Love the reviews guys. We are looking at the moment. A family of 4 coming from a Kimberly Kamper rear fold going to a full caravan. You have been a great help in our search. Love the content. My wife thinks you will go the silverline, I think the sunseeker.
Great job guys enjoyed watching it. A couple of very good quality vans in there these do not include Jayco closer inspection and their out dated decor will attest to that but hey all good still immensely popular and kind of value for money. We will stick to our Crusader for now and beyond.
Definitely the Jayco Silverline. Decent quality and inclusions to rival any manufacturer, outstanding dealership backup almost anywhere in Australia and good value for money. But it just depends who wins the argument for a Zone!!! Cheers, Ian
@ianwhittle5097 - you win in a round about way! Send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
@diannehavelberg5875 - hubby wins so you win! Send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Good summary guys. If i had the cash I’d buy a Zone but currently own a JJ Outback. It does everything we want it to do and with some options added gives us the off grid capability we wanted.
I reckon you guys are gonna be tourin in a sunseeker in 2024. You won’t regret it. We picked ours up just before Christmas and are lovin it. Was good seeing you actually got under the vans for a look. Did you notice how dodgy the diesel heater fuel line was run on the majestic.
Completely agree mate aye. It’s surprising the amount of people that don’t lay under a van when they go to shows or looking at them. I pointed so many faults out to salesman at shows and they didn’t seam phased by the poor workmanship under some vans.
Love your great work 👏 👏 In less than 4 years we now have our 3rd van for so many reasons you have both expressed…… Started with a European van then “quickly” moved to a larger van with bunks….. our girls then decided they wanted the tent back!!!! Yep Next priority was for my wife to tow which she never did….. 😊 We downsized from an Urban Caravan to another Urban being the Armolite…… and love it!!!! Great value for money and tows so well with our aftermarket suspension upgrade on our Ranger…… Would love to know your opinion on the Armolite (a hybrid before the hype)……. We have lots of bells and whistles with enough solar to the moon and back…… weighing in at 2020kg……. So so good!!! Keep up the great work you two!!!
Urban vans look impressive - unfortunately we can't get our hands on one - their website is impressive but has no pricing - frustrating to a degree. The Armolite looks like it would do a great job! Well done to you guys, enjoy.
I hope you guys go with the Silverline I have had mine for a few years now like with every other van there is always a problem big or small. It also depends on how much money you have . I had no big problems with their service. I have now purchased 3 of them . Anyway I hope you are happy for what ever you choose thankyou for your channel
@billmorley4772 - you loose, however I love your comments, and I love that you love Jayco's like me! So you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Just a bit of advice if you are going to buy an off-road van read the warranty terms and conditions regarding off road use eg; I was recently told at a caravan show that Jayco don’t have a off-road warranty I’ve had a look and part 12 of what was excluded is basically off-road driving, driving on gravel or unsealed road is ok anything other than that is not covered by warranty. So a heads up when buying an off-road van ask if their warranty covers off-road use and what they deem is off-road. Happy travels.
Great work guys, thanks for sharing, out of that lot I would say Tracey’s got her heart set and it will be a Zone Rv… I was looking very hard at them too but ended up going with an Urban
@caravansbythecampfire it's the 2nd SL OB I've owned. Only thing that would make it better, would be Air Suspension. So when parking up on uneven, not Level ground, it can Auto Level. Also the Black Jack it a great extra.
@@ianbrown7548 cruise master has a Jayco retrofit airbag kit for the Silverline - go to Campera when you get a Blackjack or Boss Jack and use our discount code CAMPFIRE for 5% discount if you choose those items.
@markthomber2076 Mate - you must be ready to collect your new van! You win, send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Great 10 minutes. Jayco Silverline. I think you would have had to order your Zone ages ago to receive it soon. 🤔look forward to seeing whatever you get 😊
@ladysusanjane2682 - you loose, however as a frequent provider of great comments, send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com - have fun!
I had a Jayco SLOB for 2 weeks.... never again after the amount of manufacturing defects and design flaws we found with it. I won't list them here, but needless to say, some were significant. We were in a hurry to replace it after we returned it (for a full refund) and ended up with a Crusader X Country Extreme off the lot. Better in every way to the SLOB from our personal experience. So much more useful storage compared to the SLOB IMHO. But everyone of the brands has it's supporters and critics. Things I have learned is that looking at the quality of the build, including the attention to detail with things like routing of wires and plumbing, is a strong indicator or the overall experience you are likely to have with a van. Companies that pay attention to detail, generally seem to have pride in their products.
That’s a shame, must have made that one on a Friday, not Monday! Glad you are happy with the current van and I certainly agree re the details - good details typically excellent van!
