Table of contents for Issue 634 in Caravan World

Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA) has announced a long-term national partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). This major national partnership will assist with delivering better health outcomes to Australians living beyond the reach of mainstream medical services through financial support and the provision of a fleet of Isuzu D-MAX and MU-X vehicles. “Isuzu UTE Australia understands the importance of having dependable transportation in isolated and challenging environments and as such, our D-MAX and MU-X vehicles are a perfect match for this sometimes remote work and the long-distance towing demands of the Royal Flying Doctor Service where reliability is crucial,” said Isuzu UTE Australia's Deputy Managing Director, Mr Koichiro Yoshida. “This new and exciting partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service now enables IUA to support many of our regional,…

POSTBAG REGULARS LETTER OF THE MONTH Hi John, In a previous issue, one of the reviewers towed a van with a new Ford Ranger. They stated they had transmission overheating issues. This scared the daylights out of us, as we had just taken delivery of the same vehicle and about to start a trip around Australia. Since then, we have towed up and over the Great Alpine Road in Victoria with no transmission issues. PS: we're not employed by Ford but thankful that we had no issues. Regards Leanne and Neville Binns A Hi Leanne and Neville, Thanks for your letter and I appreciate your concern. We needed to make the potential problem with overheating clear in our review. We have approached Ford about the issue, and the company advises that…

There's a sign in a car park beside the Eyre Highway in Kimba reading: ‘Halfway Across Australia’. It's supposed to indicate the halfway point between Sydney and Perth – a claim that's arguable, particularly if you happen to live somewhere further west along the highway such as Ceduna. But regardless of its accuracy, for us, Kimba marked the starting point of a road trip following the shoreline of the Eyre Peninsula. I'd driven across from Melbourne with my wife and teenage son, a journey that took us three days in our motorhome. We could have done it in two, but we were in no rush, having allocated up to three weeks to complete the trip. In Kimba, we'd found a campsite shaded by eucalypts at the recreation reserve – surely,…

In stock form, the 100 Series brakes aren't all that impressive. It has discs on all four wheels, which is good, but I've never been happy with the stopping power compared to more modern vehicles. And as we tow a large van, the idea of better equipment to slow the rig was very appealing. Some aspects of modifying your vehicle need to be addressed. For example, fitting bigger tyres puts more pressure on your braking system. As a general guide, if you increase the radius of your wheel and tyre combination by 10 per cent, the extra braking force needed to bring the vehicle to a halt safely will also be around 10 per cent. Bendix has developed model-specific sets for the most popular 4WDs. Our kit included a longer…

FEATURE PREPARING YOUR VAN FOR TRAVEL Getting ready for a big trip in a caravan does require some pre-trip preparation. There's the tow vehicle to consider and the caravan, which includes gear to carry. For anyone about to depart on a caravanning trip and who hasn't used their caravan for a while, many pre-trip checks probably need to be done before travel. That's particularly important for a van that has been in long-term storage and out of sight for months. Before anything else, it's a good idea to give the caravan a thorough clean, inside and out. Not only will the van be sparkling fresh and ready for travel, but it's also a good way of inspecting the van closely and detecting any potential problems. CLEANING UP For cleaning the…

LYFE RV19F OFF-ROAD REVIEWS “The duo are not scared to try new things” Australia has well over 100 RV manufacturers and a big chunk of those are based in Victoria. Many of these Victorian manufacturers are located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne around Campbellfield. There is a proud history of often multigeneration family businesses building a significant industry and creating major employment opportunities in the area. Many new companies have arisen along the way as entrepreneurial employees have broken away to forge their own path in RV manufacturing. As the Caravan World journo based in Victoria, I have the opportunity to review many vans that come from this manufacturing hub. In the main, the companies are driven by passionate people building quality, traditional vans. The majority are meranti frame,…

