Issuu

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Best of British!

OCTOBER 2017

Either side of the Tasman AutoTrail is one of the best…

Win!

$50 for the! best letter

Technical

Fuel cells explained

Travel

Relocation! Relocation! Relocation!

The Cruisinator by Bonetti Campers…

Review

Focus Adventura eBike

2 | About iMotorhome

iMotorhome Magazine is published monthly and available by free subscription from www.imotorhome.com.au. Your letters and contributions are always welcome! Facebook “f ” Logo

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Contributors

Published by iMotorhome Pty Ltd

Emily Barker, Sharon Hollamby and Allan Whiting

PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW 2776. Australia. ACN: 618 197 694

Design and Production Design & Production Manager

T: +614 14 604 368

Agnes Nielsen

E: info@imotorhome.com.au

E: agnes@imotorhome.com.au

W: www.imotorhome.com.au Editorial Publisher/Managing Editor Richard Robertson T: 0414 604 368 E: richard@imotorhome.com.au Roadtest Editor Malcolm Street T: 0418 256 126 E: malcolm@imotorhome.com.au

Legal All content of iMotorhome Magazine and website is copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content, however no responsibility is accepted for any inconvenience and/or loss arising from reading and/or acting upon information contained within iMotorhome eMagazine or the iMotorhome website.

4 | On my mind

Working the System The world is full of loyalty programs, some worthwhile and others of dubious value. It seems every company has a membership card to attract and retain your business and like you, I suspect, I tire of them. I have, however, nailed my colours to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and several of its associates, because I find them valuable. If you’re bewildered by loyalty programs and think them a waste of time, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Moreover, if you’re retired and not using them you’re not making the most of your limited spending power. Let me explain. Although many people prefer cash and debit cards, credit cards are an invaluable tool when used responsibly. Because of this business and the travel I do, I use several credit cards that give Qantas Frequent Flyer points. I do, however, make sure to pay the cards in-full by the due date to avoid interest. Many credit cards have sign-on bonuses – usually 50,000 - 100,000 points – that you can convert to frequent flyer points and these go a long way to getting you going. For example, with Qantas 50,000 points is good for 3 return economy fares between Sydney and Melbourne or Sydney and Brisbane. The real power of such programs comes from combining credit cards with special offers, and here’s a real world example. Qantas has an online business called Qantas EpiQure. Think of it as an upmarket bottle-shopcum-gourmet-deli. For the most part it’s cheaper to buy wine at Dan Murphy’s or the like, but each month Qantas EpiQure has specials that attract up to 10,000 bonus points (usually for a dozen bottles in the $25-40 per bottle range). However, just before then end of last financial year a special briefly appeared with 15,000 points per dozen and quickly doing ‘the math’ I ordered 12 dozen at $360 per dozen. That was 144 bottles of very nice wine for a total of $4320, on an American Express card that gave 1.5 points per dollar spent. We normally spend $300-$400 a month on wine, and I reasoned I was simply ‘forward purchasing’ the best part of a year’s supply. When the dust settled

I had 199,440 Qantas Frequent Flyer points; comprising 180,000 from the bonus offer, 12,960 from Qantas EpiQure (3 points per dollar) and 6480 from American Express (1.5 points per dollar). What could almost 200,000 points buy? A single Qantas return business class ticket from Sydney to Dallas, worth $7500-$11,000 depending on the time of year, or a pair of return Qantas business class tickets from Sydney to Hong Kong, worth at least $7500. Not bad for $4320, and that’s not counting the ‘bonus’ of 144 bottles of good red… And that’s how I came to take Mrs iM to Christchurch last week for her birthday, first class on an Emirates A380 on the way over and in business class on the way back! Although worth less than the examples above we’re still miles ahead (and have 20,000 of those points left over), plus when we got home we opened a good bottle of red to celebrate. They say to work smarter, not harder. Working the system is one way you can do it and while it might not always work out as spectacularly as this, there are plenty of smaller, special wins out there to be had. A good place to start for travel is subscribing to a free email newsletter called Points Hack, which you can find here. You’ll also find Qantas Frequent Flyer here and Qantas EpiQure here Enjoy!

