Caravans, Hybrids and Camper Trailers

The ultimate guide to buying a Hybrid Camper

The travel and camping industry has exploded in recent years, and today there are more options for accommodation on wheels than you can poke a stick at. One of the more recent developments has been hybrid campers, which are a brilliant compromise between a caravan and a camper trailer.

The ultimate guide to buying a camper trailer

There was a time not so long ago where I could give you a basic run down of the different camper trailers sold in Australia. Believe me, those days are long gone; now there are hundreds of different makes and models, with more differences than you can poke a stick at. So, where do you start?

Caravans vs Camper Trailers; what’s better?

The age old question; is it better to travel Australia in a camper trailer, or a caravan? You’ll get people on either side of the argument who will swear black and blue that they are right. In the end, it comes down to your requirements, and trying to match those as best as possible to what you tow.

Caravan weights

If you want a simple guide that explains what the caravan weights are, and why they are important, this is it. No more complicated acronyms, just simple, easy to understand information that will help you out.

Towing Capacity; a simple guide to keep you legal

Every day there are arguments, questions and lengthy discussions about what is legal when it comes to towing with a 4WD, and every guide I’ve ever read has not made things overly simple or clear. There is a lot more to towing capacity than just the one rating, and lots of people don’t understand this.

What’s the best vehicle for towing?

If you are looking for a new tow vehicle, we’ve written a comprehensive post that covers everything you need to look for. It’s made very clear that there isn’t a one size fits all, and there are actually lots of great tow vehicles, you just have to choose one that fits your requirements.

What is ATM weight?

Acronyms regarding towing and trailer weights are being thrown around more and more today, and it can be very confusing when you first start looking into it. We actually wrote a simple towing guide that covers everything you need to know when hooking a trailer up to your vehicle, including the 7 items that will keep you legal.

Mobile Weighing

The towing capacities of most modern vehicles are a complete lie, and we proved this recently when we had our Isuzu Dmax with a GVM upgrade weighed when set up for towing our Reconn R2. Despite being well under some weight capacities, we were only just under weight in others. If you haven’t had your setup weighed professionally, have a read of this; it makes it super clear as to why you should.

Single axle or dual axle caravan

If you are debating whether its best to get a single or dual axle caravan, this post covers all of the benefits, and downsides of each with zero bias. The simple fact is they both suit different buyers, and depending on your use, you could be happy with either.

What’s the pros and cons of towing?

There are a lot of people in Australia who make the decision to purchase a trailer and tow it behind their 4WD while travelling. Whether its a box trailer, camper trailer, hybrid, caravan or boat, towing something behind your 4WD has a number of benefits.

What is tow ball weight, and why does it matter?

Tow ball weight, or Tow Ball Mass (TBM) is a term that’s being thrown around more and more today, and for good reason. Understanding how it works, how to measure it and what is acceptable is critical for safe towing.

Hybrid Caravans can get you into trouble

Hybrid Caravans open up a whole new world of touring, and you can get them into some pretty incredible places that you’d never dream of taking a full size van to. However, this in turn increases the chances of you ending up in a major pickle, like we recently found out!

How to reduce tow ball weight

Having a heavy tow ball weight is not always a good idea, and there’s a few ways that you can sensibly reduce the tow ball weight. This needs to be done with the utmost respect and care though!

Driving downhill; trailer brake failure

If you are towing a trailer downhill, you need to be very careful how much work the trailer brakes are doing, or you can be up for damage to your brakes and bearings, or a complete failure if things go badly wrong.

Can you flip your tow hitch?

How many vehicles do you see driving down the road with the trailer pointing towards the road, and the vehicles headlights pointing towards the sky? There’s a distinct lack of understanding when it comes to towing safely, and a portion of this comes from not setting your tow hitch to the correct height.

Can your ATM be higher than your towing capacity?

There’s always lots of heated discussions about towing weights, and one of the more interesting questions is whether your ATM can be higher than your towing capacity. The answer might surprise you!

Don’t get caught out with Caravan and Camper Trailer weights

I’m tired of reading over and over again of weight issues that thousands of people are being caught out by. These relate to trailer weights, tow vehicle capacities and weight distribution, and if you don’t take the time to carefully look into it, you’ll be in a world of pain.

Towing Mirrors; do you need them?

There’s some complicated ways for working out whether you actually need towing mirrors or not. The simple way is just to take a tape measure, and check a couple of dimensions. Keen to know more? Find out here. 

