger: 40amp/60 amp and 120lt/130lt.
- I couldn't find any info whatsoever on the size of steel used on the KK chassis whereas the ASC states theirs on the website.
-ASC do offer a diesel hot water version as well as gas. In fact it was their diesel camper (Ultra D) that has won the Campertrailer of the Year for the past two years.
-Yes KK offer a 5 year warranty and yes their ensuite can be accesses from inside the camper.
Also, my list was a general list of comparisons made for the OP to consider, not one where the ASC came out on top in each category. It was the overall answers to the list that made us go with the ASC, but I have read on other topics that others have gone with KK or AORC, or CC because in their opinion the same list for them went in favour for that camper.
Just goes to show that these are both very good campers that have passionate owners.
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now now, play nice boys! ;D
Always :laugh:
Nothing wrong with a friendly comparative discussion. :cheers:
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UIZ733,
Yes we all get very passionate in justifying our decision to buy a partiicular brand.
We went with a KK but could have easily gone with as AS as well.
Both were fantastic campers, for us it came down to a couple of things:
1. The kitchen. LB suffers from bad headaches/migranes and did not like the idea of having the stove right under the window. This may or may not be an issue but wasn't worth the risk.
2. The internal space. The KK back wall slopes out from the camper meaning the entire floor space is usable. Having a tall son we can fit an extra large stretcher in there.
3. At the show that we bought the camper at we felt we got better service from the KK guys than the AS guys, not that the AS guys were bad, the KK guys were more than happy to let us open/close/push/pull everything and the guy spent over an hour with us without looking around for an out.
4. The second water tank in the AS goes up under the body just forward of the axle. I believve in the AS it goes basically on the draw bar.
As I said the decision was based on our experiences and thoughts, others will have other preferences. Spend the time and make your own decision. Trust me, neither will be wrong.
Bunyip
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Battery charger size ...bigger
Water tank size ...bigger (can't have 2 tanks on as unless moving spare to rear bar)
Warranty length ...longer
Chassis size ...very heavy box not angle
Build quality...I cut my finger on the edge of the kitchen of as not a problem with kk
Suspension failure...none I have heard of other than a couple of broken shocky mounts 2yrs ago caused by a faulty welder.
Usable internal floor space ...kk wins
Diesel hot water more efficient than gas
Shower tent is accessed from inside kk no need to go outside
Electric hydrolic brakes option kk only
Exterior lighting ...kk hands down
Need I go on...
Nothing wrong with as they are a great second choice
Sent from Behind you...BOO
And when all is said and done you all really do want an ultimate.....you just don't realise it yet, although maybe mr mac does hahahahahahaha.
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- Battery charger and water tank are NOT bigger: 40amp/60 amp and 120lt/130lt.
- I couldn't find any info whatsoever on the size of steel used on the KK chassis whereas the ASC states theirs on the website.
-ASC do offer a diesel hot water version as well as gas. In fact it was their diesel camper (Ultra D) that has won the Campertrailer of the Year for the past two years.
-Yes KK offer a 5 year warranty and yes their ensuite can be accesses from inside the camper.
Also, my list was a general list of comparisons made for the OP to consider, not one where the ASC came out on top in each category. It was the overall answers to the list that made us go with the ASC, but I have read on other topics that others have gone with KK or AORC, or CC because in their opinion the same list for them went in favour for that camper.
Just goes to show that these are both very good campers that have passionate owners.
Mine has 60a charger and 220lt water tanks.
When we bought ours back in November 2010 as did not offer diesel in either hot water or space heater. I asked but they were not interested in entertaining the idea.
From what i am told, Kimberley are not (don't want to be involved) with camper trailer of the year.
Yes they are both good, kk is just better...
Sent from Behind you...BOO
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And when all is said and done you all really do want an ultimate.....you just don't realise it yet, although maybe mr mac does hahahahahahaha.
For sure Ollie for sure...
Sent from Behind you...BOO
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In fact it was their diesel camper (Ultra D) that has won the Campertrailer of the Year for the past two years.
Such a glorious claim to fame must surely mean AS are better!!
> seriously, as discussed in depth elsewhere, this title has zero relevance when comparing the virtues of these 2 (& any other) CT's.