Richard

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6 | Contents

On my Mind

On Your Mind

Tested: Auto-Trail Delaware Hi-Line

Tested: Bonetti Campers’ Cruisinator

Project Polly

Technical: Fuel Cells Explained

Travel

Event

Advertisers’ Index

Working the system…

Share your thoughts for the chance to win $50!

Street View Times are a changin’

News What’s happening in the wider RV world and beyond

Best of British – Either side of the Tasman Auto-Trail is one of the best…

Super Trooper – An affordable LandCruiser Troop Carrier conversion

FreshTec Thinking – Duvalay’s cool new mattress

There’s room for fuel cells in a post-oil future

Relocation! Relocation! Relocation!

Sydney’s M7 bike track

Hunter Elvis Festival!

An A to Z of who’s in this issue!

Travel

MobileTech

100

Next Issue

Pack you dancing shoes!

Three more RV Friendly Towns

HotDoc medical app

What’s coming up and which shows are on soon!

8 | Street View

Times are a changin’ and campervan conversions. Even today there are still a few lurking around and still on the road, carefully preserved by their owners. Another sight that’s common on NZ roads during the same time period and even up to a decade ago was the ubiquitous house truck. That is, a truck on which something like a small house, usually wooden, was built, often complete with steps, doors and windows all made in the same style. In this part of the world they are and were a somewhat unique feature of New Zealand, being considerably less common in Australia.

Haera mai! For people in Australia in the late 70s and 80s, New Zealand was something of a Mecca for those who liked British cars, circa 1950/1960. Indeed some, like the Riley Elf/Wolseley Hornet, were never seen in Australia at all. Given the Kiwi penchant for keeping things running longer than most, it wasn’t until the arrival of second hand Japanese cars en masse that British cars really disappeared. A substantial number were then stored in old garages and the like, staying there until becoming the “barn finds” of today. I can tell you where in a certain Canterbury Plains township there are a couple of well preserved Ford Zephyrs if you are interested… The same applied to vans and trucks. So for someone like yours truly, with more than a passing interest in Bedford TK trucks and CF vans, as well as ERF lorries, NZ was a great place for touring, camera at the ready. Some of those TKs and CFs eventually became motorhomes and campervans. One of the best TK conversions I ever saw was at Waipu Cove, Northland, and started life as a 4WD bus – used on ski mountain roads and similar – before the owner did the amazing conversion. Similarly, Bedford CFs were often used as the basis for both motorhome

One of the best I ever saw was in a carpark somewhere in the Bay of Islands. It really wasn’t a motorhome at all but a fifth-wheeler, and quite a large one at that. The owner had built it for his family and had incorporated two separate bedrooms for his daughters, complete with their own Harry Potterlike stairways. Even now I don’t quite know how the builder imaginatively fitted everything in because in Dr Who parlance, it was very Tardis like! Like old British cars and Bedford TKs and CFs, house trucks are considerably rarer these days and seeing one on the road is much more unusual. When I started in the RV journo business nearly 20 years ago, owner built motorhomes (whatever the style) were not unusual. Indeed, walking around a club rally/muster, they were quite common and I would often feature them in the magazine I worked for at the time. These days, commercially built motorhomes have very much taken over for a variety of reasons including compliance and/or a lack of time or the necessary skills. I’m not sure if that shows my age but I think we are the poorer for it.ere ra, Keep on motorhoming! Haere ra,

Malcolm

10 | On your mind

WIN $50 FOR THE BEST LETTER! It’s only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind, you should be able to have yours too. letters@imotorhome.com.au and we’ll If you have anything to say – or ask – just drop a line to share it with our readers. We’ll also reward the most interesting, useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way.

Problem Licked! You might think this contribution just a tongue in cheek idea, but it is much more than that – it’s tongue on plate! Last year I attended the Bathurst CMCA rally, at which we all had to empty our grey water into big plastic communal tanks rather than let it out on the grass or down a drain. When I took the cap off the plastic tank to pour my grey water in, my head spun from the pong. I realised then that the food particles that gurgle down the kitchen drains in motorhomes must ferment and it occurred to me that anything I could do to prevent this from happening would be worthwhile.

