Caravan world - Edition 563 by Adventures Group

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t s e h g u To

ISSUE 563 | ON SALE MAY 4, 2017 $9.95 (inc GST)

AL-KO’S

TOW TEST HIGH COUNTRY HIJINKS!

MAKING HISTORY

Par t 1

JAYCO’S FIRS T-E VER OFFROA DER

Hema’s

ULTIMATE OFFROAD RIG

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contents AL-KO TOUGHEST TOW TEST

Silverton, NSW

Part One: The on-roaders

Discovery Bay Coastal Park, SA

REGULARS

AL-KO’s real-world torture test

Victoria’s High Country The best it has to offer

Tested: New Age Wallaby 18ER

On-road van proves its mettle

Hema’s Map Patrol rig

The ultimate LC76. Can we keep it?

Product test: AL-KO ESC

Can ESC handle the worst of the High Country?

Product test: Clearview mirrors

Safety first

The history of AL-KO

From humble beginnings...

We test Jayco’s first-ever offroader

102

Luxury meets technology

112

A teardrop with a wild difference

Option RV Tornado Family Equippe 122 Bring the kids along for the ride!

Auto-Trail Delaware

Editorial

132

British four-berth motorhome

Up Front Postbag Tech Talk Tow Test

Events

190 208

What’s happening around Oz?

Getaway Gear

210

New products and accessories

COLUMNS Street Talk

192

24 hours in Tulsa

Roothy’s Shed

194

Talkin’ turbos

On the Wallaby

On the Trails

150 158

Behind-the-scenes with a Best Aussie Vans debutant

198

TOUGHEST TOW TEST Hits the High County!

200

New outlook

202

Keeping your cool

Caravan Cook

204

Tacos and nachos

Switch Bait

TRAVEL

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142

Isuzu MU-X LS-U

On the road again

Is this goodbye to the monster trucks?

Drum brake service and repair

The rise of the SUV

Billion-star accommodation

Have your say

Picture Perfect

Warrumbungle NP, NSW

RV news from around the country

SPECIAL FEATURES Q&A: Kokoda Caravans

The people you meet

Real people, real rigs

Jayco Adventurer

Gidget Brumby Wild

182

A marine encounter

Readers’ Rigs

RV TESTS Zone RV Z-21.6 Off-Road

174

Outback Hollywood

206

Plastic fantastic

166

WIN! 124

92 142

The caravan you want is now easier to find

A SARACEN ULTRA HITCH LOCK

SEE PAGE 190

166 tradervs.com.au

First Words With Laura Gray

EDITORIAL SENIOR EDITOR Laura Gray laura@adventuresgroup.com.au DEPUTY EDITOR Rachael Doherty STAff jOURNALIST Peter Quilty fIELD EDITOR Malcolm Street, Emma Ryan DESIgNERS Nicholas Ramsamy, Claudia Moreira COLUMNISTS John Rooth, Lionel Mussell, Anita Pavey, Lynn Bain, John Willis CONTRIBUTORS Philip Lord, Michael Borg, Michael Browning, Colin Kerr, Claudia Bouma, Dan Everett, EDITORIAL AND NEwS PO Box 4, Oakleigh, ViC 3166 submissions@adventuresgroup.com.au

PHOTOgRAPHY

CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Duff, Ellen Dewar, Jack Murphy, Matt Fehlberg, Stuart Grant, Nathan Jacobs

DIgITAL

PRODUCT OwNER Will Dolman will@adventuresgroup.com.au DIgITAL CONTENT MANAgERS Katrina Minchenko katrina@adventuresgroup.com.au Leah Glynn leah@adventuresgroup.com.au

MARkETINg

marketing@adventuresgroup.com.au PARTNER MARkETINg MANAgER Lauren Grigg 0436 407 493 lauren@adventuresgroup.com.au

ADVERTISINg ENQUIRIES

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ADVERTISINg TERMS & CONDITIONS

www.adventuresgroup.com.au Caravan World is printed in Australia. We are proudly Australian-owned and members of a number of industry bodies which are working to

Total audited sales: 12,809 ABC audit June 2016

Caravan World is published by Adventures Group Holdings. ACN: 155 672 192 ABN: 29 155 672 192 All material in Caravan World is protected by the Commonwealth Copyright Act, 1968. No material may be reproduced without written consent. *Recommended maximum retail price. Distributed by Gordon & Gotch. Printed by PMP, 31-35 Heathcote Road, Moorebank, NSW. iSSN 2205-0620

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The people you meet As most caravanners will attest, one of the best and most enjoyable parts of the vanning lifestyle is the people you meet along the way. Sure, that breathtaking view over the Great Australian Bight may remain etched in your memory for a while, but it’s the characters you come across that can really make a road trip memorable. Country pubs, outback hotels, caravan parks, bush camps, the corner store – they’re all places you’re likely to come across an interesting character or two on your travels. But the middle of the Nullarbor? Literally, and geographically, almost halfway across Australia? I can’t say I expected to meet anyone out here during a long day of driving. But then CW photographer Steve and videographer Matt, standing on the side of the road shooting our Avida Birdsville motorhome, caught the attention of two country cops cruising past. And after (jokingly) trying to scare the pants off the guys, the two policemen pulled up for a chat. It turned out they were from the nearby community of Yalata – one was a long-termer and one had only been in the region for only a couple of weeks. It was fascinating hearing about the area from these guys, and they enjoyed hearing all about our cross-country

road trip from Melbourne to Perth. It was a welcome break from long days on the road for all of us! On the same trip, we kept crossing paths with a fellow on a trike motorcycle. Everytime we stopped for photos (or to talk to policemen), he would overtake us; then the next time he stopped for a pie or a coke, we would overtake him. We ﬁnally pulled up next to him for obligatory photos at one of the iconic Nullarbor road signs and learned he was travelling around the country, or as much of it as he could in a few months, carrying all his camping gear on the back of his trike. The day we met him, he was planning to have a night of ‘luxury’ in a real bed at the Balladonia Roadhouse, en-route to Perth where his wife was ﬂying in to meet him. The next quirky character had a fascinating story to share after travelling most of the way around the world. Adrienne, a marine biologist from the Netherlands, somehow found her way to the western edge of the Nullarbor Plain and is now the manager of the Fraser Range Caravan Park. While that trip was fantastic for many reasons, the people we met along the way really made it memorable for me (for more on our Cross-Country Epic, grab next month’s issue of CW, on sale June 1).

Note to readers Caravan World does not solicit, nor would it accept, payment for editorial commentary within its pages. All reviews are completely independent and reflect the opinion of the individual tester.

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NEARLY 1000 GATHER FOR CMCA RALLY For many, the RV lifestyle is not only about exploring Australia, but also about the people you meet along the way. One of the ways in which the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) members meet likeminded people is by attending club events, speciﬁcally the club’s annual rallies. Back in March, RVs of all shapes and sizes gathered together in celebration of the club’s 31st Anniversary Rally in Pontville, Tas. Held from March 13-19, the rally attracted 586 vehicles and 984 members, with 240 volunteers putting in plenty of long hours to pull the event off. For those in attendance, the weeklong event was an enjoyable experience with plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. The weather was perfect – warm days and cool nights and mornings helped attendees celebrate the wonderful venue. Although this was one of the smallest anniversary rallies in a long time, the consensus was that it was also very friendly and relaxed. The rally slogan was ‘common-sense, courtesy and consideration’, and rally managers Pete

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and Trish Gallagher said they felt that focus made a huge difference.

JAM-PACKED WITH ACTIVITY

With an exciting rally program planned for the week, members spent their time attending special interest events, information seminars, local tours, as well as participating in a variety of arts and crafts. The entertainment kicked off with magician and stand-up comedian Bodane Hatton, and was exactly what was needed to get the week off to a great start – there was plenty of laughter among the captivated audience. This set the standard for the week, with each act well received. The fantastic thing about a rally is that there is always something for everyone and while the ever-popular disc bowls day got off to a wet start, by lunch time the sun had broken through and the afternoon was perfect. The competition was the largest ever held at an anniversary rally, with 143 teams in total. And the fun did not end when the sun went down of an evening. Each afternoon, the common areas cleared as everyone

Clockwise from top: The rally attracted all styles of RVs; All tastes were catered for onsite; The CMCA Club Shop was a busy place; Nearly 600 RVs gathered; A true RV Friendly town; Disc bowls is always popular; The CMCA was welcomed into Pontville, Tas.

Up Front

gathered around their RVs for happy hour, catching up on the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events and sharing knowledge and tips on all things RV. Then it was off to indulge in the eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertainment, provided by local musicians and artists. While rallies are great for both the club and its members, they are also a fantastic way to give back to the community. Many members visited local shops and businesses in both Pontville and surrounding areas, contributing greatly to the local economy. At the end of a great week, the last motorhome pulled out of the Pontville Rally site and the tiny Tasmanian town returned to its usual quiet pace of life. Many attendees vowed to meet up again at the 32nd National Rally in Bundaberg, Queensland, this coming October.

The caravan you want is now easier to find

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BIG4 LAUNCHES CHINESE WEBSITE TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL VISITORS In a bid to attract a portion of the 1.2 million Chinese visitors travelling to Australia, BIG4 Holiday Parks has launched a Chinese version of its website. In what is believed to be an Australian ﬁrst for a holiday park group, BIG4 Holiday Parks registered www.BIG4.cn to help attract more Chinese visitors with the lure of authentic Australian self-drive holiday experiences. The number of Chinese travellers choosing to caravan or camp grew by an

average of 22 per cent per year between 2013 and 2016, according to research by Tourism Research Australia. “At this stage, our objective is not to promote individual parks, but rather to create greater awareness of the holiday park sector as a whole in China, and educate visitors about the tremendous outdoor experiences Australia offers,” BIG4 chief executive Steven Wright said. “We’re welcoming more and more Chinese visitors to our parks in

destinations across the country, so we wanted to better equip them to make the most of their stay here.” Mr Wright said it was important to have a Chinese site in order to gain traction through Chinese search engines. The Chinese website has content from the main BIG4 website translated into Chinese on subjects such as camping and caravanning, sample itineraries, and details on renting motorhomes.

coupling for quick and easy hitching. The coupling is available in 3500kg ﬁxed electric conﬁguration and a 2000kg mechanical override version will be available shortly. Both versions are available on new caravans and campers,

and can also be retroﬁtted to older RVs. You can read all about how the new AL-KO Off-Road Ball Coupling performed in real-world offroad tests in Part Two of the Toughest Tow Test in the next issue of Caravan World, on sale June 1.

AL-KO LAUNCHES NEW OFFROAD BALL COUPLING AL-KO has just unveiled a new offroad coupling for offroad caravans and camper trailers. The new and improved, low-proﬁle ALKO Off-Road Coupling was engineered by AL-KO in Australia, based on feedback from manufacturers and owners about the existing offroad ball coupling. It is designed for extreme offroad adventure and is suitable for extreme vertical and horizontal articulation. It utilises a standard 50mm ball

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Up Front

ACC PUTS FREE CAMPING ON THE RADAR IN WARIALDA The communities of Warialda and Bingara, in Gwydir Shire, Qld, will start investigating sites for free or budget camping within the towns, following a series of workshops held by the Australian Caravan Club (ACC). The club held RV industry workshops in April, with the aim of helping the communities understand the beneﬁts RVers could bring, and how they could attract more of them. “Our RV industry workshops are aimed at assisting local communities to understand what many RVers may be looking for when visiting and staying in a region, whether for a short or long term stay, and what their requirements and needs might be,” ACC chairman Craig Humphrey said. ACC president Tom Smith, who presented at the workshops, said the results were inspiring. “Community representatives present engaged in constructive discussions following the presentation and started

immediately working together to identify potential sites that could accommodate freedom camping or budget camping to entice RVers to stay in the town and support local businesses,” Mr Smith said. Warialda currently has a rest area about a kilometre from town which allows a 24-hour stay, plus a caravan park in town. “Plans are now afoot to improve another rest area near town and to develop longer term campsites on the banks of the creek where RVers might want to camp and stay

for longer periods,” Mr Smith said. While there is plenty of groundwork and feasibility studies to be done, the response was positive. Bingara businesses reported a positive response from RVers staying at a popular free camp along the Gwydir River. The ACC will be holding its 2017 National Muster at Bingara in October 2017. Any other towns or communities interested in hosting an ACC RV Industry Workshops should contact the ACC.

SAVE 50 PER CENT ON THREE NEW BRANCHES FOR CARAVAN CLUB DOMETIC WARRANTY PACKAGE Dometic is offering caravanners 50 per cent off the normal price of its Dometic Care ‘extended warranty’ on selected RV products. Dometic announced a new, standard three-year warranty on products earlier this year, with the option to extend it to up to ﬁve years with the Dometic Care package. Dometic Care will be 50 per cent off until June 30, 2017 on selected products and is available as an additional one, two or three year warranty period. For the full list of products included in the promotion, contact Dometic on 1800 21 21 21 or www.dometic.com.au

The caravan you want is now easier to find

The Australian Caravan Club (ACC) added three new branches to its nationwide network in March, bringing the total number of branches around Australia to 45. The Drovers branch formed as an offshoot of the Victorian Bushrangers branch for members who enjoy more offthe-grid bush camping, while a second Victorian branch, the Great Ocean Roadsters, was also created. “The idea of bush camping became so popular that the [Bushrangers] branch kept growing and ﬁnding suitable bush camp venues capable of taking the increasing number of RVs for branch musters became more and more restrictive with that growth,” ACC chairman Craig Humphrey said. “So it was agreed by the members to split the branch into two and with that, the Drovers was formed.” Mr Humphrey paid special thanks to the members of both branches for their work during the transition. “The formation of the Great Ocean Roadsters…is the result of the tremendous efforts of club ofﬁcials Terry Hawkins, Dennis Carstairs, and Lionel Mussell after a successful media campaign to which they all contributed,” Mr

Humphrey continued. “Branch driver Terry approached me late last year about starting up an ACC branch for RVers living in the Warnambool region. Our Great Ocean Roadsters have now held their inaugural meeting and its members are looking forward to their first official muster at Beaufort from May 19-21.” The ACC also approved the formation of the sixth Western Australian branch – the South West Wanderers. “Western Australia continues to see our club’s fastest growth in membership and, since its formation, the branch has continued to grow with an influx of new members,” Mr Humphrey said. The South West Wanderers is the first branch to be established outside the Perth metropo area and will service members living in Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, Augusta and surrounding districts. The ACC welcomes owners of caravans, pop-tops, motorhomes, campervans, slideon campers, camper-trailers, and fifth wheelers. Anyone interested in joining a branch of the ACC should contact 1800 734 493 or communications@australiancaravanclub. com.au tradervs.com.au

MARYBOROUGH NAMED RV FRIENDLY TOWN

“This town is different because of the friendliness of the people and the lengths the plans they have made to roll out the welcome mat.” The campaign to have the colourful city on the banks of the Mary River declared RV Friendly took several years, with Richard directly involved in long negotiations. “Maryborough was high on our list of desirable sites. It ticks all the boxes, is in a great spot geographically, caters for all RV needs and has a fascinating range of attractions and story trails.” Twenty-two free 48-hour parks, most suitable for medium self-contained RVs, have been created in Alan and June Brown Car Park in the CBD. Another 50 spaces, at $10 a night for up to seven nights with room for big rigs, are in the Doon Villa RV Park with access to courtesy buses. Campaign committee leader Nan Ott said RV owners in Maryborough had led the push for RVFT status. “It’s a delightful little city with so many quaint and heritage attractions to explore. We have everything to service RV travellers and their vehicles, friendly people, the only RV Friendly regional theatre in Australia with international class shows, and lots of bakeries, coffee shops, interesting restaurants, all medical and personal services and a comprehensive range of light industry skills for RV vehicles.”

An enthusiastic crowd gathered at Maryborough’s City Hall to see the RV Friendly Town sign presented. Campervan and Motorhome Club of

Australia (CMCA) representative Richard Mainey said he had never seen any community in Australia put so much effort into creating an RV friendly centre.

BLAZE-AID DUNEDOO LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

FREE CAMPING GUIDE FOR VICTORIA

Blaze Aid, which is a volunteer organisation that works with people in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods, is looking for volunteers in the Dunedoo area, to help the district recover from a devastating fire which tore through the region in February. On February 10-11, fire swept through the area bordered by Leadville (near Dunedoo), Coolah and Cassilis, razing 35 homes, as well as farmland, sheds, farm machinery, cattle, sheep and fences. Blaze Aid Dunedoo is looking for more volunteers to help rebuild fences for the farmers, do routine maintenance and help in the kitchen feeding volunteers. The rebuild is expected to take about six months. For more information, or to volunteer, visit www.blazeaid.com or contact Laurie Dawson on 0418 349 317.

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Campers and self-drive holidaymakers can browse hundreds of Victorian commercial-operated camping destinations in a free guide published by the peak accommodation association, VicParks. Available both digitally and in a printed format, the 2017 Victorian Caravan and Camping Holiday Guide organises featured parks and campgrounds by region, and includes contact details of all information centres up front. The visual guide provides a photo of each listing with icons identifying available facilities – including rig suitability, boating facilities, and conveniences such as wi-ﬁ – plus starting prices to budget your trip. A free hard copy version of the 2017 Victorian Caravan and Camping Holiday Guide is available by calling (03) 9372 3420 or emailing admin@vicparks.com. au, alternatively you visit www.vicparks. com.au and download it online.

Up Front

NSW CAMPGROUND HOSTS WANTED

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The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is looking for volunteers to join its Campground Host Program. The benefit of being a campground hosts is meeting new people, discovering the NSW National Parks volunteer benefits including free entry to NSW parks, and no camping fees. There may also be opportunities to visit selected sites managed by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Volunteering programs are generally run during Christmas and the Easter school holidays, However, the program is likely to be extended due to the success and demand of campground hosting. Campground hosting requires attendance at an initial training session and is generally held over two days. Training includes a full description of the role and the functions carried out by the host. Duties can include becoming familiar with the site, being available to visitors

CARAVAN CITY SALES 42 Bruxner Highway South Lismore NSW 2480 (02) 6621 6670

Design by CDMedia_OLYMPIC_CW544

CARLON CARAVANS 105 -107 Princes Highway Unanderra NSW 2526 (02) 4272 6000

KEITH GILL CARAVANS 1 Ebert Street Griffith NSW 2680 (02) 6964 1111

for a couple of hours in the morning and afternoon, promoting Discovery Walks, directing and/or assisting campers with their sites, and communicating with the rangers and staff. Campground hosts must hold a senior

SPRINGVALE CARAVANS 723-731 Springvale Road Keysborough VIC 3173 (03) 9798 3858

HERVEY BAY CARAVANS 41 Main Street Pialba QLD 4655 (07) 4128 1777

ﬁ rst aid qualiﬁcation and a Working with Children clearance (free for volunteers). For more information, visit www. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/campgroundhosts

GATEWAY CARAVANS 112 Bellarine Highway Newcomb VIC 3219 (03) 5248 7006

IPSWICH LIFESTYLE CENTRE 20 Brisbane Road Bundanba QLD 4304 (07) 3282 0411

CARAVANS

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AL-KO’s Toughest Tow Test New Age Wallaby Jayco Adventurer, and more!

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Write to: Caravan World Postbag, PO Box 4, Oakleigh, Victoria 3166; or email: submissions@adventuresgroup.com.au Please include your full address (not for publication). Letters chosen will be edited for publication and may be shortened.

WAVES OF TIME

Anita Pavey’s article ‘To wave or not’ (CW562, Apr ’17) reminded me of our ﬁrst trip around Australia in 1981 with my wife and two children (a 2-and-ahalf year old and a four-year-old) . We had a Corona station wagon towing a Cub Drifter (similar to the Allsops). We waved and received waves from everyone in every state and territory until coming back to our own state (NSW) – no waves! A few years later, I saw a novel idea on the waving front – it was a hand on a suction cap attached to the windscreen, and with the vehicle movement, it provided constant hand waves. On the subject of sonic animal guards (CW562, Apr ’17), I have used them since their inception and I believe they do work for kangaroos, as they seem to bound away from the road on my approach. I did have one unfortunate occasion though when travelling towards Fowlers Bay in South Australia. We were slowing passing through on a gazetted road on a station property. The owner’s ute with a load of station dogs was waiting for us to pass when one of his dogs jumped off the ute and ran straight under the back wheels of my vehicle; unfortunately, it had to be put down. I’m sure it was the high pitched noise of the sonic guard which upset the dog for it to attack our vehicle.

Congratulations to Warwick Thomson whose submission has been selected as this month’s CW Postbag ‘Letter of the Month’ He wins an RV Inline Water Filter from B.E.S.T. Water Filters, valued at $110. With a B.E.S.T. (Bacteria Elimination Silver

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As a new caravan owner (a Golf Savannah 499), I am really enjoying the travel articles in your informative magazine - keep up the good work. Warwick Thomson Gladesville, NSW

BIG AND BOXY

I have been a subscriber to your excellent magazine for quite a few years and have noticed a trend recently in many issues with the large checkerplate boxes some manufacturers are ﬁtting to the front of their new vans. What are they thinking? I would like to express my dislike of this practice as it looks agricultural, spoiling the look of what is probably a very good van. Come on people, I am sure you can put your thinking caps on and design a much more aerodynamic front to your vans incorporating storage with the added advantage of better tow tug fuel consumption. I also suspect these boxes may encourage people to load up the front, thus exceeding the maximum allowable ball weights of their vehicle. Alan Hardman Legana, Tas

SPACE-SAVER SAFETY

Thank you for the informative tow test of

Treatment) water filter, you can ensure you have clean, safe water – wherever the road may take you. The filter means you can safely draw water from town, tank, creek or bore water sources to fill your caravan’s tanks, and the chemicals and sediment will be removed and the bacteria destroyed.

the VW Touareg in the April 2017 issue of CW (CW562). The Touareg is certainly a worthy tow vehicle which I considered recently when upgrading my vehicle. The points which lost it for me were reliability, service network around Australia but, most notably, that ridiculous space-saver spare wheel. Why vendors of potential tow vehicle persist with this unacceptable option is beyond me. I certainly would have some trepidation in using this type of spare in remote areas and towing a three tonne-lus caravan. I notice that CW made no mention of this fact. VW did offer me an option of mounting a full size spare on the rear tailgate but, apart from the price, which was enough to buy ﬁve full spares with mag rims, I doubt that the opening of the tailgate would not have been an issue. Sam Fodero Reservoir, Vic

SHACKLEGATE: PART 2

I enjoyed reading the recent letters in response to my letter ‘Shocking Shackles’ (CW560, Feb ‘17). Who would have thought the humble shackle would trigger so many responses! I would like to submit another letter regarding shackles. It’s not an obsession, but I have another question. A couple of years ago, my travelling

The filter is multi-directional, can be used after long periods of non-use and involves a simple, DIY installation. For more information, visit www. bestwaterfilters.com.au or call 1800 240 822.

Postbag

Greg Gibson’s beloved VW Touareg and Jayco Outback Journey.

buddy and I were pulled over at a police checkpoint just outside Fitzroy Crossing, WA. They did a licence check and walked around our vehicles, paying particular attention to our van couplings. They were very courteous and sent us on our way with safe travels. This brings me to my next question - what are the legal requirements for shackles? Are there speciﬁc load ratings that have to be observed, especially if you are towing a 3500kg van? David Ellis Panorama, SA

LOVE MY TOURAEG

I just read your test of the new VW and you have done it a disservice. I am on to my second Touareg and my current one is a 2013. We tow a new Jayco Outback Journey (pictured right) and it does it with ease. It is deﬁnitely great value for money. We did 17,000km last year towing the van around Australia and it never missed a beat.. Greg Gibson Port Melbourne, Vic

GOOD RESULT

Some years ago, I ﬁtted a daytime running lights (DRL) kit I bought from Supercheap Auto to our vehicle at the time; a 2008 Prado.

The caravan you want is now easier to find

It worked well and we received a number of favourable comments from other vanners. We sold the Prado and bought a new 2013 LandCruiser GX and, being the poverty pack model, it was light on for extras. I tried to purchase another DRL kit from Supercheap but they no longer sold them so I turned to the internet and while I was able to source some decent LEDs, the only DRL controller I could find was on eBay. However, instead of turning off the DRLs when the headlights were switched on, it reduced the intensity of the lights a little. My wife had the same on her car and was chatted to by the police because, according to WA law, the DRLs must be off altogether when headlights are on. So I removed the fuse and was waiting until I could find a suitable controller. The information came last month from Malcolm Street’s article (CW562, Apr ’17)) - the Hella Safety Daylights Smart Controller. Because of the name of the product being significantly different to my web search for Daytime Running Lights Controller, the Hella product was never included in the search results. So thank you Caravan World! Since fitting the first controller to the LandCruiser, I’ve also bought them for our other couple of vehicles and now just need the spare time to fit them. Thanks again CW. Ferg le Juge de Segrais Guilderton, WA tradervs.com.au

IN FOCUS

Top tips to be able to confidently service and repair your van’s drum brakes. Need help with a technical or towing problem? Ask Philip Lord

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ollowing on from last month’s wheel bearing service, this month, we’re looking at a caravan drum brake service and repair. Often bearings and brakes will serviced at the same time (so it might be a good idea to reference last month’s Tech Talk column to service your bearings at the same time) but we wanted to focus on brakes this issue to be able to expand on the subject. On the van we’re looking at here, there was also some damage to the brake wires, so we’ll explain how to repair that should you strike similar trouble. While this is a simple job, you need a solid, level and dry ﬂoor to work on, plenty of light and the right tools to do the job. Tools you’ll need include a hammer, pliers, a soldering iron and solder, a ﬂat-blade screw driver and a shifting spanner (or a set of open-ended spanners). Some brake cleaner is a good idea too, to clean up the linings and inner brake drum. To accurately measure brake lining and

drum wear, you’ll need a micrometer. On newer vans, that’s probably unnecessary, but if it’s a van that’s older or has done high kilometres, then a micrometer is the only way to go. It’s also a good idea to invest in a torque wrench if you don’t have one already; the wheel nuts should be torqued-up at the end of the job to the correct tension. Even though you can guess what should be the right tension just with a wheel brace, it’s not really a satisfactory way of tightening wheel nuts. You’ll also need a rated jack and couple of rated axle stands (that is, rated to more than the weight of the van you’re lifting). If you’re lucky, the only parts you’ll need to replace is the spindle split pins.

TIME TO LOOSEN UP Start off by loosening the wheel nuts. Don’t remove them yet; the point of loosening them now is that it’ll be a lot harder to do so later when the wheels are off the ground. Jack up the van and place on axle stands. Make sure that the stands are supporting the main chassis rails – you can use the jockey wheel to raise and support the front of the van. This is where you can do your first check to make sure that the van’s brakes are working. You’ll either need to hook up a battery to the brake wire and earth for the van’s brake circuit or – and this is a hell of a lot easier – plug your tow vehicle into the van. Get a helper to apply full van braking at the electric brake controller and see if you can spin the van’s wheels. The wheels should be locked solid. Now the wheels can be removed, and it wouldn’t hurt to tuck them under the van while you’re working on it. It’ll reduce the chances of you tripping over them and gives you a back-up if the axle stands tip over. If you have decent axle stands with a wide footing, this should be a very unlikely scenario – but it pays to be cautious. The next step is to take off the brake drum, first by removing the wheel bearing dust cap either by gripping it with a pair of pliers or gently tapping around its edges with a hammer. With the cap removed, you can take out the split pin (which locks the spindle nut in posi-tion). Bend the single ends of the split pin until they’re as straight as you can get them. Then either tap out the pin from the single ends side with a hammer or grab a pair of pliers and pull it out from the looped end. Now get your trusty shifter or open-ended spanner and undo the spindle nut. The drum is now free to slide off the spindle but remember you’ve got a spindle washer and outer bearing loose in there so be prepared to grab them before they go rolling away on the floor.

Tech Talk How to service your van’s drum brakes

Secure the van on stands on a secure, dry surface. Make sure that the handbrake is released.

3 Remove the dust cap, the split pin (as shown here) and then the castellated nut. Then remove the brake drum.

6 Newer brake linings will have an angled edge to them to help aviod the lining fragmenting. If they have a straight edge it’s a good idea to file them so they’re angled.

4 Inspect the drum for excessive wear or scoring marks. If either are present, you’ll have to replace the drum.

7 The problem here is damaged brake wires going to the offside brake.

Remove the road wheels.

5 Have a close look at the brake linings. If they are cracked or excessively worn you’ll have to replace them. Also check magnet and wiring for damage or excessive wear

8 The brake wires are cut and the insulation paired back. Now they can be joined up again using solder.

SCORING TOP MARKS Up next is a quick inspection of the brake and magnet surfaces. On the inside of the brake drum, what you’re ﬁrstly looking for is scoring marks or heavily worn surfaces on the inner circumference (if there’s more than 0.5mm wear). On the magnet-wearing surface of the drum you’re checking for bad score marks or uneven wear. If you ﬁnd these problems you should replace the drums. Now you can check the linings themselves for excess wear, contamination or damage. The linings should be replaced if there’s only 0.8mm material left on

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9 The rejoined brake wires are covered up with insulating tape. Alternatively you can use heat shrink tubing.

10 Adjust brakes by turning shoe adjustment wheel on backing plate. tradervs.com.au

Tech Talk How to service your van’s drum brakes (continued)

Handbrake is adjusted by loosening locknut on threaded adjuster at the A-frame and tensioning cable.

Handbrake cable should be adjusted so there’s slack when handbrake is off and fully tensioned with lever about halfway along its travel.

While at the A-frame, check coupling adjustment. Loosen locknut and adjust locking tongue with a screwdriver.

riveted linings or when they’re down to 1.5mm on bonded linings. Also check for oil contamination and for scoring marks – in both cases the linings should be binned and new ones fitted. If the leading and trailing edges of the linings are not bevelled, it’s a good idea to file a bevel into the edges. This is so that the linings are less likely to crumble or break off at the edges and do damage to the rest of the lining and brake drum. Magnets typically wear unevenly, but if it’s at a sharp angle of wear of only about one-third of the width of the magnet then it needs to be replaced. Now is a good time to check the brake wiring. This van had damaged offside brake wires we needed to fix. As there was plenty of slack in the wiring here, it was pretty straight-forward; we cut out the damaged section of wiring, paired back the insulation and soldered the wires together. Make sure you heat up the soldering iron for a few minutes before using it. That’ll give you time to twist the

wires together. Polarity is not important here, so it doesn’t matter which wires you pair to solder. Keep the soldering iron on the join until the solder has melted in. Then you can wrap electrical tape around the fresh join to avoid shorting the wires (or use heat-shrink tubing). Now it’s time to start buttoning everything up. It’s a reverse of disassembly but you need to make sure you’ve tensioned the bearings by the right amount when you’ve reﬁtted the spindle nut (and really, by rights, you should check the condition of the bearings while you’ve got the drums off). Tighten the nut until the brake drum becomes hard to spin. Then loosen the nut until you can spin the brake drum. It should be able to spin freely for a couple of revolutions before coming to a stop. Now you can ﬁt the split pin and replace the dust cap. Towards the bottom of the brake backing plate there’s a small rectangular hole that gives access to the brake adjuster wheel. Grab a screwdriver (or better still,

a dedicated drum brake adjuster tool, as it’s a slightly different shape and much better suited to the job) and tighten up the brakes until the drum can’t move any more. Then back off the adjustment about seven clicks. Spin the brake drum – it should be able to do two revolutions on its own before slowly coming to a stop, if the adjustment is correct. Refit the road wheel and tighten a few wheel nuts so that you can give the bearings a final check: Grab the wheel, one hand at the top, the other at the bottom and see if you can rock the wheel. If there is quite a bit of movement, you need to tighten the bearing up a bit, if there’s none or only a slight amount, you’re good to go with refitting all wheel nuts, dropping the wheels back onto the ground and torquing up the wheel nuts to 130Nm.

