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Hello all,
This is a similar entry that I just put on http://www.myswag.org. I had it made to match the Prado - particularily to be able to open the rear door while connected I figured that it maybe of some interest here. For some reason I am yet to take a picture inside but I will update after June long weekend. Having a quiet weekend away about 1 km from home at the West Beach Caravan Park.)
After a pretty ordinary start to the year we were reminded of the frailty of life and decided that its not much use waiting until the house is paid off before you start enjoying yourself - you might as well enjoy yourself now.
I knew that I needed a soft-floored CT, with 2 kids, 2 dogs etc I figured that I will reserve the hard-floor camper for when the kids have left home. I had a look at Adventure but could not come close to parting with that much cash. They had a 6 year old CT for $28,000 - a bit too rich for me.
I had a good look at Challenge Camper Trailers and decided they were the way to go. I have a couple of relatives who each have Challenges and they are rapt. I have seen them in action and have always been impressed. When one of them told me that he generally takes it into them every 18 months or so and they update it with new features they have developed for that model for very little money - I was sold. http://www.challengecampertrailers.com/welcome.html They are based at Edwardstown, Adelaide behind the intersection of South Road and Daws Road. I dealt with Colin who was excellent. Anyone thinking that this style is what they are after are strongly recommended to have a chat to them. I cannot fault their continuing service.
We decide on a Walk In Deluxe. This model is a long trailer with extended drawbar and a section for stepping up without having to climb over each other in the middle of the night. With our girl being 6 months old, and the lad being 2 - this happens a lot unfortunately.
I wanted the Meridian - their better optioned steel CT but Meridian with 'walk in' option was $1,500 more expensive than the Walk-in with 'most' Meridian Options (as I wanted it).
I was able to dictate virtually everything about the CT as I wanted it.
I asked Colin:
Will it sit level with my Prado which has a 2" lift? He said, we will make the chassis from 100 x 50 to accommodate. Lifting the trailer by 2".
I want to be able to open the rear door of the Prado without having to almost jack knife the trailer. He said we will give you a double pole stone guard and lower the hand brake.
I wanted to use my own rims and tyres. He said, bring them down, we will credit you for ours and change the studs for free.
I want all Meridian Options bar the 4 x Jerry can holders at the front. He said - No worries custom made for you.
I would like it before Easter (8 weeks away) - Can do.
I am a bit worried about the weight on the front. We can do your spare on a rear swing away carrier. This will make it tow better.
Can I get the PVC Raincover extended by 100mm - Yep.
And the requests went on. Nothing was too hard
The features of the CT are:
# 3.7m (12 ft)Tent Standard (larger avail)
# 2.1m (7 ft) Awning – Full length
# Walk-In Bed Extension (WIDER TENT DUE TO TRAILER EXTENTION)
# Annexe Return at Kitchen incl.window & draught curtain
# Mesh Stoneguard to front of trailer
# Mesh Walls – Apex to Awning Wall end opposite kitchen
# Gas Strutted Lifting Bed Base
# 80mm (7") Queen Size Innerspring Mattress
# Fully Carpeted Interior to Trailer Body
# Complete Deluxe Kitchen Package (Stainless Steel Stove & Removable Plastic Sink X 2)
# Hi-Tech’ Deluxe Electrical Installation Includes:-
1. 100 amp/hr Powersonic Gell Battery Monitoring System with L.E.D. Display & 2 Power Point Outlets
