RV Christmas Gift Guide

AL-KO UNIVERSAL COUPLING LOCK

Barely a week goes by without a report of another stolen caravan or camper trailer, often from right in front of the owner’s house.

Al-Ko has an affordable anti-theft solution in the form of this universal coupling lock designed to secure any towed vehicle fitted with a standard braked or unbraked coupling.

The all-in-one coupling lock requires no additional padlocks or other device, as the locking device is built in. It’s made from cast aluminium and comes with three keys, just in case you lose one.

RRP $34.95. Visit the Al-Ko website for details on your nearest stockist.

A SHORT HISTORY OF CARAVANS IN THE UK

Richard Hammond, of Top Gear fame, has penned this potted history of British caravans, which he claims to be very fond of, despite destroying quite a few of them during Top Gear stunts.

The book is, not surprisingly, light on historical facts but big on jokes and quirky statistics, covering topics as diverse as caravans on screen (remember that Viscount demolished by the Interceptor in Mad Max), caravan racing (the world caravan towing record is 126.77mph) and games with caravans (don’t read this chapter if you’re restoring an old van).

Available from Pitstop Bookshop for $39.95 plus postage.

GREY NOMAD 102

Sid Whiting has followed up his first ‘Grey Nomad’ DVD with another epic videologue containing hours of advice on caravans, accessories and travelling around Australia.

Whiting covers a range of RV topics in great detail, including hitching, reversing, boat loaders, off-road vans, camp cooking, fishing, GPS units, and satellite TV.

Unfortunately, the quality is more YouTube than David Attenborough. It’s also more geared to novices than experienced vanners. But you can’t fault the value for money with about six hours of footage in total on two discs.

Priced at $39.95 plus postage, from Pitstop Books.

MY COOL CARAVAN

It wasn’t that long ago that the words cool and caravan would never be uttered in the same sentence. How times have changed, with interest in vintage vans soaring as people fondly look back on childhood trips and relive the charming simplicity of these early RVs.

This coffee table book out of the UK illustrates the timeless appeal of retro-style caravans, with detailed photography of a range of bygone models from tiny teardrops to polished aluminium trailers.

Unlike today’s bland interiors, these retro vans often offer a world of psychedelic colour inside, with flashy wallpaper, bright fabrics and period trinkets adding to their appeal.

Available for $32.95 plus postage from Pitstop Books.

CLASSIC CARAVANS AND MOTORHOMES

If cooking on a calor gas stove and fetching water from a stand pipe hold more appeal than double glazing, running hot water and central heating, then this 55-minute long DVD could be for you.

Produced in the UK, it’s another nostalgic trip down memory lane and takes a closer look at four classic RVs including a 1957 Safari, 1934 Winchester 15ft Special, 1971 Volkswagen Dormobile and 1972 VW Campervan.

Each van is checked out and the owners interviewed, providing insight into why these hardy souls get so much enjoyment from these blasts from the past.

Priced at $14.95 plus postage from Pitstop Books.

AUSPIT

Everyone loves the flicker of an open fire and the delicious woodfire aroma from a smokey outdoor camp oven, but not all enjoy the effort and hassles involved.
Developed by ex-Australian Army soldier Rhett Thompson, the Auspit is a versatile outdoor cooking solution that includes numerous attachments stored and carried in small cases.

The basic Auspit is priced at $162 and includes stainless steel spit bar, support post, rotisserie, batteries and carry case.

Other Auspit versions and accessories are available, including fire dishes, fire trays, spitmates and multiple spike combinations, all of which allow you to cook a wide range of delicious, campfire foods in a variety of conditions.

See the Auspit website for more.

ENGEL ULTRA-COOL ICEBOX

According to Engel, these tough rotomoulded ice boxes hold ice for days even in the hottest conditions.

They feature thick polyurethane refrigeration-grade foam insulation, encased within a UV stabilised construction of food grade polyethylene.

The iceboxes are lightweight and easy to move with ergonomic grab handles and rope handles. They also feature strong rubber latches, fully integrated hinges with alloy pins, anti-skid rubber feet, and a large diameter drain plug making them easy to clean.

The iceboxes come with a five-year warranty and are available in three sizes: 60-litre (RRP$239), 98-liitre (RRP$329), and 150-litre (RRP$449).

See the Engel Australia website for further details.

WAECO CDF-11 TOURING FRIDGE

With a width of just 235mm, the CDF-11 is the smallest compressor driven fridge/freezer on the market, according to Waeco. And at $499, it’s also one of the cheapest.

Great for squeezing into small spots while travelling, it features a cooling capacity of up to 50°C below ambient, for cold drinks or frozen ice cream on hot summer days. The 10.5-litre capacity provides enough space for an upright 1.25Litre bottle.

Operating on 12/24V DC, it features full battery protection, cup holders and a practical carry strap.

See the Waeco website for stockists.

CAMPERTROLLEY

Manoeuvring a big, heavy caravan into a tight parking spot is back-breaking work. Taking the stress and pain out of the exercise is the all-terrain Campertrolley.

With powerful twin planetary gear motors and heavy-duty rubber Caterpillar tracks, the Campertrolley attaches to the drawbar and positions your caravan via a hand-held remote control.

It runs on a rechargeable lithium battery and can move vans up to 1.5 tonnes in any direction, on inclines up to five degrees.

What’s more, the Denmark-designed gadget doesn’t require a jockey wheel to work. RRP is $2695.

Check out the Campertrolley website for your nearest dealer.

DOMETIC B3000+ ROOF TOP AIRCONDITIONER

Gone are the days of sweating – or freezing – inside your caravan or motorhome.

Dometic’s latest reverse-cycle roof-top airconditioner has been built tough for Australian conditions and features an ultra-low profile, lightweight design, tough ABS plastic outer shroud and reinforced base pan.

Running on 240V AC and with 3.2kW cooling and 3.3kW heating capacity, it utilizes a quiet four-speed fan, making it ideal for night use.

Suitable for vehicles up to 6.5m in length, it also has built in 12V LED lights and operates via a multifunction remote control.

It’s priced at $2395. See the Dometic website for stockists.