Composite Caravans - We go Cruis'n the Composites

[@maccamacdonald4410]

I love your good honest reviews. Keep up the good work guys.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@maccamacdonald4410 Thankyou!!

[@zubinirani6620]

I love Tracey's "Oh Jeez " sighs everytime Craig brings up the Jayco Silverline caravan into the conversation

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@zubinirani6620 she really is loosing patience with me!!

[@Nosaesoh]

🇦🇺 Cruisader X country is 100% composite! Awesome Van.

[@vanning_in_aus]

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.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Excellent, thanks for yoir comment.

[@ringo2202]

Hey Guys, all crusaders are full composite (as you described). They went full composite about August 22. The new MY25 vans have also increased the roof thickness to 40mm and the floors to 50mm on the XCountry range. We have our x country extreme since December 22. Thanks for the reviews.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@ringo2202 sounds good, well done to you! Enjoy those insulation qualities. Thanks for your comment.

[@rebeccapryde5426]

I love the banter between you both! :) hehe :) Thanks for the genuine reviews.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@rebeccapryde5426 thankyou! And for your comment!

[@philipberkhout6693]

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.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Sounds like a great purchase - they certainly impressed as a quality brand. Thanks for your comment!

[@geoffreygoodland3629]

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.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@geoffreygoodland3629 They are impressive - good to hear and thanks for your comment

[@Charlie-ec3bc]

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 !

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@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.

[@wa-downsouth]

Great video guys, very informative, I've been looking at vans for about 12 months now, definitely looking at a composite off road van. Another boutique van company here in the west is Elross, 100% composite, 50mm walls and roof, 30mm composite floor, like an esky on wheels. They seem to be very flexible on design and fitout. The hardest thing is choosing a van builder and running with it, when you're dishing out $150k plus. Keep up the great vids, much appreciated, cheers Shayne

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@wa-downsouth Sounds good! 50mm walls is probs ott but it would be fridge quality in terms of insulation!!

[@pjmbarlick]

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 👍

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Thanks for the comment! Service soinds impressive.

[@terrenceodgers5866]

You guys are great value! Thank you!

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@terrenceodgers5866 Cheers!

[@leonwakefield7285]

Very informative video guys, love a honest review. Cheers 😊😊

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@leonwakefield7285 Thanks for your comment!

[@ColinNeill-z2n]

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.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Sounds great - love to hear that.

[@josechapman7611]

Bet you the Jayco silver line comes standard with the grab handle and have internal extractor fan this van is value for money 😊

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@josechapman7611 Couldn't agree more! just have to convince the big boss!

[@WarrenGray-r6m]

Enjoyed, that was good.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@WarrenGray-r6m Thankyou

[@Sojournaus]

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!

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Thankyou. I will. Through these vids we are discovering an entire range of manufacturers people are unaware of - good to hewr abiut yours.

[@jeffscott5312]

Coming down in price a bit, but I would love to see a review of the Windsor Wild. There's just not enough content showing them, and they seem to be pretty good value for a semi off road van.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@jeffscott5312 I’ll investigate those.

[@TA-wg9oi]

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..

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@TA-wg9oi Thanks for your comments. Couldnt agree more about weights! Prices have gone crazy.

[@PeterRowe-ip7ow]

Another great episode guys, thanks! Love your style and the new intro. Only note is off the Corona and moved to the local stuff?

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@PeterRowe-ip7ow thanks for your comment and support - A subscriber said I had to try it - not a bad drop!!

[@cynthiakavanagh6972]

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 😊😊😊

[@caravansbythecampfire]

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!

[@NoeleneWelsford-b7n]

Really like the look & quality of the Torus vans especially the 16 Hybrid as it has an island bed & seperate shower & toilet which seems quite rare in a 16. Great to hear they are good to deal with too 👍

[@paulyemary8522]

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!👍🏻

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Im always talking about Silverlines! 🤣🤣

[@aaronchesebro6991]

Great review. Obviouslyusly Kimberley wasnt there but as a high end Aussie made composite. Have you reviewed their Kamper? Id love to hear your thoughts!

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@aaronchesebro6991 wasn’t there and we have asked many times to review their records products- a lot to like about them!

[@striniindustries9509]

Thanks

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Thankyou! Very kind of you.

[@striniindustries9509]

@@caravansbythecampfire loved your review, great honest content. Keep it coming thank you

[@marty8697]

And the van I would have have is North coast campers

[@darrenlangshaw6328]

Iv got a 2023 Lumber Jack square pod fully compete

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@darrenlangshaw6328 Sounds great - Ive liked them for a while.

[@AndrewOReilly-n6y]

Hi team, am looking to buy a snowy river SRT20, what are your thoughts on these new composite vans.... Regards Andrew

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Snowy River vans have inproved over the past couooe of years and provide a good option as an imoorred product. Appear priced accordingingly. Resale value Im not sure is high basedbon the ones seen for sale lately -I suggest you review owners group pages for information on after sales service activity.

[@AndrewOReilly-n6y]

​@@caravansbythecampfire thanks for your reply team, I've got a 2023 JB and frikin worried about water ingress lol... Yep it's van wars. Once again thanks Regards Andrew

[@galacticnemesis366]

Forget the rest and go an Urban. They are beast.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Look good don't they, we are only talking composites here.

[@ab7406]

Ask the thickness of fibregass skin, inner sheet size ( not to many joins ) round kerfing of front wall ? Do they laminate to strengthen

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@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.

[@melissaarcorace4660]

What do you think about the Oz Off Road caravans

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@melissaarcorace4660 Do you mean AOR? Super premium high end - no doubt impressive.

[@melissaarcorace4660]

No there is a company in Penrith, called Oz Off Road, mostly have orange coloured vans

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@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.

[@melissaarcorace4660]

Yes that’s the one

[@grantwells6189]

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

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Excellent point thankyou - I have a collection of screws!

[@marty8697]

I think Australian Off Road purchasesd rhino max I may be wrong

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@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.

[@Charlie-ec3bc]

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 !

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@Charlie-ec3bc Cant help myself - one of those things, If I got one Id probably upgrade straightaway!

[@Mambey]

Composite vans are probably quiker and cheaper to make.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@Mambey You would think so!

[@NickSaravanos]

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.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

@@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.

[@NickSaravanos]

I’ve been waiting for JVI to announce on KZbin. I spend little time on other socials so missed and Titanium announcement.

[@NickSaravanos]

@@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.

[@TheSquarefour]

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.

[@caravansbythecampfire]

Thanks for your comment. Good information.

[@Mick_4591]

Sorry but I lost interest after 5 minutes of listening to you talking about vans and not showing them 👎 from me

[@caravansbythecampfire]

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.