2. Insulated Wiring Loom to 4 Power Outlets/2 Cargo Lights/2 Tent Lights
3. In-Car Charging System – 30 Amp Hour Set Up with full installation in Trailer & Supply Only for your Tow Vehicle
4. 240v Power Inlet Mounted on Toolbox
5. Automatic circuit Breakers plus more!
# Extended drawbar
# 3 x Jerry Can Holders (THIS IS THE ONLY THING I CHANGED FROM THE MERIDIAN - IT USUALLY IS 6)
# 2 x 4.5kg Gas Bottles & Holders
# 150 litre water capacity (2 Tanks) with 2 fillers & stoneguards
# Treg Polyblock Trailer Coupling
# Treg Polyblock Vehicle Coupling
# Aluminium Front Tool Box
# Aluminium Mudguard & Wing Protectors
# Side Access Hatch with latch & seal
# Spring Loaded Rear Levelling Jacks
# Galvanised drawbar
# Challenge Tailgate “Camlock”
# Compression Latch
# Hinged Rear Swing Tailgate with weatherseal & gas strut
# Fire Extinguisher
# Registration and pre-delivery
I optioned:
Electric Brakes
100mm chassis (50mm lift)
Own Prado (Speedy) rims + tyres
Lowered Handbrake and Double Pole stone guard
Ground Sheet
Tropical Roof (Not fitted on photos)
Rear swing away Spare carrier
Our Easter weekend at Loveday fell through so we popped down to Victor Harbour for the a couple of nights and then spent the next week at the Berri (SA) Caravan Park. Anyone thinking of staying around the Riverland SA - Consider this. It is an excellently run, clean park. Highly recommended.
The Set Up pictures are taken there.
First time connected - on the way
Just filled the tanks. I just had the tent base up to get into the trailer so the PVC cover has not been pulled down.
Set Up - The first two nights we had storms, high winds (Hence all the guy ropes) and about 2 inches of rain, given that the Riverland got about 2 points in Noah's flood - this was a lot. No leaks.
I took the trailer back for its first check, bearings brakes etc. I mentioned that the 12 foot tent retains a little water at the end. No worries - we will give you another pole that will fix it. Excellent service.
I am in the process of making extended mudflaps - just got to bolt them on. It will be spending a fair bit of time on the dirt.
Thinking about getting a sparky to wire 240v through the trailer. At the moment the 240v plugs into a charger and everything is 12v. I run 2 fridges most of the time and with all the other peripherals I think that this maybe needed. Wait and see.
The caps for the Speedy Rims do not cover the bearing covers on the trailer. My options are:
Paint the centre to silver so it looks similar.
Cut the centre out of the cap so it fits around the dust cover
Find a 6 stud cover that allows for a large bearing dust cover.
Any other ideas??
I hope this helps anyone looking for this type of CT. Any questions fire away.
Many thanks to NTPryce whose assistance was invaluable.
Keep up the good work.
Kitchen picture - bit messy
With the tropical roof
Bevan
This is a similar entry that I just put on http://www.myswag.org. I had it made to match the Prado - particularily to be able to open the rear door while connected I figured that it maybe of some interest here. For some reason I am yet to take a picture inside but I will update after June long weekend. Having a quiet weekend away about 1 km from home at the West Beach Caravan Park.)
After a pretty ordinary start to the year we were reminded of the frailty of life and decided that its not much use waiting until the house is paid off before you start enjoying yourself - you might as well enjoy yourself now.
I knew that I needed a soft-floored CT, with 2 kids, 2 dogs etc I figured that I will reserve the hard-floor camper for when the kids have left home. I had a look at Adventure but could not come close to parting with that much cash. They had a 6 year old CT for $28,000 - a bit too rich for me.
I had a good look at Challenge Camper Trailers and decided they were the way to go. I have a couple of relatives who each have Challenges and they are rapt. I have seen them in action and have always been impressed. When one of them told me that he generally takes it into them every 18 months or so and they update it with new features they have developed for that model for very little money - I was sold. http://www.challengecampertrailers.com/welcome.html They are based at Edwardstown, Adelaide behind the intersection of South Road and Daws Road. I dealt with Colin who was excellent. Anyone thinking that this style is what they are after are strongly recommended to have a chat to them. I cannot fault their continuing service.
We decide on a Walk In Deluxe. This model is a long trailer with extended drawbar and a section for stepping up without having to climb over each other in the middle of the night. With our girl being 6 months old, and the lad being 2 - this happens a lot unfortunately.
I wanted the Meridian - their better optioned steel CT but Meridian with 'walk in' option was $1,500 more expensive than the Walk-in with 'most' Meridian Options (as I wanted it).
I was able to dictate virtually everything about the CT as I wanted it.
I asked Colin:
Will it sit level with my Prado which has a 2" lift? He said, we will make the chassis from 100 x 50 to accommodate. Lifting the trailer by 2".
I want to be able to open the rear door of the Prado without having to almost jack knife the trailer. He said we will give you a double pole stone guard and lower the hand brake.
I wanted to use my own rims and tyres. He said, bring them down, we will credit you for ours and change the studs for free.
