Camper Trailer Shopping

By Richard Corless

When I began to think of ideas to write an article about camper trailers I thought it would be easy.   I mean surely there are only a few basic designs with only a few hundred dollars difference between models.  Right?  WRONG!  After visiting the 4WD and Adventure show at McCallum Park in November I now profess to displaying certain symptoms of naivety. 

As a result of this new found innocence I endeavoured to sift amongst the many ranks of camper trailers that were on show.  For a start prices ranged from $4500 and went all the way to $40000.  That’s more than a lot of the caravans that were on display.  So what was the difference between the two prices besides a trip to the bank for a second mortgage?

It really does depend on taste.  Some trailers do look more ‘pretty’ but may not be as practical.  They may come in different colours but if a silver one is going to cost you more than a green one, which one will you buy?  These are problems that you will encounter and have to figure out and, thankfully there are your concern so I can save a few thousand words and get into the nitty gritty.  Therefore, for the purpose of this article, I will look at the practical applications of the camper trailer as opposed to the myriad of camper trailers that are available to the public.  There are just too many camper trailers to list and to do a comparative study of them all would go beyond the boundaries of this magazine and would not do justice to the vehicles themselves.  Consequently I have broken the article into factors that you will need to consider before purchasing your camper trailer.  These are factors that you will need to ask yourself before you purchase the trailer.  Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive but it will help you to narrow down the trailer you are looking for.  I hope it helps!

The principal factor that will determine what you purchase will be cost.  As silly as it may sound you will need to set yourself a figure and then allow maybe up to 20% for ‘add-ons’ (it happens!).  So if you are only willing to spend $5000 then maybe keep $800-$1000 in reserve for accessories such as an annexe, heavy duty canvas etc.  Be warned though $5000 for a camper trailer will only get you a basic unit.  It will more than likely be a 6 x 4 foot trailer  (the smallest) with a basic sleeping area and small dining area within the tent section.   A lot of manufacturers for these trailers will probably have an annexe for an extra $500 (remember the add ons?).  I would recommend spending the extra money for an annexe as it gives you more room to move and store things.  This size of trailer is fine if all you want is a cheap ‘weekender’ and is great for a medium sized 2WD but if you are looking at going away for much longer periods then you will have to budget accordingly. 

Whilst at the Adventure Show I saw quite a few camper trailers that fell within the $10000 range.  They were all a very good basic unit.  Canvas quality (weight) was noticeably better than the cheaper versions and this is something to take into consideration as tearing of the tent structure will have to be repaired and does not come cheaply. Some manufacturers included the awning as well as a kitchen area that swung off the trailer door.  This a great idea but be warned that if the door isn’t hinged correctly to the trailer over time it will work loose and droop so that it becomes difficult to close.  Just check that the hinge is strong enough to take the weight of the kitchen items that the trailer door is designed for.  Basically look at the hinge.  Is it big enough?  Is it thick enough?  There should be two good solid hinges on the door, some even have a third.  The size of these trailers is more than adequate for a family of four children and two adults.  Mum and dad get the comfy double bed (of course!) while the little people have their own space either in the annexe (sometimes included in the price) or the tent section itself. 

What else could you expect from a $10000 unit?  Once you hit the $10000 mark you start to get into off road campers.  The first difference is size.  The general dimensions of this trailer will be in the vicinity of 8 x 5 feet and a trailer depth of up to twenty inches or more is not uncommon.  This is very deep and will accommodate most eskies (a must in our dry climate) and other camping equipment.  Another item that appears on these trailers is an off road tow bar.  Unlike your conventional tow bar this has heavy duty rubber fitted inbetween two metal plates.  It is hitched to your vehicle with a cylindrical pin and believe me it will take a lot of ‘grunt’ to rip your vehicle apart from the camper trailer.  This style of tow bar is essential if you want to go off-roading with your trailer.  However, if you’re just as happy to stay in caravan parks then a standard tow ball is all you need.  Personally I don’t believe you need to spend any more than $10000 on a camper trailer.  The size is good for large families and you can fit most of your camping gear in the trailer itself.  If you want to take your aluminium dinghy along racks can be fitted on the trailer but usually at extra cost.  All of these trailers have space for gas bottles, water storage (usually located underneath the trailer) and room for your jerry cans to carry extra fuel.  There are both on-road and off-road versions so most driving situations are catered for.

