Quick question to all Camel Camper owners: What other feature do you wish you had on your camper?
A proper nose cone with doors and lids. Not the usual checker plate toolbox they fit on top of the draw bar. Too much wasted space for my liking.
Thanks for that.
A nose cone might work with the "Plus" models but not with the standard models as the spare wheel is in front of the tool box.
More?
A few things spring to mind that I used to think would be good to have. A second safety chain, floor ventilation in the tent either side of the passenger side wheel down low and a bit extra in the cover with adjustable straps to pull it down tight.
The tool box works ok but if you opt to put batteries in there you soon lose your space for other stuff.
Apart from that the trailers are the grouse
Gday
We had ours out in the belting down rain over the long weekend, and while it didnt leak,it would have been good to be able to open the canvas up to let the light in as the kids were in the main tent.Ive seen a camper at a show somewhere that has clear plastic on part of the window and it looks like a great idea.
Agree with blackstump, a bit bigger cover over the folded up tent.
love the camel
Thanks for the replies. Great to hear thoughts from those out there using them.
blackstump:
We do the 2nd chain now as standard on all trailers.
The floor vents are a standard option that zip open and have the mesh in behind to keep bugs out.
The higher cover is available, but I'll talk to the factory about how we can tighten it up to remove slack so there's no flapping around at our review.
I hear you about the batteries if you have them in the tool box. I'm pondering this for my Bushman that I have just ordered. I might set up the twin 120A/H batteries in the main trailer section leaving the tool box clear for storage.
pedeosar:
Did you have the window awnings pegged out? I tend to have the pole set low so that the awning is down on the angle then you can have the window open. We had our display trailers set up like this at the show when it was raining Sunday.
We can do the clear plastic windows as an option when the trailer is made with velcro so that they are removable. The issue I see is the condensation build up without any windows open.
Thanks for the comments guys
Quote from: e4WDThe higher cover is available, but I'll talk to the factory about how we can tighten it up to remove slack so there's no flapping around at our review.
Go with shorteners like on mine, they are easy and work well and the cover can mold to whats under it (to a point)... same idea as on tarps on some trucks.
HI,
No I didnt have the awnings out ,I guess you could do that in warmer weather with the window open ,but it was pretty cold where we were and the boss has a small oil heater ticking away for the baby....Didnt realise they were an option from the factory or I might have had one!!
Happy to help out
Pete
Quote from: e4WD on October 10, 2011, 01:39:07 PM
Quick question to all Camel Camper owners: What other feature do you wish you had on your camper?
I have a couple of minor suggestions;
On my Beachcomber (build number 1313), it is a PITA to get the gas bottle out of it's holder. I take the bottle out to connect it to my BBQ, it is not plumbed to a stove or anything. It can only be removed by lifting up the bed base. It would be handy if the gas bottle holder could open up to allow removal without the need to lift the bed base up - especially since I ALWAYS forget to take it out before I set up the camper!
The second suggestion relates to the Jerry can holders. I attach a small (screw in) tap to the bottom of the H2O Jerry can. Unfortunately the Jerry can cannot be held on place with the tap attached due to the sides of the holder. I have to un-screw the bung and screw in the tap when we arrive at camp.
Both issues are VERY minor - just a few little annoyances really.
Love my Camel !! :cheers:
Excellent suggestions Camel Tow!
Quote from: Camel Tow on October 11, 2011, 09:27:43 PM
I have a couple of minor suggestions;
On my Beachcomber (build number 1313), it is a PITA to get the gas bottle out of it's holder. I take the bottle out to connect it to my BBQ, it is not plumbed to a stove or anything. It can only be removed by lifting up the bed base. It would be handy if the gas bottle holder could open up to allow removal without the need to lift the bed base up - especially since I ALWAYS forget to take it out before I set up the camper!
The second suggestion relates to the Jerry can holders. I attach a small (screw in) tap to the bottom of the H2O Jerry can. Unfortunately the Jerry can cannot be held on place with the tap attached due to the sides of the holder. I have to un-screw the bung and screw in the tap when we arrive at camp.
Both issues are VERY minor - just a few little annoyances really.
Love my Camel !! :cheers:
Quote from: e4WD on October 12, 2011, 09:35:01 AM
Excellent suggestions Camel Tow!
check ya email... :P
Quote from: e4WD on October 12, 2011, 12:56:55 PM
Checked & replied
(http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd234/cremo1/Smileys/love.gif)
I like the idea of being able to tie the cover down tighter with straps like Lost suggested. Find it annoying the way it gets sucked upwards.
Extra velcro straps for the annexe end walls to the poles are needed for better stability in windy weather. We have only just had some sewn on locally.
Minor stuff but it all makes a difference.
The mods I made on mine from the standard factory build have all worked well so we are quite happy with how it has all gone so far.
Must call in and see you when I get time.
Another one came to mind.I screwed some webbing onto the underneath of the
bed base so I can pull the tent down when its hinged up on the struts without pulling on the pvc cover.
Fit a grab handle on the tailgate to use when opening it
Use a cam lock setup on the gas bottle holder/s rather than the nut/bolt style - ( major PITA - modded after the 1st bottle swap)
Maybe have the tent cover easily removable- as It tends to pool/catch/ hold water run off.
Which you don't find till your packing up :(
a Holding position for electrical plugs & chain/s when not in use.
