iMotorhome Magazine - February 2019

! n i W

the r o f 0 $5 ter! t e l t s be

FEBRUARY 2019

MAGAZINE

Clayton’s 4x4?

Yes but no! Horizon’s unmissable Waratah 4x4 is the real deal…

New Release Iveco 4x4 Vans!

Product Test

Narva Explora Light Bar

Bailey Autograph 796

Travel

Secret Squirrel…

2 | About iMotorhome

iMotorhome Magazine is published monthly and available by subscription from www.imotorhome.com.au. Your letters and contributions are always welcome!

Editorial

Design & Production

Richard Robertson

Agnes Nielsen

Publisher/Managing Editor

Manager/Lead Designer

(+61) 0414 604 368

agnes@imotorhome.com.au

richard@imotorhome.com.au Christopher O’Hare Malcolm Street

Designer

Road Test Editor

chris@imotorhome.com.au

(+61) 0418 256 126 malcolm@imotorhome.com.au

Contributors Emily Barker Sharon Hollamby Allan Whiting Ian Pedly Phillip McLeod

Published by iMotorhome PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW 2776. Australia.

ABN: 34 142 547 719 T: +614 14 604 368 E: info@imotorhome.com.au W: www.imotorhome.com.au Follow us on Facebook and Twitter , Facebook “f ” Logo

RGB / .ai

Facebook “f ” Logo

RGB / .ai

Legal ©2 019 iMotorhome Pty Ltd. All content of iMotorhome Magazine and website is copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without the express 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 Magazine or on the iMotorhome website.

Helpful Tips | 3

Reading iMotorhome

Reading

Here’s how to get the most out of your iMotorhome Magazine with each issue – some tips help youwith navigate our magazine on any device.

Here’s how to get the mostbasic of your #RVtoexperience each issue - some basic tips to help you navigate our magazine on any device!

TO SCROLL TOTHROUGH SCROLL PAGES

TO READ TO READ EACH ARTICLE

TO FOLLOW OUR TOOUTBOUND FOLLOW OUR LINKS

Double tap any page to bring Double tapfull any page to bringatupthe up the issue contents the full issueof contents at the bottom bottom the screen.

Then, of thescroll screen.

Then,and scroll through through select for and select for quick navigating. quick navigating. To return to To return to thesimply page, double simply double the page, tap tap once more. once more.

Easy as pie - swipe between Easythe as pie - swipe between theor to pages to read in order, pages readand in order, to go gotoback rereador(because it back and reread (because it was was that good!). that good!).

Links throughout the magazine Links throughout magazine are are highlightedthe in blue - simply colored red inonce boldto- simply tap tap#RV on them bring up on them once to bring up the link in the link in your device browser. your device browser.

THROUGH PAGES

EACH ARTICLE

OUTBOUND LINKS

4 | On My Mind

Fortress Australia?

B

ack in ‘the day’, nations were largely independent, manufacturing wise, because each was its own ‘fortress’ against outsiders as international trade was more an addendum to the economy than critical. Over time that has changed and our world now has a truly global economy.

some of the world’s acknowledged leading engineering nations – like Germany – that what you make at home is fine, but here it’s dangerous because it’s ‘non-compliant’.

Why? Because we have ‘unique conditions’.

The real reason, of course, is to limit or eliminate competition.

The extent to which Australia has become a part of the global order can be seen in things like the significant reduction in our oil refining capabilities and the end of motor vehicle production. The forces behind these and many other developments are purely economic: Despite the appeal of local production and independence, it’s cheaper to import because locally produced products aren’t price competitive.

This example is just a small part of a much bigger and troubling problem. While our federal politicians tread the world stage espousing the importance of the mythical ‘level playing field’ and what a forward thinking and progressive nation we are, here at home, ‘forces’ appear determined to fully raise the drawbridge on Fortress Australia.

The fact we can’t economically massmanufacture cars here is even more remarkable given the enormous subsidies the State and Federal Governments handed out to the foreign companies who, for many years, kept the factory doors open. That’s on top of Australian Design Rules (ADRs); a system of Government mandated regulations designed to ensure motor vehicles complied with sometimes pointless and/or absurd requirements in the so-called interests of protecting Australian Consumers. The reality was that ADRs were a form of protectionism. There were perfectly acceptable international standards for automotive engineering already in place, but we had to do our own thing.

In the RV world, a perfect example of that is the way we are effectively held hostage to Australia Standards (ASs) relating to LPG fittings and equipment. In effect, it says to

Australia is perhaps the only western nation that effectively prohibits the importation and sale of foreign-manufactured recreational vehicles in any volume, by using ADRs and ASs as de facto trade barriers. The argument is always about local jobs (they’ll all be lost) and local conditions (it never gets hot/rough/dusty anywhere else), but the truth is it’s about protecting local business and limiting competition, regardless of what the consumer wants.

As I’ve previously said, the New Zealand experience kills that argument stone dead.

Yes, in the transition from a ‘closed shop’ to an open market, jobs were lost and companies closed. But the industry was also tired, out of touch and far from world standard.

These days the Kiwi RV industry has never been healthier, more vibrant, more profitable, and never employed so many.

NZ accepts internally recognised motor continued...

On My Mind | 5

vehicle engineering standards and doesn’t discriminate between imported and locally manufactured RVs. Interestingly, the cleverest local manufacturers – think TrailLite for example – not only offer multiple ranges of imported RV, its own uniquely-Kiwi motorhomes have never been in higher demand and business is booming: Proof local products can exist alongside imports if companies make things customers want.

Interestingly, TrailLite’s own products now are world class and a world away from what it was producing before the transition.

So, back to Oz: The land, it seems, that time forgot. At present we have two things working against the interest of RVers: The recently announced but yet-to-beimplemented Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA) and the Non-Compliant Camping Toolkit For Caravan Park Operators.

Interestingly, the former is championed by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) and latter produced by it.

The RVSA is a piece of draconian legislation.

It’s seemingly intent on ensuring that few if any imported recreational vehicles make it to our shores, and that smaller local manufacturers go out of business. That’s because its regulations appear onerous in the extreme and the only companies with the technical and financial capacities to comply will be the established players. Due to come into effect at the end of 2019, if/when it does it will be a sorry day for consumers and many businesses.

The Non-Compliant Camping Toolkit For Caravan Park Operators is the second part of what feels like a pincer movement designed

to not only limit RV buyers’ choices, but restrict where RV owners can stay. So while it seems every other industry has never offered more choice or better prices – from airfares to electrical goods – it feels we’re being left far behind.

All any of us want is a fair go, and that includes choice. While I’m all for Buy Australian, it’s not at any cost. Australians are notoriously bad at being dictated to by power-wielding authorities, and that’s what it feels like. But give us a fair go by offering value and choice – including the choice to buy something made overseas or responsibly stay overnight where it doesn’t inconvenience anyone – and that’s a different matter. The frustrating thing is there is huge potential for business development (and therefore profit) by opening markets and loosening camping rules.

Only when – not if – the metaphorical drawbridge is lowered can this industry achieve its true potential. So instead of hiding behind legislation and distributing what amounts to fake news; news designed to create division and ill-will, let’s all work together to forge a new Golden Age for this industry. We can build it on the dreams and aspirations of the hundreds of thousands yet to discover the joy of RV travel and the freedom – true freedom – it can bring. What are we waiting for?

Richard

6 | Contents

8

4

On my Mind

10

On Your Mind

30

Tested: Horizon Waratah 4x4

44

Tested: Bailey Autograph 796

56

New Release: Iveco Daily 4x4 Vans

60

SheDrives: Van Diagram

66

Product Test

76

Travel

Fortress Australia?

Share your thoughts for the chance to win $50!

14

Street View Haera Mai!

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

Clayton’s 4x4? Revisiting Horizon’s big 4x4 Sprinter van conversion

Best of British? A 6-berth B-Class from Old Blighty

Look out Mercedes-Benz…

Getting to work on Marsha’s little Nissan

Nara Explora Light Bar

Three more RV Friendly Towns

70

Travel

80

Mobile Tech

84

Next Issue

Secret Squirrel

Appy 2019

What’s coming up!

H A B I TAT

GO FURTHER. STAY LONGER

EXPLORE ONE TODAY AT YOUR LOCAL SUNLINER DEALER.

www.sunliner.com.au RANGER

SWITCH

PINTO

OLANTAS

HABITAT

NAVIAN

MONTE CARLO

8 | Street View

Haera Mai!

I

realised as I was typing up this little missive that it’s actually the first day of February!

Where did January go? It’s time for all the school holiday makers to head back to their educational establishments (in the case of the junior members) and for the parents, back to work to save up for their next holiday.

Meantime of course, it is time for everyone else who has been waiting for the school holidays to end to head out into less crowded roads and cheaper holiday parks/campgrounds!

Funny how that works ‘eh?

I was also reminded of the time of year the other day when someone asked whether I was getting to the Covi Show at Greenlane (Auckland) in late March. “Yes” said I, thinking that it was ages away but then realised of course that it is just next month and all the NZ manufacturers, dealers and importers are busy getting their ducks in a row for another great RV show. Don’t tell anyone in Australia I said this (not a word – Ed), but I reckon the NZ RV shows are more interesting than their Aussie equivalents. For a start they are smaller, which means for the show goer it is actually easier to remember what’s been looked at, and secondly, the products on display are much more diverse, with a considerable number of exotics from Europe, something most Australians never get to see.

I don’t know if many Kiwis are planning on heading to Australia this year, but if you are and happen to be in the vicinity of Barcaldine (central Queensland) this year, around May

25, then here’s an item of interest: There will be an attempt to break the Guinness Book of Records ‘Largest Parade of Camping Vehicles (RVs)’. The current record, which dates back to 2003, is held by the Italians and I’m not exactly sure how they did that because it has to be a rolling line. I was involved in an earlier attempt at Barcaldine in 2007 and believe me, you need a considerable amount of real estate – like a long, mostly flat, country road – to achieve it. Anyhow, the Australian Motorhoming Lions Club is organising this attempt and at the same time, the’ Longest connected image made of LED rope lights’, which currently is 655 metres. Not surprisingly, this second one will be done at night! Click HERE for details and come and join in the fun, whilst helping the Lions Club do some fund raising at the same time. iMotorhome will be there; one of our jobs is to count RVs or something!

