Table of contents for Issue 645 in Caravan World

We have had a busy couple of months here at Caravan World. Right off the back of writing and judging for the Australia's Best Hybrids 2024 competition, we rolled into the Caravan of the Year 2024 extravaganza. So, we have recently seen some of the best of our caravan industry from businesses brave and confident enough to put their products to the test. Australia's Best Hybrids is an important new event on our calendar, and it was built mainly on the many requests we have for news about smaller caravans. A more compact van makes sense for many reasons, especially as we head toward an inevitable future of electric vehicles. I wish every entrant could pick up a winner's trophy because the passion and dedication to excellence from these retailers…

Hi John, Whether due to time or editorial constraints there is a lot more to the message about caravan weights in the First Words and Caravan Safety 101 columns in issue 643. I run a 2019 Prado (the ‘good car’), a 2003 Patrol C/C (an ex-Queensland Fire and Emergency Services vehicle) with an upgraded 3700kg GVM, which pulls a NA Gecko Enduro (about 2100kg) and a work trailer 7m x 5m caged. For nearly four years I have been doing cleanup work on the Nullarbor Plain based at Border Village Caravan Park – that's a long way from a public weighbridge. Here are some of the issues I and many other have faced: 1. There is a lack of portable axle and general weighing scales: I have spent hours trying…

SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO JOHN FORD CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR-AT-LARGE BUILD QUALITY One of the owners of Complete Campsite runs his own boat-building company, and much of the build process of the Exodus 18 has roots in composite yacht hull construction. Like a yacht hull, the innovative hybrid is a single-piece, hand-laid moulded body, an upside-down boat if you like, to which a single-piece roof is attached. All the mouldings are layers of glass mat and resin around a foam core for strength and efficient insulation. The roof hinges from the forward edge of the body and locks to the top of the frame so securely that it makes what is a virtual monocoque structure of immense strength. Around the front of the van are complicated shapes that add to the…

ABH REVIEW FANTASY FD-15A SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO ALLISON WATT CARAVAN WORLD DEPUTY EDITOR BUILD QUALITY Fantasy Caravan has been around since 2018, starting in Moorabbin producing 10 trailers a month, then opening a new factory in Dandenong where production increased to 50 units a month. They are soon to branch out into Campbellfield, the Melbourne mecca of caravan production. The FD-15A – a couples van – is another Chinese import. It is constructed on a steel frame, which contributes to the surprisingly heavy weight (3000kg ATM) on such a small van although an aluminium frame is an option. The chassis is 6in fully welded galvanised steel, which is probably bigger than you would expect although probably necessary given the van's weight. The walls are an aluminium composite with XPS…

SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO MALCOLM STREET CARAVAN WORLD FIELD EDITOR LIVEABILITY Designed for family living, both inside and out, the GT15-F would require cooperation between family members. Indeed, things are more restrained inside, where space is limited. There is, though, plenty of bed space with the large bed in the rear, two bunks up front (the top bunk is removeable, allowing the van to adapt with a changing family) and the option of a fifth bed in the rear. Each bed occupant gets a reading light, fan and USB charging point. In addition, there's plenty of drawer space, so everyone gets their bit of ‘personal’ storage space. There's an emphasis on outside living, but if meals do need to be cooked inside, the 240V internal outlets and the inverter will…

As domestic travel increased during and immediately post-COVID, the caravan industry in Australia took off and continues to grow. More and more caravanners are exploring the far-flung corners of remote Australia, away from the crowds, off the beaten track and off-grid to experience all this great land has to offer. Of the thousands of new caravans sold annually, a significant proportion are offroad and require larger battery systems to cope with being off-grid for longer periods, while still allowing the use of the creature comforts that you would get from a powered campsite, such as air-conditioning, coffee machines and air fryers. Typically, these larger systems are bespoke and require expert electrical knowledge and professional installation. Additionally, the appliances being used in modern caravans and RVs are moving towards high electrical…