Zone - expensive but the best caravan Jayco Silverline - cheaper great value Jayco Journey -cheap and cheerful, great value light van to tow Good luck guys on your choice !!!
We started looking at Zones when you first started your search too, about to order back in 2019/20 when bushfires hit us and life goes into a spin, then Covid sets us back. Through it all we persisted in our search Lotus, Titanium, even rented a Jayco. Our Zone Peregrine arrives in April, hope yours does too Tracey...
PO BOX 370 Mallacoota VIC 3892 The latest Feel good Family vid shows you the 'chair leg stoppers' on their Zone ,they are a bit oversponsored by do give out some good info at times.
Sorry for the late reply. I thought I’d answered. MDC appear fine and in line with possibly 10-12 others, very hard to tell the difference and it comes down to internal layout, storage, weight and whether you want a seperate toilet and shower. We looked at these many times - I suggest you check out the leading brands and drive the best deal for yourself.
Have just discovered your channel - great content! Re reviews, would you consider including Royal Flair? Is their hydraulic lifting queen/king size bed a game-changer? I think it is because of the many benefits it provides. Would love to watch your take/review on it. Will enjoy watching your archived episodes. Thanks again.
Yes I do love those Royal Flairs - impossible to rent one to review however. I’ve checked out that bed concept at several shows and it is a game changer for sure- I’m surprised it’s not is many more vans!
Given the number of Snowy River Caravans and the entry point into the market would have been good to see one on the list. Realise there are hundreds but I confess I have one and we love it.
Yes, we’ve looked at those and the most recent ones are many times improved on their already reasonable market entry vans - impressive. None are for rent and we did reach out to Snowy River twice without any response. Hope their after sales service response is better than that!
@@caravansbythecampfire unfortunately no.....love the van but not the company. I look after my van myself for the little thing. Thankfully, no warranty issues to speak of
I think you’re going to get the Jayco Silverline, but a word of warning. My ex got a secondhand one 2022 and there’s an air vent or something on the roof. When they were driving in the rain they opened up the door to find water all over the floor. They are in a forum (don’t ask me which one) and they said it was a common problem but to fix it they needed to put duck tape over the vent! Food for thought.
Yes, extensively although we couldn’t find one to hire. They sit upper middle range or around there. Titanium would one I’d choose above given they are similar look, style and value.
Great summary, thank you for the video. We are planning for 2025, a trip of 3 or 4 months to see as much as we can without rushing, and coming from far, far away .... would you rent a set up (seems expensive) or buy for this short period? What brands are likely to hold their value best and sell easily??
Thanks for the comment - you could probably negotiate a good deal hiring a van for that period of time, around $100 per day - say thats around 9K for 3 months. You need a car to tow it or you can rent that for the same amount. Talk to On-Point Caravans (link in description. Depends also on how many people are traveling together (adults and kids etc). Buying a van of some quality that you can tour in is subjective, maybe 50K might get you something suitable but it would be an older van. Re-selling is fine but could take a little while. Just depends how much money you have at the end of the day.
@@caravansbythecampfire Thanks for the advice, van and car -18k sounds a lot, I appreciate wear and tear etc. hence considering buying. We are a mature couple, no kids, non smoking, partner is scared of off road so no risks will be taken. 50k loos like the right region of comfort that I have been looking at. Won't be able to get a landcruiser , it will have to be smaller
@@chemicaljuice3078 jump on an app called Camplify, there are dozens of vans for hire cheaper. Sounds like you only need a small one. If buying stay with the popular brands which will help with resale. Jayco I’d look at first, lightweight.
We Really enjoy your videos, great job guys! We have a question. Did you consider a Willow RV Caravan? We feel it is one of the closest contenders to the Zone. Construction, weight and inclusions. Thank you for sharing your journeys. Howard & Tracey
Your new van will be a Zone Rv. JUST GO AND BUY ONE! If you bought a Base in 2021 you would have got the 18.6 for $104000 with all the extras and today sold it after 2 years use for over $120000. I did. So if you are getting one of the 10 Van's my guess it's a second hand Zone. As a new one will be 6 months away to build. Just go do it. All the best happy trails. Allen
@allenlynton6061 - you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com - hope things are going well!
How did you go about hiring all of these vans? I’m contacting manufacturers & none of them have a hire before you buy option. I’ve tried camplify but not many options to try the vans I like.
That’s the problem, all ours were via Camplify plus one I just asked an owner to hire. It is very hard - there are several hire companies out there. What vans are you looking at?
@@caravansbythecampfire I went to the caravan show last week in Melbourne and left there more confused than ever! I think I like the 'hybread' haha. I need a quad van and of the ones I walked through the Mars Elite 15 was a standout. I'm upgrading from a camper trailer, I really want to hire and try the version I'm looking to buy but rentals are all older vans or different specs.
