Now have an A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer

Cruising Granny · Guru

Now have an A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer

Vic · Guru

milo wrote:
nice one ,whats the towing weight of them?

A'van stopped making the A'lite around 1997/98/99, and made the Sportsliner instead (680 kg tare)

A couple of years ago they made these weekenders too which are still current, roughly the same tare as mine, don't know about the laden weight. (see link).

http://www.avan.com.au/products_weekender.html

My A'Lite is 390kg tare and 690kg Aggregate.....

-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 25th of March 2012 12:31:41 AM

Vic · Guru

I now have a 1997 A'Van A'Lite camper trailer. I have decided to keep my Hi Ace Campervan as a runabout and an alternative mode of camping, but also as a tug for the A'Lite when needed. Some pic's below;

milo · Guru

nice one ,whats the towing weight of them?

golivers travels · Guru

Congratulations Vic. Looks a great unit with mod cons. Should be great to tow and set up. Flenda

Vic · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
Ooh, you have a kitchen in the trailer and a bed in the camper. How versatile.
Looks like a comfy unit.
But maybe it should be called a "V" van, or a wedgie.

Bed and kitchen in both, but would probably use the trailer kitchen most, easier to get at things/fridge etc. Have a microwave in the campervan but would have to carry one in the trailer if I want one there.

I think it looks more like an inverted tick than an A, but wedgie will do, lol !

Vic · Guru

golivers travels wrote:
Congratulations Vic. Looks a great unit with mod cons. Should be great to tow and set up. Flenda

Thanks Flenda I hope so!

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

looks like a nice unit Vic and it's got your photo on the side

-- Edited by _wombat_ on Sunday 25th of March 2012 08:22:16 AM

bronnie · Senior Member

Congrats Vic, looks great!!
Bronnie

milo · Guru

hi vic . ive seem the weekenders on the net before, think id prefer an avan, more room
but maybe with the next car .. .dont think mine would tow the avans..

Vic · Guru

milo wrote:
hi vic . ive seem the weekenders on the net before, think id prefer an avan, more room
but maybe with the next car .. .dont think mine would tow the avans..

Yes I think you would probably need to just stick to a tent with what you have now Milo, but have a good think about what your next vehicle will be and what it will match for towing compatability, tying up the manufacturers specifications in line with with both the tow vehicle and the towed item.

Unless of course you go for a campervan....

Vic · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Welcome to the Avan world Vic, they look good. I didn't like the "Weekender" when I was looking around. I have the "Sportliner" as you know, with the reno at the front (previous post) way back in the dungeons by now. Oh! I have decided not to join the Avan club for the time being, just do my own thing at my own pace. Plenty of great people on here to meet and out there as well. Enjoy your new mobile home my GN friend.

Many thanks Doug, Wombat and John (you'll get yours Wombat, don't monkey with me wink ).

The pics I took off the ad on Gumtree, I haven't taken any yet of my own, I can't put the van up under the carport (borrowed my sil and his Xtrail to get it here) but am having a towbar fitted to my Hi Ace soon so can tow it with that. The A'lite are not very common and of course are not made in Australia now, I saw a couple at a National A'Van Club Rally (they had over 300 vans) in Nuriootpa years ago, but there have been none over here in the west according to a friend in the A'Van Club in WA, I think this one must have been bought over east.

I did see one advertised in NSW on one of the dealers sites, I have a pic of one here somewhere I'll try to find it. The Yanks have new models of the A'Lite on their A'Van site but they look completely different although still small.

The A'van Club of Australia is one of the cheapest clubs around, only $10 joining fee plus $20 for first year, then $20 per year after that. Subcription starts on 1st April so don't join before that if you do, can download applciatin on line here (see joining) http://www.avanclubaust.org.au/ Please note the Club is only for A shaped camper trailers, although A'Lites qualify too according to my friend.