We see these questions get asked all the time and the responses never change.
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I think they are both fantastic. We went to the show a 2 years ago with the aim to really have a look at the kk. We did it was brilliant. We also had a look at the Aussie swag as it was there.
We loved the Aussie swag more for 3 reasons. 1st the pantry draw is huge and fantastic and my wife love it. 2nd we preferred the kitchen layout 3 rd the draw under the bed was larger.
These are our reasons and everyone will have different ones. You won't make a wrong decision with what you pick. Just go and have a look and see what one you like.
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Very interesting comments from both sides..
Now I'll know what to look for when I decide to down grade >:D... Lol..
Sorry up grade.. :cheers:
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Thanks to all who have spiritedly supported their brand. It indicates proud ownership.
A question about the AS kitchen.
Can it be used when perpendicular (with relevant support etc.) to the camper rather than parallel?
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Thanks to all who have spiritedly supported their brand. It indicates proud ownership.
A question about the AS kitchen.
Can it be used when perpendicular (with relevant support etc.) to the camper rather than parallel?
When I went to the Brisbane camping show last year I was looking at the AS and the salesman showed me that it could be used both ways.. You could pull it straight out and have it 90 degrees to the camper or swing it around to be under the window.. That was on last years model.. Not sure if it has change.. I'm sure some owners could correct me
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Yes, you can, but it may be a bit of a pain when pulling out the fridge.
We chose AS over KK mostly for the fact that the fridge does swing back against the camper, and to be honest, we have never had an issue with cooking smells going up into the bed area. The other reason was that we have a 60l Trailblaza fridge, and not only did it not fit it the KK, they did not recommend amending to be able to fit due to the drawbar weight. We didn't want to buy a smaller fridge, and AS amended our fridge box to suit. We think it is much better with a flat nose now as it is easier to sit things on top, eg when getting things out of the pantry and fridge.
Both campers are very well made and have great attention to detail, it will be the little things that sell either one for you in the end. We couldn't be happier with our decision, I'm sure you will be too when you work out all your personal pros and cons.
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For sure Ollie for sure...
Sent from Behind you...BOO
:D:D :p
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- Battery charger and water tank are NOT bigger: 40amp/60 amp and 120lt/130lt.
- I couldn't find any info whatsoever on the size of steel used on the KK chassis whereas the ASC states theirs on the website.
-ASC do offer a diesel hot water version as well as gas. In fact it was their diesel camper (Ultra D) that has won the Campertrailer of the Year for the past two years.
-Yes KK offer a 5 year warranty and yes their ensuite can be accesses from inside the camper.
Also, my list was a general list of comparisons made for the OP to consider, not one where the ASC came out on top in each category. It was the overall answers to the list that made us go with the ASC, but I have read on other topics that others have gone with KK or AORC, or CC because in their opinion the same list for them went in favour for that camper.
Just goes to show that these are both very good campers that have passionate owners.
I agree AS has won CT of the year as stated but in the comparisons I saw KK was not even involved and no KK product was supplied for comparison. Its a pretty hollow victory if the other main player in that category doesn't even feel the need to participate.
With the 2013 kitchens, power options (solar films now built into the canvas, lithium batt options etc) annex size, dealer network and the fact that there would be 10x the number of KK's travelling the country with very few issues still would lead me to spend my $$$ with KK.
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Both campers are very well made and have great attention to detail, it will be the little things that sell either one for you in the end. We couldn't be happier with our decision, I'm sure you will be too when you work out all your personal pros and cons.
Yeah that is right, when you are paying $40000 + for a camper, they all will usually fall into the fantastic build catorgry. It will all come down to personal choice, and preferences as it has with each and every owner that had posted here. I can bet each of us looked at all the campers and decided on a particular one cause it suited our family better, and nothing to do with the quality. I know I would be happy with any of them, just the ulti suited us better ( no kids to worry about).
Good luck with your choice they all are great quality campers, with 2nd to none customer service.
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Suspension failure...none I have heard of other than a couple of broken shocky mounts 2yrs ago caused by a faulty welder.
there's a thread been started on ExploreOz forum regarding this, relates to something about using 10 ply tyres and the suspension breaking. if the corrogations we encountered up the Gulf late in the dry season back in 2011 didn't break the suspension on our KK, then i reckon you'd be doing well to break it.
