Table of contents for Issue 628 in Caravan World

It's great to see the Australian caravan industry fighting back against the never receding tide of imports. At least two iconic brands have released exciting new models this last month. The new Cub and Pioneer hybrids adopt the latest composite construction and heavy-duty offroad credentials. Other brands are also on the horizon, and we look forward to a new Trakmaster in early 2023. These three models share moderate towing weights, and if the internet and news outlets are to be believed, weight in vans is a big issue. On our current trip to the Whitsunday region, we have seen many vans being weighed, and my guess is that the trend to check weights will only increase. When most vans at these voluntary checkpoints are overweight, authorities will inevitably be forced…

Dear John I just thought I would write regarding a few issues I have with Caravan World. I'm confused. In issue 627,I noticed some reviews related to customer care. Some five-year warranties rate 6 stars yet other same warranties rate 8.5 stars and later a four-year warranty rates 8.5. Secondly, the Urban Escape review and the problems they encountered in the Urbans, the dust suppression system failed, while other so-called minor issues they fixed themselves, and reference to having confidence in the Urban-built van when it's used how they are intended to be used certainly confused me. The reviewer glossed over the fact the water tank brackets also failed on two of the three vans on the Gibb River Road, which I have travelled on many times, and it's not…

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 25OOHD TESTED When reviewing the Evernew RTX35 for the last issue of Caravan World, we needed something special to tow such an exceptional van, so we reached out to GMSV to see if they had a Silverado 1500 for the test. I've driven plenty of the super-popular 1500 Rams and thought I owed it readers to find their differences. Instead, GMSV threw me the keys to the big brother, the LTZ Premium 2500HD. First some differences and an explanation of how these popular US-made trucks are categorised. 1500 VERSUS 2500 A 1500 is a half-ton truck and a 2500 a threequarter ton, well they were. Back in the day, the numbers actually reflected the load capacity of the truck. Now it is just a way to categorise brand…

The infamous bushranger Ben Hall TRADITIONAL OWNERS Before European settlement in the 1800s, the Traditional Owners of the Forbes region were the Wiradjuri people. A hunter-gatherer society comprising small clans or close family groups, the Wiradjuri nation is the largest in NSW, ranging in area from the Blue Mountains, Hay, Nyngan, and Albury. This region changed dramatically after European settlement, which began when John Oxley ventured into the area in 1817, and even more so after the discovery of gold. A GOLDEN HISTORY The Australian gold rush is a welldocumented and important historical event. With the riches of the gold rush, regional towns began to thrive, culturally, architecturally, and economically. The discovery of gold in the Forbes area (in 1861) attracted approximately 30,000 ambitious prospectors to the region. Hoping to…

TOYOTA COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, TAMWORTH FEATURE If the Toyota Country Music Festival in Tamworth is not on your bucket-list of must-dos, then you should add it. This unforgettable entertainment experience, the largest country music festival in Australia, is now in its 51st year and tickets for next year's event from 13-22 January 2023 are now on sale. With more than 700 artists performing at 100 plus venues as part of 2800 scheduled events, you won't need a ticket to the festival per se as it is not a gated, single event. More than 70 per cent of the events are free complimented by venues showcasing a variety of ticketed shows. The first round of ticket shows has been released and more will be added regularly up until January. Bookings for…

TRAVEL PHILLIP ISLAND, VIC “An estimated 40,000 little penguins call Phillip Island home, the largest colony on earth” Look closely at a map of Phillip Island and it's likely to be your first indicator that this place is a little different to what you might have expected. The clue is in its shape, for the island bears more than a passing resemblance to a dolphin playfully jumping out of the water. Given the abundance of native wildlife roaming freely across the island, this could be considered prescient. Or maybe it's just coincidence. A wildlife sanctuary More than anything, Phillip Island is known for its little penguins. Of all the 18 penguin species found on our planet, these are the smallest. They're arguably the cutest as well, and it's here where…

The #vanlife phenomenon has taught younger generations what Grey Nomads already knew - travelling by RV is cool. Now there's a slew of professionals buying vans, motorhomes and converted buses and living on the road full time, working remotely in a fulltime job or periodically in seasonal roles as the mood takes them. Here, we chat with three sets of vanlifers living the good life to see how they have adjusted their setups for not only full-time living in their RV, but for work as well. SURF'S UP The pandemic has shown many people that life is short - and the time to get out and see the country is now. This is especially true for Gary Berman and his wife Sheryle, who sold their home on the NSW Central…