I licked my plate clean after a delicious meal on the Safari that followed the CMCA rally last year, and was spotted by the waitress who thought it was a huge joke. Then she realised that it was a compliment to the chef and headed off to tell him. You can’t imagine the effort I have to apply to restrain myself in public after I finish a tasty juicy meal at a restaurant. At least I can indulge my plate clean-up routine after every meal in my own little Polly!

Linking that revelation to my aversion to waste and love of food (my own cooking in particular), and you have an inkling of what I am about to recommend to your readers: At the end of every meal, I now lick my plate. This leaves my breakfast, lunch, and dinner plates licked clean of all the delicious residues and makes washing up so much easier. It also leaves the dinner plate clean, ready for dessert, thus reducing the number of plates needed, and the amount of washing up to be done.

Well Di it certainly sounds like you’ve got that problem licked! Thanks for sharing; just remember not to bite the plate if the meal is particularly delicious. I’m awarding you this issue’s $50 prize for a simple solution to what is not just an odour issue, but a pollution problem. Anything that can reduce grey water contamination when its released is worthwhile, even if some people might find the solution – hard to swallow…

Best regards, Di.

12 | On your mind

Big Adventure Well, what a saga the last few months have been. Last time I was in contact our Winnebago was about to go up for sale. I put it on Caravan and Camping Sales and although cheaper and with more features than three others it failed to generate much interest. I parked it on the street around the corner, which generated a lot of enquiries but no cigar. We were about to head off to Japan and had arranged storage, as we cannot use until a big trip to Darwin/North West WA next June, when a newsletter from my insurer CIL came through with an article on renting out your motorhome. I think you had a similar article a few months back however I did not read as at that time Winnie up for sale. Well low and behold I have 10 firm bookings and 3 awaiting confirmation! All up it should generate around $10,000 of bookings for my unit that otherwise would have been sitting in a paddock. The organisation is called Camptoo and has been operating in Europe for the last few years, so the system has been fine tuned and runs like

clockwork. The MD is Swiss, which helps. They generate the enquiries, vet applicants, handle all the paperwork and all the money matters. I could not be happier. On another matter the Government has handballed the decision on import of motor vehicles from UK and Japan. I think we should call them the procrastinators rather than a government. Like many I considered Malcolm Turnbull the smartest kid on the block, however self interest and preservation seems to be the order of the day. Regards, Tim. Well, that sounds like quite an adventure Tim. Interesting about Camptoo, especially as your insurer let you know about it. Let me know how it actually works out as I have a vague unease about letting someone else drive ‘my baby’. Re importing a vehicle, yes, our Federal Government is very disappointing, but isn’t politics always about self-interest and preservation?

Mind the Gap… Thank you for an informative magazine. You mentioned a small gap at bottom edge of the new side-door insect screen on Project Polly and asked for ideas to seal it. Perhaps try some ‘fridge door seal magnet strip’ in the bottom hem of the screen. This magnet strip may grip to the metal doorstep of the vehicle. If not, add a strip of ferritic stainless steel or well painted steel on the doorstep. If door seal magnets are not strong enough in windy conditions, try some eBay “Super strong rare earth Neodymium magnets”. However, too many strong magnets make it

harder to push open the screen. I have used fridge magnet strips for years on my own minimotorhome – a Subaru Forester – to help retain screening around windows and hatch. Regards. Rob. Thanks for the suggestions Rob, very interesting. I’ll have a close look at the potential contact areas and decide which way to go from there. You must send me some photos of your Forester – I’m thinking it would indeed be a mini-motorhome!

