I had an A'liner (2B floor plan) for 7 years and the times with that were the most enjoyable in our camping experience.
We had an earlier 2000 model and it had the lower walls which meant it had the smaller fridge, around about that time they started to bring them out with higher walls and a larger fridge, can't remember the capacity now, will be on the A'van website somewhere.
They do not have a true off roader, but do/did have ones with higher and stronger chassis and larger tyres (commercial tyres rather than car tyres - talking about the Aliner. I did change my tyres to commercial tyres and still found I had enough room under the guards to accommodate the tyres and up and down movement. I had a standard road model.
I did take mine on a very rough corrugated and stony road near Nimbin that seemed to go on forever, a retaining bolt fell out of one of the overhead (when up) wind out hatches but otherwise survived that trip ok. Later towards the end of the 7 years, the large rear wind out window of mine wore through the aluminium rivets on the three hinges that held it to the body, and I nearly lost the hatch into the Gt Australian Bight when a very strong Northerly wind (blowing out to sea) go under it, is SWMBO had not seen it in time before we turned into the wind it would have ended up over the cliff in the drink...managed to tie it down with coat hanger wire and ropes until I could get it fixed.
A mate took his over the Gibb River Road, knocked the innards out of it, it was still under warranty but the dealer wouldn't honour the warranty as it was not off road. I think he came to some agreement later on. Here is a pic of ours at Gympie caravan park, the park is on a slope and the van appears to be sunk at the rear, but it is not. I was towing with a 2.4 1999 Camry which had no trouble towing it, later I changed this to a Triton 2WD ute as it took more gear....
Try to get one with windout windows both back and front, and two or three roof hatches for flow through ventilation and better still with aircon if you can. I had a Heron 2.2 fitted to mine under the table, later many went with the ducted under bed aircon. Don't believe the guff about the peaked roof acting like a chimney to make it cooler inside, like any van, in hot weather they are hot. Mine had the normal independent suspension, later Avan boosted these with hydraulic shockies.....
-- Edited by D and D on Sunday 7th of July 2013 11:02:03 PM
03_troopy said
03:07 AM Jul 8, 2013
I am currently looking at buying a secondhand Avan Camper trailer (Aliner, Cruiser, Cruisliner), and am after the good oil on what to look for. The budget we are looking at is $20K to $25K. What I need though is something that can handle some offroad camping and would need to get one that has the upgraded chassis/suspension.
The information I am particularly interested in is how these campers handle corrugated and bumpy dirt roads. Does the torsion bar suspension cope with it OK? Have you had anything rattle loose or fall off or sustain any damage in general?
Any other info (suggestions) at all on using these for off road would be appreciated.
Cheers
Troopy
ShortNorth said
05:47 AM Jul 8, 2013
Hello 03 troopy,
Can't help you with off-road mods to an Aliner. Ours has never been off the bitumen.
We bought a new Aliner last year and have been documenting all the mods that we've done to it, to give inspiration to other Aliner owners.
Have a look here :
http://userweb.eftel.com/~campers/
I'm sure you'll find a number of mods that will take your interest.
We rather like our little Aliner, and I'm sure if you make the decision to buy one, you won't regret it.
Regards, Brian
Duh said
11:55 AM Jul 8, 2013
Like Doug said, the height when folded down is a bonus as it can fit into the average carport/garage when down, unlike some caravans etc, however unless the roof is particularly high or has been modified (I saw one that had the middle of the carport roof raised in an A shape) it cannot have the roof raised, although a partial raising can be achieved if you don't mind crawling in and out. One thing I like with having the roof down for travel, is the door cannot open and swing out as the roof slides over the top of the door, better security too if the roof is padlocked at the locking points.
There are different floor plans for beds, either a fixed double (lift up storage) or some floor plans can convert to a double bed (our 2B Aliner did). I have never liked the slide out sofa bed on one model, but some others do. Probably the worst aspect of the doubles is if you are sleeping duo the person on the inside has to get out over the other one during the night or the other person has to get up too, not good on cold nights, lol ! They do have plans with single beds, either permanent or convertible.
I just wanted to mention tyre pressures, Avan stipulate very low tyre pressures (or did) I don't know if this was to stop damage from vibrations, however it was much too low. I put my tyres at a pressure recommended by tyre retailers and had no problems with the original tyres going around Oz and they looked like new when I swapped them for light truck tyres.
On the other hand, a friend of mine kept his at the tyre pressures recommended by Avan and his tyres shredded part way around on his Around Oz adventure. I might sound a bit sceptical, but kept at their tyre pressures may have kept warranty claims down during the warranty period for vibration damage.....
