Caravans and pop-top campers

[geoffm]

Now, you have all been held up by them so I am sure everyone has an opinion...
As a kid, we had tents and then a caravan, and we had some great holidays and great memories. I want the same for my offspring. I have also decided that I need to have holidays away form home after last Christmas, where 2 weeks off wasn't long enough, and I was more tired at the end than the beginning. I need to get away to unwind.
sooo, being skint, the options are slim, and we only have a 2.2l Camry to tow a caravan with (or a 2.4l diesel Hiace), and no money and limited storage space. There are a number of "campomatic" and simialr poptop caravans around - fiberglass roof, canvas sides - basically a tent on wheels, with an awning. The going rate seems to be around $2.5k with varying amounts of work required. Anyone have any experiences with them? Know any for sale?
I can do canvas work, as I have the big sewing machine, but would rather avoid a complete refurb to start with, as it would be time consuming and materials aren't free.
Geoff

[FJRider]

Rent one for a week or so to see if your memory relates to reality. if its what you still want...

[CookMySock]

How old are your kids ? Buy them a $69 tent each, and a slightly bigger one for you and mum. Take the hilux (4WD?) and go bush and light a fire and do some real camping. One better, get a little boat and explore up the back of a lake somewhere and do some night bushwalks.

DB

[Trudes]

How old are your kids ? Buy them a $69 tent each, and a slightly bigger one for you and mum. Take the hilux (4WD?) and go bush and light a fire and do some real camping. One better, get a little boat and explore up the back of a lake somewhere and do some night bushwalks.

DB

Agreed, less pissing about with warrants and regos and tyres etc etc, pitch a tent and rough it!

[MaxB]

It kind of depends on how adaptable or bush wise your family is. Totally agree with hiring a caravan or pop top to try it out.

Caravans give you the most luxury and weather protection but do you camp in winter? Pop tops are a good compromise you have cooking and bar fridge facilities but still is lightweight.

But really you can throw most things you need in the back of a wagon or ute and if the weather turns to crap you would be amazed at how many you can fit into a car if you have to!

My kids are bush friendly but as my oldest girl has gotten older she is turning into a girly girl so we dont go camping like we used to. It is still great fun though and good for families.

[JimO]

we freedom camp at Lake Aviemore and have a decent caravan plus the boys all have their own tents, pop tops are ok but i prefer a bit of room. we leave the camp set up from labour weekend to easter
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x67/jim157/DSC00614.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x67/jim157/DSC00613.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x67/jim157/Jimsboat.jpg

[Animal]

I'd agree that hiring a caravan for a weekend should be your first step. You may discover that towing the bloody thing is a more nerve-wracking and unpleasant experience for you than it is frustrating for the buggers you're holding up.

Like you, I spent many years as a kid going out once a month with the folks on camping weekends. It's only years later that I realised that my caravan memories as a kid were that positive because it wasn't me doing the driving, and wearing the abuse from frustrated road-users. It's now no longer a mystery why my dad couldn't wait to get into the booze after we'd reached the campsite!

In my opinion, caravans are great - when they're not on the road. Parked at a campsite, all set up and ready for the first bbq - great. Murdering the car's engine on a winding, narrow, 15-degree upill slope with dozens of infuriated road-users behind you - not so great.

[JimO]

I'd agree that hiring a caravan for a weekend should be your first step. You may discover that towing the bloody thing is a more nerve-wracking and unpleasant experience for you than it is frustrating for the buggers you're holding up.

Like you, I spent many years as a kid going out once a month with the folks on camping weekends. It's only years later that I realised that my caravan memories as a kid were that positive because it wasn't me doing the driving, and wearing the abuse from frustrated road-users. It's now no longer a mystery why my dad couldn't wait to get into the booze after we'd reached the campsite!

In my opinion, caravans are great - when they're not on the road. Parked at a campsite, all set up and ready for the first bbq - great. Murdering the car's engine on a winding, narrow, 15-degree upill slope with dozens of infuriated road-users behind you - not so great.

well i tow my 18ft6 caravan with a new deisel hilux, 90ks s the limit for towing and i set the cruse at that and am constantly held up by people in cars dawdling along the 80ks, if you find towing a nervewracking experience perhaps you should hand in your licence, towing is part of driving in NZ unless your a limp wristed latte sipping jaffa:girlfight:or aussie

[Maha]