14 | On my mind

Thuling Along… I enjoyed reading the ebike article in the September issue. We own two and having recently acquired a VW Trakkadu AT, have fitted a Thule Velospace 918 bike rack to the rear. It comes with a simple ramp which enables one to roll the ebikes up onto the rack, which lies in the same plane as a rear bumper bar. This helps, given the extra 8 kilos each of these bikes weigh typically. Various clamps lock the bikes securely on to the rack and there are locks to lock both the bikes and the rack itself using a common key. As a side note, the Velospace Rack mounts on the tow ball that in turn is mounted on a tow hitch that forms part of the tow bar. It is critical that the tow ball must be brand new and free of grease to avoid the rack pitching from side to side. The tow hitch also had to be 20 cm in length to enable us to lean the bikes away from the Trakkadu rear door when we wanted to open it (see attached photos) .We have bought a cover to keep the bikes clean as well.

We have just come back from the Central Coast where we enjoyed riding on the lovely cycleways there. The Thule Velospace Bike Rack worked perfectly. We are also looking forward to taking our ebikes down to Victoria to ride them on their extensive system of rail trails. Cheers, Chris. Glad you enjoyed the eBike article Chris. Thanks for sharing your experience with the Trakkadu and Thule rack – very interesting. I’ve looked at the Australian designed and made GripSport racks from Victoria for Polly as they have a Hi-Ride model, which also can tilt, that would hopefully overcome her long rear overhang problem. You’ll have a terrific time in Victoria and the rail trail that starts in Mansfield is a gem. We’ve ridden it several times and I’m can’t wait to return.

On my mind | 15

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16 | On your mind

Food for Thought? Greetings from the UK. Having just completed our circumnavigation of the beautiful Anglesey coastal footpath (130 miles/210 km), we spent the day and evening sampling the delights of Beaumaris, ending up in the one and only (excellent) curry shed. Back tucked up in the motorhome I had the first indications that we were going to be in for a windy night (why is it that only men seem to be affected by this?). Things gradually got worse and when dawn came I had to reluctantly shut the blind on the Heki hatch above the bed. Shortly after it must’ve reached critical mass inside the habitation area and the gas alarm – at the opposite end of the motorhome! – decided to go off, nearly waking up the whole of Beaumaris! I jumped up sharpish to reset the alarm but it was too late, the ruckus had woken up the missus. With my ears still ringing (from Mrs P not the alarm), it got me thinking about some of the more closely related issues of curries and camping: 1: I think I have proved that the ventilation rates from Heki hatches must be dramatically impaired when

the blind is across. 2: Should the alarms be sensitive to methane? 3: Why are bloke’s metabolisms different to women’s? 4: Should the eating of curry be outlawed in motorhomes camping in public spaces? 5: Can the bog standard (pun intended) SOG unit be adapted to connect directly to the bed? Great mag – keep up the good work! Ian. Thanks for a good laugh Ian and, by Heki, raising interesting questions. What is it with motorhomes and curry? In fact, what is it with travel and spicy food? Almost without fail, the night before we go away Mrs iM cooks up an outrageous curry, which we then spend the next day ‘sharing’. I’ve got to say we’ve never set off an alarm though! Excellent points, which I’ll share with our readers next issue and ask for suggestions, perhaps starting with an SOG-to-bedroom re-plumb. Oh, and commiserations to Mrs P…

What Appened? My wife and I owned a number of VW campervans in our younger days, traveling to surf spots ‘up the coast’. With our children now grown up we are hoping to rekindle those youthful activities with the purchase of a motorhome from Campervans Australia at Albion Park – a Mercedes ex-ambulance that will be fitted out later this month. In the meantime I have discovered your magazine, reading up on all things relating to our new motorhome investment (more than we paid for our house!). Are you aware that the iMotorhome app is currently not functioning? I thought I would catch up on some iMotorhome News while traveling this past month, but have had to go back to the website to download past copies, as the app

appears to be broken. Otherwise, great content and I enjoy all the articles. Hope that we may even be able to make a contribution in the future, once we get our show on the road. Regards, Warren. Warren, thanks for your email and glad you found us (and that you like what we’re doing). Also good to hear that you’re getting back on the road. I had a ’74 Kombi camper back in ‘the day’ and sorely wish I still had it! Sadly, the iMotorhome app was discontinued some time ago as it didn’t deliver content the way I’d hoped. Please send me some pics of your motorhome and a story if you like as I’d love to have a look at what the conversion entails. Safe travels!

