Jayco introduces under US $30,000 Caravan

I wish someone in the US would build trailers like this. We have Adak, but they're more meant for weekend hunting/camping. I would buy one of those Jaycos, or a Kedron in a heartbeat if they were available here in 110v with the door on our side.

brulaz wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:

...
or fairly desolate spots in the Outback, which includes Northern Australia and Rainforests.
...

So that's "Crown" land and camping is basically unregulated there?

Up here in Canada (or at least in Ontario), there are a fair number of restrictions on where you can camp on "Crown" land, as much of it is used for logging or mineral exploitation, and they don't want you getting in the way of industrial activity.

Or the Land is claimed by Natives and the claims are unresolved ...

Similar, but places in extreme areas, pretty easy to park anywhere.
This is in Northern Queensland, with a small Off Road Caravan.

RobertRyan wrote:

...
or fairly desolate spots in the Outback, which includes Northern Australia and Rainforests.
...

So that's "Crown" land and camping is basically unregulated there?

Up here in Canada (or at least in Ontario), there are a fair number of restrictions on where you can camp on "Crown" land, as much of it is used for logging or mineral exploitation, and they don't want you getting in the way of industrial activity.

Or the Land is claimed by Natives and the claims are unresolved ...

brulaz wrote:
So when folks go off road camping in Australia, are they going on National government land, sort of like Crown land in Canada or NFS or BLM lands in the US?

Both, they can go on National Parks to Camp, or fairly desolate spots in the Outback, which includes Northern Australia and Rainforests.
As well you have Caravan Parks to stay in

So when folks go off road camping in Australia, are they going on National government land, sort of like Crown land in Canada or NFS or BLM lands in the US?

A Tvan Crossover Off Road

Kimberley Kruiser Crossover and the expensive Kimberley Karavan( Caravan)

4x4 Dodger wrote:
The real comparison should be the figures on Boondocking vs RV Park/Resort usage. Although our population numbers 340 million tend to make this not a level playing field too.

Big Question: Why do the Australian TT's have such Long Aframe Tongues?

The Boondocking or more Off Road Travel is massive compared to what you do in the U.S., that is why we have categories of Off Road RV's, that do not exist in the U.S.
A Crossover Off Road Caravan, Full Size Off Road Caravans, Campertrailers, Off Road Motorhomes( several builders of these)
As far the long A Frames , I would suggest it has to do with Off Road towing, I do not know myself. I do know there are about 6 different types of Off Road suspensions and as many types of Hitches.
ARB an Australlian company, that has become fairly large producing Off Road products, is the main sponsor of the various Overland Expedition events in the US
Vista RV A Crossover Caravan

RobertRyan wrote:

brulaz wrote:

3oaks wrote:

brulaz wrote:

samhain7 wrote:
Those are some bad ass tires

Yeah, I was wondering about that. They look like tires for the TV.

But why do you need high traction tires for the trailer?
Maybe they reduce sideways slippage ... ?

Have you ever pulled a camper in the Australian Outback? No, I haven't either, but I can understand the reason for the tough tires from what my Australian friends have described to me.

Er, I can't imagine the Australian continent has any worse trails than the North American. But, I haven't pulled a trailer on any of those either.

And I understand your point about "toughness". No doubt that's what I'm seeing, as well as increased traction.

Basically it Australia has more PAVED roads per capita than the U.S. Generally in very good condition. On the other hand it has THREE times the number of graded unpaved roads. Non-roads that are driveable on anyone's guess

Actually it doesnt have any worse roads "off road" than we do. But their trailer mfg's cater to the market that is centered on boondocking rather than stying in RV "Resorts". Thus the good tires and that trailer undoubtedly has shocks on it too (As ours here should have).

RoberRyan: I usually agree with most of what you write but am puzzled by the Per Capita road comparison....it's really not relevant.

The US has 4.09 MILLION Center line miles of roads.

47,432 miles of interstate

175,514 miles of major US highways (Non Interstate)

Most of our roads are in rural areas

Source Federal Highway Admin.

we build on average 13,042 miles per YEAR of new center line miles of roads.

Australia has 567,338 CL miles of roads

Only 219,559 PAVED

and 8,469 miles of "Freeway"

Source: Encyclopeadia of Nations

Basing any comparison on a per capita basis doesnt tell us anything (as many in that population are too young or do not own cars even.)

The real comparison should be the figures on Boondocking vs RV Park/Resort usage. Although our population numbers 340 million tend to make this not a level playing field too.

Big Question: Why do the Australian TT's have such Long Aframe Tongues?

Hmmm... I was thinking of flipping my hatch doors upside down like that.

RobertRyan wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
Its partly a currency conversion and from what I can see partly a different product. Even in Canada an entry level Starcraft from the pictures is that those Starcrafts are considerably higher up the wall than what we get.

Anyway. To the OP, nice pictures and thanks for posting.

Very Different product, not related to the U.S. company, bit like " Winnebago" was not related to the U.S.Winnebago. Unlike the Winnebago example, he worked for Jayco in the U.S. to get ideas of how to masss produce Caravans. Very amicable arrangement with US Jayco, has tried to sell some local innovations to them.
He has the Ryan Group of Companies,biggest is not Jayco, but a global animontronics company that has produced the stage show " Walking with Dinosaurs" his main RV inspiration these days is the European builders like the German Hobby RV ,largest maker of Caravans in Europe .
Walking with Dinosaurs stage show

Gerry Ryan,

Creative Team:

Producer

Gerry is a Melbourne based entrepreneur and managing director with diverse business interests in Australia and overseas. These interests span the manufacturing, property, entertainment, leisure and tourism industries. Gerry is the chairman of Global Creatures, which owns the cutting-edge Creature Technology Company, the creative force behind the Walking With Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular.

Interesting info. Thanks for sharing.