Just managed to get the pop top up (with a strong mans help) and found that the mattress has to be folded over (has a fold point for this purpose), so that the bed can be lifted up to get access to the storage space (100mm deep but better than nothing) below. Innovative perhaps, but certainly not user friendly.
This is inconvenient, as there is precious little other storage space, access to this space this will be needed regularly.
Is this a 'normal' arrangement? I have never seen it before (but then, I'm new to these slide on/off units). The wife won't be happy when she hears about this, another strange item to deal with on my discovery tour of a Chinese made camper.
Hi Jason,
Without being rude, can I ask how much research did you do when you bought this camper? Did you not see any possible short comings Or was the salesperson speaking in smoke & mirrors? Is it mentioned in the Caravan Council's website?
Did you look at Australian designed & made equivalents? Understandably they would have been dearer but would have given more support.
A friend has a Tryon Camper but it's on the back of a single cab Toyota Landcruiser & they have adequate storage on that vehicle - also have the highest GVM upgrade possible.
They ran into trouble recently when the wife broke her ankle & there wasn't enough room for her in the cab & she couldn't access the camper either. It was "their holiday from hell."
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
The block wood is just a precaution. Not needed. The gas struts work ok.
Yes I did lots of research, but not on the one I purchased (it was not possible to inspect and no brochures and no data sheets, just some photos).
After 5 years of researching dozens (hundreds) of camper options (mostly in the US and Canada), with thoughts of importing one, or building one, or chopping up a new off road caravan and turning it into a slide-on (which by the way, is the most cost effective option), I got sick of the research and one day had a brain fade and threw caution to the wind. There are no Australian made similar sized units. The US (sold out of Queensland) Palomino SS1251 however, is the exception to everything else sold here, in my opinion its best value and good quality. Unfortunately, only the US/Canada make value-for-money good slide-ons, but the price rockets once they land here (the local importers want their cut), and then the units become not value-for-money.
I took a risk, and bought the Chinese made unit sight unseen at a Grays on-line auction in Sydney. I had been watching their models evolve over the past few years via Amazon, and hoped they got it right in this years 2020 model, but not so. They have a lot to learn about quality, design compliances (all the gas and 240V was non compliant, I've fixed it all now).
The slide-on will eventually fit on the rear of my 4x4 (see photo) and I will use the NATO shipping container locking pins to hold it there (once a get a steel frame fabricated to sit the slide-on into).
The Chinese slide-on is built solid, but rough around the edges, nothing that a lot of fiddly tidying up work will not sort out over time.
But some things are still surprising me, like the mattress having to be folded to raise the bed. I just wanted to know if that's something anyone else has come across?
Is your U.N. Unimog geared different (higher) for Highway speeds compared to the ex Aust. Army models...? Just interested to know. Unimogs are tough vehicles.......
And expensive & noisy! We see soldiers wearing ear plugs in the ones they drive around town.Tyres are $xxx, let alone running costs.
They have a few advantages - the tyres jump over normal corregations, can ford deeper creeks, clear the odd rough track easier than other vehicles.
Why you're worried about having 100mm of storage under the bed & having to fold the mattress, beats me. You'd keep your spare sheets, etc under there, wouldn't you?
It's not my choice of vehicle to own & try to park at shopping centres. I'd suggest it's out of range for most other members too!
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