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18 | News

SUNLINER’S NEW NZ DEALER

Motorhome welcomes the newest member of the Sunliner network, Road Life RV, in Tauranga on the beautiful Bay of Plenty on New Zealand’s North Island. Rhys and Michele Hunter, born-and-bred locals, are the owneroperators and say they are looking forward to helping locals and visitors alike achieve their RV dreams. Rhys’ background in the marine and recreational vehicle industries began 15 years ago, selling and servicing outboard motors

from premises in Te Puna and later, Sulphur Point. He has also managed an RV dealership and knows the importance customers place on the freedom, safety and enjoyment a motorhome can provide. Meanwhile, Michele has been a journalist and chief reporter at the Bay of Plenty Times newspaper for the most of the last 10 years. Everyone is invited to pay a visit to their new showroom to inspect the Sunliner RV range.

News | 19

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20 | News

JULIA CREEK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

ueensland’s McKinlay Shire Council is looking for volunteers to help run its RVfriendly site next year. The Julia Creek free camping area is for self-contained vehicles only and is a popular stopover for visitors with its creek frontage and short walking trail into town. Successful applicants will help ensure vehicle compliance, fill out permits and provide basic local information to visitors. “Training is provided and there are numerous benefits,” a Council spokesperson said. For more information, contact Jo-anne Butler on (07) 47467690 or jo-anne.butler@mckinlay.qld.gov.au

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22 | News

TRANS TASMAN VEHICLE SHIPPING

ranz Vanz, a company based in Queensland and with a sister company in New Zealand, says it is all about providing top class processes and services for shipping motorhomes and other recreational vehicles across the Tasman. The business is owned by Kiwis Peter and Mary-Anne Oâ€™Malley, who are now based on Bribie Island. Both are said to have long experience in the freight business, having held senior management roles in international freight forwarding companies since 1988.

a range of equipment, including motorhomes, both ways across the Tasman. Having sold this business and at the same time become motorhomers themselves, theyâ€™ve now turned their attention to establishing TRANZ VANZ. In the process they have developed a 44 step-by-step process to ensure trouble free vehicle relocation. To find out more visit their website here, email enquiries@tranzvanz.com or call Peter on 0061 403 199 555 or MaryAnne on 0061 403 199 799.

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24 | News

SMARTRV’S OKTOBERFEST MOTORHOME EXPO

n New Zealand, SmartRV’s Oktoberfest Motorhome Expo is said to have grown to become a must-do on the calendar of any motor-caravanner keen to see the latest European vehicles on display in a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere. This year, three new models will provide an even more compelling reason to make this a red-letter day. First up is the innovative Bürstner Lyseo IT590. Lyseo was recently recognised at the prestigious 2017 European Innovation Awards, where the T744 model took top honours in the floor plan category. Next, visitors will be among the first to see the compact and “incredibly functional” Carado T348, which showcases uncompromising European comfort at an

affordable cost. Last, but certainly not least, is the highly-anticipated Bürstner Elegance i920G. SmartRV says owners can relax in the spacious and elegant interior and imagine themselves enjoying the epitome of style and class while travelling in this eye-catching fullyintegrated motorhome. Make a note of the date and enjoy traditional German hospitality, special promotions and hands-on demonstrations while viewing these exciting new motorhomes, plus many more. The SmartRV Oktoberfest Motorhome Expo is on Saturday, 14 October from 9 am to 2 pm at 11 Pavilion Drive near Auckland Airport. For more information click here or call 0800 005 312.

News | 25

LUNCHBOX COOKER WARNING

new warning has been issued about more potentially dangerous ‘lunchbox’ gas cookers. Queensland Natural Resources and Mines Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham, has urged people to return or safely dispose of Active & Co and Jackeroo brand portable single burner butane stoves sold at Kmart between December 2015 and April this year. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has recalled the stoves because of gas leaks. “People have been injured in two incidents in Western Australia and Victoria because of gas leaks from these devices,” Dr Lynham said. “The recalled products have a model number

PL-222 and a certification number GMK10262. If you have one you should stop using it immediately and return the product to any Kmart store for a full refund, or dispose of the appliance responsibly.”

