Table of contents for Issue 635 in Caravan World

The past few weeks have been hectic. We are getting ready for travel to Western Australia with some other members of the Trakmaster club and the list of things to do just doesn't seem to be getting any shorter. Most of the work is around getting the 200 Series LandCruiser into shape for towing and living off-grid. As mentioned last month, we recently bought a very basic GX version with no modifications so we needed to fit it out to our liking. Our old 100 Series had every conceivable extra but we are trying to rationalise what goes into the 200. Our first change was to upgrade the GVM to allow an extra 500kg or so to the payload. To me, this is the most important improvement we could make.…

As of 3 April 2023, interstate and international visitors must now purchase a park pass before entering up to 50 Northern Territory parks and reserves. Until this change, the majority of the Northern Territory's national parks and reserves, apart from Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Parks - which are federally managed - have had free entry for all day visitors. The day-use fees have been introduced to aid in safeguarding and enhancing the region's natural areas for years to come. Parks and Wildlife Executive Director, Sally Egan, said revenue from fees would be invested into the protection, maintenance and safety of parks and the creation of new visitor experiences. Interstate and international visitors must purchase and display a park pass. NT residents are exempt from these fees but may be…

The Electric Vehicle Council has welcomed Australia's first National Electric Vehicle Strategy but warns the government must act swiftly and boldly to calibrate and enforce Australia's fuel efficiency standards. Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari said there's a long road ahead for Australia to catch up with the rest of the world on electric vehicle policy, but this strategy can accelerate progress. “It's a relief that an Australian Government has finally committed to fuel efficiency standards, which have been operational in the US and Europe for decades,” Mr Jafari said. “But with those jurisdictions now leaping forward in terms of ambition Australia must bring in strong standards that keep pace with the modern world. If we squib it on the detail Australia will remain the world's dumping ground for…

Providing battery and power solutions for all kinds of applications, from recreation through to farming, Projecta is based in the Melbourne suburb of Knoxfield and its facility covers 14,000 square metres. It is here that all products are designed, engineered and tested by the knowledgeable Projecta team before being shipped off to the company's many stockists. Projecta's wide and growing range of power management products ensures this brand stands out in the market. The team's development program continually strives to advance and incorporate new technology and products into its range and has recently released a catalogue with more than 180 new and upgraded Projecta products to the RV market. This new range of elite battery and power management solutions includes the launch of Projecta's new Intelli-Grid power management systems and…

The problem of connecting a 15A RV to a 10A power supply has wered many an RV owner. Stories of do-it-yourself cards, endearingly labelled ‘death leads’ by some in the industry include cautionary tales of overloaded power points, blown out sockets at risk of overheating and occasionally fires. Legally, financially and in respect to voiding insurance policies, It's too big of a risk to take. Happily, the team at Ampfibian has developed the RV-PLUS power adaptor to safeguard what for many is their most possession. Designed by actual caravanners, for their own caravans and motortomes, these power adaptors are portable, easy to use and allow safe connection between your 15A RV to any domestic 10A power point. Featuring a built-in mintature circuit breaker (MCB) which limits all power supply to…

Caravan weights and safe towing are issues we discuss a lot on these pages. So much so, I sometimes wonder if readers tire of our sermons about GVM, ATM, Tare and carrying capacity. But if the statistics from safety campaigns are to be believed, as many as 80% of caravanners are driving with caravans, tow vehicles or both at illegal weights. If I were to be honest, our old 100 Series was pushing the limits when we bought our new twin axle offroader last year. If we filled up the long-range tanks, then the weight was probably too high for the Toyota's 3260kg gross vehicle mass (GVM). It was time for some serious soul searching. The answer revealed itself when we discovered a low milage 200 Series LandCruiser in northern…

GREAT AUSSIE CARAVANS STRIKER HYBRID REVIEWS IN BRIEF MEASURING UP PROS CONS Hybrid vans are often pop-top style but not always. I have reviewed a few full height hybrid vans lately that have ticked a lot of boxes. I reckon the Striker couples van from Great Aussie Caravans is right up there for most people in this market. Its compact size and light weight means you are in good shape for some more challenging roads and the price comes in right on $100k making it accessible to more people. And the timberless construction method will appeal to many prospective buyers. WHO IS GREAT AUSSIE CARAVANS? You may not have heard of Great Aussie Caravans. The brand kicked off in 2020, but the company behind…