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there's a thread been started on ExploreOz forum regarding this, relates to something about using 10 ply tyres and the suspension breaking. if the corrogations we encountered up the Gulf late in the dry season back in 2011 didn't break the suspension on our KK, then i reckon you'd be doing well to break it.
The issue I believe was to do with the shocks failing from getting extremely hot. There was a short period where a number of KK's left the factory with a dodgy weld on one suspension arm because a welder was found to be faulty. To my memory they got on top of this quickly and repaired all of the issues, even freighting the trailers to and from the affected owners.
I believe there is heat paint now on the fox shocks to indicate if extreme temps have been encountered.
They are both good campers. Kids may be a consideration also, as both have very different kids room arrangements and one may suit better than the other. I have just decided to use an Oztent for the kids when they get a bit bigger, rather than get a kids room as this will give us another camping option also.
Jas
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The main reasons we chose a KK over other similar campers were:
Electric disk breaks (why do AS and AORC still persist with drums?)
Amount of useable bench space on the 2012 models onwards (the hatches on the bench could be a PITA for messy people like us)
Extra useable space inside because of the extended tent
Comprehensive Australia wide service and repair network
KK's are without a doubt the most popular hard floor camper in their price range. There must be a reason for this.
The Limited Edition has a more functional pantry than the Platinum. We upgraded our LE to Platinum without the solar panels (we bought our own), but others choose to have a Platinum with a LE pantry.
We hired a few campers before we bought one including a couple of KK's. The guy that hires them out used to hire out locally made soft floors too but they started to look tatty a lot faster. He only hires out KK’s now.
I saw a new Pioneer camper being trucked up the Hume last week. They look really good but I haven’t seen one up close yet. Like almost everyone has mentioned, you can’t go wrong quality wise with KK or AS, you need to have a close look and make up your own mind which one you like best. Have you considered AORC, Complete Campsite, Pioneer or the Modcon forward folding campers? They are all great high quality campers.
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I just can't believe you're not considering a jayco >:D
Swannie
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I just can't believe you're not considering a jayco >:D
Swannie
Your arms are getting a bit brown :cheers:
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I just can't believe you're not considering a jayco >:D
Swannie
;D ;D
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I liked the AORC ones as well, particularly the idea of two fridges. However as they don't have a tailgate and I therefore couldn't pack clothes etc into the draw under the bed, the rest of it was irrelevant - to me at least!
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There was a short period where a number of KK's left the factory with a dodgy weld on one suspension arm because a welder was found to be faulty. To my memory they got on top of this quickly and repaired all of the issues, even freighting the trailers to and from the affected owners.
it was the mount that held the shockie in position at the top to the chassis and when it broke off the camper could still be towed behind the vehicle once you removed the shockie from dragging on the ground. it happened to mine and yes the camper was picked up from my house, repaired and delivered back to my house afterwards. my warranty on the camper started from scratch after that and the chassis was given an extended warranty also. since then my camper has travelled up through the Gulf on some horrendous corrogations without an issue, so it passed the repair test...lol
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I do believe the AORC should be looked at as well. A friend who has a late model KK was very impressed with them. He bought the KK without knowing or seeing an AORC camper. Me, I would be looking for a late model Cape York because the layout and storage suited us. :cup: As we now have a small van there is no way the better half will go back to a camper. Everyones tastes and choices are different. Have fun with your decision. :cheers:
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Hi UIZ733,
Ball weight is very dependant on how you pack the trailer.
I am on my second Aussie Swag and I have found that ball weight can vary depending on how much water there is in the tank and also what you pack and where you pack it! If you load the rear with heavy gear it lightens the ball weight.
There are many great trailers out there and some larger differences are the reasons we chose the Aussie Swag twice and some of these are:
Build quality and simplicity of design and layout. I found the kitchen area very well designed allowing you to take no more than a few steps to get to everything without having to close or move anything in the process. There is no need to walk around the 90 degree kitchen as opposed to when it's folded back against the trailer. Numerous people can all work in the kitchen area at the same time.