The beauty of it all is if you join and are travelling around doing your own thing, you get a list of the rallies in each state for the year and if you happen to see one near where you are anywhere in Australia or State you can just turn up, the club is cheap enough so worth being in it. Their next National rally is in Alice Springs on the 23rd April 2012. I am going to join in April.

Could you pm me your email address please Doug, I don't have it. Here is a pic of the other A'Van A'Lite I saw at Nuri I think and one on a for sale website over east. Mine has had gas struts fitted by a previous owner for lifting instead of the bungie cords.

-- Edited by Vic on Sunday 25th of March 2012 11:27:23 AM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome back to the Avan world Vic, they look good. I didn't like the "Weekender" when I was looking around. I have the "Sportliner" as you know, with the reno at the front (previous post) way back in the dungeons by now. Oh! I have decided not to join the Avan club for the time being, just do my own thing at my own pace. Plenty of great people on here to meet and out there as well. Enjoy your new mobile home my GN friend.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Vic, any chance of posting here or PM larger photos as I can't seem to view them, the 2 middle ones can't see at all, I think you have my email address as well.

yeoeleven · Guru

Looks good Vic, you will have more room for it when I get back on Tuesday and move my van from your property.

Must be congested with his and her vans plus the wedge and my Hi Ace.

It looks new for a 1997 model, must have been well looked after. Like the photo on the side.

John

the rocket · Guru

Hi Vic, nice. can you tell me its weight please. the hi ace and this van look like that would work well. regards. rocket n strop

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Vic and his mate

Beth54 · Guru

Nice wedgie there Vic! biggrin wink

Vic · Guru

the rocket wrote:
Hi Vic, nice. can you tell me its weight please. the hi ace and this van look like that would work well. regards. rocket n strop

Thanks. It was on an ealier post in this thread Rocket;

milo wrote:
nice one ,whats the towing weight of them?

A'van stopped making the A'lite around 1997/98/99, and made the Sportsliner instead (680 kg tare)

A couple of years ago they made these weekenders too which are still current, roughly the same tare as mine, don't know about the laden weight. (see link).

http://www.avan.com.au/products_weekender.html

My A'Lite is 390kg tare and 690kg Aggregate.....

Vic · Guru

Thanks CG for suggesting my camper trailer is more like a wedgie.....

Wedgie will be it's name, sort of like Reggie but with a lisp..... wink biggrin

Cruising Granny · Guru

You're welcome. I hope the cheque will be in the mail for my consultancy fees.
Next Wombat will be charging for his trade marks.

I was staying in a caravan park in Dalby last year after the huge floods, and there was a gathering of A vans in the park for the weekend. It looked quite cute with all 20 A vans lined up, in the rain.
I just had a tent on that trip, on my way home from a job to Moranbah.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Oooh Vic, thats excellent! And wedgie is a great name... I have always referred to great monarchs of the sky,wedge-tail eagles as Wedgies.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Cruising Granny wrote:
You're welcome. I hope the cheque will be in the mail for my consultancy fees.
Next Wombat will be charging for his trade marks.

I was staying in a caravan park in Dalby last year after the huge floods, and there was a gathering of A vans in the park for the weekend. It looked quite cute with all 20 A vans lined up, in the rain.
I just had a tent on that trip, on my way home from a job to Moranbah.

Hey CG, that's a great idea, Vic my invoice is in the post biggrin biggrin

Vic · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:
Oooh Vic, thats excellent! And wedgie is a great name... I have always referred to great monarchs of the sky,wedge-tail eagles as Wedgies.

Thanks Granny, now you've got Wombat all jealous....

I call the wedge tail eagles wedgies too Gerty, although the hauling up of your knickers from the rear like school kids do is also called by that name, ha ha.

Firefly · Guru

Very nice indeed Vic, happy travels in that one mate smile

Vic · Guru

Thanks FF, i'm looking forward to it's first trip, but a tow bar and a first service for it is on the agenda first, it has been sitting in a garage for two years unused, but seems in very good nick.