You do need to have a fire extinguisher in a caravan, and with cooking facilities inside, a fire blanket is also a good idea. Common sense dictates that you put it up high where it is visible and also where it is easy to grab if there is a fire. You can find details on the location in Australian Standard AS 24442001. Standards Australia has given over the distribution of such documents to SAI Global – which at the time of writing charges

$137.16 for a copy of the Standard. It is an odd situation where you need to pay a large fee to know what your legal obligations are, but there you go. We cannot publish the information here without the permission of SAI Global. We’re working on being able to do so in the future.

With thanks to Complete RV Services, Unit 3, 85-87 Batt Street, Penrith, NSW 2750, 0423 384 873 for their assistance with this article.

Q&A HOME FOR EXTINGUISHER I have just fitted a 12V Sirocco fan to my 5.9m (19ft 6in) Lotus caravan and had to remove the fire extinguisher to do so, and now I need to relocate it. What are the standards re-garding, size and location of the fire extinguisher in the caravan? David Hudd Pottsville, NSW

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Q & A (continued) need to use a weight distribution hitch or can I tow without it? The van is a new 6.7m (22ft) bunk van weighing 2950kg loaded with a 230kg ball weight and Dexter stability control. What are the pros and cons? We are mainly sticking to the bitumen maybe some gravel. Tony Reville Merewether, NSW I have always said that a WDH cannot substitute for proper, balanced loading. Unfortunately, though, for heavier vans with a relatively high ball load mass, a WDH is more often than not a necessity. The Jeep’s air suspension will likely level out the ride but will not reduce the mass imposed by the caravan’s coupling on the towball. It will make the rear wheels shoulder much of the load and, thus, have a relatively low mass on the front wheels. A 230kg TBM is borderline; I have found that around 160-180kg TBM rarely requires a WDH, but with more than 200kg, it’s most likely that you will need to use one.

WDH DILEMMA 2 We bought a new VW Amarok last year along with a Hayman Reece WDH to tow our new 5.6m (18ft 6in) Supreme Classic van. We towed using the WDH for over a year and were very comfortable with how

the rig towed. After attending a great Tow-Ed course recently, I pulled out the Amarok manual to see if there was anything we should be doing differently and according to the manual, VW does not recommend using a WDH with the Amarok. I know that I should have checked, but assumed it was okay to use as we bought the WDH from the VW dealer. I then checked with the dealer and they went to the VW technicians who said the reason they do not recommend their use is VW has not tested WDHs with the Amarok (the dealer offered to refund the cost of the WDH). I’d like to try towing without the WDH, but am not sure about what is an acceptable amount of front axle ‘lift’ and rear axle ‘sag’ on the Amarok for safety. Do you have any guidelines or recommendations? I’d be interested to hear from any other Amarok owners who may also tow vans with or without a WDH. Glenn Williams Harrison, ACT I should have checked the Amarok’s Owner’s Manual before now, too. It does indeed say that a WDH cannot be used, because: “The towing bracket can fail, causing the trailer to tear loose from the vehicle”.

Given that Volkswagen is saying that the towbar could tear apart when using a WDH, clearly you should not use one – ever. As noted in my reply to the letter above, a WDH is really a Band-aid solution that should only be used where good vehicle and van load balance cannot resolve the issue. A WDH puts enormous stress on the vehicle’s towbar and chassis. So much so, that even the WDH manufacturers in their user guides instruct you to release tension on the spring bars when negotiating spoon drains, angled driveways and the like. Be honest – who actually does that? Normally, I’d say that if the tow vehicle’s body drops more than 30mm at the rear axle and raises more than 30mm at the front, you have a TBM problem. For the Amarok, I’d allow more rear drop – perhaps as much as 50mm – but you can’t have much more than a 30mm raise at the front. You could ﬁt an anti-sway device for extra peace of mind. In all cases when towing, you have to be realistic. You have to drive to the conditions, and one of the conditions when towing that doesn’t go away is a rather large and potentially unruly caravan behind you. Driving more slowly – within reason – is important for towing safety when on undulating roads, during windy conditions or even when being passed by larger vehicles (trucks) on the freeway.

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If you’re stumped by a technical or towing problem, send your question to submissions@ adventuresgroup.com.au with ‘Tech Talk’ in the subject line or send a letter to Caravan World Tech Talk, PO Box 4, Oakleigh, Vic 3166. All entries must include your full address (not for publication).

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We know Australians love dual cab utes, so we booked out Werribee 4WD Proving Ground and, over the course of two days put two RAM Truck 2500s through the absolute wringer. The RAM Truck 2500 Laramie eclipses just about every other dual-cab ute on-sale in Australia. For a start, its thumping 6.7-litre six-cylinder Cummins turbo-diesel engine makes 276kW of power and a planet-pulling 1084Nm of torque, or more than double that of the Ford Ranger (470Nm),

and almost double a Land Cruiser 200 Series (650Nm). And the numbers get better, it can haul 913kg in its tray and has a maximum braked towing capacity of 6,942kg which is basically double the 3,500kg most vehicles in Australia can tow. The even better news, is that the RAM 2500 can carry its maximum payload in the tray and tow its maximum braked capacity at the same time; almost no other vehicle on-sale here can claim that.

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Strap yourselves in as we take you behind the scenes on the first leg of AL-KOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Toughest Tow Test! THE VIDE

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I WORDS MICHAEL BORG

Above: Our crew of tough toys rolls into Kevington during Part 1 of the Toughest Tow Test.

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t’s not every day you see a convoy of caravans battling through the guts of the Victorian High Country. In fact, the word ‘crazy’ might come to mind if you spend more than a second thinking about it! Nothing says real world torture-testing like an 18ft caravan conquering everything from harsh ruts and corrugations to rocky river crossings with more than a few steep hill climbs, tight switchbacks and soft creek beds thrown in. But that’s exactly what we did for AL-KO’s Toughest Tow Test. Using vans ﬁtted with the right running gear and an army of technical experts on board, the impossible became possible... Over the course of a week, we safely navigated both on-road and offroad test tracks showcasing the best of the High Country; ﬁrst with on-road vans, and then offroad vans, in tow. In truth, you wouldn’t normally think about dragging a two or three tonne caravan through the tracks we did, but these were no ordinary vans. The contenders – a New Age Wallaby, Avan Aliner Adventure Plus, Golf Savannah 499, Coromal Pioneer XC, and JB Caravans Scorpion, were all kitted out with AL-KO running gear, including the latest offroad ALKO Enduro Outback suspension or the on-road AL-KO Roller Rocker leaf spring setup, and the

all-new AL-KO Off-Road coupling or a standard AL-KO on-road ball coupling, and a bunch of other goodies to prepare them for the journey. But the big question: would this be enough to get them through a test track most caravanners would never attempt? We’re not ones to shy away from an epic adventure and, after a week of pushing these vans and their gear to the absolute limit, it’s fair to say AL-KO knows how to prove a point! In this issue of CW, we take you behind the scenes on the ﬁrst leg of the trip where we put the on-road New Age Wallaby and Avan Aliner through their paces in terrain which would test their limits – and that of their AL-KO gear.

THE GATHERING A mammoth trip of these proportions requires a great deal of planning and forethought, especially when safety is at stake. After all, it doesn’t take much for things to go horribly wrong with a caravan in tow among some of Australia’s steepest hills. With remote terrain lying in wait for us, we took our time to create a route which encompassed the very best the High Country has to offer. Myself and Anthony ‘Macca’ McDonald – a long-time outback adventure guide who has taken more caravanners and campers through Australia’s harshest terrain than most people

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have had hot dinners (if you were on one of Macca’s trips, chances are he cooked the hot dinner for you, too!) – set off for Dargo, the most remote town in Victoria, to head bush and map out a suitable route worthy of the Toughest Tow Test label. A few months later, it was go-time! The eager crew – including CW tow-testers, photographers, videographers, AL-KO engineers and staff, and some assorted adventure junkies – met in Dargo for Happy Hour at the Dargo River Inn, which marked the start of our AL-KO Toughest Tow Test adventure. Oh, and here’s a little tip if you ever make it to the Dargo River Inn; if you see the publican

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dressed in nothing but bright pink lycra and a majestic blonde wig, there’s a better than average chance he’s lost another bet! Although, it’s rumoured he does this on purpose…but who are we to judge?

Clockwise from above: High Country explorers, everyone say ‘Jump!’ on three; Take on the alpine roads in a Hema Maps 76 Series? No worries!; There’s no better spot for a thorough tow-test than Vicco’s High Country.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS As soon as dawn broke, we were up and at it, ready to hit the road. The goal for the ﬁrst leg of this trip was to take our two blacktop tourers, ﬁtted with onroad AL-KO products, along a route tradervs.com.au

Clockwise from above: Our LandCruiser took on tow duties for the New Age Wallaby; Spectacular country came free with the challenging conditions; Rough terrain coming up.

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”Not all vanners want, or can afford, a fullblown offroad rig but still want the option to chase adventure across the cattle grid” that would test their abilities on the bitumen and graded dirt roads – and we threw a few corrugations into the mix just for fun! Not all vanners want, or can afford, a fullblown offroad rig but still want the option to chase adventure across the cattle grid. Our convoy consisted of CW’s Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series towing the New Age Wallaby, Hema’s Map Patrol LC76 Series towing the Aliner, and two Nissan Patrol GUs acting as support vehicles and troop carriers. To see how the AL-KO systems performed, we explored countless tracks around Dargo and surrounds, passing through the sleepy hamlets of Newry, Boisdale and Brigalong before heading for Licola. We then ventured onwards to the cute little town of Jamieson to the west, via just about

every winding road and dirt track we could poke our noses down. This part of the route followed a tricky 93km stretch on dirt and gravel – including spectacular alpine vistas of the Macalister River valley and its mountain ash and snow gum forests. Along the way, we saw some of the best views and vantage points known to man, and that’s no exaggeration. We even encountered a herd of cattle grazing along the side of the road – a pretty uncommon sight in the High Country these days! The dust was thick and the corrugations were relentless along this stretch and, to be totally

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honest, I remember thinking to myself: “This is supposed to be the easy part; what the hell have we got ourselves into?” But, in the end, we made it, wholly unscathed, to an absolute cracker of a campsite at Skipworth Reserve in Kevington, about 10km outside Jamieson (which is, of course, right on the Jamieson River). The track in was very bumpy, and while it wasn’t hard-core offroad terrain, it just goes to show you the calibre of campsites that a welldesigned suspension system can give you the conﬁdence to venture into. One thing’s for sure – there’s nothing quite like rocking up to camp in the late afternoon, getting a campﬁre crackling,

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and enjoying a few cold ones as the sun slowly sets over the hills. It was Macca’s shout for a feed that night and, after hearing whispers of his skill behind a skillet for years, I was champing at the bit to find out what was on the menu. Unfortunately, poor Macca ended up a little ill that night, which saw him taking over the most luxurious caravan-king-size bed on the trip! Not to worry though – his brother Tim had things covered, with a potato salad fit for kings while our photographer (and self-proclaimed fishing expert) Jack knocked up barramundi fillets thick enough to feed half the army. Add in a few burnt hunks of cow cooked straight

Clockwise from top: You can bet a few tall tales made an appearance ‘round this fire; Preparing for another day on the road; Small towns, big hearts in the High Country.

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Clockwise from top: River crossings in this part of the world posed few problems; Emile from AL-KO managed to find a bit of time for a quick fish one beautiful morning; Borgy takes it all in during a rare moment of rest.

over the coals by yours truly, and you could say we were living the dream. The following day, we explored Kevington before taking a detour to the old-world towns of A1 Mine Settlement and Gaffneys Creek, before setting off for Mansﬁeld, in the foothills of the Victorian Alps and home of Victoria’s traditional cattlemen.

WHAT DID WE FIND? One thing’s for sure, after a week beating around the High Country with them, I’ve got no qualms in saying the team at AL-KO sure knows how to test their gear in the real world. But to be honest, this equipment is put through the most rigorous of trials well before we ever got our mittens on it – in research and development, and

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by countless other caravanners towing their rigs around the country. So it wasn’t really a matter of ‘if’ the gear was up to the task, it was more about getting out there and showing the world just how capable it really is – point taken, guys! We trudged through the bowels of the High Country, and despite having a million and one challenges thrown our way, we came out the other side in one piece. Well, mostly! The vehicles broke down, and most of us were absolutely buggered by the end of it, but you know what? The AL-KO gear never let us down, and that’s saying something! To ﬁnd out how the offroad rigs handled the tougher terrain, stay tuned to the next issue of Caravan World (on sale June 1) for part two of ALKO’s Toughest Tow Test – the Offroad Edition!

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NOfoCOUNTRY r old men

We set out to shatter the myth that the best of the High Country can’t be reached with a caravan in tow. PICS JACK MURPHY

Our rigs successfully traversed the High Country’s combination of blacktop and gravel roads with ease.

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High Country travel

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e all know the classic images of the Victorian High Country. From Banjo Patterson’s early horseback rufﬁans to Lee Kernaghan’s swag-wielding, 80 Series LandCruiser-driving mob, the High Country has long been regarded as somewhat of a frontier to be traversed with four hooved feet or a good set of offroad tyres only. Caravans haven’t historically been part of the picture. That is, until now. When we ﬁrst put our heads together with AL-KO to come up with a location for the Toughest Tow Test, we knew not just any destination would cut it. They wanted it to be a serious offroad challenge, something that would really push the vans and their AL-KO running gear to the limit. But, most of all, we wanted it to elicit incredible photography and video, so beautiful it’d make your nanna reach for the Kleenex. The High Country seemed the obvious choice, although nanna did shed a few tears of dread at the prospect of hauling up to three tonne of caravan deep into Man from Snowy River country, long the domain of the 4WD and

WORDS EMMA RYAN

DARGO AND THE AVON WILDERNESS AREA

Below: The sleepy valley is gorgeous in the morning light. Right: Heading off on our adventure past the Dargo Hotel, a top spot offering loads of High Country character and a great feed.

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occasional lightweight camper trailer. But a nip of brandy and a carefully crafted itinerary soon sorted her out. The plan was to divide the trip into two halves: the cross-country half (Part 1), which would encompass blacktop, graded dirt tracks, and corrugations, and the offroad half (Part 2), where things would really start to get interesting. The expedition was led by Anthony MacDonald – Macca to his mates. He knows the High Country like the back of his hand, so I knew we’d be in for a treat. A couple of days before the trip started, as I drove the 800-odd kays down the Hume Highway toward our starting destination of Dargo, I called Macca for reassurance. “Are you sure we’ll get the biggest of the vans through some of those tight switchbacks?” I probed. “Well… yeah, nah, pretty sure,” he offered, with a chuckle. Classic Macca. Still, I was happy to take those odds.

As anyone who has been to Dargo will attest, it’s the quintessential little mountain town. Located in a sleepy valley surrounded by rolling cattle country and mountains, Dargo has a sleepy main street, a pub that oozes character and plenty of space to set up the caravan. After a hearty meal and a good night’s sleep at the Dargo River Inn, we set forth toward Jamieson via the Avon Wilderness Area and

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Travel: High Country High Country travel

Lake Glenmaggie. Turning on to the Heyﬁeld Road at Dargo, the terrain gradually shifted from pretty farmland dissected by trickling rivers to sweeping, rugged mountains whose vast sheets of smooth granite had us ‘ooohing’ and ‘aaahing’ at all the right moments. Bushﬁre is an ever-present threat in the High Country and, in this instance, it had made for a particularly unique visual experience as we meandered through the recovering landscape. The sparse regrowth left the interesting geological features of Avon-Mt Hedrick exposed, the combination of staggering grey rock faces,

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From top: The views offered plenty of ‘oooh-aaah’ moments; Spare pluggers available at the Dargo Store; We weren’t the only heavy-duty rigs out on the roads.

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Where to camp

burnt earth and wispy foliage creating an otherworldly effect. You’d have been forgiven for thinking we were driving through Texas.

A DRIVE TO REMEMBER

Skipworth Reserve, Jamieson

Shady, grassy riverside campsite with drive through caravan spaces and drop toilets.

Smoko Campground, Bright Riverside bush camping, lots of private sites, some 4WD-accessible only. No facilities.

Blores Hill Caravan and Camping Park, Lake Glenmaggie

A small, friendly park just 1km from picturesque Lake Glenmaggie.

Dargo River Inn, Dargo

Large, grassy camping area with amenities and easy access to the pub.

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Next came my favourite section of our High Country trip: Lake Glenmaggie to Jamieson via the tiny hamlet of Licola. After navigating the spur, we dropped down to Lake Glenmaggie then continued on the Licola-Jamieson Road, which quickly became gravel. We climbed steadily and, as we gained altitude, the views became almost too much for my little heart to bear. Vast swathes of bluegreen mountains stretched out before us, a fuzz of wispy snowgums adorning their ridges, gentle puffs of cumulus ﬂirting with their peaks. Our view was framed by the oddly beautiful grey carcasses of tall mountain ash trees that lined the road and then, as we climbed ever higher above the snowline, sedate snowgums made diminutive by altitude. The air here was crisp and icy, with a clarity seemingly reserved for mountain peaks. The silence was broken only by the thrum of the breeze through the trees and the occasional low of cattle gone rogue on the mountain tops. But what struck me most about the LicolaJamieson road was how remote it felt, yet how accessible it was. It’s a quality, graded road that’s nice and wide and suitable for most vehicles – although it can get slippery in the

High Country

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High Country travel

Clockwise from left: Al-fresco dining High Country-style – what could be better?; Dusty tyres are a given out here; The campfire collection party in full swing; The oddly beautiful tall mountain ash trees on the LicolaJamieson Road; you can never take too many sunset selfies on a road trip like this. wet and is closed in the winter. In the warmer months, caravan owners with sturdy suspension should feel conﬁdent to tow on this road. You’ll get to see the most iconic images of the High Country without putting your vehicle or van under too much strain.

TOW THE LINE After a couple of nights in Jamieson and Mansfield (see breakout on where to camp), we commenced the offroad leg of the trip. From the little town of Whitfield, near Mansfield, we trudged along the Rose River Road across rolling farmland to Dandongadale.

We crossed Lake Buffalo at the dam wall, then disappeared into the scrub at the Goldie Spur Track, known colloquially as the Power Line Track on account of the infrastructure to which it owes its existence. Here we encountered steep, rocky climbs and hairpin switchbacks that really put the offroad caravans and the tow vehicles to the test. We almost cooked a Pajero, but the vans itself handled the challenge with ease. There were plenty of happy snaps taken out passenger side windows as we climbed higher and the views became more expansive. The country here felt rugged and remote, and we

Beer o’clock

1. The Dargo Hotel

An icon of the High Country that oozes character and does a killer feed.

2. The Kevington Hotel

A charming little pub near Jamieson with riverside camping.

3. Dargo River Inn

A mean feed, a cold brew and space to set up the caravan on lush grass with a mountainous outlook.

4. The Bright Brewery

Mountain crafted beer, great food and live music in lovely Bright.

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High Country travel

Left and above: The Buckland River tested our vans’ suspension, and then Emile tested its fishing prowess. didn’t pass another soul as we dropped down the other side to the Buckland Valley. Once in the valley we splashed about in the Buckland River, putting the vans’ suspension and AL-KO’s new extreme offroad coupling to the test with a steep descent onto the creek bed and a rocky crossing to navigate. After a night camped at the idyllic town of Bright (to which I might someday relocate), we trudged along the Great Alpine Rd up Mount Feathertop, destination Hotham

Tough Nuts Meet some of the characters behind the AL-KO Toughest Tow Test

MICHAEL ‘BORGY’ BORG

Role: Tow tester Natural habitat: Floating downstream in his undies Drink: Beer at a pub, Jim Beam around a campfire and a home concoction called ‘Sneaky’ when he’s on a mission Driving song: High Country, by Lee Kernaghan Pub meal: Chicken parma Signature move: ‘The Borgy Hack’ (#borgyhack), in which he doles out unsolicited camping and offroad driving advice to whomever happens to be riding shotgun in whatever he happens to be driving.

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PETER ‘TWINKLE TOES’ QUILTY

Role: Tow tester Natural habitat: Any light-up dance floor Drink: Mornington Peninsula chardy Driving song: Uptown Funk, by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars Pub meal: Salt and pepper squid Signature move: ‘The Clark Kent’, in which he lures one into a false sense of demure security by day and transforms into a wiggling, jiggling, ball-changing diva by night.

EMMA ‘BUBBLES’ RYAN

Role: Tow tester Natural habitat: 18m underwater Drink: Red, red wine Driving song: To Her Door, by Paul Kelly Pub meal: Lamb cutlets Signature move: The ‘Nah, It’s Not Recording’, in which she secretly sets up the webcam on her Macbook to record priceless candid footage of Twinkle Toes running impromptu dance classes.

JACK MURPHY

Role: Photographer/chief fisherperson Natural habitat: Anywhere there’s fish Drink: Captain Morgan and Coke Pub meal: Chicken parma Signature move: ‘The Lost Salmon’, in which he strips to his tighty-whiteys, puts the underwater housing on the camera and lays flat in the shallow rocky creek awaiting a Kodak moment.

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”Nanna did shed a few tears of dread at the prospect of hauling up to three tonne of caravan deep into Man from Snowy River country”

High Country travel

Heights. And while this part of the trip was well-trodden blacktop, it should be noted it’s one of the most spectacular stretches of road I’ve ever encountered. As the wide open road sweeps across the ridge of Mount Feathertop, mountains sprawl in all directions like a landscape on steroids. If this were a ﬁlm the music would reach crescendo in a calamity of sound as our convoy of caravans and support vehicles paraded across the mountaintop. A ﬁtting end to a wonderful trip to the beautiful High Country.

Above: You simply can’t beat vistas like this in Vic’s High Country.

Tough Nuts Meet some of the characters behind AL-KO’s Toughest Tow Test

EMILE THEODORE

Role: Marketing whiz at AL-KO Natural habitat: Deep in the Victorian High Country Drink: Great Northern – cans to save space Driving song: The rumble of the diesel engine and the whir of tyres on the road Pub meal: The Hawaiian parma, a twist on the original Signature move: ‘The Local Legend’, in which he swoops in to save the day with local knowledge and connections, not to mention a keen eye for wildlife.

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ANTHONY ‘MACCA’ MACDONALD

Role: Expedition leader Natural habitat: Some far-flung island in the Kimberley Drink: Any chilled ale on a warm day Driving song: Sweet Home Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd Pub meal: Crumbed lamb cutlets Signature move: ‘The Love Song Dedications’, in which he deems the UHF the closest thing he’ll come to radio stardom.

CRAIG GREENAWAY

Role: Engineer at AL-KO Natural habitat: Anywhere he can camp, hunt and 4WD Drink: Carlton Draught Driving song: Anything by Linkin Park Pub meal: Parma Signature move: ‘The Trust Me, I’m an Engineer’, in which he bends any uncooperative piece of equipment to his will, seemingly with his aura alone.

JEFF JNR

Role: Owner and manager, Avan Caravans Natural habitat: Offroad. Seriously, he loves it. Signature move: ‘The I Bought A Jeep’, because there was just no stopping Jeff once he discovered the unbridled joy of hauling a two-tonne caravan across a rocky High Country river at breakneck speed.

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Suits Caravan, Motorhome and Motor Vehicle use

In brief...

THE VIDE

.ca

.c o m

.au

S EE

5.49m (18ft) two-berth pop-top AL-KO on-road running gear Full-width ensuite, rear entry

r a v a n w o r ld

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Caravan test: New Age Wallaby 18ER

f o TOUR DUTY

A black sheep among its offroad brethren, the on-road New Age Wallaby managed to pull its weight and pull out some surprises during part one of the AL-KO Toughest Tow Test. PICS JACK MURPHY

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T WORDS PETER QUILTY Clockwise from top: Heading keenly toward some real-world testing, CW style; This competent on-roader performed well on tougher tracks, too; Electronics on the Wallaby are neatly catered for; The AL-KO on-road ball hitch handled the conditions with ease.

Measuring up Pros On-road and dirt road dexterity Elegant and spacious interior Low travel height

Cons

Not equipped for extended stays off-grid Limited external storage Solar power is optional No exterior shower

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he terms ‘on-road caravan’ and ‘AL-KO’s Toughest Tow Test’ might seem like they don’t go together, but this was no incongruity. The New Age Wallaby 18ER, ﬁtted with on-road AL-KO running gear, was hauled from pillar to post through the Victorian High Country during the event. And this was amid stunning alpine scenery, sprawling mountain pastures, and a fantastic array of sealed and unsealed roads... The aim of this expedition was to push the on-road Wallaby to the limits of what AL-KO’s ‘on-road’ components would be expected to do. So let’s set the scene – it was literally a ‘bush landscape’, and a spectacular one at that. I picked up the Wallaby from New Age Caravans HQ in Epping, Vic, before setting off for the old-world township of Dargo, nestled in the foothills of the legendary Dargo High Plains. The trip along the Monash Freeway (M1) was as sedate as expected, until I hit the turnoff for Dargo, where I encountered an undulating 72km journey to our meeting point at the Dargo River Inn. I’d normally not travel, especially tow, after dusk, however, this was one of those times I had to keep pushing to make the meeting point. It was a fairly stressful last leg, with kangaroos and wallabies bounding along the roadside and occasionally across my path. Fortunately, with the Wallaby ﬁrmly under my control behind the tow rig, my eyes could stayed glued to the twisting tarmac.

UNDER THE PUMP But the Wallaby’s real tour of duty really started the next morning when our convoy of four vehicles and two vans took off through Dargo

and its surrounds to put the on-road vans to the test. And yet, I was consistently impressed with its agility and manoeuvrability as we scurried through the quaint little villages and tracks outside of Dargo. In fact, it was travelling so well behind CW’s Toyota LC79 Series, I even thought of taking on the Billy Goat Bluff and Bulltown Spur tracks! With the Toyota’s 3500kg braked towing capacity, the Wallaby’s ATM of 2790kg (Tare

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Caravan test: New Age Wallaby 18ER

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Below: The Wallaby leaves plenty of room to relax after a long day traversing the High Country tracks. Right: “What’s that? The Wallaby just eats up the trails around here? You don’t say...”

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2390kg) was not an issue for the tow tug. I’ve spent most of my favourite free-camping holidays in Victoria’s High Country, so I was on familiar turf, but the two-berth pop-top Wallaby was in foreign territory. And that rendered the Wallaby’s performance along the dusty corrugated roads, rolling countryside and steep terrain all the more impressive. The action became even hotter the following day, as we fastened our seatbelts for the bumpy ride from Licola to Jamieson. This was the Wallaby’s true litmus test and, as far as we were all concerned, it passed with ﬂying colours. It made a ‘Wallaby Stew’ of a 93km stretch of winding turns and steep inclines on the narrow unsealed road into Jamieson. And it further showed it was one tough mudder from an onroader perspective. This route along the scenic Macalister River valley was nothing short of spellbinding – from the vibrant greens of the valley to the blue haze of the rugged mountain ranges beyond. There was even one instance when we came around a bend and suddenly the sweeping alpine vista changed from towering mountain ash to windswept snow gum forest. This was rugged escarpment country, with wide open grasslands and magniﬁcent panoramic views along the spine of the Victorian

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Caravan test: New Age Wallaby 18ER

New Age Wallaby 18ER Weights and measures Overall length 7.84m (25ft 9in) External body length 5.49 (18ft) External body width 2.5m (8ft 2in) Travel height 2.4m (7ft 10in) Tare 2390kg ATM 3500kg Payload 400kg Ball weight 130kg

External

Alps, and the Wallaby handled the conditions keenly. It was a big day out on the tracks and just before nightfall, we arrived at the picturesque Skipworth Reserve campground outside of Jamieson. But the TTT adventure was far from over, and the following morning we headed for Mansﬁeld – with a couple of detours into the steep valley that is home to some old mountainous settlements. This trek was a little more demure than the Licola-Jamieson run, but the Wallaby was well up to the mark and not allowed to rest on its laurels. Finally, we descended upon Mansﬁeld where we were met by the rest of the Toughest Tow Test team with the offroad vans in tow, ready to take

their turn (keep an eye out for all that action in the next issue of Caravan World). Victoria’s High Country is revered as one of Australia’s ultimate 4WD destinations. And true to form, the AL-KO Toughest Tow Test meted out some punishment to the on-road New Age Wallaby. But here was an on-road van with onroad running gear, giving as good as it got.

LEAF SPRING SUSPENSION The Wallaby was ﬁtted with AL-KO seven-leaf Roller Rocker suspension, and I was amazed how it handled the harsh terrain served up to it during the TTT. While suitable for rougher terrain, doesn’t have the same clearance or suspension travel as independent trailing arm

Frame Meranti Cladding Aluminium Chassis Preston DuraGal 6in Suspension AL-KO 7-leaf roller rocker leaf spring Coupling AL-KO standard ball 50mm Brakes 10in electric Wheels MPC 235/75 R15 LT with 15in alloys Water 1x80L Battery 1x100Ah Solar No (optional) Air-conditioner Aircommand Sandpiper (under-bunk) Gas 2x9kg Sway control ESC

Internal

Cooking Thetford Minigrill MKIII Fridge Thetford AES 164L Microwave Samsung Toilet Thetford cassette Shower Fully-moulded one-piece fibreglass Lighting 12V LED Hot water Yes

Options fitted

ROBE FRIDGE

SEAT

TABLE

SEAT

TOILET

None

Price as shown $55,990 (on-road, Vic)

More information

QUEEN BED

To enquire about this caravan, please visit www.caravanworld.com.au/spec or phone 1300 730 144 ROBE

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SHOWER

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Caravan test: New Age Wallaby 18ER

Above: We found old-school bush hospitality in spades at the Dargo Hotel.

systems, like AL-KO Enduro Cross Country which is an option on this van. The Wallaby behaved perfectly and did everything we asked of it over this journey. You’d you expect that from an offroader – but this surefooted on-road Wallaby never put a foot wrong as far as I’m concerned.

ON THE INSIDE You must be thinking by now: does the Wallaby 18ER have an interior? We’ve spent all this time talking about how it handled the tracks without mentioning the modern style, consistent with all New Age vans, that is has inside. Its interior décor has a touch of opulence not normally found in entry-level vans with a price tag just over the $55K mark. The one-piece flooring gives the van a solid platform and I liked glossy Laminex benchtops and flush-mount finishing on all the cabinets. It’s the ideal place to relax after a hot, dusty day on the tracks, courtesy of the caravanqueen-size bed with deluxe innerspring mattress and under-bunk Aircommand Sandpiper air-conditioner. Other little comforts include a sizeable café-style dinette, wall-mounted 24in TV and touchscreen Clarion audio system. The good-sized kitchen, while it didn’t get a workout thanks to all our campfire cooks, comes complete with a Thetford Minigrill Mk III fourburner gas cooktop, Thetford AES 164L fridge/ freezer and a Samsung microwave. The ramped-up fridge capacity, in comparison

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Ratings 1. Value for money 2. Towability 3. Liveability 4. Suitability for intended touring 5. Layout 6. Quality of finish 7. Build quality 8. Creature comforts 9. Innovation 10. X-Factor to what you get in the Wallaby’s 15ft sibling (90L), is welcomed and reduces the number of trips required to restock camping supplies. The full-width rear ensuite is pretty orthodox with a nearside fully-moulded one-piece shower cubicle, offside Thetford cassette toilet and a vanity cabinet slotted in between. But it blends well with the interior design, has adequate storage and, more importantly, there’s no feeling of claustrophobia. My only gripe is that it doesn’t have the front-loading washing machine common to many New Age vans. But that says more about its price point than anything else. On the outside, the Wallaby’s full-width tunnel boot is airy, but that’s where the external storage ends, unfortunately. The checkerplate at the front of the van offers protection, but I still would like to see a mesh stoneguard ﬁtted on the drawbar to shield the twin 9kg gas cylinders.

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Caravan test: New Age Wallaby 18ER

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Above: The full-width ensuite contains a Thetford cassette toilet. Right: The Wallaby 18ER never looked out of place on the High Country tracks.