We found that the overall design is simple and not over complicated. The model line up is also simple. Almost all the models are the same except for the 'extras'. The trailer is streamlined and well balanced from front to back.
My mate is selling his 2009 explorer model which is a Rover LX with extras if you are interested - he needs to sell quick.
There are a few good trailers on caravancampingsales website.
Good luck and enjoy making your decision. Either way you will love what you get!
Cheers
Dave.
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Aussie Swag all the way :) In saying that the KK was our second choice. I've written up a review of our AS here http://letsgotravelaustralia.com/aussie-swag/ (http://letsgotravelaustralia.com/aussie-swag/) with lots of pics showing the nice big 60amp battery charger (with you all the way JKone :) ) I believe we were also the first to get 3 batteries in their current sent up, pics of that as well. As well as the kitchen and other bits.
Also a bit of blurp of why we choose the AS http://letsgotravelaustralia.com/aussie-swag/why-aussie-swag/ (http://letsgotravelaustralia.com/aussie-swag/why-aussie-swag/) don't mention the names of the other campers that were in the final 3 choice but KK was our second choice.
I think you would be happy with either they are both good campers. For us one big plus was the factory for AS was just down the road. We could talk to the guys making them not just an agent. The guys at AS are happy to take on customer suggestions and the after sales service is second to none.
Good luck with it all :) Most of all just get out there and have fun :)
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The guys at AS are happy to take on customer suggestions and the after sales service is second to none.
Really?
When were looking at AS campers. There were both myself and Rumpig interested in buying one.
I asked the sales staff if they could change a couple of things to suit us better. (We were looking at the AS ultra). We were told a flat out no...the person we were dealing with said you buy it how it is or don't buy it. The main things I wanted changed was a diesel hot water/heater instead of gas, and a different colour so it wasn't the same as all others out there.
In the end myself, Rumpig and my inlaws ended up buying one but AS missed out on 3 sales as KK were more than willing to accommodate our requests and in my opinion were much better to deal with. Not to mention the network of agents around the country if anything were to go wrong along with the 24/7 phone support system if you needed.
Sent from Behind you...BOO
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From our personal experience we have found them to be good, yours was obviously different. As I said someone could go with either choice and be happy with them. We have had to go back on a couple of things for after sales issues and found them very good. We did ask for a couple of mods and they were happy to accommodate. One being the batteries at the time they put two in the Ultra campers, we wanted 3, we worked with them and made suggestions as to how that could be done and they did it.
Like you we were interested in the diesel hot water/heater which they didn't do at the time but did say that they had had a lot of requests and were considering it. Just before they were about to start on our camper they rang us up to say they were going to do the diesel option and did we want to swap over to that. They had a prototype on display we could come in and have a look at. We did, but for different reasons we stuck to our original order. We thought it was very good of them to contact us to offer us that option since they knew we were interested in the Diesel.
I guess every manufacture has it's pro's and con's. Main thing is you are happy with your choice and got the mods you wanted :)
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The guys at AS are happy to take on customer suggestions and the after sales service is second to none.
Really?
When were looking at AS campers. There were both myself and Rumpig interested in buying one.
I asked the sales staff if they could change a couple of things to suit us better. (We were looking at the AS ultra). We were told a flat out no...the person we were dealing with said you buy it how it is or don't buy it. The main things I wanted changed was a diesel hot water/heater instead of gas, and a different colour so it wasn't the same as all others out there.
Sent from Behind you...BOO
I find that very very hard to believe (not saying it didn't happen, just very hard to believe).
For my second camper I asked if they could totally change the hot water set up and re-configure the offside storage box so I could fit a second fridge, generator, and also the hot water controls in the one area. They had never done this before and didn't know if it was even achievable. After going and asking the builders and spending alot of time on it, they came back and said that it could be done. They also added all the little extra things we asked for. Couldn't be happier with them.
Furthermore, Yoda42 had the shape of his front box re-designed to fit his fridge.
If they didn't offer a diesel option at the time, then they couldn't sell you one could they.
As for service agents, anyone can do the brakes and bearings regardless of brands, and ASC suspension doesn't fail nor do they employ dodgy welders so no need for recalls. As for colour - maybe because they are a classic like the Model T - you can have any colour you like as long as it is sliver (in ASC's case) :laugh:
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and ASC suspension doesn't fail nor do they employ dodgy welders so no need for recalls.
