iMotorhome mag

azin

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because getting there is half the fun...

Issue 29: July 20 2013

Revisiting Trakka’s off-road star...

Diary of a Cook-Up...Mrs iMotorhome looks at non-LPG cooking options!

Lock & Load!Frontline’s HiAce with a difference...

TrakkaduWin!$50 Caltex

Fuel Card!Rocks

Paradise Motor Homes www.paradisemotorhomes.com.au 245 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters, Queensland, 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email info@paradisemotorhomes.com.au Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs, patents and copyrights ™ © 2013

Australia’s Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australia’s best quality motorhome

• Outstanding value for money, competitively priced from $158,000.

• Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection, auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems.

• Industry’s longest & most comprehensive motorhome warranty.

• Built for Australian conditions.

• Models available with or without slide-outs.• Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior. • Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacity.• Outstanding road handling & ride comfort.• Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes. • Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet & shower. • Market leading layouts & lifestyle features.• Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space. • Proven reliability of Paradise’s patented slide-outs.

Relax in Paradise

Another week, another issue. The last three weeks have been pretty

busy; what with our delayed Issue 28 followed by last week’s Route 66 special and then this one. It’s been interesting to receive some feedback on the two American issues; I thought we’d cop a bit of flack for concentrating on the USA, but that hasn’t been the case: It seems there’s a lot of interest in motorhoming overseas.

We’d like to head back to the US next year for another rental delivery run (or to Europe if funds permit!) but with the falling Aussie dollar we’re more likely to be doing a trip

or two in New Zealand – at last. In the mean time, if you’re reading this between Sunday 21 July and Sunday 28 July, Mrs iMotorhome and I will be somewhere between Alice Springs and Ballina in a Horizon Motorhomes’ 4WD Waratah campervan. I know, it’s a tough job, etc...

This should be a fabulous trip; not least because Mrs iMotorhome has never been truly ‘bush’ and because I’ve never done it in such luxury. I’ve also never crossed the Plenty Highway and haven’t been to Birdsville since about 1980. The Horizon Motorhomes’ 4WD Waratah we’re bringing back

– built on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van – has been from Ballina to Broome, crossing the Tanamai Track and other remote roads in the process. Horizon CEO Clayton Kearney has reported no problems so far, so our planned route should be a doddle. What’s that about famous last words? Watch the next issue for a full report.

New beginnings

On Thursday just gone (18 July) Malcolm and I took a Longreach

out for the day, to get a feel for Avida’s largest regular production motorhome. It was the prototype of the new model Longreach that has

On my mind

awrvworld.com.au

5 Melrose Dr, Wodonga 3690 Ph: 02 6024 4222 Follow us on Facebook

View today the new Sunliner Twist Limited Edition

Continued...

Travel ThoughTs...

Paradise Motor Homes www.paradisemotorhomes.com.au 245 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters, Queensland, 4216ph (07) 5597 4400 - email info@paradisemotorhomes.com.au Paradise Motor Homes products are protected by registered designs, patents and copyrights ™ © 2013

Australia’s Best Quality Motorhomes

Enjoy the prestige of owning Australia’s best quality motorhome

• Outstanding value for money, competitively priced from $158,000.

• Unrivalled Safety including rollover protection, auto-locking cabinetry and superior appliance mounting systems.

• Industry’s longest & most comprehensive motorhome warranty.

• Built for Australian conditions.

• Models available with or without slide-outs.• Superior finish with stylish new contoured exterior. • Patented moulded bins for maximum storage capacity.• Outstanding road handling & ride comfort.• Genuine island queen beds and huge wardrobes. • Spacious rear ensuites with separate toilet & shower. • Market leading layouts & lifestyle features.• Full living area slide-outs providing superior living space. • Proven reliability of Paradise’s patented slide-outs.

Relax in Paradise 3

The iMotorhome Team

Richard RobertsonPublisher & Managing Editor

richard@imotorhome.com.au

Malcolm StreetConsulting Editor

malcolm@imotorhome.com.au

Agnes Nielsen-ConnollyDesign & Production Manager

agnes@imotorhome.com.au

©2013 iMotorhome. All rights reserved. Published by iMotorhome. ABN 34 142 547 719. PO Box 1738, Bowral. NSW. 2576. Contact us on 0414 604 368 or Email: info@imotorhome.com.au

undergone some significant engineering changes, not to mention a total interior redesign, over the previous ‘Winnebago’ Longreach model. Chief among them is the relocation of the bedroom slideout to the same side (driver’s) as the lounge/dinette slide, which frees up kerb-side space for uninterrupted outdoor living.

I drove us up into the Blue

Mountains and it made for an interesting comparison with the big Fleetwood motorhome we had in the USA, given they’re both about the same size. The Isuzu was certainly more truck-like in regard to driving position, noise and ‘feel,’ but felt as solid as a rock and will undoubtedly last for years. The Fleetwood, by comparison, was much more car like but felt fragile, at least in

terms of body build. But more on that in an upcoming issue.

At Avida’s factory we had a sneak peak of its first caravans, due to make their public debut at the Penrith RV show in September. They look good and have some thoughtful design features. Fingers crossed the move will pay off. See you next issue!

Richard

A long-time freelance RV, motoring and travel writer, Richard is a dedicated, long-term motorhome enthusiast.

He has held senior editorial positions with some of the best know recreational vehicle magazines in Australia. Richard also has a passion for lifestyle-enhancing technology, which is why he is the driving force behind the new iMotorhome eMagazine.

Unquestionably Australia and New Zealand’s best known RV journalist, Malcolm is a fixture at CMCA rallies and RV shows and is now in his second decade as a specialist RV writer.

If it’s available on either side of the Tasman, Malcolm has probably driven it, slept in it, reported on it, knows how it’s made and can tell you just how good it really is.

Agnes is an experienced and talented graphic designer with extensive experience across a wide range of disciplines, including travel and advertising.

Designing and producing iMotorhome issues since June 2012, Agnes does much of the behind-the scenes work to ensure every issue looks great and is easy to read.

...Continued

On my mind...On my mind 4

4

INsIDe INsIDe

11 NeWsNews from the RV world and beyond

14 TesTeDLock & Load – getting ‘to grips’ with Frontline’s rough-road HiAce

30 TesTeDTrakkadu Revisited – spending quality time in Trakka’s off-road campervan

3Musings from the Ed

oN MY MIND

7Have your say for a chance to win a $50 Caltex fuel card!

oN Your MIND

NeXT Issue66What’s coming up, plus our show calendar

ClassIFIeDs52This week’s featured iMotorhome Classifieds

roaDsIDe eaTs54Recipes from the cook-up!

reaDer TIPs60Paws for thought – travelling with your best friends!

42 CooK-uP DIarYMrs iMotorhome tries her hand at some non-LPG cooking alternatives

6

On your mind

NeWs

Lock & Load – getting ‘to grips’ with Frontline’s rough-road HiAce

Trakkadu Revisited – spending quality time in Trakka’s off-road campervan

Have your say for a chance to win a $50 Caltex fuel card!

NeXT IssueWhat’s coming up, plus our show calendar

ClassIFIeDsThis week’s featured iMotorhome Classifieds

roaDsIDe eaTsRecipes from the cook-up!

reaDer TIPsPaws for thought – travelling with your best friends!

CooK-uP DIarYMrs iMotorhome tries her hand at some non-LPG cooking alternatives

Hi Richard, Here is a tip for increasing the performance of a folding solar panel. Place a reflective mat in front of the panel, it is believed to add some 10% to the input. In the photo I have used an old vehicle windscreen shade, however a piece of reflective foil or even a mirror could be used. I am no technical expert,

however I saw a number of people using this method when I was at Woody Head in Bundjalung National Park NSW.

Cheers, val via email

Thanks for the tip Val! Not sure about the science behind it but

would be interested to hear if anyone has experience with this. Still, I’m going to a send you a $50 Caltex Fuel Card for your troubles and hope you spend it wisely. I wonder if you put the mat under the fuel tank if you’ll get 10% better fuel economy?!

It’s only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind, you should be able to have yours too. If you have anything to say – or ask – just drop a line to letters@imotorhome.com.au and we’ll share it with

our readers. We’ll also reward the most interesting, useful or thoughtful letter each issue with a $50 Caltex fuel card to help you on your way.

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On your mind

Hi Richard, I enjoyed your write up on your trip around the USA. We have just returned from 3 weeks in the US and 2 weeks in Canada where we took one of those Ford E350 motorhomes through the Rocky Mountains for a week, starting at Calgary and finishing in Vancouver.

I actually did a review of it that I was going to put on YouTube, but have not got around to it yet. Just like you, it did grow on me, and by the end of the week I thought it was ok. When I first drove it I thought it was horrible. It wandered all over the road. In the wind it was a nightmare and as you stated, sucked fuel like there is an endless supply of it. My Kea drives so much better.