@@LostMtbkr those shows do you leave you a little spinning so to speak. The rate of upgrade of all vans makes is hard to find the same thing to rent out there - Camplify doesn't allow you to search by van either so that means you have to spend hours looking through and changing your start location. A van of the brand you are looking to purchase will give you some indication - it's always good to ask this question of a company you want to buy from - "Can you summarise for me all the improvements made over the past 2 years?" Then, what are you looking to do next in the development of this van?"
Like your content, thanks. I’m curious about your (and everyones) thoughts on Royal Flair and their bed/club lounge set-up. It seems like a great solution, but not considered much 🤷🏻
Yes, they look pretty decent - I suggest you have one other comparison van - the latest Snowy River vans are much improved and that company is selling a ton of vans now and the inclusions are high.
My money has you both in a Zone, lighter weight, plenty of payload, full composite construction and the latest technology is the future of caravanning… cheers from Graham & Ann
Hey that’s great news, we were just watching your latest vid last night, good choice, the Zone Base are such good value, I’ve put out lots of vids on ours, both trips, mods and reviews. Our address G& A Belby P O Box 281 Maleny Qld 4552 Cheers Graham & Ann
If it’s not a Zone I’ll eat my hat lol😂. I’d personally pick a Zone out of all those for the tech and the weight I think. Also they just look good too. Hopefully their after sales service is on the improve like you guys mentioned. 👍
@@caravansbythecampfire what flavour would Tracey recommend for a straw hat ? I’m really hoping now it’s a Zone. 🤦♂️ it’s going to be tough chewing otherwise.
My moneys on a Zone. They’re lightish, good payload, gas free and so advanced with tech and convenience. By the time you “upspec” any of the others you’d end up paying more.
@miuckusms700 - you win, funnist answer! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
I enjoyed this video. Here are my thoughts after spending 13 months in a brand new 18' New Age Road Owl travelling around Australia. New Age are very hard to deal with once you have parted with your hard-earned and I have had two New Age vans over the last 8 years. So a big NO to New Age although I do like the older Manta-Ray vans (warranty is not an issue with second-hand vans). The price range I have in mind is $50k to $80k and I have a Toyota 200 series, so weight is a concern. I also hate the older wooden interiors used in some caravans. It must have a built-in washing Machine and a Night Heater. I would add a slide-out barbeque. Completely dismiss all pop-tops and single-axle vans. I quite like the Jayco slide-out, good service around Australia, but modern vans are made of too flimsy materials. So a big no to Jayco. My current pick is NEW GEN, 5 years structural and 2 year manufacture warranty. My choice is the NG19R. Vans over this length can be problematic when you ring caravan parks in advance to book a spot. I am not interested in off-road caravans but when the time comes to sell the van it makes a big difference if it is semi-off-road.
100% agree. Prices are becoming OTT. There are few to truly set themselves apart from the others when asking for an extreme "investment" dollar spend. You can buy a helicopter instead, now that would be real adventure - hard to sleep in etc, but an adventure for sure.
Rather than an odometer it what would me more useful to know how many nights have been spent in the van or number of times lithium batteries have been recharged.
Good reviews and good you tried them before handling over the hard earned money. Just wondering if in the next review when you ask Tracy a question you actually let her get a word in🤷🏻 it’s exactly like my marriage but in reverse.
Love to know which vans didn't tow well ! Just got a new van and i'm not sure i'm happy with the way it tows. I wish I had test driven one before I purchased. Love your unbiased appraisal of the vans you test out. ( except Jayco, I had a 2003 Jayco and the interior of the new ones still look the same. Too much woodgrain and crappy curtains ) Keep up the good work, cheer's
Awesome summary guys! We have been looking for our first van for a while now too. I felt the same way about the Jayco’s you did, yes you save some money and have plenty of Australia wide repairers but the wood grain… really? In 2024? I just don’t think you can go past the light weight zone, yes their high end but how often are you going to spend that sought of dough? Get it right the first time and you won’t be putting your hand in your pocket for a new van later on.. It doesn’t matter which one you get there’s going to be a compromise somewhere.. I hope you get the Zone. Good luck with it what ever you decide!
If you buy the JB take your own ‘D’ shackles, the tight arses don’t supply em in the 120 grand price, and the outdoor TV set up…….they need to look and learn how Jayco do it. Heaps of lovely choices these days, just buy one, park it up and recharge🤘
Loved the banter. Got a good chuckle out of the 'set up' v 'open up" youtubers.
Yes every time I see one of those I laugh at how they are seriously trying to convince us that we are “setup”!