Is your towing setup level?

When you hook a trailer up to your 4WD, you should be able to take some steps back and see that the whole lot is nice and level. If the trailer points down, or up, or your 4WD does either (or maybe both is happening), then you have a problem and it needs to be addressed.

Towing Guide and Etiquette; 7 ways to do it right

With so many people on the road today, its critical that you tow in a way that is safe, and keeps everyone moving. I’ve seen so many stupid things done on the road, and it can end badly very quickly; here’s how to keep the peace and drive like you are supposed to!

How to calculate GCM

It’s incredibly easy to be over one of the weight requirements when towing, and GCM is often the first. If you aren’t sure how to calculate GCM, this post dives into what it is, how you can weigh it and what you need to look into.

The ultimate guide to using a caravan or camper trailer

There’s a fair bit to learn when you get your first caravan or camper trailer. In this post, we dive into everything you need to know from grey water to water fill points, keeping your setup level, towing weights and heaps more.

Tow Hitch Types; what’s your choices?

There’s a lot of choice when it comes to tow hitch types, and they’ve all got their pro’s and con’s. If you are still using a 50mm tow ball and looking to change, here’s your other options.

Induction cooktop vs gas for camping; should you change?

There’s been a big shift towards using induction cooktops for camping, off a big inverter and battery system. Whilst it can work, is it actually any good, or are you mad even considering it? We’ve been running both gas and induction for some time now and have a number of comments on each type of cooking style.

Do you really need a Caravan to do a lap of Australia?

The lap of Australia is nothing new, but there seems to be a common misconception that you need a caravan to do it. The truth is very far from this, and there’s plenty of people who have done it without a caravan, and without many of the things that so many people consider to be necessary today.

DIY Camper Trailer Fold out Table

After getting tired of a lack of bench space, I knocked up a DIY camper trailer table in a couple of hours using mainly old material, and costing a tiny amount. It’s worked out great, and we use it for our Weber when this is out, or just extra room to put dirty dishes or plate up.

We burnt our Muk Mat

After a hot day, we arrived back to camp and soon after noticed a huge scorch mark across our Muk Mat, and had seen a much smaller one a few days prior. As it turns out, you need to watch your windows and doors as they’ll burn your mats out the front of caravans or camper trailers!

Replacing a broken Camec door handle

Caravan and camper door handles are notoriously weak, and the Camec ones seem shocking for breaking. Of course, ours snapped within a couple of months of leaving on our Big Lap, and I had to order two, and replace it. It’s really easy to do, but don’t get ripped off buying new ones!

Ken Peachey Caravan Repair Review

I’m always very cautious with Caravan Repair places, but our experience with Ken Peachey Caravan Repairs in Perth was an eye opener, and you don’t find too many businesses that operate like they do. We were really pleased with what they did, and highly recommend them.

Is your Hybrid Camper actually a Caravan?

Hybrid Caravans, or campers are becoming all the rage, and it seems like everyone has jumped on the bandwagon. The thing is though, a huge number of what is being sold are not hybrids at all; they are just small caravans, and here’s what you need to look out for.

Fitting curtains to our Hybrid Camper

One of the last jobs we did to our Hybrid Camper before leaving on a lap of Australia was to fit 3 different curtains, and they have been one of the best things that we’ve done to the unit by far. Two separate the kids from us and them, and the other blocks the door so we can get changed without anyone seeing in from outside. Want to know how we made and installed them? Check this out.

Stone protection options for caravans and camper trailers

There’s nothing worse than peppering the front of your new caravan or camper trailer with rocks, or having one bounce back and smash your rear window. Fortunately, there are a heap of stone protection options out there, with one in particular standing head and shoulders above the rest.

Replacing a Caravan Awning

After a hefty breeze in Kingston RV park left my folks van awning with a nice tear in it, we had to remove it, and got it repaired by a very helpful place in Mount Gambier. It was incredibly cheap, and with a bit of thought we managed to remove, transport and reinstall the repaired awning fairly easily.

Getting new kids caravan mattresses

Before our lap of Australia began, we purchased two new caravan mattresses for our kids, so it was easier for us, and more comfortable for them. You can get them cut very easily, and we saved a few bucks by cutting something down off the shelf.

How to level a caravan or camper trailer

Getting your caravan, hybrid or camper trailer level when you pull into camp is hugely important for a number of reasons, and it can take a bit of practice. In this post, we show you what is needed to get it nice and level, and soon you’ll be a master at getting the bed perfectly level.