Haere ra!

Malcolm

Calling All Wilderness Explorers

trakka.com.au

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.

Do Not Disturb I I have just heard a discussion on the radio regarding road safety. The expert being interviewed discussed various initiatives which have significantly lowered the road toll since the 1970s including compulsory seat belt use, random breath testing and wire barriers beside many highways. He pointed to mobile phone use as being the current challenge and predicted that in 10 years’ time vehicles would be equipped with technology to block mobile phone use while inside a moving vehicle. In the meantime they suggested putting your phone on silent and hiding it in the glove box whenever you get into the driving seat so you’re not tempted to read any incoming messages.

I was very surprised that the expert, the interviewer and the various people who rang in did not mention a feature which already exists in most if not all mobile phones. On iPhones it’s called Do Not Disturb While Driving and can be accessed via Settings>Do Not Disturb>Activate and can be set to come on automatically whenever you are in a moving vehicle. It stops messages coming through and sends a message back to the sender to say you’re driving, but allows phone calls if your phone is connected to your hands-free system via Bluetooth.

For a full description hit the ‘Learn More’ button in the Activate section. If you are a passenger you simply hit the ‘I’m Not Driving’ message and normal service is resumed. A similar system in Android phones is simply called Android Auto.

I am prompted to write in the hope that this information might help one or more readers as a very short survey among my friends and family revealed that those who knew about the feature tended to use it but quite a few didn’t know about the feature but said they would now use it in future.

Kind regards, Colin.

Thanks for the information Colin, I certainly wasn’t aware of that feature on my iPhone and have activated it – very clever. The only downside is on my iPhone at least, it also blocks phone calls when I’m on hands free.

However, that’s a small price to pay for the safety, not to mention the savings it might bring in case of a fine. I’m sure many readers will find this invaluable and for bringing it to our attention please accept this issue’s $50 prize.

On your mind | 11

Double Standards In response to the new Road Vehicle Standards Act (RVSA), as detailed in the Dec/ Jan issue’s News section, I believe this act is a real beat up!

and forums spread the word as to who are the offenders. We, as consumers can live with this, again, without the Government coming to “help” with design rules.

The beneficiaries will be the larger local manufacturers. What a great way to kill off the opposition! Have a lobbyist suggest a change of rules to the government! Very easy!

My comments come from my background as a manufacturer and as a caravan and motorhome consumer.

The small manufacturers who are the ones that bring us new designs will be highly restricted – model approval by an inspector from the government (wow wee – hope they don’t use the mob who approved the new submarines) in a federal government approved facility (sounds impressive). These and the like are scary phrases.

Low volume imports will effectively be priced out of the market. The larger local manufacturers provide little innovation but have volumes such as to better absorb the cost of the regulations.

I note that Mr Lamont, CEO of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia comments that manufacturers are “burdened” through competing with cheap (his word – mine would be “more efficiently produced”) imported products. I wonder what model BMW the CIAA executives prefer?

The losers are the public, the smaller manufacturers and the importers. The real industry complaints that I hear of generally relate to sloppy building st andards rather than poor designs. The various magazines

Thanks, Ross.

Thanks Ross, I agree with you entirely. It will be interesting to see how this piece of oppressive legislation is implemented. I hope a change of federal government to one more amenable to the desires of the people might bring about change. Perhaps it’s time for some serious social media campaigning, petitioning and lobbying to counter the threat, we just need a high profile person to get the ball rolling. Suggestions please…

12 | On your mind

Get Togethers?

Is there going to be another iMotorhome weekend, or any more tours? I’ve missed them all so far but finally want to make it to one (or more!), just as long as it doesn’t clash with the CMCA national Rally. Please let us know!

Regards, Jen. Thanks Jen and good questions. There will certainly be another Reader Weekend, I’ve just got to get serious about finding a venue

and setting a time. Regarding tours, I’d like to do NZ again and maybe run a ‘lap of the South Island’ itinerary to really see the best of the best. I’m also wondering if anyone is interested in visiting Germany and the enormous Düsseldorf Caravan Salon, in late Aug/early Sep? I’d like to go again, so if you or anyone else is interested in tagging along please drop me a line. And of course, you could always stay on for Octoberfest…. !

The Wirraway 260 SL

With it’s Full Length Slideout Room & Apartment Styled Layout !

From WIRRAWAY, “Australia’s Most Innovative Motorhomes” Wirraway is a dedicated family owned business striving for Motorhome excellence.

Our Motorhomes are our passion! Every Wirraway Motorhome is handbuilt and designed by experienced motorhomers who know the importance of making life easier on the road.

New to our Range is the brilliant ‘live like a movie star’ Wirraway 260 SL, the latest in our 260 series; our EuroStyle 260 with it’s European styled interior and “The Motorhome of the Year”, the Wirraway 260.

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence, style and all the legendary design, electrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways.

Each Wirraway Model is unique! - All are a Must See!

View Our New Website to view All Models, Download Brochures &Virtual RealityTours For details contact: Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes, 6 Hynes Court, Mildura Vic 3500

Phone / Fax: (03) 50 230 230 - New Email: info@wirraway.com.au & New Website: www.wirraway.com.au On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 © Rex Willmer

14 | News

CIAA UPS THE ANTE NON-COMPLIANT CAMPING Toolkit for Caravan Park Operators

the demand for RV Stopovers or free/low cost campsites. The increases in non-commercial camping is due to two main factors; a) Camping in National Parks; which is driven by increased consumer demand for experiential travel, especially regarding nature, and b) Camping on private property; this is driven by the increased propensity of people to camp; especially at music festivals and on private properties such as farm stays.

Caravan Industry

Association of Australia

Both trends are being driven by the younger demographic which is the primary group being lost by caravan parks. Ultimately, there is no evidence which indicates that pursuing a low cost/’free’ camping area in a town with a caravan park will increase visitation to an area and, instead, will cannibalise the market share of caravan parks which will have a detrimental effect to the local community from an economic and social perspective”.

1

T

he Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) has published a comprehensive 28 page document entitled Non-Compliant Camping Toolkit For Caravan Park Operators.

“The goal of this document is to help caravan parks demonstrate they are a vital part of the tourism system in regional destinations”.

It claims, “Current research demonstrates that whilst non-commercial camping is growing by market share – this is not due to increases in

The guide goes into detail on how to launch and maintain an effective campaign to try and ensure local councils limit or prohibit any form of camping other than that which directly financially benefits caravan park operators. Page nine singles out the CMCA and its RV Friendly Town program, which it specifically seeks to discredit.

Download the document HERE to find out more.

News | 15

This is living

Visit us at the

Enjoy the adventure of life on the road in the comfort of one of Europe’s most popular motorhomes. Bürstner is renowned for its clever designs, stylish interiors and easy to drive models that are ideal for New Zealand conditions.

15-17 March, 2019

Don’t wait to start living the life you dream of.

Come and see the full Bürstner range at our sales centres in Auckland or Christchurch. Or visit smartrv.co.nz for details.

Automatic

Central heating

Drive on a car licence

Suggested models

230

749

Ixeo IT734

4

4

230

Lyseo IT734

2

230

Lyseo T734

749

749

Motorhomes in photo: Ixeo IT734 and Lyseo IT744

Exclusively distributed in New Zealand by

11 Pavilion Drive, Airport Oaks, Auckland | 3 Export Ave, Harewood, Christchurch | 0800 005 312 (NZ) | imotorhome@smartrv.co.nz | smartrv.co.nz

16 | News

FREEDOM CAMPING BENEFITS BUNBURY

T

he City Council in Bunbury, WA, is already feeling the benefits of throwing down the welcome mat for RVers. Within weeks of opening three new experimental overnight camping spots for RV travellers, the tills at local businesses have been ringing.

According to reports, scores of nomads have already taken advantage of the rest areas at Wyalup Rocky Point car park, Ocean Drive car park near Scott Street and the Maidens Reserve car park, also on Ocean Drive. The council says the travellers have spent more than $15,000 in the port city south of Perth and local Mayor Gary Brennan is delighted with the results.

“When we made the decision to do this trial I received emails from caravanners based on the east coast saying this is a wonderful thing ... and word gets around very rapidly,” he said.

“Statistics have shown that 16 percent of RV owners will never stay in commercial overnight accommodation, which means we are missing out on this market who will then go elsewhere

to spend their money. It is hoped that when stopping for one or two nights the travellers will either decide to stay longer and move onto one of our fantastic caravan parks or they will make a note to come back to Bunbury for their next trip.”

The trial at the new rest areas, located close to Bunbury’s iconic beaches and the CBD plus other shopping and dining options, will last for two years. Only travellers in self-contained RVs are allowed to stay at the sites, which are patrolled by city officers to ensure the rule is complied with.

Unusually, overnight campers need a permit, which can be collected from the Bunbury Visitor Centre. They receive a welcome pack including information about Bunbury such as maps and tourist guides. After 12 months the council will consult with users and the community to assess any social impacts before doing a final review at the two-year mark.

18 | News

ON-THE-GO TYRE INFLATION German made, ti.systems’ products are strong and claim to be the best quality products available on the market. The following systems can be configured:

B

onetti Campers is the new distributor for German-made ti.systems tyre inflation system, which is now fully established within the Australian Army. The system is used on most of the Army’s new Mercedes-Benz 6x6 fleet, where simplicity, ease of use, reliablilty and toughness are paramount.

These system suits off-road and beach tour operators, police and emergency services, offroad travellers and avid four-wheel drivers, where changing tyre pressures in a swift and controlled application is not only desirable, but often crucial.

• Semi-automatic Tyre Inflation System (STIS): Providing precise tyre pressure adjustment when a vehicle is stationary • Central Tyre Inflation System – Removable (CTISr): Providing precise tyre pressure adjustment on the go • Air Supply: Electrical - hydraulic driven air supply systems.

Check the website www.bonetticampers. com for more information and contact Bonetti Campers for information regarding systems and configuration. Bonetti will also soon have a demonstration vehicle 6x6 available for testing.

NORTHCOACH STARFIN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Quality ISO 9001

ISO: QMS42870

Australian Designed product, specifically with the harsh Australian conditions in mind. Being tested and approved by the ADR62 (Australian Design Ruling 62), the Pro-Tow Predator A Frame is the only choice with peace of mind of Australian Certification.

Together with our agents, we are Australia’s specialist in Aframe towing

Agents: Loganholme Custom Towbars & Trailers Phone: (07) 3209 7669

Ringwood Locsed Products Phone: (03) 9879 3545

Bundaberg A2Z 4x4 Phone: 1300 229 494

Wodonga Brooks Motor Cars Phone: (02) 6055 8555

Hatton Vale Lockyer RV Pty Ltd Phone: (07) 3333 1806

Victor Harbour Victor Steel & Engineering Phone: (08) 8552 1010

Newcastle Australian Motorhomes Phone: (02) 4948 0433

Salisbury SA Salisbury Towbar Service Phone: (08) 8258 2638

Sydney Sydney RV Phone: (02) 4722 3444

Perth Total RV Sales Phone: (08) 9453 1493

Terrey Hills RVGO Phone: (02) 9986 2952

Launceston Carswells Phone: (03) 6331 2511

www.northcoach.com.au

PO Box 5231, Daisy Hill QLD 4127 Phone: 0409 581 471 Email: enquiries@northcoach.com.au ABN: 30 615 270 678

Issue 10

Feb 2019

ISSUE 10 T! NOW OU the

Download free app from r the App Store o ! ay d Play Store to

INTERVIEW MEET JACLYN FISCHER

COMPACT CARADO I CAMPSITE PERFECTION CROSSING CANADA I TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES 1

20 | News

JAYCO MOTORHOME GROUP GATHERING

I

n what’s claimed to be the biggest gathering of Jayco Optimum and Conquest motorhome owners, “Every in history,” about 125 of the Specific Jayco motorhomes will muster in Kenilworth, Qld, March 28 to

April 2. The event is being organised by Dave Curmi, president of the Jayco Optimum and Conquest Owners Group Facebook page and for further information you can contact him on 0416 242-424.

TUMBARUMBA TO ROSEWOOD PILOT RAIL TRAIL

S

upporters of rail trails will be pleased to know there has been progress on the first in NSW: The Tumbarumba to Rosewood pilot rail trail, which is expected to open in early 2020.

actions by numerous people, including Riverina Highlands Rail Trail committee members on the State Government-appointed pilot committee, plus representations to various local and state politicians.

Snowy Valleys Council, tasked with building the rail trail, has put some key tenders out for response, amongst other progress. Work had been going slower than expected but progress appears to be back on track thanks to

This project is a ‘keystone’ for rail trails in regional NSW as the current Minister for Regional Development has stated that no further regional rail trails will be considered until the pilots are completed, and thus far

continued...

News | 21

and health benefits and give city dwellers Tumbarumba to Rosewood is the only one of the three pilot rail trails to have been funded for new scenic places in regional NSW to visit, free of motor vehicles and road debris. They construction. are great for holidays and long-weekends, “Once the trail opens, please consider visiting for families, prams, the elderly, wheelchair the Tumbarumba to Rosewood pilot rail trail. users, for community events and for people By visiting this pilot in its first 12 months and who ride bicycles. A series of regional rail trails helping to make it a clear success, you will also will preserve these historic though currently be increasing the likelihood that other rail trail unviable train routes in public ownership and proposals in NSW will also succeed,” said Tim make use of the hard work and ingenuity our Cohen, deputy chairman of Rail Trails NSW. forebears put into their construction,” Cohen explained.

He went on to explain that NSW has a great opportunity to convert a proportion of the 3100 “Several rail trail proposals originate from kms of long-disused regional rail routes into existing rail heads. By starting a rail trail from world class, vibrant and valuable community an operating rail line, new users will emerge and tourism assets. for passenger train services with roll on/roll off bicycle, wheelchair and pram capacity, as is “Rail trails use is booming in Australia and common now in Europe and the USA.” around the world, yet regional NSW is missing out. Our historic routes and the heavy To find out more and to explore the whole engineering that created them can be readily rail trail scene, visit Rail Trails For NSW or converted into safe, separated and scenic RailTrails Australia. shared pathways. These routes will revive small and boost larger rural communities, provide new tourism opportunities generating social

22 | News

RV SALES SCAMS BACK

N

SW police have warned of an elaborate scam targeting retirees wanting to buy caravans from classified adverts in newspapers. They have received “numerous” reports in recent weeks relating to the reemerging ruse involving bogus sellers.

It begins with what appears to be a genuine classified advertising a sale price below market value. The advertisement will feature a mobile number, which will not be answered, instead responding via a text message claiming they are unable to talk on the phone. After asking if the buyer is interested in the item, the scammer may direct the conversation to email to conduct price negotiations.

Once a price is agreed, the scammer requests a considerable upfront payment - up to 50

percent - by electronic transfer, then provides instructions to contact a freight company to arrange delivery and make final payment.

“It is understood the freight company contact details provided defer to another scammer, who takes a final payment before providing a fraudulent tracking number,” a police spokesperson explained. The goods are never delivered and the money is not able to be recovered.

Detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad have launched an investigation and are urging the public to be vigilant when purchasing items through online or newspaper classifieds.

Hitting the great outdoors this year?

Book a check-up appointment at motorhomedoctor.com.au All makes all models

24 | News

MOST CARAVANS OVERWEIGHT?

M

ore than half the caravans weighed by a Queensland business were overweight, new figures have revealed. Weightcheck Mobile Caravan Weighing founder Dave Lewis says owners seemed to be, “Turning a blind eye to the problem”.

During the last 14 months his Brisbane company has completed more than 350 weigh-ins, with 62 percent of caravans and 31 percent of tow vehicles being over their weight compliance limit.

“Bear in mind we are only weighing caravans and vehicles of owners who are concerned enough to have their weights checked,” Mr Lewis pointed out. “There is probably twice that number turning a blind eye to the fact.”

He stressed that the tow ball mass (TBM) of a caravan was a very serious issue and the measurement needed to be taken in the correct way.

“With many caravaners having their own towball scales these days, I have found that the readings the owners are doing themselves are not always correct when they are compared with the measurements we are taking during our caravan ATM reports.

I recently put a post on our Facebook page about the correct way to do it, by taking the measurement with the tow hitch at the same height as that when the caravan is attached to the car. It is most important that the TBM is measured at this height, and I have a lot of data to reflect what the variations are when it is not done this way.” Mr Lewis concluded.

Motorhomes are not exempt from overloading issues, especially those used for longterm travel where items and equipment are progressively added along the way.

With police and State roads and traffic authorities more active in checking all types of recreational vehicles, an annual vehicle weight check – including individual axle weight as well as the overall total – is recommended.

News | 25

IRIDIUM ELECTRIC MOTORHOME LAUNCHED

I

n what appears to be a world first, German company WOF GmbH unveiled the Iridium electric conversion of a Bela P69 B-class motorhome, on a Citroen Jumper (think rebadged Fiat Ducato). The pre-production unit was unveiled at the recent CMT show in Stuttgart, with the production version expected to be on sale in early September at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon.

Price for the converted Bela is listed at €169,000 (A$266,000), a staggering amount considering the standard diesel-powered Bela P69 lists at €43,990 (A$69,217).

that has experience electrifying a fleet of UPS delivery trucks.

The EFA-S electric powertrain consists of a 140 kW motor driving the front wheels, while a 106 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery provides power for the advertised 300 km range. Regenerative braking provides some help in keeping the battery charged, but once charge nears zero it needs to be plugged into a 50-kW CCS fast-charger, a Type 2 charger.

The cab includes a large digital display for monitoring the battery.

A second Iridium variant will launch in 2020 The Iridium build starts with a chassis from and will include a monocoque body built by the Sevel manufacturing cooperative that upmarket Swiss fiberglass-body specialist produces the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Maurer Fahrzeugbau, The Maurer-constructed Citroën Jumper. From there, WOF turns things Iridium e-camper will be more of a custom over to the electric powertrain specialists at build, with pricing and options available upon Elektrofahrzeuge Stuttgart (EFA-S), a company request.

26 | iMotorhome Marketplace

POWER CHOICE

TM

Connect at home!

Connect anywhere!

15Amp to 10Amp Adaptor with RCD and overload protection

www.ampfibian.com.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

28 | iMotorhome Marketplace

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.

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

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

duvalay.com.au | (02) 6653 4640

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

B ri s ban e works h op 0 40 1 79 71 79 www. s s cam pervan s . com

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

www.skytracks.com.au

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

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

iMotorhome Marketplace | 29

Airbag Man

Battery Traders Super Store

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

Nomadic Solutions

Tiffin Motorhomes

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

5th wheeler specialist

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

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

Find power anywhere with a REDARC Inverter

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

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

30 | Tested: Horizon Waratah 4x4

Clayton’s 4x4?

Don’t be fooled, the Horizon Waratah 4x4 is the real deal…

by Richard Robertson

Tested | 31

There’s no missing Clayton’s custom Waratah 4x4, thanks to its full body wrap. The LWB Sprinter is a big van, made more imposing by the raised suspension of the 4x4 option and off-road tyres. Note the ‘proper’ windows in the rear doors, rather than fixed factory glass.

R

emember Claytons – the drink you have when you’re not having a drink? The scotch-substitute found fame through television commercials in the 70s and 80s, and the name entered the vernacular as a synonym for anything pretending to be something else. However, not everything ‘Claytons’ is an imitation…

Take the subject of this review: Horizon Motorhomes’ Waratah 4x4. It’s the personal rig of Horizon’s founder, Clayton Kearney, and is certainly the real deal. It’s the second Waratah 4x4 Clayton has had custom-built for personal adventures and he doesn’t spare any expense.

Back in June 2013 the Kearney family (two adults and two teenagers) set off from home in Ballina, Northern New South Wales, bound

for the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Normally a two-berth motorhome, that Waratah 4x4 was specially modified and featured two bunks in place of the cupboards over the main bed, at the rear. It must have been cosy living, but as Clayton said at the time it was probably the last chance the family would have for such an adventure, given the age of the kids. He was right, because the Waratah in this review is purely a two-person machine. However, before we get onto it, a little more background on the original Waratah and it’s travels…

Great Escape

T

he Great Family Escape took the thenbrand-new Waratah 4x4 from Ballina across to South Australia and north into Central Australia before more-or-less turning left

32 | Tested at Alice Springs and taking the Tamamai Track across to the Kimberly. After a short break in Broome they headed north to Cape Leveque, then back along the infamous Gibb River Road before returning to Alice Springs via the black top. In just on a month the Waratah clocked up 9298 km, including at least 3000 km of severely corrugated dirt roads, and the only casualty was a broken mount on one of the non-standard bunkbeds.