Love your reviews guys. It will be a ZONE !
You’ll get the Jayco JourneyOutback to fully enjoy the bush camping that you so love. 👍
Love the reviews guys. We are looking at the moment. A family of 4 coming from a Kimberly Kamper rear fold going to a full caravan. You have been a great help in our search. Love the content. My wife thinks you will go the silverline, I think the sunseeker.
Great job guys enjoyed watching it. A couple of very good quality vans in there these do not include Jayco closer inspection and their out dated decor will attest to that but hey all good still immensely popular and kind of value for money. We will stick to our Crusader for now and beyond.
@@frankvarga1502 yes there’s something for everyone! Thanks for your comments.
Definitely the Jayco Silverline. Decent quality and inclusions to rival any manufacturer, outstanding dealership backup almost anywhere in Australia and good value for money.
But it just depends who wins the argument for a Zone!!!
Cheers, Ian
I will tell Tracey I have supporters….!
@ianwhittle5097 - you win in a round about way! Send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
I thought the Silverline would be a winner until I spent last Monday afternoon looking at them. Definitely not the van for me.
@@johngunning2123 yes it’s not quite there is it!
I think a jayco silverline my hubby reckons a zone just enjoy what ever you get and safe travels
Thank you! Thanks for your comment
@diannehavelberg5875 - hubby wins so you win! Send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Good summary guys. If i had the cash I’d buy a Zone but currently own a JJ Outback. It does everything we want it to do and with some options added gives us the off grid capability we wanted.
The outback’s pretty decent, enjoy
Love your show guys! Been watching since you started and it’s been so helpful looking through all the vans with you 🙌🏼
Zone all the way 👍🏼
Cheers with the beers!
@twothirstytravellers8187 - you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Silverline I think. Great video, thanks.
Majestic
I got on with up suspension up grade
Awesome stuff even in hard going
Get one
I reckon you guys are gonna be tourin in a sunseeker in 2024. You won’t regret it. We picked ours up just before Christmas and are lovin it.
Was good seeing you actually got under the vans for a look. Did you notice how dodgy the diesel heater fuel line was run on the majestic.
That would be great!
We spend a lot of time under vans - most are very ordinary - most are below 1st year apprentice quality, amazingly poor.
Completely agree mate aye. It’s surprising the amount of people that don’t lay under a van when they go to shows or looking at them. I pointed so many faults out to salesman at shows and they didn’t seam phased by the poor workmanship under some vans.
I love the Majestic Navagator
Me too - it was impressive
Love your great work 👏 👏
In less than 4 years we now have our 3rd van for so many reasons you have both expressed……
Started with a European van then “quickly” moved to a larger van with bunks….. our girls then decided they wanted the tent back!!!! Yep
Next priority was for my wife to tow which she never did….. 😊
We downsized from an Urban Caravan to another Urban being the Armolite…… and love it!!!!
Great value for money and tows so well with our aftermarket suspension upgrade on our Ranger……
Would love to know your opinion on the Armolite (a hybrid before the hype)…….
We have lots of bells and whistles with enough solar to the moon and back…… weighing in at 2020kg……. So so good!!!
Keep up the great work you two!!!
Urban vans look impressive - unfortunately we can't get our hands on one - their website is impressive but has no pricing - frustrating to a degree. The Armolite looks like it would do a great job! Well done to you guys, enjoy.
@@caravansbythecampfire I'll pass this message onto a few people we have met at Urban. You never know?
I hope you guys go with the Silverline I have had mine for a few years now like with every other van there is always a problem big or small. It also depends on how much money you have .
I had no big problems with their service. I have now purchased 3 of them .
Anyway I hope you are happy for what ever you choose thankyou for your channel
I like the Silverline! Tracey has something else in mind I reckon.
@billmorley4772 - you loose, however I love your comments, and I love that you love Jayco's like me! So you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
All good I thought as much the women always win anyway I hope you enjoy it .
Kind Regards Dianne .@@caravansbythecampfire
@@billmorley4772 correct!
💯 Zone - your t-shirt said it all. “Happy Wife”
Shouldn’t have worn that shirt!
Im
Just happy to see Tracey in a patriots shirt . Absolute fan now👍🏻
Excellent, I've just subscribed. Thanks.
Cheers!
I want you to get the X3 for testing. Enjoyed your presentation.
@@craiglucas1292 good choice that would be.
Just a bit of advice if you are going to buy an off-road van read the warranty terms and conditions regarding off road use eg; I was recently told at a caravan show that Jayco don’t have a off-road warranty I’ve had a look and part 12 of what was excluded is basically off-road driving, driving on gravel or unsealed road is ok anything other than that is not covered by warranty. So a heads up when buying an off-road van ask if their warranty covers off-road use and what they deem is off-road. Happy travels.