Maybe the abbreviation for AS should ASS! ;D
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Ignore them JKohn, they don't have a clue hee hee
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If they didn't offer a diesel option at the time, then they couldn't sell you one could they.
Why not ??? I see people on this forum fitting them themselves.
As for colour - maybe because they are a classic like the Model T - you can have any colour you like as long as it is sliver (in ASC's case) :laugh:
How do you find it so hard to believe that AS wouldn't accommodate any changes when they wouldn't even use a different colour paint ???
I find that very very hard to believe (not saying it didn't happen, just very hard to believe).
With all the excuses you're making for AS you're getting me confused now :P
Both AS and KK are great campers. You can't go wrong with either of them, or any of the other high quality hard floors. Look around and choose the one you like best.
I still can't believe AS and AORC don't offer disk breaks for the price they ask >:D
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(http://jenontheedge.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/pirates-of-the-caribbean-sword-fight.jpg)
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Ha Ha ;D
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This is not an electrical thread ;D :cheers:
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(http://jenontheedge.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/pirates-of-the-caribbean-sword-fight.jpg)
Lmao
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The answer! Neither. ;D
Subject to some conditions it looks like we will be getting an immaculate 2nd hand Australian Off Road Odyssey ZR. More information when it comes to hand. Final decision to be made on Saturday.
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The answer! Neither. ;D
Subject to some conditions it looks like we will be getting an immaculate 2nd hand Australian Off Road Odyssey ZR. More information when it comes to hand. Final decision to be made on Saturday.
Well good for you! I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as we all enjoy our campers :)
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I might have my immaculate Kimberley Platinum available.
Message me if you want some info.
Cheers
Parry
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I might have my immaculate Kimberley Platinum available.
Message me if you want some info.
Cheers
Parry
Parry.....you going over to the van stage of your life now ????
What sort of thing are you looking at ??
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Oh C'mon UIZ733 ... you haven't heard me spruke for the AS yet! ;D I'm as passionate an owner as they come!
Kit_e
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You will not be disappointed with an Odyssey either! As an owner of the "basic" XR unit, you can shoot questions to me about the overall design and features in common with the ZR.
Interesting about the "deal killer" that some regard the lack of external access to the clothes drawer in the Odyssey. Sure, you have to load up the drawer before the last close down before leaving home, but any extras go into the 4WD and get transferred at the first camp. In return, you are guaranteed a dust free and dry clothes drawer.
Cheers
Oddy
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In return, you are guaranteed a dust free and dry clothes drawer.
Cheers
Oddy
As you are in a KK or AS without the hassle of building Rome first.
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As you are in a KK or AS without the hassle of building Rome first.
Rear access was a Must Have for us. We have no where to build Rome before or after a trip. No dust inside to date and we've been up some rather dusty roads. Last trip we drove through rain, so it just looks dirty now ... not filthy! :cup:
Kit_e
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Rear access was a Must Have for us. We have no where to build Rome before or after a trip. No dust inside to date and we've been up some rather dusty roads. Last trip we drove through rain, so it just looks dirty now ... not filthy! :cup:
Kit_e
X 2 can't believe they don't have it, they look great otherwise. We also have a small yard and prefer not to open the camper up.
Jas
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We also have a small yard
Mine's fairly large, but the one spot it can go has trees lining it ... making it a PITA to reverse into the front yard through the double carport ... something we prefer not to do unless we are desperate. My block is on the low side of the high point of a hill so very sloppy yard ... therefore we can't get it in the back yard without some serious backhoe works going on ... something I'd love to do, but can't afford atm. That way an ACD Alarm System would be in effect 24/7 and no-one argues with an ACD (picture below).
Kit_e
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mxqwgehwidw/UOKZiDIezHI/AAAAAAAAByo/zSTCLXFmrEM/s400/Trip+58+Telashi.jpg)
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Mine's fairly large, but the one spot it can go has trees lining it ... making it a PITA to reverse into the front yard through the double carport ... something we prefer not to do unless we are desperate. My block is on the low side of the high point of a hill so very sloppy yard ... therefore we can't get it in the back yard without some serious backhoe works going on ... something I'd love to do, but can't afford atm. That way an ACD Alarm System would be in effect 24/7 and no-one argues with an ACD (picture below).