A new cutlery drawer for our Hybrid

After months of using a plastic container for cutlery, we were getting fed up with it, and had a drawer built with a plastic cutlery holder inside. It works amazing, and has made life in the kitchen much easier.

Tare weight meaning

Wondering what the definition of tare weight is, in relation to a caravan, camper trailer or hybrid? It’s actually more straight forward than you might think.

Camping Laundry

Camp and travel for long enough on the road and you’ll soon run out of clean clothes. No matter how many times you turn them inside out and back to front (just kidding!), eventually they will stink and need a wash. When you are travelling, what’s your options for Camping Laundry, and getting washing done?

Topargee water tank gauge

If you are tired of using a traditional water tank gauge in your camper or caravan, and want something that tells you exactly how much water you have left, we’ve got the perfect product; the Topargee water tank gauge, which is a flow metre and has been absolutely amazing.

Camper Trailers in Perth

If you are looking to buy a Camper Trailer in Perth, you’ve come to the right resource. Here, we list every single Camper trailer store within 50km of Perth.

Where can you fill water tanks up on the road?

If you are travelling long term, you’ll need to find places on the road to fill your water tanks up. So, where can you do it? Hot tip – not all places are safe, or legal to fill up from!

Ark Jockey Wheel Review

A good jockey wheel makes life much easier. Does the Ark Jockey Wheel qualify? Find out our full, unbiased review here after owning one for a number of years.

Caravan accessories; what do you actually need?

There’s a million items out there that you can buy for a Caravan, and a lot of people are pushing items that you don’t actually need. Here’s our list of Caravan Accessories, and whether you actually need them or not!

Travelling Australia; weight and size vs accessibility

Travelling Australia is a compromise in many ways. If you want the comfort of a caravan, then it comes at the cost of a heavy weight and large size. Does this matter? Well, it depends on you, and what you are chasing. We’ve gone down the Hybrid Camper route for a number of reasons, and weight/accessibility is a big part of that.

Gas bottle refills; what’s the best option?

When you camp, inevitably you’ll need to refill gas bottles. Where do you do it? Should you Swap N Go, or just get your bottles refilled? In this post we cover everything you need to know about refilling or swapping your LPG bottles.

Outdoor vs indoor camper kitchens

There’s good and bad for both indoor and outdoor kitchens, and in this post we cover what you should consider before committing one way or another. We love our outdoor kitchen under most scenario’s, but they are absolutely terrible in others!

Caravan Overhang Rules

Before you make any changes to your caravan, you should know that there are rules that limit the amount of overhang you are allowed to have, and its for good reason. Want to know more? Have a read of this post.

Caravan number plate visibility

If you’ve got a Caravan, and the number plate isn’t visible from all directions, with a number of interesting dimensions and angles, its technically illegal. This also applies if you mount it too high, and this post dives into what you need to do to stay compliant.

Condensation in Caravans and Hybrids

Inevitably, when you head away you will end up with some condensation forming inside your van or Hybrid, and there’s a number of things that you can do to reduce, or eliminate it. If you have condensation issues, this post covers what you need to know.

Caravan WIFI

Looking for the different choices in internet for your caravan? We went through this exercise before departing on our big lap of Australia, and settled on a cheap, relatively effective way of getting internet on the road.

Firewood box on our Hybrid

We love the ability to carry firewood and dirty toys around with us, and the firewood box on the back of our Reconn R2 has been invaluable. If you are considering getting a firewood box (or generator box as some call them), this will help you out.

Caravan stabiliser legs and drills

If you use a rattle gun, or impact driver on your Caravan stabiliser legs to speed the process up, you’ll want to have a read of this, before your legs fall apart.

Dust suppression systems

The new trend on the block for caravans is to fit dust suppression systems, and given the construction of many vans I can see the irony. They certainly have their place, but caravan construction plays a pivotal role in whether you actually need one or not. Find out more here.

Daily water consumption

Wondering how much water you can get away with using when you are travelling around Australia? In this post, we look at how much water we use as a small family of 4, and how many days we can last without going to a place to fill up with water.

Fixing a sagging Camec door

I’m not overly impressed with our Camec Caravan Door, and after finding it wasn’t shutting correctly, I had to set about trying to stop it sagging, and dragging on the bottom. If you have the same issue, this might help you out.