SOUTH GIPPSLAND, VIC TRAVEL At the southern-most tip of Australia, childhood memories come flooding back: walking up Mount Oberon at the crack of dawn, exploring the enchanted Lilly Pilly Gully and squelching through hot sand at Squeaky Beach. Fast forward a few decades and, as caravan travellers, South Gippsland lures us back once again. It's one of the closest areas to Melbourne, offering a tantalising mix of scenery, gourmet delights and pictureperfect places to stay. And there's much more here than just Wilsons Prom. Our adventures begin once we veer off the busy M1 at Koo Wee Rup and enter the South Gippsland Highway on some of the most scenic dairy countryside in Victoria. Not far from Korumburra we detour off the highway at Loch. It's lunch time and this…

RED CENTRE WAY, NT TRAVEL “Buckle up and hold on to your teeth,” says our guide. “This is where the real 4WD action starts.” He wasn't kidding. I'm smiling like a Cheshire cat but if I leave my mouth open for too long, I run the risk of biting off my tongue. I thought we were already four-wheel driving … hugging narrow dirt roads and crossing over the Finke River, happily bumping along. But that was just the introduction to our Emu Run tour to Palm Valley. I'm on a solo road trip in the heart of Australia — on the Red Centre Way from Alice Springs to Uluru, up to Kings Canyon, around the (4WD) Mereenie Loop to Glen Helen Gorge and along the West MacDonnell Ranges back to…

REGULARS FESTIVALS AND EVENTS NSW/ACT The Antarctica Experience 1–30 June 2023 Explore a day in the life of Antarctic scientists in this immersive adventure brought to you by Canberra's National Museum of Australia and the Western Australian Museum. Take a virtual tour through Antarctica from a helicopter cockpit, land on glaciers and discover a penguin colony. Learn about daily life in these harsh conditions and marvel at the spectacular southern lights. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online: visitcanberra.com.au/events/63a2533f63e17fca7e56a83b/the-antarctica-experience Lismore Lantern Parade 24 June 2023 This year's theme ‘Gates of Renewal’ reflects the history of the lantern parade and celebrates the Winter Solstice. The day starts with Market deLight at noon with an array of local food, craft, community fundraising stalls, bouncing castles and kids’ activities. From the Enchanted…

Cassette toilets are pretty simple devices. The bowl receives the waste, and it is then stored in a little holding tank underneath. In between the bowl and the tank is a sliding disc known as a ‘blade’ that you can open and close. The blade is opened by operating a simple lever when you do your thing and then closed off the rest of the time. Closing the blade is critical because it prevents odours escaping from the tank into the van. The blade also prevents contents from leaking when wheeling the cassette to the dump point. The blade has a rubber lip seal which creates this odour and leakproof barrier. Over time the rubber deteriorates, and the seal is compromised. You will get a pretty strong clue if smells…

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia's (CIAA) Business Conditions Report for January 2023 reveals the industry remains strong in the face of increasing challenges. The six-monthly analysis of the performance, outlook and sentiment of Australia's caravan industry demonstrates significant growth across the industry, with tinges of a slowdown on the horizon. The report dives into Australia's continued love affair with the RV and caravan lifestyle, a love affair that picked up real momentum during the pandemic. Current economic conditions are acting as protective factors for the industry with tightening household spending limiting international travel, a trend that is expected to see domestic travel remain strong. The strength in the industry is evident by the growth in the number of annual caravan and camping trips in Australia overtaking the 2019 levels,…

SEND PICS TO WIN Josh and Beck Medgard of South Australia sent in this pic of their Jayco Journey Outback towed by an Isuzu D-MAX. “We stayed at an amazing beach camp on Greenly Beach while holidaying on the Eyre Peninsula in SA. We had a beautiful view of the beach one way and this view of Mount Greenly the other. We were spoilt by seeing dolphins surfing the waves while watching an epic sunset. A definite must stay while visiting this part of SA.” Elizabeth and Ross Thomas of Tasmania have been travelling in their Avan towed with a Mitsubishi Triton. “We had a stroll to the lighthouse while we overnighted at Point Lowly on the north-eastern side of the Yorke Peninsula in SA.” Ian Glendinning from Victoria submitted…

ABOVE AND BEYOND iTechworld is a proudly Australian familyowned and operated company, and for the past 17 years has been continually pushing itself to produce new and improved power solution products that reflect Australian innovation and are also designed for Aussie customers and conditions. The iTECH120X PRO 12.8V Lithium Battery is one of the new and top tier additions to iTechworld's range, alongside the JS80 3000A Jump Starter and the iTECH1300P Lithium Power Station. Other products include portable generators, folding solar panel blankets and inverters. The company's new iTECH120X PRO battery is a leading product on the market, with 10 years of extensive design behind it to ensure it is a premium product for all kinds of adventurers. A new and more powerful version of the ever-popular iTECH120X Lithium Battery,…

As most of us have probably noticed by now, BMPRO's products can be found throughout the RV industry. Powering caravans, campers, motorhomes and 4WD adventures alike. This Australian made and owned company is backed by more than 50 years’ experience and has built its reputation upon providing reliable and innovative products specifically designed and customised for the RV market and backed by expert service and support. With a large Australian R&D team dedicated to producing RV solutions, BMPRO continues to produce rugged, reliable and forward-thinking products. All the state-ofthe-art electronics are manufactured locally in Melbourne, right down to the production of the circuit boards, and continue to incorporate the latest technologies without becoming over-engineered and overpriced. OFF-GRID CONSIDERATIONS Going beyond the simple production of technology, understanding what the caravanner, the…

TITAN BLACKHAWK 540 REVIEWS IN BRIEF The Blackhawk 540 fits in the Titan range between the smaller hybrids and the twin axle range. Featuring an impressive Victron power package, the van will get you off-grid into remote spots with relative ease. MEASURING UP PROS Compact size for ease of towing off the bitumen Quality Viet ron electronics Composite monocoque constructions CONS Dinette doesn't convert to a kid's bed No washing machine Apart from experiencing the latest and most exciting models, one of my favourite sidebars of reviewing caravans is seeing parts of the country that are different for me. So when the team at Titan Caravans threw me the keys to its 3.2L Ranger hooked up to a new Blackhawk 540,1 realised I hadn't thought through where I should go…

“Top of our List was a 200 Series head unit with speakers and an aftermarket facia kit” As you may have seen elsewhere in this issue, we have recently swapped tow vehicles, having retired the trusty 100 Series LandCruiser for a pristine and very stock 200 Series GX model from 2012.1 liked the GX model for its rear door access, five seat layout and more rugged interior, but there's no question it lacks some of the refinements of the models higher in the range. When we drove the 200 on our journey, I was stoked at the new feel of the car. It only had 75,OOOkm and had been treated very kindly. Noise levels were much lower than the old 100 Series which had a tuned exhaust that frightened the…

SAFE CARAVAN TOWING FEATURE In 2022 Queensland police conducted a weigh-in blitz on the remote 1049km section of the Landsborough Highway in western Queensland, between Morven and Cloncurry. Mobile scales were deployed to weigh caravans and other heavy combinations and revealed that a staggering nine out of 10 travellers — 90 per cent — were towing dangerously overweight caravan combinations. More disturbingly, most drivers were unaware their car and caravan combination was overweight, dangerous and illegal. This frightening statistic doesn't surprise Bundaberg-based caravan road safety researcher Ken Wilson from Truck Friendly, but it still makes him shudder and, he says, it needs urgent attention. Ken believes that incorrect weight distribution and overloading is one of the major causes of caravan instability and legal non-compliance on the roads in Australia today.…

WINJANA RV CATTAI 760 REVIEWS IN BRIEF →The benefit of a fifth wheeler is really evident as the driving experience is far more relaxed than towing a standard caravan of the same size →There are plenty of comforts and a huge amount of storage making this a real alternative to the standard caravan “The ease of towing is the reason a lot of customers are drawn to the Winjana range of fifth wheelers” MEASURING UP PROS A dream to tow Locally made Each van customised for the new owner CONS Needs a ute to tow it The review van's ensuite layout will not suit everyone, but there are other options One of the biggest differences between a fifth wheeler and standard caravan is that the fifth wheeler is considerably easier…