One of the major benefits of being Jayco, Australia's largest caravan manufacturer, is that it can produce many models and layouts. Something for every purpose, budget and road condition be it a sealed road, rough road or offroad. The models include everything from a camper trailer to a toy hauler, but undoubtedly one of the big sellers is the Journey caravan range. Available as either a pop-top or full caravan, the Journeys are available in multiple layouts with different body lengths. All are offered as either a touring van or what Jayco calls its Outback range, something designed for handling rough road travel, not offroad. That includes two family vans, one a four berth and the other a six berth. MEASURING UP Starting with the full caravans, there are eight…

The release of Narva's new Gen III LED signalling globes provides vehicle owners with a complete incandescent globe replacement solution, delivering added brightness and reliability for indicators, brake lights, number plate and reverse lights. The plug and play replacement produces a crisp, white 2700°K quality light, to develop an amazing 20 per cent greater output behind coloured lenses, while also offering reduced current draw. A further benefit of the new Gen III LED globes is CANBUS compatibility ensuring they work seamlessly with modern vehicle computer systems, while the indicator globes are resistor-free, providing a smooth and measured flash pattern. Also new to the Gen III range is a selection of interior LED globes that increase output by 140 per cent compared with standard incandescent globes, to better illuminate the cabin.…

Snowy River Caravans is now a Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Accreditation Program accredited manufacturer and will soon start displaying the RVMAP badge. RVMAP is a voluntary industry program for caravan, motorhome, and camper trailer manufacturers run by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA). To become a member, RV companies must meet strict requirements that include agreeing to a rigorous inspection regimen, complying with all relevant Australian Design Rules and Federal Compliance Regulations, and demonstrating the highest ideals and standards in the industry. “We are proud to be able to display the RVMAP International badge on our products,” said RegentRV CEO, Andrew Crank. Both Regent and Snowy River brands have achieved the accreditation. “This is recognition of the commitment of our business to uphold the standards applied to the RVMAP program,”…

Narva has continued to grow its already extensive range of heavy-duty RV (HDRV) accessories with the introduction of 10 new 50A connectors that combine two popular accessories within a single mount. The new releases are design to provide vehicle owners with additional versatility, while catering to the increasing array of electrical devices with which Australia's four-wheel-drive, camping and marine communities are equipping themselves. The latest additions to the line-up include: Socket Surface Mount 50A Connector Flush Mount Dual 50A Connector Flush Mount 50A Connector/ACC Twin HDRV Socket Flush Mount 50A Connector/Dual USB Twin HDRV Socket Flush Mount 50A Connector/Merit Twin HDRV Socket Flush Mount 50A Connector/Engel Twin HDRV Socket Flush Mount 50A Connector/Volt Meter Twin HDRV Socket Flush Mount 50A Connector/ACC Twin HDRV Socket Surface Mount Dual 50A Connector Surface…

The digital edition of the next issue (no. 36) of Aboutcamp BtoB, featuring a 40+ page preview of this year's Caravan Salon Düsseldorf, is available online. Printed copies of this issue have already arrived with subscribers in the RV industry around the world. This special Düsseldorf preview includes details of the new products, technology and materials that will be at the Caravan Salon, plus a detailed guide to all the suppliers in Halls 13 and 14. As usual, this issue also includes interviews with important people in the RV sector, including Alexander Wottrich from Truma, Jeff Rutherford from Airxcel, Henrik Fagrenius from Dometic and Marie Boulanger from Thetford. There's also all the latest news from the global caravan industry, plus market reviews and supplier insights. To view the digital edition…

HALLS GAP FEATURES We have sailed past Halls Gap a few times recently in our travels without the time to have a good look around. When the opportunity for my wife Karen and I to spend the weekend at the NRMA Halls Gap Holiday Park came up, we leapt at it. We had a cruisy three-hour drive northwest of Melbourne and checked in early on a Friday afternoon. The trip was a bit last minute, so we didn't have much of a plan other than to get out and soak up some nature. Our lack of a plan was quickly remedied after a chat with the park reception staff. They were armed with maps and flyers on popular local walks, waterfalls and lookouts. NATURAL WONDERS IN AN AFTERNOON A quick…

CRUISEMASTER 200 FEATURE The right GVM upgrades can ensure the products suit your needs with the least weight penalty Cruisemaster is well known to Caravan World readers - its D035 hitch and independent trailing arm suspension are found in the best caravans and campers we've seen. More recently the company has added a new arm, the Towing Performance Centre. Based in the same Geebung, Qld, location as the Cruisemaster headquarters, the set-up is serious with dedicated bays for installation and mechanical work and the space to have your caravan weighed and assessed - and here is where the Towing Performance Centre comes into its own. “If you're planning to tow a load in the outback and need to do it reliability, the Towing Performance Centre is there to listen and…