As said on my previous email, the most memorable times during our travels was with the Avan camper. I will just repeat the mod link again I provided earlier, it is a good one; http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ekthomas/mods.html
-- Edited by Duh on Monday 8th of July 2013 12:02:26 PM
Dougwe said
02:41 PM Jul 8, 2013
Howdy Troopy,
I have the 'Sportliner' the baby of the family and just love it. I went with that as I am solo and it suits me, I do admit a bigger bed would be good but not a major problem at all. I also went with the smaller one due to storage when at home base, height is a problem where I need to store it and like it stored in the up position.
With what you say above, make sure you get the upgrade as that puts it higher up from the ground for one but the axle is still reasonably low so be aware of that. I found for 'Alternative Camping' the 12v system was far from suitable and did a full 12v rewire with heavy duty cable and set up portable Solar Power and all works beyond expectation now but at extra cost to me.
I agree with Duh that wind out windows both ends is MUST as I only have wind out at the front and the bed is at the back and it would be good to have an open window above me on warmer nights.
Another thing to be aware of is that things get shaken up a fare bit while travelling so make sure ALL things are safely stored inside.
I know from your previous posts that you would be aware of all of this but just wanted to mention it.
03_troopy said
09:06 PM Jul 8, 2013
Thanks for the info guys, some good information there.
Vic, yes I know what you mean by no offroad model, which is the one dissapointment I can see so far. The chassis/suspension upgrade and larger tyres would be a must have option I think. We currently use a softfloor camper trailer, that is built like the proverbial brick outhouse, to which I have fitted shockies, 10" electric brakes and a set of 16" sunraysia wheels and tyres the same as fitted to my tow vehicle and it will follow just about anyplace the Troopy can go. It will be a bit limiting not to have that capability with the Avan when we want to get off the beaten track. Thanks for the links too, I'll peruse them over the next few days. That is interesting what you say about the tyre pressures and maybe the reason is as you have suggested.
Brian, that is a very comprehensive webpage, and it looks like you have yours set up well to suit your needs. It must be very handy having such a clever wife to be able to make the awnings/annex like that also.
Dougwe, yes the upgraded chassis/suspension would be a minimum I think also, and I did have a look underneath and agree that the axle is still a bit low. The salesman also pointed out the different dome options you mention as well, and I can definitely see the benefits of the larger ones. I'd also do a complete rewire/build for the 12V system with solar too, and probably modify the 240V as well.
Lots more research for me to do by the looks. Cheers Bob
-- Edited by 03_troopy on Monday 8th of July 2013 09:14:06 PM
I had an A'liner (2B floor plan) for 7 years and the times with that were the most enjoyable in our camping experience.
We had an earlier 2000 model and it had the lower walls which meant it had the smaller fridge, around about that time they started to bring them out with higher walls and a larger fridge, can't remember the capacity now, will be on the A'van website somewhere.
They do not have a true off roader, but do/did have ones with higher and stronger chassis and larger tyres (commercial tyres rather than car tyres - talking about the Aliner. I did change my tyres to commercial tyres and still found I had enough room under the guards to accommodate the tyres and up and down movement. I had a standard road model.
I did take mine on a very rough corrugated and stony road near Nimbin that seemed to go on forever, a retaining bolt fell out of one of the overhead (when up) wind out hatches but otherwise survived that trip ok. Later towards the end of the 7 years, the large rear wind out window of mine wore through the aluminium rivets on the three hinges that held it to the body, and I nearly lost the hatch into the Gt Australian Bight when a very strong Northerly wind (blowing out to sea) go under it, is SWMBO had not seen it in time before we turned into the wind it would have ended up over the cliff in the drink...managed to tie it down with coat hanger wire and ropes until I could get it fixed.
A mate took his over the Gibb River Road, knocked the innards out of it, it was still under warranty but the dealer wouldn't honour the warranty as it was not off road. I think he came to some agreement later on. Here is a pic of ours at Gympie caravan park, the park is on a slope and the van appears to be sunk at the rear, but it is not. I was towing with a 2.4 1999 Camry which had no trouble towing it, later I changed this to a Triton 2WD ute as it took more gear....
Try to get one with windout windows both back and front, and two or three roof hatches for flow through ventilation and better still with aircon if you can. I had a Heron 2.2 fitted to mine under the table, later many went with the ducted under bed aircon. Don't believe the guff about the peaked roof acting like a chimney to make it cooler inside, like any van, in hot weather they are hot. Mine had the normal independent suspension, later Avan boosted these with hydraulic shockies.....
See these links too;
http://www.avanclubaust.org.au/
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ekthomas/tips.html
http://www.avan.com.au/products_aliner.html (See floor layouts)
This is also an excellent link;
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ekthomas/mods.html
-- Edited by Duh on Sunday 7th of July 2013 09:18:51 PM
-- Edited by Duh on Sunday 7th of July 2013 09:55:07 PM
http://userweb.eftel.com/~campers/
-- Edited by D and D on Sunday 7th of July 2013 11:02:03 PM
I am currently looking at buying a secondhand Avan Camper trailer (Aliner, Cruiser, Cruisliner), and am after the good oil on what to look for. The budget we are looking at is $20K to $25K. What I need though is something that can handle some offroad camping and would need to get one that has the upgraded chassis/suspension.