I was interested on your thoughts about their black and grey water systems. I personally thought they were much better than our system. I liked just pulling a lever to empty the black water and then the same with the grey. Much better than taking out the cassette and emptying it, then rinsing it, adding chemicals and replacing it. If I was going to build a motorhome I would definitely put this system in it. I could go on but you pretty well summed it up in your review. They are both great countries to drive around.

regards, David via email.

Hi David, thanks for your email and glad you've enjoyed the American write up. Your

Canadian adventure sounds great and we absolutely love driving holidays in North America. I certainly agree with your initial thoughts on the Ford, but it's funny how you get used to things, isn't it? You're right about the KEA driving better, but then so do all the vehicles we get in Australia!

Regarding the black/grey water systems, I also got used to that and could easily live with it. However, I do still like the flexibility of just being able to pull out the cassette and empty it at will. In Australia I probably prefer the cassette system just because there aren't that many dump points. But America is a different proposition…

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t ’s Fu l l Length S l ideout Room & Apar tment

Sty led 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 interiorand “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 3500Phone / 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

8

The Wirraway 260 SLWith i t ’s Fu l l Length S l ideout Room & Apar tment

Sty led 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 interiorand “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 3500Phone / 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

On your mind

Hi Richard. I am always amazed at the number of people who have horror stories regarding after sale warranty.

account 1We personally have not had any problems recently, but have heard of quite a few. One recent problem we heard of was with a motorhome bought from a well known retailer that sells a few brands of motor-homes. The vehicle had extras added and was paid in full. After driving the motorhome home, the owners found a large crack in the bathroom wall, which went from ceiling to floor. They contacted the sales yard and explained what they had found, only to be told they would have to contact the manufacturer. As a sales outlet, I am sure they would be liable for any warranty work. They refused, so the owners had to track down to the manufacturer in western Sydney who did the repair work then sent it to the invoice to the dealer.

I am pleased to say that this particular dealer did a very quick repair job for us on our first motorhome when we were travelling south on our first trip. We arrived just after closing but they were waiting and had us on the road in short time. When I have told others, they seemed very surprised at the level of service we received.

account 2I was told of another well known manufacturer of medium motorhomes and vans. The owner had several warranty problems with his fully paid for 'new' off-road van. All of the problems were relatively minor, but after sending an e-mail listing the complaints, the owner, who lives in Hobart, heard nothing for two months. He finally made a phone call only to be told that one of the problems was to do with the vehicle manufacturer, and nothing about the problems with the motorhome faults. Some of the problems have been fixed to date, but that is not good enough!

We have had a few problems with our motorhome, but I am glad to say that the makers of our apartment on wheels have been nothing but very willing to repair/replace any problem that has shown it's ugly head. No manufacturer or dealer should shirk their responsibilities when they undertake to sell a product, no matter what it is. There are likely many other 'true' stories from unhappy grey nomads who have, or are, going through the same problems. One possible way of bringing sellers or manufacturers to account may be to contact the relevant ombudsman. It doesn't matter what we buy or how much it costs, we will most likely come across something that will need to be fixed under warranty and

pray that it is done without to much fuss.

Safe and happy travels to every one,

Mike via email.

Thanks for your email, Mike, and the various examples. I'm constantly amazed some manufactures and dealers don't bend over backwards to fix problems, as word of mouth reports travel quickly and reputation is everything.

I realise there are two sides to every story and that where deficiencies with the base vehicle arise that can complicate things, but at the end of the day the customer needs to be looked after and it's in the motorhome manufacturers' and dealers' interests to do just that.

It's good to hear you've had a good run and I'm sure there are quite a few other happy customers out there. Of course, we always tend to hear the bad stories and never the good. My wife works in customer service and we're both acutely aware of the need to look after customers; but also how little good service ever gets reported/commented on.

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On your mind

Hello from Aussies just back from 6 weeks in Canada, Seattle and Los Angeles. We have a 40ft coach here in Australia, so my husband felt confident in renting a 30 ft A-Class Ford V10 for 20 days around western Canada.

What an eye opener! This would have to be the most difficult vehicle I have ever driven. Firstly, one sits about ¾ of a metre away from the side, then the steering is super lightweight. A small sneeze puts you into the next lane. The overhang is so great that it drives like a fish – wagging its tail from side to side. It was extremely thirsty on fuel; the main reason was that it was continually changing gears, worse than a 1970 Datsun 1600. A slight twitch in your big toe was enough to make it drop it down 2 gears. Internally it was fitted out fairly well and being over 6 feet tall I was amazed to find that when sitting on the toilet my feet would not touch the floor. Talk about Thrones! The only thing missing was purple and golden velvet walls.

Now doing a Kevin and getting away from the negatives, the roads and countryside in Canada are absolutely fantastic. We would love to go back and see a lot more, yes

in a motorhome, as it is the only way to travel. Stop where you want (or can as there are very few rest areas on the main highways), which makes you go into the smaller towns and discover a lot of things that are not listed in all the travel brochures. We came across a lot of little gems and some great memories. The Provincial Parks are the way to go as long as you are not 100% reliant on electricity. To park overnight at an elevation higher than Mt. Kosciusko and look up at the mountains around you makes an Aussie feel very small.

We were staggered to see the number of new and used motorhomes of all sizes and makes, sitting in sales yards. Every major city and most little towns seem to have at least one yard with countless motorhomes for sale. We are sure we saw more vehicles for sale in 3 yards than there is in the whole of Australia. It is mind boggling.

 P.S. Thanks to our motorhome friends Barry and Helen who lent us a TomTom (US based). Without this little black box there is no way we could have navigated our way around, especially in Seattle. Thankfully we used a bus & public transport in LA or things may

have gotten out of hand as the road system there is even more complicated!

regards, Michael & Christine via email.

Sounds like you've had a great time. We absolutely love North America as a driving holiday destination and will certainly own our own vehicle over there at some stage. I know exactly what you mean about the number of RV dealerships scattered across the country and the number of vehicles for sale. Amazing, isn't it?

I also know exactly what you mean about the extreme thirst and the driving idiosyncrasies of the vehicle you had. It does take some getting used to, but to be honest after a few days I was completely at home in ours and could have lived with it long-term – over there.

Interesting to hear that you found the TomTom invaluable, as I did the TomTom app on my iPhone. It certainly saved our bacon on several occasions and proved to be the best buy we made on the trip.

k TAG TEAM TESTING k10

News

k TAG TEAM TESTING k

After nearly a month on – and off – the road, Horizon Motorhomes’ CEO

Clayton Kearney and his family have made it back to Alice Springs; having travelled as far west as Broome and the Kimberley Region and crossing the remote Tanamai Track.

Apart from a fantastic family holiday, the journey has been a shakedown run for Horizon’s newest model, the Waratah. Built on a 4WD Mercedes Benz Sprinter van and specially equipped with a winch, bull bar, driving lights, custom engine bash plates, tyre pressure monitoring system, CB radio, GPS and more, the Waratah was also equipped with fold-down bunk beds for Clayton’s teenage kids. These replaced the rear overhead cupboards, above the

main bed, and will themselves be replaced by cupboards when the journey is over.

Alice Springs is the end of the driving journey for the Kearney family, with Mr and Mrs iMotorhome taking over the reigns on Sunday 21 July, the day after this issue is published, and completing the Waratah’s return journey to Ballina a week later. Travelling via the Plenty and

Donohue Highways from Alice Springs to Boulia and then down to Birdsville, the return journey will be a unique opportunity for a magazine to put an off-road motorhome through some real world driving.

Watch for a full report next issue, plus regular updates along the way via the iMotorhome and Horizon Motorhomes’ Facebook pages, and the Horizon website.

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Talvor is holding a factory-direct sale in Brisbane, from 31 July to 3 August.

The company says the sale is to “ring in the new financial year” and will include “fantastic rates on you would used motorhomes and campervans”

Prices on new motorhomes have been reduced by up to $15,000 and there will be a range of used (ex-rental, presumably) 2007/8 models available, from HiAce Hitop campers through to six-berth Ford Transit and VW Crafter-based motorhomes.

It’s also worth attending to go into the draw to win a seven night motorhome holiday, plus grab a free coffee and enjoy the sausage sizzle while you look around.

Where: Talvor, 698 Nudgee Rd, Northgate, Brisbane.

When: Wednesday 31 July to Saturday 3 August.

Time: 9am to 4pm daily.

Contact: www.talvor.com.au or call 1800 825 867

If you tow anything behind your motorhome or campervan (including a car),

have a fifth-wheeler or even just friends with a caravan, this will be of interest: The latest edition of the National Caravan and Recreational Vehicle Towing Guide is now available.

