Looking to switch to a hard top camper - options.

[Windy Hill]

Hi All
Long time lurker but not poster here.  We have been very happy owners of an Adventure Grand Tourer for the last five years.  But I am struggling with bad hips and knees and so we are looking to change to something easier and quicker to setup.  Means we will sadly have to sell the Adventure trailer.
Main things we are looking for:
-Innerspring mattress
-Bed stays made up
-Quick setup for overnight stops.
-No canvas over bed.

Have been looking at various campers for sale - used and new.  What I have found so far.
-Loved the look of the Conqueror but looks like the bed has to be made up each time.
-Ditto Kavango
-New Rhinomax 10ft hybrid - no information on this yet - but looks like what we are interested in.
-Exodus 11 - seems to tick all the boxes, but I just cant get over the price.
-Kelly campers, looks ungainly but would like to check build quality etc in the flesh.  Design is what we are looking for.
- None of them seem to have as good a kitchen setup as our current Adventure trailer.

Keeping in mind this is in early stages and I haven't yet had the chance to actually inspect yet, so am going off photos and web sites.  I would welcome anyone's input who has experience with this dilemma.  We still want a camper, not a small pop-top caravan as some of the cross=overs seem to be.
Cheers
Windy

[Bird]

http://www.trakmaster.com.au/

[gronk]

The Exodus Campers are pretty much a pop top "van".

And the other ones you mentioned are blurring the lines between camper and van...hence why they call them hybrids !!

Have you looked at Lifestyle ? Same again, a hybrid.

T Van ??  Once you go from canvas to a hard top/sides you're looking at $40,000 +..

[Bird]

T Van ??  Once you go from canvas to a hard top/sides you're looking at $40,000 +..

yea but the exodus is beyond stupid at 82k..  let alone 40... LOL!

and I don't think any of them you'll ever recoup anything close to your coin back.

[Windy Hill]

yea but the exodus is beyond stupid at 82k..  let alone 40... LOL!

and I don't think any of them you'll ever recoup anything close to your coin back.

I agree, some of the high end prices seem ridiculous but looking at the second hand market, they seem to hold their value well.  Bu mainly just trying to work out what we can get for the fast setup without all the bells and whistles inside, some of them even have TVs!! That is not a camper. 
I can see this will be a long process.  Looks like we should go to a camping show to see a lot of options at once.  Which one would you reccomend?
Cheers
Windy

[Julian Kaye]

Check out the Lifestyle Reconn and Breakaway. They sound like what you are looking for. Good value too.

[gronk]

  Looks like we should go to a camping show to see a lot of options at once.  Which one would you reccomend?
Cheers
Windy

Where do you live ??

[wedwards]

What do you mean by no canvas over the bed?  At some point theres going to be the tent above you, no?

[gronk]

What do you mean by no canvas over the bed?  At some point theres going to be the tent above you, no?

Uumm, think of a caravan !!   

[Bird]

Uumm, think of a caravan !!   

That's why I suggested Trackmaster.. but they are in the exodus range new... and rocking horse Shit second hand...

[Redcherokee]

Vista RV. Only major downside is you need to sort of roll the mattress out of the way if want to use the inside seating.

Otherwise it meets your requirements.

[The punter]

Lifestyle
AOR
Track
Vista
Rhinomax

[nab]

How offroad are you going? What about a Jayco penguin, just wind up and you are done!!!

http://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/buy/jayco/penguin

[Alan Loy]

How offroad are you going? What about a Jayco penguin, just wind up and you are done!!!

http://www.caravancampingsales.com.au/buy/jayco/penguin

If you like that style there is also the Goldstream Crown http://www.goldstreamrv.com.au/our-range/campers/crown-series.html

[The punter]

How offroad are you going? What about a Jayco penguin, just wind up and you are done!!!

Unless it's raining. We almost got sold on the idea from the 5 min demo at the shows, but further research steered us away into hybrid territory becase:

- In rain you need to set up bed flys
- Not a lot of storage, which meant double handling items out of the camper before setup
- Questionable "real" offroad capability
- Bag awnings are a PITA, and it you need to put one up after initial setup, it's a re-setup all over
- Commentary on here about build quality

[gronk]

This debate will always be about ....money.

There are many hybrids out there these days, starting from approx 40K, but how much are you willing to part with ?  Where do you intend to take it ?

[feisty]

If you like that style there is also the Goldstream Crown http://www.goldstreamrv.com.au/our-range/campers/crown-series.html

Penguins have no bed flies (? - well it is plural).  A single double bed is in the camper. I believe mandrake has one. They would be perfect I'd they had a slide out kitchen and no cooking inside IMO.

Unless it's raining. We almost got sold on the idea from the 5 min demo at the shows, but further research steered us away into hybrid territory becase:

- In rain you need to set up bed flys
- Not a lot of storage, which meant double handling items out of the camper before setup
- Questionable "real" offroad capability
- Bag awnings are a PITA, and it you need to put one up after initial setup, it's a re-setup all over
- Commentary on here about build quality

[nab]

As Feisty said the Penguin has no beds to slide out, just wind up and you're done.

The penguin had some good storage under the bed too unlike the other models in the range.

You only forget to put the awning up once, speaking from experience!!!!! You can get a Fiamma or similar awning to eliminate the bag awning issues.

As you say, quality is hit and miss. Maybe Goldstream do a similar model, they are supposedly much better quality.

Definitely not a heavy duty off road machine, can be modifies to suit but would be much easier to buy a purpose built machine.

[Windy Hill]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I can see there are some fantastic units  but the ones that can leave the bed made up are very rare, it seems.  And we need full off-road.  Pioneer looks to be introducing a smaller hybrid that looks interesting but have not been able to get any more information on it.
At the moment I am also researching a private import from South Africa.  Looks like we can buy new over there therefore customise the interior layout and still come out in front compared to buying here. 
Cheers
Windy

[gronk]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I can see there are some fantastic units  but the ones that can leave the bed made up are very rare, it

I can't think of any that you can't leave the bed made up ?

[Hewy54]

I can't think of any that you can't leave the bed made up ?

Might well be wrong but don't you have to fold the bed back on the AT 10/11.
On the Vista if you want the table and seats you have to fold the bed back.
Not sure if these are considered to be leaving the bed made up.

[The punter]

Might well be wrong but don't you have to fold the bed back on the AT 10/11.
On the Vista if you want the table and seats you have to fold the bed back.
Not sure if these are considered to be leaving the bed made up.

The bed in our reconn stays made up, just have to chuck the pillows on and snooze

[feisty]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I can see there are some fantastic units  but the ones that can leave the bed made up are very rare, it seems.  And we need full off-road.  Pioneer looks to be introducing a smaller hybrid that looks interesting but have not been able to get any more information on it.
At the moment I am also researching a private import from South Africa.  Looks like we can buy new over there therefore customise the interior layout and still come out in front compared to buying here. 
Cheers
Windy

Not sure where you are but I was chatting to the Pioneer national sales manager recently who said they should have one on display at their dandenong factory early February.

[tk421]

Lifestyle Breakaway?

http://www.lifestylecampertrailers.com.au/model/breakaway/

[Roo]

Bolwell edge rv.
http://bolwellrv.com.au/edge-tough-luxury-touring-off-road-caravan/