Kit_e
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mxqwgehwidw/UOKZiDIezHI/AAAAAAAAByo/zSTCLXFmrEM/s400/Trip+58+Telashi.jpg)
Nice, our place is a semi detached place, we have a carport and double garage but its all crammed into a 500m block. We bought the place as an investment but its taken us longer to do up and move on than we thought. At least the KK is in a garage I guess.
We would love a couple of acres again.
Jas
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The guys at AS are happy to take on customer suggestions and the after sales service is second to none.
Really?
When were looking at AS campers. There were both myself and Rumpig interested in buying one.
I asked the sales staff if they could change a couple of things to suit us better. (We were looking at the AS ultra). We were told a flat out no...the person we were dealing with said you buy it how it is or don't buy it. The main things I wanted changed was a diesel hot water/heater instead of gas, and a different colour so it wasn't the same as all others out there.
In the end myself, Rumpig and my inlaws ended up buying one but AS missed out on 3 sales as KK were more than willing to accommodate our requests and in my opinion were much better to deal with. Not to mention the network of agents around the country if anything were to go wrong along with the 24/7 phone support system if you needed.
Sent from Behind you...BOO
Really i cant believe that they would flat line you like that .
We bought the 2012 and had mods done to the front box and drawer bar without issue AND without extra cost . This was done via email and over the phone .
We had one issue with a weld which was dealt with quickly and fairly :cup:
I personally cannot fault the camper or the service from the order to receiving it .
True KK have a bigger sales and support network but AS didn't fail us in there support !
FYI i keep the 80 l engel in the cruiser and we have a 39 l wayco on freeze on the drivers side on a slider i made . The kitchen where they put there fridge is smaller and is now a pantry > works for us < :cheers:
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Really i cant believe that they would flat line you like that .
We bought the 2012 and had mods done to the front box and drawer bar without issue AND without extra cost . This was done via email and over the phone .
We had one issue with a weld which was dealt with quickly and fairly :cup:
I personally cannot fault the camper or the service from the order to receiving it .
True KK have a bigger sales and support network but AS didn't fail us in there support !
FYI i keep the 80 l engel in the cruiser and we have a 39 l wayco on freeze on the drivers side on a slider i made . The kitchen where they put there fridge is smaller and is now a pantry > works for us < :cheers:
They must have been having a bad day, we were actually set on buying an AS as we had used one a few times and loved it. I really didn't think we were asking too much, but the attitude received made us look further. In the end we are happy with our decision.
Sent from Behind you...BOO
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Parry.....you going over to the van stage of your life now ????
What sort of thing are you looking at ??
I am trying to convince someone to make me an offer that I could not refuse... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
It all depends on timing and $$$$.
Cheers
Parry
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First, thank you to those who took the time to respond to the thread. Your responses were appreciated and guided the process.
The decision has been made. We have bought an AORC Odyssey ZR.
The surprising bit.......it is a late 2005 model purchased in 2006.
The camper is immaculate and looks like it has just rolled off the production line. This is due to the absolutely fastidious care taken by the owners and I guess the original engineering and build. It helps that the camper has had little use.
We had not considered buying something of this vintage, however we are over the moon with the purchase which will be picked up next weekend.
Lesson to be learned for us.........................do not be afraid to think outside of the square............................and quality Australian designed/made is genuinely worth the money.
Thanks again to all who contributed.
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Nice find...
wheres the :worthles:
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Here is a taste ;D
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Good purchase they are a great camper :cup: :cup:
Cheers
Parry
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(http://jenontheedge.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/pirates-of-the-caribbean-sword-fight.jpg)
Given the final purchase, the following is a more apt summary:
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He bought an Ultimate??
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He bought an Ultimate??
Bad choice of word, modified to a less ambiguous adjective. Happy?
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Bad choice of word, modified to a less ambiguous adjective. Happy?
Always.... :P
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So far Aussie Swag x3 including ours and KK x 1000000000. So KK mass produced. ;D