I love my Dicovery!
Cheers
All good points and they will be taken into account at our review.
Some of the mods you made stevo, ended up in our standard specs for this year.
Quote from: stevo on October 14, 2011, 09:29:09 PM
I like the idea of being able to tie the cover down tighter with straps like Lost suggested. Find it annoying the way it gets sucked upwards.
Extra velcro straps for the annexe end walls to the poles are needed for better stability in windy weather. We have only just had some sewn on locally.
Minor stuff but it all makes a difference.
The mods I made on mine from the standard factory build have all worked well so we are quite happy with how it has all gone so far.
Must call in and see you when I get time.
What exactly do you mean by cam lock? I find the standard ones easy to use, adjustable and lockable. I would like to be able to remove the bottles with the deck down as mentioned earlier though.
With the cover. Best not to have it removable as there is greater chance of getting dust into the tent/bed.
We roll our cover to the end and then roll it under itself between the trailer and tool box so that any water runs off and doesn't pool there.
I'll put a picture up shortly.
Quote from: jwb on October 15, 2011, 07:31:41 AM
Fit a grab handle on the tailgate to use when opening it
Use a cam lock setup on the gas bottle holder/s rather than the nut/bolt style - ( major PITA - modded after the 1st bottle swap)
Maybe have the tent cover easily removable- as It tends to pool/catch/ hold water run off.
Which you don't find till your packing up :(
a Holding position for electrical plugs & chain/s when not in use.
I love my Dicovery!
Cheers
Maybe I termed it wrong?
Mine had a nut/ bolt setup.
Over centre latch might be closer to correct term ?
Cheers
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: jwb on October 15, 2011, 10:53:49 AM
Maybe I termed it wrong?
Mine had a nut/ bolt setup.
Over centre latch might be closer to correct term ?
Cheers
Mine is the same as JWB's used yo be (see picture)...it really is a PITA to get the bottle out, requires 2 different size shifters / sockets.
I have not yet done anything about it yet...but I think I will have to come up with a cam-lock setup.
Quote from: Camel TowMine is the same as JWB's used yo be (see picture)...it really is a PITA to get the bottle out, requires 2 different size shifters / sockets.
I have not yet done anything about it yet...but I think I will have to come up with a cam-lock setup.
agree, mine on my trailer is same, nut and bolt.. it has fur on it
This is on my 2011 bushman
Wrong section woops ???
Quote from: pedeosar on October 15, 2011, 06:13:46 PM
This is on my 2011 bushman
That looks like a significant improvement !
I guess it would need to be welded...which I am no good at !
Would be an easy weld job
http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/Ark-Gas-Bottle-Holder-9kg-Galvanised.aspx?pid=167896#Description
That is standard on all trailers now.
Quote from: pedeosar on October 15, 2011, 06:13:46 PM
This is on my 2011 bushman
Quote from: Lost on October 15, 2011, 06:05:16 PM
agree, mine on my trailer is same, nut and bolt.. it has fur on it
Why not tac the head of the bolt? Thats how mine is it works fine.
I am looking at a beachcomber plus at the moment but am a little off put by the towball weight the other suppliers with walk up campers have relocated the axle further forward the return the ball weight to 40 - 60 kg dry. I asked the factory about doing this but because it would be a one off they said they would not be able to make the change. I think they should review this in the design going forward. The only other thing I would like to see is the bed end squared up gives you more room on the bed.
Quote from: rodneyb81 on November 13, 2011, 12:54:54 PM
I am looking at a beachcomber plus at the moment but am a little off put by the towball weight the other suppliers with walk up campers have relocated the axle further forward the return the ball weight to 40 - 60 kg dry. I asked the factory about doing this but because it would be a one off they said they would not be able to make the change. I think they should review this in the design going forward. The only other thing I would like to see is the bed end squared up gives you more room on the bed.
I'll ask them about the axle at the review which is in 2 1/2 weeks time.
To square the wall at the side of the bed will mean having the poles extendible. Not a fan of that. We find that it's such a shallow angle that it doesn't impede on the bed area. But I'll still put it to them as I will with the other suggestions.
Cheers, Johnno.
Quote from: e4WD on November 14, 2011, 08:02:27 AM
We find that it's such a shallow angle that it doesn't impede on the bed area.
x2. Not a problem for us...
LJ
Quote from: e4WD on November 14, 2011, 08:02:27 AM
To square the wall at the side of the bed will mean having the poles extendible. Not a fan of that. We find that it's such a shallow angle that it doesn't impede on the bed area. But I'll still put it to them as I will with the other suggestions.
Cheers, Johnno.
I would not like to have the bed end squared off if it meant the need for extendible poles - one of my biggest bragging points is that I do NOT have to adjust these tent bows when setting up. There are lots of campers out there that you do need to adjust several poles just to get the bed end tight.
Cheers
Camel Tow
Quote from: Camel Tow on November 16, 2011, 06:55:36 PM
I would not like to have the bed end squared off if it meant the need for extendible poles - one of my biggest bragging points is that I do NOT have to adjust these tent bows when setting up. There are lots of campers out there that you do need to adjust several poles just to get the bed end tight.
Cheers
Camel Tow
i would agree with that.
I will be very interested to hear the outcome of tomorrows review and what changes might be coming .....