Located a short drive from Tathra on the NSW Sapphire Coast, and nestled against the beautiful Bournda National Park, Kangarutha Farm offers guests a quiet, secluded campground with all the benefits of holidaying by the coast and much more. We were lucky enough to spend the better part of four days on the property (albeit no nights), which was the day base camp for our judges, photographers and videographers throughout Australia's Best Hybrids 2024. And, while I was there, I couldn't miss the opportunity to take a walk around the property with owners, Tom and Lisa Hamilton. The history Sprawling across 240 acres, Kangarutha Farm is full of history, beautiful metal sculptures and plenty of nature. The land has been owned and expanded on by Tom's family since the 1960s,…

When we leave home to adventure into the Australian bush, we abandon our comfort zone to put a lot of trust in humanity and, most of the time, that trust is rewarded. There's a mythology among the caravanning community that we help each other out by sharing our time and expertise if someone is in trouble. But there are other ways we trust humanity, like being able to leave our van unguarded to check out the local area or head out for dinner. Unfortunately, society is changing and our faith in others is being tested. An unguarded van can be an open invitation for some to help themselves. Last year, one of our travelling companions suffered a break-in at a caravan park on the west coast. A few of us…

NSW/ACT The Armidale Autumn Festival 6 April 2024 The annual Armidale Autumn Festival is a must-attend event for the whole family. And best yet – it's free! Attractions include the Armidale City Band, an entertaining street parade, various family-friendly events and plenty of sumptuous food. Find out more online: visitarmidale.com.au/event/armidale-autumn-festival-2023 Oracles of the Bush 4-7 April 2024 Tenterfield's Oracles of the Bush is a four-day cultural event that features live performances of Australian bush poetry, music and art. Find out more online: oraclesofthebush.com NSW Caravan, Camping & Holiday Supershow 16-21 April 2024 Head to the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse this April to see the latest model caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes and plenty of accessories. More information is available on the show website: supershow.com.au VIC Wild Harvest Seafood Festival 26-28 April…

An increasing array of accessories and equipment designed to make time off the grid easier and more convenient, is placing added demands on power management systems, leading Projecta to release its new INTELLI-RANGE 12V Power Management Boards. Plus, there's another important benefit to the new range. Along with providing convenient and reliable power when away from mains, Projecta's INTELLI-RANGE Power Management Boards are simple and efficient to install. As a complete and fully engineered solution, owners can save hours of labour when installing a system themselves, or hundreds of dollars if their auto electrician is doing the job. A further advantage of offering complete Power Management Boards is that each system can be installed with the correct cables and fuses every time, preventing potential issues like power outages or damaged…

MDC Camper Trailers and Offroad Caravans has debuted its latest offroad caravan model, the XT19HRT, after months of real-life testing in diverse environments from ocean beaches to the Simpson Desert. Designed to accommodate up to three people, the XT19HRT features an island-style bed and a suite of standard features, providing comfort, convenience and safety. MDC continues to provide essential features such as electronic stability control and a wireless rearview camera as standard inclusions. The XT19HRT shines with 1.2kW of rooftop solar, paired with 400Ah of lithium battery storage and 3kW of pure sinewave inverter power. With built-in auto transfer between the DC battery and AC shore power, off-grid power management is a breeze thanks to the seamless connectivity of the Projecta ecosystem which allows users to monitor and manage the…

ABH 2024 BEHIND THE SCENES Held in Merimbula on the stunning NSW Sapphire Coast, the inaugural Australia's Best Hybrids presented by Tough Dog 4WD Suspension was graced with glorious scenery, days that rolled from misty mornings through to colourful sunsets, and of course – 10 exciting hybrids from some of Australia's most innovative manufacturers. Over six days each of the 10 entrants were thoroughly put to the test by our panel of expert judges – each hybrid vying for the coveted title of ‘Australia's Best Hybrid’. The NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort was our homebase during the event and also the proud host of the Australia's Best Hybrids 2024 Showcase held on the Saturday. The organisers, judges, photographers and entrants all got to enjoy the park's coveted location overlooking Short…

SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO MALCOLM STREET CARAVAN WORLD FIELD EDITOR BUILD QUALITY Visually, the Bluewater Xtraveller is a very eye-catching hybrid. A little different to all the other ABH entrants, it stood out in the crowd. The Xtraveller is built on a hot dipped galvanised chassis, using 125mm x 50mm (5in x 2in) RHS for the drawbar rails and 75mm x 50mm (5in x 2in) RHS for the chassis rails. In both cases, Chinese Q345 4mm steel is used. It's a low alloy, high structure strength steel. Some thought has been given to weight reduction of the chassis; some manufacturers seem to use 150mm x 50mm (6in x 2in) RHS as the default option. The chassis is proof-coated, and an underbody sealer is used. The fresh and grey water polymer…

SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO A CHANGE OF SCENERY If you are wondering where the lake and skyline came from in the Striker images, Merimbula was hammered by a storm the day we took the Great Aussie out for shooting so a reshoot was booked around Eildon, Victoria. TIM VAN DUYL CARAVAN WORLD CREATIVE DIRECTOR BUILD QUALITY Great Aussie Caravans is in somewhat of a transformational stage with a refocusing on manufacturing processes and repositioning towards more off-grid and offroad-capable trailers, and I love it. I've experienced a few of its latest offerings, including the ‘halo model’ Tonka from issue 644 which impressed John Hughes and me over our three days away. Most of what stands out in the top model carries over in the compact Striker. The same build methodology…

SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO JOHN FORD CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR-AT-LARGE BUILD QUALITY The Signature Rugrat X stands as a unique entry at our Australia's Best Hybrids event. Mark from Signature Campers built this prototype with young families in mind, guessing that there would be many families keen on the camping lifestyle who weren't planning hardcore offroad travel. Despite a sturdy construction and beefy suspension, this is more a soft-roader destined mainly for Hipcamps and caravan parks with provided shower and toilet facilities. The Rugrat X has an external shower tent that deploys from its storage box at the back of the van, but the toilet is limited to a Porta Potti that could be set up in an outside structure. The imported body has a 25mm x 25mm x 2mm box…

ROTTNEST ISLAND, WA TRAVEL “Riding a bike is the best way to explore the island … bring one for a small fee or save the hassle by pre-purchasing a ferry and bike hire package” Wadjemup/Rottnest Island is Perth's favourite island playground. Affectionately known as ‘Rotto’ by locals, it is a convenient ‘overseas’ getaway (after all, it's an effort to get anywhere from Perth!), a short 30-minute fast ferry from Western Australia's eclectic port city, Fremantle. No wonder this island is a must-visit for folks visiting Perth, as what awaits is a raw paradise. The island is renowned for its remarkable coastline: blue marble-effect waters sarong its white sandy shores and limestone cliffs. There are six ecosystems on the 19sq km Class A Reserve, and it's easy to traverse them with…

JUDBARRA-GREGORY NATIONAL PARK, NT TRAVEL “The park is an adventurer's delight featuring spectacular range and gorge scenery, rare wildlife, significant Aboriginal culture and European exploration history” The Judbarra-Gregory National Park occupies a vast area of land roughly halfway between Katherine and the Western Australia border along the Victoria Highway. At 13,000sq km, it's the second-largest conservation area in the Northern Territory, after Kakadu. It was formerly known simply as Gregory National Park, in honour of Augustus Gregory who, with six companions, explored the Victoria River region in 1855-56. The Indigenous part of the name was added in 2011. The park consists of two geographically separate sections. The smaller Victoria River section lies about 160km west of Katherine, where towering tablelands edged by dramatic red cliffs embrace the river as it…