26 | News

VICTORIAN DIRT ROAD SPEED LIMIT?

trial of a 70 km/h speed limit for unsealed country roads is being examined by the Andrews Government after the idea was floated by Victoria’s top traffic policeman. Speaking at the opening of a new state-of-theart road policing hub in Melbourne’s southeast, Police Minister Lisa Neville said it would examine the option after a plea for change last

week from Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer. “The ministerial council has certainly backed up looking at some of our unsealed country roads and we’ll be looking at doing a bit of a trial around that to see if it makes a difference,” she said. “This often elicits huge debate in our community but so did drink-driving rules, seat belts and speed limits in the first place. We’ve got to continue to focus on saving lives. We’re currently working with a particular region with councils who are supportive of the idea. This is not just about Melbournians dying on country roads; this is country people dying on country roads and we want them to come to the solutions with us”.

KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOLIDAY PARK UPDATE

he Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park, on the NSW/Queensland border, is set to reopen on 13 April, much earlier than the previously forecast mid-2018 opening. Its redevelopment is part of the $21.2 million Kingscliff Foreshore Revitalisation project to enhance and protect the foreshore, which includes the construction of a permanent sea wall, a major redevelopment of Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park and the creation of Kingscliff ‘Central Park’. “The redevelopment is coming along really well and we are currently ahead of schedule” says Andrew Illingworth, Tweed Coast Holiday Parks unit coordinator. “We have received so many

enquiries asking when the park will reopen so it’s really exciting to be able to finally announce a date, and a much earlier date than was initially forecast”. The redeveloped facility will provide holiday makers with modern accommodation and facilities in a beautiful beachfront setting in the heart of Kingscliff. Local businesses will benefit from visitors staying and spending in the area and the new Kingscliff ‘Central Park’ will provide a space for locals and holiday makers to come together.

News | 27

AUSTRALIA FAILING FREEDOM CAMPERS

ccording to a report by Dr Rod Caldicott from the Southern Cross University’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Australia is failing to meet the needs of freedom campers. The former Richmond Valley Council tourism and promotions officer says research for his doctorate delved, “Headlong into the murky swamp of freedom camping”. Dr Caldicott warned that caravan parks were being sold off for redevelopment at a time when more and more recreational vehicles were being manufactured. He also said regulators weren’t keeping pace with the new breed of traveller who didn’t need powered sites or other facilities Despite freedom camping being practiced for hundreds of years, authorities began regulating

camping when caravan parks emerged in the 1930s and 40s, he said. “Freedom camping is a practice whereby domestic or international travellers occupy by deliberate choice a recreational vehicle as a mode of accommodation in an open space that is not bound by market-based commercial norms and camping and/or caravan parkbased regulations.” Dr Caldicott believes the development of caravanning in Australia is at an interesting crossroads in its evolutionary cycle. His thesis encourages freedom campers, commercial operators and communities to collectively lobby government representatives in the hope they would respond to, “Well thought out and united proposals”.

28 | News

NEW TASMANIAN CAMPERVAN RENTALS LAUNCH

ndustry veteran Ken Upchurch has launched a new company, Campervan Rental Company LeisureRent Pty Ltd, in Tasmania. He said continued growth in tourism has given him the confidence to establish this niche product offering. After 30 years working in the Tasmanian vehicle rental industry I felt the timing was right to

launch my own, specialised rental companyâ€?. Ken plans to invest $1m over the next few years in a fleet of current model automatic Toyota Hi-Ace Campervans. LeisureRent offers rentals from and to Hobart, Launceston and Devonport and bookings can be made from the launch date of 6 November via its website.

