Composite Caravans - We go Cruis'n the Composites
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- Опубліковано 11 жов 2024
- We take a look at Composite Caravans who appeared at the Sydney 4x4 show recently - these brands just all happened to be in the same place on the same day. Rhinomax Campers, Cub, Crusader Caravans, Mountain Trail RV, Vision RV and Torus RV. We discuss what makes these vans great as the surge toward fully composite caravans continues to build.
Viewers should explore their options and own requirements based on personal needs, budget and informed opinion.
Locations in this video:
Carinya Station - carinyastation...
Shanty on the Namoi - www.hipcamp.co...
Caravans featured in this video
Rhinomax - www.rhinomaxca...
Cub Campers - cubcampers.com...
Mountain Trail RV - mountaintrailr...
Crusader Caravans - crusadercarava...
Vision RV - visionrv.com.au/
Torus RV - www.torusrv.co...
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EPISODES
Episode 1 - Lotus
• Lotus Freelander Carav...
Episode 2 - Zone Van
• Zone Caravans - Are th...
Episode 3 - Malibu California
• Malibu Caravan - Is th...
Episode 4 - Jayco Journey Outback
• Jayco Caravan - Aussie...
Episode 5 - JB Gator
• JB Gator Caravan - Is ...
Episode 6 - Majestic Navigator
• Majestic Navigator Off...
Episode 7 - Patriot Camper X1
• Patriot Camper X1 - Wh...
Episode 8 - JB Dirt Road Extreme
• JB Dirt Road Extreme C...
Episode 9 - Sunseeker Wild Child
• Sunseeker Wild Child C...
Episode 10 - Zone Base - Red Dirt Review
• Zone Base - 3000kms in...
Episode 11 - 5 Must Do Tips - Is you
r dream to buy a second hand Caravan?
• Purchasing a used Cara...
Episode 12 - Caravan Cappers - New Mecca Style Assembly
• Caravan Cappers - New ...
Episode 13 - Jayco Silverline Outback Pt 1
• Jayco Silverline Outba...
Episode 14 - Jayco Silverline Outback Pt 2
• Jayco Silverline Outba...
Episode 15 - Stoney Creek Scout 15
• Hybrids - are they a g...
Episode 16 - Pros and Cons - 10 Vans in 10 minutes
• Pros & Cons - 10 Carav...
Episode 17 - Season Finale - We Buy at Last - Just no comparison
• Just No Comparison - W...
Episode 18 - Legend v Legend - the weigh-in!
• Legend V Legend - Land...
Episode 19 - Go Camping or use the Caravan?
• Go Camping or use the ...
Episode 20 - Watton Airstrip - a great testing ground
• Watton Airstrip NSW - ...
Episode 21 - Titanium Hardcore
• Titanium Hardcore - To...
Episode 22 - Titanium Factory visit
• Escape to Titanium Car...
Episode 23 - Titanium Hybrid
• New Titanium Hybrid - ...
Episode 24 - Harvok RV
• Harvok RV The World’s ...
Episode 25 - 60 mins, 60K
• 60 minutes, Budget 60K...
Episode 26 - Zone RV - What we’ve found after 6 months
• Zone RV. What we find...
Episode 27 - Harvok 16’ Suit of Armour
• Harvok 16' Suit of Arm...
SPECIALS
Episode 1 - Caravan & Camping Show April 2024 Sydney
• Sydney Caravan & Campi...
Episode 2 - Caravan & Camping Show April 2023 Sydney
• Caravan & Camping Show...
Episode 3 - National 4x4 Outdoors Show July 2023 Sydney
• National 4x4 Outdoors ...
Episode 4 - Zone RV hits Sydney
• Zone RV hits Sydney
Episode 5 - Want to make money - Rent your Van/Camper out.
• Want to make money? Re...
Episode 6 - National 4x4 Outdoor Show Sydney June 2024
• 4x4 Show Sydney June 1...
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I love your good honest reviews. Keep up the good work guys.