Lyndel Gray, CEO of the CCIA (who produce the guide) said, “This guide is a ‘must have’ for

everyone who tows as it provides a wealth of information that not only includes helpful hints and tips but also technical and mechanical considerations for towing.”

“The Guide is a useful tool for both beginners and avid travellers. It combines information on everything from regulatory requirements, preparation for towing and definitions of

industry terminology through to facts on couplings, braking systems and insurance. Most importantly, as the Guide has been reviewed by nine technical experts we are confident that the content is relevant and consistent with national road and towing regulations.”

The Guide is distributed through all caravan and camping associations throughout Australia, at caravan and camping shows throughout the country and can be viewed in ebook version or ordered in hard copy from www.towingguide.com.au. It will also be available at the Penrith Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo at Penrith Panthers Exhibition Centre from 6-8 September.

Y TALVOR SALE Z

News

❈ AVIDA WINNERS ❈

^ FREE TOWING GUIDE ]

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News

❈ AVIDA WINNERS ❈

According to a press release, “Carolyn and David Blackeby of

Woodville West in Adelaide South Australia took some convincing upon receiving the phone call announcing them as the winner of the Channel 9 Today Show competition. From tens of thousands of entries received, they had just won a luxury all-purpose motorhome from Avida, the manufacturer of the Australian Winnebago.”

“The major prize was an Avida Escape motorhome built on a powerful Fiat chassis and has so many features including the unique electric roll down bed,

which, at the push of a button, moves down from the ceiling to offer a comfortable night’s sleep in addition to the standard single beds.”

“The single beds can fold up to the wall to create a “garage” that can transport a multitude of items such as bicycles or motorbikes and the roof racks can easily accommodate a couple of kayaks. The child restraint anchorage points are a boon for the Blackeby’s given Brianna is so young and the children can watch a DVD on the journey, safely from their seats.”

“With a life-long passion for camping and the outdoors,

Carolyn and David together with their children, Alexandra 7, Kobe 5 and Brianna aged 5 months, regularly hit the road in their well-used camper trailer. ‘The Avida Escape is fantastic,’ said Carolyn. ‘The kids are so excited and we all love camping, it’s great for the family and so much fun. The fact the Escape is fully equipped with a proper kitchen and bathroom with a hot shower and toilet will make it so much easier to get away.”

Carolyn had only one word for it when asked: “Awesome!”

Winners are grinners: The Blackeby family from Adelaide with their new Avida Escape

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Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

Review and images by Malcolm Street

Frontline’s high-riding HiAce takes you further off the beaten track...

Lock & Load

14

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

An eon or two ago, campervans based on the venerable Toyota

HiAce and Volkswagen Kombi were much more prevalent on Australian roads and there were a considerable number of conversion companies around. Time and taste (mostly larger and more expensive) have moved on and the number of manufacturers has reduced; most being a minor part of a motorhome manufacturing organisation. However, Brookvale, NSW-based Frontline Camper Conversions, under the direction of Peter Farrugia, has stuck to its roots and a fair chunk of its output is

the true and tried campervan. Although a number of base vehicle manufacturers have come and gone, Frontline is still using both the HiAce and Kombi – both in many ways legends in their own time.

For this review I opted for the HiAce-based Adventurer conversion, but one with a difference: designed with a bit of rough/off-road use in mind. Not a full off-road vehicle mind you, but one with a lift kit to give a bit more ground clearance and a differential – or ‘diff’– lock to give more traction when needed in slippery conditions.

This is probably a good time to give a bit more of an explanation on a diff lock for those who would like to know. A vehicle’s differential is designed to allow each wheel to turn independently, thus allowing a wheel to freewheel during a turn. However, this becomes a problem in an off-road situation where the engine will try to power the wheel with the least resistance; i.e. the one without traction. The end result is much spinning of wheels but not much else. Vehicles fitted with limited slip differentials improve things but not greatly and some vehicles are fitted with

The electric diff lock and raised suspension give the Adventurer light off-road capabilities.

1514

an auto-locking mechanism that is also partly successful.

What a diff lock does is use a 12 V (usually) air compressor to activate a locking mechanism within the differential. When turned on it prevents the differential gears from rotating and thus prevents the axle shafts from turning independently of each other. So when the driver pushes on the accelerator, equal traction is applied to both wheels. When back on-road, the air compressor can be switched off and the differential returns to normal operation. A diff lock therefore gives the driver control on both on-road and off-road situations. It’s

more common in 4WD/AWD vehicles, but does have a good application in something like a HiAce.

The vehicle

In many forms the Toyota HiAce van is a vehicle that has been around for

many years. It has gained a good reputation for typical Japanese reliability and in

some owner’s eyes is the only base vehicle that should be used for a camper conversion. In its current form the HiAce is available with either a petrol or diesel engine and with either a five speed manual gearbox or four speed automatic. It isn’t, however, available with 4WD/AWD capability. Like most small vans the HiAce

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

Room for three but no through-cab access: The HiAce’s cab can’t hide its commercial vehicle origins.

With its flush-fitting roofyou could easily miss thisas being a campervan.

16

comes with a nearside sliding door and a top-hinged door at the rear. When compared to its main rival, the VW T5, it certainly does have a price advantage, but it’s slightly smaller overall and does not have walk-through access between the driver’s cab and the rear of the van.

To the untrained eye the Adventurer might look like a normal Toyota HiAce van, but there are a few clues to its camper conversion including the impressive looking pop-top roof that integrates neatly into the HiAce roofline. The awning also gives the game away, although from some angles this camper looks like a normal

van and its optional flush-fitting, glazed tinted windows certainly look good. Our review van came in white, which is the cheapest option and I’d suggest fairly easy to keep looking clean. With a different coloured van, matching the pop-top roof and awning costs extra.

The HiAce has been around for many years and in some people’s eyes is the only base vehicle that should be used for a camper conversion.

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

The wide opening side door provides easy camper access.

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on the road

Clambering into the driving and passenger seats of the HiAce,

especially given the slightly raised height, is helped somewhat by the grab handles located on each window pillar. When sitting behind the steering wheel, all the necessary control and safety functions are close to hand. One feature – the umbrella-style handbrake – looks a bit dated but certainly works okay. I guess given there are three front seats it makes fitting anything else a bit difficult, unless a foot operated parking brake were fitted.

Although there is no walk-through access to the rear, the centre console (the folded-down back of the middle seat) provides excellent storage and is also a good place to park the iPod/MP3 player and other essentials like maps.

Safety wise, both the driver and passenger get front airbags as standard. For the uninitiated, sitting over the front wheels rather than behind them can be a little disconcerting but it doesn’t take long to get used to. Certainly the rack and pinion steering is very precise.

On the driving note, although the HiAce has light commercial origins and is less passenger-like than say the VW T5, it has improved in both appointment and comfort levels over the

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

The middle seat-back folds forward to become a handy nicknack storage area.

An umbrella-style handbrake keeps the floor area clear for a third passenger’s legs.

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years and is a much better proposition than it was. It is, however, still a van rather than a car in terms of driver and passenger comfort. Keep that in mind if planning long distance driving.

My HiAce came with the standard 111 kW 2.7 litre petrol engine and the optional four speed auto gear box. Diesel fanatics can get the 100 kW 3.0-litre turbo with its 300 Nm of torque; a clear winner over the 241 Nm from the petrol engine. There is a price to pay, however, and long distance travellers considering the diesel option might also like to consider the cost – an extra $4000 for a manual or $6,200 for the diesel/automatic combination.

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

White is the standard colour. Other colours incur a charge for matching the roof.

Hanging tough: Dark tinted flush-glazed side glass looks menacing...

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Close to the city there weren’t a huge selection of places to try out the off-road/rough-road characteristics of the optional diff lock, but not long ago Sydney had about two weeks straight of rain, so there were plenty of muddy tracks around! That is certainly where the diff lock performs well and switching it in and out was quite easy. It’s not hard to imagine that the same facility might also be useful in the snow country, where traction is more important than ground clearance.

A slight problem that proprietor Peter Farrugia had with this vehicle was finding an appropriate set of tyres. Whilst there are plenty of boofy off-road tyres around, finding a size that also fits under the Toyota wheel arches,

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

Discreet air compressor and diff-lock switches, positioned just beside the steering column base.

Finding the right tyres apparently took some doing, but Bridgestone Dueler A/Ts saved the day.