Gary Junction Road NT-WA TRAVEL “While the Gary Junction Road made up the primary leg of our trip, the journey between Alice Springs and the WA coast joins a matrix of different roads that have so far avoided a touristy christening” When looking at a map of Australia with a plan for travelling to the west from the east on gazetted roads, there are two familiar treks and two that skirt the more popular waypoints. Of the four, the Nullarbor and the Victoria Highway form part of the loop most folk follow on their big lap. The Great Central Road is a more adventurous drive through Warburton, linking Alice Springs to Uluru and Laverton in WA. The final option covers a nearly direct drive west from the Alice along the…

RECIPES ON THE ROAD COOKING SALMON POKE BOWL TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS •2 cups cooked quinoa, left to cool •200g edamame •150g smoked salmon •1 avocado, quartered and sliced •4 radishes, sliced thinly lengthwise •1 cucumber, sliced thinly with a mandolin •Grated beetroot • Pickled ginger • Toasted black and white sesame seeds • Soy sauce and sesame oil to serve METHOD Once the quinoa is cooked, place in four medium-sized bowls and add the rest of the ingredients. Top with ginger, sesame seeds, soy sauce and a small drizzle of sesame oil. Serve with a wedge of lemon. SPICY CALAMARI WITH LIME MAYO TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes SERVES: 4-6 INGREDIENTS • 2 tsp black peppercorns • 2 tsp dried chilli flakes • 1½ tbsp sea salt flakes…

Australian-owned manufacturer of leading communication technology, GME, has launched its Australian made XRS-660 Handheld UHF CB Radio – a life-saving piece of tech that will help Aussies stay in touch, even in mobile phone black spot areas. With only 27 per cent of the Australian landmass covered by mobile phone reception, it's important Aussies pack the right tech to keep themselves safe and connected while they explore the great outdoors. The XRS-660 is the first of its kind, with built-in GPS functionality ensuring true location awareness without relying on a smartphone to provide location data, making it perfect for new and existing campers, hikers, four-wheel drivers, and those who work in regional and remote areas. The device offers several exciting new features: •The first Handheld UHF CB Radio to feature…

1  KNOW YOUR CAPABILITY Before hitting the road, make sure you are ready for the challenge. Towing a caravan poses unique challenges and requires different skills than driving a standalone vehicle. Caravans have a considerable impact on the handling and braking capabilities of the towing vehicle. If you have yet to tow, it's wise to seek training or advice from an experienced driver. Practice on a safe backroad to feel how the van and vehicle combination move when cornering and braking. Confidence comes with practice and makes better, safer towing. 2 DON'T RUSH Don't be cajoled into doing something you aren't confident in doing. Sure, it's best to go with the traffic flow out on the highway, but only if you feel safe. Stay in your lane, keep speed constant and signal…

SEND PICS TO WIN “This is one of the best showgrounds we have stayed at.” “We had a koala camped above our van for three nights. We let the tyres down to 15psi all around to get along the beach and up the dunes into the camp site.” “We took this picture approaching the amazing Warrumbungle National Park in New South Wales.” “This photo was taken on the Kalang River at Urunga, NSW, before heading to Palm Cove, Qld, for Christmas. We will be on the road for another 12 months.”…

SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO TIM VAN DUYL CARAVAN WORLD CREATIVE DIRECTOR BUILD QUALITY This is the third Cub 16 I've sampled but the first H, the other two models being the award-winning C16 and L16. Where they differ is in the H having a pop-top and hybrid designation. The three models share the same unquestionable quality in manufacture and choice of fittings and appliances throughout which is why the judges deemed the H16 the winner of the Best Build Quality in this year's Australia's Best Hybrids competition. The chassis is hand-welded in-house using 150mm x 50mm x 3mm Australian-made DuraGal steel from BlueScope, which is then coated with Hammertone for the ultimate stone protection and longevity. Supporting the A-Frame is a quality ARK XO750 jockey wheel while Cub's take on…