THE BOTTOM LINE At the end of its tour of duty, I could honestly say the Wallaby 18ER didn’t look out of place against the convoy purpose-built to handle the rough stuff that met us on the last day. It was taken well out of its comfort zone and proved a deft performer capable of taking on more than the odd national park dirt road to the campsite. I estimated that the Wallaby covered close to

1000km during the AL-KO Toughest Tow Test, including the highway runs from, and back to, the city. And apart from the dislodgement of one drawer in the kitchen, all the internal ﬁttings were completely intact, which says a lot for the leaf spring suspension and the ride it creates. And there was plenty of shake, rattle and roll – particularly in the rough-and-tumble section from Licola to Jamieson.

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BORN e r o l p x e to

Tough, reliable and proven, Hema’s go-anywhere ‘Map Patrol’ LC76 Series Cruiser is built to tackle the toughest tracks imaginable. PICS JACK MURPHY

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Hema Map Patrol LC76

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W WORDS MICHAEL BORG

Below: The rig handled the Avan Aliner with almost ridiculous ease through the High Country.

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e’ve all got a dream rig. You know; the sort of vehicle you would literally give both of your legs, your right arm and any spare change you have to own! Well, Hema’s LC76 Series Cruiser is one such vehicle. And when we looked for the ultimate, go-anywhere vehicle to take us into the High Country for AL-KO’s Toughest Tow Test, there was nothing better. And, after taking over the Captain’s chair (as they call it at Hema) that week, I’m completely convinced. This vehicle is the real deal. It’s a weapon, built tough for a purpose. After all, the country’s best offroad navigational maps don’t just grow on trees. This LC76 is a Hema Map Patrol vehicle, used to get the team out there to physically explore every nook and cranny they can ﬁnd to ensure their maps are as accurate and immersive as possible. Just let that sink in for a bit – imagine the amount of torture these vehicles have to put up with! After all, these guys don’t just follow a map, they make it. That often means forging new paths, and eating Australia’s toughest, most remote touring routes for breakfast. So what does that mean? When it comes to building a tough, go-anywhere tourer, Team Hema knows

exactly what it takes and that made it the perfect vehicle to take us to the High Country.

WHY THIS VEHICLE? To build a tough tourer, you need to start with the right vehicle. There’s no point spending a fortune on a 4WD that may, or may not, put up with the rigours of constant offroad torture. After speaking to Hema’s Chief Explorer (Managing Director) Rob Boegheim, it was pretty clear why the LC76 was their ﬁrst choice. “The 70 series LandCruiser is the only large diesel, double solid axle vehicle around these days,” Boegheim said. “We also chose it for its toughness, reliability, ease of outback parts and repairs, bush-ability and all round simplicity.

“The LC76 idled up the trickiest of obstacles and sounded bloody spectacular doing it.”

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Hema Map Patrol LC76

“Plus, with the GVM upgrade, it has a massive payload compared to most others, including utes. In fact, it’s the one vehicle in our ﬂeet that rarely has a challenge staying within its GVM.” During the ﬁrst part of the Toughest Tow Test, the LC76 was tasked with towing the Avan Aliner – a mere minnow compared to what it could have handled. And it’s fair to say the weight was barely noticed on the back of it. “In our view the 70 series range are the only purpose-built bush tourers left on the market. Everything else is a compromise,” Boegheim said. “The only downside is that it’s not available in auto from the factory.”

From top: The LC76 runs OME suspension and also sports an ARB air locker and a Redarc Tow Pro electric brake controller; The Hayman Reese adjustable tow bar is as chunky as they come; The Warn 12.0 XE winch may be ‘overkill’ but it’s nothing but the best for this touring weapon.

ALL THE RIGHT GEAR Once the vehicle of choice was locked in, it was time to start with the fun part – the upgrades! First cab off the rank was some ARB protection equipment, namely the front bar, side rails and rock sliders. “This is essential equipment for any bush tourer, especially for us, as we often need to push down overgrown tracks to see where they go,” Boegheim said. “We also installed a set of ARB Intensity LED lights. We try to minimise the amount of night driving we do, but it’s inevitable on most long trips in order to stay on schedule.” There’s also a Warn 12.0 XE winch installed,

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which Boegheim said was overkill but great peace of mind. It’s got the longest duty cycle of any electric winch on the market today. It’s even got a cooling fan that switches on automatically if the winches motor reaches a certain temperature. During the second part of the Toughest Tow Test, the LC76 acted primarily as a recovery vehicle for the 4WDs and offroad vans in our convoy. Luckily, we didn’t require the winch but I would have liked to see it in action! “We’ve found the most important upgrades for any vehicle before a big tour are suspension and tyres. Then, buy a tyre gauge and set of tractions aids like MaxTrax and you can go just about anywhere and get home again safely,” Boegheim said. The Hema LC76 runs OME suspension with 17in DC Alloy Torque wheels and Cooper STT Pro tyres 285/70/17s, both of which he says are “as bullet proof as the rest of the rig”. An ARB snorkel ensures that big beefy powerhouse of an engine gets plenty fresh, clean air while also ensuring it doesn’t suck a mouthful of water doing the almost-daily river crossings we encountered in the High Country. The extended diff and transmission breathers are there for the same purpose – to keep water out of the driveline. There’s also a steel rear bar from Kaymar, complete with a swing-out spare wheel carrier and dual jerry can holders for water. Plus, there’s an ARB steel roof rack for extra gear up top and a Foxwing awning that we slept under in swags during the week. There’s also rooftop tent ﬁtted for speciﬁc, longer trips as well.

THE BELLY OF THE BEAST On the inside, you’ll ﬁnd this weapon is set up with serious touring and long distance trips in mind, so it was ideal for the Toughest Tow Test. My personal favourite comfort upgrade was the Recaro seats ﬁtted up front. They sport adjustable lumbar supports with a little hand air pump, which really helped while travelling on those back-crunching stretches of road between Sydney and Melbourne. They even have the Hema logo embroidered on the backrest; you know, for authenticity. If you get lost in this rig, it’s safe to say you can’t be trusted unsupervised! As you can probably imagine, Map Patrol vehicles come with more navigational goodies than NASA. There’s a satellite phone hardwired into the vehicle, a Spot GPS tracker mounted on the dash and, of course, the latest Hema GPS – the HX-1. Then there’s the in-dash ZENEC media unit with Hema 4WD navigation, reverse camera and Bluetooth music for all those long hours on

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Hema Map Patrol LC76

the road. There’s also an iPad mini with GPS on a seat-mounted RAM mount running the Hema Explorer app. But wait, there’s more. Apparently, even the Canon DSLR camera has an in-built GPS! No doubt you’ve already spotted all those aerials poking out up the front. They belong to the UHF radio, a hi-gain mobile and the satphone. Oh, and there’s a sand ﬂag, too.

Clockwise from above: The 76 Series LandCruiser was the only choice for the Hema team; A satellite phone is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the plethora of navigation and communication gadgets in the LC76; Says it all, really!; Warning once you sit in the driver’s seat of this beast you’ll never want to give those keys back.

TOURING AND TOWING UPGRADES With all that gear, it’s clear this vehicle is built for more than just driving – it’s the ultimate touring package. The Outback rear drawer system, complete with a sturdy cargo barrier, houses all the essential equipment you would expect: recovery gear, tools, spare fan belts, ﬁlters hoses and oils. The ﬁrst-aid kit lives here, too, along with plenty of other goodies. A good sized ARB fridge/freezer mounted on a built-in fridge slide takes care of the cold storage, and three food drawers on the top section account for the rest! To ensure a tank of questionable fuel from

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Hema Map Patrol LC76

Above: A place for everything, and everything in its place thanks to the swish Outback rear drawer system. Top: Roof racks were a neat spot for our camping gear but can also accommodate two 20L steel jerry cans for additional fuel.

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an old outback servo doesn’t get into the engine, Hema has installed a Fuel Manager Filtration System. And, thanks to twin long range fuel tanks, this thing could just about cross the country without refuelling – well, maybe not, but you’d get a pretty long way! It’s got a 170L main tank, 90L sub, plus two extra 20L steel jerry cans on the roof – that’s 300L in total. And with a big crusty V8 providing the mountains of oomph, you can never have too much fuel, eh? With a full 3in exhaust system and eight chunky cylinders, this thing sounds as good as Barnsy cranking Khe Sanh on a Saturday night! The rear ARB air locker comes in pretty handy – these old Cruisers have a tendency to lift a

wheel or two here and there – nothing like a leaf sprung rear end and a lack of travel to liven up an offroad obstacle! There’s also a Hayman Reece adjustable tow bar, which is as chunky as they come, and adjustable rear airbags to help take care of any extra added rear weight. It has an electric brake controller installed for towing and, just like the rest of the build, nothing but the best will sufﬁce. Hema went with the Redarc Tow Pro, which I can now vouch for after towing everything from a camper trailer to a 5.5m (18ft) caravan throughout the AL-KO Toughest Tow Test High Country adventure. Other electrical goodies include Baintech 12V outlets scattered throughout the truck – we’re talking both sides of the dash, and another smack bang in the centre, along with several others in the back. Then there’s the Redarc 700W pure sign wave inverter, LED lighting and a Redarc BCDC25 dual battery system with a dry cell auxiliary battery to power it all up.

PUT TO THE TEST We took the LC76 on a month’s worth of adventures in the time we had it, starting with the Toughest Tow Test. We set out from Wollongong on the New South Wales south coast before slugging it down the Hume to Melbourne, heading way across to Dargo, and zig-zagging

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Hema Map Patrol LC76

over to iconic High Country places such as Jamieson and Mount Hotham. To say we gave it a serious test drive is a complete understatement. And we loved it that much, we kept it for another few weeks of offroad adventures when we got home – I think the team at Hema thought they were never getting it back! It proved to be an absolute weapon on AL-KO’s Toughest Tow Test. It towed an Avan Aliner through steep, winding switchbacks and bonerattling corrugations like they were going out of fashion. But you know what? It did it easy! Power wise, it’s hard to beat the low-down, stump-pulling grunt of the mighty V8. Even with a caravan in tow, this thing powered up and through those steep High Country hills like it was a leisurely Sunday drive. All that torque is available nice and low in the rev range, too. In fact, at around 2000rpm, this thing is near-on unstoppable. Offroad, the LC76 purred like a kitten. It

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would idle up the trickiest of obstacles, and sound bloody spectacular doing it. It really gives you that feeling of pure, unadulterated capability. By the end of the Toughest Tow Test, we were not lacking any conﬁdence in this rig, that’s for sure.

YEP, WE WANT ONE! The worst part about this absolute weapon was having to give the keys back! But it had a higher purpose to serve as a Map Patrol vehicle with the Hema team. It goes like a freight train on race fuel and, when it comes to pure offroad adventure, I can say, hands-down, this is one of the best set-up vehicles in the country. You want to know the best part about it all, though? This is just one of Hema’s Map Patrol vehicles, which means we’ve still got a few more to check out in the future, including the latest project – the LC76 Dual Cab.

Above: It’s hard to beat the stomppulling grunt of the V8 which handles major highways and tough bush tracks with equal grace.

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STABLE

Want the ultimate in caravan safety? AL-KO’s ESC is a braking product that could seriously save your life – so we put it to the test. OPENING PIC JACK MURPHY

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Product test: AL-KO ESC

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I WORDS MICHAEL BORG

t’s no secret; you’ve got to be really on the ball when you’re towing a caravan. Even smaller vans can wind up exaggerating dangers on the road, and we’ve all seen what happens when things go terribly wrong. One little sway can build into a much larger problem and, the next thing you know, you’re staring at your own caravan wondering why it’s overtaking you! That’s usually the moment before you flip upside down and into a world of trouble. Obviously, it goes without saying that most of us drive as safely as we can. We keep our speed at a manageable pace, we stay out of other drivers’ blind spots, and we avoid having any blind spots of our own. But, at the end of the day, we can’t control everything. Things can happen in a blink of an eye, and how quickly we react can mean the difference between life and death. So anything that can help with safety should be considered, and that’s where AL-KO’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) comes in. ESC was introduced in 2012 and was a revolutionary step forward in caravan safety at that time. In the past five years, it has taken the caravan world by storm, being fitted as standard to new vans by many, many manufacturers, offered as an option by most others, and able to be retro-fitted to older vans as well. There are now around 300 certified installers nationwide and some insurance companies offer policy discounts for caravans with AL-KO ESC – you know it must be good if an insurance company is willing to cough up some coin! So when we decided to head into the High Country for AL-KO’s Toughest Tow Test – an area known for its twisting, winding roads – we ensured our test rigs were fitted with ESC.

WHAT IS AL-KO ESC?

Right: The ESC system is calibrated and customised to suit each caravan.

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Let’s say a child or an animal runs out in front of you while you’re driving. The natural reaction is to swerve, much the same as if another car cuts you off. In an emergency avoidance manoeuvre such as this, you need to regain total control as quickly as possible. AL-KO ESC is designed to activate the brakes on your caravan as soon as a dangerous sideways movement is detected. The caravan brakes are held on to wipe off speed and stop in the shortest distance possible. This action also helps the van pull back in line instead of allowing the caravan’s weight to build up lateral momentum. We actually got a chance to feel the system in action after a close call with a wallaby on the way into Dargo for the Toughest Tow Test. You know how these things play out – the wallaby waits until the last minute before it decides to take on a three-tonne LandCruiser with an 18ft caravan in tow! I didn’t swerve

to the other side of the road or anything silly like that. But I did back off the throttle and touch the brakes midway down a slight bend, which was enough to unsettle the caravan. The ESC didn’t overreact. Instead, it applied the caravan’s brakes gently to stabilise the setup. If it wasn’t for a very slight jolting sensation, I wouldn’t have realised that the ESC was actually working in the background to make my driving skills look great! To put it simply, AL-KO ESC uses your caravan’s brakes to stabilise your entire setup in the event of an emergency manoeuvre. It doesn’t have to be a full blown aggressive manoeuvre to cause a caravan to destabilise. Things like getting caught in a semi-trailer’s slipstream can do it. Poor weight distribution, windy weather, bad road conditions and incorrect tyre pressures can all play a part, too. During the Toughest Tow Test, there were plenty of potential heart-in-throat moments, especially on those steep switchbacks the High Country is renowned for. I say ‘potential’ because the ESC often seemed to catch a problem before it started. If the van started to slide or even bounce sideways on corrugations, I would feel a slight tug from the caravan’s brakes and, hey-presto, it was straight again.

HOW DOES IT WORK? If your caravan is travelling sideways, you’re in a lot of trouble. AL-KO ESC is engineered and designed to sense a critical driving situation

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Product test: AL-KO ESC

where you could lose control well before you do. It’s not a simple sway control system, though. It’s a lot more advanced than that. It uses lateral acceleration sensors inside the ESC unit to sense any sideways movement. This could be a build-up of two small swings or one large, sudden sideways movement. These sensors are constantly monitoring for signs of a critical avoidance manoeuvre, and evaluating the data. If and when a problem is recognised, the ESC activates and applies the electric brakes immediately, which brings the vehicle back into line in a smooth and controlled manner. There are a huge number of precision calculations being made behind the scenes to ensure the ESC applies exactly the right amount of braking force while also monitoring for any instability or additional change in speed. This all happens well before you’ve even had time to react. And the system is calibrated and customised to suit your individual caravan.

PEACE OF MIND At the end of the day, you can’t put a price on safety. AL-KO ESC was designed in Australia for Australian conditions, which is something that always instils a lot of conﬁdence. And it meant the High Country was the perfect testing ground for the system. While we traversed more than our fair share

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of hairpin turns, steep descents and slightly hairy situations, we didn’t get into any seriously dangerous towing situations – thanks to careful driving and the ESC on the back, no doubt. It’s also worth remembering that ESC is designed to continue operating while you’re off the beaten track, unlike most other similar products that will automatically switch off as soon as they sense a corrugation or two. ESC continues to operate offroad, keeping you safe at all times. One thing’s for sure, the next time we decide to take a bunch of caravans to the High Country, I bags the one with ESC ﬁtted!

Top: AL-KO’s ESC uses lateral acceleration sensors to detect sideways movement. Above: The right amount of braking force is delivered to avert a dangerous driving situation.

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S EE

THE VIDE

r a v a n w o r ld

s i g n i e e S

BELIEVING Vision adds safety – and peace of mind – to any adventure while towing. PICS JACK MURPHY

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Product test: Clearview tow mirrors

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I WORDS PETER QUILTY

Clockwise from far right: The mirrors easily handled tough offroad tracks and creek beds without any irritating vibrations; There’s a ‘driving’ position and a ‘towing’ position to cover all bases; An unobstructed view of all vehicles behind gave Pete peace of mind when behind the wheel.

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t can be mentally demanding towing a caravan or camper trailer in any environment. And, at the end of the day, the most important factor is arriving at your holiday destination in one piece – that applies to yourself, your passengers and your rig. So the catch-cry ‘vision is safety’ is paramount while adventuring throughout Australia with an RV in tow. While some RV safety measures are clearly prescribed and legislated, others are a little hazier. And, for many, towing mirrors ﬁts in that category. Some caravanners would not be caught dead (or by the police!) without them, others believe the laws – which differ in every state and don’t clearly state tow mirrors are legally required – have a little more room for interpretation. But ensuring the safety of yourself, your family or friends and other road users, should take priority over semantics. So when it came to picking tow mirrors to kit out our convoy on AL-KO’s Toughest Tow Test, there was one clear winner – the toughest and strongest options on the market: Clearview replacement mirrors. While many styles of tow mirrors clip or strap on to your existing side mirrors, Clearview are a

replacement style which require removing your factory-ﬁtted mirrors. But the upside is a super solid platform which will not get blown in or off by passing trucks or strong gusts of wind, as many other styles commonly do.

FIND AND REPLACE I had the full replacement Clearview mirrors ﬁtted to CW’s Toyota LC79 Series in preparation for the AL-KO Toughest Tow Test at Clearview’s headquarters in Craigieburn, Vic. They removed the factory-ﬁtted Toyota mirrors and the Clearviews were attached in a matter of minutes using the existing drilled holes, meaning there was no damage to the car and the factory mirrors could be replaced, if required. I set off the following day for Dargo, with the New Age Wallaby in tow. As soon as I hit the

“Clearview mirrors are the toughest and strongest on the market.”

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Product test: Clearview tow mirrors

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Above: The Clearview replacement mirrors use the same drill holes as your vehicle’s factory-fitted mirrors, which means there’s no hassle or risk of damage when installing them. Below left: The mirror head can slide out an extra 100mm and offers both flat and convex glass surfaces to eliminate all blind spots.

WIN! THE ULTIMATE TOUGH TOWING KIT (INCLUDING A SET OF CLEARVIEW MIRRORS), VALUED AT

$6811 ENTER AT: WWW.WITHOUTAHITCH.COM.AU/WIN

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Monash Freeway out of Melbourne, I relaxed into the drive, largely thanks to the excellent view afforded by the Clearviews. I had peace of mind knowing I could clearly see any vehicles ranging up on my sides, and it was reassuring to have unobstructed sight of the vehicle immediately behind, just in case I had to brake suddenly or take evasive action to avoid an accident. I could also take solace that I wasn’t driving blind. I’ve had several brands of towing mirrors over the years, many of which have failed to provide an adequate line of sight while towing, but the Clearviews are a different kettle of fish altogether. Further, they gave me confidence and certainty when changing lanes or overtaking. In the ‘driving’ position (as opposed to ‘towing’), Clearview mirrors boast a larger surface area and a wider outwards reach of about 100mm over standard side mirrors. And, for towing purposes, the mirror head can slide out to give an additional 100mm. But the interesting thing is that the mirrors comprise two different glass surfaces (flat and convex) that provide important visuals for the driver. The larger top mirror (flat) can reflect vision directly down the sides of your caravan or camper trailer, while the smaller bottom (convex) mirror eliminates blind spots with immense vision out to the lanes beside your vehicle. Another feature I like is the steel arms through the centre of the mirrors. The cams are welded to the arms in Melbourne for better quality control and consistency. The resultant strength means they won’t vibrate or get pushed back by passing trucks, which is a constant source of annoyance while towing – for me and countless other caravanners. The mirrors are also designed to manually fold inwards and outwards towards the car – an

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Product test: Clearview tow mirrors

attribute I utilised often when parked in a tight space while free-camping during the Toughest Tow Test.

OFFROAD ABILITY The mirrors made highway cruising a breeze, but they were just as effective once we journeyed offroad in the High Country. They easily handled the vibration of the dirt roads we travelled on, with no movement visible to my eye – another bugbear with many towing mirrors. Even the notorious 93km stretch between Licola to Jamieson created no instability in these mirrors. And while I was traversing down offroad tracks in the alpine region, I could clearly see the logging trucks and gold mining trucks that were coming up behind.

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THE FINE PRINT There’s no doubt the Clearviews are tough and durable, but I admit that I was surprised how well they handled the rough conditions on our Toughest Tow Test. The mirrors are compliant with all applicable Australian Design Rules, ensuring their legality in all states and territories of Australia – great for drivers’ peace of mind. The pair I chose had a textured black ﬁnish, but they are also available in chrome, in manual or electric conﬁgurations, and with or without indicators. And they’re now compatible, after endless hours of development, with a massive range of 32 different vehicles including Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Ford, Chevrolet, Holden, Isuzu, Mazda, Jeep, and Land Rover.

Above: The mirrors give great views of the road – and traffic – behind.

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Global WORDS PETER QUILTY

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GIANT

AL-KOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Australian story is a rags-to-riches chronicle of revolutionary growth in a specialised international market.

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The history of AL-KO

rom a small South Melbourne factory in post-WWII era Australia to punishing its products in the unforgiving Victorian High Country in 2017, AL-KO has come a long way in the past 71 years. AL-KO’s Australian story had its genesis back in 1946 with the establishment of Hornsby Engineering in South Melbourne, Vic – a company which produced axles and braking systems for the caravan industry. Since then, there have been several acquisitions by the company, eventually leading to the formation of parent company DexKo Global Inc. in 2016 – a strategic alliance between AL-KO and Dexter to become the global market leader in caravan, motorhome and trailer axles and components. And more recent product innovation and development, complemented by investment in engineering and technology, has cemented ALKO’s status in a specialised worldwide market. The AL-KO Toughest Tow Test aimed to put some of AL-KO’s latest, and some of its staple, products under the pump in the High Country, to see how they’d handle terrain most caravanners wouldn’t attempt. This included the Enduro Outback offroad independent trailing arm suspension and the newly-released OffRoad Coupling, as well as AL-KO’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC), 50mm ball coupling and Outback leaf spring suspension, which has been part of caravanners’ lives for much longer. When ESC was released in May 2012, it

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Clockwise from main: AL-KO has grown from small beginnings into a huge modern corporation; Tow-testing suspension and axles in 1992; An old factory in Hallam, Vic.

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was a revolutionary, world-first breakthrough in caravan towing safety. Since then, the Australian caravan industry’s overall uptake (both new and aftermarket) has been phenomenal. After seeing these products perform up close and in the flesh under testing conditions in the High Country, I headed out, upon my return, to AL-KO’s main manufacturing facility and Australian head office and in Dandenong South, Vic.

Clockwise from right: AL-KO traces its origins back to Hornsby Engineering in 1946; All axle steel is Australian-made; AL-KO Australia HQ in Dandenong South, Vic; AL-KO’s technical manager Rob Funder; An axle assembly line in 1993.

AL-KO: A History of Innovation 1946: Hornsby Engineering is founded in South Melbourne, producing axles. 1974: Girlock Caravan and Trailer Parts acquires Hornsby Engineering and combines with two other companies in Sydney and Brisbane to become Australia’s largest manufacturer of axles. 1986: Masport AL-KO established as a joint venture in Australia by acquiring Girlock Caravan and Trailer parts. 1988: AL-KO buys out joint venture partner

and establishes offices throughout Australia, with international involvement in New Zealand and South East Asia. 2016: DexKo Global Inc. formed as a strategic alliance between AL-KO and Dexter to become global market leader in caravan, motorhome and trailer axles and components. DexKo Global Inc. also acquires MTCS. 2017: AL-KO and Dexter brands come together in the Australian market.

Melbourne Trailer and Caravan Supplies 1968: Melbourne Trailer and Caravan Supplies (MTCS) established by Tom Henry as a one-man business with a single shop in East Bentleigh on 30sqm premises. 1973: MTCS establishes a small factory in Cheltenham to do warehousing, welding and repair work, followed by a move to larger premises in Cheltenham and Moorabbin. 1976: MTCS appointed the exclusive Australian distributors for the Dexter Axle company. 1982: MTCS combines office, factory and warehouse under one roof in Moorabbin and

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commences national supply shop. 1994: Continuing company growth creates the need to relocate to a 3000 sqm facility in Warrigal Road, Cheltenham. The business then employed a staff of 32 and CNC machinery was implemented. 2000: MTCS again outgrew premises and moved to a 4500sqm facility in Chelsea Heights consisting of offices, machine shop, repair and service centre, showroom and warehouse. 2016: DexKo Global Inc acquires MTCS. 2017: AL-KO and Dexter brands come together in the Australian market.

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The history of AL-KO

AL-KO product history FACTORY FLOOR AL-KO’s technical and manufacturing manager Rob Funder walked me through several assembly lines, and I was also introduced to a team of mechanical engineers who develop and test the products. It was a real eye-opener, and just a few of the processes I witnessed included: axle and stub machining; manual and robotic welding; electronic component assembly; motorhome chassis assembly; machining of raw castings for hubs, disc rotors and brake drums; and brake actuation system manufacture and assembly. Funder, who has been with AL-KO for 43 years, has seen many pivotal changes for the business in that time. In fact, he was a member of an AL-KO crew that designed the ﬁrst electric braking system for caravans in Australia. “We’ve taken some very big leaps,” he said. “In the formative days, manufacturing our own trailer couplings was a big ﬁnancial investment. And we once had zero market share in the trailer springs market.” He recalls the days AL-KO was involved with hydraulics in the marine industry, and says that developing a disc brake calliper got the company a foot in the door of the high-end caravan market. Other watershed moments include the advent of ESC, motorhome chassis assembly, and the

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1991 – Snap-on couplings 1992 – Electric couplings 1993 – Disc brakes 1994 – Mechanical brakes 1995 – Jockey wheels 1996 – Swivel jockey wheels 1997 – Offroad electric brakes/ winches 1998 – Slipper springs 1999 – Rocker-roller springs 2000 – Corner steadies/bearing kits 2001 – Sensabrake 2002-03 – Drop-down corner steadies 2003 – AMC chassis (imported) 2004 – Landing legs 2005 – Wheels and tyres 2006 – Mechanical callipers 2007-08 – Aftermarket range 2009 – SensaBrake (Australian production) 2010 – Offroad coupling 2011 – Slide-outs 2012 – Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and AMC chassis (Australian production) 2013-14 – iQ7 (Air/Hydraulic brake actuator) 2015 – Anti-theft GPS tracking system (ATS) 2016 – Enduro independent trailing arm suspension tradervs.com.au

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The history of AL-KO

From top: On the January 30 this year, AL-KO celebrated a significant milestone as the 1000th AMC chassis in Australia rolled off the production line; The Hon Richard Dalla-Riva and AL-KO’s Sven Mannfolk at the official opening of AL-KO’s Recreational Vehicle Technology Centre and the launch of AL-KO ESC; AL-KO puts ESC to the test in wet, slippery conditions.

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development of two iQ7 power-assisted braking models, the iQ7 Outback and iQ7 Outback XTREME, for caravans with disc brakes in dusty conditions. “AL-KO ESC has given caravanners a high level of safety and security when they are towing,” Funder said. “If and when the caravan is out of control, they have added conﬁdence that ESC will intervene to bring it back into line.” The Enduro independent trailing arm suspension systems (Outback and Cross Country) are rugged and speciﬁcally designed for AL-KO’s key applications. “We’ve also worked on a lot of things, including the heat dissipation

“The Enduro independent trailing arm suspension systems are rugged and specifically designed for AL-KO’s key applications”

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS …

Whether you plan to explore Australia a month at a time, getaway to your favourite holiday spot on a regular basis, or set off on a lap with no fixed return date, your Jayco will make you feel right at home every moment you’re away. The simple things in life are always the best, and a feature packed Jayco makes them easier to discover, and easier to enjoy. So start planning your Jayco adventure today. Visit jayco.com.au or call 1300 52926 78 to find your nearest Jayco dealer.

CAMPER TRAILERS

POP TOPS

EXPANDAS

CARAVANS

TOY HAULERS

MOTORHOMES

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that’s where a Jayco will take you

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The history of AL-KO

Clockwise from top: Motorhome chassis assembly is completed on high tech accurate jigging; AL-KO’s Enduro trailing arm suspension is growing in popularity at a staggering rate; Hon Richard Dalla-Riva and Charlie ‘Handle Bars’ Kovacs at the ESC launch; Enduro Outback suspension is one of its latest offroad innovations.

of our shock absorbers,” Funder said. “And our coil springs are locally produced; they’re of better quality than those from overseas and we’ve just had to swallow the cost implications.” The simple philosophy behind the introduction of the new and improved AL-KO Off-Road Coupling, according to Funder, was the need for a self-aligning offroad hitch suitable for a 50mm standard towball. “We listened to consumer feedback on our ﬁrst version and, as a result, the revised model is much more user-friendly,” he said. “Consequently, industry acceptance of this latest coupling is quite strong.” A Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee, AL-KO invests heavily in the latest state-of-the art tools to ensure it’s able to adapt to changing consumer needs utilising 3D modelling, ﬁnite element analysis and coordinate measuring technology in addition to robotics and CNC machinery.

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NOVA FAMILY ESCAPE: Pack the family and hit the road in your very own tailor made caravan designed specifically with your family in mind. With the kids at one end and yourselves at the other, have the peace of mind knowing that everyone is taken care of. Your dream holiday is just one escape away.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER or VISIT OUR WEBSITE NOVACARAVANS.COM.AU

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Jayco Adventurer

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On the 20th anniversary of the cult Australian movie The Castle, Pete Quilty visits infamous Bonnie Doon with the Adventurer – the first-ever offroader from another iconic Aussie, Jayco. PICS STUART GRANT

In brief... 5.79m (19ft) tandem-axle offroader Jayco’s ‘toe dip’ into offroad waters Purpose-built for tackling the rough-and-tumble

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WORDS PETER QUILTY

Clockwise from left: The heavyduty external slide-out kitchen makes outdoor living much more convenient and fun; Fully redeveloped JTECH suspension allows the Adventurer to handle harsher environments; Grey fibreglass cladding and bad-boy black checkerplate give this van a true offroad aesthetic.

Measuring up Pros Smooth fibreglass cladding Stylish decor R&D behind JTECH suspension Off-grid prowess

Cons Some slide-out drawers are slightly ‘sticky’ Microwave set too high

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e’re going to Bonnie Doon… We’re going to Bonnie Doon. That iconic, but repetitive, song kept playing through my head after I collected the 5.79m (19ft) prototype Jayco Adventurer tandem-axle offroader from the company’s HQ in Dandenong South, Vic. I rendezvoused with CW photographer Stu Grant at the quaint township of Yea before the 70km leg to picturesque Bonnie Doon – gateway to Mt Buller and Victoria’s High Country – where we set up base camp on the banks of legendary Lake Eildon. “How’s the serenity? So much serenity,” I quipped. No doubt I was driving Stu crazy but the parallels with the iconic 1997 Australian comedy film The Castle were simply irresistible. And since it’s The Castle’s 20th anniversary this year, what better way to honour a great Australian movie than by paying homage with a great Aussie caravan at the film’s most iconic location, I thought? As Stu went to work with his camera, I decided to do like family patriarch Darryl Kerrigan (aka Michael Caton) and opted for a spot of fishing, sans speedboat. I’m told the main target species in Lake Eildon include brown and rainbow trout, Murray cod, golden perch, redfin and European carp. So, with my trusty fishing rod in hand, I confidently strode towards the water’s edge. And yet again, The Castle came to mind. After all, Darryl reckoned, “fishing is 10 per cent brains and 95 per cent muscle, and the rest is just good luck”. Sadly, his words of wisdom didn’t help me. All I caught was a cold! So, feeling like a real fish out of water, I retreated back up the riverbank to the Adventurer – Jayco’s first ever foray into the offroad caravan market.