News | 29

APOLLO AGM

pollo Tourism and Leisure will hold its annual general meeting on October 25, when shareholders will receive the company’s financial statements and reports for the financial year ended June 30. The meeting will be held at Morgans, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane at 11 am. Apollo returned an after-tax net profit of $8.6 million from $177 million in revenue during the last financial year – 39 per

The Duvalay Memory Foam Sleeping System – No lifting, no tucking, no fighting over the doona and bedding that stays put. Find out why it’s Europe’s bedding of choice for caravans & motorhomes. The premium grade memory foam ensures total comfort and the award winning design cover means your bed is made in seconds.

duvalay.com.au | (02) 6653 4640

cent more than forecast. Statutory earnings were 16 per cent higher at $15.8 million. The company, founded in a humble backyard shed in Brisbane in 1985, now has operations in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US and has the license to use the Winnebago brand name in Australia and New Zealand.

Southern Highlands Service Centre • • • • • •

More Versatile Than Any Other RV Camp Anywhere - It’s Self Contained Large Bathroom With Shower & Toilet Easy To Operate With Electric Jacks Models For Single, Extra & Dual Cabs Plus! Famous Ozcape Quality & Support

An Authorised Repco Service Centre just off the Hume Highway at Mittagong. Auto electrical and mechanical service specialists happy to look after your motorhome or campervan! Call Mark or Sharon and tell them iMotorhome sent you!

T: (02) 4872 2822 E: mwauto@hinet.net.au

Find back issues and more handy resources on our web page.

30 | iMotorhome Marketplace

Battery Traders Super Store

Airbag Man

Taronga Western Plains Zoo

We design and manufacture air suspension kits for all types of vehicles including motorhomes. Easy to install they let you ‘level up’ for stability and safety.

Batteries, solar panels, inverters, alternators and all electrical parts including cables and switches for your motorhome! We can find and fix all electrical faults and are 12 V power specialists.

Visit our world famous 300 ha open range sanctuary, home to some of the most exotic and endangered animals on earth. Explore by foot, bike, electric cart or in your motorhome!

T: 1800 AIRBAG W: airbagman.com.au

T: (07) 3209 3144 W: batterytraders.com.au

T: (02) 6881 1400 W: taronga.org.au

iTech World

Wellington Shire

Australia’s leading solar power and satellite TV manufacturers! We stock the revolutionary In Flex and Mini Flex panels, Plus our Complete Traveller Satellite TV package is perfect for motorhomes.

In the heart of Victoria’s Gippsland region. Come and enjoy our natural beauty, famous lakes, High Country and expansive beaches. Find ‘Experience 40 Great Things to Do’ on our website too!

T: 1300 483 249 W: itechworld.com.au

T: (03) 5144 1108 W: tourismwellington.com.au

POWER CHOICE

Connect at home! Connect anywhere!

15Amp to 10Amp Adaptor with RCD and overload protection

www.ampfibian.com.au

Roberts RV World

RV Specialists

An official Avida motorhome dealer, with more than 50 new motorhomes in the largest undercover RV showroom in the Southern Hemisphere. Our service department is here for all your needs too.

Australia’s leading fifth wheelers, designed here in Australia and built to suit our demanding conditions. Fifth wheelers from 24’ to 36’ available. Call 02 4953 7141 for information!

T: 1800 273 136 W: robertsrv.com.au

T: (02) 4953 7141 W: summerliferv.com.au

iMotorhome Marketplace | 31

Nomadic Solutions hitches fully ADR compliant no swaying increased towing safety easy reversing offroad vans available

5th wheeler specialist

Nomadic Solutions - the original, quality constructed ‘lifestyletable™’ that is easily attached to the side of your motorhome. Now available in ‘mill finish’ for custom painting.

T: (02) 9011 8144 W: nomadicsolutions.com.au

Southern Spirit Campervans FLEXIBLE STORAGE SYSTEMS FOR YOUR CAMPERVAN OR MOTORHOME Full & part fitouts Hitop, Poptop and Reimo roofs True custommade conversions Repairs & improvements BYO van from Hiace to Sprinter

Store those additional items up and out of the way using our adjustable, transportable and modular storage system!

