macca replied:

You guys certainly like to put the cat amongst the pidgeons dont you lol

Member - Wherethehellawi replied:

geeez i was wondering what you were really on about with "getting it up and keeping it up"

I must learn to keep my mind above my navel

Mrs Al, I have always used this pic ...I tried uploading one of my navigator but it didnt work!!Wow! am I cute
If yer ain't fishing, Yer ain't livin
Richard

Member - Rohan K replied:

Lyn, we're campertrailer folk. We decided to go that way for the additional, easily errected undercover living space - pretty important with 2 active youngsters 9 & 10. We chose a CT over a van because of the off-road ability. We're not hard-core four-wheelers but do like to get amongst the rugged stuff. We went for a soft floor version for flexibility (pun not intended) and space - the hard floor ones are limited by the size of the trailer and we hired and tried one before deciding.

We also have tents for those occassions we want to go to places or particular campsites that do not accomodate trailer/van based camping, or for desert trips.

We love the choice we made and find it very comfortable. The living space is fabulous, particularly when the weather turns foul.

There are some shots of the thing at

our web siteSmile, you're on ExplorOz
Rohan (Sydney - on the QLD side of the Harbour Bridge)

Member - Wherethehellawi replied:

I have a camper trailer, fold off the side type...could'nt be happy!
Has an annexe which a must.

easy to erect and make camp.

Packing up in the wet is always a pain.Wow! am I cute
If yer ain't fishing, Yer ain't livin
Richard

cruiser replied:

Hi all,

We are on our second camper trailer. The first was a soft floor but have now opted for a hard floor. We don't have to worry about kids (grown up) so the extra space of the soft floor is now not important to us. The hard floor is more ideal to our use and can be opened within 1 minute of arriving wherever.

Another benefit we have found with the hard floor as opposed to the soft floor is that we can pull into a national park camping area or a roadside rest area for an overnight stay and if they have the bollards up to stop you driving onto the grassed area (which a lot do these days) we can just unfold onto the gravel areas and stay the night without having to disconnect, however with the soft floor, that is not an option because you have to peg out.

I guess it comes down to each persons circumstances, how many they are trying to cater to and how much they can afford or justify. if it suits you then thats the only thing that matters.

Member - Russell replied:

Mrs Al,
We used a pole-in-the-centre southern cross tent on our last Central Australia trip, and it was OK, but you were at the mercy of the terrain - wet, uneven etc. Once we stopped (at Rainbow Valley) and put the tent in what looked like a nice location, only to discover myriads of those mongrel four-pointed burs - we used to call them goat-heads as kids. the uppermost spike went straight through the floor - most untidy but what could I do - if I moved the tent I'd just get more. So I went around with nail clippers and chopped the spikes off! :-) After that trip, we were on the lookout for a camper trailer with a hard floor, and ended up with the Aussie Swag - kitchen, water, fridge and relatively independent of terrain and prickles! Kids room goes on one side, annex on the other, even shower room off the end!
The trouble with a camper trailer is that you have to think hard about whether you want to drag it across 1100 sandhills in the Simpson, so sometimes a tent or swags are better. I saw someone the other week with an extended Southern Cross tent - still the single pole, but with another oz-tent type square frame that turns the tent into a 12x8/12x9 - still easy to put up but more usable space. I fancy the swag idea for a night or three where you can't take the trailer, but not much space for gettin' ya gear off and on in private... Still working the problem out.....Russell S
Prado RV6

Rhubarb replied:

We much prefer the double swag. In a temperate climate it takes 30 secs to set up - just unroll and jump in. Same to pack up - get out and roll it up! Easy!

If its wet or your camping in the one spot for a few nights you have the option of putting it up like a little tunnel tent.

There's nothing like sleeping on a matress and beneath a donor in a 1000 star hotel wherever you go.

Member - Melissa replied:

Lyn,

We are a family of 2 adults, a 2 yr old and another on the way. We're onto our 2nd campertrailer...a hard floor off-road trailer with a double and 2 single beds and central "living" space all off the ground.
Camprite Campers

We are extremely happy with this set-up as it is easy to set-up and pull-down, very comfortable and everything is easy and convenient to store and access. Basically, it is by far the easiest camping we've ever had. Prior to this we had a soft floor offroad campertrailer which was great for 2 adults but not so suitable for a growing family.

