To boldy go where no camper has gone before...
THIS is insane.
Forum Discussion
Several of my overlanding friends use the offroad trailers with roof top tents attached to the lids, like you'll see a lot of at the Overland Expo. A couple AT Chasers, one Tentrax, one homemade from an FJ40 tub. Those things really don't appeal to me. But, I can see where the right one, combined with a 4 door JK or 100 Series Cruiser, could get a family of four just about anywhere it's legal to go with some conveniences in shelter/sleep system and galley over my traditional tent and camp kitchen.
Importing an Aussie caravan... I wish. The world may be open to me, but my wallet ain't quite that open to the world.
Do also agree, the market might be small here, but one does exist. I think a lot of the same people that buy those offroad trailers just mentioned above, would be prime candidates. I've seen several guys spend $15-$20K to try one of those, with hopes of getting his wife or kids more interested in his remote explorations. But, at the end of the day, those things are still just tents, not very big or weatherproof ones at that. Nearly every instance I've seen of a guy getting into one for those reasons, has not really worked out. One of these caravans though, you give the ladies a little indoor plumbing, some counter space and a "real" bed with a hard roof, they warm right up to that! My own wife is a good example. She only tolerated camping about once a year before we got the TT. Now she loves to go. Granted, what we now call "camping" is fairly far removed from what we used to call "camping", but, regardless, she didn't like the old kind, she really enjoys it now and the amenities I just mentioned are the reasons why.
So, yes, I think you are right, there would be a few folks in this country quite interested in one of these.
Like I said, I'd be extremely interested myself, just not in a position to buy one new at this time. Maybe after the youngest is done with college...
- Coyote
Importing an Aussie caravan... I wish. The world may be open to me, but my wallet ain't quite that open to the world
Do also agree, the market might be small here, but one does exist. I think a lot of the same people that buy those offroad trailers just mentioned above, would be prime candidates. I've seen several guys spend $15-$20K to try one of those, with hopes of getting his wife or kids more interested in his remote explorations. But, at the end of the day, those things are still just tents, not very big or weatherproof ones at that. Nearly every instance I've seen of a guy getting into one for those reasons, has not really worked out. One of these caravans though, you give the ladies a little indoor plumbing, some counter space and a "real" bed with a hard roof, they warm right up to that! My own wife is a good example. She only tolerated camping about once a year before we got the TT. Now she loves to go. Granted, what we now call "camping" is fairly far removed from what we used to call "camping", but, regardless, she didn't like the old kind, she really enjoys it now and the amenities I just mentioned are the reasons why.
So, yes, I think you are right, there would be a few folks in this country quite interested in one of these.
Like I said, I'd be extremely interested myself, just not in a position to buy one new at this time. Maybe after the youngest is done with college...
- Coyote