I recount all this because Mrs iMotorhome and I flew into Alice Springs and did a swap with them, collecting the Waratah 4x4 for its Journey back to Ballina, via the remote Plenty Highway. You can read all about it in Issue 30 of iMotorhome Magazine, which if you don’t have it in your library you can download by clicking HERE. It was an awesome trip and

one of the most memorable we’ve ever done.

I have three standout memories of that journey: Firstly, the near-showroom condition Clayton & Co manage to get the Waratah into in just a couple of hours at the Alice Springs car wash!

Secondly, the seemingly-as new condition of the Horizon fit-out (bunk-bed aside) despite thousands of kilometres of relentless shaking; and thirdly, the equally as-new driving experience of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4x4. As I reported at the time, I’ve always been sceptical of the durability of European vehicles – especially their high-tech electrics – in extreme Australian conditions. But the Sprinter 4x4 didn’t put a foot wrong and there wasn’t an errant warning light nor any other indication/ squeak/clunk/groan/wobble the vehicle hadn’t just driven out of the dealer’s yard. To say I

Interior space is good for a van, while the bed arrangement is primarily a pair of singles that can effectively become a huge double.

Tested | 33 was impressed is an understatement and its something I’ve never forgotten

Back to the Future

F

ast forward five and a half years or so and I was keen to reacquaint myself with this capable and impressive motorhome. It’s also an interesting time in the automotive scheme of things, because 2019 sees the Australian launch of the all-new, thirdgeneration Mercedes-Benz Sprinter range.

the Australian RV industry by being the only major manufacturer dedicated solely to the production of van-conversion motorhomes.

Now building on both the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Fiat Ducato, Horizon is widely recognised as an industry leader and has built a large and fiercely loyal client base that includes many repeat customers – the highest accolade any business can achieve.

Both of Clayton’s personalised Waratah 4x4s belong to Sprinter’s second generation, which ran from 2006 to 2018. That really makes The Sprinter has been in production since this vehicle one of the last and it will be very 1995. Coincidentally (or perhaps not!), 1995 interesting to see what the new Sprinter brings is also the year Clayton established the Ballina to Australia, especially in the 4x4 department Campervan and Motorhome Centre. That in turn led to the creation of Horizon Motorhomes, (single rear wheels, please please please!). I’m just not holding my breath, as the new 4x4 which nowadays occupies a unique niche in

The 4x4 conversion retains independent front suspension and adds a hefty engine bash plate. The long wheelbase is great for stability but you do need to be careful negotiating your way off-road to avoid hanging the vehicle up or underbody damage.

34 | Tested

The removable table is perfect for a couple and can handle extra diners thanks to a swing-out extension leaf underneath. The swivelled cab seats are excellent for after-hours relaxing and the best place to watch TV from.

version isn’t due here until late winter and the first conversions won’t hit the showroom until around the fourth quarter.

Having had a too-brief 20 minute drive of a new Sprinter at the Dusseldorf show last August, I can report it will be worth waiting for. Not only is it a technological tour de force in regards to safety systems and equipment; refinement is taken to new levels, as is the cab, which is now much more Mercedes-Benz car-like.

Along with the all-new Volkswagen Crafter, new Sprinter brings a welcome degree of sophistication to the Australian light commercial van scene, much to the chagrin of Fiat, I’m sure…

Tested | 35 Fit & Fit-Out

B

ecause in issue 30 I wrote at length about the Sprinter, its 4x4 system and Horizon’s Waratah fit out, and because nothing much has changed, I will just touch briefly on them here.

The Waratah is built on a long wheelbase Sprinter 519 CDI. The 5 in the name means it has a 4490 kg gross vehicle mass (GVM), which is basically as heavy as you can drive on a car licence. The 19 means 190 hp or 140 kW, and that power comes from a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel that drives through a 5-speed auto gearbox. In 4x4 mode, power is split 35% to the front wheels and 65% to the rear, and put to the ground via front independent and rear live-axle suspension.

In traditional manner, the system drives the (dual) rear wheels under normal conditions, with high and low-range 4x4 selectable on demand. Non-traditionally, its all push-button operated and electronically controlled, and works in conjunction with 4ETS (4-wheel electronic traction control) and ADAPTIVE ESP (an electronic stability program). Together, the package helps prevent/limit wheel-spin on any powered wheel, plus keeps the whole vehicle in check to prevent skidding and other out-of-thenorm situations.

Because the system has proper low-range gearing – about 40 percent lower than normal – the vehicle is able to crawl up and down steep inclines plus handle normal beach sand conditions, but with a caveat: This is a long vehicle with arrival, departure and rampover angles to match, even with the raised suspension, big tyres and substantial engine bash-plate. That means you have to choose your way carefully and always be mindful of what’s underneath that might get caught up on rough terrain and potentially damaged.

While not a ‘serious off-roader’ in the traditional

There’s plenty of overhead storage, plus lots of light and fresh air in the bedroom area. The twin 12-volt Sirocco fan option is a great idea, helping to move air on warm, still nights.

36 | Tested sense, an experienced and familiar driver will still be able to get it in and out of places well out of bounds to most RVers.

On the road the big Benz is smooth, quiet and rides remarkably well, to the point you actually forget it’s a 4x4. Body roll is minimal, while primarily being rear-wheel drive, the steering is nicely weighted with good feedback, plus it has a decent turning circle – a MercedesBenz trademark. Power is delivered smoothly and the five speed gearbox shifts nicely and is more than sufficient, but word is the next-gen Sprinter will get the seven-speed auto currently fitted to 2WD models (and the new FWD Sprinter variant will get a nine-speed!).

Inside

T

he LWB Sprinter endows the Waratah with that most valuable of commodities: Space. There’s space for a multi-seat dinette up front and for what’s essentially a lengthways kingsize bed down the back, plus a generous kitchen and plenty of storage.

About the only thing that’s on the small size is the ‘wet’ bathroom, but that’s because Clayton reckons bathroom size should be commensurate with the amount of time you spend in it. It’s a valid point, although I think some would trade storage and/or living space for a bathroom with a bit more room, and especially a separate shower cubicle.

Up front, the cab seats swivel and mesh perfectly with the dining table and dinette seating; the latter either being a standard single or optional pair of proper vehicle seats, not just a flat and un-supporting bench. The kitchen is to the right as you enter through the big sliding side door and comes with a three burner gas cooker, single sink, microwave, 136-litre compressor fridge and plenty of drawers.

The aforementioned bathroom – literally the smallest room in the house – has a cassette toilet, corner hand basin with a tap with a pullout shower nozzle, towel rail, shower curtin, a

The standard dinette seat is a single, with this double setup an option. Either way, they are proper, belt-equipped automotive seats rather the usual shapeless bench.

The kitchen has good bench space and is well equipped, including filtered drinking water and an under-bench microwave.

The electric option for the sliding side door allows you to open it as little or as much as required, while doing away with the dreaded ‘whizz-bang’.

Tested | 37

38 | Tested mirrored, wall-mounted shaving cabinet, light, fan-hatch and that’s about it: everything you need and nothing you don’t.

Vans, with their sliding side-doors, are often derided as being ‘whizz-bangs’, but the electric option on the Sprinter puts an end to that. Push button or remote controlled, the door opens all the way or just as far as you want, making entry and exit in bad weather simple and easy. It’s an absolute must!

Another feature – one standard across all Horizon models – is proper doubleglazed acrylic windows in the rear barn doors. Most manufacturers leave the fixed factory glass, but Horizon goes the extra mile and it makes a world of difference.

What I Think

T

he Horizon Waratah 4x4 we drove halfway across Australia proved itself to be ‘a very good thing’ and this latest version is no exception.

Comfortable, capable, powerful and liveable, it’s a tough machine well suited to anyone wanting to venture into remote areas where all-road/track and allweather capability is more important than ultimate off-road ability. This particular one might be Clayton’s, but there’s nothing Claytons about it: It’s the real deal – and ready to go.

Every van should have full side-and-rear-door insect screens, which make summer-time camping a comfortable reality. Twin 4kg LPG cylinders rather than a big single mean you’ll always have a spare when one runs out.

Tested | 39

The smallest room in the house has everything you need and nothing you don’t. There’s a hanging wardrobe with cupboard below just aft of the bathroom; both of which are surprisingly roomy.

40 | Tested

Specs GENERAL Make

Horizon Motorhomes

Model

Waratah 4X4

Type

Van conversion

Berths

2

Approved Seating

4

Licence

Car

VEHICLE Make/Model

Mercedes Benz Sprinter 519 CDI

Engine

3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel

Power

140 kW @ 3800 rpm

Torque

440 Nm @ 1400 - 2400 rpm

Gearbox

5-speed automatic

Safety

ABS, Adaptive ESP, air bags,

Fuel

93 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

3700 kg (dependant on extras)

Gross Vehicle Mass

4490 kg

Max Payload

790 kg (dependant on extras)

Braked Towing Capacity

3500 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

6.96 m (22' 8")

Overall Width

1.99 m (6' 6")

Overall Height

2.78 m (9')

Internal Height

1.92 m (6' 3.5")

Bed

1.95 m x 0.66 m (6' 4" x 2')

Tested | 41

Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

No

Awning

Fiamma F 65

Entry Steps

Electric

Hob

3 burner Dometic

Rangehood

No

Sink

Stainless steel with cooker combo

Fridge

110 L Waeco CRX 1110 12 V compressor

Microwave

LG

Lighting

12 V LED

12 V Sockets/USB Outlets

3 x 12 V/5 V USB

Air Conditioner

Opt

Space Heater

Webasto diesel (optional)

Hot Water System

Truma

Toilet

Thetford cassette

Shower

Flexible hose

CAPACITIES Batteries

200 AH Lithium (opt)

Solar

200W (opt)

LPG

2 x 4kg

Fresh Water

100 L

Grey Water

95 L

Hot Water

14 litre

Toilet

17.5 litre

PRICE ON ROAD QLD From

$187,652

As Tested

$220,963

Warranty - Mercedes-Benz

3 years/200,000 km

Warranty - Horizon

3 years

Warranty - Appliances

As per manufacturers

Pros…

• 4x4 Ability • Comfort • Economy • Quality • Capability • Proven durability • Liveability • Lots of options

CONs… • Small bathroom • Ageing decor • Lots of options

Contact Ballina Campervan, Motorhomes & Caravans 299 River St (cnr Tweed St) Ballina. NSW. 2478.

T: (02) 6681 1555 E: info@ballinacampers.com.au W: ballinacampers.com.au

Click for Google Maps

42 | Tested

Options Galore Horizon’s Waratah 4x4 is priced from $168,000 drive-away (Qld). However, the test vehicle had the following long list of options, any or all of which could be added to your vehicle. Combined, they lift the drive-away price to $213,500.

• Electric sliding door • Black steel ball-bar with 9500 lb synthetic winch • Bash plate • Mercedes-Benz reversing camera, floor mats and two-tonne-rated towbar • Black kangaroo leather upholstery • Double dinette • Innerspring mattress infill • 2 x Sirocco 12 V fans • Turbo hatch • Driving lights • UHF CB radio and aerial • Diesel heating • Snorkel • Black painted rims with Wrangler 205R16 tyres • Solar • Lithium battery pack • 2000 watt inverter • 3 x Anderson plugs • Fusion entertainment pack • Side fly screen with magnetic closure and zip closure • Rear fly screen with boot block out • External gas bayonet

“The Horizon Waratah 4x4 we drove halfway across Australia proved itself to be ‘a very good thing’ and this latest version is no exception.”

44 | Tested: Bailey Autograph 796

Best of- ?

British ?

Checking out the British-built Bailey Autograph 769‌

By Malcolm Street

Tested | 45

The Bailey Autograph rides on a Peugeot Boxer – a Fiat Ducato clone – with an AL-KO chassis, hence the low ride height. Combined with the long overhang, you need to be careful on driveways and any off-bitumen adventures.

I

n amongst the large selection of mainland European-built motorhomes currently available in New Zealand, there is an interesting selection of British built units. The principle advantage of course from some users’ point of view is that the entry door is on the kerb side.

In amongst the British range is Bailey motorhomes and I was able to borrow an Autograph 796 model from TrailLite’s Pukekohe premises for a test run.

Construction

L

ike a number of other European manufacturers, Bailey use a fibreglass composite structure which has a polystyrene core and fibreglass inner and outer skins. Extruded Alu-Tech rail is used to keep the walls and roof all together in one piece.

The end result is quite a stylish looking B-class body structure, looking from the front, and a moulding at the rear that takes away the square look motorhomes often seem to have. The

decal scheme, including the graduated ones, add to the overall appearance.

No surprises in the window department, this being a European style motorhome, so double glazed acrylic is used for all the windows, while the door is complete with a window and garbage bin. A mid-sized tunnel boot sits across the rear, with bin doors on both sides. It’s not quite the European ‘garage’ many motorhomes these days seem to have, but is certainly more than adequate for the usual camping essentials and maybe even a small folding bike or two. The bin for the gas cylinders sits just behind the entry door and is therefore quite convenient when arriving or departing a campsite.

There are just two keys for the entire motorhome: one for the ignition and the other for everything. Also, I liked the fact both keys could be folded away in their respective fobs, so no sharp edges in the pockets or wallets.

46 | Tested

Under the Bonnet

M

ost European motorhomes have either Mercedes Benz or Fiat Ducato underpinnings but Bailey is a little different, using a Peugeot Boxer cab bolted to an AL-KO AMC chassis. The differences is mostly in name I should point out, because the Peugeot Boxer is actually a badge engineered Fiat Ducato. However the motive power is trés francophone, being a 2.0-litre Peugeot turbodiesel that puts out a maximum of 119 kW @ 3570 rpm and a healthy torque of 350 Nm @ 1750 rpm.

Top: The Boxer uses a Peugeot 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and 6-speed manual gearbox, which Malcolm found to provide an enjoyable driving experience. Above: The curved rear end panel is also highly stylised, thus managing to avoid the boxy look of so many motorhome rear ends.

I was a little amused by the TrailLite staff when they showed me over the Autograph and delivered something that sounded like a warning, about the Peugeot having a six-speed manual gearbox. It’s a little surprising in this day and age but okay for us who like to drive a vehicle rather than just turn the wheel. It’s a smooth and slick change despite having to use

Tested | 47

your left foot! Did you know that these days, a vehicle with a manual gearbox is regarded as having a Millennial anti theft device???

On the road, the Peugeot engine powers the Autograph along very nicely and I have to say, it was quite a pleasure to drive and easy to manoeuvre. Before purchase, it might be prudent to check on where the Peugeot can be serviced, though….

On the road, something to be careful about is the rather low body line and fairly long rear overhang. Undulating road edges, steep gutters and driveways should certainly be approached with care.

Inside

I

t seems to me that NZ motorhomers more senior in years might well remember and like the Autograph 796’s layout. Apart from anything else it features the time honoured ‘NZ back’ – that being a sizeable club lounge in the rear with windows all ‘round, offering great views of the outside world. While the club

Decor is Euro-contemporary and well suited to the bright and open interior. Top: The rear club lounge is a nod to the famous and still-popular New Zealand Back, and also converts to a huge bed if required. Above: There’s plenty of seating up front, but the swivelled cab seats serve as extra pews due to the four-seat cafe-style dinette.

48 | Tested

lounge can be made up into a bed, for those who don’t like to do that every night the roof bed above the seating/dining area up front can be left made-up. While there are other internal essentials, like the kerbside kitchen and bathroom across the aisle, it’s not really a conventional layout, but one that does offer a fair bit of flexibility. Because of the chassis height the living area is lower than the cab and the rear seating areas, but there’s a step up to both. However, there is still enough space for the batteries and water tanks to be under the main floor area, with three floor hatches providing access to everything.

Apart from the black fridge, mostly neutral tones are used for the interior – white, cream and beige – which in combination with the large windows and three roof hatches results in spacious feel to the living area.

Rear Lounge

I

f sitting back, enjoying a beverage of your choice and just watching the world go by is your thing, then the rear lounge is the place to do it. In addition there are the expected features like overhead lockers, rear speakers

This is a six berth motorhome and includes a pull-down roof bed and convertible dinette. If the latter is used, you’ll need the ladder to access the former, which cannot be lowered to its full extent.

Tested | 49

and under-seat storage (at least on the kerb side). Additional storage is available under the raised floor and it’s good for things like shoes or smaller items that require a bit of discrete storage. Come nighttime, out-of-sight downlights are fitted under all the overhead lockers.

For dining or playing board games, there is a free-standing table that is stashed in the adjacent wardrobe when not being used. If the bed is needed then the cushions can be moved around to form a double bed measuring 2.13 m x 1.6 m (7’ x 5’ 3”)

Catering

M

ost of the kitchen looks to be fairly conventional, with a four burner (three gas, one electric) hob and separate oven. The square stainless steel sink is set at the back of the bench and this might be an issue for those with shorter arms – although there is the option of standing at the bench end. It does allow for quite a bit of benchtop space, which can be extended by the use of the hinged flap at the end.

A neat little addition is the foot space at the base of the kitchen cabinet, which also

The kitchen is compact but has good bench space, thanks to the rear-set sink and flip-up extension at the end.

50 | Tested happens to be where the concealed strip lighting is. Kitchen storage ain’t too bad, with three good sized drawers and two overhead lockers that have extra shelves fitted. There was a time when Euro sourced motorhomes didn’t have particularly large fridges, but this one scores well with a Dometic 155-litre 3-way that has a Daewoo microwave oven above.

Ensuite

A

t first glance the fully kitted out bathroom appears to have a ‘wet’ floor, but there is a folding shower screen that minimises water splash around the toilet area. In fact, the bathroom layout reflects a sort of minimalist approach, although all the essential features, including a wash basin, good sized mirror, cupboard and towel rail are provided

Front Area I’d have to say the front living area of this motorhome does look fairly crowded, with its four person café-style dinette, two person sideways facing lounge, front swivelling seats and the elevating bed above. If there’s something not to like I guess it would be that the swivelled cab seats are partly blocked by the dinette seat. It’s a design thing, however, as the cab seats really cannot be integrated into the dinette because of the lowered floor, which is necessary given the low floor height because of the elevating bed. It’s all a bit of compromise really, but that’s the price to pay for a six berth motorhome. A side benefit is that if you have a party and the weather isn’t good for sitting outside, then eight people can be seated inside in reasonable comfort.

The elevating bed measures 1.95 m x 1.22 m (6’ 5” x 4’) while the dinette bed is slightly smaller at 1.8 m x 1 m (5’ 11” x 3’ 3”). If planning on using both, the upper bed can really only be lowered to a certain level, so the supplied ladder will be necessary.

While the bathroom is certainly compact it does have a shower screen, which protects the toilet and basin but still leaves a wet floor.

Tested | 51 Given the flat screen TV location above the rear dinette seat, viewing angles should be okay for at least four people, although meal time viewing might be a bit more restricted.

Electrics

D

epending on power usage, remote camping times might be restricted to a few days as the single 100 AH battery is backed up by a single 100 W solar panel. However, a pair of nine kilogram gas cylinders will keep the fridge, cooker and hot water going for a while.

The eagle eyed might notice that the 230 V power points are still the British style, but I’m sure they will be changed. Although there are enough power points, Bailey do seem to like the rather inconvenient under-seat, near-the-floor variety. Certainly, the main circuit breaker and 12 V fuse panel are on the floor and while easily accessible, they do require bending of the knees to get to. More conveniently located, above the entry door, are the main 12 V touch panel and the water/ space heater controls.

What I Think

T

here’s much to be said for this layout. It’s an interesting variation of the more traditional style that has a club lounge down the rear and a Luton peak bed up front. Yes, there is a compromise or two, but I reckon it’s a very flexible and spacious layout that works for just two people, a family or grandparents with the grandchildren.

Is it the Best of British? That depends on your requirements and point of view, but it’s certainly worth investigating.

Top: Electrical controls are neatly presented and easy to reach, over the entry door. Above: Peugeot’s Boxer feels like a Fiat Ducato but has detail changes that give it a slightly different personality.

