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Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: August 28th, 2015, 3:27 pm
by healey242
My first post! Currently using a Disco TD5 with roof tent set up which has been great but now in search of more comfort for touring wetter places.
At present in the process of deciding which demountable. Have narrowed down to a Tischer or Lely but have had advice re base vehicle which has challenged my initial plans.
I had been all for a double cab simply for usability when not using the demountable. Favourite was a Nissan Navara or if my budget stretched a VW Amarok. However now been told Nissans are problematic - weak engines, gearboxes and chassis. Also a double cab shifts the demountable weight so far back that driving pleasure/ handling is badly compromised. Further that any standard pickup suspension will need an air suspension assistance system. All this advice seems to make sense - except no direct experience of the Nissan horror stories.
So in my current ignorance I would value any views from seasoned demountable users out there.
Look forward to hearing from you.

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: August 28th, 2015, 4:06 pm
by zildjian
Good afternoon Healey and welcome,
as you've been a member here for awhile I'm guessing you've read the Navara issue here, I'm bound to say 'buy the best you can run to' and a VW would certainly be a good buy, we have a couple of members with them already and another potential owner at year end springs to mind.

For myself I only really know Hilux and can't properly add to the Navara debate as I got rid of mine years back,

Tischer campers are nice aren't they, have you the literature for Lely yet, I think I have a copy if not (although I believe it was in Dutch)

We offer a look-around service BTW, I don't know where you are but we can point you towards nearest member if you fancy a look at any of the different makes

Zildjian

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: August 28th, 2015, 8:32 pm
by derestrictor
Welcome Healey, although you've been here as long as me about :lol:

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: August 28th, 2015, 8:33 pm
by keeflester
Hello Healy. Welcome to the group. My experience is limited to various rigs on a Supercab, read Kingcab, Extracab etc. even with the longer bed of the Supercab, weight distribution is an issue. My advice would be to take a long hard look at weight distribution BEFORE you commit to a rig. If you are sold on the double cab solution, you should consider getting the lightest camper that meets your needs and carry any loose heavy items in the cab. Others here will give you similar advice. Kind regards, K33F

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: August 28th, 2015, 9:22 pm
by sabconsulting
I have a supercab and am happy with the compromise. Gives me a really useful amount of storage space at the back of the cab (accessible via the suicide doors), but means greater load-bed length and importantly therefore more of the camper in front of the rear axle.

When looking at campers think about where the centre of gravity (fore / aft) of the camper will be, and where that will be when mounted on the pick-up truck in relation to the rear axle. Ideally the centre of gravity should be forward of the rear axle. I know mine is slightly behind it, but you see pictures of some campers (generally on double-cab trucks) where clearly most of the weight of the camper is hanging out behind the rear axle. This is bad for a number of reasons.

So if you don't actually need the rear seats for humans, or can cope with the small folding rear seats you get in a supercab (OK for kids or very short journeys for adults) then I recommend the supercab over the double-cab for carrying a camper.

This is my camper on a supercab:

Image

Steve.

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: August 29th, 2015, 3:00 pm
by rubberrat
^ thats the best way to go. Almost everything in the camping/campervan/motorhome world is some kind of compromise. If you can get away with a crew cab/extracab you'll have a nicer ride. Try to get the smallest camping unit you can be comfortable in. Consider a pop-top as you're used to that kind of thing.

I love my rig, it's really comfy - you could (have) spend months in it. But it is a bit big and cumbersome.

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: September 1st, 2015, 7:24 pm
by healey242
Thanks very much to all who have commented- your comments and advice are very helpful. I am off to see a Tischer again tomorrow having seen the Lely last week. The Lely has a really good body structure and is very neat but maybe not so well fitted out as the Tischer. Lely also more expensive. The Lely I saw was on a Hilux extra cab and centre of gravity I would guess was over the axle - but this is influenced by how you pack it of course and the waste tank which is normally under the rear but was not fitted on this one. The Hilux had an air-spring system fitted and the rep though this essential on any pick-up with a demountable. I am certainly becoming nervous of Nissan and tending towards an extra cab- looks like the Isuzu D-max or possibly the Toyota. However the Toyota's seem to hold their price even on high mileages - which probably tells the story!
I will post again with progress - thank again to all.
Healey 242

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: September 2nd, 2015, 9:33 am
by Gary W
healey242 wrote:Thanks very much to all who have commented- your comments and advice are very helpful. I am off to see a Tischer again tomorrow having seen the Lely last week. The Lely has a really good body structure and is very neat but maybe not so well fitted out as the Tischer. Lely also more expensive. The Lely I saw was on a Hilux extra cab and centre of gravity I would guess was over the axle - but this is influenced by how you pack it of course and the waste tank which is normally under the rear but was not fitted on this one. The Hilux had an air-spring system fitted and the rep though this essential on any pick-up with a demountable. I am certainly becoming nervous of Nissan and tending towards an extra cab- looks like the Isuzu D-max or possibly the Toyota. However the Toyota's seem to hold their price even on high mileages - which probably tells the story!
I will post again with progress - thank again to all.
Healey 242
Glad you liked the Lely :-). We decided to get involved with them as they're built and engineered to take a world tour in their stride, but are so nicely finished you'd never know unless you look deep inside (or take that trip of a lifetime of course!). Perfect for a weekend surfing in Cornwall too!

Best wishes

Gary

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: September 2nd, 2015, 9:56 am
by zildjian
Actually Gary I was about to offer space for one here as your 'midlands demonstrator'


I have space and don't charge much :D

Re: Hello - Advice Appreciated

Posted: September 2nd, 2015, 11:06 am
by Gary W
zildjian wrote:Actually Gary I was about to offer space for one here as your 'midlands demonstrator'


I have space and don't charge much :D
:lol: