We purchased the exact same camper earlier this year. Like you, we found dataplate weights from the factory were BS, tare and ballweight were bollocks numbers. So, we ditched the big stupid box over the drawbar, this saved 75kgs, mostly over the nose (Gas bottles are now in the open (legal), with regulator behind a metal shield, and added a steelframe fabric net rockscreen mounted on the drawbar), could also still mount two jerry cans in holders if required. Also ditched the 4 stupid rocksliders (2 each side, they wouldn't protect the sidesteps anyhow if you wanted to go that knarly offroad). Good for nothing except 'looks' Another 45kgs dead weight removed. Ditched the 4 flimsy stabilisers and replaced them with BOS versions, these each have geared drives and strong enough to lift the wheels off the ground just using a cordless drill 🙂. Also ditched the factory jockey wheel (good quality, but also HEAVY) and replaced that with a lighter BOS jockey wheel. Yep, once again, provides heaps of travel up and down with a cordless drill. In the end, inlcluding tossing other stuff (annex, poles and outdoor flooring) we took 140kgs off the tare, including 70kgs off the ball. Can now carry a useful payload all legally within weight limits. But only just.... Ohh, and the optional internal fridge fell out on the floor driving down the highaway, not even off road (don't ask how the factory 'secured' the fridge). Anyhoo, a lot of the 'cheaper' end vans have similar problems it seems. I'm just thankfull I'm mechancally minded and so didnt bother with useless post sale conversations (arguements) with the manufacturer who by all reports are not helpful or caring (no contact with manufacturer so far at least, only done a few thousand kms, what else can go wrong? 🙂) Good points? Number 1 being amazing stability, including towing abilty off road (but not up the side of a mountain). Cheers and enjoy your travels!
@@MaxDJsWorkshop how good to be mechanically minded and get some stuff sorted out. We were living on the road at the time and endless arguments with the manufacturer just made things worse really. They’re all some pretty great ideas on how to eliminate unnecessary weight and provide such a practical solution. Thanks for sharing I’m sure a lot of people would be keen to learn this. The vans are actually great, it’s just the weight and after service which got to me in the end.
Alot of towns that have trucks passing through on the regular will have weigh stations alternately there's people that have mobile weigh devices as their business.
Yes, we have been told by our caravan manufacturer that the weight stations are completely off. We weighed our set to get an idea of towball weight, and it wasn't pretty 😅
A cool hobby (at least for me) which my wife puts up with is Photography/Astrophotography. There is soooo much subject matter out there! She just needs to find something that lights her fire.
Hi guys, we have a semi off road and it’s great wouldn’t change it. Also we have a big dog it’s a mastiff named buddy yes named after buddy the footballer 😂would never leave him behind he goes where we go and yes we can’t go to some places but it doesn’t bother us at all. So good luck you two, also what battery set up have you got for camping off grid? Jon
Hi Jon, We have made a big decision with our caravan. We do love the semi offroad vans. With the Mars caravan, we had the whole 270ah lithium and a 2000 watt inverter with a projecta management system. We're thinking a second dog 😬 We would just need a bigger caravan
Just wondering what tare weight your Mars actually was ( including the extra 240) that Mars had forgotten to mention? Another great video, by the way.👍
yeh irukandji is probably on the bottom of the list of things you want to be stung by. apparently its so bad it can give you ongoing psychological damage lol
Yes I have heard they're quite the pain. With the head up north, it is too tempting to get in for a swim at some of the beaches. That's how they'll get ya
Not just a pain they can kill you ALWAYS travel with 2L of white vinegar take it to the beach with you as they don't know how to read calendars.@@360-Explorers
We purchased the exact same camper earlier this year. Like you, we found dataplate weights from the factory were BS, tare and ballweight were bollocks numbers. So, we ditched the big stupid box over the drawbar, this saved 75kgs, mostly over the nose (Gas bottles are now in the open (legal), with regulator behind a metal shield, and added a steelframe fabric net rockscreen mounted on the drawbar), could also still mount two jerry cans in holders if required. Also ditched the 4 stupid rocksliders (2 each side, they wouldn't protect the sidesteps anyhow if you wanted to go that knarly offroad). Good for nothing except 'looks' Another 45kgs dead weight removed. Ditched the 4 flimsy stabilisers and replaced them with BOS versions, these each have geared drives and strong enough to lift the wheels off the ground just using a cordless drill 🙂. Also ditched the factory jockey wheel (good quality, but also HEAVY) and replaced that with a lighter BOS jockey wheel. Yep, once again, provides heaps of travel up and down with a cordless drill. In the end, inlcluding tossing other stuff (annex, poles and outdoor flooring) we took 140kgs off the tare, including 70kgs off the ball. Can now carry a useful payload all legally within weight limits. But only just....