MY DREAM RV DREAM CATCHER REVIEWS IN BRIEF My Dream RV is a new player in the local market. Its 19ft 6in offroader is built in Melbourne and is a couple's touring van with a good list of standard features. “The shape suits the rest of the van and works well with the addition of the custom toolbox that's wedded into the lower edge” The story goes that when the founders of My Dream RV — Matthew John and Don Rafiq — met at a local junior soccer game where the two dads watched on as the children kicked the ball around the field, they started yarning, as dads do. One was a multinational industrialist and the other had near on 20 years’ experience building caravans in Melbourne. By the…

ARANCINI BALLS TOTAL TIME: 2.5 hours MAKES: 16 INGREDIENTS 3 cups chicken stock 1 cup arborio rice 2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted ½ cup mozzarella cheese ½ cup cheddar cheese 2 large free range eggs ½ cup parmesan cheese 1 ½ cups breadcrumbs Vegetable oil, for frying METHOD Bring the chicken stock to the boil in a saucepan over a camp stove or fire at medium-high heat. Stir in the arborio rice, reduce the heat to low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and spread on a tray lined with a baking sheet and let cool. Combine pine nuts, mozzarella and cheddar in a bowl and set aside. Beat the eggs in a large bowl and mix in the rice, parmesan, pine nut and cheese mix, and 2/3…

Research published by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) has found that Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) reduce the likelihood of motorists being involved in a non-night-time multi-vehicle crashes. DRLs are fitted on the front of a motor vehicle and are designed to automatically switch on when a vehicle is driven to increase the visibility of a vehicle to other road users during the day. The study found that DRLs can reduce non-night-time multi-vehicle crash involvement by 8.8 per cent. The study assessed the relationship between crash risk and the fitting of DRLs using data on crashes that were reported to police in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia between 2010 and 2017. There were 119,606 casualty crashes in the database, of which 11,013 crashes were found to…

VANSafe Queensland - an initiative of Caravanning Queensland in partnership with the Queensland Government - was launched in early April and events will continue throughout 2023. Established in response to the rapid rise of recreational vehicle ownership over the past few years, the free Caravan Safety Check Program educated and supported recreational vehicle owners with the information they need to tow confidently, safely and compliantly. Open to all owners of caravans, campers and motorhomes, the education program included workshops, displays and masterclasses and was a safe zone for all attendees, meaning no fines or breaches were issued. Attendees could also get their RV combination inspected and weighed for safety and compliance. Total registrations of RVs have increased by over 20 per cent in the last five years in the Sunshine…

URBAN TUGSTEN X TERRAIN 18'9 REVIEWS IN BRIEF 58m19fttandemaxle caravan Designedforoffroadusefitted with independent suspension Frontbedrearbathroom layout Aluminiumframedcompositecladding “Much of the chassis area, except for the suspension mounts, is covered by an alloy checkerplate. That's a neat way of ensuring nothing hangs down and is damaged by flying rocks” S ince 2012, the manufacturer has gone from strength to strength and now has a range of vans to suit any rough road or offroad condition. A good example is the Tungsten X Terrain 18'9 that I borrowed from Hinterland Caravans at Morriset (Newcastle), NSW. Apart from anything else, the van looks the part with its slightly muscular look, good ground clearance and the ubiquitous checkerplate everywhere. TRAVELLING ALONG On the road, the Tungsten X Terrain handles quite well, with little snatching and…

BUSSELTON, WA TRAVEL Busselton is different from your average holiday hub. The coastal town 222km south of Perth is the gateway to the famed Margaret River region - a place of great temptations, peppered with producers of world-class wines, cheeses, chocolates, craft beers and spirits. In other words, the finer things in life. Adding to its fine reputation are the town's pleasures of its own. Nestled in Geographe Bay, Busselton is a popular spot for fleeing Perth city slickers, particularly families, to rest up along sheltered shores. The town thrives by the water with its revamped foreshore, ocean swimming enclosures, cycle lanes, playgrounds, and alluring unspoiled beaches. I did what many Perth people do for a weekend - headed ‘down south’ to ‘Busso’ to get acquainted with living life in…