Lifestyle Reconn R2 long term review

Back in August 2019 we picked up a second hand Lifestyle Reconn R2, and now its time to do a long term review! It was (and still is) a major commitment, and we had intended on waiting more time before getting a hybrid camper trailer, but it was a deal too good to pass up. The unit itself was almost brand new, with the new owners upgrading to a Reconn R4 (the slightly bigger unit, with more gear).

Lifestyle Reconn R2 extra long review

After owning our Reconn R2 for more than 3 years, we’ve written a final, extra long review of our thoughts. We’ve done more than 200 nights in it, and taken it over every terrain you can think of. Here’s the end result.

Cabins and accommodation vs camping

There’s an argument that you are better off staying in accommodation like cabins than buying a camper or caravan to travel around Australia, and in this post we take a look at what the differences are, and why you might prefer one reason over another. 

How to easily fill your water tanks

If you are tired of struggling to fill the water tanks on your caravan, camper trailer or RV we have a simple solution that makes it so much easier to do. 

Truma hot water system review

After using a 14L Truma hot water system for a number of years, we’ve written a review, and its not scoring too well!

Why we moved from a soft floor to a hybrid camper trailer

We love camping. Even when it was just Sarah and I, the thought of jumping in the 4WD and heading off to some pristine beach camp site, or remote track would have us both itching with excitement for days prior to leaving. We did 5 weeks in the Kimberley several years ago and made some of the best memories we can remember.

Our new Hybrid Camper; a Lifestyle Reconn R2

We’ve upgraded our Camper, and in a seriously big way. For those who’ve been following us for some time, you’ll know we’ve had a soft floor camper trailer now for a couple of years, and clocked up nearly 150 nights in it. It’s been fantastic, but we’ve been looking for a long time now for an upgrade. We have spent more time researching, doing figures and trying to find the perfect solution for us than I care to think about, but I reckon its paid off.

Long term soft floor camper trailer review

Some camper trailer reviews are based around a few nights spent in a camper trailer, and they aren’t very helpful, or accurate. A lot are also financially biased, as in the writer gets a kick back for making comments about the product.

DO35 Hitch Review

When we purchased our Reconn R2, it came with a DO35 hitch, and today its time to do a comprehensive review on it. What’s good, bad and how does it rate overall? Find out here.

Why I’d never buy another Treg Hitch

Going back a couple of decades ago, you’d rarely see different towing hitches. Today, there are more options for towing a trailer than you can poke a stick at. Traditionally, Treg and the normal ball hitches were all you’d see, and while the Treg was a great option when it first came out, I would never, ever get one again.

The good, bad and ugly of owning a soft floor camper trailer

Camper trailers have been around for a long time now. To start off with, they were basically tents on trailers, and over the years many have evolved into luxury accommodation on wheels.

Our soft floor camper trailer for travelling Australia

Travelling Australia can be done with a huge number of different setups, and we’ve gone with a 2016 Isuzu Dmax, and a soft floor camper trailer.

Australian Made Hybrid Campers

There’s a huge number of Hybrid Caravans and Campers being sold in Australia today. The large majority are not Australian made, despite what some of the manufacturers will tell you. Want to know what’s actually built in Australia? Find out here.

Can you live full time in a Hybrid Camper?

Wanting to do a lap in a Hybrid camper, but aren’t sure of whether its possible or not? In this post we discuss the pro’s and con’s, and what you need to consider before committing to living full time in a Hybrid Caravan.

Replacing Gas Struts on our Pop Top Camper

After seeing our roof sagging, and installing 36kg of new solar panels onto it, we had to replace the Gas struts, which was an awfully entertaining job. Here’s how we did it, and what makes life so much easier!

East West vs North South Beds in Campers and Caravans

If you’re looking at getting a camper or caravan, and are stuck on whether to get an East West bed, or North South bed, this post looks at the differences, and pro’s and con’s. It also explains what they are, as that’s the first hurdle!

Cruisemaster suspension review

In the Caravan suspension game, Cruisemaster are huge, and are often referred to as leaders in the space. We’ve been running a Reconn R2 with Cruisemaster Independent Suspension for many years now, and here’s our complete, unbiased review of how its gone.

Cruisemaster Suspension Alignment issues

We’ve had our Cruisemaster suspension aligned once already, and I found it loose up at Pender Bay, which I wasn’t too happy about. Find out what we did, and what we have planned going forwards here.