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particularly at the steering end, was much trickier. You’ll be pleased to know an appropriate size has been located!

living Inside

How long does it take to set up the Adventurer for a night? Well, about

as long as it takes to park on a reasonably level site, open the sliding door, release the four pop-top roof straps and push up the roof – something made quite easy by gas struts. Oh, and if boiling the kettle is desired, then unstrapping the kitchen cabinet that sits on a pivot behind the passenger seat, swinging it out (although it can be used inside) and firing up the methylated spirits cooktop.

Awnings are just great, especially on campervans. Unless the weather is really cold, an awning does a good job of protecting the side of van from both sun and rain. A partially open awning is terrific for sliding door vans and very effective in keeping the rain away from the opened sliding door. In addition, for long term stays, awning walls are available, as is a small tent for the rear door.

Inside the Adventurer the layout is quite simple, with a kitchen/storage area cabinet along the offside and a day/night lounge taking up the mid section. The day/night lounge can be used for passengers (two optional seat belts fitted) or just for sitting on when camped by day or folded down

into a bed by night. The rear area has a platform and large cushion for that purpose.

The bed measures 1.91 m x 1.22 - 1.12 m (6ft 3in x 4ft - 3ft 8in) and is narrower at the front end, but setting it up is relatively simple and is done by releasing catches on either side of the rear seat and laying it flat. An optional wider bed is achieved by not having the offside rear cabinet, but that does mean a substantial reduction in storage space.

Fitted into the offside rear area is a sliding door cabinet, the front half having shelves and the rear having a small hanging space. Right in the rear corner is a small shelf that on this camper held the optional external shower hose.

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

With the cooker in a swing-out unit behind the passengers seat there is plenty of bench space on top of the main kitchen cupboards.

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Under the bed at the rear is a good storage area; the front half being a good sized drawer (optional) that’s accessible from inside, whilst the rear area can be reached by opening the rear door. Part of this space is taken by the house battery and charger, but the rest can be used for general storage.

In reality the only internal camper seating is the two seater lounge in the rear, since neither of the cab seats can be swivelled. A single pole-mounted table can be used in conjunction with the rear seat for eating, but is not overly large given its intended use by two people. When not being used the table is stored behind the driver’s seat.

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

Simple but effective: The Adventurer provides good storage in its rear cupboards and under the rear bed section.

The non-adjustable pole-mounted table is a bit on the small side...

22

Catering in a campervan this size is going to be simple. The Origo two burner cooktop uses methylated spirits for fuel, thereby making the Adventurer LPG free. The spirit fired cooktop might be a little slower than LPG but also saves on the space needed for a cylinder. It is definitely easier to use outside, being at standing height, and a plus is

that internal cooking odours are minimised.

Along the offside bench top there’s a stainless steel washing up bowl supplied by a flick-mixer tap directly behind the driver’s seat. That leaves room for a surprising bit of benchtop space. Under the sink is a two shelf cupboard and beside that, an 80-litre

Engel fridge is fitted under a good sized drawer.

Alongside the fridge the space contains three storage compartments and the 12 V fuse and switch panel. It’s surprisingly handy and can be accessed easily when sitting in the rear seat, unlike some I have seen. Our review van didn’t have one, but an

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

IT is definitely easier to use the cooker outside, at standing height.

Lack of through-cab access certainly reduces the HiAce Adventurer’s usable living space.

2322

optional microwave oven can be fitted in this area, with a subsequent loss of storage space of course.

Lighting in the van consists of two fluorescent fittings in the ceiling and two LED reading lights in the rear for bed time

use. I reckon an LED light fitted to the rear door and one above the cooktop would be useful items.

What We Think

It seems to me the diff lock feature on the Toyota HiAce is a welcome

addition. Whilst the HiAce is a very capable vehicle, it’s not available in 4WD/AWD form from Toyota Australia, but only as a grey import. So the addition of a diff lock is a nice little compromise that also suits people who really don’t want an off-road van, just one with

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

The sink position is well forward and most easily used when the cooker unit has been swung outside.

Origo stove operates on methylated spirits.Compact electrical control panel is easily reached, even when dining.

24

a bit more ground clearance and traction.

From the living-in-the-campervan perspective, there’s no doubt that interior space is limited, particularly with the lack of through-cab access. Whilst a smallish interior might be seen as a downside, it’s the opposite from a driving and parking point of view. The HiAce’s relatively small size makes it easy to park and manoeuvre around town. What is great about this rear bench seat layout, though, is that the van can be used easily as a multi passenger vehicle if the optional rear seat belts are fitted. It certainly has all the basic essentials for light

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

A bed overlay would be a good idea, but fresh air and natural light are provided in abundance.

Looking inside: You can see how the cooker is at standing height, an effect enhanced by the suspension lift kit.

2524

weight camping and travelling, both long and short term, too. If nothing else, for the city slicker the Frontline HiAce Adventurer with diff lock makes an ideal weekend escape machine!

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer

The cold-water shower hose pulls out, just inside the tailgate.

Water wading depth is enhanced with the suspension lift kit.

The ARB air compressor for the diff lock tucks neatly away.

26

The Frontline HiAce Adventurer certainly has all the basic essentials for light weight camping and travelling, both long and short term.

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer 2726

Manufacturer Frontline

Model Adventurer

Base Vehicle Toyota HiAce

Engine 2.7 litre petrol

Power 111 kW @ 4800 rpm

Torque 214 Nm @ 3800 rpm

Gearbox 4-speed automatic

Brakes ABS disc

Tare Weight 2000 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 2800 kg

Towing 1400 kg

Licence Car

Approved Seating 2

External Length 4.695 m (15 ft 5 in)

External Width 1.695 m (5 ft 7 in)

External Height (travelling) 2040 mm (6 ft 8 in)

Internal Height (roof-closed) 1390 mm (4 ft 7 in)

Internal Height (roof up) 1910 mm (6 ft 3 in)

Rear Bed Size1.88 m x 1.22 m-1.08 m (6ft 2in x 4 ft - 3 ft 6 in)

Cooktop Origo 2 burner methylated spirits

Fridge Engel ST90F 12 V compressor

Microwave Optional

Lighting 12 V fluorescent

Batteries 100 AH

Solar Panel Optional

Heater Optional

Air Conditioner Optional

Hot Water Heater Optional

Toilet No

Shower Cold water pull-out hose at rear

Fresh Water Tank 47-litre

Grey Water Tank Optional

Gas Cylinders No

Price as tested $69,190 on road NSW

Specifications

ContactClick for

Google Maps

• Small–excellentforaroundtownandbushcamping

• Reardifferentiallock• Toyotareliability• Excellent/internalstorage• Bedeasytoset-up• Optionalrearseatbeltsallows

extrapassengers• Mirrorabovereardoorfor

reversing

Pros

Cons• Nocabtorearvanaccess• Nolightabovecooktop

whenusedoutside• MethylatedSpiritpowered

cookingslowerthanLPG• Bedmightbetoosmallfor

largerpersons

Ph: (02) 9939 0600E: peter@frontlinecamper.com.auW: frontlinecamper.com.au

Frontline Camper Conversions

36 Cross StreetBrookvale, NSW 2100

Caravan_Motor_AVIDA_Esperance.indd 1 20/02/13 8:59 PM

Day Test: Frontline Campers Adventurer 28

Caravan_Motor_AVIDA_Esperance.indd 1 20/02/13 8:59 PM

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Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

Trakkaduspending quality time in Trakka’s quality all-terrain campervan... Review and images by Richard Robertson.

Revisited30

Various models of Trakka’s Trakkadu range have been reviewed

more times in this magazine than any other vehicle; starting with Allan Whiting’s write-up in Issue 3 (2 June 2012) and most recently by Malcolm Street in Issue 17 (19 January this year). So why am I reviewing it again you ask? Well, there’s a story...

Looking for non-road-test story ideas a few months back, I was chewing the fat one day with Trakka’s Sally Berry when the idea emerged about getting Mrs iMotorhome to try her hand at cooking on the Webasto diesel cook top. This new and sometimes misunderstood cooker is now standard in all Trakkadus, the Trakkaway 700 and is being ordered in

increasing numbers by buyers of other Trakka vehicles.

So a date was set and a vehicle arranged. I chose a Trakkadu because I hadn’t driven one for several years and wanted to reacquaint myself with what is undoubtedly the best campervan in Australia. And

so a Trakkadu AT – All Terrain – came to live with us for a week as a mobile kitchen, daily driver and day-tripper.

Fit For Purpose

T he thing to bear in mind with the Trakkadu (or any vehicle in this class)

is that it is a campervan, not

The Trakkadu’s compact dimensions mean stopping to cook/rest/relax almost anywhere is possible, unobtrusively.

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

Revisited

Rear-hinged roof provides plenty of living area headroom.