Over the next few issues, we show how we transform a stock 200 Series LandCruiser into the ultimate towing vehicle. This month we install a Tough Dog GVM suspension kit and add an Aerpro head unit for killer sound and extra-large HEMA navigation. We are now legal in the LandCruiser for nearly a IT payload, and we can blast music and podcasts on the long miles between stops.…

BRIBIE ISALAND, OLD TRAVEL Bribie Island is the smallest and most northerly of the three so-called ‘Brisbane Islands’ that partially enclose Moreton Bay. It lies just 70km from the Brisbane CBD via the Gateway Motorway and Bruce Highway (M1) and is linked to the mainland by an 830m bridge across the narrow Pumicestone Passage. The sand islands Together with Moreton and Stradbroke Islands, Bribie was formed over the past million years or so from sand eroded from the mountains of northern New South Wales which was swept up the coast by wind and ocean currents. The grains became trapped by rocky outcrops and gradually accumulated into large deposits several hundred metres thick. When the ocean dropped to its present level about 10,000 years ago, the sand banks became exposed and…

KEEPING KIDS SAFE FEATURE Caravanning with loved ones is a great way to relax, spend quality time together and let your hair down. For your youngest family members, caravanning and camping is a chance for them to have a bit of freedom and explore the great outdoors — interacting with nature instead of staring at a screen. However, having access to so much freedom in the great outdoors — at times away from phone reception and civilisation — comes with some risks. Keeping your kids safe around camp may seem simple, but there are a few things to consider to ensure that everyone gets home safe and sound. Here are some safety tips to consider when caravanning with your little ones. Be prepared When it comes to keeping your kids…

SAFETY AROUND GAS And ELECTRICS FEATURE Safety on the road takes many forms. Driving carefully at all times is one of the major ones. For caravanners and motorhomers, there is also the issue of exceeding payload and dealing with the alphabet soup of GVM, ATM, GCM, TBM and tare mass, among others. There's personal safety too, but fortunately, with a bit of care, in Australia that's not such a big problem. Electrical and gas systems are another matter because recreational vehicles (RVs), whether towed or self-powered, are very sophisticated these days, particularly the electrics. But a few basic precautions will ensure safe RV travel at all times. Before I proceed further, I should mention a caveat. Under Australian and state laws, just about any electrical or LP gas work, besides…

OFFROAD SAFETY FEATURE “I've been four-wheel-driving before … but never behind the wheel, so hats offto the brave soul lending me his car” have just tackled ‘150 Bumps’, the ‘Roller Coaster’ and the ‘Boob Shaker’ … and survived. Bits of me may not be where they should be, but I am still in one (wobbly) piece and smiling from ear to ear. I'm at Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park in Barmera, SA, hooning around 40km of 4WD heaven. Ask me what equipment you need to take on a 4WD adventure and I can now tell you. Number one on my ‘essentials’ list is a sturdy sports bra followed closely by a sense of adventure, lots of people who know what they are doing, and some very handy communication equipment. I've been…

→ Planning our next trip, I needed to upgrade my power supply. We would be off-grid for a few nights and my old ‘beer can’ style inverter had finally passed its use-by date on my last trip. After a fair bit of research, a purchase was made… from Bunnings of ail places. Apart from competitive prices, I liked the ability to walk in, look at the product, talk to a person and walk out with a receipt for easy return in case things go awry or the unit fails within its 12-month warranty period. The Projecta IM600 watt power inverter suited my needs. It's a modified sine wave inverter and able to charge phone, camera batteries, laptops and iPads as well as power a CPAP machine. Pretty essential that the…

→ REDARC has added the ground-breaking TVMS Rogue Control Module to its range of advanced RedVision compatible solutions. With its sleek and compact 25mm thin design and revolutionary smart fuses, the TVMS Rogue offers a level of power control and flexibility unmatched by any other product on the market. Boasting 10 dimmable 10A outputs and eight switch inputs, the TVMS Rogue is ideal for the control of lights, but it's also at home controlling fridges, fans, pumps and more. The switch inputs allow the TVMS Rogue to interface with physical toggle and button switches for control anywhere in the vehicle. Stay informed with two configurable sensor inputs which can be used for tank level, voltage, or ambient temperature monitoring. The RedVision app enables complete control and monitoring on mobile devices…