Prior to going into campertrailers, we camped with a 4 man dome tent (recommend them to anyone), and previously 2 canvas 4 man pyramid style tents non-centre pole type. Loved our tent camping but let's face it, it was a drag camping in wet weather or trying to find a flat, non-stony patch of ground. With out current camper so what if it rains and because we're all off the ground, we've camped on granite outcrops and gibber plains in max comfort.

Incidentally, we kept our dome tent for those trips where we can't/don't want to tow the trailer but in nearly 6 years, we haven't had to use it. Towing the trailer for us isn't a drag because although we like to get away from it all and out bush, we aren't hard core 4wdrivers. Our off-roading is simply a means to an end (ie. accessing some great camping and places of interest).

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper

The Moose replied:

Hi Lyn
We've been tenters for many years. Have two kids (12 & 14) who still enjoy camping and touring. Last couple of tents have been cabin types (9 x 9). Whilst they have a few more poles that the Southern Cross types the lack of a centre pole inside leaves more useable space.
Cost was the influencing factor at the time. Also didn't fancy towing on long holidays.
Have travelled with friends who have campers and the set up time is much the same, especially if the camper has an awning to put up. Now that the kids actually help with the setting up it's very quick. Tent and sleeping gear travel on a roof rack. Poles in the back of Cruiser.
Would I go to the geriatrics camping style - maybe when we're a bit older. For now a tent is fine for us. Camper trailers are becoming very popular - in the 4WD club we're in they are everywhere.
About the only time I find a tent a pain is when one strikes a few days of bad weather. Even if using a tarp to keep the tent dry there's still the hassle of having something wet to pack away. But I guess that applies to camper trailers as well.
Cheers

Luke replied:

Hi,

I have the Southern Cross Ultimate Deluxe 12'6"x9' tent - and it's nothing short of brilliant.

We've never tried the camper trailer/van option, mostly because I've never been keen on towing stuff around.

The Southern Cross Ultimate Deluxe is awesome. Goes up (completely) in well under five minutes with one person. It stays dry inside even in torrential rains, is very stable in strong winds, and amazingly warm in cold weather. The extended back provides lots more standing room, and we have the front awning that zips onto the front of the tent for extended stays.

I won't compare it to a camper/trailer/van, because they are a different kettle of fish, but it's vastly superior to every one of the many different styles of tent I've owned in the past.

The Southern Cross tents aren't cheap - but after years of buying chep tents, I've finally accepted that I'm better off spending the extra dough and buying the best :-)

It's likely that my tent will still be in use twenty years from now, so considering it's excellent lifespan, it really represents very good value.

Cheers,

Luke.

AndrewK replied:

Hi guys

For us and the 4 kids (9,7,5,4) we decided on a jayco finch outback camper trailer.

With a family of 6 I needed to tow a trailer for all the stuff, so why not the whole accommodation, box and dice.

Last year we did on overnight trip using tents (+ an extra kid) all packed in the car, wouldn't want to do that to often.

Next year we're off on a 5 month north Aus trip. Will take the tents (haven't worked out how I'm going to deal with food, fridge etc when tenting) so we can see Mitchell Plateau and anything else we baulk at with taking the camper on.

My view now, even if I only had 2 kids I would still have a camper. But always include the tents for those real out of the way places

Regards
Andrew

Martin replied:

To cater for all conditions I have a caravan and a centre pole tent. The caravan is used for all hard top travel and the tent for all off road trips. In my opinion you can't go 4 wheel driving in the true sense with a trailer behind. It is environmentally unacceptable and sometimes physically impossible. If you want to just go on rough roads such as the Oodnadatta Track, Birdsville Track etc then an off road trailer is OK but if you're like me and want some real challenges you leave the caravan at home and head off with a good tent. Centre poles are the only way to go for ease of erection and strength. I have a Southern Cross. I really think there's just no two ways about it and anyone who uses my combination (and many do) will agree with me. Check out the really top off road destinations and you'll see no domes, oz tents or trailers!

Martin replied:

To cater for all conditions I have a caravan and a centre pole tent. The caravan is used for all hard top travel and the tent for all off road trips. In my opinion you can't go 4 wheel driving in the true sense with a trailer behind. It is environmentally unacceptable and sometimes physically impossible. If you want to just go on rough roads such as the Oodnadatta Track, Birdsville Track etc then an off road trailer is OK but if you're like me and want some real challenges you leave the caravan at home and head off with a good tent. Centre poles are the only way to go for ease of erection and strength. I have a Southern Cross. I really think there's just no two ways about it and anyone who uses my combination (and many do) will agree with me. Check out the really top off road destinations and you'll see no domes, oz tents or trailers!