3130

a mini motorhome. By that I mean it’s intended for people who like to live outdoors and are (probably) used to camping. It’s a vehicle you use as a base for outdoor activities rather than sitting inside and enjoying the outdoor view. Interior space, whilst generous, is limited in the ultimate terms, as is the sleeping accommodation, while the lack of a bathroom requires night time weewee walks or a porta potty inside.

The flipside is that this is a vehicle that can be your only car and even double as a small people mover, so it’s family friendly (a roof bed for kids is optionally available). It will fit on most suburban driveways, under most carports and

in many garages. In fact its features and abilities make it perhaps the most versatile day-to-day vehicle on the road.

Trakka’s Trakkadu campervan

range comes in five flavours, starts at $87,500 drive away and goes to – quite a lot more. The numbers 103 and 132 represent engine power in

Above and below: From any angle the Trakkadu AT is an impressive looking vehicle.

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT 32

kilowatts (where no number is listed it’s the biggie). The models are:

• Trakkadu 103 – Entry level 2WD with 7-speed DSG auto

• Trakkadu 132 – Premium 2WD or AWD with 7-speed DSG auto

• Trakkadu ABT – Premium ‘Sportz’ AWD 7-speed DSG auto

• Trakkadu AT – Premium all terrain AWD 7-speed DSG auto

• Trakkadu ORP – Premium AWD with Off Road Pak 6-speed low-range manual only

Das auto

I hadn’t been behind the wheel of a Volkswagen T5 for a few years and

its ongoing refinement was evident. When I last tested a Trakkadu it had VW’s 5-cylinder 2.5-litre turbo-diesel. It was a good engine that used gear

drive for most of its ancillaries, instead of belts, but it had a rather coarse note that seemed to be amplified by a bull bar or engine bash plates on off-road models. It was also only available with a manual transmission.

Multi-function trip computer even tells you when the next service is due.

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

Optional rear view camera has guide lines that bend if you’re turning, to show your trajectory.

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Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

The T5 now sports a much more high-tech 4-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel engine, with 1 turbocharger on 103 kW models and 2 on the 132s. Importantly, after an eon, Volkswagen finally offers its popular and advanced 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox to T5 customers. What’s DSG? Direktschaltgetriebe in German, or Direct Shift Gearbox to you and me. In a nutshell it’s two manual gearboxes and two clutches in a single housing that’s computer controlled to changed gears quicker than you can say iMotorhome. Much quicker: About 8 milliseconds for an upshift and 600 for a downshift.

It’s a totally different system to the automated manual transmission in a Fiat Ducato, for example, which is a normal manual transmission with a bolt-on computer control module that makes all the gearshifts for you. There has been much negative press recently surrounding the Volkswagen DSG gearbox, but the good news for T5 owners is that the seven speed unit in it is different to the six speed unit being recalled.

Getting back to the engine, the twin-turbo arrangement is designed to offset the engine’s lack of capacity by providing one turbo for off-idle (low speed) work and the second for mid-to-high range power. The figures of 132 kW and 400 Nm from such a small engine

Optional silver paint is a big ticket item.

So easy even; guess I’d better not say that!

Dash is as modern and well finished as most luxury cars.

34

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

No matter the road surface the Trakkadu AT is remarkably sure footed and confidence inspiring. The Cooper all terrain tyres work a treat, too.

3534

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

are excellent, as is the quoted official combined average fuel figure of 8.4 L/100 km (33.6 mpg) from a 3-tonne AWD van.

In normal operation the Trakkadu AT operates in front-wheel drive, with the rear wheels coming into play when the computer detects wheel spin up front. There is also an electric rear diff lock to aid traction in very slippery/difficult situations. To enhance its rough and off-road abilities the AT comes with a German Seikel-brand heavy duty suspension lift kit that includes a substantial engine bash plate. It also comes with upgraded 215/60 R17 all terrain tyres, although the test vehicle had ‘experimental’ oversize 225/65 R17 Cooper all terrains fitted; the added width and increased

aspect ratio adding about 25 mm (1 inch) of ground clearance.

Moving experience

Jumping behind the wheel revealed the depth of the Volkswagen/Seikel/Trakka

Reversing uphill through this was easy with the rear diff-lock engaged.

Interior design is clean, stylish and totally practical.

36

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

engineering union. Quiet, fast and comfortable the high-riding Trakkadu AT exhibited no noticeable body roll. The ride was controlled and compliant there was no indication I was driving anything other than a standard Trakkadu.

Handling was safe, predictable and confidence inspiring and even on wet bitumen, loose gravel and muddy dirt roads the AT didn’t put a wheel wrong. Part of the praise must go to the Cooper All Terrain tyres; a result I certainly wasn’t expecting. About a decade ago I had Cooper all terrains on a four-wheel drive ute and found them slippery in the extreme in wet weather. Ever since I’ve been biased against Cooper Tyres, but these certainly changed my mind.

Driving aside, did I find the Trakkadu AT perfect? Not quite. With the dining table stowed behind the driver’s seat there wasn’t enough legroom for my liking, and even with it removed

an extra inch or so would’ve been appreciated. That’s an interior design compromise that could easily be addressed. The same proximity between the kitchen bench and driver’s seat prevented the seat from swivelling right around. I’d gladly lose six inches or so from the bench to achieve it, but that’s just my preference.

The sliding rear seat with integrated seatbelts for two that folds down to become the bed is an engineering work of art. I’d like the bed to be wider and would sacrifice some cupboard depth to achieve it, but again that’s a personal preference.

Like all Trakkadus the AT abounds with thoughtful

Bed/seat folds very flat but we borrowed this excellent memory foam overlay. Recommended!

Electrical (left) and diesel cooker controls. Note driver’s seat tight againstthe bench, plus clever silver rail for sliding the adjustable table.

3736

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

engineering touches; from the LED strip lights inside the edge of the awning to the all-new stick-on solar panel on the pop-top roof that adds almost no weight or height to the vehicle. For a full rundown of the Trakkadu’s fitout and features read and/or download

a copy of Malcolm's review from our January 2 issue here.

My Thoughts

The T5 Volkswagen is a quality vehicle to begin with and in standard

Trakkadu AT guise it looks and feels like a quality European car – as it should do for $119,500 drive away.

The test vehicle’s appeal was enhanced by a range of options that included metallic paint ($2500), alloy bull bar ($2350), the five special Cooper tyres ($1850), side/thorax airbags ($690), leather upholstery ($4250), integrated RNS510 sound system with satnav and reversing camera ($3580), hot water with a rear shower ($890) and a 128 W solar charging

system ($1500). All-up it listed at $137,110 drive away, which puts it in a rarified price bracket for a campervan. And I’d still want to add a diesel room heater ($2490) and a towbar and electrics ($1050).

Yes, for that sort of money you could buy a full size motorhome, but that’s an apples and oranges argument. What you get for your money with the Trakkadu AT is the best designed, best quality campervan available. If you’re a camping/outdoor/exploring sort of person who wants one vehicle to do everything, from the daily commute to extended holidays, this is it.

Just testing! We didn’t sleep in it (-2 at night!) but bed is cosy and comfortable, although a bit wider would be good.

New LED spotlights are dimable. Note separate room light in base.

38

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

For remote bush camping the Trakkadu AT is in a class of its own.

3938

Mini Touring Test: Trakka Trakkadu AT

Specifications

• T5VWquality• Economy• Safety• Drivingexperience• Versatility• Quickandsimplesetup• AWDversatility• Extragroundclearance

Pros

Cons• Limiteddriverlegroom• Limiteddriverseatswivel• Price

Manufacturer Trakka

Model Trakkadu AT

Base Vehicle Volkswagen Transporter T5 4 Motion (AWD)

Engine 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power 132 kW @ 4000 rpm

Torque 400 Nm @ 1500 rpm

Gearbox 7-speed DSG auto

Brakes ABS Ventilated Disc

Tare Weight 2550 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass 3200 kg

Licence Car

Passengers 4

External Length 5.29 m (17 ft 4 in)

External Width 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in)

External Height 2.13 m (6 ft 7 in)

Internal Height 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in)

Rear Bed Size 1.95 m x 1.25 m (6 ft 5 in x 4 ft)

Roof Bed Size (optional) 1.8 m x 1.2 m (5 ft 11 in x 3 ft 8 in)

Cooktop Webasto diesel

Fridge Waeco 80 litre

Microwave n/a

Lighting 12V LED

Batteries 1 x 100 AH

Gas n/a

Heater Optional (Diesel)

Solar Panels Optional

Air Conditioner n/a

Hot Water Heater Optional

Toilet n/a

Shower External, flex hose

Fresh Water Tank 55-litres

Grey Water Tank 38-litres

Price as tested $137,110 on road NSW

Contact

Ph: 1800 872 552W: www.trakka.comE: trakka@trakka.com.au

Trakka

9 Beaumont Rd, Mt-Kuring-gaiNSW. 2080.

Click for Google Maps

40

>> TRAKKA’s versatile range lets you see Australia in luxury,

comfort and safety, no matter what road you care to travel.