52 | Tested

Specs GENERAL Make

Bailey Motorhomes

Model

Autograph 796

Type

B-Class

Berths

6

Approved Seating

6

Licence

Car

LICENCE Make/Model

Peugeot Boxer HDI 160

Engine

2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

119 kW @ 3750 rpm

Torque

350 Nm @ 1750 rpm

Gearbox

6 speed manual

Safety

ABS, dual air bags, ESP, hill start assist

Fuel

90 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

3457 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

4250 kg

Max Payload

793 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

1750 kg

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

7.99 m (26' 2")

Overall Width

2.42 m (8')

Overall Height

2.77 m (9')

Internal Height

2.11m (6' 11")

Main Bed

2.13 m x 1.6 m (7' x 5' 3")

Drop down Bed

1.95 m x 1.22 m (6' 5" x 4')

Dinette Bed

1.8 m x 1.0 m (5' 11" x 3' 3")

Tested | 53

Specs EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

No

Awning

Fiamm F 45

Entry Steps

Moulded

Hob

Thetford 4 burner & grill

Rangehood

No

Sink

Stainless steel

Fridge

155 L Dometic RMSL 8500 3-way

Microwave

Daewoo

Lighting

12 V LED

12 V Sockets/USB Outlets

4

Air Conditioner

No

Space Heater

Truma Combi 4E LPG/electric

Hot Water System

Truma Combi 4E LPG/electric

Toilet

Thetford cassette

Shower

Flex hose combo

Pros…

• Spacious • 6 berth/6 seat motorhome • Rear club lounge • Good internal storage • Elevating bed can be left made up • Only two keys

CONs… • Low ground clearance • Limited external storage (especially for six people) • Power point locations • Front layout around the cab

CAPACITIES Batteries

1 x 110 AH

Solar

100 W

LPG

2 x 9 kg

Fresh Water

1 x 93.5 L

Grey Water

1 x 93.5 L

Hot Water

10 L

Toilet

19 L

PRICE - ON ROAD NZ As Tested

NZ$ 155,995.00

Warranty Peugeot

3 years/100,000kms

Warranty Bailey

2 years/10 years bodyshell integrity

CONTACT:

Click for Google Maps

North Island TrailLite Auckland 77 Paerata Road Pukekohe. 2120 T: 0800 872 455 W: www.TrailLite.co.nz Click for Google Maps

South Island TrailLite Christchurch 61 Hayton Road, Wigram, Christchurch 8042 T: 0800 872 455 W: www.TrailLite.co.nz

54 | Tested

“Is it the Best of British?

That depends on your requirements and point of view, but it’s certainly worth investigating.”

Go wherever the road takes you. Literally.

Lake Pukaki, South Island

No road restrictions, modern self-contained motorhomes and outstanding customer service.

Experience New Zealand your way in a premium rental motorhome from Wilderness.

Find out where the road can take you at wilderness.co.nz/itineraries

56 | New Release

New Iveco Daily 4x4

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter’s control of the Australian 4x4 van market is about to end‌

by Allan Whiting of outbacktravelaustralia.com.au

New Release | 57

Iveco’s big 4x4 Daily vans will come in different sizes and with single or dual rear wheel options. Combined with an 8-speed auto they should give the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter a run for its money.

Look out Mercedes-Benz, the 2019 release Down Under of new Iveco Daily 4x4 models is going to be a game changer.

The current Daily 4x4 is a military-style, highmobility vehicle with live axles front and rear, high ground clearance and three-speed transfer case. That’s fine for those who need to conquer extreme terrain, but the configuration has some limitations for those who want a less ambitious vehicle. Put a motorhome body on this truck and it develops a high centre of gravity that’s not desirable in side-slope conditions. Also, ride quality is truck-like and the only transmission is a manual.

Enter the additional 2019 variants that are built around a dual-wishbone, independent front suspension and a chassis that’s much closer to the ground. In place of the three-speed

transfer case with an ultra-low-speed bottom ratio is a more conventional two-speed transfer.

Standard is a six-speed manual gearbox, plus there’s an eight-speed Hi-Matic automatic transmission option.

Billed as the most comprehensive lineup in its class, the 2019 Daily 4x4 range includes cab-chassis, van, chassis-cowl and crewcab versions, with a choice of single wheels all-around or duals at the rear. Also, there are GVMs up to 7.0 tonnes, with a 4.3-tonne payload, maximum load of 2700 kg on the front axle and 5000 kg on the rear axle.

All variants are powered by the current 130 kW, 3.0-litre engine and come with 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Stability Program (ESP).

58 | New Release

The revised Daily dashboard is impressive, especially the blue inserts that break the monotony of the usual light-commercial black and/or grey.

converted to campervans for Britz. While the front ends of the latter were bullet-proof, those vehicles had snow-plough-like final drive ratios that meant the engine was spinning The new Daily 4x4 vans are 5.5 and 7.0-tonnes at ridiculous revs at 100 km/h, so most of GVM models, with a choice of manual or auto them blew up. As a result, the Daily 4x4 was boxes. Cargo volumes are 9 to 18 cubic metres abandoned for Australian consumption, until for the single-wheel off-road models and from the all-live axle model was successfully released 16 to 18 cubic metres for the dual-rear-wheel, in 2013. We’re looking forward to providing all-road models. more details of this 2019 Daily 4x4 range and an on-and off-road test. Stay tuned!

The dual wishbone suspension isn’t a new design, having been seen here years ago on a limited number of Daily 4x4 vans and cabchassis. The cab-chassis went mainly to local shire and council fleets and the vans were Traction gear includes centre, front and rear differential locks, which is a huge advantage over the Sprinter 4x4.

New Release | 59

The dual wishbone suspension isn’t a new design, having been seen here years ago on a limited number of (early) Daily 4x4 vans and cab-chassis.

60 | SheDrives

Van Diagram The nuts and bolts of choosing a micro moving home‌

by Marsha Hovey @someginger

SheDrives | 61 “I wouldn’t want to be the one doing that,” he yelled over from the front steps. “That’s way too much pressure. If you mess that up, man, you could…”

“Yea, uhuh, we got it! Thanks for the support!” I hollered back through gritted teeth.

These super encouraging words from the peanut gallery were targeted at my trusty assistant, perched on the roof of the van, ready to cut a hole in it. Even though I measured millions of times, and I had a pretty good idea of what to do, I still couldn’t find the confidence to bring the edge of that blade to my brand new van. I opted for the cowardly role of garbage can holder inside the van to catch the molten hot metal shards flying all over the place. He fired up the angle grinder, asked if I was ready, and I lied to say that I was.

Cutting a giant hole in the roof of a perfectly working, 100% new van is perhaps the second most irresponsible thing I’ve ever been a part of (first would be quitting the high paying job and tossing all attachments aside to buy the aforementioned van).

For Marsha, the compact Nissan NV200 proved to be the perfect combination of space and size. Keeping it understated also makes it a great stealth camper for flying under the radar.

62 | SheDrives

That’s one square cut for a man, one giant leap for van kind…

Seeding Is Believing

O

nce the seed had been planted – that I could choose to live in a van and free myself of housing and career frustrations – there was no stopping it from growing into a full-fledged tree of an idea. More importantly, I was dead set on making it a reality. All of my free time was spent watching YouTube videos, reading blogs and digging through the internet for DIY van building tutorials. Let’s be honest, I was searching these things during non-free time as well, switching back and forth through websites at work as quickly as I could. From what I gathered after a few months of research, I had two options:

1: Buy an older van, perhaps a GMC Safari or a Chevy Express, empty my savings to do so, and build out the back, hoping the mechanics of the vehicle were still in good shape.

2: Take out a car loan and buy a brand new van, perhaps a Ford Transit or Sprinter, then build out the back, hoping to get out of debt and own the vehicle in this lifetime.

After a lot of deliberating I came to my conclusion. Buying a brand new vehicle was a more responsible and lasting decision if I truly planned on living out of it and using it as my main source of transportation. As a solo female on the road, safety was a deciding factor. Being stuck on the side of the highway in the middle

SheDrives | 63

Being able to escape at a moments notice and not attract attention had huge appeal of Wyoming because my 1989 Hunk of Junk broke down for the fourth time that month didn’t seem appealing, especially with no real background in fixing broken down hunks of junk. Not to mention, emptying my savings to buy an older vehicle meant less money to live off of during a stretch of time where money wouldn’t be flowing in. So, the new shiny van made the most sense.

Less Is More

W

hen it came to size, smaller seemed more ideal for my needs. I was buying and building this for myself; accommodating my stuff, and my stuff alone.

Knowing full well I would be in and out of cities from time to time, I didn’t want to be inconvenienced by a giant van. The two main vehicles that stuck out to me were the Ford

Transit Connect and the Nissan NV200. Both were practically SUV sized, but had larger, boxier cargo compartments with lots of room for customisation. Also, they cost less than $25,000 brand new, which was a realistic price ceiling for me.

Jumping from dealership to dealership I tried to picture my future life in these vans, lying down in the backs of them as the salesmen looked at me with strange faces. I had conducted all of my tests, weighed all the options and started my dirty work to purchase a Nissan NV200 S, the base model van newly available in the USA. I ended up pitting two local dealerships against each other, trying to make their quotas at the end of the month. They were so keen on making the sale they were literally fighting over my business, swapping vehicles back and forth in some sort of weird poker game. Long story

64 | SheDrives

Above: Insulation is vital in a metal box with cold air circulating all around.

Below: Inspiration and ideas are everywhere. Deciding what was needed was another thing.

Overlooking Washington and the lush expanse of the Pacific Northwest.

SheDrives | 65 short; the dealership that won me over knocked $3,000 off the list price, gave me a 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty and 0.9% financing on a 4 year loan. In the world of new car buying, I think I did pretty good for myself.

My little micro home on wheels sat parked in the driveway of my actual home, untouched for a few weeks while I started to pack my room and prepare for a new chapter. In theory, all of my research and internet studying had turned me into van building expert. In reality, I was terrified to apply my new knowledge to the pristine, very expensive vehicle waiting outside my window. The clock was ticking, my lease was ending and the road was calling my name. As scary as it was, it was also so exciting. Time to put the dream into action.