Caravan Tyre Pressure; how to calculate it correctly

Did you know you can actually calculate the correct caravan tyre pressure very easily? You just need a bit of information from your sidewall, and what your van weighs and you are good to go. Want to know more? Check it out here.

Balancing trailer wheels

After a spate of bad tyre wear on our Reconn R2, I got our wheels balanced to help with the scalloping. Have you had your trailer wheels balanced before? Maybe you should; have a read of this!

Do you carry spare wheel studs?

After witnessing a couple of trailers and 4WD’s lose studs or wheels, we’re recommending that you carry some spare wheel studs for your 4WD and camper trailer or caravan. As we found out, they aren’t something you can easily get!

Caravan Wheel nut Torque

If you don’t have a torque wrench, and aren’t using it regularly on your caravan, our advice is to get one and start using it immediately. Caravan and car wheels come off far too often, and just ‘nipping’ them up is not the right way to go about it. Want to know the right torque setting too? That’s a bit controversial, but check this out.

Caravan and Camper Wheel Alignments

About a year after getting our Lifestyle Reconn R2 a mate pointed out it had pretty nasty tyre wear going on. We’d been travelling for a couple of weeks, and were parked up at Exmouth Lighthouse Caravan Park. I regularly check the camper, but hadn’t picked up the tyre wear, and could now see it needed some attention, and quick smart.

Matching Trailer Wheel and Tyres

Where possible, its a good idea to have your trailer wheels and tyres the same as your tow vehicle. They don’t have to be exactly the same, but having them interchangeable is well and truly worth while. This applies to everything you’d take off the beaten track; camper trailers, boats and caravans.

Dump Points; the ultimate guide

One of the less pleasant parts of travelling Australia is emptying your toilet waste. Lucky for us, there’s plenty of Dump Points, and we’ve got a guide for how to find them, how to use them and what you need to look out for. This will leave you feeling confident, and eventually emptying your waste into a dump point will just become another boring, mundane job!

Where can you empty grey water?

Who’d have known the humble grey water could cause such controversy? Where are you actually supposed to empty grey water? Where is it sometimes OK to do? There’s certainly some good, and better places to empty it, but ultimately it comes down to common sense. Find out more here.

Caravan Grey Water Tanks

If you are wondering whether you need a grey water tank or not, and how to set one up, this post covers everything you need to know.

Outdoor vs indoor toilets and showers

If you are considering getting a camper trailer, hybrid or Caravan and don’t know much about internal or external ensuites, this post covers everything you need to know. Whilst a nice shower under the stars is amazing, there’s lots of downsides too, and picking the right setup for you is super important.

The ultimate guide to camping toilets

Going to the toilet when camping is a normal part of life. For many, its no big deal, but it can be concerning for those who’ve just started out, or for those who aren’t sure what type of toilet setup to get. This post covers everything you need to know about camping toilets!

Quick Pitch Shower Tent Review

If you are chasing a quick, easy to use shower tent that folds out from your 4WD, Caravan or Camper Trailer, we’ve done a review on our Quick Pitch unit, which came with our Hybrid Camper Trailer when we purchased it. These are a great bit of kit; find out more here.

How long does a portable toilet last?

Wondering how many days you might get out of a portable toilet? It’s not the most talked about subject, but it is really important and in this post we dive into the different factors, and explain how long ours lasts.

Portable Grey Water Tank

If you want to meet the ‘grey water collection’ requirements of a few camp sites in Australia, one option is to just carry a portable grey water tank, and not bother with installing one. We’ve made our own, but you can buy them off the shelf and use them when you really need to.

Caravan and Camper Trailer Security

Despite their size, Caravans and Camper Trailers are stolen every day of the week, and in this post we cover some of the more common ways to improve the security of your pride and joy, and reduce the chance of someone else taking off with it.

DO35 Hitch Lock Review

Keen on keeping your trailer secure with a hitch lock? If you run the DO35 Hitch, then their genuine DO35 hitch lock is a pretty decent bit of kit, although it has had some wear and tear so far.

Nemesis Wheel Clamp Review

Unfortunately today, there are more grubs around than ever before who’d rather take someone else’s gear than buy their own. This includes camper trailers, caravans and boat trailers, and today we take a look at a popular product to prevent this; the Nemesis Wheel Clamp.

When we purchased our new Hybrid Camper, I decided given the expense, I was prepared to spend a chunk of money on keeping it safe in our drive way. The thing is though, is the Nemesis Wheel Clamp actually any good?