Now, you have all been held up by them so I am sure everyone has an opinion...
As a kid, we had tents and then a caravan, and we had some great holidays and great memories. I want the same for my offspring. I have also decided that I need to have holidays away form home after last Christmas, where 2 weeks off wasn't long enough, and I was more tired at the end than the beginning. I need to get away to unwind.
sooo, being skint, the options are slim, and we only have a 2.2l Camry to tow a caravan with (or a 2.4l diesel Hiace), and no money and limited storage space. There are a number of "campomatic" and simialr poptop caravans around - fiberglass roof, canvas sides - basically a tent on wheels, with an awning. The going rate seems to be around $2.5k with varying amounts of work required. Anyone have any experiences with them? Know any for sale?
I can do canvas work, as I have the big sewing machine, but would rather avoid a complete refurb to start with, as it would be time consuming and materials aren't free.
Geoff

There is the option of renting one, one that is already onsite.
Per night fee is $25 for the Caravan plus camp fee's.
We camp every year at Ruakaka, and there are Caravans offsite at the camp that are rented out. Its a great option when all you have to is turn up with you gear/food and relax.

[FJRider]

How old are your kids ? Buy them a $69 tent each, and a slightly bigger one for you and mum. Take the hilux (4WD?) and go bush and light a fire and do some real camping. One better, get a little boat and explore up the back of a lake somewhere and do some night bushwalks.

DB

For less than half the price of a pop top, you can get two or three GOOD dome tents (more room inside them) without the rego etc, and fold dow to bugger all.Buy / borrow an ordinary trailer to carry the gear and would be more rugged to tow than the pop top

[kevfromcoro]

had a poptop for a while..can highly recomend them..easy to tow.had a tinny on the thing.when we got to campsite..just poped it up and all our gear was there..knives forks..clothes. gas.and they are up of the ground if it rains.
yes i would get another one...just one thing..they are cold in the winter.. make sure it doesnt leak...

happy holiday KEV

[shaneh]

We've got a camp-o-matic which folds opens backwards and creates a tent you can almost stand in and will take two double beds. It goes up in about 1 min, seriously. Weights nothing, easy to tow. Wooden floor. When closed up steel frame and wooden floor on the top allows you to tie a small boat or bikes and stuff on top as well. Yours for $1k.

[Mom]

As a kid, we had tents and then a caravan, and we had some great holidays and great memories. I want the same for my offspring.

All I can say to you is DO IT!!! I never got the family holiday thing as I grew up so it was really important for me that my kids got them. I learned to love camping when I was a Girl Guide (shut up you knockers!) My kids have had the camping experience since they were really little, potty trained the youngest at camp :first:

Due to the life/shit happens mix there were a few years that I could not take them away, but as soon as I could off we went again.

It simply is the best thing you can do for your kids!

As others have said it does not need to be an expensive thing to do, there are very many levels of "camping". If you want to give it a try, send me a PM, we have a friend that rents out her caravan for nominal money at one of the most lovely places on earth :yes:

[Finn]

we freedom camp at Lake Aviemore and have a decent caravan plus the boys all have their own tents, pop tops are ok but i prefer a bit of room. we leave the camp set up from labour weekend to easter


Tell the truth, that's your permanent address isn't it jedjed?

[JimO]

Tell the truth, that's your permanent address isn't it jedjed?

hehe your just tetchy about the wetsuit thing aint ya finny boy

[nallac]

I've thought about getting one aswell, but can't really justify the cost.
Wouldn't use it enough.
We've got a 16'x14' tent with enclosed sunroom bought second hand off Tme
its enough for me and the missus and our 3 kids.
Still have to take a trailor any way so much shit to take.

[HTFU]

Caravans are all good they give you heaps of space, everthing is set up ready to go and they are a good spare room at home during the year (great place for mother in laws):innocent:.

We have a Liteweight 1300 I picked up for $2000. Guy that made them in the 70s put good insulation in them and now makes the Leisureline brand in Hamilton. One of the best insulated caravans from that era.

They come in 2-4 berth configarations. Ours is a two berth and with the awning sleeps our family of four. We spend 4 weeks ($500 for the 4 of us) at the Doc camps up the Coromandel and having done it with tents for years I highly recommend a caravan. When it rains the extra work towing the thing over is well worth it. My wife tows it over with our auto 2.0 Capella and its no problems. She just cruises at 80 km/hr and we go over when there is little traffic, early morning or late evening.