MOUNT IVE, 5A TRAVEL “There is so much to see and do, with the ace being able to access stunning Lake Gairdner” RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY The rain fell as we quickly departed South Australia's Gawler Ranges National Park and made a dash for Mount Ive Station. The roads were still holding up well with the rain, just enough to stop the dust and coat the camper in a thin layer of mud. You can't miss the entrance to Mount Ive, especially with a submarine parked out the front. The campground was empty with the wet weather keeping the grey nomads on the bitumen. It was a shame as the roads were still open and in good condition, and Mount Ive is a great place to be stranded for a…

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS REGULARS NSW/ACT Australian Celtic Festival 4-7 May2023 Held in Glen Innes, this unique festival celebrates different Celtic cultures each year – with 2023 serving as the Year of Scotland. Includes performers, dance, pipe bands, official ceremonies, street parade, Highland Games, re-enactments, children's entertainment and activities, Celtic Cultural Awards and much more. Head online for more information: www.australiancelticfestival.com. Firelight Festival and Firewalk 14-21 May2023 Singleton's historic Dunolly Bridge and Cook Park precinct will be brought to life with a series of immersive displays of laser lights and projections that showcase the story of Singleton, engaging visitors in an unforgettable sensory experience. A must-see spectacular nightly from 14 to 22 May 2023. This event is ticketed but free. Visit www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/nsw-events/firelight-festival-and-firewalk and book yours today. Vivid Sydney 26 May to…

A weight distribution hitch (WDH) is a potential solution for a tow vehicle that is experiencing handling problems associated with a ‘light front end’. A heavy load imparted by the caravan on the rear of the tow vehicle will cause the rear to lower. It will also cause the front of the car to lift as the car chassis pivots around the rear axle. The result is less downforce being imparted on the tow vehicle's front tyres, reducing their contact patch with the ground. This can cause less precise steering and diminished braking performance. It will also set up altered dynamics, with the car and van more likely to pitch up and down. Another side effect can be your headlights pointing up, shining into oncoming traffic rather than directing at…

Leading RV power management leader BMPRO recently released its new ProBoost range of DC-DC chargers, tested to perform in Australia's harshest climates. “When developing ProBoost, BMPRO set out to launch a rugged, robust and versatile DC-DC charging solution for a dual battery setup in your 4x4, SUV or ute that also allowed flexible installation for any type of adventure,” said Brad Hooper, BMPRO marketing manager. “The result is a product finely engineered and tested to ensure your battery is charged up and your 12V DC accessories are ready to go on arrival — whether that be your camping fridge keeping your drinks cold or your 12V lighting ready for the first night at camp,” Brad continued. ProBoost is ideal for adventurers of all types, allowing you to use your devices…

LASER, Australia's homegrown consumer electronics company, has unveiled its NRGVault-branded range of portable power stations, featuring two inaugural models, the PV500 (288Wh capacity) and PV1500 (1228Wh capacity). NRGVault's portable power stations deliver a wide range of benefits for indoors and outdoors, home or on the go. Portable and lighter than previous generations of mobile power, it is a great accessory to take camping to power up lighting, run a mini-fridge, portable speaker, bug zapper and even a coffee maker. Or to ensure your laptop, phones, drone or photographic equipment always stay charged. The NRGVault range is powered by a LiFePo4 Battery, the safest battery type in use. It can charge to 85% in under 90 minutes via a wall socket charge and lasts up to five times longer than lithium-ion…

The Victorian Government has introduced new driver distraction road rules, which came into effect on 31 March 2023. The new rules have extended existing mobile phone rules to cover modern technology including in-built vehicle systems, mounted devices, wearable and portable devices like smartwatches and tablets, and will bring Victoria in line with the Australian Road Rules. Motorists caught driving distracted will receive penalties of four demerit points and a $555 fine. Community awareness campaigns will run over the coming months. The Victorian Government is also investing $33.7 million as part of the Victorian Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 to introduce new mobile phone and seatbelt detection camera technology that will help catch people using their mobile phones and not wearing their seatbelts while driving. Mobile phone and seatbelt detection technologies involve…