Thanks for that!
No such thing as a off-road van
Very informative content! BTW I would love to watch a video on your unique watch collection.
Great work guys, thanks for sharing, out of that lot I would say Tracey’s got her heart set and it will be a Zone Rv… I was looking very hard at them too but ended up going with an Urban
Good choice the Urban! Well done.
My 2018 Jayco Silverline OB 21.6 remains Awesome. No faults at all.
@@ianbrown7548 as expected, I’ll let Tracey know - she’ll love hearing about the magnificent Silverline…
@caravansbythecampfire it's the 2nd SL OB I've owned. Only thing that would make it better, would be Air Suspension. So when parking up on uneven, not Level ground, it can Auto Level.
Also the Black Jack it a great extra.
@@ianbrown7548 cruise master has a Jayco retrofit airbag kit for the Silverline - go to Campera when you get a Blackjack or Boss Jack and use our discount code CAMPFIRE for 5% discount if you choose those items.
@caravansbythecampfire I'll checkout Cruise master and get a quote for converting to Airbag Suspension. Thank you for the Heads Up
Its the Zone - Happy Wife , Happy Life... Picking ours up in 4 weeks
Enjoy!
@markthomber2076 Mate - you must be ready to collect your new van! You win, send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Great 10 minutes. Jayco Silverline. I think you would have had to order your Zone ages ago to receive it soon. 🤔look forward to seeing whatever you get 😊
Thanks for the comments! Hope you are well!
@ladysusanjane2682 - you loose, however as a frequent provider of great comments, send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com - have fun!
Well thank you very much!😀
I’ll be in contact x
My pick is you will go with the Silverline :)
Haha, I like this comment the best! Tracey will not I don’t think!
I reckon you will buy a Zone Sojourn because they are an excellent van and we have ordered one due in Feb 2024.
I had a Jayco SLOB for 2 weeks.... never again after the amount of manufacturing defects and design flaws we found with it. I won't list them here, but needless to say, some were significant. We were in a hurry to replace it after we returned it (for a full refund) and ended up with a Crusader X Country Extreme off the lot. Better in every way to the SLOB from our personal experience. So much more useful storage compared to the SLOB IMHO. But everyone of the brands has it's supporters and critics. Things I have learned is that looking at the quality of the build, including the attention to detail with things like routing of wires and plumbing, is a strong indicator or the overall experience you are likely to have with a van. Companies that pay attention to detail, generally seem to have pride in their products.
That’s a shame, must have made that one on a Friday, not Monday! Glad you are happy with the current van and I certainly agree re the details - good details typically excellent van!
Great work guys 😊😊
Thanks for your comment!
Zone - expensive but the best caravan
Jayco Silverline - cheaper great value
Jayco Journey -cheap and cheerful, great value light van to tow
Good luck guys on your choice !!!
Thanks for the comments! See what we can find.
Seeing many Zone Caravans around
Great summary many thanks.
Thanks for the review! 😀
We started looking at Zones when you first started your search too, about to order back in 2019/20 when bushfires hit us and life goes into a spin, then Covid sets us back. Through it all we persisted in our search Lotus, Titanium, even rented a Jayco. Our Zone Peregrine arrives in April, hope yours does too Tracey...
Have very much enjoyed your videos and style, looking forward to more travels.
Excellent choice - Tracey will be excited by your comment!
@ryanturner9457 - you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
PO BOX 370 Mallacoota VIC 3892 The latest Feel good Family vid shows you the 'chair leg stoppers' on their Zone ,they are a bit oversponsored by do give out some good info at times.
any opinion on MDC offroad range please
Sorry for the late reply. I thought I’d answered. MDC appear fine and in line with possibly 10-12 others, very hard to tell the difference and it comes down to internal layout, storage, weight and whether you want a seperate toilet and shower. We looked at these many times - I suggest you check out the leading brands and drive the best deal for yourself.
Have just discovered your channel - great content! Re reviews, would you consider including Royal Flair? Is their hydraulic lifting queen/king size bed a game-changer? I think it is because of the many benefits it provides. Would love to watch your take/review on it.
Will enjoy watching your archived episodes. Thanks again.
Yes I do love those Royal Flairs - impossible to rent one to review however. I’ve checked out that bed concept at several shows and it is a game changer for sure- I’m surprised it’s not is many more vans!
I think you have a Zone lined up. There is also a good choice of secondhand caravans for sale now.
My thought too. Owning one I would always buy a Zone again. Full stop.
Yes plenty of second-hand vans for sale. Saves dealing with manufacturers who want to avoid warranty claims.