The ultimate guide to heating and cooling in Caravans and Campers

You can heat and cool Caravans and Camper Trailers in a number of ways today, even completely off grid, and that’s a game changer. If you’ve been shivering your way through the cold nights, or sweating throughout the day here’s the ultimate guide to heating and cooling when camping.

A Diesel Heater; the ultimate upgrade for cold camping

If you want a permanent diesel heater, this post covers all of the options and why they are so amazing. Whether its for your RV, boat, camper trailer, hybrid or Caravan they are truly exceptional products.

Our Diesel Heater is too big

After installing our 5kW diesel heater, I came to the realisation that it was actually too big for our hybrid camper, and there’s not too much you can do about it once its fitted. Here’s what you need to look out for, and a discussion on the diesel heater sizes!

Caravan diesel heater installation

After putting off our Caravan Diesel Heater installation for far too long, I finally got around to doing it, with photos and a full description of what you need to do, along with a heap of other resources. This is not a difficult job, and can be done by most DIYers without too much stress.

Portable Diesel Heater

If you are looking for a relatively cheap, and easy way to keep your Caravan or Camper Trailer warm in winter without making any permanent changes, an all in one Diesel Heater that can be moved around might just be the ultimate solution. We’ve had a 5kW unit for a few years now, and love it.

Best Caravan Battery Setup; how to pick the right one

If you are wondering what Caravan Battery setup you should get, this post is designed to break it all down to a nice and simple level, giving you options for running different appliances starting off at a very basic system, and working through to one that will run your air conditioner off grid. and a myriad of other items. Take the time to get the right system, or you’ll kick yourself later.

Lithium Battery and Solar Upgrade

We’ve just completed a major upgrade to our Reconn R2, installing two big lithium batteries, a 3000W inverter, 60 amp solar controller and a number of extra solar panels. We thought about this for a long time before putting our money down.

Adding 600W of Caravan Solar Panels

After installing new lithium batteries, we added 600W of Renogy Solar Panels to our Hybrid Camper Trailer, and they’ve been performing really well. Here’s how we went about it, and our thoughts.

What size inverter do I need?

Before you buy an inverter, make sure it matches the appliances you want to run, and the battery system that you have to run it. Inverters vary wildly in size (both output and dimensions), and its critical you get it right. Want to know more? Check this out.

Running a Caravan Aircon from a battery system

Today, its entirely possible to run a caravan aircon off a battery system, and there’s a lot of setups that are doing it. We gave it a go the other day with my Mum and Dads van off our lithium battery system, and it worked fine. Here’s what you need to know, and what size systems you need to look at for long term running of an aircon.

Renogy Solar Panel Review

We have three of the 200W Renogy Solar Panels on our Hybrid Camper, and have been using them extensively for some time now. In this post, we do a thorough, unbiased review on the product, how much it costs and heaps more.

Renogy inverter review

We run a 2000W Renogy Inverter in our Dmax, and a 3000W inverter in our Hybrid Camper full time, and have given them both a fair old work out. Want to know how they perform, and whether we are happy with them? Check this out!

Buying a 12V lithium battery; what you need to know

If you are in the market for a 12V lithium battery (or more than one), you need to spend some time and get something that is going to do what you need it to. There’s a heap of things you should look into, and in this post we cover everything you need to know about buying a 12V lithium battery.

Low Energy Developments Solar Panel Review

We’ve bought 3 solar panels from Low Energy Developments now, and used them all for a number of years (with one still in use now, and the other two sold). See how they’ve performed for us here.

Can you run two solar controllers into the same battery?

If you’re wondering whether you can run two solar controllers into the same battery, then this post dives into what you need to look for, and our experience in doing this a number of times over the years. We still do it today, and have proven it works.

Solar panels and Sikaflex for Caravans

Mounting solar panels onto caravans needs to be done with the utmost care, but it seems that a lot of people don’t understand how good Sikaflex can be when its used properly. In this post, we discuss panels coming off, our experience and how we mounted our panels that have been rock solid for the better part of a year.

Allspark Solar Blanket Review

There’s some pretty amazing solar blankets on the market today, and after borrowing a mates Allspark Solar Blanket and being quietly impressed, I thought I’d do a bit of a review on it, and make some comparisons to the Kings Solar Blanket that so many others have.

Renogy MPPT Charger Controller Review

We’ve been running a 60 amp Renogy MPPT solar controller for more than a year now, and its been extensively used to charge our batteries for induction cooking, a freezer and the general appliances. Here’s our thoughts.