SO WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS? Jayco has taken the bull by the horns with its Adventurer, and purpose-built it for exploring rugged conditions and equipped it for extended travel. In the past, the closest Jayco has ventured into the offroad market is by offering a roughroad Outback upgrade to some models. So what is the rationale behind a move into the true offroad caravan genre? Jayco sales manager Scott Jones says it was a “natural step” for Australia’s largest RV manufacturer. “We had not entered this market in the past, but have successfully built semi-offroad units (Outback) for many years,” Jones said. “We wanted to have the product right prior to launching and we believe our new offroad unit will be exactly what the market needs as it’s full of features, highly capable and great value.”

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Jayco Adventurer

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jayco has taken the bull by the horns with the Adventurer and purpose-built it for exploring rugged conditions.â&#x20AC;?

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Production versions of the Adventurer are expected to go on sale to the general public in August this year. Jayco’s top-line ethos with the Adventurer will certainly appeal to the discerning caravanner who wants to tackle the rough stuff in true comfort and style.

IT’S THE VIBE The Adventurer sports a ﬁbreglass (Jayco Tough Frame) frame, but it’s the grey ﬁbreglass cladding complemented by black checkerplate front, back and sides that give it the look of a genuine offroad brute. And a brute it is, with a Tare weight of 2809kg and a generous payload of 690kg that takes the ATM to an intriguing 3499kg. But things get even more interesting once you take a squiz underneath the van. It comprises a 6in hot-dipped galvanised chassis and fully redeveloped JTECH suspension, which is the product of two years’ new research and development at Jayco’s Melbourne headquarters. The independent coil suspension replaces beam axles with individual stub axles, allowing each wheel to react independently to the road’s surface. Jayco says the addition of a second shock absorber improves the durability, as well

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Jayco Adventurer

Clockwise from far left: The kitchen has all the mod-cons although the microwave is a bit high; The comfy lounge offers plenty of leg room; Jayco’s design cred means the Adventurer is a very comfortable offroad tourer.

Jayco Adventurer Weights and measures Overall length 8.23m (27ft) External body length 5.79m (19ft) External body width 2.49m (8ft 2in) Travel height 3.06m (10ft) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tare 2809kg ATM 3499kg Payload 690kg Ball weight 255kg

External

as ride and handling, making it better suited for travelling in harsher environments. Jayco really hasn’t missed a trick with the Adventurer’s versatile external attributes. It’s ideal for lengthy stays off-grid while also performing well as a comfortable tourer and even an entertainer. You could take it to faraway places and stay there for days, courtesy of its capacious battery (2x100Ah), solar (2x150W) and water (3x82L fresh; 1x75L grey) storage, while the exterior shower, slide-out stainless steel kitchen with provision for a Weber, plus an entertainment unit make life outside more fun

and comfortable. The external kitchen is a great addition to this van, with self-supportive heavy duty slides, a utility drawer for cutlery and cooking utensils and a sink with hot/cold water. I was quite impressed with the Adventurer’s spacious front storage locker, which incorporates an offside slide-out tray and sits behind two jerry can holders and twin 9kg gas cylinders. A stone shield wasn’t ﬁtted to Caravan World’s test van, but Jayco assures me that it will be a standard inclusion on the Adventurer. Meanwhile, a full-width tunnel boot increases the external storage.

Frame Fibreglass (Jayco Tough Frame) Cladding Fibreglass Chassis 6in hot-dipped galvanised Suspension JTECH independent coil Coupling Hitchmaster DO35 Brakes 12in electric Wheels 245/70 R16, with 16in alloys Water 3x82L (fresh); 1x75L (grey) Battery 2x100Ah Solar 2x150W Air-conditioner Roof-mounted Gas 2x9kg Sway control AL-KO ESC Kitchen Slide-out stainless steel kitchen with Weber provision

Internal Cooking Thetford four-burner stove/ grill/oven Fridge Waeco RPD-218 compressor fridge/freezer 218L Microwave Sphere Toilet Thetford ceramic bowl Shower High-grade acrylic, with sliding glass door Lighting 12V LED Hot water Suburban gas/electric 22L

Options fitted

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None

Price as shown $92,464 (on-road, Vic)

More information

QUEEN BED

To enquire about this caravan, please visit www.caravanworld.com.au/spec or phone 1300JAYCORV SEAT

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Legend Wild Native

Clockwise from top: Sleep tight on the queen bed with orthopaedic slats; Plenty of under-bed storage to tuck away extra items; You’ll have stacks of juice in remote locations thanks to two 100Ah and two 150W solar batteries; A nice inclusion are handy pockets for essential reading materials...

It would be remiss of me not to mention the attention to protection on this van – including side brush guards and rear departure angle to aid clearance over offroad angles. It also has a single reversing camera, LED worklight and two spare wheels at the rear.

Ratings 1. Value for money 2. Towability 3. Liveability 4. Suitability for intended touring 5. Layout 6. Quality of finish 7. Build quality 8. Creature comforts 9. Innovation 10. X-Factor

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HOW’S THE SERENITY? The inside of the Adventurer, with its timber-look doors, showed an impressive level of attention to detail. All the cupboard doors and drawers have positive locks, soft-close ﬁxings and heavy-duty runners. A good night’s rest is pretty much guaranteed in the front bedroom, as the caravan-queensized bed comes with a premium innerspring mattress and orthopaedic slats. I certainly had no complaints after my stay in the Adventurer. There’s also abundant storage, so much so you wouldn’t have any trouble taking all your home attire for a long-term trip away. The fully-equipped kitchen and lounge with leather upholstery exemplify the ultra-modern interior, as does the rear ensuite. The galley has all the requisite mod-cons including a Thetford four-burner stove/grill/

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Jayco Adventurer oven, massive 218L Waeco compressor-driven fridge/freezer that will be revered in tropical locales, Sphere microwave (which I thought is positioned a tad too high) as well as a small pull-out pantry. I also enjoyed a few relaxing moments on the extremely comfy lounge. There was plenty of legroom and the large table was ideal for spreading out my travel maps, etc. The bathroom contains a modish vanity, including a porcelain bowl basin with a fountain tap. There’s also a Thetford ceramic bowl toilet with swivel seat and a cleverly concealed Sphere 3kg top-loading washing machine, which I reckon is not only a luxury but also a necessity when off the beaten track. But the show-stealer is the enclosed modern design shower with exhaust. It features highgrade acrylic surrounds with a sliding glass shower door, which is a real space-saver. To be honest with you, I’d jump at the chance to replace my ﬂimsy shower recess at home with this Jayco version. Meanwhile, a roof-mounted air-conditioner and Dometic Truma E2400 gas ducted heater take care of climatic control.

SO MUCH SERENITY But, before we left, it was first things first – I just had to take a paddle in my kayak as a haunting mist arose from the idyllic waters of Lake Eildon. I was surprised just how much the lake had receded, considering the record rainfall that fell in October last year had increased water levels so dramatically that those locals partial to a frothy or two had been able to travel to the Bonnie Doon Hotel by boat! We hit some trying tracks that day but didn’t push the Adventurer (hitched to a Toyota LC79 Series) to the absolute limit. It comfortably took us to out-of-the-way destinations and revealed how easily it could handle the rugged terrain within the Mansfield Shire, and that’s the appeal of the Adventurer, I think.

Below: The Adventurer’s bathroom offers a modern look with earthy tones and all the conveniences needed to stay off-grid.

TELL HIM HE’S DREAMIN’… After a couple of days inspecting, photographing, videoing and just enjoying the Jayco Adventurer, we unhitched and took the soft option on camp cooking, crossing bridge in pursuit of some pub grub at the Bonnie Doon Hotel. And what sumptuous meals; I had an Asianinspired salt and pepper squid stack which would have blown Darryl Kerrigan’s mind, while Stu settled for a chicken parma which overlapped the plate! As it turned out, our eyes were too big for our stomachs. The hospitality also extended to a convivial game of ‘killer pool’. Obviously the object of the game is to ‘stay alive’ and it saw these out-oftowners pitted against the locals, including hotel owner Gus Fleetwood. Each player is given three ‘lives’, and if you fail to sink a ball on your turn, you lose one life. It was $5 per person to play and, from a ﬁeld of 10, it all came down to Gus and I. He had one life left and I had two; I don’t know if it’s a Bonnie Doon thing, but as he marched to the billiard table with cue in hand, he asked me if I wanted to split the $50 kitty. My instant reply: “I’m a Collingwood supporter, so I’ll take my chances.” Fortunately, luck was on my side, but not so my beloved Magpies who went down that night to the Richmond Tigers. Anyway, my $50 sting helped ease the pain! We then returned to our base camp to rest up for the night prior to tackling some offroad touring the next day.

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Jayco Adventurer

NOT A HOUSE, IT’S A HOME

Above: The Adventurer looked at home perched on the banks of Lake Eildon. Above right: The cleverlyconcealed 3kg Sphere washing machine is perfect for life on the road.

The Jayco Adventurer is just not a caravan; it’s a home-away-from-home. And I reckon even Darryl Kerrigan would have agreed that a man’s offroad caravan should be his castle! Okay, it’s a $90K-plus van tipping the scales at a hefty 3500kg ATM, but it has all the bells and whistles and you do get what you pay for! Undoubtedly, the Adventurer is born and bred for hitting the road less travelled. I can hardly wait to return to the serenity of Bonnie Doon. And there’d be no complaints if I had a Jayco Adventurer along for company. What’s that I hear Darryl Kerrigan saying? “Tell him he’s dreamin’.”

The Wirraway 260 SL

raises the bar even higher with it’s full length slideout room and apartment styled layout !

View Our New Website to view All Models, Download Brochures &Virtual RealityTours For details contact: Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes, 6 Hynes Court, Mildura Vic 3500

Phone / Fax: (03) 50 230 230 - New Email: info@wirraway.com.au - New Website: www.wirraway.com.au #500 - Caravan World Wirraway 260SL Featured - 2112 RWG

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From WIRRAWAY, “Australia’s Most Innovative Motorhomes” Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellence. Our Motorhomes are our passion! Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the road. New to our Range is the brilliant Wirraway 260 SL, the latest in our 260 series; our Eurostyle 260 with it’s European styled interior; the “The Motorhome of the Year” the Wirraway 260 and the luxurious ‘live like a movie star’ Evolution 330SL A class. Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence, style and all the legendary design, electrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways. Each Wirraway Model is unique! - All are a Must See!

PRIVACY SCREENS

ACCESSORIES

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AWNINGS TOWING AND CHASSIS

Visit your local Camec Super Store or Camec stockist to see our extensive range of caravan and camping accessories. www.camec.com

PORTABLE FRIDGES

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SANITATION

TV AND AUDIO COVERS

SOLAR SOLUTIONS

DANGERZone

Tick all the option boxes and Zone RVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest Z-21.6 further resets large off-roader van standards. PICS NATHAN DUFF

In brief... 21ft 6in, high-tech offroader Custom-built with stacks of optional extras Automotive and luxury marine standards construction and finish

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Zone RV Z-21.6 Off-Road

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he greatest compliment you can pay any caravan manufacturer is to buy another van from them. Coming hot on the heels of its debutante victory at Caravan World’s signature caravan shootout, Best Aussie Vans in 2016 ($100K-plus category), it’s one that has already been paid to Queensland’s Zone RV. The 6.55m (21ft 6in) Z-21.6 Off-Road that we’re reviewing here replaced an earlier 6.25m (20ft 6in) Z-20.6 model for a Sunshine Coast businessman. Another impatient Zone RV customer, who was facing a wait of up to six months for a new van, made the upgrade a practical and economical proposition for the businessman by buying his pre-loved Z-20.6. “While our owner was very happy with his original 20ft 6in Zone, he and his wife really liked the extra space in the Z-21.6 Off-Road,” Zone’s marketing manager Denise Missen explained. “They love the luxury of having another foot in their latest van and the second time around they had more time to think about the additional upgrades and options they wished they had ordered on their original Z-20.6 Off-Road.” The upgrade is a further acknowledgement that the Coolum Beach manufacturer has tapped into a niche in the Australian caravan market, where customers are looking for automotive or marine standard materials and manufacturing in caravans and are prepared to pay for it. In this case, the end cost of $141,465 for the Z-21.6 is around $28,500 above the model’s base price, but if you’re shopping in this market, you will know that this is ballpark money for a tough offroader with this level of features. The fact that Zone RV can already play in this lofty league after only a couple of years on the market is testament in itself to its quality and the wordof-mouth endorsement the company’s customers have given it to date. The Z-21.6 Off-Road we reviewed certainly showcased just what this new kid on the block is capable of. From the outside, it looks smart with its smooth white walls with curved edgecapping but is disarmingly conventional. Only its unusual ‘beaked’ drawbar, which curves

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WORDS MICHAEL BROWNING

Clockwise from right: The screen door is a funky hourglass design; Zone RV’s timberless contruction makes it an impressively rigid monocoque structure that can handle the rough stuff; The optional Vehicle Components’ Cruisemaster XT-Air Bag Suspension Stage 4 is a premium addition for offroading; When it’s time to fire up the barbie, simply slide it out and you’re away; The upgraded suspension incorporates two telescopic shocks per wheel.

Measuring up Pros Hi-tech construction Offroad strength Great ground clearance Long-term touring ability

Cons No lithium battery for the price No built-in pole carrier No merit plug for portable solar panel

down to the hitch for improved ground clearance and is gusseted underneath for extra strength, initially caught my eye. The all-ﬁbreglass composite body has impressively clean styling and is relatively unencumbered, devoid of the ‘bling’ of many of its rivals. Grey Raptor urethane coating is used liberally on the lower body sides, instead of checkerplate, to repel stones and the same twopack heavy-duty coating has also been applied to the chassis, the A-frame, toolbox, stoneshield frame, wheel arch moulds, rear bumper and pole carrier – in fact, anywhere that could be vulnerable to stone or scrub damage. Zone RV co-founder Dave Biggar said the Raptor coating adds less weight than the

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Zone RV Z-21.6 Off-Road

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Zone RV Z-21.6 Off-Road Weights and measures Overall length 9.5m (33ft 4in) External body length 6.6m (21ft 6in) External body width 22.40m (7ft 10in) Travel height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 5in) Tare 2820kg ATM 3500kg Payload 680kg Ball weight 185kg

External Construction Timberless construction with 32mm fibreglass floors and solid foam core walls and roof Chassis 150x50mm RHS DuraGal steel with 3mm Raptor coating Suspension Vehicle Components XTAirbag with Stage 4 Auto Level Control Brakes Electric-hydraulic disc Wheels/tyres 18in alloys with 275/70/ R18 light truck tyres Water 2x100L (fresh); 1x100L (grey) Battery 3x120Ah AGM Solar 400W roof-mounted flexible lightweight panels Air-conditioner Truma Grande Gas 2x9kg Stability control Dexter Kitchen Slide-out Bushmaster RV gas barbecue

Internal Cooking Swift 500 Series combo fourburner, grill and oven Fridge Waeco 218L compressor Microwave Samsung Toilet Cassette Shower Fibreglass Lighting LED Hot water Truma gas/electric Washing machine Daewoo 2kg wallmounted front-loader

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Options fitted

500mm drawbar extension; Thule bike carrier; Rear roof folding 10-step access ladder; Anti-flap kit with wall-mounting brackets; Black awning with black awning arms; Cruisemaster XT-Air Bag Suspension Stage 4; Electric-hydraulic disc brakes; Second rear spare wheel mount; 18in LandCruiser Sahara matched black alloy wheels with 275/70-18 tyres; Separate Surflow 12V water tank isolation system with three-way tap for drinking water; Additional 100L fresh water tank with aluminium tank armour; Third 120Ah AGM battery, plus 2000W inverter; Additional 100W solar panel (total 400W), Enerdrive 2000W ePRO inverter with auto switching; Eberspacher 12V diesel air heater; 2 additional Sirocco wall-mounted 12V fans; External Bushmaster RV barbecue, articulating side and utility drawer; Extra external LED lights; Lounge area bed insert to convert seats to a single bed; Waeco 218L compressor upright fridge/ freezer; Under-bed four-drawer storage module; Additional four drawers in vanity cupboard under sink; VANSAT Bluestar Automatic TV Satellite system including decoder

Price as shown $ 141,465 (drive-away, Qld)

More information To enquire about this caravan, please visit www.caravanworld.com.au/spec or phone 1300 134 446

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Zone RV Z-21.6 Off-Road

UNDER THE SKIN However, it’s not until you see how these caravans are put together that you begin to appreciate their signiﬁcant difference to other caravans. The millimetre-perfect accuracy to which Zone RVs are being built is truly impressive. Each van begins with a CAD drafting, from which all key components are CNC-cut – nothing too radical there – but it’s what happens next that makes the difference. In most caravan factories, the caravan moves along a production line, with each team adding more parts. But in the case of a Zone RV, the

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equivalent amount of checkerplate and can easily be touched up if scuffed or damaged. It certainly looks smart and complements the Zone RV’s exterior styling.

chassis is anchored to a rigid metal jig – just like a chassis aligner in a top-quality automobile repair facility – to ensure all key dimensions are maintained during the construction phase. All supplies are then brought to this bench on movable trolleys and the caravan is only unbolted when the major exterior and interior components have been fitted. This avoids any potential movement of the structure, ensuring that the finished product remains true to its original CAD dimensions. Zone RV boasts about its ‘timberless’ monocoque construction with good reason. In most caravans, a plywood floor is glued to the steel chassis, the vinyl flooring is then applied and the walls are then framed and screwed or bolted to this base. With the Zone RV, the floor is 32mm thick infused fibreglass, reducing the number of chassis cross-members required. Instead of timber, the furniture is framed from aluminium extrusions and when it is all in place, the walls and roof are bonded directly to both the floor and cabinets, ensuring that the result is a very rigid, monocoque structure. You might ask why this is important, given that more conventional caravans from other quality Australian manufacturers seem to do

FRIDGE

Clockwise from far left: A 500mm drawbar extension allows these owners to carry two jerry cans and an optional Thule bike carrier; Smart grey Raptor urethane coating is used on the lower panels instead of checkerplate to reduce weight; The classy grey and white exterior colour scheme extends inside; It’s a quick trip up the rear ladder to access the 400W roof-mounted flexible solar panels;

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telescopic shocks per wheel, and incorporates automatic level control to make it easier to set up on a sloping site.

DEVIL IN THE DETAILS While looking underneath, I took time to appreciate other Zone RV details, like the relative absence of heavy steel chassis crossmembers, the aluminium-shielded water tanks and the way all vulnerable piping is tucked away high and well out of harm’s way from snagging or stone strikes. It’s also interesting to see the way Zone RV deals with the mandatory ventilation for caravans ﬁtted with internal gas appliances. Instead of ‘breathing’ through the lower section of its solid Dometic security door, there are twin circular extractors to the rear of the water tanks that are designed to minimise dust intrusion. Other details, like the way the enclosure for the large 218L Dometic compressor fridge is fully dust-sealed from the interior of the van yet has a large ‘chimney behind it to breathe in hot weather, shows an impressive eye for detail.

SUSTAIN YOURSELF Above: The central lounge offers a very comfortable space for two for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

pretty well, but the difference can be appreciated on the road. A basic Z-21.6 tips the scales at a Tare weight of around 2535kg and can offer a payload of close to a tonne or more, if required. Because of its many upgrades, the Z-21.6 we reviewed was 285kg heavier at 2820kg Tare, but still boasted a good carrying capacity of 680kg. What this means on extreme rough road conditions is that you can tow it all behind a large, locally-available 4WD like a LandCruiser or Land-Rover, providing a very rigid platform for the tandem trailing arm suspension to deal with the undulations. In swapping to the longer Z-21.6, our test van’s owners took the opportunity to upgrades from already rugged Cruisemaster ATX coil spring to Vehicle Components’ premium XT-Air Bag Suspension Stage 4, which also comes with twin

Ratings 1. Value for money 2. Towability 3. Liveability 4. Setting up and hitching 5. Suitability for intended touring 6. Layout 7. Quality of finish 8. Build quality 9. Creature comforts 10. Innovation 11. X-Factor

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Inside, Zone RV has taken full advantage of the Z-21.6’s length to make it roomy and workable for long-term travellers. Unlike most caravan manufacturers, which use the term ‘offroad’ to refer principally to the caravan’s strength, damage proofing and ground clearance, Zone RV also uses this terminology to encompass sustainability in remote areas. Upgrades, including a third 120Ah AGM battery, a fourth 100W roof-mounted solar panel and a 2000W Enerdrive inverter, ensure that the owners of this Z-21.6 will be able spend quality time off the grid; although, if it was mine, I would prefer the extra solar panel to be portable rather than roof-mounted, allowing it to follow the sun if camped in the shade. An extra 100L of fresh water storage takes the total volume of the review van to 300L and, combined with 100L of grey water storage, should be plenty for stays of a week or more. The optional Shurflow 12V water isolation system is able to deliver fresh drinking water even if you fill your tanks from a river. Good storage space is another thing you need in a true offroad van, as the nearest supplies may be weeks away. The large A-frame storage box is large enough to hold a generator on one side, which can be accessed through a side door, plus room for hoses and power cables and a single jerry can holder on the other side. The fuel tank for the optional Eberspacher diesel space heater, twin 9kg gas cylinders and the optional Thule bike rack are protected on

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Zone RV Z-21.6 Off-Road Left: Hinged overhead kitchen cupboards allow space for items and also house the entertainment system. Below left: Drawers upon drawers will make travelling chefs pretty happy, and the van also boasts an optional Shurflow 12V water isolation system to deliver fresh drinking water.

the 500mm extended A-frame by a truck-mesh stone screen with large mud ﬂaps that are hanging beneath. A Bushman RV Explorer stainless steel barbecue slides out of the front left side locker to supplement the inside kitchen, while the corresponding locker on the other side of the body provides more storage room. Unlike some caravans, the Zone RV’s upper inside walls aren’t lined with the cupboards that you ﬁnd in most other caravans and this, combined with its large windows front and sides, gives the Z-21.6 an open, airy feel inside. Zone RV prefers drawers to cupboards because they locate things better in offroad

All-road Zone on the way As part of ambitious plans to grow the business from its current rate of seven completed caravans a month, Zone RV plans to introduce a new three-model range of all-road caravans by mid-year. Called the ‘Venture Series’, the new models will weigh less than existing Zone RV vans of similar length, thanks to their lighter chassis, all-road Vehicle Components CRS, rather than heavier ATX suspension, and a lower level of standard spec. As Zone RV defines it, a true ‘offroad’ caravan must not only have the ability to deal with difficult terrain, but also allow its occupants to live ‘off the grid’ for at least a week at a time. However, the Venture Series is not designed to go to the same remote areas, or be away from a mains power supply for as long, reducing the need to carry as many batteries, solar panels, batteries and water tanks.

More importantly, it will bring Zone RV’s timberless construction, unique one-piece composite floor and upper body panels, aluminium framed and PVC coated cabinetry and signature high-tech bonded monocoque construction within the reach of many more caravanners looking for the same level of quality and precision as in their offroad models.

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The new range will start to roll out of the company’s current and increasingly crowded factory by June, with three tandem axle models offered initially; the ZV-18.6, (18ft 6in), ZV-20.6 (20ft.6in) and ZV-21.6 (21ft 6in). The aim is to keep the full Venture range under 2.3t Tare, while ensuring that all models have a minimum

payload of around 800kg. To make this new volume possible, Zone RV is planning to move into new and larger premises in the Coolum Beach area where all operations can be carried out under one roof. The company is already feeling the space pinch at its current production rate, with cabinetry being built in a second factory in the area. tradervs.com.au

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Zone RV Z-21.6 Off-Road

Above: The van’s large interior windows allow oodles of natural light inside. Above right: How good is this optional four-drawer cabinet at the foot of the bed?

travel and thanks to optional four-drawer cabinet under the foot of the bed, a similar optional chest of drawers in the ensuite and a huge triple-decker pantry beside the 218L Waeco compressor fridge, there is no shortage of space for the supplies or clothing that you might need

on an extended remote area trip. The furniture is also smart and modern with PVC coating over aluminium making it light, yet attractive. Quality hardware is used on the cabinet drawers, while concealed catches are fitted on the upper cupboards. Another feature specified by this van’s owners with their upgrade was an infill cushion for the U-shaped dinette to convert it quickly into an additional, large single bed. It was interesting to review a caravan that has been built specifically by its owners to further improve on what is already a quality offroader and we applaud their choice and good taste. Quite simply, Zone RV with its option list gives anyone looking at the serious end of the off-road caravan market another ‘must’ to add to their shopping list.

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WILD

The Gidget Brumby Wild offroader puts a tough, modern spin on the nostalgic teardrop camper.

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Tested

Gidget Brumby Wild

In brief... Offroad teardrop camper Fitted with airbag suspension Extendable front bedroom/lounge Rear kitchen

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WORDS AND PICS MALCOLM STREET

Clockwise from top: Setting up camp is super-easy; The Brumby Wild has some impressive offroad cred with a Tare of 980kg; The Brumby's control panel is at the rear in the kitchen; Hot water at the ready thanks to the Hot Tap instantaneous system.

Measuring up Pros Front slide-out Rear kitchen with slide-out fridge Hot water Easily adjustable airbags Easy to set up

Cons A few fit and finish issues but it was model #1 Long delivery times but they are worth the wait

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here’s something quite fascinating about teardrop campers. They seem to capture the imagination of people from all walks of life – even those of us more accustomed to larger, more traditional rigs. They are still not hugely common on the highways and byways of Australia but their popularity has deﬁnitely grown in the past few years. Speaking as someone who thinks that we should be more proactive about downsizing, or at least reducing weight (both personally and in what we are towing!), I have been interested to see what the manufacturers of smaller caravans and campers are up to in this area. Gidget is a Brisbane manufacturer which builds all of its RVs in Australia. The company has been producing onroad teardrop campers for some years. Recently, the team has brought out an offroad range, the Brumby, which comes in two models – the standard Brumby and the Brumby Wild. The Brumby Wild canters in with a Tare weight of 980kg and an ATM of 1400kg, giving a surprising (for a camper of this size) load capacity of 420kg. For my review, Gidget was kind enough to supply me with a Range Rover, a very classy vehicle, I’m sure you will agree! However, one of the great beneﬁts of the little Gidget campers, even this offroad Wild, is that you can use a much smaller and lighter tow vehicle.

INTO THE WOODS Not far north of Brisbane, I found plenty of places to put the Brumby Wild through its paces. There are Bribie or Fraser islands for a start but, since I was riding solo, I opted for the forested roads around Caboolture, rather than

Tested

Gidget Brumby Wild

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Clockwise from left: A neat little spot for a 9kg gas cylinder; The slide-out rear kitchen with a 95L Waeco fridge is a real design winner; The three-burner cooker and sink combo offers enough versatility for the travelling chef.

hitting the sand, and this certainly gave me a good idea of the Brumby’s capabilities while out in the wild. One of the things that really impressed me was discovering the Brumby had airbag suspension – something which is usually only found on much bigger, heavier trailers. The Cruisemaster XT Air independent trailing arm suspension is fitted with quad gas shock absorbers, fully automated, remote-controlled auto levelling, heavy duty compressor, dual digital pressure gauge, an 8L air tank, tyre inflation coil and wand, wireless remote control and self-levelling features. It’s designed to make adjusting the airbag pressure, as well as inflating and deflating the tyres for offroad work, very easy.

Toorbul Bird Sanctuary During my travels with the Brumby Wild, I came across a migratory bird roosting site at Toorbul, east of Caboolture. It’s part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park. When I say ‘came across’ that is exactly what happened because I accidently disturbed the birds when I walked over a low embankment. And that’s something the local council ranger is keen for people to avoid! The best time to see the birds is at or near high tide, when you can keep your distance without upsetting the flock.

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Tested

Gidget Brumby Wild

Gidget Brumby Wild Weights and measures Overall length 4.75m (15ft 7in) External body length 3.1m (10ft 2in) External body width 1.6m (5ft 3in) Overall width 2.24m (7ft 4in) Travel height 1.92m (6ft 4in) Internal height 0.95m (3ft 1in) Tare 980kg ATM 1400kg Payload 420kg Ball weight 95kg

External

The Brumby’s body sits around the galvanised chassis, rather than on top of it, which is much more common. It’s necessary, however, because the air space between the rails is used for part of the camper body. The drawbar rails are 150x50mm (6x4in) RHS while the main chassis rails are slightly smaller at 100x50mm (4x2in) RHS. All the chassis rails and components are made of 5mm steel. All Gidget campers have a ﬁbreglass composite body with ply timber walls and fully moulded ﬁbreglass components – and some come, as this one does, with a slide-out. The slide-out isn’t in the rear or side wall, as per most caravans or hard shell camper trailers, but into the front wall, effectively and cleverly

using the air space above the drawbar. Apart from its shape, one of the things that give the Brumby Wild its characteristic look is the retro mudguards, the glossy black ﬁnish and the fat chrome roof racks.

PULL UP AND SET UP Setting up the Brumby Wild is very easy. Lift the rear door for access to the rear kitchen and pull out the front slide-out. It’s just a matter of releasing the restraining bolts inside both doors and pulling from the front. Handily, the Batwing awning that can be ﬁtted off the roof racks takes less than a minute to set up. The front of the camper holds the bed, which measures 2.05x1.49m (6ft 9in x 5ft) and comes

Cladding Fibreglass/fibreglass composite Chassis Hot dipped galvanised; drawbar: 150x50mm RHS; subframe 100x50mm RHS Suspension Cruisemaster XT independent with airbags and twin shock absorbers Coupling Hitchmaster DO35 Brakes Electric Wheels 16in alloy x 7 with offroad tyres Water 160L; 40L (grey) Battery 3x120Ah Solar 1x110W Air-conditioner No Gas 1x9kg holder Kitchen Three-burner combo with stainless steel sink Sway control No Shower Yes

Internal Fridge Waeco 95L Microwave No Toilet No Lighting12V LED Hot water Hot Tap instantaneous

Options fitted None

Price as shown $59,950 (on road, Qld)

SOLAR PANEL

SIDE OUT CURVED FRONT

SKYLIGHT

More information

To enquire about this caravan, please visit www.caravanworld.com.au/spec or phone (07) 3142 2410 DOUBLE BED

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Tested

Gidget Brumby Wild

Above: The front bed is made up of three cushions for but can be quickly converted into a 'lounge room' for two.

complete with side windows and reading lights at the head. The bed is made up of three cushions and two hinged ﬂoor panels which, if moved and lifted, create a very comfortable twoperson lounge facing the entertainment panel and comes complete with a foot well. When it’s not being used as a footwell, it can be used for storage. Along the rear wall there are plenty of storage compartments, including one for the battery charge and 12V fuse panel. The Brumby Wild’s kitchen area comes with a cooktop/stainless steel sink and two fridges, a

Ratings 1. Value for money 2. Towability 3. Liveability 4. Suitability for intended touring 5. Layout 6. Quality of finish 7. Build quality 8. Creature comforts 9. Innovation 10. X-Factor

Wild or tame Brumby? There’s a price difference of $15,000 between the more expensive Wild and the standard Brumby. The standard model comes with, among other things, Cruisemaster XT coil suspension, a Treg hitch, one 100Ah battery as well as a lower spec entertainment system. Gidget takes considerable pride in its product and the company backs that up with a five year structural warranty, two year suspension warranty and one year workmanship warranty. Gidget is an Australian operation but the popularity of its campers can see delivery stretch out to 12 months. So a little long term planning is required when ordering.

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Tested

Gidget Brumby Wild

35L Waeco and a 95L Waeco – one on a slide-out at the rear and another on a slide-out that ﬁts across the camper behind the kitchen bench. That certainly gives great fridge capacity for the long-term camper.