I want all Meridian Options bar the 4 x Jerry can holders at the front. He said - No worries custom made for you.
I would like it before Easter (8 weeks away) - Can do.
I am a bit worried about the weight on the front. We can do your spare on a rear swing away carrier. This will make it tow better.
Can I get the PVC Raincover extended by 100mm - Yep.
And the requests went on. Nothing was too hard
The features of the CT are:
# 3.7m (12 ft)Tent Standard (larger avail)
# 2.1m (7 ft) Awning – Full length
# Walk-In Bed Extension (WIDER TENT DUE TO TRAILER EXTENTION)
# Annexe Return at Kitchen incl.window & draught curtain
# Mesh Stoneguard to front of trailer
# Mesh Walls – Apex to Awning Wall end opposite kitchen
# Gas Strutted Lifting Bed Base
# 80mm (7") Queen Size Innerspring Mattress
# Fully Carpeted Interior to Trailer Body
# Complete Deluxe Kitchen Package (Stainless Steel Stove & Removable Plastic Sink X 2)
# Hi-Tech’ Deluxe Electrical Installation Includes:-
1. 100 amp/hr Powersonic Gell Battery Monitoring System with L.E.D. Display & 2 Power Point Outlets
2. Insulated Wiring Loom to 4 Power Outlets/2 Cargo Lights/2 Tent Lights
3. In-Car Charging System – 30 Amp Hour Set Up with full installation in Trailer & Supply Only for your Tow Vehicle
4. 240v Power Inlet Mounted on Toolbox
5. Automatic circuit Breakers plus more!
# Extended drawbar
# 3 x Jerry Can Holders (THIS IS THE ONLY THING I CHANGED FROM THE MERIDIAN - IT USUALLY IS 6)
# 2 x 4.5kg Gas Bottles & Holders
# 150 litre water capacity (2 Tanks) with 2 fillers & stoneguards
# Treg Polyblock Trailer Coupling
# Treg Polyblock Vehicle Coupling
# Aluminium Front Tool Box
# Aluminium Mudguard & Wing Protectors
# Side Access Hatch with latch & seal
# Spring Loaded Rear Levelling Jacks
# Galvanised drawbar
# Challenge Tailgate “Camlock”
# Compression Latch
# Hinged Rear Swing Tailgate with weatherseal & gas strut
# Fire Extinguisher
# Registration and pre-delivery
I optioned:
Electric Brakes
100mm chassis (50mm lift)
Own Prado (Speedy) rims + tyres
Lowered Handbrake and Double Pole stone guard
Ground Sheet
Tropical Roof (Not fitted on photos)
Rear swing away Spare carrier
Our Easter weekend at Loveday fell through so we popped down to Victor Harbour for the a couple of nights and then spent the next week at the Berri (SA) Caravan Park. Anyone thinking of staying around the Riverland SA - Consider this. It is an excellently run, clean park. Highly recommended.
The Set Up pictures are taken there.
First time connected - on the way
Just filled the tanks. I just had the tent base up to get into the trailer so the PVC cover has not been pulled down.
Set Up - The first two nights we had storms, high winds (Hence all the guy ropes) and about 2 inches of rain, given that the Riverland got about 2 points in Noah's flood - this was a lot. No leaks.
I took the trailer back for its first check, bearings brakes etc. I mentioned that the 12 foot tent retains a little water at the end. No worries - we will give you another pole that will fix it. Excellent service.
I am in the process of making extended mudflaps - just got to bolt them on. It will be spending a fair bit of time on the dirt.
Thinking about getting a sparky to wire 240v through the trailer. At the moment the 240v plugs into a charger and everything is 12v. I run 2 fridges most of the time and with all the other peripherals I think that this maybe needed. Wait and see.
The caps for the Speedy Rims do not cover the bearing covers on the trailer. My options are:
Paint the centre to silver so it looks similar.
Cut the centre out of the cap so it fits around the dust cover
Find a 6 stud cover that allows for a large bearing dust cover.
Any other ideas??
I hope this helps anyone looking for this type of CT. Any questions fire away.
Many thanks to NTPryce whose assistance was invaluable.
Keep up the good work.
Kitchen picture - bit messy
With the tropical roof
Bevan
ops: but they have centre caps that easily fit over the wheel bearing caps.
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