>> Since 1973 TRAKKA’s have been tried, tested and trusted by

thousands turning the dream to see Australia into a reality.

>> The steady flow of industry awards confirm that TRAKKA is a

market leader and ahead of the pack in style, functionality and value.

>> Much of TRAKKA’s success can be attributed to extensive

research and testing programs to ensure clever design, superior

quality, modern technologies and rigorous safety standards.

>> Visit www.trakka.com or call 1800 TRAKKA

today and take advantage of the TRAKKA Teams’

decades of experience.

TRAKKADU AT JABIRU 4X4

TRAKKAWAY 700

trakkabout australia

seeing australia? take a trakka.

40

Feature: Cooker Comparison

DIarY oF a CooK-uP!

sampling a range of non-lPg cooking options...Story by Mrs iMotorhome. Images by Mr iMotorhome.

42

We’ve decided to entertain you with some cooking

adventures and trial an Ecopot, an EcoHeat portable induction cooker and a Webasto X100 diesel cooker: not the usual things but all very interesting. A special note of thanks to Trakka for making them all available, especially the Webasto as it came wrapped in a beautiful Trakkadu AT campervan (Mr iM very excited about that).

Day one.

Dear Diary, very excited today. We got three new products to test for

suitability and practicality while on the road.

Tried the Ecopot in conjunction with the EcoHeat induction cooker this afternoon and used

them in the comfort of my kitchen. The aim? Osso Buco and steamed rice. Seemed simple enough – first mistake!

Don't try something new without a back up for dinner! After following the directions and serving after four hours it was waaaaay underdone. Tired and hungry. Not happy Jan. Big

failure. Into the oven to finish off!

Day Two.

Dear Diary, Not giving up! Must have done something wrong.

Decided to try a banana bread recipe from the Ecopot cookbook as friends were coming for afternoon tea.

Feature: Cooker Comparison

Italian mussels cooked to perfection on the Webasto X100 diesel cooker. Bread bought, though!

Being LPG-free means you can stop and cook without even getting out of the vehicle.

4342

Second mistake! Don't try something new when entertaining! Again, not cooked enough, so 30 minutes in the oven, cut of the hard top off, cover in fruit and cream and presto: Nice save!

Rather over the Ecopot/EcoHeat combination now. Think the problem was not getting food hot enough before

putting it in the thermal cover. Not giving up. Never giving up! Trying again tomorrow.

Day Three.

Damper in the Ecopot today but simmered on my gas ring in the

house before heading for the coast. Picked up fish and mussels for lunch and dinner and found somewhere to

set up. It was time to check the damper. Wow, a degree of success (or were we just hungry?)! I guess I should never have expected a nice crusty loaf as this is a moist cooking method, but otherwise okay. Mr iM being complimentary, think he thought I was about to cry. Talk about not for the faint hearted, but I do think I’m getting a better idea of how this works.

On to the diesel cooker! Forgot to mention that on day one we successfully burned toasted sandwiches when trying them on a silicone barbecue mat directly on the cooktop, but did well on scrambled eggs with spinach and feta in a normal pan. This time we tried steaming a snapper Asian style, with shallots, ginger and

The Webasto’s flat, Ceran glass surface means it’s a part of your workbench when not actually cooking.

We toasted the bread in a pan and then kept it warm on the cooker.

Feature: Cooker Comparison 44

Feature: Cooker Comparison

The EcoHeat induction cooker is light and portable and can run on 12 or 240 volts. Banana bread was an undercooked disaster!

4544

chili. Got the hang of the temp settings after a bit of practice so yeah, a huge thumbs up! Felt very clever by this stage. Italian style mussels planned for dinner. Had done this recipe a thousand times, even on a spirit stove years ago in our

old HiAce Hitop campervan. Should have been easy, but...

Day 4.

Dear Diary, fooled you! Just a slight change of plans. Came

home from the coast late so

didn't do mussels for dinner. Instead, headed bush today to find somewhere nice to cook, somewhere near the Wombeyan Caves. Used the diesel cooker today like a normal stove top, with a saucepan. Love the very

Feature: Cooker Comparison

The Webasto makes plenty of heat, so steaming a big pot of mussels was no problem.

Adjustable heat allows accurate simmering, with a bit of practice.

46

even temperature given over the surface. Very successful Italian mussels done for lunch in under 20 mins – and in a beautiful bush setting, too. Got my confidence back now and very happy to use the Webasto diesel cooker. Like any new or different technology you just need to spend a bit of

time getting used to it. Would happily have one myself now.

Day 5.

Dear Diary, for a slight change of pace we broke out our two

portable gas cookers that we bought from Big W years ago for about $20 each. You

know, the ones that come in their own plastic carry cases and use a small disposable gas cylinder. We hadn't used them for a couple of years but they fired up perfectly first go thanks to piezo sparky things. Think barbecuing, but with the convenience of the location of your choice. And speaking of

Feature: Cooker Comparison

Gas cartridges last a surprising time and cost about $5 for 4 at Bunnings.

Hint: Freeze gravy in plastic cup and add at the end.

Cheap, portable butane gas barbecues work a treat and can be used anywhere.

4746

Feature: Cooker Comparison

location, we ducked down to a park by the river in Berrima.

The weather wasn’t too flash so I cooked an early dinner under the tailgate of the Trakka, which was very handy! Pork and fennel sausages with home made gravy in one pan and boiled potatoes (for mash), with steamed veg over the top in another pan. Used my frozen gravy block for saucing at the last min. We attracted some attention today as I guess we looked a little strange all set up in the park: jacket and apron on while Mr iM climbed all over the place with his camera.

Funnily enough, this cooking method is by far the cheapest we’ve tested and still worked a treat. And you don't even need

a motorhome: These cheap and cheery gas rings can go in the boot of the car and be used at any picnic venue or even on the table inside your house.

FINal ThoughTsecopot 24/7 – $375

A good system but quite expensive and one you need to do a fair bit or

trial-and-error cooking with to find out what works for you. If you were travelling the best thing to do would be prepare your meals in the morning (or the night before), then cook-up after breakfast and store it away (safely) until dinner time. Would I buy one? Probably not.

ecoheat Induction Cooker – $295

Another good system and I liked the way it instantly – and I mean

instantly – heated the pot. You can cook very fast if you’re not careful (okay, burn), so best to pay close attention. The biggest drawback I found was that on the simmer setting it would cut in and out, bringing the contents to the boil briefly, rather than just keeping them bubbling away slowly. You can adjust the temperature up and down even when using a pre-set like Simmer, but I found the adjustments too big to find that happy bubble, bubble, bubble. Would I buy one? No, but only because I can’t really see where I’d use it.

Bangers, mash and steamed veggies, all cooked on our portable butane barbecues.

48

Feature: Cooker Comparison

Winter on the Highlands: Just the weather for bangers and mash. Bon appetit!

Webasto X100 Diesel Cooker – standard on 2013 model Trakka Trakkadus

I was a bit scared and/or sceptical of this at first, but quickly came to love it. No

gas bottles to turn on or off, no lighter to find and the smooth Ceran glass surface was a snack to keep clean.

As I said earlier, like any new technology it does take a bit of getting used to and it has its own idiosyncrasies. I’m told you need to follow the startup and shutdown process (just the touch of a button) and let it complete the full cycle even if you change your mind. This burns off any fuel in the system and avoids it restarting next time without any smoke or diesel smells.

Like an electric cooker it takes some time to heat up and cool down and boiling a large kettle of water from scratch can take 10-15 minutes in cold weather. So if I had one I’d keep a thermos of hot water in the vehicle (boiled after cooking) to use through the day and even first thing in the morning. In a caravan park I’d use an electric jug.

Overall I loved its simplicity and neatness. Anything that removes potential danger from a vehicle while simplifying things has to be good. And if I were buying it I’d buy the whole cooker/hot water/heater package so we could free camp in any weather and never even have to step outside to turn on the gas. Oh I forgot. That’s what Mr iM’s for!

Portable gas Barbecues

Cheap, simple and reliable, these make a great backup. And as

they’re portable you can cook outside the vehicle or on a picnic table in a park or even on the sand or rocks at the beach. Not sure how long the butane gas canisters last but you get a decent run from them and they only cost about $5 for a 4 pack at Bunnings. That will last you ages! Hard to beat, really, and they could be just the thing for a quick cup of tea in the morning if you have a Webasto diesel cooker!

4948

What's an ecopot?An Ecopot is a thermal cooking system that relies on the partial pre-cooking of food and stored heat to slow cook meals, either as you travel or when in camp or at home. It’s like a crockpot slow cooker but without the electricity.