THE BOTTOM LINE The internal bedroom and lounge defines the appeal of the teardrop camper. There’s no flapping canvas like in a camper trailer and everything stays warm and dry inside. There’s no doubt in my mind that a teardrop like the Gidget Brumby Wild is the next successful step up from the on-road teardrops. It is best enjoyed in warm/fine weather but it could equally well be used in cooler areas, especially considering its offroad ability.

Above: The bed converts neatly into a lounge by day. Above right: A neat and functional entertainment unit.

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In brief... 6.45m 21ft 2in) tandem-axle Separate bathroom in rear Family layout with front island bed Triple bunks

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Tested

Option RV Tornado Equippe Family

y l i m a F

MATTERS

The five-berth Option RV Tornado Equippe Family is ready to take the whole family adventuring off the beaten track. The caravan you want is now easier to find

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hink of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and many will think immediately of sunshine, beaches and surfing, not to mention the stunning beauty of the Noosa area. However, there is another side to the Sunshine Coast – the beautiful hinterland area which features towns like Maleny and Montville, without forgetting the Kenilworth area, a little further to the north. I have explored this area a fair bit in recent years and I happen to know about a very nice coffee shop in the town of Kenilworth itself. Along the forestry roads between Montville and Kenilworth there are some interesting views of the surrounding district, not to mention a great drive through the Mapleton National Park (NP). This area is the home of Chevallum-based dealership, Caravan World, from where I had arranged to borrow an Option RV Tornado Equippe family bunk van. I’ve mentioned previously that family-friendly caravans can be a bit hard to find among all the ‘couples’ vans on the market. But they are definitely available, in every specification from rising roof campers with extendable ends to a hard-core, full offroad versions.

THE ROUGH STUFF Option RV’s Tornado ﬁts somewhere in between. It’s designed – in my opinion – for rough road, rather than full offroad, use. And there was

WORDS AND PICS MALCOLM STREET

ROOM FOR FIVE

Measuring up Pros Spacious for a family Good sized bunk beds for kids Toolbox storage on front drawbar Family-friendly fridge

Cons Small dining table for family meals Minimal prep space in kitchen Ladder for the bunk beds is a bit flimsy

Clockwise from left: Cavernous storage up front; Option RV has produced a very smart-looking van; Strong looking lines; Built tough down under.

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certainly no shortage of rough roads in the Sunshine Coast area to explore with the Tornado on the back of my tow tug. I do have to add a little word of caution here, though. I was out exploring the area recently and took a chance on a track I’d never been down before. While driving in was okay, extracting myself from the narrow track with a caravan on the back was a bit more difﬁcult and stressful. Lesson learned – be wary of towing your caravan, no matter what length it is, down unknown tracks without doing a recce ﬁrst, or sending a spotter ahead to check out the conditions!

With an external body length of 6.45m (21ft 2in), the bunk bed Tornado has an island bed up front for mum and dad, an L-shaped nearside dinette, offside kitchen, rear bathroom and triple bunks off to one side of the rear. The forward entry door means this can all be fitted in without compromising too much on space in the general layout. That said, the more or less fixed sizes of the island bed and the bunks means the kitchen and the lounge are on the smaller side for a van of this size. For a start, the L-shaped lounge and dining table will need an extra folding seat or two, depending on the number of family members, and the table is on the small side for family dining. The inner end of the lounge does have a hinged footrest but I’m fairly sure it’s rated for feet not body weight. The clever folk at Option RV have figured out that younger members of the family (not to mention the oldies), often travel with at least one electronic device each that requires charging via 12V/5V USB. So the outlets on the wall by the table are a great idea. There is also a mains double outlet alongside the low voltage outlets, as well. Now I have to admit that I’m not the chief cook in our house, but even I know that catering for

Tested

Option RV Tornado Equippe Family

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a family requires a bit more planning and a bit more space than for a couple, especially for the main meal of the day. So it ws great to see that this kitchen has all the features you’d expect from a family-friendly kitchen, including a four burner cooker, grill, oven, Dometic three-way fridge and a microwave. The cooktop has a ﬂush lid, which is good for creating extra food preparation space and, when you’ve got pots and pans bubbling away on the stove, you can use the drainer for prep space instead. The sink and drainer is oriented in an effective way that allows you to proceed from dirty dishes on the right to clean and/or draining dishes on the left. The 190L three-way fridge is a good size for a family and should keep you well supplied with food and drinks. This Tornado has triple bunks in the rear corner but you could just have two, if preferred. With the triple bunk setup, there is less head room for the upper occupant but you gain a bit

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Tested

Option RV Tornado Equippe Family

Clockwise from left: Loads of living space makes life easy for the family; Footrests extend out from the comfy lounge but are not suitable for sitting on; Power management is well sorted; Triple-stacker bunks for the kids; Mum and dad will enjoy a perfect view of the kids preparing breakfast!

Option RV Tornado Equippe Weights and measures Overall length 8.78m (28ft 10in) External body length 6.45m 21ft 2in) External body width 2.41m (7ft 11in) Internal height 1.97m (6ft 6in) Travel height 3m (9ft 6in) Tare 2220kg ATM 2720kg Payload 500kg Ball weight 140kg

External

well be a bit of a queue for the bathroom in peak periods and the caravan park amenities block could be a better option. But the onboard bathroom does provide the basics, including a separate shower cubicle, Thetford cassette toilet and a small vanity cabinet.

WEIGHT AND SEE

of general storage space when camped up. That extra space might be useful because, instead of a wardrobe, there’s a washing machine between the bunks and the bathroom. Handy if the kids want to do their own washing! Dream on, right? With sleeping berths for ﬁve, there might

The van’s ATM of 2720kg and Tare weight of 2220kg gives a healthy payload of 500kg but it creates an interesting problem in the towing department. A ute like a Ford Ranger or Holden Colorado could handle it okay, but I’d make the argument for using something like a Toyota LandCruiser, as I did for this test. A vehicle of that size gives not only comfort, but also plenty of reserve capacity in both engine and weight. The Tornado is built on a standard box section

Frame Meranti timber Cladding Aluminium cladding (roof/ walls), aluminium composite (front/rear) Chassis SupaGal box section Suspension Tandem-axle leaf spring Coupling AL-KO 50mm ball Brakes 10in electric Wheels 16in alloys Water 1x110Ah Battery 2x4kg Solar 1x150Ah Air-conditioner Aircommand Ibis Gas 2x9kg Sway Control No (optional)

Internal Cooking Swift 500 Series four-burner, grill, oven Fridge Dometic RMD 8551 190L Microwave NCE Toilet Thetford cassette Shower Separate cubicle Lighting 12V LED Hot water Suburban 23L gas/electric

Options fitted None

ROBE FRIDGE

BUNK BEDS

Price as shown $61,990 (on road, Qld) ROBE OR WM

QUEEN BED

TABLE TOILET ROBE

DINETTE

More information To enquire about this motorhome, visit www.caravanworld.com.au or phone (03) 9357 9711

SHOWER

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Tested

Option RV Tornado Equippe Family

Above: Plenty of room for mum and dad to relax down this end of the Equippe. Right: Underbed storage will swallow everything you’ve got.

Ratings 1. Value for money 2. Towability 3. Liveability 4. Suitability for intended touring 5. Layout 6. Quality of finish 7. Build quality 8. Creature comforts 9. Innovation 10. X-Factor

Table for five?

I’m not picking on Option RV alone here, because a number of manufacturers have this problem, but the dining table here is far too small to seat the family of five this van is designed to accommodate. The time has come for manufacturers to re-think

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the size of their table and mountings. I’ve seen smart table layouts, all in European-built RVs, where the table is extendable, either via a hinge or with a lower section that swings out. That requires rethinking the table mountings, too, but I think it can be done!

chassis with 150x50mm (6x2in) main and drawbar rails that come shod with load sharing leaf spring suspension for the tandem axles that are fitted with 16in alloy wheels. Both 95L water tanks are fitted forward of the axles, as is the battery box which sits on the offside chassis rail. A front tunnel boot is built into the aluminum composite/aluminium clad body but the drawbar-mounted alloy checkerplate toolbox is a welcome addition for the tools you invariably need when on the road. I thought the stainless steel grab handles mounted on each corner were a bit ironic. Sure, they’re more solid that those fitted in years gone by they are still more decorative than functional, given most users will never be capable of moving the van around by hand. More useful is a handle inside the entry door – something needed in many van, especially those that sit high off the ground. The electrics are pretty well sorted, with a 100Ah battery, 150W solar panel and most light switches and power points in the right places. Anyone considering going off the grid for

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Tested

Option RV Tornado Equippe Family

that in the ﬂoor level cupboard by the bed is the battery charger, 12V fuse panel (without labels) and even the breakaway power supply

THE BOTTOM LINE

Above: Compact design means the bathroom is well supplied. Above right: Natural light in the shower recess.

more than a couple of days at a time might like to consider a second battery, though. In the end locker above the kitchen bench, along with the radio/DVD player, are the solar panel regulator, hot water switch and water tank gauges. Below

Option RV has used what has become a fairly common layout for a bunk van with a bathroom and it works well, especially for travellers who are not spending too much time in the one place. Having a full annexe for the awning will certainly improve long stay living no end and give everyone a bit more room to move, which will make journeying in the Tornado a most pleasant experience for the whole family.

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Tested

Auto-Trail Delaware

y p p a H

trails With a new, more powerful engine, the four-berth British Auto-Trail Delaware motorhome is perfect for travelling with friends or family.

In brief... 8.04m (26ft 5in) motorhome Sleeps/seats four people Island bed in rear Garage storage area The caravan you want is now easier to find

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large percentage of motorhomes built in Australia are built for just two people, whereas those built in Britain and Europe will often seat and sleep four. A typical example of this is the Auto-Trail Delaware that I took for a spin after prising the keys out of Sydney RV. Perhaps I should have opted for a boat instead, though! It was a very rainy day for my test drive and the driest location I could find, other than inside the motorhome, was under the M4 freeway overpass at Emu Plains! Further west in the Blue Mountains, where I intended on travelling, it was rain, rain and more rain. There is a lot of debate about the relative pros and cons of motorhomes and caravans for travellers, and vans certainly have their conveniences, but not having to hitch or unhitch a motorhome when the weather is wet is a genuine bonus. Indeed, on a wet day, there’s very little need for stepping outside to do anything other than turn the gas cylinder on and hook up the electrical lead, which is conveniently located in

the external bin behind the Delaware’s driver’s cab.

UPRATED ENGINE

Words and pics Malcolm Street Clockwise from right: The entry door is typically European with a moulded garbage bin but no security screen; The gas cylinder bin is opened via a lever behind the passenger door; The Delaware wins points for its streamlined looks; There’s more grunt thanks to Fiat Ducato’s boosted 2.3L MultiJet turbodiesel engine.

Measuring up Pros Front lounge with alternative tables Storage capacity Rear island bed Split bathroom New 2.3L Fiat engine

Cons Location of flatscreen TV Rear passenger seat is a bit fiddly Small kitchen No security screen on entry door

I was interested in the new Delaware because it is powered by the equally new Fiat Ducato MultiJet 180 model with a 2.3L turbodiesel engine. Anyone familiar with the Fiat will know that the 2.3L engine had a lesser power rating than the larger 3L option but Fiat has now increased the power of the 2.3L to the same as the original 3L and to the latest Euro 6 specifications. European truck designers seem to be forever squeezing more power out of smaller engines and Fiat claims that the new engine will use 20 per cent less fuel than the older 3L engine.

HUGE PAYLOAD At 8.04m (26ft 5in) long, Auto-Trail’s Delaware is not a little motorhome but it still has a relatively light (for a motorhome) Tare weight of 3420kg which, with the specified GVM of 4495kg, results in very impressive payload of more than 1000kg. However, I’d be trying to carry a little less than that and just enjoy the space, fuel saving and lighter load. The gas cylinder bin is also worth mentioning – there are no external locks on the door; indeed, there are just two keys for the entire motorhome, and the bin door can be opened by a lever behind the passenger door. The Delaware is built mostly using laminated construction for the walls (40mm), floor (45mm) and part of the roof (40mm). All the moulded panels are fibreglass. Two other points of note are the entry door and awning. The door is typically European with a moulded garbage bin and umbrella holder, which came complete with umbrella – perfect for the rainy day I encountered while I travelled in the Delaware! While the door does have a sliding insect screen, it is not a security door. The awning is included in the roof moulding, so it’s fully recessed when it’s not being used which should help protect it from stray branches.

HIGH ON STYLE I think the Delaware wins points on looks – it’s called the Hi-line model because of the Luton peak bed but, because of the minimal bulge at the front, the Luton almost goes unnoticed. Of course, it always comes down to personal taste more than anything, but some motorhomes or caravans have a more welcoming interior than others. It might be the layout, it might be the colour scheme or it might just be the front lounge – which is exactly what attracted me to the Delaware. It was too easy to sit and relax!

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Tested

Auto-Trail Delaware

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Tested

Auto-Trail Delaware

Clockwise from far left: Both cab seats swivel to create a convivial and social space; A comfy front lounge is a design highlight; The Dometic 190L fridge is opposite the kitchen; A split European-style bathroom puts the shower beside the kitchen.

Auto-Trail Delaware Weights and measures External length 8.04m (26ft 5in) External width 2.35m (7ft 9in) Internal height 1.99m – 1.85m (6ft 6in – 6ft 1in) Travel height 3.1m (10ft 2in) Tare 1960kg ATM 3420kg GVM 4495kg

Engine

However, this motorhome does have a slightly enclosed feel about it which, in my opinion, is down to the dark cabinetry that is popular on motorhomes coming out of Europe. The entry door is located midway along the motorhome, which means the lounge and dining area is all towards the front. Both cab seats swivel around to meet a sideways lounge on the nearside and the L-shaped lounge behind the driver’s seat. It’s one of those versatile designs that works well because it fully utilises the swivelling cab seats. There are two forward-facing lap/sash seat belts but no apparent foot space for the window passenger. No worries, just remove the cushion and the seat base and there’s the foot space. And both rear passengers will get a good view of the open road.

In addition to the fixed and swivelling seats, there are two tables – a small round one fixed to the nearside lounge which can swivel between the seats, and a larger freestanding one that is stored in a purpose built cupboard beside the fridge. I like this sort of setup as there’s plenty of room for two with a choice of seats to occupy but you can also fit four for drinks or dinner quite easily. Newcomers to Auto-Trail motorhomes might spend time looking for the flatscreen TV as it’s not obviously visible. It folds down from the ceiling between the front cab seats where it’s out of the way in a convenient location, but can’t be seen from the front seats. There are windows either side of the lounge, the offside one being awning style but the nearside is a slider, which is the simple solution

Base vehicle Fiat Ducato Multijet 180 Engine 2.3L turbodiesel Gearbox Six-speed AMT Max power 130kW@3500rpm Max torque 400Nm

External Brakes ABS disc Fresh water 135L Grey water 85L Batteries 2x100AH Solar 1x100W Air-conditioner Truma Aventa Gas 2x9kg

Internal Cooking Thetford Caprice four-burner, grill and oven Fridge Dometic RM8551 190L three-way Microwave Daewoo Toilet Thetford cassette Shower Separate cubicle, flexible hose Lighting 12V LED Hot water Truma Combi 6E 10L

Options fitted None SEAT

LOUNGE

SHOWER

SINGLE BED

Price as shown $179,990 (drive-away, NSW)

OVER CAB DOUBLE BED

ROBE

SEAT LOUNGE

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FRIDGE TOILET

SINGLE BED

More information To enquire about this motorhome, please visit www.caravanworld.com.au/spec or phone (02) 4722 3444

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Auto-Trail Delaware

Above: The rear bed scores pretty well for tall people with a length of 1.9m (6ft 3in) and there is no shortage of storage space.

Ratings 1. Value for money 2. Driveability 3. Liveability 4. Suitability for intended touring 5. Layout 6. Quality of finish 7. Build quality 8. Creature comforts 9. Innovation 10. X-Factor

Rain, rain go away

Mal found the only dry spot around during his shoot with the Delaware – under an overpass!

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for the common problem of not being able to have both the door and the window open at the same time.

LIFE ON THE ROAD Just like the front lounge, the rest of the motorhome is designed for a comfortable lifestyle on the road with its European-style kitchen, split bathroom and island bed in the rear. There is certainly plenty of space for two people to live comfortably and there’s absolutely no shortage of overhead locker space and cupboards. Bed length can often be an issue in imported motorhomes but the Delaware scores reasonably well with the rear bed measuring 1.9x1.4m (6ft 3in x 4ft 7in) and the Luton bed 1.53x1.22m (6ft 1in x 4ft). The Luton bed folds back quite easily if it’s not needed, making access to the cab nice and simple. While the weather did its best to upset my test drive, it had no effect on the Delaware’s driving ability. I couldn’t detect any difference in power between the new uprated 2.3L unit and the older 3L unit but, unfortunately, I didn’t have the motorhome long enough to reliably check the fuel consumption over a long distance. However, I’m still glad Auto-Trail has opted for the most powerful engine in the Ducato fleet, not the lower rated engine that some choose. One of the criticisms directed at Fiat Ducatos is the perceived weakness of the front wheel drive. It’s certainly something to be aware of but, with care, the problems can be minimised. I spend time manoeuvring the Delaware

D FOR ENGINEERE

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Tested

Auto-Trail Delaware

around for photos on wet grass for this job, so keeping the front wheels on ﬁrmer ground when turning around deﬁnitely helped, and it really doesn’t matter if the rear wheels dig in a bit.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Above: The Luton peak bed is great for extra travellers. Right: The neat bathroom with toilet and vanity.

Despite the inclement weather, I really enjoyed my time in the Auto-Trail Delaware. Indeed, the front lounge is just great for relaxing into and watching the wet weather go by outside. Auto-Trail is a premium brand out of Britain and it really shows, with plenty of attention to detail. It’s an ideal motorhome for a couple and even more so if you have regular dinner or travelling guests!

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Tow Test Isuzu MU-X LS-U

MORE POWER to you ! The popular Isuzu tow rig gains a powertrain upgrade, but that’s not all you’ll find aboard the MU-X. PICS MATT FEHLBERG

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WORDS PHILIP LORD

he Isuzu MU-X has always been a bit of a favourite of mine, for its rock-solid towing stability and good towing fuel economy. However, it has also been a bit wanting in the power and torque department, compared to some of its opposition such as the Ford Everest and Holden Trailblazer. Isuzu has gone some way to address this with its latest version of the MU-X, the MY16.5. It’s had a big pull-though in the powertrain with more torque and a new transmission offering an extra ratio.

SO WHAT’S NEW?

Clockwise from above: The ‘new’ MY16.5 MU-X doesn’t look markedly different yet but the MY17 will; It’s spacious inside; The MU-X powerplant now matches its main rivals; Ready to hit the road.

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To look at it, you wouldn’t know that this is the ‘new’ MU-X – it looks identical to the MY16 (although there is a MY17 model just around the corner, which will feature a slight cosmetic upgrade). Yet, underneath that skin, there’s a completely revamped engine, now Euro 5 compliant, and offering 50Nm more torque than before, at 430Nm. This now puts the MU-X’s outputs up in

the same territory as a bunch of its competitors. Its torque is identical to the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (although it kicks in at lower revs than the Mitsubishi) and now just 20Nm less than the Toyota Fortuner and Toyota Prado. Of course, the Isuzu is still a long way behind the Ford Everest (with 470Nm) and the Holden Trailblazer (with 500Nm) in the torque department. The automatic transmission is also new, now a six-speed unit in place of the ﬁve-speed auto. Unfortunately, this new auto doesn’t have a Sport mode or paddle shifters – both of which are not just for driving fast; they are beneﬁcial for towing (although it does have a Manual mode). The auto also has an adaptive learning function, which senses when, for example, you need engine braking when going downhill and automatically downshifts a gear or two.

WHAT DO YOU GET? We tested the Isuzu MU-X LS-U, which is the mid-grade model in the 4WD range, costing $49,000 (plus on-road charges). Its key features

Tow Test Isuzu MU-X LS-U

are the 17in alloy wheels (including the spare wheel), fog lights, side steps, rear parking sensors and camera, climate control, cruise control and a six-speaker audio system, with Bluetooth phone connectivity. You can get the full list of options by checking out Isuzu’s web page linked in our Specs panel on the next page.

GETTING COMFORTABLE The Isuzu is spacious and comfortable inside and the family-friendly third row works well – although, like many such wagons, you get next to no storage space behind the seats when they’re being used. The Isuzu does feel dated in design and the plastics quality isn’t quite up there with some of the other wagons in its class. Other minor irritants include a trip computer that displays the Japanese-standard fuel consumption measurement (km/L) rather than the European (and Australian) convention of L/100km. Yet the basics of getting on with driving the MU-X are not stymied by crook controls or illegible instruments; it’s all easy to ﬁnd and work.

BRAKE CONTROLLER BLUES Electric brake controllers (EBC) are great things to have when you’re towing something heavy, but I’ve had a run of vehicles lately in which they have not been ﬁtted. In this case, it wasn’t Isuzu’s fault – another manufacturer‘s tow test vehicle I had lined up fell through, so the obliging Isuzu PR manager Dave Harding rustled up a new MY16.5 MU-X for me in no

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Clockwise from right: The fresh auto transmission features a new, adaptive learning function; Phil puts the new new MU-X’s bonus 50nm to the test; Easy to read instrument panel.

Isuzu MU-X LS-U Weights and measures Length 4825mm Width 1860mm Height 1830mm Wheelbase 2845mm Ground clearance 230mm Kerb mass 2050kg Gross Vehicle Mass 2703kg Gross Combined Mass 5750kg Towing capacity unbraked/braked 750kg/3000kg Towball (max) 300kg

Drivetrain

Engine 3L turbodiesel Transmission: Five-speed automatic Power 130kW at 3600rpm Torque 430Nm at 1800-2800rpm Gear ratios 1 3.600 2 2.092 3 1.488 4 1.000 5 0.687 6 0.580 Rev 3.732 High/low 1.000/2.482 Final drive 3.727

Options fitted Towbar

General

Fuel capacity 65L Suspension Coil springs, upper and lower wishbones (front); live axle, coil springs (rear) Brakes Ventilated discs (front); solid discs (rear) Wheels 7x17 alloy Warranty 5 years/130,000km Roof load 100kg More information www.isuzuute.com.au

Price

$49,000

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Ratings 1. Value for money 2. Towing performance 3. Hitching up 4. Creature comforts 5. Accessibility of spare parts 6. Fuel economy 7. Solo performance 8. Engine power 9. Innovation 10. X-Factor time – but he couldn’t get me one with an EBC with such short notice. That meant we were restricted to towing a van with override brakes, in this case weighing 1700kg. It’s not an ideal weight to test out the new MU-X’s 3000kg tow capacity but, then again, a 1700kg full-size tandem-axle van isn’t exactly a box trailer. It gave the Isuzu enough of a workout so I could see if the powertrain changes have made any difference.

DRIVING SOLO Some 4WD wagons have a brittle ride these days, thanks to too-ﬁrm suspension and lowproﬁle tyres unable to absorb road shocks very well – part of an effort to make them more car-like, or even sporty, to drive. In this regard, the MU-X is a bit of a traditionalist, which I think works in its favour – it has relatively tall tyres, which help to absorb bumps well, plus a compliant suspension. However, when driving quickly on bumpy highways, it can feel a bit soft even when unladen and, during cornering, it does feel planted. It’s just that it’s built for comfort over speed; if you want something fast to tackle your favourite mountain pass, this – more than other 4WD wagons – is not it. The Isuzu 3L diesel is a rattly thing when cold

and, while it quietens down when warmed-up, it still isn’t the quietest or smoothest of diesels when revved beyond around 2500rpm – even though Isuzu claims it has reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) with the new model. Luckily, with the new six-speed auto, you can get up to touring speed and it’ll drop revs nicely – it’s doing about 1500rpm in sixth at 100km/h. This is a pretty smooth transmission and its shift logic program is pretty intuitive, even when just idling around town. You ﬁnd the transmission helping to do some of the work of braking, rather than trying to get into the highest gear possible all the time. That extra 50Nm isn’t all that obvious when cruising around in the MU-X unladen, but turbo lag off idle seems slightly less obvious than in the old engine.

TOWING TIME We headed out of Sydney RV in Penrith, NSW, with an Adria 612 caravan attached behind the MU-X. With the Avida due back at Sydney RV by 5pm, we couldn’t exactly embark on a big tour. So we headed south, winding our way towards Picton with a quick visit to Warragamba Dam on the way. We’ve all done it – towing along a perfectly smooth highway at 100km/h to suddenly

Tow Test Isuzu MU-X LS-U

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Clockwise from above: Phil makes a few final checks to the Adria’s hitch coupling; Marks lost for uneven headlight beams (kidding!); The familyfriendly third row of seats has proven popular among Isuzu buyers but there’s precious little storage space behind; Badge of honour.

feel the road surface change to a rough or undulating one and the rig’s suspension starting to get a work out. Here, the MU-X’s front suspension does feel too soft, with the nose pitching without the amount of damping effort you’d want to quell the movement. Yet there is one constant though all of this: the MU-X feels totally planted on the road, with no yawing movement. It’s quite uncanny; no, the Isuzu won’t defy the laws of physics, so yes, it will yaw (sway) if provoked, but it needs to be quite a provocation for it to do so. Very impressive. Cruising at 100km/h, the MU-X is much quieter than before, able to access sixth gear quite willingly to sit at 1500rpm, and even then, if it needs more torque and selects ﬁfth gear, revs are sitting on just 1800rpm. While that extra 50Nm isn’t that obvious when driving solo, when towing you can feel the difference. The MU-X powers up hills much more easily than before. Even if you’re not aiming for the fastest speed you can achieve up a steep highway hill (where the new MU-X is undoubtedly faster), you don’t need to work the 3L engine as hard to achieve the same hillclimb speed as before. Engine braking downhill is also very good.

EASY ON THE FUEL With the 1700kg full-size tandem behind it, the MU-X achieved an average of 13.5L/100km. While this is a very competitive towing fuel

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Tow Test Isuzu MU-X LS-U Above: Isuzu’s steady evolution of the MU-X has resulted in quite a headturner by this stage. Left: The third row of seats is great for the school run, but boot space is heavily reduced when they are in place.

ﬁgure, the MU-X’s fuel capacity of 65L is less impressive. But, you’ll still get more than 400km touring range, which really gives you enough time behind the wheel to take a break anyway.

THE FINAL WORD Firstly, let’s be clear about what the Isuzu MU-X isn’t. It is not a towing warrior like a LandCruiser 200. It doesn’t ooze luxury or features, and its suspension doesn’t feel completely resolved when towing. Yet this vehicle wins you over with its rock-solid towing platform, good fuel economy and, now, very competitive towing performance. Thanks to Sydney RV Group, 9/20 Lemko Place, Penrith NSW 2750, (02) 4722 3444 for the loan of the caravan for this test.

Tow tested: Adria Adora 612PT Slide

The Adria Adora 612PT Slide and I are becoming like old friends, the van having accompanied me for three towing tests now. It’s proven to be an easy, stable van to tow.

While most European vans have a front lounge, this one is a bit more conventional in its layout. The two-berth Adora has a front island bed, centre kitchen/lounge and rear

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bathroom. This slide out extends the lounge area, making for a great living space. The 612PT Slide retails for $71,748. With a 1700kg Tare, 100kg TBM

and 2000kg ATM, the 22ft 3in (bodylength) Adora is very light for a large van with a slide-out. It can be towed by medium SUVs and even by the likes of the VFII Holden Commodore. tradervs.com.au

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THE KING is dead

Rest in peace traditional 4WD tow-tug, your work here is done. PICS MATT FEHLBERG, DAN EVERETT & SUPPLIED

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Special Feature Rise of the SUV

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I WORDS DAN EVERETT

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n days gone by, you couldn’t swing a cat in a caravan park without hitting some bulbous 4X4 or American pick-up hitched to the front of a van (not that we condone swinging cats). They were insanely popular among every single crowd that needed to do any sort of towing from horse ﬂoats to outback travelling with a caravan in tow. Huge power levels, massive towing capacities, and plenty of room for the whole family – often across the front bench seat, too! These modern plastic wagons sure aren’t made like they used to be, and it’s a darn good thing, too. Wait, what? I’m going to drop a few truth bombs here and it’ll probably rustle a few jimmies along the way. The new breed of fun-sized SUVs starting to pop up in front of vans all over the country are better than the old full-sized 4X4s in almost every sense of the word. Not convinced yet? You soon might be.

THE SMART CHOICE Love him or hate him, no one can deny the hilarious caricature of ostentatious wealth that US President Donald Trump has given us. And unless you too have an orange hue and a diving board above a room full of gold coins, chances are, just like us, you can’t afford a different vehicle for each day of the week. So no huge towtug is parked up waiting to haul you and your mobile abode to camp for two weeks every year. This leaves most of us needing the proverbial Swiss Army knife of vehicles. Something that’s just as suitable for towing a van as it is for doing the grocery run and ﬁnding a spot in an underground carpark. It’s that versatility that often rules the big dog American pick-ups out for a lot of people, despite their unarguably superior towing abilities. Enter the modern SUV. They’ve grown in leaps and bounds over their ancestors, offering car-like on-road performance, comfort levels not

Special Feature Rise of the SUV

seen since Japan started introducing massage seats, and tech levels that’d make Elon Musk cry a single tear of joy as he blasts towards Mars on an electric spaceship. Climate control, trailer sway control, modern safety systems, plush interiors and plenty of electronic gadgets like lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control all make them a damn nice place to spend a few hours. On the open road, with a destination in mind and not a care in the world, it’s obviously hard to go past an F250 or another likeminded big rig, but when you need a vehicle that’ll take you around town as well, it’s hard to argue with a comfortable SUV. Of course, there’s the budget to consider, too. No matter what brand you’re looking at, it’s a safe bet you can buy almost any top-tier midsized SUV with change left over from $50K. For comparison’s sake, the top-spec Y62 Nissan Patrol will see you coughing up close to double

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that. A 200 Series LandCruiser Sahara adds another $30K to that with a price tag around $130,000. And a RAM 2500 Laramie can see that climb right up to $150,000+ – enough to buy you a three-bedroom apartment in the beachside suburb of 1976. So what, I hear you say? They’re cheap for a reason and aren’t up to the job even if you can buy three for the price of a RAM! Oh ye of little faith, read on.

Above left: For lighter loads, the Subaru Forester is a good compromise. Above: While you can’t beat hunky American pickups like the Dodge Ram for power, try parking it at your local Coles in a hurry!

BIGGER IS BETTER When you’re slinging a van from one end of the country to the other and eyeing off everything good in between, ‘bigger is better’ is right. The logic makes a lot of sense – caravans are heavy, so you need plenty of power and even more towing capacity, right? Absolutely, and that’s why modern SUVs are still better tow rigs than that old turbodiesel LandCruiser you’ve been eyeing off. Before I bore you to tears with towing capacities and power outputs you probably tradervs.com.au

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Clockwise from top left: The Mitsubishi Outlander is actually 10cm longer than the iconic HJ60 LandCruiser; The five-door Grand Vitara is one of the smallest tow-vehicles you can buy; You’ll need a cool $130K for a 200 Series LandCruiser Sahara; A slice of real estate or a grunting 2500 Laramie RAM? You decide; The Hyundai Tuscon is another good, small option.

