RV Ramblings #2

Thanks to all those who have emailed with their rants and rambles in recent weeks (we’ve published a few edited examples below).

Although it was a tough choice, this month’s 'best letter' prize winner is Craig Beasy, who receives an ARB portable air compressor valued at $350. Thanks for your insightful comments Craig, and if anyone else has some thoughts on 'the increased glamorisation of camping', drop us a line.

Next month’s prize for most interesting or entertaining letter is another beauty: a prize pack from the makers of the genuine Swiss Army knife, Wenger. Ideal for the next camping trip, the prize pack includes a Wenger EvoWood10 pocket knife and Wenger Field Classic watch. 

The EvoWood10 features a unique, recycled walnut handle with a concave and convex design, together with a popular tool configuration including a knife, screwdriver, can opener, corkscrew, reamer/awl, and nail file/cleaner.

The stylish Field Classic stainless steel timepiece features a sapphire-coated crystal face, magnified date display, and luminous hands, numerals and markers. It's water-resistant to 50 metres, and comes with a khaki nylon strap. For further information visit the Wenger website.

For your chance to win the Wenger prize pack valued at $294.95, drop us a few lines via  the ‘Comment on this article’ link at the bottom of all editorial articles.

REMOTE OMISSION
I found your comments on the Jayco electric roof winch to be irresponsible; the main point of difference being the price. You failed to point out that the Goldstream electric roof winch is a fully remote-controlled system, but the Jayco is not. A little more research next time please.
- Michael Johnston

Ed: We checked with Goldstream and you're correct in saying that the camper trailer ‘electric’ roof can be operated via a remote-controlled unit, unlike Jayco's system, so that would partially explain the price differential.

MORE BUDGET BUYS
Why is it that media reviews always assume people have lots of money to spend?  Whether it's cars, campers or PCs , the comparisons tend to be the towards the higher end of the market (eg campers > $15K).
- Peter Anderson

Ed: Good point, Peter. It's true that the most 'newsworthy' products are often the 'latest and greatest' (and most expensive), and while it's nice to dream, for many people the latest Ferrari is of little interest when they'll never be able to afford one.

That said, most RVs aside from basic tent trailers require a significant outlay ie. $30,000-plus for a brand new caravan or more than $60K for a basic campervan. We've been endeavouring to include reviews of more affordable campers, like this Desert Edge, and will try and cover a few more budget RVs in future, for those not rolling in cash. 

By the way, if funds really are tight, we recommend a scroll through the 4500-odd new and used RVs for sale on this website; you’re sure to find something that fits your needs as well as your budget.

RIPPER PRIZE PACK
This is one of the best TV shows and prize packs I have seen. The combination of car, camper and all the extras mean that even if you have nothing now, you can be fully set-up and ready to hit the road with a top of the range rig anyone would be proud to own.

Pat (Callinan) has a great show and I love the fact that he does his trips with his family; this is what I am interested in with two young children of my own. Pat shows that seeing this big beautiful country is for the whole a family. Great show and great prize. Good one Pat.
- Russel Rooke

Ed: You’re dead right, Russel, and it will be one lucky punter who ends up winning the $115,000 prize package. The competition finishes on March 31, so hurry up and enter here if you haven’t already.

CAMPER TRAILER WITH THE LOT
Is this too much of a good thing? It's a pity that as time passes, supposed home comforts are introduced to entice further sales.

Most ‘ordinary people’ are likely to appreciate the 'back to nature' approach of an outside shower hung from a tree branch, a pit toilet or sitting under a shady tree enjoying the scenery while having a cuppa, etc, when they're on holiday or doing that 'big round Oz trip'; far removed from home comforts. Rather than give up crucial space inside their camper for a shower cubicle - nice though it would be to have.

How often in the past have manufacturer design teams assumed additional comforts were a sure bet in significantly increasing unit sales, only to bomb out big time when they really should've focused on improving product/component quality and longevity on what is already there. It proves to be a money saver in the long run.

Quality wins hands down over quantity every time.
- Craig Beasy

Ed: As we noted in the Goldstream camper trailer review, Craig, most of the 'home comforts' are options, so you could save yourself quite a few grand by going without things like the internal shower/toilet and off-road pack. And despite the few ‘niggles’ encountered on our review camper, we were still impressed overall with the Goldstream’s build quality, providing merit to the old adage: 'You get what you pay for'.

