Camper Trailers

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Camper Trailers

jimricho · Guru

Welcome aboard to the forum John,

What type of camper trailer is it? one like the one in my profile picture ie a wind up metal roof with canvas sides, or a box trailer with a tent on top or one of those flipover types like the Kimberleys or Campomatics etc?

Jim

Cruising Granny · Guru

Welcome Jack. It sounds like you have done your shake-down trips and that this will be a big one.
Nomads travel in all sorts of rigs and set ups, and it's horses for courses.
Jim's little rig suits him to the max and I've seen him have some very happy, comfortable times in it.
Some tow huge caravans, while others tow a box trailer or a pop top van of various sizes.
It's about what works for you. Do you have a picture of your set up?

pauline · Guru

Welcome also from me Jack, listen to CG she knows what she is talking about, pics would be great................

barrie · Guru

Hi Jack
Just spent the last two years travelling in a Tandem Coota camper trailer touring outback Queensland ,NSW,SA and WA and it's been great. Have made many new friends and still meet up with them around the traps .Have now upgraded to a New Age Jewel caravan and about to start all over again.
So enjoy Jack and there is so much to see ,Do and have fun,

Esmeralda · Guru

Hey Jack - welcome from me too

pricey43 · Guru

Hi Jack, Just keep asking the questions as they come to mind. Somebody is sure to know the answer. Welcome to our happy group ( most of the time)

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hi Jack welcome to the forum. I had a cub camper trailer which had a wind up mechanism and fold out beds each end. It had 240v and 12v and a fridge and sink etc. Weighed nothing and was very comfortable to live in. Lots of us travel with dogs so you will find lots of kindred spirits here.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

We towed a camper trailer (Dingo Off Road) for ten years - it went around the country - up the centre, across the top, up the west coast, down the east coast - as well as all over Victoria and most of Qld - loved it - never got wet - bed was so comfortable. I think one trick is to minimise what you take out, especially if only staying one night - we had a single burner gas stove, and it was used all the time - boil the kettle, cook the toast, had a bbq plate for it - best investment we had made, we also had a food cupboard, and a box with plates etc., - these we kept right at the back of the trailer, or in the back of the vehicle, easy to get at.
The more you take out, the more you have to put away before you pack up - that's how we did it - met lots of others doing the same.
Have fun.

Zoomtopz · Guru

G'Day Jack , welcome to GNs . I am going down that road .

getting a camper trailer , we won't be doing 'laps' , or if we do we

will do what we did with 'old inter' , even in a 24' camper-van you can get

'cabin crazy' & that is motel it 1 -2 nights a week . No silly questions

here mate - the only silly q is th one not asked.

Richo

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Welcome to the forum Jack.

Smokeydk · Guru

Welcome.........I had a campertrailer 4 years......box trailer tent over......it was great...but I finally got sick of packing up wet canvas and getting home and drying out everything.........our lifestyle hasnt changed.....when we bought our van....its small....compact just like the CT

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome John, I too have a Ford falcon sedan and a Avan camper. I have done a few small trips around locally, no more than a hour drive and one 4 hours away and I am in the process of planning a 6week trip form Wonthaggi Victoria to Townsville in April/May 2012. I will go up the middle and back via the coast, 5 weeks on the road and 1 week in Townsville. So far all has gone well I have made a change inside the camper, see previous posts. have fun and enjoy.

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Hi Jim,

It's a tent over box trailer type. It's a semi off road type, so basically where the falcon can go the trailer can too. Without the awning I can set up in under 10 mins. With the awning, shower tent and all gear set up takes 20mins or so. Have been in rain a couple of times and so far no leaks and everything nice and dry.

Cheers,

Jack

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Hi Jim,

It's a tent over box trailer type. It's a semi off road type, so basically where the falcon can go the trailer can too. Without the awning I can set up in under 10 mins. With the awning, shower tent and all gear set up takes 20mins or so. Have been in rain a couple of times and so far no leaks and everything nice and dry.

Cheers,

Jack

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your reply.

It's a tent over box trailer type. It's a semi off road so basically, where the falcon can go the trailer can too. It takes under 10 mins to set up without the awning. With the awning, shower tent and all the gear for a longer stay takes about 20 mins or so.

Have been in the rain a couple of times and so far no leaks and all nice and dry.

Cheers,

Jack

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your reply. It's a tent over box trailer type. It's a semi off road camper so basically, where the falcon can go the trailer can too. Basic set up for overnight takes less than 10 mins and full camp set up with awning, shower tent etc. takes about 20 mins or so.

Been in the rain a couple of times and so far no leaks and all nice and dry.

Cheers,

Jack

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Sorry for all the replies. Getting the hang of how to post. Thought the first few didn't take.

