Discovery Upgrade from 2014 Outback 14.4

[Ted farkas]

Hi,

We purchased a new 14ft Outback in 2014 - bunk bed model.

At the time it was perfect - did a 4-month lap with the kids. And multiple short trips through NSW. Took it across the GIBB, Oodnadatta, and Eurime loop from Kings canyon to Flinders.

The kids have drifted away so the bunk beds are out - Plus the double east west bed is now a punish as it's hard to get out of and always had that ridiculous seam 2/3 in mattress (l believe it was changed in later models).

Even though it hurts it's time for her to be moved on to another family that will get good use/fun from it.

The new model which I am trying to tick boxes for (I'll try stick with Jayco).

North/.South Bed
Ensuite
around 6 m travel
offroad ish - (the roads listed above - in extreme areas like bungle bungles we dumped the van and ran light with a couple of tents)
Ideal full height but poptop ok.
Diesel heater.
Light weight

Yes unicorn

Looked at Crosstrack 14ft (seems best fit) - but I note their fridge is not 3 way & a bit gimmicky, 16 ft has an e/w bed.

The StarCraft & discovery 13ft and 16ft seem to come close.

In a nutshell can anyone shed light on if there is a "bush pack" that can be added as I don't feel you need the full outback setup (I followed a guy across the urime loop with a standard touring van - no problem) I.E can you just flip the axle for a bit of clearance and mesh up the fittings (I was told I was covered by insurance for gazetted roads with the old expanda)

Plus, I grew up on a farm, and we towed our 70's camper trailer (Jayco) with a Datsun across dirt roads no problem.

Also are there any options for rear mounted shower tents (appears it was in the older smaller crosstracks) as another option.

Any thoughts?

Regards
Ted

 

[Hitting the road]

Probably not what you are looking for...but we have an 2018 17.5-8 Outback...it is a pop top and ticks the boxes you noted, but, it is tandem axle with the independent suspension.

I leaned toward the pop top model for off road travel as there can be lower tree branches to avoid, so with the pop top having a square fibreglass roof has stronger top corners than a full sized van so far less susceptible to damage by the odd brush with hanging a tree branch.

Bonus is less wind resistance when towing and a lower centre of gravity for stability. I have fitted good 31" AT tyres to mine which gives an extra inch of ground clearance over the standard 15" x 29" tyres it came with...though the ground clearance was pretty good anyway.

We've traveled some ordinary roads and tracks to date and nothing has fallen off or broken to date, though we do pack and travel reasonably lightly.

 

[Drover]

I look at "Off Road" vans with scepticism, especially if they are way higher off ground than the tug, good departure angle is the main thing and vans are a lazy axle so no need for rugged muddies , in fact can lead to other problems........... Certainly tick @Hitting the road ideas ................ Many seem to drive dirt roads as if they are on sealed so of course things fall apart................. You seem to know what your looking for though, remove the bling and see if whats left is done well.

 

[Hitting the road]

Yes, I have been behind many "offroad" single axle vans that are way higher than the stock standard tug in front, and plainly have quite a high centre of gravity, with of course the obligatory look tough mud tyres which do nothing other than add rolling resistance.

More often than not the approach and departure over wash outs and other undulations will sort out much of the issue when it comes to bottoming out anyway...slowly and carefully is the go...same as on dirt roads, attention to speed and tyre pressures will always assist arriving in one piece...

 

[Ted farkas]

Thanks for the input. In particular - something i've never thought of before is why have a van with higher clearance then your tug, makes sense. I have a Pajero and love it - no lift and has got me everywhere. Also tires seem more for show.

Regarding the full height van I see what you mean about height clearance. However, I did read an article in an old van magazine that did indicate there was no real gain with a lower height van regarding fuel economy which was interesting.

I did find 2024 jayco vans with a bushpack so was able to see what that was.

Thanks
Ted

 

[Ted farkas]

When we did the gibb - i was overtaken by bushtrakkers and camper trailers in a cloud of dust.

I soon passed them as they were changing tires

I did need to go through with a pack of screws and wood glue - but had that handy form previous posts.

 

[Hitting the road]

True...the lower roof line wouldn't make a great deal of difference unless plowing in to a strong headwind where it might be slightly better...as an aside, what I also like about the pop top type roof and what steered me that way, is the large vents on all 4 sides to assist in air movement inside. It doesn't really matter which direction a breeze is coming from you can benefit.
I see so many full sized vans with what appears very little in the way of ventilation, I like the opening window at the front of our Jayco above the bed, it has made many a tropical night much less uncomfortable being able to trap some breeze...I particularly liked the ability to open all 4 sides and the front window when traveling in the North of WA a couple of years ago...

 

[Drover]

Well having had the Tardis behind the Colorado then dragging Big Mal behind it, I can honestly say that article was BS as it certainly does change things, the Tardis was tucked in nicely behind the Colorado with shed on back while Big Mal stands up and defies the wind, with corresponding change in fuel figures .... as for airing down the tyres I learnt many years ago when I had like 20 wheels on the ground, hit the dirt slow right down and it works, apply the same with the rig, well drop them a little bit but speed is way down ...................... my folks dragged an old Viscount all over the Cape and Territory, with an EH and other legendary vehicles, no 4x4, no off road van, even did Double Island Point in it, in fact some of these dirt roads they rave about now are highways compared to what they were like, at least back then the idiots were few and far between ... When they built a bridge over the Wenlock I hung up my dirt boots ...

yeah your right about the pop top for breeze, most of these new rigs seem to think the AC will be working out bush, why bother going if your holed up in a box....... sorry Im cynical............ an old cynical fella, I like my big rig, with all the comforts, just pushing a roof and banging my head, showering outside under a tree after lugging water, great memories but not what i wnat nowadays, throw pump in creek and pump the water................lol,lol...... sorry I digress.........

 

[Hitting the road]

Horses for courses really with van choice...so much to choose from. AC I don't ever worry about when off grid, though have to admit we did cart a gen set all around Australia just in case we got stuck somewhere with low batteries in the van, and on a 40 degree day with little shade...getting a bit sooky with age and liking creature comforts...lol

The new age of caravans these days with 1000 watts of solar on the roof, 400 amps of Lithium battery, an Inverter to run an induction type cook top as well as a compressor fridge, all adds weight and complexity...KISS works for me. Camping is "camping"...

Off topic and speaking of Holdens...I towed my 22' tandem axle Franklin van from Mildura to Perth with my trusty EH Holden way back in 1978...with the worked engine it struggled a bit due to the cam being for top end rather than low down torque...but did the job and survived. Fortunately the Nullabor road was fully sealed by end of 1976 so was a relatively easy drive.
Caravans back then weren't so full of bling, a couple of 240v lights, a gas stove and a 2 way fridge...terrible the way memory fades, I don't recall whether my Franklin even had a battery to run any 12v lights, and have no idea what it weighed, but that was something we, or I didn't think about then...GCM of the tug...I towed that van all over the place with the EH...

 

[Drover]

Nowadays the tug has to meet the big lump they tow, I wonder what the ratio would be compared to the old days, I dragged a 23ft Millard around with a G60 Patrol, big 4lt straight 6 under the lid with 3 gears, pulled stumps but took your time, had no idea of weights and used my aux battery set up in the G60 to power van, I even built the tow bar set up to match the height, she was over engineered, think 3/4" plate I cut to make it up .............. still have my log book, be scary to see fuel burn back then but at 20c per gallon be lovely price now .............