Martin replied:

To cater for all conditions I have a caravan and a centre pole tent. The caravan is used for all hard top travel and the tent for all off road trips. In my opinion you can't go 4 wheel driving in the true sense with a trailer behind. It is environmentally unacceptable and sometimes physically impossible. If you want to just go on rough roads such as the Oodnadatta Track, Birdsville Track etc then an off road trailer is OK but if you're like me and want some real challenges you leave the caravan at home and head off with a good tent. Centre poles are the only way to go for ease of erection and strength. I have a Southern Cross. I really think there's just no two ways about it and anyone who uses my combination (and many do) will agree with me. Check out the really top off road destinations and you'll see no domes, oz tents or trailers!

macca replied:

WE have a southern Cross "Bus" Tent with a centre pole and also side poles if you find the need for a snuggle.The reason they call them "Bus tents" is they were specifically designed for the tourist bus industry with all these frantic tours into the outback. see them all at Ularu Kings canyon. We also have a heaslip Camper Trailer and a 20 foot full van. We always take our camping gear when we are in the Van as you just dont know when you might want to head off into somewhere where the van wont go.

Member - Al Symers (SA) replied:

Dear Mrs Al,
Couldn't let your post go past without some comment.
our current camping erection you have already seen but prior to that one , had a Freedom centre pole tent. It was really easy to use.
Step 1 Find a flat spot on ground
Step 2 Lay out ground sheet Shade cloth is good to use
Step 3 Drive in peg at each corner
Step 4 Undo zip and enter with pole in hand
Step 5 Put pointy end of pole in hole at top of tent
Step 6 Erect tent
I recommend the centre pole type for you as you would need something rigid between you and Al
You can get a side pole set up too.
As for the bedding arrangements, that could be another postAl Symers

diamond (bendigo) replied:

gday al and mrs al
we used to have a 6 person tent 3 bigger kids up one end 9/12/13.
and me mrs diamond and little diamond up the other end.
then we got hold of 6 berth camper and tried that out for a while they call them 6 berth but try getting eveyone comfy in it.
next came lets pack the 6 person tent in the camper and the bigger kids(12-13) can sleep in the tent.that didnt work they just fight over whos end is who ect/ect/ect.
so we bought the bigger kids(12-13) there own 2 person tent each.now that worked untill number three(9) wanted her own tent.so now all the bigger kids have there own 2 person tent and we have the camper to our selfs except little diamond still sleeps with mrs diamond.
then when we were going to avoca the other week we couldnt be bothered packing the 6 person tent for just me mrs diamond and little diamond so we bought a big 2 person tent to sleep in..
hope that didnt confuse you as much as it did me lol
—~‘¬‘¥•s’B

Member -BJ (Sydney) replied:

As others did tent thing first trip for wife high country january 01 3 days rain & snow needless to say wife refused to go again. So now we have a Kimberly Kamper hard floor ( no kids as our daughters idea of ruffing it is 3 stars) took it to the gulf in july & guess what, the wife didn't want to come home easy to put up & pack up , kitchen , water on hand plus plenty of storage . It's perfect for us.

Regards Bob
Where to next

Slammin replied:

Hi Mrs Al, I like to keep it comfortable and simple, so we use swags, you don't have to make your bed just roll it up and you can sleep in a rocky creek within reason of course and not have any prob's. If the insects are around or the weather is off, we use a 4 man dome tent. Unless it is raining its easier to use than a centre pole because you don't have to use pegs, getting pegs into rocky ground is a nightmare. Just clip in the two poles and it's up. Dome tents are also at least 1/4 the size of centre pole tents.
We have a young fella now 18mths and he's getting a bit restless in my swag so we are going to upgrade to 3 swags and a 6 person tent.
I love the idea of rooftops and camper trailers/vans etc but there is a lot of hassle about the right place, angle, towing, parking etc etc and in the end from mates experience another option to sink money into. Try find an easy parking spot on a busy Sat morning close to the shops so you can restock on your way.
So IMHO it is best to KISS if you want to have a good nights sleep.
LOL Slammin