We have caught the bug

[StartingUp]

Hello everyone,

I've just recently discovered this wonderful forum, and it has already helped my research (and kept me up past midnight at least twice this week). We have just returned from a two week trip and hired a blue tongue camper for that time. After having a wonderful trip, we're super keen to buy something. We live in Central West NSW.

We have two little girls (2.5yrs and 6 months), we normally camp with my family - my parents have a Jayco Sterling & my sister has a Kimperley Kamper. We aren't 4WDers, but enjoy camping. At this point I think I'm deciding between an $8000-10000 camper trailer, or taking out a loan for a $19000 Coromal Silhouette (2nd hand on trading post).

Instinct tells me we're better off starting low & getting plenty of use, before upgrading to something better, but my heart is already set on the Coromal! It was set on a Jayco, until I saw the Silhouette.

I'm also eyeing off a 2nd hand trailer, made in Dubbo with a Bluetongue tent & Drifta kitchen, asking price $8000.
Then yesterday I spoke to Nick from Mountain Trail Campers in Albury who can do a $10000 new trailer, new tent (Aus canvas), no kitchen, no staircase, no electrics.
Then of course we can add extra for a kitchen, I'm assuming we can also add extra for an innerspring - and of course before you know it, we'd nearly be at the $19k of the Coromal..

I can't wait to read more on here and learn from everyone else's experiences. We're planning a trip on Sunday to check out the $8000 trailer (he also happens to have a Jayco Eagle for sale for $12000, so that will give us a comparison). We're also hoping to camp again at Easter. Maybe we can drive to Sydney or Echuca and hire a Jayco Swan/Eagle and see how they suit our needs.

Cheers,
Fiona 

[Rob C]

Welcome to the myswag.
You have a lot going on with choices to make.
Hiring would be a good choice to see the differences to make.
Look at hiring a CT also.
Best of luck

Rob C

[gunna]

Fiona & family
welcome to myswag
sheeds

[xcvator]

Welcome to the zoo Fiona,that 1st camper purchase is a doozy isn't it  ? I think you just have to weigh up how much you will use it/ease of use/quality. If it's only getting used a couple of time a year, cheap and cheerfull can be ok and quality can be a lower priority. If you are going camping more than about 4 times a year then the set up time/effort then comes into the equation, the harder the set up the less you will want to use it.For myself if I had 2 ankle biters I would be getting the easiest to set up, most complete camper I could afford. You want to have fun and enjoy yourself, not make it hard work. Good hunting 

[firecracker]

Is'nt it just a wonderful forum Fiona  i can't keep away . You sound like your going the whole hog even if you dont take out a lone. Keep serching the threads for answers as well.

[jwb]

Welcome aboard Fiona & crew

Enjoy your stay!

Plenty of info here

cheers

[baldheadedgit]

Welcome guy's.
Oh. it's not a Bug.! it's a Disease   

BHG

[Turbojohn]

Welcome Fiona and family.

[shakey55]

Just make sure you buy australian made trailer and tent. Buy what you can afford and enjoy the experience of travelling this bloody great country. So much to see and do.


'shakey'

[GeoffA]

Welcome guy's.
Oh. it's not a Bug.! it's a Disease   

BHG

......with the number of trailers you see on the road now, it's more like a plague......

Welcome to the forum Fiona, enjoy......

[jk]

Welcome to the show guys, hope we can be of some help in your camper purchase, this site has robbed we of about 2 years of my life from sitting in front of the computer  .........but it's wouth it 

Cheers
jk

[mrw63]

Welcome you have come to the right place to look for information and advice.   

[KingBilly]

Welcome to the tribe Fiona and family.  Good luck with your purchase decisions.  Look forward to reading of your adventures.

Happy camping
KB

[McGirr]

Welcome Guys

You will suffer from a new disease call MS !!

The dreaded MySwag Disease 

Mark

[Hairs]

G'day Fiona  & Family,

To Myswag,
Yep, there is plenty of great info here, either to help sort out you camper setup, which ever way you go about it and there are some great trip report to wet your appetite to get out there and get it dirty. Good luck with it all.
Hope you enjoy your time here.
Happy & Safe travels.

[DIGGA]

Welcome Fiona to the forum, you should find everything you need on here if you can't, ask someone will know.

[StartingUp]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. We checked out a 2nd hand trailer today in person.
Still looking. If the price was right we would get started with this one, but it's too high at this stage.

I know what you mean about spending lots of time on here, I've stayed away for a couple of days as it really is quite addictive - so much to read!

At this stage I'm tempted to hire another camper trailer for the Easter weekend and then cool my heels for a bit, so that we can buy the right one. It's so easy to think "oh, we'll just buy the basic new $10k one, but then add this, and that" - bloody additions have caught me before we've even started. Ah well, the joy of it

[Jenko67]

Welcome mate. enjoy the forum...

[ewwreckers]

Welcome guys   Oh the joys of picking out CT's!  We made the mistake of going to the Dubbo Camping show and walked out more confused then when we started (but very glad we left the cheque book at home!).  For us it came down to budget.  A very very small budget. 
Where in the CW are you?  We're around that area too

[rodsswag]

Welcome.
Take your time looking and go for the Aussie made stuuf.
Good luck in your search.


Rod......

[Heiny]

Hi Fiona and welcome to My Swag

Brett

[StartingUp]

Hi Vanessa, we're in Parkes, how about you guys?

[PeaBrainPete]

Welcome, if you are like us and we caught the disease a little while ago - the first camper trailer budget started off small, and then as we realised that our budget was not getting us what we wanted...  we thought and thought and read and read... and before you no where you are you are selling a child, a kidney, your soul to stretch the budget... beware!
It is fun though...

[speewa158]

Fiona  The only known cure is to pack up treg up & make dust  ( or mud as the case may be ) Fire up the bush TV sit back  in hand & listen to that serenity . Dont beliveall you read some on this forum have been knownto have  & :cheers:thenstart posting   Enjoy 

[StartingUp]

Thanks for the tips.

Was that only yesterday I said we would "cool our heels?" Oops, well today we paid a deposit on a camper trailer, Aussie trailer & Aussie canvas, slightly pushed our budget with electrical upgrades, needless to say I'm VERY excited, can't wait to pick it up & try it out. I'll post some pics in the next few weeks.