Given the number of Snowy River Caravans and the entry point into the market would have been good to see one on the list. Realise there are hundreds but I confess I have one and we love it.
Yes, we’ve looked at those and the most recent ones are many times improved on their already reasonable market entry vans - impressive. None are for rent and we did reach out to Snowy River twice without any response. Hope their after sales service response is better than that!
@@caravansbythecampfire unfortunately no.....love the van but not the company. I look after my van myself for the little thing. Thankfully, no warranty issues to speak of
Maybe the Majestic Navigator although i agree would rather have batteries inside the van
They are impressive.
Great video….. gee it’s hard to pick. I think on balance ( not knowing your budget)….. the Zone.
I think you’re going to get the Jayco Silverline, but a word of warning. My ex got a secondhand one 2022 and there’s an air vent or something on the roof. When they were driving in the rain they opened up the door to find water all over the floor. They are in a forum (don’t ask me which one) and they said it was a common problem but to fix it they needed to put duck tape over the vent! Food for thought.
Thanks for the heads up!
Zone RV next gen vans for the win!
@themacktribe - you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Hi guys have you tried out the new MDC HRT 19?
No but I’ve reviewed their site - used to have a MDC camper some time ago.
Could you do a review?
@@desigrainer2128 I’ll put it on the list, we generally need to find somebody renting one to do a review, I’ll investigate!
Have you looked a the Crusader vans?
Yes, extensively although we couldn’t find one to hire. They sit upper middle range or around there. Titanium would one I’d choose above given they are similar look, style and value.
Great summary, thank you for the video. We are planning for 2025, a trip of 3 or 4 months to see as much as we can without rushing, and coming from far, far away .... would you rent a set up (seems expensive) or buy for this short period? What brands are likely to hold their value best and sell easily??
Thanks for the comment - you could probably negotiate a good deal hiring a van for that period of time, around $100 per day - say thats around 9K for 3 months. You need a car to tow it or you can rent that for the same amount. Talk to On-Point Caravans (link in description. Depends also on how many people are traveling together (adults and kids etc). Buying a van of some quality that you can tour in is subjective, maybe 50K might get you something suitable but it would be an older van. Re-selling is fine but could take a little while. Just depends how much money you have at the end of the day.
@@caravansbythecampfire Thanks for the advice, van and car -18k sounds a lot, I appreciate wear and tear etc. hence considering buying. We are a mature couple, no kids, non smoking, partner is scared of off road so no risks will be taken. 50k loos like the right region of comfort that I have been looking at. Won't be able to get a landcruiser , it will have to be smaller
@@chemicaljuice3078 jump on an app called Camplify, there are dozens of vans for hire cheaper. Sounds like you only need a small one. If buying stay with the popular brands which will help with resale. Jayco I’d look at first, lightweight.
@@caravansbythecampfire Thank you!
Hi great reviews, I think you guys are gonna go navigator
The way I'm going I'll need one of each! The Navigator was the most impressive "regular style van" out there in my view - C
We Really enjoy your videos, great job guys! We have a question. Did you consider a Willow RV Caravan? We feel it is one of the closest contenders to the Zone. Construction, weight and inclusions. Thank you for sharing your journeys. Howard & Tracey
Yes we had a look at those, searching around the forums steered us away to a degree.
I like a bit of woodgrain, otherwise they look like the inside of a coolroom.
Operating theatre without any colour or wood grain.
Your new van will be a Zone Rv.
JUST GO AND BUY ONE!
If you bought a Base in 2021 you would have got the 18.6 for $104000 with all the extras and today sold it after 2 years use for over $120000. I did.
So if you are getting one of the 10 Van's my guess it's a second hand Zone. As a new one will be 6 months away to build.
Just go do it.
All the best happy trails.
Allen
I love your war cry! So does Tracey!!
@allenlynton6061 - you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com - hope things are going well!
How did you go about hiring all of these vans? I’m contacting manufacturers & none of them have a hire before you buy option. I’ve tried camplify but not many options to try the vans I like.
That’s the problem, all ours were via Camplify plus one I just asked an owner to hire. It is very hard - there are several hire companies out there. What vans are you looking at?
@@caravansbythecampfire I went to the caravan show last week in Melbourne and left there more confused than ever! I think I like the 'hybread' haha. I need a quad van and of the ones I walked through the Mars Elite 15 was a standout. I'm upgrading from a camper trailer, I really want to hire and try the version I'm looking to buy but rentals are all older vans or different specs.
@@LostMtbkr those shows do you leave you a little spinning so to speak. The rate of upgrade of all vans makes is hard to find the same thing to rent out there - Camplify doesn't allow you to search by van either so that means you have to spend hours looking through and changing your start location. A van of the brand you are looking to purchase will give you some indication - it's always good to ask this question of a company you want to buy from - "Can you summarise for me all the improvements made over the past 2 years?" Then, what are you looking to do next in the development of this van?"
