BUYING ADVICE

In the fleet of six camper trailers we evaluated during a Camper Trailer Torture Test we had a selection of independent and leaf sprung designs that gave us an excellent opportunity for comparison under all operating conditions.

We might have known that transmission specialist ZF wouldn’t leave the electric axle market to other European manufacturers. Its eTrailer system has been tested during 2021 and is now being implemented by RV maker, Thor Industries.

It’s vital to have quality sleep when you’re camping and the key to that is selecting the right mattress. We’ve checked out several types over the years to help your purchase decision.

In September, 2022 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a report on the conduct of some suppliers and manufacturers in the new caravan retailing market.

It’s tempting to buy overseas and directly import gear you need for outback travel, but you may enter unknown territory when you import goods into Australia, particularly if your business is doing the importing.

These two Aussies are Outback Travel Australia devotees who gladly offered their camping experience as a guide for people who are just getting into outback travel, or who are part-way along the gear-upgrade path.

AL-KO, a global leader in caravan chassis technology, has announced the AL-KO LightRTM Chassis: a lightweight chassis that has the potential to revolutionise Australian caravan design.

Many caravan and camper-trailer owners have major problems and cannot get makers or dealers to rectify them. They face serious time-wasting and frustrating hassles, trying to have their legal rights respected and complied with.

A financial contract may get you the camper you want, rather than having to settle for a lower-quality or second-hand unit.

A camper trailer is the most versatile bush-travel home-away-from-home you can buy, but there are different types, intended for specific purposes. It’s important to determine your needs before you put down your hard-earned cash.

Some campers have been driven and used carefully and others have been abused, but it’s not always easy to spot the difference. However, there are ways to check out the vehicle’s condition.

Most camper trailers are designed around best practice, with an appropriate braking system, but thousands – thousands – are not, according to the Australian Manufactured Camper Trailer Guild.

Tests conducted by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology on three different samples of imported camper canvas have shown that these particular products did not meet Australian Standard requirements for waterproofing.

We’re assuming at the outset that you’re going seriously off road, so a slide-on or camper trailer has replaced a caravan on your potential purchase list. That means your choice is between swags, tents and campers.