WINDSOR GENESIS 196MD TESTED Windsor has been a familiar name on the local caravan scene since the 1970s. Built initially in Melbourne, production moved to Perth, WA, for some years before Apollo bought Windsor and sister brand Coromal to be part of its Brisbane plant in 2018. Apollo had been building caravans and motorhome rental fleets under the Winnebago and Talvor names and saw an opportunity to move into retail sales with the Windsor and Coromal lines. Bringing these two well-known brands under the Apollo banner was a sensible move. Years of experience in the rental business gave Apollo an edge on how to build a robust and user-friendly caravan. THE COMPANY The sprawling 20,000sqm factory where a team of more than 50 workers builds the Apollo range is a…

Western Australia's illustrious Cable Beach in Broome perfectly fits the notion of an idyllic beach getaway. Its 22km stretch of white sandy shoreline and warm waters seduce holidaymakers with its golden sunsets and pastel sky aftermath, iconic camel chains and 4WD trailblazers, truly a one-of-a-kind destination. But the surrounding regional sceneries present different standards of natural marine beauty. Expansive mudflats, sprawling marshes and ancient reef systems are under-the-radar destinations spread along Great Northern Highway. Exploring these sceneries is for those who have time up their sleeves and yearn for more than just being beach-bound but, of course, those sun-kissed starfish days in Broome are warranted too. To fully absorb the spectacular seascapes of the Kimberley region, I embarked on a 685km road trip from Cable Beach to Halls Creek. It's…

NSW/ACT Taste Coleambally Food & Farm Festival 28-30 October 2022 This Riverina event showcases the region's quality and sustainable produce. Learn more about food sustainability and enjoy the entertainment and local culture. W: tastecoly.com.au Thunderbolts Festival 29 October 2022 Held at Alma Park in Uralla, this event includes markets, kids' activities, and street parades. The Oxley Riders Poker run, a charity motorbike event, launches the street parade. W: thunderboltsfestival.com.au NT Desert Mob 8 September - 23 October 2022 Celebrating Aboriginal art by artist members of Desart art centres from the communities of the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia, this event features storytelling by the artists themselves. W: desart.com.au/desert-mob/ Million Dollar Fish Season 8 Kicks off 1 October 2022 Register for this six-month long event and give yourself a…

DIY ANTENNAS TECHNICAL A pole sticking up while you are travelling is not a good idea, so it needs to be able to wind up and down. Each time you move to a new location in a van, you need to be able to reorient the antenna to find best reception. Being able to elevate and rotate means the antenna mechanism has a few simple moving parts. Regular cleaning and lubricating of these moving parts will keep the mechanism functioning smoothly. STEP 1 Undo the grub screw using an Allen key to remove the elevating handle STEP 2 Remove the elevating handle, spring, and directional handle STEP 3 This will expose the elevating shaft and provide access to the retaining nut STEP 4 Insert a socket into the mechanism to…

Mick and Anne Devlin and their dog Marly are doing the lap in their 2014 22ft Atlantic Pearl, towed by a 2015 Hilux. “The missus, the dog and me at Cape Keraudren at the south end of 80 Mile Beach WA. We are halfway around our lap via the coast. Love your mag.” Emanuel and Barbara Knol photographed their rig on one of many stops (Kimba, SA) on a recent trip to Streaky Bay in their Safari 186 caravan and old 1996 80 series Landcruiser. “It's now done over 400,000km and still going strong.” Phil and Sharyn Nicholls travelled from NSW to Marla, SA, and then down the Oodnadatta Track in their Eternity being pulled by a Ford Ranger. “We spent four nights on a wet slippery track, although the…

JAYCO ALL TERRAIN OFF-GRIDX TESTED Off the grid travel has created considerable interest over the past half decade or so. By that, I mean the ability to travel to destinations and not be reliant on 240V mains power and to a lesser extent, reliable fresh water supplies. That does not necessarily mean a full offroad caravan because there is certainly no shortage of places to visit in this vast country where road access isn't too difficult. What's been the game changer in recent times has been the increasing readily availability of Lithium LiFeP04 batteries, which in engineering terms have an excellent powerto-weight ratio when compared to AGM batteries, in tandem with the development of more efficient solar panels. OFF THE GRID Jayco Caravans has the manufacturing ability at its Dandenong…

