Camper Trailer Australia Issue 159

It’s been the perfect start to the year with lots of adventures taking place. But everyone here at Camper is now gearing up for the camper industry’s biggest event of the year — Camper Trailer of the Year 2021. In fact, as this edition goes to print, we will be busy judging a record number of camper trailer entries and shooting some amazing content in and around stunning Port Macquarie in NSW with members of the wider camping industry. It’s also positive news with borders reopening across the country, meaning that our backyard has just expanded a bucketload. Speaking of buckets, I hope that everyone has taken the time to create a list of amazing places — in the greatest country in the world — that you will explore during the…

When it comes to selecting the right auxiliary battery for your 4WD or camper, it often comes down to what accessories you’re going to connect to it, how much you are willing to spend, and where you want to install it. Once you have answered these questions, you need to decide how you are going to charge the auxiliary battery, because the method you use can be impacted by the type of battery chosen as well as the type of alternator your vehicle has. With the help of Darran Sexton, R&D Manager for Ironman 4x4, we’ve come up with some options to help you with your setup. BATTERY TYPES There are several different types of batteries used as auxiliary batteries in a 4WD or house battery in a camper, each with their positives and…

Finding the right camper can be a long and arduous process. So, this issue, the Camper Australia team thought it time to help you in your search by highlighting some of the important things to consider — things that might end up saving some of your hard-earned cash. At the end of this article, you’ll be able to make a checklist that you can tick off when on the hunt at your perfect camper. “TYPICALLY, THE MORE YOU SPEND, THE BETTER THE BUILD, DURABILITY, ACCESSORIES AND FACILITIES.” IS YOUR VEHICLE UP TO THE TASK? One of the first things you should investigate before searching for your ideal camper is your vehicle’s towing capacity and ball weight. The towing capacity of a vehicle such as a family sedan or small SUV will be between 1500kg…

Years ago, we drove the scenic road up to Mt Hotham and many years before that Peter walked some of the tracks with his school hiking group. But that was the extent of our experience in this vast and even intimidating area. It was time to get more intimate with this magnificently rugged part of north-east Victoria, once a significant meeting place for Indigenous groups and the traditional Country of the Taungurung and Gunaikurnai Peoples. It’s also steeped in rich gold rush, cattleman and bushranger history and we really want to see it for ourselves. We want to feel like we’re on top of the world and now, finally, we have the right vehicle to get us there. With our 2017 Troopy, fitted with a Mulgo Pop Top we feel properly equipped…

• Supplies: The Dargo General Store has fuel, takeaway food, coffee, souvenirs and plenty of supplies and treats that you may have left at home. • Camping: There are numerous camp spots dotted all around. Use Wikicamps, Parks Victoria and Hema Maps for details. The Dargo Hotel, est. 1898, has motel rooms, bunk rooms and log cabins. If you’re after a bigger place, Grandma’s House, just across the road, has five bedrooms. • Best time to travel: November–May is best for 4WD, many tracks are closed the rest of the time. Avoid all extreme weather conditions. Peak times include long weekends and holidays which can mean heavy traffic and full campsites. • Track tips: Blue Rag Range Track is rated medium and is best tackled on a dry day. • If you are a…

Camp by 5pm, I say at 3pm. A realistic goal, it would seem. And yet, the tyre punctures. The scenery is too good to miss. A once-in-a-lifetime animal emerges, instigating an hours-long pursuit. The intended free camp is jammed full of backpackers, strumming ukes and smoking what may not be cigarettes. Suddenly it’s 8pm, the stars are twinkling, and my rumbling stomach is refusing to be ‘tided over’ by snacks. How I would love to be towing an Offline Domino at such moments. What a joy to have the option of simply killing the ignition, opening a door, and collapsing into a soft mattress. The daytime knowledge that setup wasn’t mandatory would give me the confidence to go further and explore more. But I’d be smiling too, knowing that the more…