MDC Camper Trailers and Offroad Caravans released its newest model, the XT17HRT Family, at the Let's Go Gold Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo last month. This innovative and dynamic new model of offroad caravan has been through extensive testing and development and features a comprehensive list of standard inclusions to enable owners to escape with confidence and for longer. Boasting an impressive 875W of rooftop solar, 400Ah of lithium power, a 2000W Pure Sine Wave Auto Transfer Inverter and Full Battery Monitoring with a power management app, this model leads the way in off-grid capabilities at a market-leading price point. Sleeping five people, the flexible internal living space design of the XT17HRT Family provides several living modes. There is a king bed upfront, bunk beds that convert to day seating…

SPINIFEX NOMADIX PREMIER 25 REVIEWS We run dozens of caravan reviews every year here in Caravan World, and on most occasions, the vans are stock models from the dealer yard or straight off the production line. So, it's rare that we meet the buyers for an idea of why they chose a particular van. But with this impressive big Spinifex, we spent a day with the owners in southern Queensland to discover what led them to Spinifex and their travel plans. Spinifex is a dedicated custom offroad builder based in Deception Bay, north of Brisbane. It has manufactured vans since 2007, and the one on review is number 468, so it has a vast knowledge of what works in rough conditions. This low-volume builder takes pride in getting things right…

SILVER VALLEY BUCKLAND REVIEWS There are a substantial number of caravan manufacturers in Australia. Some of them are very well known and have a strong dealer presence. Others, and there are quite a few of those, tend to fly under the radar. That does not mean the manufacturer produces a bad caravan and many have a firm owner following. An excellent example of this is Silver Valley Caravans, a family-owned company based in Craigieburn, Victoria. The manufacturer has dealerships in most states but not all, my local one being 7th Street Caravans at Heatherbrae near Newcastle (NSW). Like quite a few manufacturers, Silver Valley has a full order book at the moment, but fortunately for me, there was a Buckland tandem axle model ready to tow away for at least…

MANDURAH, WA TRAVEL Mandurah is all about going with the flow. You can hardly escape the sight of water and it doesn't need much to encourage an active lifestyle. Western Australia's coastal city is bound by nature with vast waterways, soaring jarrah lands, calm beaches, autumn-coloured wetlands and rare rock-like thrombolites. Its cute mascot, the Indo-Pacific dolphin, animates the city's charm. Located just 70km south of Perth, the state's largest regional city is considered an extension of the west coast capital. If Perth is unhurried, Mandurah is in a permanently relaxed state. Like its bigger sister, it has a wealth of unique outdoor activities; however, its abundant wildlife makes it almost sinful to sit idle. With the minimal drive or boat time required to reach pristine surroundings, exploring is borderline…

STORAGE SOLUTIONS FEATURE Learning how to use your storage space can be a double-edged sword – because the more space you save with effective packing, the more tempted you can be to overpack. So, before you begin loading all your gear on board, let's get our heads around the all-important issue of weight distribution and how to pack your van. Understanding your towing capacity plays a large role in weight distribution, and more information can be found on RVSafe's website (www.rvsafe.com.au/understanding-tow-vehicle-capacities) or in our towing weight feature in the January issue (631). WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION Once you have your head around the legal weight your tow vehicle and van can carry, the logic around packing your van to maintain a safe weight distribution is fairly simple. Weight distribution refers to how…

Having just moved over to a low-milage 2012 GX 200 series LandCruiser from my trusty old 100, the first thing I noticed was the very ordinary brake controller. It was old school, and it wasn't a REDARC. But on the other hand, I was used to the proportional braking and minute adjustment of the Tow-Pro Elite in the trusty 100. So, time to upgrade. REDARC has planted the Tow-Pro Elite as the go-to system for heavy-duty caravan towing. Introduced in 2014, I've yet to experience anything that comes close. The beauty of the Elite is that in proportional mode, the controller senses how hard you are braking from its three-axis accelerometer and adds braking pressure as needed. The more you brake, the more the REDARC applies stopping power to the…