We are going to get a second one this year either a 1500 or 1700 and tow them both over. Here is a good 4 berth 1300 on trademe. Holidays are the bomb. :rockon:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Caravans-motorhomes/Caravans/auction-142282763.htm

[geoffm]

HTFU - that one does look pretty good. My folks old 17' had a double bed at the back (fold up sofa thing) and 2 up the front that IIRC coudl also turn into bunks although we never used them for that.
Geoff

[HTFU]

HTFU - that one does look pretty good. My folks old 17' had a double bed at the back (fold up sofa thing) and 2 up the front that IIRC coudl also turn into bunks although we never used them for that.
Geoff

Was theirs a liteweight. That sounds like the set up we are looking for if we get a 1700. Will cost us $7000-10000 for one.

You can get them (LW 1300) as cheap as $2000-3000 but they are pretty rough. Ours has ripped seats, joinery coming apart in places and paint is old but no rust and no leaks so is all good, plus it had a new awning.

[MaxB]

FWIW one of my old rellies regularly goes bush in his HiLux. He has had it fiited out in the back with a BBQ/Grill, fridge, meat locker, gun safe and fishing gear. He basically lives out the back with the tailgate down but camps out in a tent. All the stuff is removable for the working week.

With the canopy on you cannot see inside and the ute itself is ugly enough not to be noticed.

[HTFU]

FWIW one of my old rellies regularly goes bush in his HiLux. He has had it fiited out in the back with a BBQ/Grill, fridge, meat locker, gun safe and fishing gear.

and does the glove box fold out into a bunk bed for the kids :lol:

"Hilux swiss army camper" :beer:

[MaxB]

Arf Arf.

Its like a home made version of this:

http://www.blackwidow4wdstorage.com

Obviously this HiLux only seats 3 at a squeeze but I was putting across the idea that other people have found a way to go camping by adapting what they already have.

Round here I see a lot of houses with caravans or boats outside that may get used a few weekends a year, seems like waste to me.

[Animal]

well i tow my 18ft6 caravan with a new deisel hilux, 90ks s the limit for towing and i set the cruse at that and am constantly held up by people in cars dawdling along the 80ks, if you find towing a nervewracking experience perhaps you should hand in your licence, towing is part of driving in NZ unless your a limp wristed latte sipping jaffa:girlfight:or aussie

LOL yeah, whatever. You're just jealous, bitch. :laugh:

My folks had this 21ft double-axle thing that the old man used to TRY to tow with a crappy old Nissan Laurel. It was bloody pitiful to hear the thing trying a find a suitable gear and stay there for more than ten seconds at a time. I couldn't even begin to guess the number of well-meaning and knowledgeable people that strongly recommended he either gets a smaller caravan or a decent tow vehicle!
It was a blessing when the fucking Nissan simultaneously blew up the transmission, sheared the driveshaft and threw a conrod through the block! They tend to do that when all the torque is suddenly removed from the engine and it tries to reach 40,000 rpm - hilarious! Huge noise and lots of smoke and shit! It was scrapped and replaced with a F-250 Ford ute refitted with a 490ci V8, so towing became a helluva lot easier after that. The old man also didn't need to instantly get pissed off his face to settle his nerves. Five minutes later, yep.

And by the way, Mister Smartarse, I was just a wee kid then. I would've been too young to drive anyway! :bleh:

[JimO]

LOL yeah, whatever. You're just jealous, bitch. :laugh:

My folks had this 21ft double-axle thing that the old man used to TRY to tow with a crappy old Nissan Laurel. It was bloody pitiful to hear the thing trying a find a suitable gear and stay there for more than ten seconds at a time. I couldn't even begin to guess the number of well-meaning and knowledgeable people that strongly recommended he either gets a smaller caravan or a decent tow vehicle!
It was a blessing when the fucking Nissan simultaneously blew up the transmission, sheared the driveshaft and threw a conrod through the block! They tend to do that when all the torque is suddenly removed from the engine and it tries to reach 40,000 rpm - hilarious! Huge noise and lots of smoke and shit! It was scrapped and replaced with a F-250 Ford ute refitted with a 490ci V8, so towing became a helluva lot easier after that. The old man also didn't need to instantly get pissed off his face to settle his nerves. Five minutes later, yep.

And by the way, Mister Smartarse, I was just a wee kid then. I would've been too young to drive anyway! :bleh:

watevaaaaaaaaa

[geoffm]

Was theirs a liteweight. That sounds like the set up we are looking for if we get a 1700. Will cost us $7000-10000 for one.

You can get them (LW 1300) as cheap as $2000-3000 but they are pretty rough. Ours has ripped seats, joinery coming apart in places and paint is old but no rust and no leaks so is all good, plus it had a new awning.

I think it was a Lieghtweight. Single axle, hydraulic brakes - it has been a long time.
It was a good caravan until a tree fell on it. Lots of storage and space.
Geoff