@@maccamacdonald4410 Thankyou!!
I own a Rinomax Lost Trak and it is an amazing van. I have had it for a bit over 12 months and can't fault it.
@@geoffreygoodland3629 They are impressive - good to hear and thanks for your comment
Hi Craig and Tracey (apologies if I’ve spelled your name wrong). 😊. We sold our Zone 18’6 2022 Base after 12 months (travelling 26000ks) and bought a Torus 16’ Kakadu hybrid; we love it. We found it has so many features that are on par with the Zone, and some things that we actually prefer. We’ve loaded it up with lithium and solar, and have still come in at a reasonable price. We’ve travelled over 13000ks since April, and have found the after sales service and access to the small, family-run company to be good and easy too (sadly unlike our experience with Zone RV). Just for clarification, the internal cabinets are standard timber cabinet construction, unlike the composites in the Zone. And Tracey, our van is all white interior, with a very pale cement-colour laminate benchtop as it was the closest to white I could get. This is our 4th and final van. I’m still addicted to caravan shows and reviews, though. Happy travels 😊😊😊
The Torus impressed straight away I have to say. Great to hear your story and how a smaller brand is doing the business for you! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Safe travels!
We have the LXV4.7 hybrid by Mountain Trail RV (Albury, NSW). It has, on a recent trip across the Gary Junction Road and the Plenty/Donoghue H'ways, performed above and beyond as we tackled 2,500ks of outback dirt roads. Could not be happier.
Sounds like a great purchase - they certainly impressed as a quality brand. Thanks for your comment!
We have a Crusader Caravan and they are all composite. They don't make them any other way for several years . We love our Crusader.
Excellent, thanks for yoir comment.
Great video. Agree with most of your conclusions. As a Mountain Trail owner I can also say that, apart from build quality, the single most important issue with caravan manufacturers is their after sales and warranty support. In this regards Mountain Trail are excellent 👍
Thanks for the comment! Service soinds impressive.
Glad your still making videos that lotus looks amazing love to see a full video on the lotus vans do like the lotus fit outs the best but so dam heavy !
@@Charlie-ec3bc Perfect for long stay vacations and otherwise for me if I had a big truck. Not all of them are super heavy. Thanks for your comment.
Very informative video guys, love a honest review. Cheers 😊😊
@@leonwakefield7285 Thanks for your comment!
You guys are great value! Thank you!
@@terrenceodgers5866 Cheers!
Bet you the Jayco silver line comes standard with the grab handle and have internal extractor fan this van is value for money 😊
@@josechapman7611 Couldn't agree more! just have to convince the big boss!
Very informative to hear your opinions. We looked at the Elysium at the Brisbane show in June. This show at the RNA showgrounds is so big it can become overwhelming....especially for a first time purchaser. Vision RV were probably the only ones that spent time with us considering it was the last day of the show. Their pricing was also only 149,900, now up 10K to 159,900 in 4 months. Also surprised Zone weren't there considering Vision and Rhinomax are also Sunshine Coast based.
Sunland are also a small family based composite manufacturer who are also manufacturing aluminium chassis so save weight and with a 200k price tag.
There doesn't seem to be a great deal of weight saving in most of these composite vans. Isn't that also to be the benefit, not just it's thermal properties?
Looking forward to your walk through the Cub factory..
@@TA-wg9oi Thanks for your comments. Couldnt agree more about weights! Prices have gone crazy.
We have MTRV and really enjoy it. For your information the range hood recirculates the air so it does vent outside. We are full time travellers and find that the MTRV service to be excellent. Very friendly and helpful plus they will send parts to you which is really handy if you happen to have an issue. We have just finished the Gibb a month or so ago and didn’t get any dust in the main cabin or tunnel boot.
Sounds great - love to hear that.
Hi guys, Just watching this video and it’s great to see you are looking into composite vans! Just wanted to let you know about another manufacturer of FULL composite is Off Road Gritt Rv! We have one of their vans and it is the best I’ve seen! No bias! If you can, do yourself a favour and look into these vans. They will blow you and your followers away!
