Off Road Vans @ ExplorOz

AnswerID: 288185 Submitted: Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 18:03

Bandicoot replied:

Have you considered a Bushtracker?
Bandicoot

Reply 1 of 10

AnswerID: 288194 Submitted: Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 18:51

replied:

Kedron Owners Group might be the best place to ask your Kedron questions - www.kedronownersgroup.com

You'll need to join the forum to read feedback or ask any questions, but you'll find the members very helpful and friendly.

Reply 2 of 10

AnswerID: 288206 Submitted: Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 19:34

Member - Norm C (QLD) replied:

Bob, since you are in Qld, it is worth considering Bushtracker and Phoenix as well. With Kedron (also built in Qld), in my opinion you will have covered 3 of the 4 'real' off road vans in Australia. The 4th is Trackmaster, built in Vic.

Just my view and not looking for a debate whether Golf and a number of other excellent vans are built for 'off road' use. Opinions clearly (and rightly) differ on this, as does the definition off 'off road' for this purpose.
Norm C

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Reply 3 of 10

AnswerID: 288222 Submitted: Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 20:29

Member - DAZA (QLD) replied:

Hi Bob

What sort of tow vehicle, have you got or considering, this also has to be put into the equation,no good getting a 2500kg van if your
vehicle struggles to tow it, it pays to have a good look around, and
you are the only one who knows what you can afford.

Cheers
Daza

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Reply 4 of 10

AnswerID: 288240 Submitted: Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 21:46

Keith_A (Qld) replied:

From experince - Supreme Getaway used to be a good off-road van, but it appears they have dropped their standards in favour of profit in the last few years (bad wood rot in 11 month van - during Aust worst drought).

As mentioned, the tow vehicle is a major part of the equation - both the load it is rated to tow ( AGM = total stand alone weight) plus the ball down weight. These will be stated in you vehicle specs, or stamped on the towbar.

Also you will notice from searching the forum, driving speed and tyre pressure is at least as important as van construction, for off-road work. Happy researching..................Keith

Reply 5 of 10

AnswerID: 288244 Submitted: Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 22:54

Member - Doug T (FNQ) replied:

Bob
Can't give you experience but if you go to my 4x4 webpage you'll find links to many manufacturers down the botton, all there in one place for your convienence.

4x4 site

.

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Reply 6 of 10

FollowupID: 553549 Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008 at 07:21

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

Dusty ,
Tell your Old Man to get off his butt and add the four recognized off-road vans to his link list - Bushtracker , Phoenix , Kedron and Trakmaster .
Willie .

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FollowupID: 553554 Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008 at 07:49

Member - Doug T (FNQ) posted:

Willie
You old mongrel, Dusty went and bit me on the ar$e thanks to you,
OK Jobs done, had to make my own text for Phoenix ,and Kedron, the Logo's were no good.

.

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FollowUp 2 of 2

AnswerID: 288279 Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008 at 09:39

A J replied:

Bob - one thing that you also have to consider - how fat is your wallet. I have heard of fuel consumption from a F250 towing a bushtracker at 3.5km per litre of fuel. Read recently on a nissan test with jayco weighing in at 1800 kg.

results 4.5 petrol auto 29.33 litres per 100 km
4.2 diesel manual 22.26 litres per 100 km
3.0 diesel auto 20.78 litres per 100km.

Fuel costs for test - petrol $1.20 and diesel at $1.35

4.5 $35.19 - 4.2 $30.05 - 3.0 $28.05 ( I have not checked their cost calculations)

We have ben travelling since 1971 and always found fuel to be the biggest expense .

I am not saying to buy a 3 litre nissan - just be aware of the extra fuel costs.

A J

Reply 7 of 10

FollowupID: 553583 Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008 at 12:54

ddr posted:

22lt/100 for the 4.2 Patrol is worst case with that much weight. I tow more weight that than and average whilst towing about 17/100k

Worst I had was into a head wind & with crap fuel I got 21.5l/100k.

Driving type will vary this but 22 sounds like a bit of a lead foot or an exaggeration to me.

Where was that test written up?

FollowUp 1 of 1

AnswerID: 288314 Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008 at 16:12

A J replied:

ddr - it was written up in a 4wd monthly abiut two years ago. I have a mate on the road at this time with a 4.2 towing a van over 2000 kg and he reports that the temp is going up and fuel going down. Reported 4.5 kilometres per litre or 22.22 litres per 100 kms.

A J

Reply 8 of 10

FollowupID: 553682 Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008 at 20:26

Member - Graham H (QLD) posted:

I have a Roadstar Voyager which all up is 2.6 tonne and from Brissy to Yamba and in a hurry got 5.9kpl travelling close to or a bit over the limit at times. This was average for whole return trip including sightseeing without van on.
Towcar a 4.2TD Cruiser 60,000k on clock.
Previously had a Nissan time bomb and didnt really get much better from Brissy to Hervey Bay on two trips.
Cruiser does it easier and much less tiring to drive and much more comfortable as well.

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FollowupID: 553769 Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008 at 13:25

jeepthing posted:

I was camped next to a fellow in the Pilbara last year and he had recently purchased a F350 XL 4x4 7.3l V8 Turbo Diesel to tow his 18' Bushtracker because it had pulled the guts out of his Toyota diesel. Anyway he reckoned the F350 was fantastic pulled the Bushtracker easily and was burning 16l 100k at 90kph. He said his toyota used to burn mid to high 20's and really worked.

Run into another fellow along the Nullabor with a 350 towing a 20' Kedron Cross Country and he reckoned it was burning 18l 100k crossing the nul into what was a pretty brisk head wind.

I don't take too much notice of any tests those mags do the best wasy to get a correct indication is to ask the people who drive a particular vehicle.

FollowUp 2 of 2

AnswerID: 288440 Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008 at 12:49

Wizard1 replied:

Kedron V Golf

Thats like comparing a Holden Commodore to a Hummer.

You need to make comparisons with the same type of van and manufacturing ethos.

We're looking at a off roader. Those that made the list are

Kedron XC
Sunland Longreach
Bustracker
Trakmaster

All are customed to meet your needs as opposed the off roaders that are cheaper and come out of caravan sausage factory.

Those that are out:

Jayco
Coromal
Golf
Supreme
Franklin

Reply 9 of 10

AnswerID: 292500 Submitted: Thursday, Mar 13, 2008 at 13:12

wendys replied:

Have had a Trakmaster (14'x6'6") for 10 years. It was made to our specs and has been towed 100,000 - about a third of that off bitumen. We tow with a Landrover Defender and get about 8km to a litre when towing. If you are serious about getting into remote and tough places with a van, the key factor is to keep the van size small, so the van can be manoevred around tight corners, through steep dips, towed through sand etc .

Reply 10 of 10

FollowupID: 557910 Submitted: Thursday, Mar 13, 2008 at 13:28

Member -Dodger posted:

Wendy's
you have hit the nail right on the head.
If you are really going to go off road then keep the van as small as you can manage to live in. I have a Regal 16ft off roader with a duck tail see members pic below and do take it off road. Even at this length it is often a tight squeeze going down some tracks and at 1.8t loaded works the Nissan real hard in sand.
Then if you are only interested in going on gravel roads many makes have a strengthened up model for this type of travel.
As in buying vehicles it is always conditioned by the hip pocket nerve. Also as previously said buy a vehicle that can easily tow your van with a large margin in reserve power & weight wise. Or purchase a van to suit your vehicle.