Essentially, Ecopot is a heavily insulated outer container with a hinged lid and tight-fitting internal pots that work together to trap the heat of food you’ve started cooking (and the pots its cooking in) to finish the job over a period of hours. The main inner pot is seven litres capacity and the smaller one is three litres, allowing you to cook two things at once, if desired.

We tested the range-topping Ecopot 24/7, which comes with 12/240 V power connectivity that does let you use it like a plug-in slow cooker where power is available, or for fast reheating.

More Info: ecopot.com.au

What's an ecoheat induction Cooker?The EcoHeat Induction Cooker is a portable cooker that works on 12 or 240-volt power. Unlike a portable electric cooking ring, which take time to heat and cool and relies on radiated heat to heat the cooking pot and its contents, induction cooking is instantaneous and generates no radiated heat (apart from the pot getting hot).

Induction cookers have a smooth surface with a dense coil of copper wire in their base. An alternating electric current is passed through the coil to produce an oscillating magnetic field. This field then ‘induces’ a very low voltage electric current in the cooking pot that produces resistive heating (caused by the passage of electricity through the metal). The amount of heat is precisely controllable in proportion to the amount of electricity used and because there is no radiated heat or flame (and a ferrous metal pot is required to complete the cooking ‘circuit’) nothing that touches it can catch fire.

More Info: ecopot.com.au

What's a Webasto X100 Diesel Cooker?The Webasto X100 Diesel Cooker is heated by the controlled burning of very small amounts of diesel fuel from a vehicle’s fuel tank. Using a sealed, electronically-controlled furnace the Webasto cooker is part of a total cooking/hot water/heating solution that when used together does away with the need for LPG cylinders, plumbing, specific annual inspections and the inherent dangers of using gas – especially in a confined space.

More Info: http://www.webasto.com.au/products-and-markets/recreational-vehicles/ena/html/8703.html

Feature: Cooker Comparison 50

Adding partially-thawed frozen homemade gravy and letting the sausages simmer in it ads flavour and a real home-cooked touch.

Feature: Cooker Comparison 5150

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Classifieds: Snapshots

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Visit www.imotorhome.com.au today

iMotorhome Classifieds are for private sellers and dealers alike, with a great introductory offer until the end of July...

•Motorhomes & Campervans only

•Unlimited words

•Up to 12 photos per ad

•Unlimited edits and updates

•Latest ads featured in iMotorhome Magazine

•Advertise until sold

• Introductory offer for June and July: $25 – that’s 50% off!

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Roadside Eats: Cook up

Recipes from our cook up! You’ve read the diary. Now its your turn...

by Mrs iMotorhome

54

Meg’s Beer Damper

A recipe from Ecopot’s ‘Thermal Cooking, Ultimate Guide’ that came with the pot (including some changes of ingredients

because I can't help myself).

Roadside Eats: Cook up

Ingredients2 cups flour

4tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3tsp butter

1 stubby beer

Method• Add all dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well

• Cut butter thought and mix till crumbly. Add beer and blend well. Remove mix from bowl and knead into a damper shape on a floured surface

• Half fill large inner pot of Eco pot with boiling water. Grease the small inner pot and place damper inside. Place small inner pot into large pot and simmer for 20 mins with the lid on. Transfer both pots to Eco pot and leave to finish cooking for 2 hours (min).

• Beer can be exchanged for milk (in hind site I should have drunk the beer and bought a loaf of bread to serve with the fish. Hic!)

Dessy's Banana Bread was so bad I won't waste your time with that recipe!

Meg's Beer Damper

Don’t expect a crispy crust; the Ecopot is a moist cooking system.

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Roadside Eats: Cook up

Casseroles and stews

Think of the Ecopot just like a slow cooker or crock pot and use our

favourite recipes for them in the it. Importantly, here are a few differences with the Ecopot you need to keep in mind:

• Cut your meat and vegetables in a small uniformed way to make sure they cook through

• Get all the ingredients really boiling and well on the way to cooking before you finish it in the Ecopot

• Because our air temperature was cold I warmed the Ecopot, just like warming the tea pot beforehand to get the best brew from it

• Be patient with this style of cooking and be kind to yourself. You’ve handed over

a lot of money for this pot and you don't want to loose heart or it will end up in the back of the cupboard.

• A friend uses her Ecopot at home a lot like a slow cooker, but with the power plugged in.

Chicken and beef casserole with rice: the sort of dish the Ecopot excels at.

Be sure to cut veggies to a small, uniform size to ensure thorough cooking.

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Roadside Eats: Cook up

IngredientsOne Snapper, sized to fit you pan or steamer

Fresh thinly sliced ginger, spring onions and chili

Maggie seasoning or similar (light soy sauce with a dash of sesame oil)

Coriander - for dressing!

Method• Get the shop to clean and scale your snapper. Into the cavity and

over the top of your fish arrange the ginger, spring onions and chili in whatever quantities you like

• Pour about a tablespoon of Maggie seasoning or similar over the fish

• Place fish into the top of your steamer basket or put it on a plate that will sit in your pot above the boiling water (I’ve used a wok before with a dinner plate)

• Cover the fish now and steam for about 5 to 7 mins depending on the size. Check it with a knife to see the flesh is cooked. It will pull easily away from the bones when done

• Garnish and serve with fresh coriander

Note: I like to serve the fish with its head on, but I cover up the eye with a piece of ginger as I don't want it looking at me as I eat it!

steamed asian style snapper

For aNY CooKer

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Roadside Eats: Cook up

Basic Ingredients For All VersionsAbout one kilo of cleaned black mussels will feed two for a main meal or four for a starter. I often buy the bags of fresh mussels at the supermarket as they are already cleaned and are very easy to keep in the fridge when travelling. No sea food smell in the van. They're also the small black mussels that are much easier to get out of their shells and less intimidating than the big green lipped mussels from New Zealand. You’ll also need an onion (diced) and a clove of garlic – or two!

Basic Method• In a large pan with a lid, brown off the onion and garlic and add about a can of liquid.

This base is what will boil and the steam from it will cook your mussels.

• Make sure the mussels are all closed when you put them in the pot. They should all open after about 10 mins of steaming. This is how to know they are fresh.

• Do not eat any that do not open in the pot!

steamed Mussels

steamed Mussels

T his is one of my favourite things to cook as it looks impressive and is very easy. I have listed four different ways to serve

them: Italian, Thai, French, Seafood Hot Pot

For aNY CooKer

58

Roadside Eats: Cook up

Choose Your style!

Now the fun part comes: choosing the style of your mussels. Please

note that the style you choose determines the liquid you put in the pot to steam your mussels. Here are some suggestions.

Italian StyleFor the liquid use a can of crushed tomatoes. Serve with fresh herbs all over the top (parsley and basil are good) and a crusty loaf of bread to soak up the sauce.

Thai StyleFor the liquid use a can of coconut milk. Serve with fresh herbs all over the top (coriander, Thai mint, ginger and we like fresh chili). Soak up this sauce with a side of rice, if serving as a main meal.

French StyleFor the liquid use about 300 ml of chicken stock. When the mussels are cooked take them out and keep warm while you boil the liquid and reduce it by about half. Add some cream, salt and fresh black pepper. Pour over mussels and serve with parsley and a fresh baguette. Bon appetite!

Seafood Hot Pot For the liquid use about 300 ml of fish stock or a tin of tuna in spring water (break up the tuna and use the water in the can). When the mussels are cooked take them out and keep warm. Into the fish stock add any extra sea food you want and cook until done. I like to use calamari, thin strips of white fish and peeled green prawns as they only take a couple of minutes to cook through. Add the mussels and serve in the pot because it looks fabulous! Garnish with fresh herbs – whatever you have at hand.

Mrs IM’s CooKINg hINTs

Here are some handy hints to help get the most out of cooking

while you are away, without the hard work. Remember, you are on holidays too!

1: We like brown rice, which as you know takes twice as long to cook. This can often leave your motorhome all steamed up, unless you use a microwave. Before we head away I cook up several large portions of rice and put them in single-serve zip-lock bags. If you have room in your freezer they last for ages or you can keep them in your fridge

for up to a week. Reheat in the microwave or place the bag in a container of boiling water. Easy!

2: When I cook a roast at home I like to make a real gravy with the pan juices. Any left over gravy I freeze in plastic drinking tumblers (think picnic cups) with glad wrap over the top. Don't forget to label before freezing! These are great to use when you are away. Just add to the cooked meat at the end. Check out the pork sausage and gravy cook up in the photos. When empty, the tumblers also stack away taking up very little of your precious space.