ABH REVIEW ARCTIC FROST 13 SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO JOHN FORD CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR-AT-LARGE With a body length of only 4m (13ft 12in), the Arctic Frost 13 was the smallest hybrid at our event, and it's tempting to suggest it was one of the coolest. Despite its diminutive size, the new team at Arctic packed a lot into their entry and took advantage of the popular fold-out rear bed to augment the camping footprint. The little Frost is built on a hot-dipped galvanised steel 120mm x 50mm x 3mm chassis with plate reinforcing at stress points, and it's sprayed with rubberised paint for added protection. Imported as a basic rolling body and chassis, the local team completes the fit out and electronics package in Arctic's Melbourne factory. Pedders shock absorbers…

SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO JOHN FORD CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR-AT-LARGE INNOVATION Mars Campers has been around for some 20 years, and they have a loyal following with hundreds of campers and hybrids exploring the country, so there is continual feedback from owners. The company owners travel and test the various models to see how things work best. The company told us they constantly upgrade their products based on customer feedback and quoted the recent inclusion of the Dometic dust reduction system as part of this evolution. The level of customisations on the Mars 15 Elite is broad, with three pantry designs, two different generator boxes, various fridge slides and kitchen orientations. I liked the expanding storage boxes at the outside pantry and the nifty arrangement of the double sided storage racks…

ABH REVIEW SWAG GEN 6SCT16 SCAN TO PLAY VIDEO BUILD QUALITY “Everything under the van is protected from damage, and weight distribution has been well considered” JOHN FORD CARAVAN WORLD EDITOR-AT-LARGE BUILD QUALITY Swag Camper Trailers has a 17-year relationship with the Chinese factory that constructs the body and chassis, so there is ample history and experience to call on. The design process includes in-house CAD modelling and certification through an Australian test facility before production. The Swag Gen 6 SCT16 is a traditional style pop-top van built in the modern frameless body method with composite walls and roof of 30mm sandwich panels of insulating foam between fibreglass skins. A honeycomb floor bonds to the body to form a sturdy structure sitting on steel cross members of a heavy-duty galvanised…

Winter in Victoria is invigorating. Yes, it's cold. But it's not New York City at Christmas time cold – where the water from a leaking fire hydrant freezes midair and you have to divert into a store every few blocks to get some feeling back in your extremities. Unlike our friends in the north, Victorians get to experience all seasons – yes, sometimes all in one day – but it's kind of fun when the air starts to chill and we can dig out our woolly coats, boots and beanies and prepare for the footy and all sorts of other winter adventures. Down south, we don't let winter get in the way of a good camping or caravanning adventure either, and one of our most popular destinations is the stunning…

WASHING MACHINES AND DRYERS FEATURE A more casual approach to the clothes we wear (and possibly how many days we wear them) is part of the appeal of caravanning. Yet sooner or later we are all going to have to do the laundry. In this article we share some of the better ways we have seen washing machines installed which could give you some food for thought when shopping for a van. And your laundry is not complete until the clothes are dried so we will look at some options there too. WASHING MACHINE WINNERS I think it would be fair to say most of the caravans I review these days come with a washing machine, or they are made available as an option. Having a washing machine on board…

ELECTRIC VEHICLES FEATURE “Australia lags behind the rest of the developed world in transitioning to a sustainable vehicle future” The car industry is in the grip of a renewables revolution that will change the face of towing as we know it. With the meteoric rise of electric vehicles (EVs) globally, it's only a matter of time before big fossil fuel-thirsty SUVs are on the nose in Australia. While EV innovation has a way to go before it can reliably pull a full-size caravan cost effectively here, like it or not, change is coming. And it's long overdue, as Australia lags behind the rest of the developed world in transitioning to a sustainable vehicle future. THE CASE FOR EVS Australia needs to clean up the car industry in order to meet…