Renogy Lithium Battery Review

After running two Renogy Lithium batteries in our Reconn R2 for about a year, its time to do a review. These have been used extensively (full time) for induction cooking, and the general caravan appliances, and we’ve been quite impressed. Find out more here.

Can you run two different solar panels together?

If you want to run two different size solar panels together, or a blanket and a panel can it be done safely? We’ve been doing this for years, and whilst you need to check a few things, its a simple practice that works well.

AGM vs lithium batteries

With a huge number of people swapping from AGM to lithium batteries, we’ve put together a comparison between the two, so you can make an educated decision about whether its worth the swap or not. They both have their pro’s and con’s, but its becoming increasingly more logical to move to one battery type.

Anderson Plug double adapters

Tired of never having enough Anderson plug outlets? We stumbled across this a while back, and have been using Anderson Plug double adapters for some time now. Providing you are careful with them, they are a fantastic option that is really easy to use.

Camping Air Conditioner; can it be done?

If you are wanting to run an Air Conditioner when camping and are wondering what is required, and how you go about it, this post looks into all of the options. Yes, you can run a Caravan Air Conditioner completely off grid with the right gear, and there are other options that use less power.

12V Heaters and Kettles are no good

If you are wondering whether its worth getting a 12V heater or kettle, we’re going to make it awfully simple and plain for you. 

Victron Battery monitor review

After running a Victron Battery monitor for more than 3 years, its time to do a review. Like the rest of the Victron products we’ve run, its performance has been exactly as you’d expect, and here’s why.

Why we went with a Renogy Lithium Battery

I spent more hours looking at different 12V lithium batteries than I care to think about, and we eventually settled on two 170aH Renogy Lithium Batteries, that have been in our camper for a number of months now, getting used for our freezer, induction cooktop and the usual caravan 12V accessories. Here’s why we went with Renogy.

How to run 240V appliances when camping

Being able to run 240V appliances when you are off grid and away from the nearest power point is a luxury that a lot of people are enjoying today. You can easily run small appliances like laptops, camera chargers and TV’s, and you can even run higher consumption items like kettles, coffee machines and air conditioners if you have the right gear. This post covers everything you need to know about running 240V appliances when camping.

Are you damaging your 12V batteries?

Traditional 12V batteries have a life span which relates to age, and also number of cycles. The further you discharge the batteries the less cycles you’ll get from it, and a lot of people damage their 12V batteries because they don’t know this. Want to know when a 12V battery is flat? Check it out here.

Solar panels vs solar blankets

A lot of Caravan and Camper Trailer owners run portable solar panels to top up as needed, and you’ll eventually have to decide whether its better to get solar panels, or a solar blanket. Both have their pro’s and con’s and there’s a pretty significant pricing difference between the two, so pick wisely!

Fixed vs Portable Solar Panels

When it comes to solar power for your 4WD, Caravan or Camper trailer, the age old question is this; should you go with fixed panels, or portable ones? People will argue all day over which is better, and I’m here to settle it once and for all.

Our Camper trailer boat loader solar panel system

One of the things that gets a lot of attention when we travel is the solar system on our soft floor camper trailer. I don’t consider it especially incredible, but it is certainly different and raises a lot of questions.

Itech lithium battery problems

After running two Itech Lithium batteries for nearly 3 years, my folks caravan electrics died, and left them in a bit of a pickle. Both batteries failed, and this post details what happened, the Itech warranty process and some overall thoughts on their products.

Renogy Shunt and Battery Monitor

Keen on a cheap shunt for your battery? We’ve been running a Renogy Shunt and Battery Monitor for quite some time now, and we’re really pleased with it. Want to know more? Check this out!

Where’s my solar panel gone?

A few weeks back we returned from a truly amazing 4WD and camping trip on the south coast of WA. We had a brilliant time, and found some spectacular camp sites, 4WD tracks and local attractions. However, we had a few electrical issues on both our camper trailer and Dmax which were a pain at the time.

How long will a 100aH Battery last?

It can be hard to understand how much power your different appliances draw, and then work out how long a battery will last. In this post, we break down how long a 100aH battery lasts under different current draws.

Power AGM Battery Review

On our soft floor camper, we ran two 135aH Power AGM batteries, and here’s our unbiased review of how they went, coupled to our 400W solar panel system on a tilting boat loader.