3: Herb butter. This is a great way to get quick and easy flavour into your cooking. Soften a packet of butter and place into a bowl. Into this add crushed garlic and chopped herbs. Mix it well and put it in an ice tray. Place it in the fridge or freezer until firm. If you’re clever try leaving it in the mixing bowl in the fridge and before it firms too much make a sausage shape by rolling it in glad wrap. Then freeze or refrigerate. Take this away with you and use it when you brown onions or as a topping for meat, chicken or fish. Delicious!

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Reader Tips: On Four Paws

Travelling with your four-legged best mates...

On FOur Paws

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Reader Tips: On Four Paws

B y way of introduction I am Annie, I travel in a Sunliner

Mirage motorhome called "PAWSAROUNDOZ' accompanied by my two Whippets.

But my travelling story started many years ago when I owned, showed and trialled Labrador

Retrievers. In those days I had a humble HiAce with a sort of bush camper fit out. It worked well back then but I have grown older, I now live in my motorhome full time and Whippets like a lot more creature comforts than working Labrador Retrievers. If it comes to that, so do Annie’s!

Creatures of habit

Dogs are creatures of habit and the transition to a life on the road is made a

whole lot easier for them if they do the same sort of things at roughly the same time as they would at home. Of course, at other times of the day they will be doing a lot of really interesting

Keep you pets motivated with play and toys and keep them on a home-based routine if possible.

6160

stuff they do not normally do at home and they will be spending far more time with you, so you need to have a really good relationship with your dog or dogs!

I always start Clancy and Connor’s day with a walk, some controlled games or obedience work and a short spell of off-lead running if the area is suitable. As they are Whippets I do keep a close eye on them when they are off-lead and the moment I sense they are losing interest in the games or not keeping an eye on me it’s ‘game over’!

Leads back on and we do something else; lead-on does not mean the fun is over for my dogs.

It is then time for breakfast. Again, try to stick to the same meal routine your dog has at home if you can.

Of course one of the joys of having your best mates along with you is all the extra walks they get to enjoy with you; my boys love the ‘sitting outside coffee shops’ treat. Mostly because that treat usually involves them being good little

canine citizens and diligently cleaning up all those crumbs that have been dropped around the table! In this respect they firmly adhere to a leave no trace policy!

etiquette and safety

When in freedom camps, remember that some dogs like

their own ‘space’ more than others and some become a bit territorial around their caravans or motorhomes. I avoid scraps by ensuring my boys never wander off-lead when there are others, with or without dogs, camped close by. Also, I only take them to Happy Hour if invited to do so.

The boys travel in harnesses attached to the back wall of the motor home. They sit or curl up on the rear seats, or share the passenger seat and foot well area; again on harnesses. They both travel well and if I am doing a longer drive I do make a point of stopping every two hours or so for a break: this is as important for us drivers as it is for them!

handy hints

Some of the items I find really useful on the road are:

Dogs’ first aid kit – mine is put together by the AA in SA. The dogs’ immunisation papers – at times you may need to have your pet kennelled and they must have proof of being up to date with their immunisations.

Reader Tips: On Four Paws

Custom made ‘parking leads’ keep my children from wandering.

62

Long leads made up with a D-ring in the handle and another sewn in halfway down the lead. Added to this is one of the small light carabineer clips often used on key clips these days. This makes the lead easy to attach to a pole or a fence or the brackets I have installed just outside the door of the motorhome. I call them 'parking leads’.

soft crates for each of the boys. Think of those collapsible wire dog crates that fold up to a suit case sort of thing; mine are like that but made of canvas with an internal frame. They fold flat, are light and have ‘windows’ on all four sides. Placed on a ground mat they give the dogs protection from the wind and

even light drizzle and are warmer for ‘sensitive to the cold’ little Whippets!

vet Bed – I have two pieces of this stuff and it’s warm in winter and cool in summer, very easy to wash, quick to dry and made in a great array of colours. Mine is colour matched to the seats in the ‘lounge’ of the motor home but comes off and gets popped into the soft crates when they are in use.

Bulk buy with others: One way to save money if you are on the road and meet others travelling with their dogs too is ask them if they wish to go halves in the purchase of a bag of dry food. Even the brand

name supermarket dry food tends to be very expensive in the smaller bags, but you will save a few dollars each if you buy an eight kilo bag and split it! One thing I have found to be very important is to stick to tried and true pet food whilst on the road; taking the pooch out to do what a dog has to do if he has a bad tummy in the middle of the night in your jammy’s is not much fun!

security tip! Something else I did have to do to my motorhome was to install easy to remove security screens to the larger windows around the lounge area. It was not something I had thought of when I bought it second hand a couple of years ago, but on

Reader Tips: On Four Paws

I had these basic security screens made to stop my little ones from pushing out through the windows.

These soft crates provide comfort and a sense of security – for my kids!

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the first shake down trip I left the European push out style windows open to the first click when I went to the shops to stock up. As I was coming back I noticed that one of my boys was half out the window ‘talking’ to the kids outside who were trying very hard to entice the other half to come out too!

After much thought I had my local security screen man install screens that are held in place by four simple barrel bolts on each of the three rear windows. It’s a bit fiddly perhaps, but worth it to be able to leave the windows wide open if it’s hot and know that the dogs cannot get out. And just as importantly, people of the wrong sort cannot force the windows open even wider and climb in.

As for finding places to stay

when travelling with dogs, I have never had too much trouble really. I am not a fancy caravan park type person myself. Some freedom camps do not allow dogs, but most do, I find.

lateral Thinking

As for National Parks, well of course you cannot take your dogs in and for

very good reasons. But have a chat with the other dog people you meet on the road who are travelling your way. Back in 2006 in WA there were four of us all heading in roughly the same direction, so we arranged to meet up at certain places and take it in turns to puppy sit for each other. That way we all got a turn to spend a day or two in the National Parks. It worked well for us all and the dogs enjoyed meeting up with their buddies!

If you are travelling with your well trained dog and find yourself in a larger town of a weekend, have a scout around for a local Obedience Club. They will often allow you to train with them, there are usually coffee and snacks available and the locals will tell you all the good spots to run your dog. I have even been invited to camp on a local doggy persons property before now!

No doubt about it in my mind, freedom camping with one’s best mate is a great way to travel! You never feel quite so daft talking to your dog/s; they are great company, will make you lots of friends on the road as they are a great conversation starter and well worth any minor issues that arise (which with thought can usually be gotten around!).

Reader Tips: On Four Paws 64

Of course one of the joys of having your best mates along with you is all the extra walks they get to enjoy with you!

Reader Tips: On Four Paws 6564

Next Issue

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.

Mr and Mrs iMotorhome will bring you an up-

to-the-minute report on their Outback travels, and as Mrs iM is now a fully qualified ‘shotgun riding’ photographer, watch out! Expect lots of

animals, birds, sand and blue sky depending on the ‘corrugation blur factor’ (and how often Mr iM will stop!).

Of course, Mr iM will bring you a full report on the Horizon Motorhomes’ 4WD Waratah: the Outback chariot whisking them across the wilderness. A new model in the Horizon range built specially for CEO Clayton Kearny, it’s bristling with high-tech wizardry and promises to be an eye opener.

Meanwhile, Malcolm will re reviewing another Trailite motorhome from New Zealand: his second to date. He’s keeping it close to his chest so it’s as much a surprise to us as you!

It all promises to make for a great issue, but until then please follow us on Facebook

and Twitter for breaking news, comments and a bit of fun. Keep safe!

ouTBaCK eXPress...

July 26-28

gold Coast Midyear Caravan, Camping, Boating & Fishing expo

Parklands, Southport, Gold Coast. QLD. 4215.• Open daily 9:00-5:00

(closes Sunday 4:00)• Parking free• Adults $10• Seniors $8• Kids free with adult

26-28JUL

16-18AUG

9-11AUG

Click for Google Maps

http://australianevents.com.au/index.php/ midyear-caravan-camping-boating-fishing-expo

Click for Google Maps

august 9-11

Mid North Coast Caravan, Camping, 4WD, Fish & Fishing show

Wauchope Showground, Beechwood Rd, Wauchope. NSW. • Open daily 9:00-5:00

(closes Sunday 4:00)• Parking free• Adults $15• Seniors $11• Kids U16 free

26-28JUL

16-18AUG

9-11AUG

http://www.campingshow.com.au/cmsms/index.php

august 16-18

Border rv & Camping expo

Wodonga Racecourse, Wodonga. VIC.• Open 09:30-5:00 daily

(closes Sunday 4:00)• Free parking• Adults $10• Seniors $8• Kids U15 Free with adult

Click for Google Maps

http://www.borderexpo.com.au/visitor.html

26-28JUL

16-18AUG

9-11AUG

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