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couldn’t care less about, it’s important to realise there’s been a huge shift up the scale in vehicle sizes. The Mitsubishi Outlander, CW tow pro Phil Lord’s top pick for a small tow-tug, rolls the tape measure out to 4683mm. Compare that to the big, burly HJ60 LandCruiser that dotted the Aussie landscape not that long ago and you’ll ﬁnd 4673mm on the yellow roll of numbers. The new ‘compact’ SUV is actually 10mm longer than the old ‘big’ 4X4. Taking things right to the extreme, a ﬁve-door Grand Vitara – one of the smallest tow-vehicles you can buy – only knocks that measurement down to 4500mm, roughly 17cm smaller than the big LandCruiser. Of course, size doesn’t mean a brass razoo

Special Feature Rise of the SUV

if you don’t have the power to tow with as well, and that’s why modern SUVs aren’t up to the task, right? That’d be a fair point – if it were true. Toyota’s factory turbodiesel 80 Series, the HDJ80, has for a long time been seen as the king of tow vehicles. Serious, down-low grunt from its hairy-chested 4L six cylinder with a truck sourced gearbox and a seating position reminiscent of the far less cool Snowman rather than the low-slung Bandit. And for all that grunt, it punches in with 361Nm of pulling power, 380Nm if you get the later model multi-valve offering. Compare that to the new diesel Rav4 with only slightly less at 340Nm, and it’s the smallest 4X4 Toyota makes. Step up into the ‘mid-size’ Fortuner and you’re looking at a LandCruiserembarrassing 450Nm. Sure, the Fortuner loses 500kg to the 80 in towing capacity (3000kg to 3500kg) but that’s still 500kg more than a 60 Series Cruiser’s 2500kg capacity.

DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS It’s not all smooth sailing, though. While most new, compact SUVs are more or less on par with their older siblings in terms of size and towing ability, they do have a few limitations that are worth considering. The ﬁrst, and most obvious, is they’re incredibly high-strung. While a brand new 2.8L Fortuner might out punch a six cylinder LandCruiser, it’s not doing it as easily. There’s far more strain on every component,

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Special Feature Rise of the SUV

can’t go wailing on it like it owes you money. It’s worth speaking to a diesel performance shop to discuss any weak points in your particular tow vehicle that will need to be overcome if you’re loading it up, things like larger transmission coolers, free-ﬂowing exhausts, upgraded intercoolers and performance tunes can all go a long way towards the long-term lifespan of your tow vehicle. And while you’ve got the chequebook out, you should speak to a suspension expert, too. Not your local mechanic either, someone who specialises in upgraded suspension to suit heavier loads. The downside of using a tamer, road-based vehicle for your tow-tug is the suspension is tuned from the factory towards a compliant and comfortable road presence. When you drop a couple hundred kilograms of ball weight on the rear, it can affect far more than it would on a heavier duty vehicle. If you tow full-time, it’s also worth considering a heavier rated spring or, alternatively, accessories such as helper airbags or weight distribution hitches are worth looking at as well.

THE VERDICT Top: The burly HJ60 LandCruiser ain’t big any more. Above: Toyota’s ‘mid-size’ Fortuna drops 500kg on its towing capability compared to the HDJ80 but delivers 450Nm of torque.

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with an incredible amount of complexity to make it all work. Hey, no one said you could have your cake and eat it, too. All this means in the real world is that even if you have the extra power and a seemingly extraordinary tow-rig, you

It’s hard to argue that mid-size SUVs are the best tow-vehicle to ever grace this sunburnt country, especially when modern full-sizes are taking things to new levels every year, but the reality is, we haven’t stopped driving ‘big’ 4X4s – we just call them ‘small’ ones now.

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Special Feature Kokoda Caravans Q&A

DEBUT

Behind the scenes with Kokoda Caravans, which took a win ($50K-$65K category) in its debut year at Caravan Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best Aussie Vans 2016.

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I WORDS PETER QUILTY

Above: Other RV owners may be green with envy after seeing a Kokoda van up close, although the company has toned down the colour scheme on newer vans.

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’ve reviewed a couple of Kokoda caravans recently – Platoon II X-Trail and Force X-Trail GT – and I found the common denominator to be their capability in handling outback roads and offroad tracks. However, Kokoda’s 2016 Best Aussie Vans (BAV) winner in the $50K-$65K category – the Veteran XLi Platinum – is a little more genteel in the offroad department, serving up a balance of luxury and bushability. 2016 marked Kokoda’s first foray into Best Aussie Vans and the Mamo family behind the brand came away with its first win. Following the event, I caught up with the team, including owner George Mamo and his daughters Chloe and Shenoa – who represented the company at BAV – to find out how the winning van was engineered and what the win means to them.

CW: Can you recall your immediate feelings on the 2016 BAV victory? Kokoda team: When the call came through to the team at head ofﬁce, the overall atmosphere was ecstatic and the feeling was one of complete excitement. We all held our breath until we

Special Feature Kokoda Caravans Q&A

heard the words we’d been waiting for. There were some screams of joy and an outburst of emotion from the entire team. George wasn’t in the ofﬁce at the time so we made the call to him. He was overjoyed and, for once, a little lost for words but he had never doubted the quality of the van and the team behind its engineering, design, construction and delivery. CW: What are the characteristic traits of the winning Veteran XLi Platinum? Kokoda team: The van has many traits that make it a stand-out product. From our perspective, the main features that catch the eye would be the stylish interior, premium tap ﬁttings and contemporary cabinetry. The “i” in

XLi is actually a symbol we have employed to highlight the innovative and intelligent smart technology added to this product such as the Smart TV and Wi-Fi. CW: What precipitated your interest in BAV? Are you contemplating BAV 2017? Kokoda team: We were very humbled and excited to be invited to Best Aussie Vans 2016. George gave the go-ahead to commit to the competition and, within minutes, the team was putting the plan in motion. We (Chloe and Shenoa, George’s daughters) spearheaded the entire project working closely with our manufacturer and suppliers to create the Veteran XLi Platinum. We are working behind the scenes to produce another truly different and unique model to compete in 2017. The entire team and the wider Kokoda family are very much looking forward to the challenge. CW: What impact did the BAV win have on Kokoda’s business? George: The impact of winning Best Aussie Vans has been unbelievable. January, which is commonly a slow month, started with a bang. The shows in early 2017 saw a huge inﬂux of new orders and the Veteran XLi was coming out on top as our most popular. The ofﬁce had an increase in enquiries over the phone and online about this new model. It really has been a very positive result for Kokoda.

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Left: BAV judge Malcolm Street checks out the Veteran XLi’s interior. Below: Cheers to us on our win say Kokoda’s Chloe and Shenoa Mamo.

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CW: How did you get started in the industry? George: My interest in caravans began about 12 years ago when I ventured into the dealer market as a second-hand dealer. I was very passionate about the industry and wanted to learn more. As the years passed, I saw a niche and a unique opportunity to create a brand where I could offer a quality built and affordable product that matched and even superseded the standards of other competitor brands. About seven years ago, Kokoda was born and I am proud to stand by the brand that I began and my team who will take Kokoda into the future.

Below: Intelligent and innovative is how BAV judge Peter Quilty described the approach Kokoda takes to designing its range, including the awardwinning Veteran XLi Platinum.

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CW: You’re extremely passionate and proud of the Kokoda brand name. What is the background story? George: Kokoda began its journey about six years ago when I was watching a documentary on the Kokoda trek. The seed was planted for the new brand. Kokoda team: George respectfully approached the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion for permission to use the name Kokoda. They politely accepted his request on the conditions that Kokoda remains Australian-built which George has honoured to this day. We appreciate

fully the sensitivity of using a name like this and we will continue to honour and respect the name Kokoda. CW: Your interior décor is highly regarded. What’s the secret? Kokoda team: Shenoa is our colour specialist. She has spent a lot of time with our suppliers and sourced some quality products for our caravans. Shenoa wants to drive Kokoda into the contemporary market by studying trends in architecture and interior design. The response from consumers was positive with a majority of customers choosing the same colours for their new orders as seen on our display models around Australia. Almost every Veteran XLi Platinum order for example has seen no interior colour alteration at all. CW: How has Kokoda established its reputation in the caravan industry? Kokoda team: Kokoda is predominantly a family business with George’s wife, sons, daughters and in-laws at head ofﬁce. Alongside the family, we have a strong, dedicated and hard-working team. The morals and examples we set within the industry all stem from the

Special Feature Kokoda Caravans Q&A

Clockwise from above: All Kokoda models are engineered to handle outback roads and offroad tracks; Excellent front boot storage for camping extras; The Kokoda team approached the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion for permission to use the name Kokoda after owner George Mamo saw a documentary on the Kokoda Trail.

importance of family and the hard work which got us all to this point. That is what we pride ourselves on day to day. When we began we placed an emphasis on having strong marketing, a presence at shows Australia wide and building a prominent dealer network. Now, in 2017, we have ďŹ rmly cemented our name around the country. We attend a multitude of shows and we have continued in our goal of maintaining a presence in the marketing world. Our ethos has remained unchanged. We are a proud business which is still in the very early stages of growth and we will continue to work hard in offering superior products whilst also creating an even more improved network and service structure for our customers Australia wide.

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CW: What are your caravan-building beliefs and values? George: It is not unknown that Kokoda has a large production within the Campbellfield region outside of Melbourne. We have selected our entire production network since day one. To this day, we have some of the very same manufacturers working with us as we had when Kokoda rolled out its first van in the Tribute range in 2011. My beliefs and the entire team’s beliefs are brought to life every day that a new caravan is completed. I wanted and still desire to offer customers a more affordable caravan that comes with all the inclusions and features offered by our competitors. CW: How much importance do you place on industry trends? What are the more specific customer requests? Kokoda team: We try to take our time and study trends before we make any sudden changes to our range. We also want to set

And the winner is... “Two large marine-style hatches supply plenty of natural light and ventilation in the Kokoda. With the fridge at floor level, the microwave oven above is at a very user-friendly height, which is nice to see. The drawbar is a very busy place with two 9kg gas cylinders and two jerry can holders – so you should keep your towball weight front of

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mind when you’re loading the front boot. An interesting touch is the alloy checkerplate used to protect the rear area between the chassis rails. For evening time under the awning, two external lights and external speakers are fitted. I’m never quite sure about the provision of large grab handles. They look good but the van would be very hard to shift by hand.” – Malcolm Street, BAV judge, 2016

“Intelligent, innovative, ingenuity… These are the imposing traits of the Kokoda Veteran XLi Platinum. It comes with a RV Wi-Fi setup (Telstra network), which allows connectivity with your loved ones, and a 22in Smart TV, which is iOS and Android capable. Skyping the grandkids and streaming internet movies has never been easier while in transit!

And I just loved the attention to detail inside, including piano-hinged cabinetry with user-friendly square clip handles. Kokoda Caravans has also made a conscious decision to tone down its external colour scheme, hence a modest but highly effective silver cladding with black checkerplate appearance.” – Peter Quilty, BAV judge, 2016

Special Feature Kokoda Caravans Q&A

ourselves apart from our competitors. We take the time to look at customer feedback, the most popular upgrades and alterations. Our most recent change was updating our Kokoda decals. We brought them back to a more simplified and sophisticated look. The feedback has been positive and we think the new-look 2017 Kokoda is very sleek and attractive. Head office is currently working behind the scenes on some new and exciting changes but we don’t want to give too much away just yet. CW: What is your favourite Kokoda model? Why this particular van? George: My favourite model is the Force X-Trail. This was really my major step into the serious offroad market. I wanted to produce a van with enviable features, tough suspension and a tough, rugged appearance. I also wanted to give customers more possibilities and choice. The Force range, which has over 12 models in it, gives customers a choice of five offroad suspensions, choice of fridge and choice of checkerplate colour. To this day, I can’t believe the extent to which the Force range has grown. I have even based my own personal van on one of the Force models because I trust that I can take that van to the kinds of places we really need and want to see around Australia. CW: Do you have any special memories of holidaying in a Kokoda van? George: My wife and I recently took our new van up to Corryong to do the Tom Groggin

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drive. It was very memorable and an experience I’d recommend to anyone. In July, my family and I are doing a big trip from Melbourne to Katherine. We are all very excited about it.

Above left: The Kokoda team aims to help Aussie families get away from the rat race in style and comfort. Above: It’s a hard life on the road with a Kododa Bunka family van.

CW: Is there general positivity in the RV industry? Kokoda team: The industry has certainly changed over the past few years. There are more brands than ever before. We don’t see this as a negative; however, we do understand that with the influx of new brands we must work harder to ensure we continue to provide our customers with consistency in our products and in our overall service. Kokoda is doing well and we have a large network around Australia. CW: What does the future hold for Kokoda? Kokoda team: We are working on many changes that will be implemented over the next 12 months. Our aim is to continue to offer our customers a product that they can be proud of. We hope to expand our network further by increasing our dealer network and offering dedicated Kokoda repair centres. We will also dedicate our time towards more innovation and excellence. We are attending the first-ever Kokoda gathering in October at Lightning Ridge in New South Wales. This will be a first for our team and we very much want to reach out to our network of customers and introduce for the first time our young and vibrant team behind Kokoda Caravans. tradervs.com.au

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The night sky over Warrumbungle NP.

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Travel

Warrumbungle NP, NSW

TO aTHE STARS nd ba ck

Camp beneath Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most dazzling night sky at Warrumbungle National Park. PICS MATT FEHLBERG

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WORDS EMMA RYAN

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here’s an old dad joke about camping being ‘million-star accommodation’, but nowhere does that ring more true than in the Warrumbungle National Park (NP). Spend a night here and you’ll almost need sunglasses to shield your eyes from the radiant Milky Way above. It’s no accident that this is the site of Australia’s premier astronomy facility, Siding Spring Observatory, home to $100 million worth of research equipment including 52 telescopes. Positioned high in the Warrumbungle National Park some 1160m above sea level, the site was chosen for its crisp, clean air with minimal humidity, its non-turbulent atmosphere, its lack of light pollution and its high percentage of clear nights. And while these conditions clearly excite astronomers both professional and amateur, they’re not too bad for campers, either. And then there’s the scenery. The Warrumbungle Ranges is the crumbling remains of an ancient volcano that erupted some 14 million years ago. It rises from the surrounding plains like an unlikely cluster of icebergs, its jagged peaks and spires visible for many miles in all directions. And when viewed from the top of the range those endless plains stretch on for hundreds of kilometres; you’ve

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Warrumbungle NP, NSW

likely never seen so far. These giant, lava-born structures rise from the park’s savannah grasslands and dense bush still recovering from the catastrophic fires that tore through the park in 2013. Travelling at 80km/h the fire consumed everything in its path and was quite a sight for local residents living in nearby towns. A friend from Coonabarabran told me the mountains alight at night closely resembled Mordor from Lord of the Rings. Scary stuff. And while the bush is restoring nicely and the landscape is now lovely and green, the upside to the bushfire and the thinning of the vegetation is that it has exposed previously unknown intricacies in the rock formations. Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.

BUSHWALKER’S PARADISE There’s no getting around the fact the Warrumbungles is not an offroad destination. Occupying a compact 57,600 acres, there’s a quality tarmac road running right through the middle which branches off to deliver revellers to a string of excellent campsites. You’ll not need your all-terrain tyres but you will need your hiking boots: this is a bushwalker’s paradise. Indeed, the Breadknife and Grand High Tops

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Clockwise from top right: The Warrumbungle NP is a bushwalker’s paradise; Lava-born spires rise from the park’s grasslands and dense bush; A quality tarmac road extends through the Warrumbungles; The endless plains stretch on for hundreds of kilometres.

Warrumbungle NP, NSW Highlights Siding Spring Observatory Great hikes Incredible star show

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Above: Our ‘million-star accommodation’ at Camp Blackman. Right: The park provides a dazzling night sky.

circuit is considered one of the most scenic hikes in NSW. It’s a 14.5km loop that takes in the park’s most iconic rock structure, the Breadknife, a huge shard of volcanic rock piercing the ground like, you guessed it, a knife. For a short, easy walk try the Wambelong Nature walking track which is just 1km, or for a short but challenging walk, Spirey View at 3.3km. For a spectacular sunset location, visit the easy-to-reach Whitegum Lookout which is wheelchair friendly and affords stunning views across the park.

SETTING UP CAMP One thing’s for sure, there are some excellent campgrounds in the Warrrumbungle NP. We stationed ourselves at Camp Blackman near the visitor centre. It’s the park’s main campsite and offers large, grassy powered and unpowered sites. There’s a smattering of trees for those who like shade, and excellent amenities including free hot showers. There are ﬁre pits, barbecues and picnic tables, but our favourite part was the scenic outlook; the camp seems to be nestled in against a rocky outcrop. Another great option for caravans is Camp Wambelong, a smaller, quieter campground on the banks of Wambelong Creek with spectacular

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views of Belougery Split Rock. There are toilets (but no showers), barbecues and picnic facilities.

SIDING SPRING OBSERVATORY As you approach the Warrumbungle NP you might notice a series of observatories gleaming white in the sun atop one of the highest peaks. This is Siding Spring Observatory, an active astronomy and astrophysics research centre operated by the Australian National University in Canberra. Built in the early 1960s, this world-class research facility is home to 52 telescopes owned by countries from all over the world. The

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Warrumbungle NP, NSW

Left: Built in the early 60s, Siding Spring Observatory, is situated in Warrumbungle NP. Below left: Testing out the ‘interplanetary scales’.

Fast facts

“When viewed from the top of the range those endless plains stretch on for hundreds of kilometres; you’ve likely never seen so far ” The caravan you want is now easier to find

Warrumbungle NP is accessible via Coonamble, Baradine and Gilgandra, but its closest town is Coonabarabran, 25km to the east. The jagged rock formations of the Warrumbungles were formed by lava flowing from an ancient volcano, active 14 million years ago. So suited to stargazing is the Warrumbungle NP, in 2016 it was proclaimed the first ‘dark-sky park’ in the Southern Hemisphere by the International Dark Sky Association (yes, it exists). Camping is available for caravans at several camping grounds within the park, including Camp Blackman where we stayed. Entry costs $8 per vehicle per day plus $6 ($12) per adult and $3.50/$6 per child for camping at an unpowered (powered) site per night. Visit www.nationalparks.nsw. gov.au/visit-a-park or phone (02) 6825 4364 for more information on Warrumbungle NP. Visit the Siding Spring Observatory at www.sidingspringobservatory.com. au for more.

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Warrumbungle NP

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Above: 52 telescopes operate within the Siding Spring Observatory.

largest is our own Anglo Australian Telescope, a 3.9m giant that has ranked amongst the most productive telescopes in the world. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even an observatory ďŹ lled with small telescopes that astronomers from all over the world pay membership to access, using them remotely from wherever they happen to be stationed on our vast globe. Each and every night, millions of dollars worth of research is conducted at Siding Spring Observatory. Of course, being an active research centre visitors cannot roam around, however there is an excellent interpretive centre and cafe on site so if you need your caffeine hit while camping in the park, this is where to go. Guided tours are offered during NSW school holidays, and groups of 15 or more adults may apply for behind-thescenes walking tours.

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Warrumbungle NP, NSW

Crooked Mountain Concert

It’s hard to imagine a more spectacular location for an outdoor concert than the Warrumbungle NP. Revered for its striking volcanic mountains and its dazzling night sky, this is a very special destination indeed. And the concert, thrown by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, is a favourite annual event for locals and travellers alike. The stage for the concert is set in the thick of the Warrumbungles’ crumbling and uniquely shaped peaks at a sprawling grassy picnic area within the national park. Punters bring their own picnics, drinks and chairs and set themselves up for an evening of Australian music under the stars. As the sun sets behind the imposing mountain that frames the stage, the crowd pops the champagne and lays out the cheese plate while kids free range gleefully or find amusement in the carnival-themed entertainment area. The night’s first stars are illuminated and the balmy spring air is heady with laughter and good vibes. After a line-up of excellent local music, the 2016 concert culminated in the hilarity of The Pigs, whose hillbilly reimagining of popular songs had the crowd off their picnic blankets and letting loose in what can only be described as a proper hoe-down. Shoes were kicked off, beers were spilt in the pursuit of new moves and the grassy dance floor was compressed by several hundred rambunctious, stomping feet. If this ain’t livin’ nothing is.

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k c a b t u O

HOLLYWOOD

Silvertonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rollicking history could be the subject of its own movie, but its outback charms has made it the incredible backdrop for a string of cult Aussie films. 174

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Silverton, NSW

The Silverton Hotel is a popular stop for travellers.

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I WORDS AND PICS COLIN KERR

Silverton, NSW Highlights

The Silverton Hotel The Old Silverton Gaol and museum Art galleries and Mad Max Museum Historic buildings Mundi Mundi Plain

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f ever there was a town that wholeheartedly embraces the phrase ‘boom and bust’, it could well be Silverton, in outback New South Wales. Back in the 1880s, Silverton was abuzz with more than 3000 excited miners, all eagerly digging to ﬁnd their future fortune among rich silver, lead and zinc deposits. And, yep, a few did get rich, but by the time those few pockets of minerals were exhausted a mere 20 years later, the town’s population had been reduced to a few hundred hardy souls. And there was not much to keep them there, in that harsh and unforgiving country. It seemed almost certain that Silverton would soon be reclaimed by the desert. Until it was discovered by an imaginative group of movie directors, that is… The rustic, dilapidated and virtually abandoned feel of this historic old centre captured their collective imaginations. This spurred a general town clean-up, the actors were brought in and cameras started to roll. And they kept on rolling. Some of the old buildings were restored and others were left untouched for their visually historic impact. It seems that this lonely outback location on the edge of the Mundi Mundi Plain (more than 1100km west of Sydney and 500km north-east of Adelaide) was just what the movie industry was looking for.

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Silverton, NSW

DIRECTOR’S FAVOURITE These days, donkeys meander down the main street, rusty old VW beetles stand defiantly as quaint artistic treasures and a leaning dunny shakily squats on the town’s hillside. It seems that the scene in Silverton is set for almost anything. In the years since Hollywood discovered the township and its charms, no less than 45 films have been made here, including Aussie classics Mad Max 2, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, A Town Like Alice, Hostage, Razorback, and the cult thriller, Wake In Fright. This quirky, almost ghost town has now embraced the image of an ‘outback Hollywood’. While the film activity in the last few years has certainly slowed, there continues to be a steady stream of other creative types arriving in town to shoot commercials, travel videos and documentaries, all featuring that iconic Silverton backdrop. Midnight Oil, Mick Jagger and INXS have all stopped by on various occasions, as part of more than 80 music video teams all looking to capture that distinctive outback flavour.

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Clockwise from top: The Mad Max Museum is the only one in the world which celebrates the cult classic, Mad Max 2; Some of the vehicles used in the apocalyptic film starring Mel Gibson; The dunny at the John Dynon Gallery looks occupied; The ghosttown-like ruins of Silverton attracted Hollywood directors and virtually saved the town from being reclaimed by the surrounding desert.

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Fast facts

Silverton

Getting there

Silverton is located on a sealed road, 23km north-west of Broken Hill. It is so far ‘outback’, that there is no local council – it’s run by a village committee instead. Silver, lead and zinc were first discovered in the district in 1875. From its peak in 1885 of 3000 people, Silverton’s population is today is around 40. The best time to visit is in autumn, winter and spring. Avoid the extremely hot months over summer. The nearest fuel, mechanical services and supplies are at Broken Hill, 23km away. The Silverton Hotel has assorted drinks, full meals all day, souvenirs and ensuite cabin accommodation. For enquiries phone (08) 8088 5313, or email silvertonhotel@bigpond.com. For visitor information visit www.silverton.org.au

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The upshot of all this activity is that Silverton now manages to sustain its modern day lifeblood in the form of tourists who are drawn there in their thousands to see the famous ‘Wild West’ ﬁlm location immortalised in cinemas and TVs across Australia and internationally. It is estimated that around 100,000 visitors each year now come into the old town to have a look for themselves and savour this beaut piece of Aussie history. Arts and craft galleries (with a genuine outback style), the old gaol and museum,

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the historic courthouse, Masonic Lodge and cemetery, little old churches, the town’s schoolhouse, an opal display as a throwback to its mining origins and the ever popular Mad Max Museum all draw visitors keen to revisit the past (or at least the Hollywood version of it). The real star of this show though, is the Silverton Hotel, featured in dozens of film clips and built right alongside the site of the original De Baun’s Hotel that burnt down in 1921. The latter reportedly sold 19 tonnes of beer in its first few weeks of trading in 1883, good figures by any measure!

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Silverton, NSW

“In the years since Hollywood discovered Silverton and its charms, no less than 45 films have been made here, including Aussie classics Mad Max 2 and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert”

Clockwise from far left: The Cowz Art Gallery has great works on display both inside and out; The outback x-factor is well and truly alive at the iconic John Dynon Gallery; Film memorabilia lines the walls at the Silverton Hotel; Get a taste of good old fashioned larrikin humour from the cheeky signs swinging from the hotel’s ceiling.

A PUB WITH THE CHEER In scenes perhaps not experienced here since before the ore ran out more than 100 years ago, lunchtime trade at the pub often results in queues out the door and patrons standing two or three deep at the bar, all seeking to quench their thirst, ﬁll their stomachs and indulge in some of that Aussie Wild West atmosphere. Don’t forget to ask the bar staff about their unusual drinking game – you might easily end up wearing your middy or schooner all over you. Signs swinging from the ceiling further emphasise the pub’s larrikin humour: ‘Free beer

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Travel

Silverton, NSW

Above: Silverton’s historic St Carthage Catholic Church. Left: A couple of horses meander freely down the main street to say hello – as they do. and topless waitresses tomorrow’, ‘Money is not everything, but it keeps the children in touch’ and ‘I’ve had bad luck with both my wives. The ﬁrst one left me, the second one didn’t.’ The walls of the Silverton Hotel also display old memorabilia, including an array of still photos shot on various ﬁlm sets.

DAIRY THIEVES Once you’re out of the bar, keep an eye on those cheeky donkeys on the street, too.

Six ways to spend a day in Silverton

Most of the old buildings in town have been classified by the National Trust. A two-hour walking trail takes in most of the town’s sights. The old Silverton Gaol, open to the public, houses many interesting relics and historic reminders of the town’s mining past.

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The nearby Mundi Mundi Plain is reported to be the inspiration for Banjo Patterson’s Sunlit Plains Extended. The lookout 5km out of Silverton is a great spot to watch the sunset and is so flat, you can even see the curvature of the Earth across the plain.

The Mad Max 2 Museum is open every day from 10am to 4pm. Phone (08) 8088 6128. Nearby Penrose Park, once a recreation area for miners and their families, is today a popular picnic spot with gas barbeques provided. There is also a range of

accommodation here with campsites, powered caravan sites, bunkhouses and a self-contained cottage. Phone (08) 8088 5307. Not far from Silverton, the historic Day Dream Silver Mine is open for tours seven days a week. Phone (08) 8088 5682.

Travel

Silverton, NSW

“Signs swinging from the ceiling emphasise the Silverton Hotel’s larrikin humour: ‘Free beer and topless waitresses tomorrow’” It seems they have developed a taste for ice creams and anyone wandering the streets with a delicious cone in hand will usually have several close followers. During our recent visit, there were also three or four horses wandering freely down the main street – yes, out here virtually anything goes. As for that leaning dunny, we were unable to

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discover whether it was real or not –as nobody is game to be caught in there when it eventually does topple over! A one-time ghost town it might be, but Silverton still has an undeniable, even magnetic, silver lining.

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Above: The abandoned ticket office at the old tramway station is a relic of a time long since past.

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Sunset at Cape Bridgewater.

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Discovery Bay, SA

e h t f o s Secret

SHIPWRECK COAST

Hang out with seals or uncover a slice of Aussie maritime history in this hidden corner of Victoria. PICS CHRIS BOUMA

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WORDS CLAUDIA BOUMA

Clockwise from above: Discovery Bay Coastal Park is a hidden gem in southwest Victoria; Spectacular ocean views from the Pinnacles Lookout; There are 10 grassy sites alongside beautiful Lake Monibeong; A local echidna on the move; The Petrified Forest is a blast of colour at sunset.

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iscovery Bay Coastal Park remains a relatively unknown adventure destination in far south-west Victoria. Yet this spot is jam-packed with spectacular coastal scenery, a magnificent lighthouse, an enchanted forest and even Australia’s only mainland seal colony. All of these attractions are easily accessible and, best of all, they’re free of charge. Bush camping is also readily available in the area, if you’re willing to rough it a bit. Lake Monibeong is a picturesque freshwater lake with 10 flat and grassy sites situated 7km along the unsealed Lake Monibeong Road. Bookings for these sites are mandatory and can be made online. If you prefer a touch of ‘luxury’, Cape Bridgewater Coastal Camp is situated on top of an impressive hill with scenic views of Bridgewater Bay. This camp has seven unpowered sites and five powered sites, but also features a fully equipped camp kitchen, laundry and amenities block. The list of activities nearby is endless, so allow at least four days to explore this beautiful area, especially if you want to include the quaint town of Nelson near the South Australian border and Victoria’s birthplace, Portland. A visit to Portland’s Maritime Discovery Centre is mandatory, housing both the information centre as well as a maritime museum.

Travel

Discovery Bay, SA

Discovery Bay, SA The centrepiece of the latter is the 1858 Portland lifeboat, which played a pivotal role in the rescue of the passengers of the ill-fated Admella. Armed with local maps, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to hit the road and head towards the Cape Nelson Lighthouse. Set on rugged cliffs, this 32m lighthouse was built in 1884 and guards the coastline like a sentinel. Many ships came to grief along this treacherous stretch of coast with some of the stories detailed on interpretive signage placed along the Shipwreck Trail. In winter you can see southern right and

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Highlights

Breathtaking coastal scenery Cape Nelson Lighthouse Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only mainland colony of seals Seals by Sea Tour Petrified Forest

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Clockwise from above: Picturesque Bridgewater Beach looks like it goes for miles; Take a tour through Cape Nelson Lighthouse at 11am or 2pm and keep an eye out for whales; This region of Vic has plenty to keep the kids occupied.

humpback whales, while in summer you might spot a blue whale. Tours are available daily at 11am and 2pm, or alternatively, you can stay in one of the refurbished lighthouse keeper’s cottages for a romantic getaway.

FAIRY FORESTS

Fast facts Discovery Bay Coastal Park is about 420km from Melbourne and 490km from Adelaide. The sealed Port-Nelson Road runs adjacent to the park with the unsealed access tracks suitable for 2WD. www.parksvictoria.gov.au www. capebridgewatercoastalcamp.com.au www.sealsbyseatours.com.au www.capenelsonlighthouse.com. au.

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Another must-do for travellers to this part of Australia’s coastline is the walk through the Enchanted Forest along Cape Nelson Road, which also happens to be part of the renowned Great South West Walk. The 45-minute return walk winds its way through groves of tall Moonah trees and vines, transporting the visitor to a magical fairy landscape. Moonah trees were originally widespread all the way along the Shipwreck Coast, but today they are restricted to a handful of small stands or individual trees – the majority having been cut down and collected for firewood to burn in kilns for cooking limestone, agricultural use and the production of cement. This is a walk of stark contrasts. One moment you find yourself surrounded by a dense, almost tropical canopy that creates a sense of enchantment, while the next moment the vastness of the Southern Ocean stretches out before you at one of the lookouts. This is an easy walk for those of all levels of fitness, but one you’ll remember for a long time – take my word for it.

SEE THE SEALS Nearby Yellow Rock is deﬁnitely worth the long climb down the wooden staircase to the beach. The intriguing rock formation is a must for photographers at any time of the day. The ocean waves pound the sandy beach, making it unsafe for swimming, though experienced surfers like to catch a wave here. From Cape Nelson it’s an easy 35km trip via the town of Portland to Cape Bridgewater. Once a volcanic island, this rugged headland now protects Australia’s only mainland seal colony which can be viewed on foot via an energetic two-hour return walk to the viewing platform or on an exhilarating Seals by Sea Tour.

Travel

Discovery Bay, SA

The Seals by Sea Tour was established 18 years ago by entrepreneur Jo Austin who recognised the immense ecological value of Australian and New Zealand fur seals. Hunted to the brink of extinction, population recovery has been slow and the seals are now protected. It is estimated that 200,000 seals were captured and killed for their fur in the 18th and 19th centuries. The current Australian population is thought to be around 60,000 seals, but may be as high as 80,000. The Cape Bridgewater seal colony is currently home to up to 1200 Australian and New Zealand fur seals. But Cape Bridgewater has many other secrets that are waiting to be uncovered. The Petriﬁed Forest is a rather intriguing place to visit, with numerous theories proposing the why and how with regards to the formation of the petriﬁed tree trunks. It’s a beautiful spot to wander around at dusk, when the sun’s last rays light up the sandstone. The nearby blowholes are also a sight to

Discovery Bay, SA

Prepared to explore. www.hemamaps.com

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behold in rough weather, but are also worth a look on a calm day. In summer you may also come face to face with a blue whale as they frequent these waters.