NEW ENGLAND HIGH COUNTRY FEATURE For those travelling with their own accommodation in tow, the New England High Country is one of Australia's top touring destinations and a popular choice, with everything from picturesque historic buildings to a renowned collection of museums and galleries to offer inspiration. The traditional centre of New England is the beautiful town of Armidale. Other major towns include Uralla, Guyra, Walcha, Glen Innes, Tenterheid, and Invereli. SOUNDTRAILS Soundtrails are self-paced trails with locative audio recordings designed to immerse you in the stories of your surroundings and are available in five towns in the New England High Country. Using GPS technology, the stories are delivered as you make your way along the trail via an interactive app platform, suitable for most mobile devices. Four new Soundtrails…

MOUNT MOFFATT, OLD TRAVEL The entrance to the Carnarvon National Park, Mount Moffatt section Taking in the view at the Rotary Shelter Shed camping area The Roof of Queensland At its heart, the 3000sq km Carnarvon National Park comprises seven sections that protect a diverse range of landforms and ecosystems. The best known, and most visited, is the magnificent Carnarvon Gorge, but the largest and highest is the Mount Moffatt section to its west. Mount Moffatt itself is a basalt-capped peak rising to 1097m above sea level. The high country around it is a mosaic of writhing sandstone ridges, monoliths and outcrops rising dramatically from broad, sandy plains and open, grassy woodlands. Fringed by escarpments standing more than 700m high, the Moffatt plateau provides spectacular views over serried ranks of…

ADAS CAN SAVE LIVES FEATURE “If we fail to act, the system will take control of braking, acceleration, and steering using actuators“ We are focusing on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). ADAS is a generic description for groups of electronic technologies that assist driving functions. Much of the focus is on automation to detect hazardous situations and respond accordingly. We have opted to use the Isuzu D-MAX as a reference point, as it has led the way in the twin cab ute category. Admittedly the tech we are going through has been available on high-end cars for a few years and has worked its way into mainstream brand passenger cars for a while now too. Twin cab utes were once seen as staid commercial vehicles with a minimalist approach to…

IN BRIEF MEASURING UP PROS CONS  You may wish to consider optioning in ESC as it is not standard “Observing a number of partially built vans in the factory revealed neatly constructed meranti timber frames.“ When Aravinda Samarakoon and his partners at Highclere saw a gap in the market, they grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Highclere was formed in March 2021, a time when consumer demand substantially exceeded supply across the industry. Aravinda told me he saw it as a pretty easy decision to start up another brand when most caravan builders had lead times exceeding 12 months, and he and his partners could hit the ground running slashing customer wait times to two months. The obvious question is does this start-up know what it is…

MURRUMBIDGEE FEATURE Established in 1859, Jerilderie is nestled along the banks of Billabong Creek which, at 321km, is the longest creek in the world. The name Jerilderie is the English translation for the local Jeithi Aboriginal Tribe's word ‘djirridhuray', which means ‘with reeds' or ‘reedy place'. KELLY LEGEND A mere 20 years after its founding, Jerilderie gained lasting renown as the first and only NSW town to be held up by the Kelly Gang. Over the course of three days in 1879, the Kelly Gang left an undeniable mark on the town, robbing the bank of over £2000 and chopping down telegraph poles to ensure no message of the robbery escaped the town. Kelly tricked and locked the town's police officers into their own cells, and held more than 30…

GRILLED EGGPLANT AND YOGHURT SAUCE TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes SERVES: 3-4 INGREDIENTS 3 medium eggplants ¼ cup olive oil Salt and black pepper Yoghurt sauce 1 cup plain Greek yoghurt 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp tahini ¼ tsp salt Coriander, to garnish METHOD Mix together yoghurt sauce ingredients in a bowl, set aside. Cut eggplant in half, lengthways. Brush the eggplant flesh with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over a medium-hot fire or barbecue grill and place the oiled side of the eggplant down on the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until it gets deep char lines. Brush the other side with olive oil and salt and pepper and turn over to cook…

® Let's face it - we've all been tempted to take our favourite kitchen appliances with us when we head off on a caravanning holiday. Coffee machine, Thermomix, slow cooker, electric frypan, thermal/eco/dream pot thingy - we think we can't live without them, but the reality is that, for most of us, there simply isn't space. The Small Kitchen Cook is the first collection of 65 thoughtful recipes for tiny kitchens by Ashleigh Butler. Ash and her partner Jared spent half a decade living in campervans travelling across Australia, New Zealand and North America. Along the way they shared their passion for thoughtful, responsible, and sustainable food with the campervan community. Although small, their camper kitchen was the centre of communal meals and every place they visited inspired new tastes,…