LIVING THE DREAM
My first straw pot cooker was an old galvo dustbin full of straw. The old cast iron camp oven was filled with meat (often roo or rabbit) and vegies brought to the boil. Lid put on and sealed with tin foil and placed in the bin of straw and lid bunged on. Come back after a day in the bush and the meal was done to perfection.  Would love to try the Dream Pot though.
- Frank Yates

HOT AIR
It's funny how when you're bogged everyone's full of good ideas and hot air....  when all you really need is the air from an ARB portable air compressor
- John Burgess

DEFLATED!
The cook and I have recently purchased a brand new camper trailer after several months of searching and evaluating. It arrived on Monday and we had a maiden trip planned for it this weekend to a little town in Queensland called Forsayth for their annual quad and motor bike rally.

We have never owned a camper before but have spent plenty of time camping so we were really looking forward to the trip and the novelty of being able to set up the tent and kitchen attached to the trailer. How easy and comfortable would this be, but the weather won't let all this be possible.

We got through Cyclone Yasi (we live in Townsville) and now the rain just won't stop. Talk about boring, may as well sit in the shed with the camper and deflate and inflate the tyres for something to do with the new ARB compressor.
- Steven Fallon.

DRYING OUT
I have a clothes line suggestion: you will need a two metre piece of pipe that fits over your brake handle. Drill a hole through pipe, then place a length of rope through, long enough to reach both sides of caravan. Put a cap over the pipe at this end
- Barry Lewis

DOG-FRIENDLY COUNCILS?
What about the parks that are pet friendly, but the shire isn't. We stayed at one on the coast, but you couldn't take your dog on the beach between 9am to 5pm, and several other beaches would not allow dogs at any time. Parks should advertise if the Shire/beach etc is pet friendly as well. No use after you arrive to find out you’re confined to the park.
- Steve

Ed: Fair call, Steve, although in fairness I don’t think the majority of people would appreciate sunning themselves on a beach in summer with a bunch of dogs sniffing around. You might just have to set the alarm a bit earlier and give Rover a walk along the sands before the beach bunnies arrive!

PUTTING POOCH OUT OF TOWN
Pet friendly caravan parks are usually a distance from anywhere you care to go. Not so Tuncurry, NSW (Great Lakes Holiday Park) and the dogs are quiet and the park friendly. Make more parks closer into town dog friendly.
– Glen.

Ed: Given the amount of interest in pet-friendly parks, it's worth noting the extensive Holiday Parks listing on the Travel Planner section of this website can direct you to hundreds of dog-friendly parks. There's also a revised, 2011 edition of the Holidays with Dogs directory that has just hit the bookstands. The “dog owners travel bible” has been expanded with hundreds of new entries to bring the total to around 2000 dog-friendly accommodation options in Australia and New Zealand. RRP$24.95. Publisher Hema Maps also puts out another useful book called Bush Camping with Dogs (RRP$34.95). ...

EASY CATCH
Paul, I would always agree with you, after watching you on ifish TV. You make it look so easy, and you seem to catch fish every time you cast in. I am one of those people that wishes I could catch something other than a cold. Because you are always catching fish on your program, my wife thinks it’s easy, and says she will not feed me if I go fishing and I don’t catch anything.  I am starting to think the only way I am going to catch a fish is to pay someone thousands to charter me a boat! Keep up the good work, Paul. I love your show, even though it puts me to shame.
- Robin Plath

READY TO RUMBLE
We just got ourselves a 100-Series Cruiser to replace our much loved Pathfinder. Unfortunately it was just getting too small for the four of us. The 'Cruiser is just fantastic and has been set up for serious touring by the previous owner. I am so looking forward to our next trip away.
– Shane Pike

OFF-ROAD ITCH
I have been living in Western Australia for over 10 years now and I have been itching to get up north the whole time. I haven't had a 4x4 adventure since I left Queensland. This has just made me more determined to head up there now that the kids are old enough for a serious trip. All I need now is a decent off road camper trailer. -
Andrew Malone