OFF-GRID CAMPS The rest of the area is best explored on a 130km round trip to Nelson. Firstly, be sure to stop off at the tranquil Bridgewater Lakes, before climbing Tarragal Cave for a stunning view across Discovery Bay. The rest of the park is accessed via the sealed Portland-Nelson Road, with Swan Lake the first place of interest. A steep and windy dirt road leads to a campground in the dunes with five small campsites adjacent to a licensed dune buggy club area. Facilities are limited to non-flush toilets, picnic tables and bore water. If you want to see the lake, you’ll have to embark on a short walk. Closer to Nelson, the Lake Monibeong camping area is also a great spot for a picnic and a swim on a hot day.

Above: A stroll through the Enchanted Forest offers an almost spooky atmosphere punctuated by glimpses of the vast Southern Ocean.

See the seals

A guided tour to Australia’s only mainland seal colony is a must-do experience and definitely one for the bucket list. An the 15 to 20-minute walk to the Seals by Sea Tours jetty is well worth it. The short three-minute ride on the Zodiac is exhilarating and provides the unique opportunity to not only see the seals from up close in their natural environment but also highlights the fascinating geology of Cape Bridgewater. The 45-minute tour takes you along the rock platforms where the seals lie baking in the sun, not in the least disturbed by your presence with some performing their tricks in the water. Enter the mysterious Watery Cave to

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Where to camp

see the places the seals call home and watch in awe as the power of the waves continues to erode this majestic limestone formation. Seals by Sea Tours is a family business, set up in 1998, which has been awarded several Tourism Awards and has been featured on TV shows, in newspapers and magazines. In 2009 Seals by Sea Tours became an advanced eco tourism accredited business.

Cape Bridgewater Coastal Camp (1721 Blowholes Rd, Cape Bridgewater) (pictured above) has seven unpowered and five powered sites to campers and its facilities include a fully equipped camp kitchen, laundry and amenities block. Fees start at $20 per site for two people per night. Bush camping is available in the national park at Lake Monibeong with

facilities limited to flush toilets and two taps (non-potable water). Swan Lake has similar facilities but is only suitable for tents and camper trailers due to the steep access road. Bookings are mandatory and must be made online at www.parkstay.vic. gov.au or through the Nelson Visitor Information Centre on (08) 8738 4051. Sites are $27.30 per night.

Travel

Discovery Bay, SA

Above: The Boumas take on the sandy track to Swan Lake. Above left: The walking track to the blowholes offers fabulous vistas in rough seas; make the steep climb to Tarragal Cave.

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Another 23km will take you to the quiet town of Nelson, where the Glenelg River drains into the Southern Ocean. Make sure you visit the information centre as this small shop is jammed full of interesting travel resources. This beautiful little township is the perfect place to discover Glenelg River NP, the Princess Margaret Rose Caves and to cross the border into South Australia. In truth, Discovery Bay Coastal Park is one of Victoria’s hidden gems, waiting to be discovered. It’s a place of adventure, but without the crowds – so what are you waiting for?

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T R AV E L H A P P Y We shine the spotlight on caravanners, their rigs and their travel tales.

“This is our impressive Eden Explorer semi-offroad van and suitably modified Mazda BT50, at Owen Springs Station bush camp, beside the Hugh River in NT,” writes Rob Newton. “This rig permits access to great camp spots without many others around. “Now past the tent/camper stage with many years of extensive travel around Australia, and this rig still allows us to experience serene nature at its best, only now in total comfort. “So much more to enjoy in this great country, and it definitely helps to keep us active and young!”

Paul and Robyn Maynard are pictured here with their ever faithful Jayco Westport being towed by their Patrol on Perlubie Beach, SA while on their three month trip from Perth to the Eyre Peninsula. “The Eyre is an amazing place with seafood galore, after a month we still haven’t used anything from the freezer,” writes Robyn. “We have travelled extensively throughout Australia but this place is an eye-opener and we’ll be back to do it all again next year.”

WIN!

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“Here’s a photo of our 2004 Supreme Territory van and 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee at Gregory Downs on our recent trip to The Gulf and Lawn Hill NP,” writes Peter Mayo. “This van is one you featured in an article on used caravans which appeared just after we purchased the rig in 2012. The van has served us well to date, with no major problems in the 50,000km we have covered since our purchase. “It has been to every state and territory other than WA and Tasmania, with WA on the schedule for next year.”

“We bought our second-hand 2006 Paramount Delta Limited Edition van as an interim caravan until we could afford a brand new one, however, we’re so happy with the layout and the ease of travel that we’ll be hanging onto it for quite a while longer,” write Keith and Mandy Tomlinson. “Our 2012 diesel Pathfinder is a wonderful tow vehicle which we will also keep.” This photo was taken at the Red Rock lookout near Lake Corangamite north of Colac, Vic. “With 360° views of the ancient volcanic rims, surrounding lakes and countryside, it was definitely worth the picturesque diversion. We were homeward bound to Wollongong after travelling down through the Victorian high country, the Great Ocean Road and back up the coast. We love this diverse country of ours!”

A Purple Line Saracen Ultra hitch lock, valued at $149. Saracen Ultra is a highly visible, simple to use, compact, high security lock which works both hitched and unhitched to keep would-be caravan thieves at bay. It fits to most standard 50mm ball hitches on caravans, camper trailers, boat and car trailers, and even work trailers. For more information about this and a host of other vanning accessories, visit www.purpleline.com.au

Readers’ Rigs

“Here’s our rig at the painted silo at Sheep Hills in Victoria’s Wimmera- Mallee Region,” writes Martin Vandervlis. “This is the third shakedown trip since picking up our Retreat Hamilton in February this year. We visited three of the finished silos at Sheep Hills then on to Brim and then to Patchewollock. “The 200 Series tow tug does the job just great. The silos are absolutely fantastic to see and a credit to the artists and the local people featured on them, it’s also great for the country towns along the way. Keep touring and be safe.”

“This is our rig, a 2005 Hitch Hika Dreamchaser series 24ft being towed by our 2014 Isuzu Dmax 3L turbodiesel, at Cardwell on our way back from Cairns,” write Peter and Colleen Alderson “The van and tow tug are perfectly matched and are a pleasure to drive.”

“This was our campsite at Cape Keraudren in WA late in 2016,” write Emanuel and Barbara Knol. “This is one of our favourite destinations in WA where you can watch a beautiful sunset over the water and in the morning behind the van wake up to magnificent sunrise also over the water and so far away from the crowds. “It was our first big trip in our Jayco Penguin Outback that we purchased as a result of a van test in CW. It is so easy to tow and set up, as we are heading into our 70s, we now have no need of our collection of tents as the Penguin has spoilt us, and the old 80 Series is still going strong, so to all the readers of CW, drive careful and stay safe and go and traverse this beautiful country of ours.”

HOW TO WIN

The most travel-inspiring submission will win next month’s prize (pictured left). Just email a picture (2-3MB) of yourself, family and friends with your rig, along with a brief description to submissions@adventuresgroup.com.au with ‘Readers’ Rigs’ in the subject line, or send a print to Caravan World Readers’ Rigs, PO Box 4, Oakleigh, Vic 3166. All entries must include your full postal address (not for publication). Photo submissions may also appear on www.caravanworld.com.au

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Street Talk

24 hours in Tulsa

Mal gets up close with a ‘small’ American motorhome.

A WITH MALCOLM STREET

Clockwise from top right: You need to look up for the bed in the Bürstner Lyseo T744; Mal’s ‘small’ American Winnebago; Hymer’s Bernhard Kibler with NZ SmartRV’s Michael Becker. Will we see the 4WD Hymer in Australia someday soon?

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t the time of writing this column, I was sitting in a US Winnebago Minnie Winnie 25B in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. This little (by US standards) motorhome has an external length of 26ft (none of that metric stuff here, but just between you and I that is 7.9m) and weighs in with a staggering tare of 11,500lbs – or 5216kg. This puts it well and truly out of the car licence class. Its GVM of 18,500lbs (8400kg) would put it into the MR truck licence category in Australia. And then there’s the engine – a 6.8L V10 petrol sucker. Sure, it delivers the power when needed but it lacks the torquey grunt of a similar sized diesel and I haven’t been brave enough yet to check the fuel consumption. Time to hit the road! “24 hours in Tulsa” or something like that!

ACROSS THE PACIFIC

I recently attended the Auckland motorhome and caravan show. I was there to catch up with the RV scene in New Zealand but also, by default, some of the latest RV products out of Europe. A number of local Australian manufacturers were also present – Jayco, New Age, Bailey, Winnebago, Sunliner and Avida were there in surprising numbers. I saw a new Avida Torquay for the ﬁrst time, something I had yet to do in Australia, and I also caught up with Jayco’s Bruce Astbury. NZ is now home to a large number of European and British brands. While I was there, a colleague and I had the privilege of meeting with Bernhard Kibler, the managing director of Hymer GmbH & Co. Kibler was in New Zealand to help launch the Hymer brand through its dealer Smart RV. Hymer is one of the leading German brands, both in its own right and as part of the Erwin Hymer group that includes the likes of Bürstner, Dethleffs, Carado, LMC, Laika, Niesmann and Bishcoff, plus a name that might surprise many, 3Dog Camping, a company that makes camper trailers in Australia.

When we met with Kibler, we were expecting a mid-60s grey-haired gent wearing a suit and tie. What we got instead was a mid-40s, black-haired man casually dressed in jeans, a white shirt and loafers. I mention all of that to give you an idea of how the Hymer group operates. It was an interesting interview with Kibler talking about developments going on within Hymer, in both the motorhome and caravan manufacturing sectors. Competition is ﬁerce within Europe and, consequently, it is an ever-changing scene. There was also a bit of an off-the-record chat about compliance complexities in Australia. It went something along the lines of: “well, Australia allows German-built Mercedes, BMWs and Audi into the country but is far more difﬁcult about German built motorhomes…..” Smart RV had a couple of good examples of Hymers on show. One was the Hymermobil ML-I, a B-class motorhome built on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter 4WD chassis and the other was a Hymermobil ML-1 Starline BD680. Both were attention-getters, at least for those of us from Australia. The 4X4 ML-1 has some very interesting possibilities in regional Australia and the Starline, being an A-class motorhome based on a Benz Sprinter and somewhat rare, was an instant attraction. During our conversation, Kibler mentioned that Hymer might consider an Australian outback test trip in the 4WD motorhome. We’ll have to wait and see but it would certainly be an interesting project. Another German design that caught my attention was a Bürstner Lyseo T744. Many motorhomes out of Europe have a drop-down north-south bed above the driver’s cab/front lounge. It’s quite a simple setup and works well. The Lyseo T744 goes one further – it has a drop-down bed in the rear area as well, with a lounge underneath. It’s a dream layout for any New Zealand dealer, because it has what I call an ‘NZ back’ – a club lounge in the rear, with windows all round. When I was sitting in the motorhome having a rest, most showgoers walked in and said something like “Oh, you have to make the bed up every night” – failing to look above my head and then walking out….

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Talkin’ turbos

Roothy meets a lathe magician who spins up some turbo-charged wonder.

PICS SIMON HAY AND JOHN ROOTH

WITH JOHN ‘ROOTHY’ ROOTH Top: Power isn’t the whole story – torque comes from turbo-charging too. Above right: Pulling the ‘hair dryer’ off Milo 2 at Opposite Lock Sunshine Coast, the exhaust end is cast iron, air pump alloy and there’s lubrication and cooling for bearings. Right: After vapour blasting we ‘hot her up’ with a ‘high flow’ operation. By milling out the air pump to take a bigger fan, Mark from MTQ makes the turbo-charger pump more volume for the same speeds.

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kay, here we go again with the Roothy version of what is a pretty complicated subject. Last month, we had a look into diesel fuel pumps, because that’s what I was having done for the new motor in Milo 2, so this month we’re on to the turbo-charger. As such, I’d recommend that anyone who spends their life twirling tools probably should go and get a double on the rocks right now. I’ve never trained as a mechanic or an engineer or a machinist or any of those wonderful trades that feature measurement and precision. So take this with a pinch of salt from a bloke who ﬂexes the rule of thumb. Back in 1905, Swiss engineer Alfred Buchi patented the concept of using exhaust gas pressure to drive a fan that pumped air into the intake (which meant heaps more power). But it was another 20 years before they started tacking turbos onto diesel engines. And turbos, as any fan of oil burners will tell you, make diesels really go hard! Metallurgy and lubrication had not advanced enough to cope with the speeds and pressures required in smaller engines though, so the

technology was mostly used in big ships as well as a few stationary motors which used low revving big capacity diesels. World War II saw the development of the gas turbine which brought a whole new world of possibilities to building efﬁcient turbo-chargers. That’s because at its simplest, a turbo-charger is a couple of gas turbines on the same shaft. One end gets spun by the exhaust gases shooting out the manifold, which spins a fan at the other end, forcing air into the intake. Done right, there’s an increase in power and fuel economy, because compressing the air squeezes more ‘oomph’ out of the fuel. There, how’s that for a technical explanation?

AIR EQUALS POWER

Naturally-aspirated diesels nearly always produce a lot less power for the same capacity as a petrol engine. They’re also heavier, thanks to the need to use components strong enough to handle double the compression. That gives the old diesels a power-to-weight disadvantage straight away, as anyone who has tried punting an old 1HZ Toyota or 4.2L Nissan up

Roothy’s Shed

“Technology has advanced so far now, that if you ain’t got a ‘hair dryer ’ hanging off your modern oil burner, it’s because it fell off” a steep hill will tell you. If they get a chance to talk between shifting down gears anyway... So add a turbo, a relatively light bit of kit, and you punch that power back into the diesel. In fact when you need power – like climbing that hill with a trailer or van on the back – the ﬁrst thing you do is open up the throttle, which pumps more fuel into the motor, making it work harder, which forces even more exhaust through the turbo. It spins harder, you get more air, more power, more torque and that’s why almost every manufacturer these days ﬁts a turbo-charger as standard to their diesels. Technology has advanced so far now, in

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“With components performing in super-hot, superfast environments, suddenly lubrication and cooling are everything.” lubrication, metallurgy, bearings and mass manufacturing, that if you ain’t got a ‘hair dryer’ hanging off your modern oil burner, it’s because it fell off.

FEEL THE FLOW

Diesels and turbos go together like cheese and crackers. But when you start looking at the heat generated by slowing down exhaust gases and the revolutions these fans spin at – 80,000rpmplus is easy stuff – you can see how things can crack and turn to cheese pretty quickly if you get it wrong. The turbo-charger on Milo 2’s 12HT is a pretty basic bit of kit, but it still does all that and more and has done for at least the 450,000km on the odometer. There’s no signs of it having been apart and it’s leaking a little oil, which indicates those figures are probably right, but also that it needs a freshen-up at least. So off I go to MTQ Engine Systems Australia again to see what the deal is. After a yarn with Mitch, I was lucky enough to get the ‘special treatment’ again and got to go through to the air-locked super-clean room where resident turbo-charging expert Mark works his magic. Now, let me tell you all that the Handbrake had a totally different version of ‘special treatment’ reserved for me when I arrived home rather late that night after my excursion. Because I’d been so excited by everything that I had seen at MTQ that day, I just had to drop by the Mudflats Hotel and let the lads know, too. And I might have lingered there a bit late... But for a bush mechanic like me, it’s truly extraordinary to see someone use a lathe with the degree of precision Mark exhibited. What he did was lathe out the chamber in the aluminium air side of the turbo to accept a slightly bigger fan. It’s a known diesel hot-up trick that’s nicknamed ‘flowing’, because by pumping more air for the same sort of exhaust effort, the whole process accelerates power and torque production exponentially again.

KEEP YOUR COOL

More air makes more power which makes more air which then makes more power and on and

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Roothy’s Shed

on again – the diesel big bang! This was achieved by using the new fan as a guide for what was essentially a hand tooling job on the lathe. Mark has done this heaps of times for many years, so he’s probably got a natural starting proﬁle anyway, but from then on it’s a slow and precise process with constant stops to check that the new chamber mates to the fan. Clearances are measured in hundredths of thousands of an inch – or whatever the metric version of that is. That’s only part of the operation, though. The shaft has to be measured and checked for wear, the bearings replaced and the whole lot put back together again, so it’ll make more power for even longer this time.

TIME TO TAKE CHARGE

For a motorhead like me, this kind of stuff is fascinating. And I think it does keep teaching that same old lesson preached loudly last month though, doesn’t it? With components like this performing in super-hot, super-fast environments, suddenly lubrication and cooling – which are closely related – are everything. Yep, it’s all down to quality oils and lots of regular changes with good ﬁlters ﬁtted at the same time. Strangely, this is even more critical for modern diesels that make so much torque from comparatively small capacity motors. Just last week, the specs for the D Max I was testing indicated 440Nm of torque from its 3.0L motor and the Isuzu has the biggest donk in the dual cab class. The Chevy V8 in my old Jag has twice the

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“More air makes more power which makes more air and more power and on and on again – the diesel big bang!”

Above left: Shaft wear is absolutely critical for obvious reasons seeing as turbos usually spin about 20 times quicker than the motor. So 3000rpm on the tacho could mean 60,000rpm or much more on this shaft!

cubic inches and makes maybe 380Nm on a good day. There’s a whole lot of stomping going on in those turbodiesels, and heaps of revving too. My advice for the long haul? Learn to change your own oils and filters. It’s not hard and you’ll only make a big black mess of it for the first decade or so (unless you’re me and then it’ll be a lifetime of spills and splashes). But it is totally worth it though. You can choose your own quality oil rather than letting the mechanic’s accountant make that decision for you and the same with the filters, too. And with the money saved on labour, you can afford to do it as frequently as required, afford to bung in a fresh filter every time and still have a little something left over for a cleansing postmaintenance ale. Hang on. That’s when the trouble started! I think I’ll stop right here.

Left: Milo 2 gets regular oil and filter changes with good Aussie products that are engineered for our conditions. That’s why this dirty old turbodiesel truck has clocked nearly a million kilometres – oil and filters are cheap insurance!

Above: Get it wrong and... This little explosion was probably caused by something getting past the air filter. A young person in a hurry maybe? Or a silly old codger who might have had too many beers...

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On the Wallaby

On the road again

After months of frustration, Lionel and his beloved motorhome are back on the road!

WITH LIONEL MUSSELL

Clockwise from top right: Lionel loves nothing better than a camp oven meal cooked over coals; At camp with his mates; Yemmy is finally back on the road – with new plates to prove it!

inally the frustration is over and Yemmy is once again legal and providing me with a magic carpet to fly to faraway places known and unknown. After what started as a pleasant journey from Stawell to Officer in Gippsland on a VicRail coach and train, I was given a taste of what Melburnians have to put up with on the suburban network every day – a crowded, standing room-only carriage with a stop at every station for about halfway to my destination and then knees touching once I got a seat and nowhere to stow my bags. I don’t do standing but had to ignore my aching back! It was worth it, though, to be reunited with my beloved Sprinter and start stowing all the things that had to be taken out to get to where the engineer had said the welding holding the windows had to be redone. For $950, Yemmy is now certified as a camper and not a van – which I needed for the roadworthy certificate! Armed with the engineer’s report and the roadworthy certificate, I fronted up at VicRoads in Warragul and – hooray, at last – he became registered again after three months off the road! In what I feel is just a money grab, I had to pay for new number plates even though I had my new personalised plates in my hand and didn’t need any more!

FABULOUS BUSH CAMP

My ﬁrst destination after Warragul was the Village Caravan Park at Traralgon where two of my Australian Caravan Club friends live in the residential section. It’s a lovely park with pristine ensuite-style amenities and spacious sites. They even give a seniors’ discount! After that, I met up with other ACC Gippsland Gypsies members on our way to a great weekend bush camping at Italian Flat near Dargo on the

“Yemmy is once again legal and providing me with a magic carpet to fly to faraway places”

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edge of the river. It was great test of self-contained camping gear as some of our members hadn’t bush camped before. Solar panels were out in force and threeway fridges were run on gas. Two trailer loads of firewood made sure the campfire was kept going and happy hours became extended as we sat around the brightly glowing fire. There was no shortage of food! Egg and bacon breakfast, lunch at the Dargo pub, a sausage sizzle lunch next day and the crowning glory – a wonderful camp oven dinner with four different meats from the ovens and roast potatoes and pumpkin cooked in four Webers – plus peas and corn! As if this wasn’t enough, it was followed with golden syrup dumplings – again in a camp oven. Is it any wonder I’m not slender these days?

OVER THE TOP

Yemmy had a real workout after the muster ended as he took me over the Dargo High Plains Road to Porepunkah. The ﬁrst part of the road is sealed but then it gets a bit rough at times on the gravel part. There are few corrugations as the surface is too hard and rocky for that to happen! My No. 1 daughter and her partner work at the BIG4 caravan park there and I was able to get the same lovely site as the last time I stayed. Even though I only stayed the one night, it was quality time and we had sausages and onions in bread – just for a change from the Dargo repasts.

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE TIME?

It seems only a short time ago when the family gathered in Adelaide for my son’s wedding but he reminded me recently that they were about to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary. Wow! I’ll be playing in the Stawell City Band for a street playout for the Stawell Gift weekend, for Anzac Day services in Great Western and Stawell and then for the Wimmera Brass Band Groups Band Sunday on May 7. My winter trip north starts just a week after that with the ACC Chairman’s Muster at Peak Hill, NSW, so I’ll be heading off before the cold really hits, I hope. See you down the track.

www.simplicityaxles.com.au 2 Childs Rd, Epping Victoria 3076 Ph: (03) 9401 4077

Think of a place you want to tow your caravan Simplicity Axles® will get you there and back! Manufactured by NP Hauffe & Co The Simplicity Air System Featuring Quality Firestone Bellows Air Bag. Is available in either a set and forget option. Automatic height adjustment or auto and manual height adjustment.

The Simplicity Leaf sprung axle which is our tried and true load sharing axle available in both tandem and single configurations. This axle has been on vehicles on and off road with many varied uses from Defence, Farm and Commercial to Recreational Caravaning throughout Australia under all conditions. Longevity is the key with our axles. We are still able to supply parts for caravans made in the ‘70’s and when looking at updating satisfied customers are asking for Simplicity to be fitted to their new van.

How The SIMPLICITY Axle Systems differ from other axles on the market:  Our all Steel Hubs are manufactured on site to our exacting specifications from high grade materials.  We are the only manufacturer to use Chrome Molybdenum 4140 steel in our stub axles for our larger units, giving them extra strength without added weight.  Our leaf sprung axle is a fully independent, load sharing unit giving a more stable ride.  We stamp a serial number on all our axles and we

record all relative information for each axle which we keep on file allowing for ease of identification for after sales support.  Our unique conical coil springs are colour coded for easy load capacity identification.  “Simplicity”Axles were the first fully Off Road independent axles used on caravans in Australia and are still the leading axles in Off Road environments. Ask anyone who has one.

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The Simplicity “SMART” Coil Trailing Arm Axle in single or tandem gives a softer, smoother ride with our variable rate spring. Also available in Leading/Trailing Arm Configuration. Chassis fitment in either weld on or bolt on.

WITH ELLEN DEWAR

Location

Craig’s Hut, High Country, Vic

Gear

Canon 1Dx, ISO 400, f511, 1/2sec, four frames, 35mm lens

Composition

Panoramic landscapes are perfect to capture grandeur and the expansive vistas. The path and fence are used to draw the eye into the landscape.

Handy hint

Use a standard lens 35mm or 50mm rather than a wide angle – this ensures each frame captures the detail within the scene. Pay close attention to the level bubbles on your tripod to keep panning level. When moving around, start at the left of the scene and move right and ensure any moving objects are in one frame fully for ease of merging them multiple images later.

Photographic fact

Your camera position is essential. The primary advantage of shooting a panoramic with multiple frames is to capture the intricate details. For best results, shoot 90-degrees in a ‘portrait’ frame. It allows for cropping later and keeps the subject in the middle of the frame without distortion. Photoshop has many options for bringing the frames together. If each frame captured overlaps slightly, it makes merging simple. Open in Photoshop or similar software and use the Merge function.

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Picture Perfect

Ne w

OUTLOOK

Use multiple images to create a stunning panoramic shot. The caravan you want is now easier to find

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Keeping your cool Mechanical failures can cause more than heat stress!

ith the touring season fast approaching, it’s time to give some thought to pre-trip servicing. While it’s often a topic left to the fellas, I’d thought I’d share some of my own experiences to reﬂect on how bad luck or poor maintenance can really put a dampener on your trip.

COOL RUNNINGS WITH ANITA PAVEY

Below: It’s important that everyone takes an interest in under-bonnet affairs.

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Of the key maintenance items that make up a pre-trip inspection, your vehicle’s cooling system should be at the top of the tree. I’m not talking about the air-conditioner or those four glass windows that move up and down, but the radiator and its related parts. As you may know, regular servicing doesn’t cover every item at each interval, which is why it’s important to let your mechanic know your travel plans, so he or she can check the vital components prior to any extended trip. Towing puts considerable strain on your vehicle’s cooling system requiring it to be in top-notch condition. I know all this from experience. A month into our big lap, we noticed higher than normal temperature readings on the gauge, as we were winding our

way through the tall timber area along the south coast of Western Australia. Sure enough, we found stinky coolant blowing out the overﬂow pipe and down the inside of the front guard. Mechanics crawled all over the car trialling different solutions and scratching their heads, as part of the test and replicate process, but to no avail. Yet pop the van on, and the problem was almost instantly replicated. It ended up being a warped head which cost us over $5000 to repair and the loss of four weeks from our trip. Compounding the problem, later in the trip, our low coolant alarm developed some corrosion on the reading element, causing the alarm to sound erratically from time to time. It only added to the paranoia. Funnily enough, there is a native bush down the east coast that smells a lot like coolant. It didn’t help our situation and caused additional stress and worry about another impending expensive repair.

POWER UP

Moving into the electrical area, the humble Anderson plug is a maintenance item often

On the Trails

“Bad luck or poor maintenance can really put a dampener on your trip” Clockwise from above: When a break down involves a tray top, it almost always ends in tears; At the mechanics – “and the cost is what?”; Coolant everywhere is never good.

forgotten. For many vans, the Anderson plug plays a key role when exploring the back roads away from mains power. Anderson plugs are exposed to corrosion which affects the contact points and the efﬁciency of recharge. An Anderson plug cover goes a long way to protect the integrity of the system. Regular checks should keep them in optimum working order, with a rub down with emery paper as required and a protective squirt of the rust and corrosion inhibitor WD40. Make sure you have all the required fuses too, as sourcing replacements in the back blocks is near impossible. A basic check of the Anderson plug circuit can be done by looking at the volt meter on the van. A fully charged AGM battery at rest will show around 12.8V. When hooked up to the

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vehicle with the Anderson plug connected, the volt meter will read much higher, often over 14V, which proves the circuit is working. Regardless of the initial voltage, the Anderson plug voltage should be higher. Fuses should be your first port of call when troubleshooting. If your RV is fitted with a comprehensive battery management system such as the Redarc Manager 30, the summary screen will show the source of charge (DC) and the level of the incoming charge. Don’t leave mechanical responsibility to your significant other. Gain a general understanding of how things work because one day, the responsibility may well fall on you. But don’t panic. Knowledge acquisition in these areas is all part of the fun of touring. See you on the trails. tradervs.com.au

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d n a TACOS NACHOS Spice up your life, and your camp cuisine, with these Mexican-inspired snacks.

WITH LYNN BAIN

hat we consider today to be Mexican cuisine is, in a basic sense, the fusion of Spanish and native central American techniques and ingredients followed by some European influences (especially meats, herbs and spices). Tacos and nachos were my first tastes of Mexican food. A taco is commonly a crispy firm corn tortilla with a filling of beef, pork, chicken, vegetables, beans and/or cheese, even seafood. Generally eaten without utensils, a taco is often accompanied by garnishes such as salsa, avocado pieces

or guacamole, plus coriander, tomato pieces, uncooked sliced onions and/or shredded lettuce. Nachos are triangular fried tortilla chips, topped with a ﬁlling similar to that used in tacos (and various Mexican wraps) and typically smothered in melted shredded cheese and then served with a salsa. In various Mexican cuisines, the ﬁllings are often similar; it’s the treatment/presentation of the tortilla that distinguishes between nachos, tacos, as well as soft tacos, enchiladas, burritos etc.

Fruity Pork Tacos Tacos offer many ﬂavour variations, often in buffet style. For example, using the meat mixture as a base; you can add options like shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, salsa, grated cheese, sour cream, guacamole, chopped coriander, refried beans or Mexican style black beans to your taco. These options are often presented in individual bowls. What makes a taco different to many other Mexican style meat dishes is that the ﬁlling is spooned into a crispy folded corn shell before the toppings are added. The crispy shell acts as a

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holder for your ﬁllings. As a variation to the wrap ﬁllings that I introduced in last month’s Caravan World, I have added some dried fruit to the meat mixture for this taco. This gives the taco mince a bit of a sweet vibe. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15- 20 minutes The following quantities will serve four Handy Hint 1: You could use whatever mince you

Caravan Cook have to hand in these tacos. Handy Hint 2: Substitute any type of dried fruit that you like in the mince mixture. For example, either some dried cranberries with lamb, a couple of ﬁnely chopped prunes with beef or dried apricot with chicken. Handy Hint 3: You could make these tacos into a ﬁnger food platter using the mini taco shells that are available in most supermarkets these days. Handy Hint 4: You could make a Mexican style creamy topping for your tacos by adding about a tablespoon or so of mayonnaise to an equal amount of sour cream and mixing thoroughly. Perhaps add a spritz of lime juice as well if you have limes available.

Ingredients • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • 1 small onion, finely chopped • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 1/2 tsp Mexican chilli powder • 1/2 tsp cinnamon • Pinch of ground cloves (optional) • 500g minced pork • 1 cup chicken (or beef) stock • 1/2 cup finely chopped tinned tomatoes (or 1 tbsp tomato paste) • A handful of raisin, chopped • A dash of white wine vinegar • Taco shells Method: Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy based frypan over a medium heat. Add the ﬁnely chopped onion to the pan and sauté until

the onion has softened. Now stir the garlic, chilli powder, cinnamon and ground cloves into the onion in the pan and continue to cook until the spices are fragrant. Add the pork mince to the spicy onion mixture in the pan and cook, braking up any mince lumps with a spoon or fork, continue to cook until the pork is no longer pink. This should take about ﬁve minutes. Add the stock, tomatoes, raisins and vinegar to the mince mixture. Stir well to combine. Continue to cook until the mixture has thickened. This should take about ﬁve to 10 minutes. Spoon the fruity pork mixture into some warmed taco shells and add your choice of toppings.

Layered Beef Nachos

Ingredients: • A small dash of vegetable oil • 1 small onion, chopped finely • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 2 tsp Mexican chilli powder • A good pinch of dried oregano • 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 250g beef mince • 250g plain corn chips • 3 cups grated cheese • 1-2 jalapeño chillies, finely sliced (optional) • 3 green shallots, finely sliced

Whenever I make nachos, I can’t help thinking of my mum. Nachos were her go-to meal when we went out to lunch and she always ordered ‘Nashos’. It was so wonderful. We would coach her through saying ‘Nart-choes’ several times until she had our version of the enunciation perfected. Enter the waiter and it was straight back to an order of ‘Nashos’. Knowing my mum’s huge sense of humour, I can’t help think we were having our legs pulled big time. Nachos traditionally used tortillas cut into triangles and fried; however, corn chips have replaced the tortilla pieces these days. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes (in oven) or 2-3 minutes in microwave. The following quantities will serve four generously

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Handy Hint 1: You could add scoops of guacamole, salsa or sour cream (or all of them) to the top of your nachos. Handy Hint 2: You could cook the nachos in the microwave for a couple of minutes as an alternative to cooking them in the oven. The ﬁnished texture of the tortilla chips will not be quite as crispy from the microwave as the oven. Handy Hint 3: Try adding thin slices of jalapeño chillies to the nachos. These chillies are available in bottles in most supermarkets. Handy Hint 4: Years ago, I’d run out of corn chips when my family had a serious nacho craving. So having taco shells in the pantry, I roughly cracked some taco shells into pieces and, voila, instant corn chips. Handy Hint 5: Shredded (pulled) cooked beef is an alternative to beef mince; simply adjust your cooking time to reheat the meat in the frypan rather than recooking it.