GOLDY 16FT BEACH CRUISER REVIEWS When I saw the first Goldy caravan prototypes at the Brisbane Show in 2021, there were dozens of couples lined up to have a look. As more people approached, their faces immediately lit up with big smiles when they saw the two pastel-coloured vans on display. It took some a while to realise these weren't beautiful restorations. Instead, they were a modern take on a 60s Franklin with contemporary composite construction and a happy mix of stylish accessories. Goldy founder Jamie Driver has long had a passion for old-school automobiles and had a career bringing classic cars back to life. This led to restoring a mix of early Millard, Franklin and Viscount vans for a couple of years before he realised that getting parts was…

BACON AND EGG CUPS TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes SERVES: 6 INGREDIENTS 12 bacon strips 12 free range eggs Salt and pepper, to taste Chopped chives METHOD Pre-cook bacon strips on the frying pan with some olive oil, just until partially cooked but not crisp. Set bacon aside on paper towels. Use an old muffin tray and grease each cavity with the bacon grease. Wrap a bacon strip around the edge of each muffin cup, crack an egg in each hole and season with salt and pepper. Place the muffin tray over a grill or cooking plate over the fire and cook until bacon is crisp and the eggs are firm. Sprinkle each cup with chopped chives and serve. CAMP OVEN MAPLE ROASTED LAMB TOTAL TIME: 1 hr 40 mins SERVES:…

STEP 1 Attach the chain to each spring bar using the ‘U’ bolts and locking nuts STEP 2 Tighten the locking nuts evenly until there is a minimum of 5mm thread exposed and the chain can still pivot freely in all directions STEP 3 The spring bar is ‘keyed’ to engage into the weight distribution head STEP 4 Note the notch in the weight distribution head STEP 5 With the van coupled to the tow vehicle, insert the spring bar at right angles to the tow vehicle STEP 6 Pivot the spring bar to run parallel to the A-frame STEP 7 Fit the set screw to the snap up bracket STEP 8 Place the snap up bracket on the A-frame STEP 9 Position the snap up bracket so that the…

Jayco has announced some exciting changes and innovations to its range of caravans and campers for 2023. The range features enhanced off-grid capabilities, increased safety features, elevated interior and exterior designs, and the introduction of two new models to the Jayco range: the Wren Camper Trailer and Jpod-X, both of which are aimed at couples looking for an uncomplicated solution to the RV lifestyle. The Jayco Silverline has received an all-new look, featuring updated front and rear moulding including automative style tail lights, new decals and a revised premium interior with one-piece composite PET floor. This evolution creates the most impressive and sleek Silverline yet. Among the new features being added to the range is an anticipated upgrade to battery life with lithium battery upgrade options being introduced to the…

Two of northern Western Australia's most popular national parks will not reopen this year due to flooding, dealing another blow to tourism operators in the Kimberley. Bandilngan Windjana Gorge National Park, 140km north-east of Derby, experienced extensive damage by a record-breaking flood of the Lennard River in January. The entry road, ranger infrastructure and ablutions were damaged in the impact. “We're still waiting for waters to recede, but parts of the walk trail into the gorge have washed away and there's been significant damage to the banks. There's been half a metre of water through the ranger quarters and mud through the buildings,” said Craig Olejnik from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). The gorge, which features striking limestone cliffs, is visited by up to 20,000 tourists a…

SEND PICS TO WIN “This photo makes our 23ft van Safari Delta look small, as does our Ram 1500 which was the best weight ratio to tow this big van. It is a perfect spot, we stayed for three nights but could have stayed for weeks especially when it was free.” “Our favourite place was the beautiful Carnarvon Gorge and the many wonderful waterfalls we ventured to in many different areas. This photo is our camp at Lake Keepit in NSW.” “This sign says it all. We love travelling in our 2014 Ford Ranger and 2012 Jayco Starcraft.” “My wife Chris, 14-year-old blue heeler Dusty and I are driving from Guilderton, WA, to Mataranka, NT, where I will train on my bike to do the Gibb River Ride, hopefully in…

Travelling budgets vary greatly. Some couples who live frugally and sensibly can live on $500 a week, whereas a big, hungry family who likes to take part in lots of organised adventures might spend $1500 or more a week. Budgets are a very individual thing and will depend on your individual circumstances and income. Part of the appeal of caravanning is the freedom of the open road, but we have to snap back to reality when we realise that there are plenty of ongoing expenses. Whether you're looking to stretch your savings as far as possible or you'd just like to set out on more weekends, it can pay to be thrifty. SET A BUDGET Set a weekly budget and have a contingency in place for unexpected emergencies and things…