The information I am particularly interested in is how these campers handle corrugated and bumpy dirt roads. Does the torsion bar suspension cope with it OK? Have you had anything rattle loose or fall off or sustain any damage in general?
Any other info (suggestions) at all on using these for off road would be appreciated.
Cheers
Troopy
Hello 03 troopy,
Can't help you with off-road mods to an Aliner. Ours has never been off the bitumen.
We bought a new Aliner last year and have been documenting all the mods that we've done to it, to give inspiration to other Aliner owners.
Have a look here :
http://userweb.eftel.com/~campers/
I'm sure you'll find a number of mods that will take your interest.
We rather like our little Aliner, and I'm sure if you make the decision to buy one, you won't regret it.
Regards, Brian
Like Doug said, the height when folded down is a bonus as it can fit into the average carport/garage when down, unlike some caravans etc, however unless the roof is particularly high or has been modified (I saw one that had the middle of the carport roof raised in an A shape) it cannot have the roof raised, although a partial raising can be achieved if you don't mind crawling in and out. One thing I like with having the roof down for travel, is the door cannot open and swing out as the roof slides over the top of the door, better security too if the roof is padlocked at the locking points.
There are different floor plans for beds, either a fixed double (lift up storage) or some floor plans can convert to a double bed (our 2B Aliner did). I have never liked the slide out sofa bed on one model, but some others do. Probably the worst aspect of the doubles is if you are sleeping duo the person on the inside has to get out over the other one during the night or the other person has to get up too, not good on cold nights, lol ! They do have plans with single beds, either permanent or convertible.
I just wanted to mention tyre pressures, Avan stipulate very low tyre pressures (or did) I don't know if this was to stop damage from vibrations, however it was much too low. I put my tyres at a pressure recommended by tyre retailers and had no problems with the original tyres going around Oz and they looked like new when I swapped them for light truck tyres.
On the other hand, a friend of mine kept his at the tyre pressures recommended by Avan and his tyres shredded part way around on his Around Oz adventure. I might sound a bit sceptical, but kept at their tyre pressures may have kept warranty claims down during the warranty period for vibration damage.....
As said on my previous email, the most memorable times during our travels was with the Avan camper. I will just repeat the mod link again I provided earlier, it is a good one; http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ekthomas/mods.html
-- Edited by Duh on Monday 8th of July 2013 12:02:26 PM
I have the 'Sportliner' the baby of the family and just love it. I went with that as I am solo and it suits me, I do admit a bigger bed would be good but not a major problem at all. I also went with the smaller one due to storage when at home base, height is a problem where I need to store it and like it stored in the up position.
With what you say above, make sure you get the upgrade as that puts it higher up from the ground for one but the axle is still reasonably low so be aware of that. I found for 'Alternative Camping' the 12v system was far from suitable and did a full 12v rewire with heavy duty cable and set up portable Solar Power and all works beyond expectation now but at extra cost to me.
I agree with Duh that wind out windows both ends is MUST as I only have wind out at the front and the bed is at the back and it would be good to have an open window above me on warmer nights.
Another thing to be aware of is that things get shaken up a fare bit while travelling so make sure ALL things are safely stored inside.
I know from your previous posts that you would be aware of all of this but just wanted to mention it.
Thanks for the info guys, some good information there.
Vic, yes I know what you mean by no offroad model, which is the one dissapointment I can see so far. The chassis/suspension upgrade and larger tyres would be a must have option I think. We currently use a softfloor camper trailer, that is built like the proverbial brick outhouse, to which I have fitted shockies, 10" electric brakes and a set of 16" sunraysia wheels and tyres the same as fitted to my tow vehicle and it will follow just about anyplace the Troopy can go. It will be a bit limiting not to have that capability with the Avan when we want to get off the beaten track. Thanks for the links too, I'll peruse them over the next few days. That is interesting what you say about the tyre pressures and maybe the reason is as you have suggested.
Brian, that is a very comprehensive webpage, and it looks like you have yours set up well to suit your needs. It must be very handy having such a clever wife to be able to make the awnings/annex like that also.
Dougwe, yes the upgraded chassis/suspension would be a minimum I think also, and I did have a look underneath and agree that the axle is still a bit low. The salesman also pointed out the different dome options you mention as well, and I can definitely see the benefits of the larger ones. I'd also do a complete rewire/build for the 12V system with solar too, and probably modify the 240V as well.
Lots more research for me to do by the looks.
Cheers
Bob
-- Edited by 03_troopy on Monday 8th of July 2013 09:14:06 PM