One Small Step‌ The tiny pieces of black metal were flying in all directions, landing on my bare skin from time to time and testing my ability to hold still while my assistant worked on creating the perfect square space above me. The big hunk of metal dropped in the bin and the hole was finished. Just one last thing; does the vent actually fit the space we measured? I climbed on top of the van and with very shaky hands slowly lowered the fan into place. The plastic corners slipped perfectly inside the still-hot metal edges of the roof. It fit! A tiny victory for some, perhaps, but for me it was the biggest relief in the world and the confidence booster I needed to keep going: The first step in a series of never ending steps to turn my van into the home I had been dreaming of.

Thank goodness for Home Depot and good friends!

66 | Product Test

Narva Explora A compact light bar ideal for smaller vehicles offering increased and better focused light‌

by Allan Whiting of outbacktravelaustralia.com.au

Product Test | 67

L

ight bars are all the rage and, it appears, here to stay. Australian automotive lighting and electrical manufacturer, Narva, says its Explora LED range has Advanced Optic Drive Technology and claims it delivers 30 percent brighter light output than conventional ‘bars.

The Optic Drive reflector shape focusses LED beams more precisely than small ‘pocket’ reflectors, eliminating much of the wasted, scattered light that conventional LED light bars emit.

The Explora range consists of a 12-LED, 350 mm single row, 60-watt bar; an 18-LED, 550 mm single-row, 90-watt bar and a 36-LED, 550 mm double-row, 180-watt bar. All use five-watt Osram Duris-P8 globes with a colour temperature of 5700 Kelvin and feature larger than normal Optic Drive reflectors. The housings are powder-coated, die-cast aluminium, with

The Explora fits neatly to the front of our little Suzuki Grand Vitara

68 | Product Test

We judged the distance and spread claims to be accurate and found the light intensity similar to the output from Narva’s Enhanced Optic LED driving lights. There was no wasted ‘scatter’ and less ‘low-beam-blindness’ when dipping from high beam mode. Pricing was yet to be established at the time of our preview test in Mounting brackets and capscrews are stainless December 2018. steel and an optional number plate mounting bracket is available for the 350 mm model, allowing it to be fitted to a standard front bumper without the need for a nudge bar.

The 350 mm model has a claimed one-lux beam range of 275 metres; the 550mm singlerow model, 345 metres, and the double-row 550mm model, 460 metres. integrated cooling fins and sealed ends, to reduce the chance of leaks. Polycarbonate plain lenses are fitted, along with Nitto breathers and pre-wired weatherproof connectors. All models are fully sealed and submersible to IP68 and IP69K standards compliance.

We tested the 550 mm double-row model and found the fitment a tad fiddly, juggling semi-tightened foot and side-attachment cap screws, while centering the light bar on our Suzuki Grand Vitara’s nudge bar. However, it tightened up well, offering very secure mountings that eliminated shake.

Product Test | 69

The Optic Drive reflector shape focusses LED beams more precisely than small ‘pocket’ reflectors, eliminating much of the wasted, scattered light that conventional LED light bars emit.

70 | Travel

Secret Squirrel

It’s good to be back in our home state…

We have secret camping spots squirrelled away in our GPS that occasionally we share…

by Richard Robertson

The ‘Who’d a Thought It’ lookout above Quirindi is a favourite for a quick overnight stop.

Travel | 71

O

ne of the great joys of our tooinfrequent travels in Project Polly and test vehicles is finding little or unknown camping spots. There’s a time and place for caravan parks and we’ve stayed in some great ones – Dalgety, Bright and Tumut spring to mind – but by-and-large we prefer freedom camping. Apart from not wanting to spend the night cheek-by-jowl with strangers, we are self contained and usually drive until late and leave early, thus making little or no use of available facilities. While cost is a factor, it’s a secondary consideration to enjoyment and travel flexibility.

The CMCA’s RV Friendly Town program has some fabulous stops for the short-term visitor highly recommended. One we’ve used a few times is at the southern end of NSW’s famous Hunter Valley, in the small town of Branxton.

You don’t get views like this in a crowded caravan park…

What makes the spot so handy is it’s at the northbound end (or southbound beginning) of the new M15 Hunter Expressway, which removes the tedium of driving through Maitland and associated towns when heading to/from Sydney on the New England Highway.

For us, when heading north from home on the Southern Highlands, it’s a convenient three hour drive up around Sydney and along the M1 before picking up the M15 at its southern end, some 20 km west of Newcastle. Heading away just after dinner gets us past Sydney with little traffic and into Braxton around 10 or 11 pm, in time for a glass of medical red and a good night’s sleep. To save time in the morning it’s just a few minutes backtracking to the closest Golden Arches for a bacon and egg McThingy breakfast deal before hitting the highway. The

72 | Travel site works equally well heading south if it’s getting late, as by the time we leave after an overnight stay we miss peak hour into Sydney in the morning.

The RV Friendly campsite itself is at Branxton Oval, at the end of John Rose Avenue, just off the main street (which is the now bypassed and little-used New England Highway).

Vehicles are required to be self-contained and a limit of 72 hours applies, if you feel like a longer stay. Bins, toilets and water are available on site and it’s just a short walk to the local shops. When you drive in, go left (keeping the oval on your right), past the ammenities block and through the gateway to find a spot, hopefully amongst the trees. There have been plenty of places to choose from when we’ve visited, but I’m sure it can get busy.

Secret Spots

W

e used Braxton as staging post last October, on the way to Gunnedah for the CMCA National Rally. For the return journey, rather than retrace our steps we followed a big loop inland via Coolah, Wellington, Cowra, Boorowa and Goulburn, which although longer was far more scenic and enjoyable.

Needing an overnight stay the loose plan was Cowra, but plans go awry and the freedom camping spot in my memory is probably still out there, just on a different road. We pushed on towards Boorowa and late afternoon found us driving into a developing storm with very strong, cold winds, plus the rapidly increasing chance of a ‘roo strike. Finding a sport for the night became an imperative and while Mrs iM kept lookout, “With my ‘roo eyes on,” as she says, I had mine programmed to spot any possible campsite.

On a sweeping bend I saw it; a track off to the left that disappeared behind the small cutting

Top: Even a Princess enjoys a spot of freedom camping!

Above: Sometimes, just well off the side of a quiet country dirt road is all you need.

Travel | 73

Braxton Oval is a designated RV Friendly stop and a great place for a night or two. the road was about to pass through. The track actually curved right around the back of the cutting and emerged a few hundred metres further on, and at its crest was an small open area unseen from the road and ringed by hills behind, and not in sight of anyone. Perfect!

paddock gate we were parked beside (but clear of). Oh, and curious sheep. We were in our own private Idaho and couldn’t have been happier.

A quick inspection found a spot clear of potentially falling tree branches – the wind was howling – while the looping track gave us an ‘escape’ in two directions if needed. It was also level and we still had phone reception, so without further ado we parked up, cranked up the Webasto heater, poured a drink and settled in for the evening. Although maybe just 50 m back from the main road the spot was invisible to passing traffic and our only likely visitor would be the landowner whose seldom-used

often hear people say how they are too afraid to stop anywhere except at a caravan park or proper campground. While I understand some of their concerns, I mainly feel sorry for them. That’s because, as in this case, the best things in life literally are free: free of people, noise and any signs of civilisation.

Yes, they’re free of cost too and that’s good, but it’s not the driving force. Such spots are a return to our heritage; to the times when you could travel and just stop pretty much anywhere, light a fire and camp under the

Thoughts

I

74 | Travel stars without raising the ire of locals or the cry of “Non-compliant anti-competitive behaviour,” from the self-interested and self-appointed caravan and camping industry.

We slept like babes in the total darkness; the silence broken only by the wind that gently rocked us and the occasional passing heavy vehicle. After breakfast be broke camp and departed without leaving a trace, finding great coffee in Boorowa and with the coordinates of our newfound secret spot squirrelled safely away in our GPS. Were was it? I’m not telling – you do the work and find your own. While I’m all for sharing for the greater good, some places are special and best kept to ourselves, even if they are just as basic as a hidden roadside clearing. Go find your own and, as the caravan park people say, “Go make some memories”…

Branxton Oval (is) just off the main street, which is the nowbypassed and little-used New England Highway. Bins, toilets and water are available on site and it’s just a short walk to the local shops.

Travel | 75

Our ‘secret spot’ just off the Lachlan Valley Way mightn’t look like much, but it’s quiet, private, protected and has two-way access. It’s also Secret Squirrel approved…

76 | Travel Events: 32nd Illawarra Folk Festival

CMCA

RV Friendly Towns

T

he RV Friendly program is a Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Limited (CMCA) initiative aimed at assisting RV travellers as they journey throughout this wonderful country. An RV Friendly Town™ (RVFT) is one that provides a certain number of amenities and a certain level of services for these travellers. When

RV tourists enter a town displaying the RVFT sign they know they will be welcome. Certain services will be provided for them that may not be available in other centres, and they will have access to a safe place to stay overnight and possibly for a longer period. This month’s featured RV Friendly Towns are:

Travel | 77

Ungarie, NSW

U

ngarie is a small farming village just 42 kilometres from West Wyalong, in the Bland Shire. The intriguingly named Humbug Creek runs through town and when full, provides lush surroundings.

Take a step back in time with a visit to the Ungarie Museum, to learn more about the historic Wollongough Station. The museum reflects the ingenuity and thrift of the local country people and the volunteers there love to share community stories. Ungarie has a range of dining, pub and club facilities, along with a

Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Casual Parking (near retail centre)

swimming pool for the warmer months. While in the Bland Shire area, a visit to this quaint farming town is a must!

You can find short and long term parking at Ungarie Showground. A donation is required to stay; however, visitors can negotiate their length of stay. Showers, toilets, bins, covered seating, power, BBQ, water and a dump point are all located at the showgrounds, while pets are permitted on the site. Mobile coverage is also available.