Ohh, and the optional internal fridge fell out on the floor driving down the highaway, not even off road (don't ask how the factory 'secured' the fridge). Anyhoo, a lot of the 'cheaper' end vans have similar problems it seems. I'm just thankfull I'm mechancally minded and so didnt bother with useless post sale conversations (arguements) with the manufacturer who by all reports are not helpful or caring (no contact with manufacturer so far at least, only done a few thousand kms, what else can go wrong? 🙂)
Good points? Number 1 being amazing stability, including towing abilty off road (but not up the side of a mountain).
Cheers and enjoy your travels!
@@MaxDJsWorkshop how good to be mechanically minded and get some stuff sorted out.
We were living on the road at the time and endless arguments with the manufacturer just made things worse really.
They’re all some pretty great ideas on how to eliminate unnecessary weight and provide such a practical solution. Thanks for sharing I’m sure a lot of people would be keen to learn this. The vans are actually great, it’s just the weight and after service which got to me in the end.
Great tips thanks. You helped me decide to get a semi off-road rather than fully offroad
Yes, for us it didn’t make sense to go full off grid. We’ve learnt that the hard way lol
We put an extra basket in our fridge, so you take out the top basket and half the crap goes with it 😂😂, so much easier
Thank you for your comments. Yes, Sofia tried fridge dividers or something. Made it worse!
The basket makes much more sense.
Very insightful .
Thanks Rob
Can't wait to what comes next. As always entertaining. 🤙
Thank you very much. we appreciate your comments:)
Greatly appreciate you sharing your pointers. I will take note of your suggestions.😂
Great video guys!
Thanks so much! We really appreciate your comment :)
Great video
Really appreciate the info on weights as we were very seriously considering this exact Mars caravan.
Glad it was helpful! The trade in was costly but worth it for us in the end.
Nice looking river there
The southern end of the Mary River. Beautiful and very clean.
Alot of towns that have trucks passing through on the regular will have weigh stations alternately there's people that have mobile weigh devices as their business.
Yes, we have been told by our caravan manufacturer that the weight stations are completely off. We weighed our set to get an idea of towball weight, and it wasn't pretty 😅
Great video guys, we are currently on our lap and can relate to some of these! (We have a slide on camper, not a caravan) :)
Thanks for the comment George. Appreciate it. Where are you guys at the moment? Bloody cold down south
@@360-Explorers no worries - we’re near Exmouth, warm up here!
@@GeorgeSoan awesome! We’re on our way
A cool hobby (at least for me) which my wife puts up with is Photography/Astrophotography. There is soooo much subject matter out there! She just needs to find something that lights her fire.
That's a great idea. Astrophotography sounds amazing. There is a lot to learn about taking a great photo.
Hi guys, we have a semi off road and it’s great wouldn’t change it. Also we have a big dog it’s a mastiff named buddy yes named after buddy the footballer 😂would never leave him behind he goes where we go and yes we can’t go to some places but it doesn’t bother us at all. So good luck you two, also what battery set up have you got for camping off grid? Jon
Hi Jon,
We have made a big decision with our caravan. We do love the semi offroad vans.
With the Mars caravan, we had the whole 270ah lithium and a 2000 watt inverter with a projecta management system. We're thinking a second dog 😬
We would just need a bigger caravan
Just wondering what tare weight your Mars actually was ( including the extra 240) that Mars had forgotten to mention?
Another great video, by the way.👍
Thanks Craig. I can’t remember the exact figures mate but they were roughly 2550kg or 2570kg with the ATM at 2900kg.
Just watched your Blue Mountains episode. Always disappointing when a few drunk bogans ruin it for everyone.🤔
you dont need the offroad capability till the one time you need it! then you will be glad you got it
That's true. But with offroad capability comes a heavy load. So we have recalculated our set up.
Thank you for your comments
yeh irukandji is probably on the bottom of the list of things you want to be stung by. apparently its so bad it can give you ongoing psychological damage lol
Yes I have heard they're quite the pain. With the head up north, it is too tempting to get in for a swim at some of the beaches. That's how they'll get ya
Not just a pain they can kill you ALWAYS travel with 2L of white vinegar take it to the beach with you as they don't know how to read calendars.@@360-Explorers
Move the wardrobe to where your fridges are and get a proper fridge.
Having all of our clothes on the outside draws slides. Could be an interesting move.
But making room for an upright fridge could be a game changer.
@@360-Explorers surely there are sealed tubs that would fit in those draws?
It will also do wonders for the towball weight. Should the new fridge go above the axle. Great ideas mate@@brettleonard8602
Shouldn't the manufacturers' engineers thought of this??
@360-Explorers
Your biggest problem is leaving home with everything you had at home
Huge difference between what we left home with and what we have now. Naturally, you learn quickly how much we actually don't need.