Tiffin Motorhomes

America’s favourite motorhome is now available in Australia! Tiffin Motorhomes Australia is proud to offer the Allegro Breeze 32 to the Australian market. Click through to find out why they’re fast becoming Australia’s favourite too!

T: 0411 616 617 W: tiffinmotorhomes.com.au

Over 11 years cover manufacturing experience Australia wide.Free Measure & Quote Call in Factory 1:354 Mons Road Forest Glen : Sunshine Coast Queensland PH-‐1300 304 332/0754564818 www.caravancovers.com.au info@caravancovers.com.au

www.skytracks.com.au

Our vehicle-specific insulation screens are Australian made from specially designed and tested material to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. As featured in iMotorhome’s Project Polly!

T: (07) 3398 5500 W: solarscreen.com.au

Find power anywhere with a REDARC Inverter

The E-Twow Electric scooter for adults LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR RV OWNERS

The alternative to a bike!!

25km/h with a range of 40km in ideal conditions! Super light too at 10.8kg Folds away quite compact for small storage

Plug in and get 240 volt power on the go. Click here.

To Þnd out more call Mark on 0412027330 or email mje240@adam.com.au www.e-twow.com 1

32 | Tested: Auto-Trail Delaware Hi-Line

BEST OF BRITISH!

Either side of the Tasman Auto-Trail is one of the bestâ€¦

by Malcolm Street

ritish manufacturer Auto-Trail has a well established reputation in the New Zealand market, with both the Auckland and Christchurch dealers offering a good range of models – everything from the van based V-Line to the tandem rear axle Comanche.

Tested | 33 Here in Australia we don’t fare quite as well in model selection, but there are still quite a number of Auto-Trail models available, which is why in this case I opted for a Hi-Line Delaware, common to both countries and in this case, supplied by Sydney RV in Western Sydney.

Although technically a C-class – meaning it has a bed over the cab – Auto-Trail designs the nose and roof to minimise the usual over-cab bulge associated with this class of motorhome. The result is a streamlined profile enhanced by the integration of the awing into the roofline.

34 | Tested

Motive Power

iat’s Ducato is the base vehicle for the Delaware and sensibly, in my opinion, it comes with the most powerful of the Ducato turbo-diesels, the 2.3-litre 130 kW/400 Nm, driving through Fiat’s ComfortMatic 6-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). Auto-Trail prides itself on durability and to that end its motorhomes come with a 5 year/300,000 km warranty on the Fiat Ducato, a 5 year habitation warranty and a 10 year body construction integrity warranty. Impressive stuff.

Top: Despite slab sides designers have managed to ‘streamline’ the rear through the use of angled mouldings. Right: The Euro-style entry door comes with a built-in umbrella. How British!

Tested | 35

Construction

ike any Auto-Trail motorhome, the Delaware is built mostly using laminated panel construction for the walls (40 mm), floor (45 mm) and part of the roof (40 mm). The polystyrene core is reinforced with extruded PVC and has an outer skin of fibreglass and an inner embossed wall covering. Except for the floor, which has a styrofoam core with PVC and a vinyl floor covering. All the moulded panels are also fibreglass, while purpose designed aluminium extrusions keep the entire structure together.

bins and and an umbrella holder (for those British summers!). It does have a sliding insect screen but it’s not a security item. The windows are the familiar European product – double glazed, acrylic top-hinged style, except for the one behind the habitation door, which is a slider.

Highly insulative and tested to NCC EN1646-1 standards, Auto-Trail says it’s good for between -15º C and 40º C, thus comfortably suiting both New Zealand and Australia. Awnings can look like something of an afterthought, but the one fitted to the Delaware is designed into the roof moulding and thus fully recessed when not being used. Similarly, although this Delware is a Hi-Line model (think C-class) and thus has a Luton peak with an over-cab bed, it’s a very streamlined design, with the Luton barely noticeable. The habitation door is a typical European product, with features like moulded-in garbage

LPG cylinders are easily removed from their storage locker, but curiously the door can only be released by a lever behind the passenger seat. You’d think that would contravene AS/ NZS 5601 but apparently it doesn’t.