I hope you are getting a ZONE and you should have a look at the Kokoda 19.6
Thank you! I will.
Like your content, thanks.
I’m curious about your (and everyones) thoughts on Royal Flair and their bed/club lounge set-up. It seems like a great solution, but not considered much 🤷🏻
I wonder the same thing myself! Appears to be a great idea for every van! In the US the elevating bed is common place and practical.
Silverline I'm thinking is your van
Yeah it’s definitely a Zone, congrats guys and enjoy.
We are looking into purchasing a van and we’re looking at the Jayco All Terrain. Did you have a look at one? Any thoughts?
Yes, they look pretty decent - I suggest you have one other comparison van - the latest Snowy River vans are much improved and that company is selling a ton of vans now and the inclusions are high.
I reckon you will go for the Zone
Why no Cub campers?
@@WAtermitec couldn’t get one to hire! We have looked at many - top end of the price scale but a great brand.
My money has you both in a Zone, lighter weight, plenty of payload, full composite construction and the latest technology is the future of caravanning… cheers from Graham & Ann
That all sounds good when you put it that way! Cheers.
Absolutely right. Once a Zoner, always a Zoner. At least for us :D
@grahambelby9177 - you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Hey that’s great news, we were just watching your latest vid last night, good choice, the Zone Base are such good value, I’ve put out lots of vids on ours, both trips, mods and reviews.
Our address
G& A Belby
P O Box 281
Maleny Qld 4552
Cheers Graham & Ann
If it’s not a Zone I’ll eat my hat lol😂. I’d personally pick a Zone out of all those for the tech and the weight I think. Also they just look good too. Hopefully their after sales service is on the improve like you guys mentioned. 👍
You’ll need some flavouring if a hat must be eaten! Tracey might save you.
@@caravansbythecampfire what flavour would Tracey recommend for a straw hat ? I’m really hoping now it’s a Zone. 🤦♂️ it’s going to be tough chewing otherwise.
My moneys on a Zone. They’re lightish, good payload, gas free and so advanced with tech and convenience.
By the time you “upspec” any of the others you’d end up paying more.
Pretty good eh!
at 16:00 were you thinking of HSV - I Just Want One? :)
One of those as well for sure!!
It should be the JB 17.10 Gator X gives you all you need and the little dirt ability for a decent quality price, but more expensive then a Jayco
I think you're definately gonna get the Jayco Journey Outback
Jayco silver line or you should get jayco offgride like I've got 🙂
I’m a Jayco fan - those off grid ones (all terrain I think) look good.
What about Snowy River or Regent
Both Chinese, like Australian build and dealerships
Im
Just happy to see Tracey in a patriots shirt . Absolute fan now who cares what you buy
Yes, she’s a fan girl! Packers for me…
Missed the best = Titanium Caravans
Sunseeker was made by Titanium - it features and was pretty good. IT had been around Oz twice and was in great condition. Pretty good product!
Zone sojourn for sure. 👍🏻
The Zone RV is the most modern and best quality caravan by a mile, however if it is outside your budget then I don't know.
Easily isn’t it.
Why did you not look at Crusader Vans. Melbourne company have some great vans.
Couldn’t rent one! We looked at many at shows however. Pretty decent.
My 💰 is on a Zone! Best on the market 😀
Think that you should go for the zone
Have a drink every time Craig says ‘right’
Right!
@miuckusms700 - you win, funnist answer! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
I enjoyed this video.
Here are my thoughts after spending 13 months in a brand new 18' New Age Road Owl travelling around Australia.
New Age are very hard to deal with once you have parted with your hard-earned and I have had two New Age vans over the last 8 years. So a big NO to New Age although I do like the older Manta-Ray vans (warranty is not an issue with second-hand vans).
The price range I have in mind is $50k to $80k and I have a Toyota 200 series, so weight is a concern. I also hate the older wooden interiors used in some caravans.
It must have a built-in washing Machine and a Night Heater. I would add a slide-out barbeque.
Completely dismiss all pop-tops and single-axle vans.
I quite like the Jayco slide-out, good service around Australia, but modern vans are made of too flimsy materials. So a big no to Jayco.
My current pick is NEW GEN, 5 years structural and 2 year manufacture warranty. My choice is the NG19R. Vans over this length can be problematic when you ring caravan parks in advance to book a spot.
I am not interested in off-road caravans but when the time comes to sell the van it makes a big difference if it is semi-off-road.
Some great thoughts here thank you! Good luck and thanks for the comments.
