New camper decisions, decisions...

[Mace]

What do you mean Jules? That's all the fun.. Just roll a leg over while you're at it and makes for a good night   

You forgot to add, but make sure its your CT first!

I wish I was in your situation D4D.

Id be tempted by the Marlo.

[Bird]

I wish I was in your situation D4D.

if I was in his shoes, I'd keep the goldstream.. Don't want a vastly improved over factory Explorer PLus do ya Jamie?

[KingBilly]

Here's the Customline east/west bed.  A few other manufacturers do the same thing.  The Customline extension is a good idea but not executed very well.  It is fabed out of alum tread plate but it is a pretty rough job.  I filed and sanded the welds and trimmed a fair bit off the ends as well as rounded them.  I then covered it with marine carpet.  The extension's legs, which slide into some RHS welded under the trailer top, were also made from alum (obviously) and as such were pretty sloppy in the steel RHS.  I packed them with some s/s washers affixed with s/s rivets.  It now sits straight and level plus doesn't flop around.  The holes cut through the tent wall for the extension's legs were pretty rough also.  I think they should have been trimmed as the rest of the Customline tent is faultless.

Now having said all that, I still think it is by far the best option we paid for.  Neither my wife, nor I, are laying against canvas.  We both have full length side tables to store our books, torches, personal effects etc.  Our pillows are about 100mm off the canvas at the end.  But best of all, we don't have to climb over each other.  The walkup trailers achieve the same thing but were just too long and too expensive.

You will notice the bed base was modified, to my plans, so that both sides of the bed remain fixed whilst lifting the bed base to access the trailer tub.  None of the stuff we store down the sides rolls away.  The bed base has since been carpeted with marine carpet.

[D4D]

That's a bloody good idea and gives you 2 options, north/south for overnighters, east/west for longer stays. Thanks for the pics.

[KingBilly]

Mate, takes two seconds to push the extension in and flip the mattress around (stores under mattress).  Use it once as an east/west and you will never go back to a north/south 

KB

[JCAT]

Lifestyle or Trackabout for me.

What I prefer about the Lifestyle over Trackabout is the smaller kitchen. This allows so much more room for all my kids gear and any extras I want to take along. Trackabouts Drifta set up with the Evakool seems to take up most of the body of the trailer. I am sure they would custom fit a kitchen if required.

As has been said the walk thru is the way to go. So easy to get on and off the bed. The lifestyles walk thru is also bigger than Trackabouts.

Lifestyle were prepared to fit Prado rims to suit if I had elected to go that way. As it is the 16 inch wheel and tyre combo can apparently be used on the front of the Prado in an emergency. Not sure why I can't also use them on the back. (This is only what I was told, I have never actually tried it)

Good luck with your decision. I went up to the Brisbane Caravan and Camping Show to get mine and got a great show special. That was in 2010.



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[D4D]

Time to fire this thread up again

[Bird]

Time to fire this thread up again

Couple of Swags. and a Foxwing.

[fuji]

Like I said previously
Customline, Mountaintrail, Complete Campsite, Outback-campers, Tru-blu, Trackabout, to name a few.

[D4D]

Customline with some 'special' mods is still the front runner...

[swanny]

Just to throw a curve ball in, have a look at Adventure Off Road Campers, which you might have done already, a bit of a unique design, but works really well.

I will add that they are hexi ($$$$) for a new CT, but a few really good 2nd hand jobbies around at the minute, some of which are priced fairly.

Swanny

[fuji]

Long way for warranty work. But being the dab hand that you are,you should be able to correct any mistakes. A bit like King Billy I would say.

[heath74]

What size tyres are you running on the Prado?
I upgraded my big red to have matching wheel size no problem.

Like all camper trailers, once you get on to uneven ground it gets interesting but, on flat ground it's spot on.

[D4D]

265/70/17, also have to fit a longer axle due to the offset

[heath74]

Same,

He has changed tent though, so maybe the drop is different, since I bought my big red a couple of years ago now.

[D4D]

Thanks good to know, I plan to drop in and see him again. Last time I asked he wasn't interested in building a custom camper as he is busy enough getting his standard builds out.

[SteveandViv]

D4D, you've got Johnno's up your way as well. Great camper IMO.

http://www.campertrailer.com.au/evolution.html

[heath74]

Thanks good to know, I plan to drop in and see him again. Last time I asked he wasn't interested in building a custom camper as he is busy enough getting his standard builds out.

Certainly happy with mine, close to three years on, and maybe 20k towed, maybe 100 nights in it.

Jason was happy to let me supply wheels and tyres, and do a few little mods as well.  The only thing I'd still like to change is move the spare to the tailgate, and put the bike rack on the drawbar. I don't like the bikes right off the back.

[Bird]

Long way for warranty work.

Yep, that would be a deal killer right there for me next time. Theres no way I'd be buying new anyway, so I wont have to worry

[Shutterbug]

Here's the Customline east/west bed.  A few other manufacturers do the same thing.... 

Now having said all that, I still think it is by far the best option we paid for.  Neither my wife, nor I, are laying against canvas.  We both have full length side tables to store our books, torches, personal effects etc.  Our pillows are about 100mm off the canvas at the end.  But best of all, we don't have to climb over each other.  The walkup trailers achieve the same thing but were just too long and too expensive.

x2

We had the same done with our camper.

[xcvator]

Just to tease you, what about this ?
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=21005.0 

[Wunderlust]

Ex goldstream owner - went to a johnnos evolution , few niggles but a good solid camper with extras for the right price.

[crackacoldie]

Got a good Challenge walk-in with 12ft tent for sale......

Just sayin'

[speewa158]

D4D  Do just look at a CT that's easy to back up hill & park then its all done . You wont have to touch it at all 

[Matto]

Something left-of-centre for you to consider:

Cub hardfloor.

We looked at a couple at the recent camping show. Very impressive, and very well priced. Nice and light, Aus-made, small to tow and fast to setup. I was very impressed.

Prob more expensive than what you've been looking at, but might be worth a stretch/looking for a second-handy.

Good luck!
Matto