WINTON, QLD TRAVEL “This fascinating outback town, with a modest population of around 1600, makes no less than three claims to fame in Australian culture” Winton stands at the junction of two major highways that run through the heart of Central West Queensland – the Landsborough Highway from Longreach to Cloncurry and the Kennedy Developmental Road from Boulia to Hughenden. Brisbane is a distant 1360km away to the south-east. It is the administrative centre and service hub of a shire that sprawls 54,000sq km over seemingly endless Mitchell grass plains devoted to sheep and cattle grazing. This fascinating outback town, with a modest population of around 1600, makes no less than three claims to fame in Australian culture – our unofficial national anthem, Waltzing Matilda, was written by Banjo Paterson…

TOW VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FEATURE There are many aspects to making and keeping a tow vehicle ‘tow worthy’. Tow vehicles are fitted with a number of accessories specifically related to towing, such as tow bars and electrical connections to name a couple. Setting the car up correctly for towing is something that can be overlooked, such as running different tyre pressures. A vehicle also works harder when lugging a caravan around, so a regular maintenance routine can become even more important. On top of this, understanding and correctly loading the tow vehicle is critical. Some of us have modern vehicles with fancy gadgets and low kilometres. Some of us have older tugs that need more attention and TLC. While we don't have room to cover everything, this article tackles some of…

One of the either ingrained or forgotten considerations for some travellers is the rules and regulations for carrying produce across state or territory borders throughout Australia. These rules and the specific items vary between and within states, and hefty fines can apply to those who break them. So, a quick refresh during your journey planning stage might save you a world of trouble in the long run. I'm sure many of us can recall a family road trip or two that was brought to a halt when suddenly all the fresh fruit and produce your parents had been doling out in a responsible manner became an all-you-can-eat buffet. The ‘waste not want not’ mantra ruled with an iron first, because the idea of throwing the produce into the amnesty bins…

STEP 1 Position the snap bracket pivoting arm level to the ground, hold the chain vertically and connect the nearest chain link onto the pivoting arm hook STEP 2 Slide the lifting handle over the end of the pivoting arm STEP 3 Raise the handle to allow the pivoting arm to go over centre STEP 4 Hold the lifting handle under tension until the safety pin is fully in place ADJUSTMENT AND FINE TUNING Raise the jockey wheel so all of the van's front load is now sitting on the coupling. Remeasure the front and rear tow vehicle height from the ground up to the wheel arches. Compare these measurements against the original ‘uncoupled’ measurements. Ideally, the tow vehicle front and rear ride heights should have lowered by equal amounts…

Ignite Electric Bikes announces its first e-bike named ‘The Commuter’ which promises to provide mobility to those who want to easily get around town or are mobility restricted. The Commuter e-bike by Ignite was in development for three years and has resulted in a bike with leading-edge technology and features. Easy to set up and lightweight, The Commuter has a range of approximately 50km which means trips to the shops or into town are easily achievable. A full featured display mounted on the handlebars provides speed, battery charge and distance till empty. The battery has been specially designed by Ignite and uses branded battery cells from Panasonic, LG and Samsung. The battery can be easily swapped out for charging while driving. Power consumption can vary depending on the terrain, but…

A high-quality TV can make all the difference when travelling on the road — particularly on those rainy days when all you want is an ultimate entertainment experience. NCE RV Specialist's latest Smart TV, the WEBOS TV, features an Intelligent Remote and Voice Command control — evaluated by NCE with RV travel in mind. The TV is lightweight, durable and specifically designed for Australian travel conditions. NCE's newest Smart TV comes with the latest features such as 8G in storage, plus brilliant connectivity and voice command. It also includes the latest Quad Core CPU which ensures the TV is very responsive, and 700 Mhz GPU graphics, so that whatever you are watching feels as life-like as it gets. Combined with Dolby Sound System technology, you can sit back and enjoy…