Ditch the Jayco idea and just get the Zone from your list.
Spend the money once.
Having said that we have a vision rv and love it
Got gto be a Zone?
Good choice - watch this, ua-cam.com/video/elmdavO8N6M/v-deo.html
Cons on topend vans is their price, very expensive, if you get something around 19 ft the weights are not to bad
100% agree. Prices are becoming OTT. There are few to truly set themselves apart from the others when asking for an extreme "investment" dollar spend. You can buy a helicopter instead, now that would be real adventure - hard to sleep in etc, but an adventure for sure.
I think Zone will win! 😂😂
Rather than an odometer it what would me more useful to know how many nights have been spent in the van or number of times lithium batteries have been recharged.
Excellent idea - the full undercover watch system!
Good reviews and good you tried them before handling over the hard earned money.
Just wondering if in the next review when you ask Tracy a question you actually let her get a word in🤷🏻 it’s exactly like my marriage but in reverse.
@@davidanderson9043 no worries, Tracey trained me well! I will attempt to return to
My former self 😂
Getting in the Zone
I have a feeling you’ll be going for the Majestic. But if you end up in a Zone then everyone will know who really in charge when the camera is off 😂
Yes! Not me that’s for sure!
@@caravansbythecampfire So it is the Zone then!! 😁
I’m lobbying.
I’m betting on the JB Dirt Roader Extreme but shorter either 19.6 or 20.6
I think a Zone or Silverline
Zone! Worth a look at those ones. There are a couple of vids on that.
Jayco Silverline
I love these Silverline votes - I rush to tell Tracey each time I get one!!! Haha.
Really surprised you did not trial the JB sting
We’ve been in 1 several times - great but I’d need a truck with all Tracey’s shoes!
@@caravansbythecampfire not sure I follow! What do you mean?
I always refer to her shoe volume in our reviews - an inside joke for those who've watched the feature videos on those vans.
Love to know which vans didn't tow well !
Just got a new van and i'm not sure i'm happy with the way it tows.
I wish I had test driven one before I purchased.
Love your unbiased appraisal of the vans you test out. ( except Jayco, I had a 2003 Jayco and the interior of the new ones still look the same. Too much woodgrain and crappy curtains )
Keep up the good work,
cheer's
Malibu and JB Dirtroader - both semi off road vans not wanting to cooperate with the car, not super bad but concerning all the same.
My malibu tows great behind my Colorado. 19'6 semi off road. If I had a bigger budget I would bought different. Good reviews though.
@@SuperCookie1977 great hear - well done and thanks
Zone RV hands down.
Tracey loves to hear that!
Majestic or Zone
Zone.
Reckon you will pick the Zone RV
Correct - check out the Just no comparison video
Hi guys love the show and thank you for your information on the different vans.
I'm hoping that you guys are getting a Zone RV🙏👍.
Cheers Tua
Tracey will love you saying that!
Silverline with my power upgrade. Hit me up, we’ll sort it.
Awesome summary guys! We have been looking for our first van for a while now too. I felt the same way about the Jayco’s you did, yes you save some money and have plenty of Australia wide repairers but the wood grain… really? In 2024? I just don’t think you can go past the light weight zone, yes their high end but how often are you going to spend that sought of dough? Get it right the first time and you won’t be putting your hand in your pocket for a new van later on..
It doesn’t matter which one you get there’s going to be a compromise somewhere.. I hope you get the Zone. Good luck with it what ever you decide!
If you buy the JB take your own ‘D’ shackles, the tight arses don’t supply em in the 120 grand price, and the outdoor TV set up…….they need to look and learn how Jayco do it. Heaps of lovely choices these days, just buy one, park it up and recharge🤘
You’d think a few shackles wouldn’t break the bank eh!!
@@caravansbythecampfire in saying that Jayco does supply them so that’s another pro for Jayco! ✊
I think it's the Zone.
id luv a silverline. thats my goto van.
Silverline, if you want to have money left in the bank 😂
Zone RV I reckon
Hard to go past Tracey tells me!
I purchased the Expedition 3 weeks ago. Very solidly built.
@user-ev2en9lm4f - you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
That was a good review. I'm thinking a Zone will be in the driveway soon
Im not giving up on the Silverline until the death! Hard ask. Thanks for the comments.
Happy wife happy life = Zone
Yep…. that’s why I bought my wife one
Any comfortable caravan = happy wife/happy life IMO…. just get out there 👏🏼👍😄
@donnamyers2612 - you win! send me your address to this email and I'll get that Stubby holder out to you! caravansbythecampfire@gmail.com
Urban Armolite!
GUYS the new kid on the BLOCK “AOR” synergy
Yes, they do appear to be good!