Method Heat your oven to 400F/200C. On your stove, heat the vegetable oil over a medium heat in a heavy based frypan. Add the chopped onion to the pan and sauté until the onion has softened. Now stir in the garlic, chilli powder, oregano and cumin. Continue to cook until the spices are fragrant. Add the beef mince to the pan and cook, breaking up any mince lumps with a fork or spoon, until the mince is no longer pink. This should take about ﬁve minutes. Spread half of the corn chips into the base of a medium sized baking dish. Sprinkle half of the grated cheese over the chips, then top evenly with half of the spicy beef mixture from the frypan. Lay some slices of jalapeño chillies (if using) over the mince. Repeat the layers with the remaining corn chips, cheese and beef mixture. Pop the baking dish into the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and golden brown. When cooked, remove the baking dish from the oven and allow to cool slightly before adding a scattering of sliced green shallots over the top of the nachos. You can now serve your Beef Nachos as they come, or serve them loaded with accompaniments (see Handy Hint 1). tradervs.com.au

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Plastic fantastic

Five top tips for fishing with soft plastic lures.

PICS JOHN WILLIS, JOHN DIDGE & GONE FISHING

WITH JOHN ‘BEAR’ WILLIS

ishing with lures, particularly soft plastics, has grown steadily in status to become the number one choice for many keen anglers. In fact, to many fishos, bait is now a dirty word. It doesn’t matter what species you favour, nor in what water, there is a soft plastic lure for all occasions. John ‘Didgey’ Didge is a great mate of mine. He’s an experienced angler based in Geelong, Vic, and has been involved in the fishing media for many years. John is also a competition angler specialising in flathead and bream, but regularly targeting many other species including snapper in his home waters of Corio Bay. Didgey has even developed his own range of jig heads to match his style and we recently travelled to one of my favourite south coast New South Wales destinations where I sapped him for some of his expertise. We rounded it back to five great tips for soft plastics fishing.

1. STRAIGHT AND SLOW

Every lure has its own action and soft plastics are no exception. Some are best presented in jerking action and some on a more even, less erratic wind. Yet the key is to let the lure present its action most naturally and give the ﬁsh the opportunity to strike. While most plastics will swim quite well with a smooth retrieve, it doesn’t tend to portray the

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sense of urgency to strike. Wounded creatures tend to swim in spurts, kicking frantically then falling toward the bottom, hence, imitating that action will see success. Yabbies, shrimp and similar critters swim with a flapping tail action, generally in short bursts and there’s barely a fish alive in salt or freshwater that won’t be attracted to one of these tasty tidbits. If you can mimic their swimming action, then you’re in with a good chance of action. Sandworms wriggle around the bottom, while a sick baitfish will rise and fall through the water column, but again, in short bursts with a falling spell in between. It is often when you allow your lure to fall between jerks that a fish will bight so be ready to strike.

2. SIZE DOES MATTER

To be successful, you generally need to do some homework on your quarry’s preferred menu, and then select your lure and retrieve style to suit. All ﬁsh, from trout to marlin, will respond to a well presented lure that mimics a wounded specimen of their favorite food. Even the aggressive pack hunters like Australian salmon, tailor, tuna, mackerel and trevally may turn their noses up at a lure that is much larger, or smaller than the rest of the bait school they are feeding on at the time. ‘Match the hatch’ is the key yet again. But many marauding ﬁsh have an uncanny

Switch Bait ability to open their mouths very wide to eat surprisingly large portions. I am constantly amazed at the size of the bait or lure that are attacked with vigour by very small fish. Think about the physical proportions of the fish you target and try to imagine just how large their food sources may be. For instance, a flathead has a bucket-sized mouth that often eats live mullet, and it has a stomach and appetite to match. So gear up for big’uns! A bream’s mouth is much smaller with a diet of worms, poddies, small crustaceans, shell and crabs so a matching lure is required. However, a sand or beach worm may be quite long so it’s worth threading on an imitation. Alternatively, a marlin will eat a whole tuna so the sky is the limit with lure size for game fish!

3. COLOUR

All of the experts tell us that fish are colour blind and many say that different coloured lures are there to catch the fishermen, not the fish. However, colour is a very important factor in lure success. Remember that light refracts and changes quickly in the water so what you see from above may not be the obvious choice once immersed, hence, some really unusual colour forms can be very successful. As a very general rule, I stick to a theory of bright day – bright lure, and dull day – dull lure. However, it’s wise to match the environment you are fishing in as well. On a bright day on shallow sand flats, I always stick to the lighter, sometimes even fluoro, colours, yet in the deeper, tannin-stained waters further upstream, I will go much darker, even to blacks. Light coloured surface lures don’t get seen as well as the darker forms, which create a stronger silhouette on overcast days. Didgey says contrast is very important. Sometimes it’s as simple as a black line on the side of a silver lure that can be the difference between one fish or 10. Be prepared to experiment with colour, as what works today won’t always work tomorrow. Food source, hatches and rises can vary from hour to hour, tide to tide and season to season and the colours change with them.

4. ACTION

One of Didgey’s golden rules is that your soft plastic must stay in contact with the bottom. I agree with him for the majority of target species, particularly those in estuaries, but in many other beach and lake scenarios some surface or mid-water action can be deadly. Didgey specialises in flathead, a species that lives and attacks from the bottom and, hence, bouncing one of his specially designed ‘Jig Man’ Weedless SOS jig heads gains terrific success. Yet pelagics will attack mid-water, kingfish on bommies, salmon and tailor

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on the surf edge and up north the barra, queenies and mackerel can attack from just about anywhere! One thing is for sure; if you can emulate sick or stricken bait then your prey will be suckers for your imitation. A wiggly worm, a jerking yabby, an erratically bouncing bait ﬁsh or a crawling crab will certainly attract your target species so you need consider how and where that imitation would be moving, and then try to copy it.

5. TARGET YOUR SPECIES

I know of a bloke who got caught out cheating on his wife by not knowing his fish species! He used to regularly disappear, supposedly to a freshwater inland lake fishing with his mates but, instead, shacked up with the girlfriend for a couple of days. He got caught when he returned home to his wife with some flathead that he brought from a fishmonger not knowing the difference between salt and freshwater species! I tell that tale because many people find it hard to identify the available species and target them. The simple answer is Google! We are blessed with a host of information on every species and location in the country so use it to identify not only your target, but also its preferred feeding habits wherever you travel. Fishing for the fish that are there with imitations of the local food source seems obvious, but a factor that seems lost on so many.

THE GOLDEN RULE

The golden rule to fishing is that there are no rules, and that as soon as you think you have the fish worked out then something in the environment will change and nothing seems to work. It may be a moon phase, flood, peak tides, arrival of predators, loss of food source or even a change of temperature or the seasons that will affect fish’s habits. Learn to experiment, change lures, styles, colours, depth and locality and you may just learn something new. One of the greatest pleasures in fishing is the hunt and ultimate success. But if we were successful with every outing it would be called ‘catching’ not ‘fishing’, wouldn’t it? Tight lines and happy travels!

Clockwise from top left: This little flathead’s eyes were bigger than his stomach when he ate this 6in flick bait!; Gone Fishing’s Kozi with a bream that engulfed a green grub; This Corio bay Kingfish fell to a 5in plastic lure; Bear’s mate Henry Hill with a lovely soft plastic lured flathead from Lake Wonboyn; Even pelagic game fish love soft plastics (pic: Gone Fishing). tradervs.com.au

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Events around Oz

Here’s what’s happening around the country in the coming months. QLD BEDOURIE CAMEL AND PIG RACES AND CAMP OVEN COOK-OFF July 8 Watch camel races, pig races, a traditional camp oven cook-off, wood chopping and novelty events. Bedourie, visitors@diamantina.qld.gov.au, www.thediamantina.com.au

WINTON CAMEL RACES

WITH RACHAEL DOHERTY

July 22 Winton embraces the Western Queensland Camel Festival with eight races of elite camels and cameleers. There will also be motorbike events, music, drinks and food available. Winton, www.outbacknow.com.au

CHILDERS FESTIVAL July 29-30 The festival transforms the Bruce Highway into a gigantic food, market and entertainment hub, with five stages set among heritage-listed buildings and the tree-lined streets of Childers. Childers, events.admin@bundaberg.qld.gov.au, www.childersfestival.com.au

NSW/ACT SAWTELL CHILLI FESTIVAL

July 17-19 Celebrate fibre art with knitted, crocheted and mixed medium beanies for sale and on display at this local charity event, plus food, craft and local produce available at market stalls. Alexandra, www.facebook.com/MurrindindiBeanieFestivalVictoria

WINTER BLUES FESTIVAL Jul 27-30 The cream of Australian Blues will converge on Echuca-Moama for a weekend of music and entertainment in the clubs, restaurants and streets. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a range of free events. Echuca-Moama, admin@winterblues.com.au, www.winterblues.com.au

TAS HUON VALLEY MID-WINTER FESTIVAL Jul 14-16 Witness the age-old tradition of wassailing at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed: where nasties are scared from apple trees to ensure a good crop! Enjoy craft ciders, cheeses, and food and entertainment. Grove, huonvalleywinterfest@gmail.com, www.huonvalleymidwinterfest.com.au

FESTIVAL OF VOICES Jun 30-Jul 16 The Festival attracts thousands of singers, choristers and music lovers for the chance to hear harmonies in concert halls, theatres and public spaces across the state. Tasmania-wide, www.festivalofvoices.com

DEVONPORT JAZZ Jul 28 Enjoy traditional, contemporary, swing, Latin and be-bop styles of Jazz performed by local and interstate artists, with education, food, visual art, dance and film. Devonport, www.devonportjazz.com

4WD CARAVAN CAMPING AND MARINE SHOW

STROUD INTERNATIONAL BRICK AND ROLLING PIN THROWING CONTEST July 9 Locals from the four towns of Stroud – in England, Canada, the US, and NSW – compete in brick and rolling pin throwing events amid parades and carnival festivities celebrating the Wild West. Stroud, www.stroudbrickthrowing.com.au

VIC TEA COSY COMPETITION Jul 9-17 Warratina Lavender Farm will exhibit handmade knitted and crocheted tea cosies by local artisans, with proceeds going to the Cancer Council. Admire the handiwork and enjoy tea. Seville, enquiries@warratinalavender.com.au,

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MURRINDINDI BEANIE FESTIVAL VICTORIA

July 1 Turn up the heat and sample chilli-related foods and products on offer! Street performances, live music, dancing, cooking and the Chilli Eating Competition will entertain young and old. Sawtell, www.sawtellchillifestival.com.au

July 7-9 Peruse hundreds of products and services, with more than 200 exhibitors displaying 4WDs, touring and camping accessories, camper trailers and other RVs, boats, destinations and more. Lismore, www.lismore4wdshow.com.au

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www.warratinalavender.com.au/calendar.php

WINTER RACE DAY Jul 5 Enjoy a fun mid-week race day at Murray Bridge. The local racing club also offers a variety of social race day marquee packages, perfect for entertaining friends and family. Murray Bridge, (08) 8532 2310, www.racingmurraybridge.com

PORT AUGUSTA CUP Jul 9 Enjoy breathtaking views of the Flinders Ranges at this exciting race day. The Cup attracts thousands of race goers from far and wide for a day of racing, fashion and entertainment. Port Augusta, (04) 4710 5545, www.paracing.org.au

ADELAIDE BEER AND BBQ FESTIVAL Jul 28-30 More than 50 exhibitors will showcase fine ciders and brews as leading chefs and restaurateurs barbecue up a storm in four sessions across three days, with live music Friday and Saturday night. The Brick Cattle Pavilion and Adelaide Showground lawns, adelaidebeerfest.com.au

Events

PROTECT YOUR NEW INVESTMENT

Above: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all on the line at the Bedourie Camel and Pig Races and Camp Oven Cook-Off.

WA WYNDHAM STARS ON THE BASTION

EXTERIOR PAINT SEALANTS â&#x20AC;¢ Stops fading & chalking INTERIOR FABRIC PROTECTION â&#x20AC;¢ Easier to clean spills & red dust

FULL CARAVAN PROTECTION

July 4 Kick off the night with beautiful sunset views atop the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bastionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from the Five Rivers Lookout, ahead of live performances by country and western favourites and a hearty threecourse feast. Wyndham, wyndhamcommunityevents@gmail.com, www.wyndhamstarsonthebastion.org.au

KUNUNURRA AGRICULTURAL SHOW July 14-15 Enjoy entertainment, circus workshops, equestrian events and fireworks, plus country show favourites including market stalls, cattle, dog shows, sideshow alley and displays. Kununurra, (08) 9168 2885, www.kas.org.au

ROEBOURNE CUP DAY AT NOR WEST JOCKEY CLUB July 25. This seven event card is well-supported by the local Pilbara communities and annually attracts more than 4000 racegoers. A popular event, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sure to be a fun day out. Roebourne, www.nwjcroebourne.com.au

NT DARWIN LIONSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BEER CAN REGATTA July 9 Cheer on would-be shipwrights floundering at Mindil Beach in their can, bottle, and carton creations in an effort to reduce litter and raise funds for Lionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Club projects. Mindil Beach, Darwin, www.beercanregatta.org.au

APEX CAMEL CUP Jul 15 Camels compete in 9 races on a dusty outback track. Belly dancers, rickshaw races, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kids Kamel Kapersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hobby camel races, rides, Mr and Miss Camel Cup challenges, stalls and bars add to the fun. Alice Springs, camelcup@outlook.com, www.camelcup.com.au

KATHERINE AND DISTRICT SHOW July 21-11 Enjoy a weekend of rural entertainment, with a camp draft and rodeo, cooking classes, sideshows, plenty of horse and cattle events, and a range of entertaining novelty events to keep things fun. Katherine, www.katherineshow.org.au

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Getaway Getaway Gear Gear

FIX IT YOURSELF

Good as new, thanks to UFIXIT.

on’t you hate it when you’re heading off to a favourite destination – or simply conducting your daily commute – and a rock the size of Jupiter flicks up and smashes into your windscreen? Okay, so it might not actually be that big – but it can feel that way when it’s happening. Other times, you don’t see the stone – but you certainly hear it strike and it doesn’t take long to find the chip. In the old days, a decent thwack by a rock would turn a windscreen into crazy paving. These days, lamination and improved materials means that the damage may not be so immediate. But many chips will still initiate a crack that can soon expand across your windscreen, impeding your forward vision and making your vehicle un-roadworthy. What roadside repair options you have available will depend on the extent of the damage and what you have in the vehicle with you. So you might try to fill the crack with a clear acrylic nail polish – or use the epoxy glue in your toolbox. But you know these are only temporary fixes that won’t survive the effects of wind, frost, rain and the sun’s deteriorating UV rays. Happily, there’s a simple and longlasting solution for ‘do-it-yourself’ windscreen repairs. The UFIXIT – Do it yourself – Windscreen repair kit can repair stars, bullseyes, chips and cracks. The product is good for small round damage no larger than a 30mm in diameter (more than an inch in the old tongue) and cracks no longer that 100mm in length (think of the size of a decent fishing lure). At just $35, the kit is excellent value as it includes enough product to carry out eight or so

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repairs from the same pack. Unused resin lasts in the container up to ﬁve years after opening. For the last two years, we’ve been using UFIXIT to repair the occasional chip in the windscreen on the Hilux in the back shed. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the job generally takes under an hour to complete. Once applied, we’ve not had a single instance of the product failing. It’s prevented chips from spreading – including during periods of frost and rapid temperature variations that place the most pressure on windscreen weakpoints. While it’s obviously best to apply

UFIXIT as soon as the damage occurs, we’ve applied it up to a week from the point of impact and still achieved excellent results. The key is to ensure that the surface is clean and dry before you start. – Scott Heiman.

UFIXIT RRP: $35.00 Where: Supercheap Auto, Repco and 4x4 shows and shops More info: www.ufixit.info/windscreen-repair-kit Rating:

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Getaway Getaway Gear Gear

GAS BE GONE!

afety is a big consideration when you hit the road, whether you travel alone, as a couple or with a bunch of kids, like we do. As bush camping enthusiasts, we rely heavily on LPG for our cooking, running our Coleman hot water service and keeping the Dometic fridge ticking over. However, LPG comes with a set of dangers and we personally know people who have been involved in horrific accidents, due to an undetected gas leak. I think we all know the unpleasant smell of gas and the worry in wondering where on earth it’s coming from. After years of travelling, we decided it was about time we purchased a safety Gasfuse, just before a six-week trip to South Australia. We bought the product at the local Bunnings for just $36.98 but you can also find it at BCF and Ray’s Outdoors. Installation is quick and easy as the pocket-size device fits snugly between the gas bottle and the gas regulator. The fuse fits all cylinder sizes with a POL valve, which is the most common valve in Australia. You turn off the gas bottle,

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remove the regulator, hose and appliance. Now you’re ready to screw the Gasfuse into the gas bottle. Tighten the Gasfuse to the bottle using a spanner as doing it by hand won’t get it tight enough. Now insert your regulator, hose and install the appliance, making sure the appliance is switched off. Turn the gas on, press down the gauge a couple of times to prime the Gasfuse and you’re back in business. So how does it work? Basically, the Gasfuse acts like an electrical circuit breaker at home, automatically and instantly turning off the supply of gas when a leak is detected or the regulator fails. The fuse has been designed in such a way that the internal flow dynamics power a mechanical shut-off apparatus which is independent from external power. The added bonus is that the German made visual gas gauge tells you how much gas is left in the bottle, taking the guessing out of when to refill thus saving you money on unnecessary refills. There are three readings: High, Gas and Low, to inform you what is happening inside the gas bottle. Once the gauge indicates Low, you

have about one hour of gas left before you need to reﬁll. In addition, this nifty device has an inbuilt tilt switch, which causes the supply to be shut off in case the bottle falls or wobbles excessively. All in all, this small bit of equipment plays a very important role and has the potential to save lives. Gasfuse has won two gold medals for safety and a silver and bronze for the environment. It is considered ‘the best innovative mechanical gas safety valve shut off.’ Looking back I don’t know why we didn’t buy this safety device much sooner. Safety must always come ﬁrst and for a mere $40 it is worth its value in gold. – Claudia Bouma, pics Chris Bouma.

Gasfuse RRP: $36.98 Where: Bunnings More info: www.gasfuse.com Rating:

The freedom to explore... on or off the road!

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C A R A V A N S 1 Strathvale Crt, Caboolture, QLD 07 5499 2250 25 Simcock Street Somerville, VIC 0400 777 698

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Getaway Getaway Gear Gear

AHOY, MATEYS!

ABSOLUTE POWER

Adventurers love the great outdoors… So, why not an outdoors game to add extra excitement to your camping expeditions? Crossbones – an original, traditional-style wooden game where you score points by landing your bones on your opponent’s bones – is an ideal travel companion. An Aussie-designed game, Crossbones is a traditional-style, interactive ‘old-school’ game providing families and friends with a fun diversion from society’s omnipresent electronic gadgetry. Crossbones is similar to the outdoor games bocce and horseshoes, except the goal is to use your skill and luck to score points by capturing the bones of your opponent. The more bones you throw and land on your opponent’s bones, the more points you score. From two to 12 players can get involved in the bone-crunching action. It takes a minute to set up and can be played on the beach, in the bush, and on campsites. Weighing less than 2kg and made of birch, Crossbones comes in an easy-to-carry shoulder bag.

The ability to power up your mod-cons while embarking on extended periods off the grid is critical. And intrepid adventurers will have peace of mind while exploring remote regions with the introduction of the Dometic SinePower MSI 412 pure sine inverter. This efﬁcient unit allows caravanners to enjoy lengthy stays off the beaten track away from mains power. It can be hooked up to any 12V power source and will convert 12V battery power into pure 230V AC voltage. Additionally, rechargeable devices with USB interface can be charged via the integrated 5V/2A USB port included. The lightweight (under 1kg) and compact MSI 412 is easily installed in RVs, mobile homes, commercial vehicles or yachts. The MSI 412 also has built-in safety mechanisms. The unit will shut down if it experiences over voltage, under voltage, excess temperature or a short circuit.

Crossbones

Dometic Sinepower MSI 412

RRP: $65 (includes free Australia-wide delivery) Where: Online More info: www.crossbonesgame.com.au

RRP: $199 Where: 4WD accessories outlets and auto electrical stores More info: www.dometic.com

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CARA REST

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• Repairs & alterations to all makes & models • Holiday servicing & preparation • Insurance work • Warranty work • Accessories & spare parts specialists • Air conditioning specialists • Country clients welcome • SA ‘S LARGEST CARAVAN RETAIL STORE

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Getaway Getaway Gear Gear

WASH-AND-WEAR

Australia’s B.E.S.T. RV Inline Water Filter

Many RVers consider an on-board washing machine not only a luxury but a necessity. There’s no disputing that a build-up of dirty clothes and linen can put you into a spin (if you’ll excuse the pun) while travelling. Enter Camec’s latest top-load washing machine, with a larger 3kg washing capacity and the only machine in its class to offer an optional hot wash cycle using cold water. (NB. This feature adds approximately 20-40 minutes to the cycle time.) The Camec Compact RV 3kg Washing Machine, which comes with a one year warranty, is loaded with features including: economical cold water washing with hot wash option; six wash program combinations; high and low water level adjustment for large and small loads; blue LED display with wash time remaining function; precision stainless steel was tub; clothes basket that doubles as a tub stabiliser; securing strap and basket. And its exclusive LED drum light will help you ﬁnd that missing camping sock! Weighing only 18kg, the washing machine utilises approximately 20L of water on low cycle and 26L on high. Mains power operated, it consumes 235W (cold) and 1035W (hot).

We have 35 YE ARS of installing water filters in caravans

• You can safely draw water from town, tank, creek or bore water. • Chemicals & sediment are removed, bacteria is destroyed. • Reversible - reverse it and flush away the dirt.

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Camec Compact RV 3kg Washing Machine RRP: $499 Where: Online, Camec retail stores, and stockists listed on Camec website More info: www.camec.com

WHAT IS BEST?

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Clean, safe water.. wherever the road may take you ...

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TR A LI

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7/513 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood Vic 3134 P: (03) 9870 6102 | F: (03) 9876 0290 | E: info@alpinecanvas.com.au

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• QUALITY AUSTRALIAN MADE PRODUCTS • CUSTOM MADE WITH A GREAT RANGE OF COLORS AND OPTIONS. • ONSITE FITTING. • FREIGHT AUSTRALIA WIDE

Continuing Trakmasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long tradition of building true offroad caravans comes the Trakmaster Pilbara Extreme, with the ultimate in offroad ability. It is a complete package ready to take on your next outback adventure. Built with a reinforced chassis designed to withstand the extreme rigours of the offroad, the Pilbara Extreme also features Trakair suspension which makes towing a dream. With two layouts available and loaded with standard features, the Pilbara Extreme caters for any lifestyle, no matter where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going. Join us on Facebook!

For more information contact Trakmaster today! 29-31 Waldheim Rd, Bayswater, VIC 3153 TOLL FREE: 1800 809 194 | www.trakmaster.com.au CVW-FP-5209918-CS-559-XCC

Getaway Getaway Gear Gear

READY FOR A SOLAR ECLIPSE Redarc has added a new range of folding monocrystalline portable solar panels to its line-up of solar power accessories. The new monocrystalline portable folding

• 12 Volt specialist • We come to you • Battery packs & DC Boosters • Solar panels, fixed or portable • Anderson plugs • Brake controllers • Led lighting, inside & out • Dexter Sway Control • Wiring repairs & much more • Qualified Auto Electrician CALL COLIN 0417 595 505

www.caravanelectrics.com.au

PO Box 542 Beaconsfield Vic

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CARAVAN ELECTRICS

solar panels are available in 120 and 160W power ratings, and feature highly efﬁcient ‘A’ grade monocrystalline cell technology. The panels’ lightweight leg design includes adjustable legs which ensure the panels can be angled towards the sun and be moved as required. They also come with a 5m anderson to anderson cable. The solar blankets and folding solar panels also include genuine industry standard Anderson SB 50 plug connectors making installation easier. The Redarc solar range also includes monocrystalline solar panels in 50, 80, 120, 150 watt power ratings, and a slim-line 150 watt design for permanent installation on the roof a vehicle or camper trailer.

Redarc solar range RRP: Various Where: 4WD accessories outlets and auto electrical stores More info: www.redarc.com.au/solar

Caravans - Motor Homes - Boats - Workshops

• Flat Drink Water Hose • Flat Sullage Hose • Storage Reels for Power Leads Made in Australia TO PURCHASE ONLINE:

www.flatoutaust.com

2 / 29 Princes Hwy, Mogo (Batemans Bay), 2536, South Coast NSW, Australia. P: 02 4474 0662 F: 02 4474 0665

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W: www.flatoutaust.com

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Our Reels and Hoses are all innovative products for when space is at a premium.

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Getaway Getaway Gear Gear

HELP IS ON ITS WAY Survival expert and best-selling author Bob Cooper has released the new HELP Survival Blanket to provide travellers a means of signalling distress when lost in the bush that’s easy to carry. The hi-vis blanket boldly displays the word ‘HELP’ in black letters on a bright yellow background in an effort to attract emergency assistance from air trafﬁc ﬂying ahead. The wind and waterproof Mylar plastic blanket folds down to a compact size,

opens out to 2mx1.3m and reflects up to 90 per cent of your body’s heat to provide warm shelter in an emergency situation. “It can also be used for first aid as it is strong enough to be used as a stretcher,” Bob explained. Included on the blanket is Bob’s own ‘ABC of survival’, advice on water consumption, directions on finding and using the sun, stars and moon, and a silver backing to reflect the sun’s rays or search light beams.

HELP survival blanket RRP: $19.99. Where: Online More info: www.bobcoopersurvival.com

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Is safety your priority? buy a 5th wheeler!

Easy-to-follow diagrams on using it for warmth and shelter, to signal distress on land or water or for use as ﬁrst-aid assist those in shock or with limited.

5th wheeler specialist 220

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SPARE PARTS

WILL YOUR CURRENT BATTERIES LAST FOR 15-20 YEARS?

BARNES CARAVANS REPAIRS

Imagine free camping every day for 15 years and your batteries are still going strong. Lithium Power can

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Service and Warranty workshop

HUGE RANGE

OPEN WARRANTY AGENTS 6 For most major caravan manufacturers DAYS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE Of repair parts for the tradesman and handyman

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PORTABLE AIR COOLER • LIGHT - COMPACT P O R TA B L E E VA P O R AT I V E A I R C O O L E R

USE 12V, 24V OR 240V

• LOW CURRENT DRAW (1.7AMPS MAX)

• LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE CUTOUT • VARIABLE FAN SPEED • DESIGNED & CONSTRUCTED IN AUSTRALIA

Proudly Designed & Manufactured in Australia by Locked n Loaded

Got a Pop-Top?

Gotta get OziwA Zip Window Shades!

Available in White, Blue or Burgundy rain out. Protects from direct sunlight. Keeps . Stay dry, Shades those overhead park lights stay cool and keep the airflow

will Made from 900gsm rip stop vinyl, OziwA caravan. not tear. Attaches and stays on your 30 seconds to set up or set down Dimensions: 1.5 metres x 500mm (Not suitable for Coromal)

See the video on our website

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‘The Fridge Shade’ by OziwA Trimmed in reflective strip

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Advertisers’ Index AL-KO AUSTRALIA

23, 41

ALPINE CANVAS PRODUCTS

216

AVAN CAMPERS AUSTRALIA

OSBC

BAILEY LEISURE

CONCEPT CARAVANS DOMETIC GROUP DONEGAN ASSISTANCE GROUP EVERNEW CARAVANS

193 111, 129 220 43

MARKET DIRECT CAMPERS MILLARD RV

221 51 ISBC

NOVA CARAVANS

OLYMPIC CARAVANS

BARNES CARAVANS

221

F & A TERZI

BEST WATER FILTERS

216

FINSCAN

BIG 4 HOLIDAY PARKS

141

FLAT OUT INTERNATIONAL

BORONIA TOWBARS

140

GRAND SALUTE

BUSHMASTER CARAVANS

157

HALEN VANS

RAM TRUCKS AUSTRALIA

CAMEC

101

IVECO

RETREAT CARAVANS

CANTERBURY CARAVANS

215

JAYCO CORPORATION

ISFC/3, 89

CARA REST SUPPLIES

214

JURGENS AUSTRALIA

139

ROBERTS RV WORLD

131

CARAMAX

217

KOKODA CARAVANS

4/5

SHARCOL ENTERPRISES

218

14/15

LEGEND CARAVANS

121

SIMPLICITY AXLES

199

LITHIUM POWER

220

SNOWY RIVER CARAVANS

211

CLEARVIEW TOWING MIRRORS COLLYN RIVERS

189

OFFROAD

120

LOCKED N LOADED ENTERPRISES

+ 222

caravanworld.com.au

119

SUNSEEKER CARAVANS

8/9

T & Q AUSTRALIA

53, 219

TAIPAN CAMPER TRAILERS

218

TEBBS CANVAS PRODUCTS

130 209

OPTITEC

110

218

PRESTON CHASSIS

216

VANTEC

181

QLD CARAVAN CENTRE

213

VEHICLE COMPONENTS

WEBASTO THERMO & COMFORT AUSTRALIA

ROADSTAR CARAVANS

ODYSSEY! Par t 2 Avida’s Cross-Country Epic!

SUNCORP

32/33 6/7

WINJANA RV

221

WIRRAWAY MOTORHOMES

100

WONDERLAND RV

ZONE RV

Ne x t

I S S UE

ON SALE JUNE 1, 2017

The only choice for the great Aussie outdoors

INTRODUCING THE NEW TOURA RANGE FROM MILLARD Millard has been synonymous with tough, superior Australian caravans for over 70 years. It’s never been easier or more affordable to take the great Australian adventure. The Toura range has 9 models to choose from, starting with our compact 16’ up to our larger 23’ van, and with queen or bunk bed layouts, centre, rear and front door options as well as a variety of interior layouts, there is a model to suit everyone, no matter what your needs.

All Millard caravans are designed and built in Australia to suit our harsh conditions and come with solid steel, hot dipped galvanised chassis and aluminium frame, seated on CRS Cruisemaster independent suspension. If you are serious about the great Aussie outdoors, then Millard is the only choice.

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Some of the standard features you will find in the new Toura range: • Single piece fibreglass roof • Microwave oven plus mini grill • Gas/electric hot water system • Washing machine (model dependent) • Roof air conditioning • 2 door 184L fridge (model dependant) • Full insulation to wall & ceilings • Double glazed windows with blinds & fly screens • Radio & TV/CD • TV antenna • External power point & annexe light

• Roll out awning • Trail-A-Mate jack • Battery pack • Drawers on metal runners • Bed spread with pillows • A-frame tap & protector • Quick release drop down legs & heavy duty jockey wheel • 2 x 9kg gas bottles & change over regulator • Fire extinguisher • 2 x 95L water tanks with galvanised water tank protector

• 15” all terrain wheels & tyres • Checkerplate front & sides • Map holder • Picnic table

www.millardrv.com.au

Millard is a member of the Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Accreditation Program (RVMAP) and all their caravans come with a 12 month Australia - Wide Warranty.

AUSTRALIAN MADE • AUSTRALIAN TOUGH • FOR OVER 70 YEARS

Whether it be Campers, Caravans or Motorhomes, Avan has a product that meets every recreational need. Avans enormous range feature many standard items that the competition call extras.

Come visit our entire range and find your nearest dealer at www.avan.com.au

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