For those of you with more money to spend the sly is the limit.  The first thing I noticed was you can have two double beds instead of just the standard double bed that comes in most of the units I have spoken about so far.  If you have a large family this might be what you are after.  But be warned the prices for these trailers start from around $15000 and there aren’t too many extras included in this price.  If you have the standard ‘two child’ family but not a standard $15000 you could always buy a $10000 camper trailer and take a couple of camping beds with you; it’s what I do and even our dog has his own camp bed! 

Once you approach the realm of $20000 the style of camper trailer changes considerably.  Some of these models look very ‘space age’ in appearance and are designed with the 4WD enthusiast who wants to get of the main track, even the minor dirt track, and explore the desert country of Western Australia.  These really are the super luxury models and personally I would question the expense in contrast to the amount of luxury you are buying.  Also you should remember that these camper trailers are only capable of being towed by a large 4WD or a standard car with a very large engine.  To be honest, if you have a 2WD vehicle then I would suggest you look at a dedicated caravan.  These camper trailers are really for your hard core 4WD enthusiast.  These guys don’t come back with just extra striping down the side of the vehicle; they come back with dents made by feral bulls!  I’m not going to say much more about camper trailers within this price range.  The majority of people who can afford this unit without having to take out an extra mortgage are few and far between and I believe that the majority of people reading this article will more than likely be paying up to $15000.  Anymore and you really need to be looking at a caravan; seriously!

Now that I have detailed the pricing of a camper trailer it’s time to look at a few other aspects before you purchase. 

I believe the next important point is the duration of your trips.  If you are going away just once a year then is there really any need to pay more than $5000?  If it is for two people and you are going away for no more than 6-7 days then you really don’t need to look much further than a trailer that is within the $5000 mark.  However, if you’re like me and are spending most school holidays surfing or fishing up north then you really need to consider spending a bit more in order to enjoy all of your trips away.  The $8000 - $10000 range of camper trailers will mostly fit the nuclear family (two adults and two children) in comfort.  They will be big enough so you are not tripping over each other in the middle of the night (very important for the midnight ‘wee’ walk!) and if you are unlucky enough to score a day or so of rain you will be kept dry, although I can’t guarantee there’ll be no complaints about the weather! 

For the larger family you may need to spend up to $15000 for a bigger unit but as I have already explained this may  not be necessary if you have double bunk camp beds and can find a large enough camper trailer for $10000; they’re out there and some are even made right here in Western Australia.  I have been away seven times this year and the duration of my stay is anywhere between four to seven nights.  Four of us fit comfortably within the tent and this includes two fridges and a table and I can tell you I certainly didn’t pay $10000 for my trailer.  My little trick was to spend another $200 on an awning which covers the whole of the trailer area.  It has kept out torrential rain (believe me it was torrential) and during summer it provides much needed shade.  I am currently in the planning stages of a two month trip to Broome and return and I will have no hesitation using my trusty camper trailer for this trip.  So, if you are going to be a regular camper throughout the year you really don’t need to spend anymore that $10000 on a good quality camper trailer infact you could probably do it cheaper if you have good look around at what manufacturers have to offer.

The next topic I would like to cover is that of simplicity.  Most of us have heard of the KISS formula (Keep It Simple Stupid).  The KISS formula is as much at home in the area of camper trailers as it is elsewhere in our lives.  Previously I mentioned that a lot of camper trailers are coming equipped with kitchen areas.  This isn’t necessarily a bad idea, however, some units have so many items tacked on that your trailer door is buckling under the weight of unnecessary items.  All you really need is a small area for washing up and maybe a ‘pump’ tap running from your water storage area to your sink.  Do you really need a tap?  Do you need a kitchen area?  I don’t have either of these mainly because I camp out in caravan parks and I use the camper’s kitchen that most parks have.  Thus, my camper trailer is much simpler to set up.  Also, I noticed on some models that the trailer door opened out in the middle of the annexe creating an obstruction for anyone wanting to get from the front to the back of the annexe or vice-versa.  So if you really want a kitchen make sure it opens out at one end of the annexe and not in the middle.  It is simple systems like these that go a long way for making your camping trip much more pleasant and enjoyable.

OK, so I’ve covered the cost of the trailer, the size of the trailer, the duration of the camping trip and the simplicity factor.  There are of course many other issues that should be considered before you purchase a camper trailer.  However, these are minor issues and should not interfere with the enjoyment of your camping experience.  I’ve touched on some of these issues within this article such as the use of an awning but due to space consideration I will have to discuss these minor issues in a future article.

Just remember, work out your budget and allow a further 20% on the price for extras.  Consider the size of the trailer with your needs and try to keep the whole unit simple.  If you follow these basic rules you should enjoy the experience.

HAPPY CAMPING!!!