Jack

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Hi there,

This is a photo (assuming I've posted it correctly) of my set up at Norval Park which is on the coast just north of Bundaberg.

I live in Gin Gin so it's less than an hour away for me.

highwayrunner12 · Member

Hi Jack i think there great i got one like yours got 120w solor 2 deep cycle batt 12v jet water pump gas hot water and shower go any where along the beach or a dry gully love it

milo · Guru

looks like a good set up Jack, im doing research at the moment ,there is so much to choose from..

Jack Mac · Senior Member

I've just bought a 46L fridge, 80w solar panel (foldup) and 105ah battery (connected to car with anderson plug) plus some plug in LED lights. Yet to use them in anger but ran the fridge at home simulating as near as possible camp temps and it ran for 4 days on battery and solar and the battery was still basically full at the end. Basic (very) calculation it seems to draw about 1.1 amps or so per hour overall.

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Many thanks for all your replies. It seems there are many like minded people out there enjoying themselves who like me are on a limited income. I live in Gin Gin Qld. I'm just off the Bruce Hwy so if you're passing thru there's always a cup of tea and hot shower unless I'm off travelling.

Smokeydk · Guru

Mine was a rear over...but had a massive annex.18ft x 9ft

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Hi Smokey,
Mine is the smaller annexe. I figured 18x9 was a bit of overkill for just me. Plus easier to set up on my own.

jimricho · Guru

I used a similar camper trailer for a number of years and travelled thousands of kilometres with it including Cape York, Kimberley, Tanami Road, Plenty Highway etc.

One handy hint is carry a tarp large enough go over the top in wet or hot weather. If you set the tarp a little above the top of the canvas with 4 tent poles it allows some air to go between the two to keep the tent a little cooler. Keeping the rain off the roof is a big advantage even if the proofing and stitching are sound.

I did find that setting the camper trailer up solo just for one night a bit of a pain and would sometimes just check into a motel after a long day's travelling and get an early start next day.

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 25th of November 2011 06:12:22 AM

PS: Another hint from looking at the photo....use compression type springs, available at any camping store, to attach your tent ropes to the pegs, this will enable you to adjust and set the tension on the ropes.

Also set the poles vertically not on a lean as you have. This will make them more stable and less likely to fall out in windy conditions.

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 25th of November 2011 06:34:45 AM

saab and jen · Newbie

good advice re tarp for hot and wet. The van is in excellent condition , the seller was meticulous re maintenance and fittings. thanks again, jen and saab

jimricho · Guru

Jack Mac wrote:
I've just bought a 46L fridge, 80w solar panel (foldup) and 105ah battery (connected to car with anderson plug) plus some plug in LED lights. Yet to use them in anger but ran the fridge at home simulating as near as possible camp temps and it ran for 4 days on battery and solar and the battery was still basically full at the end. Basic (very) calculation it seems to draw about 1.1 amps or so per hour overall.

That consumption would be about right for normal conditions but in very hot conditions the drawdown on the battery would be significantly higher.

My fridge setup that I used when I had the tent trailer was to have it mounted in the car (Pajero) and powered from an auxiliary battery installed in the vehicle. I still use this set up with my current rig. An hour's running of the car (driving or idling) will give me a couple of extra days.

A 4WD type starting battery (marine or truck battery better still) is actually better for this setup than a deep cycle provided it has a reasonable amphour capacity as it will recharge more quickly from the alternator than a deep cycle (I've tested it). I use an Optima Red Top. I have a Ctek 7 amp charger connected to the circuit that tops up the battery and powers the fridge when power is available.

I also have a 100 ah AGM installed in the "van" that I use for lights, TV etc when not on a powered site. I recharge this from the mains power when available with a Xantrex 10 amp "smart" charger. I recently purchased a 80 watt solar panel to supplement the charger when not on power.

Another advantage of having the fridge installed in the vehicle is the contents get a much smoother ride, especially over corrugated roads.

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 25th of November 2011 06:37:13 AM

beachball57 · Senior Member

hi mate yeh we're doing the same looking at a camper trailer,, had one that was my trailer than camper but that didn't work for us so turned it into a trailer so am now looking for a camper trailer to buy next year sometime as we won't be going anywhere before then,, thought of a small caravan but i do a bit of land sailing in places that are off road so that's why we are going for a camper trailer,, but like everyone on here has said it's up to the person as to what they want to do,, i spend my working week behind the wheel of a truck so driving around ozz full time isn't for me at the moment be a few weeks away each year and a weekend here and there does the trick at the moment

Cruising Granny · Guru

Hello and welcome Highway Runner. Your rig looks ready for anything. I hope you enjoy your stay on Grey Nomads.