Thankyou. I will. Through these vids we are discovering an entire range of manufacturers people are unaware of - good to hewr abiut yours.
Ok. That double door Lotus, or similar, is what Sue and Derek from Just Vanning It are getting. They said the Chevy opened up options and that the van concept has been around for a long time. Double door van were here in the 70s and 80s.
I want to check out Vision RV.
But the thing I agree with the most is when you said “they are all learning and improving”. The industry is definitely undergoing evolution.
@@NickSaravanos I guess it comes down to who you trust most while they are learning. JVI have a Titanium dont they? I wasnt aware they did 2 doors.
I’ve been waiting for JVI to announce on UA-cam. I spend little time on other socials so missed and Titanium announcement.
@@caravansbythecampfire The other thing you said that really resonated with me was “that our 200 can tow”. I love our 200. Ours is kitted up for touring and is really capable off road. Once the van is unhitched it is such a good vehicle. But as it sits in my driveway it is over 3300kg with a full tank, empty fridge but the draw system full with the usual stuff that lives there. So once my fat arse sits in it, a passenger or two, and some holiday stuff I’m at 3600kg. I really can’t tow more than 3200. Our old “stick and tin” van is light and fine, but would fall apart doing 1000s kms off the bitumen. Anything 19” and above that’s fully electric is too heavy. No wonder the American trucks are everywhere. But it comes back to loving my 200 and not really wanting to spend $250k+ on a kitted rig. So I’d really like the vans to get back to 2500 tare, fully electric and fully off road capable.
Great vid!
However where’s special mention for Jayco leading the way😊? They have been using the fiberglass sandwich panel
construction for gotta be 20 years .
Love ya work!👍🏻
Im always talking about Silverlines! 🤣🤣
What do you think about the Oz Off Road caravans
@@melissaarcorace4660 Do you mean AOR? Super premium high end - no doubt impressive.
No there is a company in Penrith, called Oz Off Road, mostly have orange coloured vans
@@melissaarcorace4660 I recall seeing them at a regional show. I cant say I recall specifics enough to comment fairly - lots of orange and brush bars.
Yes that’s the one
And the van I would have have is North coast campers
Ask the thickness of fibregass skin, inner sheet size ( not to many joins ) round kerfing of front wall ? Do they laminate to strengthen
@@ab7406 I think if anything the curved parts kook weaker to me as the cut out triangular sections in order to bend the product. Plenty of images on line showing how thats done. On the othe hand it appears to be very strong. Thanks for your comment.
Iv got a 2023 Lumber Jack square pod fully compete
@@darrenlangshaw6328 Sounds great - Ive liked them for a while.
Forget the rest and go an Urban. They are beast.
Look good don't they, we are only talking composites here.
One of the biggest things that the leaders are doing that you kind of brushed over was that the aluminium cabinetry has no screws to rattle loose on corrugations. Blind rivets. How many times you talk to caravan owners that have just done the likes of the gibb and they have screws falling out everywhere
Excellent point thankyou - I have a collection of screws!
Composite vans are probably quiker and cheaper to make.
@@Mambey You would think so!
You make me laugh sliverline is a nice van jayco prices have gone up like the rest of them great vans put value slowly slipping away !
@@Charlie-ec3bc Cant help myself - one of those things, If I got one Id probably upgrade straightaway!
I think Australian Off Road purchasesd rhino max I may be wrong
@@marty8697 They are a good product too - I dont think the purchase is correct given the passiin the 2 owners shared their history with us.
Have spent 12 months living and traveling in our RhinoMax over the last 3 years of our ownership. Concept is excellent. The build execution is not that great. Have made a booking to visit Zone.
Thanks for your comment. Good information.
Sorry but I lost interest after 5 minutes of listening to you talking about vans and not showing them
👎 from me
Thanks for your comment - its not that quick a fix vid but after a few minutes there's vans to see. We will do better.