CAMPING
Tents, Swags, Camper trailers, Slide-ons, Roof Top Tents and Camping Gear
If your camping arrangement doesn’t work you won’t have a happy 4WD experience, so we’ve highlighted the pros and cons of different camping possibilities. Some people are happy towing a camper trailer; others prefer a campervan or a slide-on camper and many reckon a tent or swag is the go. Then there’s the question of camping gear; awnings, refrigeration, power, lighting and more – it’s all covered in our Camping pages.
Check out our camper trailer, slide-on camper off-road caravan owners reviews. Contact us if you’d like to add your review; please note that you must own or have owned the camper or caravan that you review.
LATEST ARTICLES
BUSH KITCHEN
Portable Fridge Options
Portable fridges and coolers look much the same from the outside – they’re all insulated boxes with lids – but there are significant differences in the way they work and the type of energy they use. It’s necessary to know something about the ebbs and flows of the cooling business if you want to be sure of buying the right unit for your needs.
Nanopresso for great coffee in the bush
We’ve checked out many different coffee makers over the years, but the best manual-pressure one we’ve used so far is the Nanopresso kit. With available accessories it can produce a single or double-shot ground-coffee or a single-shot Nespresso capsule coffee.
BUYING ADVICE
The electric rear axle just arrived
Magna International Inc already supplies major vehicle makers – including Mercedes-Benz – with powertrain components and has developed electrification capabilities to help automakers achieve a zero-emission future. The latest initiative is Magna’s new eBeam technology.
Different 4WD systems explained
There are several different 4WD drive systems in the marketplace and many 4WD buyers are confused about the relative merits of each type.
CAMPING GEAR
Choosing an awning
We get asked about awnings quite often, so here’s the low-down on selecting and using the right one for your needs. We’ve lived with all types of awnings and we’ve yet to find one that’s wind-proof.
Composting caravan and camper toilet
The Nature’s Head self-contained, composting toilet is an alternative to the traditional cassette toilet, with fewer disposal issues.
CAMPERS SLIDE-ON
Wedgetail Slide-On Camper
The Wedgetail slide-on camper design has been refined over the year and we visited the compact but efficient factory in Newcastle NSW, to check out progress.
Zone Z-UEV canopy module
Zone RV is best known for its high-tech caravans, but the Queensland-based company has branched out into top-shelf canopy and rear skirt modules for utes and converted wagons.
CAMPER TRAILERS
Ezytrail Parkes 15 Mk2
At OTA we purposely avoid testing caravans, because we reckon there are enough people doing that. However, we do like to check out the cross-over van market, typified at the top end by pop-top, single-axle units like Ezytrail’s Parkes Mk2.
Cub Frontier Forward Fold camper
Forward-fold campers occupy less ground space and provide a dinette area – just like a small caravan. Cub’s model is truly off-road compatible as well.
CAMPING – OWNER REVIEWS
CUB Kamparoo Brumby – Shelley and George
George and Shelley researched the camper trailer market for few years before deciding that the CUB Brumby was everything they wanted in their off-road home away from home.
Vista RV Crossover XL – Tony and Juana
Juana and Tony had planned a trip to the NT and the Kimberley but their plans changed dramatically when their old Patrol developed mechanical problems. They set up their Vista Crossover camper in a caravan park in Alice Springs and waited while the vehicle was repaired. That took two weeks out of the travel timetable and they weren’t sure what to do next. After a chance meeting with OTA’s Darrell and Linda White, the foursome spent the next two months touring together ……..
POWER & LIGHTING
Narva Professional crimping tool
Few tools are available in a much wider price range than electrical terminal-to-wire crimpers. You can spend as little as five bucks and more than four hundred.
Generators – Portable Generators
Solar power can be a viable camping power source, but the portable generator/battery charger still has its place, particularly in situations where sunlight is unreliable.
TENTS & SWAGS
BRS Roof Top Tent
There are roof top tents and roof top tents. The 2021 BRS Off Road model is the best one we’ve seen to date and it’s Australian-made.
Inflatable tent and car-topper range
GentleTent is an Austrian-based company that now has representation in Australia. The GentleTent GT range consists of different air-inflatable models to suit most camping requirements.
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