Bland Shire Council Visitor Information Centre Shire St, West Wyalong, NSW Ph: 02 6972 2266 council@blandshire.nsw.gov.au www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au Wollongough St, Ungarie

Short & Long Term Parking

Ungarie Showgrounds, 64 Crown Camp Rd, Ungarie Donations required, negotiable stay limit, pets on lead, mobile phone coverage, showers, toilets, bins covered seating, power, BBQ, water

Dump Point

Ungarie Showgrounds 64 Crown Camp Rd, Ungarie Lat: -33.636250 Long: 146.979302

Potable Water

Ungarie Showgrounds 64 Crown Camp Rd, Ungarie

78 | Travel

Ceduna, SA

C

eduna, on the shores of Murat Bay (part of the Great Australian Bight), is a lovely little town with a population of approximately 2300. Home to a robust oyster industry, your taste buds are set to enjoy every moment spent visiting the area.

Ceduna is set amidst a patchwork of grain farms, natural bushland and rugged rocky bays, secluded white sandy beaches and ever-changing seas. With a reputation of being an ideal tourist destination, the town offers an abundance of seafood, foot-print-free beaches and wilderness, spectacular sunsets and whale Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Casual Parking (near retail centre) Short & Long Term Parking

Dump Point Potable Water

watching, making it the perfect place to base yourself when exploring The Great Australian Bight.

Those travelling to this quaint little town can find short and long term parking at Shelley Beach Caravan Park. Parking is available for up to 96 hours at a rate of $10 per vehicle per night. The dump point is located at the BP service station on the Eyre Highway, on the western side of town. Potable water is available across from the hospital, also located on the Eyre Highway.

Ceduna Visitor Information Centre 58 Poynton St, Ceduna Ph: 08 8625 3343 www.ceduna.sa.gov.au O’Loughlin Terrace on the foreshore and behind the Visitor Information Centre on Merghiny St, Ceduna Shelly Beach Caravan Park, Decres Bay Rd Self-contained vehicles only, $10pvpn, 96hrs, pets on lead, mobile coverage Lot 260 NW Coastal Highway Lat: -20.79445 Long: 116.85928 BP, 1 Eyre Hwy, western side of Ceduna -32.11317, 133.67255

Travel | 79

Walgett , NSW

J

u Walgett is in Outback Northern New South Wales, some 691 kilometres northwest of Sydney. The town is known as the gateway to the opal fields, with Lightening Ridge just 78 kilometres to the north. The area was made famous in 1928 when the ‘Light of the World’ opal was found in fields nearby, weighing almost half a kilo.

Walgett is the Gamilaroi word for “The meeting of two rivers”, named for its location at the junction of the Namoi and Barwon Rivers. The rich, fertile soil of Walgett Shire has made the region a successful producer of quality wheat,

chickpeas, cotton and beef.

Along with fossicking for opals, another popular activity is fishing for Murray cod and yellowbelly in the rivers, so be sure to make Walgett a priority when visiting Outback Northern NSW. The Walgett Primitive Camping Ground, in Alex Trevallion Park, allows short term parking for up to 48 hours at no cost. A free dump point is located at the camping ground, along with potable water, toilets, bins, covered seating and barbecue facilities.

Tourist/Visitor Information Centre

Walgett Visitor Information Centre 88 Fox St, Walgett P: 02 6828 6139 www.walgett.nsw.gov.au

Casual Parking (near retail centre)

Walgett VIC, 88 Fox St

Short & Long Term Parking

48hr, Walgett Primitive Camping Ground, Alex Trevallion Park, Castlereagh Hwy, nil cost, toilets, bins, covered seating, water, barbecue, pets on lead

Dump Point

Walgett Primitive Camping Ground, Alex Trevallion Park, Castlereagh Hwy (Lat Long: -30.03443, 148.11542) Walgett Primitive Camping Ground, Alex Trevallion Park, Castlereagh Hwy

Potable Water

80 | Mobile Tech

Appy 2019 The year ahead, and beyond, is going to be app dominated, writes Emily Barker‌

Mobile Tech | 81

O

ne hundred and twenty two billion dollars is a huge number, but that’s what the global community is expected to spend on digital apps this year. To put this in a little more perspective, this amounts to five times the growth rate of the standard global economy or double the size of the global box office market and larger than the live and recorded music industry internationally.

App downloads have been growing exponentially at an unprecedented rate. In 2018, 194 billion apps were downloaded – a whopping 35 percent more than in 2016 and interestingly, 65 percent of those downloads were for non-game apps. Amazingly, time spent in apps rose 45 percent in the same time period, to a whopping 720 billion hours!

Translating these figures means different things for different sectors. Retailers are fast realising

they need to make the digital transition sooner as we are shopping more from our devices than ever before. However, it’s peer-to-peer shopping and services such as Gumtree, eBay, Uber and Airbnb that appear to be accelerating the most. This, in a consumer-driven economy is bad news for traders, although probably good news for the environment.

As Christian Lous Lange famously stated, “Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master: This dramatic growth appears due to the unique role our phones play in our daily lives, with the typical user spending a minimum of three hours per day within apps. The question is why? Why are such small screens drawing so much of our attention? What does this mean and, where exactly are we headed? The world of mobile apps is a fluid one that is constantly

82 | Mobile Tech

undergoing serious technological advances and their functionalities are evolving rapidly.

‘The results are stark and undeniable: when it comes to mobile, the future is truly now.

There is no longer any industry or company that can afford to ignore mobile. In 2019, the mobile app industry is the vital thread that runs through the entire business world.’

App Annie In addition to buying things, reading things and watching things, we are also, unsurprisingly, talking to each other more, with social media apps remaining strong in the field (although a lot of these are ‘so-called’ dating apps). We are also banking more, with the average user checking their bank account at least once daily on a mobile device. These insights are from

the industry-leading app market data analytics company, App Annie. Its annual report is an interesting reflection on key indicators behind the booming mobile economy. Tracking these market trends and outlining what to watch in 2019 is generally of interest for those in business, but there is certainly value in it for consumers and end users too.

So, what can we expect to see more of in 2019?

In-App Savings $$

W

hile businesses and advertisers fight it out for a slice of the mobile pie, its predicted that consumers will see an increase in ‘online only offers’ in a bid to attract even more traffic. We already see this applied to everything from groceries to fashion brands and almost every major retailer in between.

Often, frustratingly, we can purchase in-app or

Mobile Tech | 83 online the same products cheaper and more reliably stocked than in store – even when standing in the store. The consequences of this, however, means uncertainty for ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses who are simply unable to compete with the generosity of online discounts.

Peer to Peer Selling

T

he term ‘peer-to-peer’ – known as P2P – is widely used, especially in tech talk and can mean different things in different contexts. The P2P economy is the buying and selling of services or products between private individuals; freed of the limitations of Saturday classifieds, this collaborative consumption is gaining impressive momentum, made possible by the development of digital technologies.

Sometimes referred to as ‘Uberisation’, it has attracted significant investment from service providers who, while not directly involved in the production of P2P goods or services, work to make P2P transactions more visible, safer and efficient. This includes a variety of direct selling digital platforms such as eBay and Gumtree, and extends to sectors such as transport, hospitality and even project funding.

Then, there are the P2P finance apps: PayPal’s Venmo broke this ground of cutting out the middle man, and direct transfer apps have flourished since. The P2P economy is a much more viable system in the modern mobile age, although not still without some risk, and certain security measures should always be observed.

IoT, PWA’s, 5G, AR & VR

I

nitialism will take over the world. Well not quite, but there’s a whole new series of nextgen technologies and associated digital tech terminology continuing to grow (remember when an apple was simply fruit and you could use a hashtag to indicate a number).

IoT is short for the ‘Internet of Things’, and its predicted to transform every industry in the world. IoT-connected devices can be everyday items such as watches, household lights, washing machines or domestic appliances; each with its own IP address for internet connectivity and the ability to communicate and be controlled remotely. IoT devices can also be components of machines and large scale systems, from city services to aeroplane engines. Billions of devices all around the world are already connected in this way and the future appears to be just about here; especially if the 5G enigma manifests.

PWA or Progressive Web Apps are web applications that deliver an almost complete mobile app experience without taking up any significant amount of physical storage space within the device. Traditionally, the better the app the larger its size, and with limited storage space users are often selective with the apps they install. PWA’s are run directly from the browser, and once installed on the home screen can even work offline or with limited connectivity. They also don’t need to be installed from app stores; transforming the mobile ‘ecosystem’ as apps cross platforms and users break free from their devices’ preferred developers.

AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) are also set to take off in 2019. With an everincreasing and diverse range of roles and applications including education, entertainment, healthcare, e-commerce and retail, our mobile devices remain leaders in the charge into the next frontier of interactive experiences.

Next Issue | 84

TRAKK’N ON model and we’re certainly looking forward to it.

N

ext issue is March – where does the time go? – and finally we get to bring you a touring test of Trakka’s new twinbed Trakkaway 720. We’ve got a few nights to really try out the new layout, which also opens up the bedroom as a secondary living area. It’s an interesting variation of a proven and popular

Feb 7-10

SEP

20-23

OCT

4-7

OCT

20-23 Feb

Also on the agenda is a Carado T447 from NZ. Malcolm tells me the Kiwi weather was so dire the day he took it out he couldn’t do external photos – surely a first! – but did cover the interior, so watch out for his impressions.

The March issue will be out on Saturday the 2nd. Until then why not join our more than Friends and followers on 32,000 Facebook , Pinterest and Instagram ?

Twitter

SEP

13-1720-23

Facebook “f ” Logo

OCT

4-7

OCT

20-23

RGB / .ai

Facebook “f ” Logo

RGB / .ai

Feb 20-25

OCT

26-28

Newcastle Caravan, Camping & Holiday Expo

Adelaide Caravan & Camping Show

Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Show

Newcastle Entertainment Centre & Showgrounds Brown Rd, Broadmeadow.

NSW. 2292

Adelaide Showgrounds Good wood Rd. Wayville.

Melbourne Showgrounds Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale. Vic. 3032.

• • • •

•

• • • •

Open 9:00-5:00 (4:00 Sunday) Adults: $17 Concession: $10 Kids - U16 Free with adult

Visit Website Click for Google Maps

Open 10:00-5:00 Adults: $10 Concession: $8 Kids - School age free with adult

Visit Website Click for Google Maps

• • •

O pen 9:30-5:00 Wed-Sun, 9:30-8:00 Fri-Sat, (4:00 Monday) Adults: $20 Concession: $16 Kids - U15 Free

Visit Website Click for Google Maps

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes, campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general?

Drop us a line at info@imotorhome.com.au and we’ll happily promote it in this calendar.

OCT

4-7