Second Hand Bushtracker Trend, as Reported by Third Owners...

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 00:58
ThreadID: 123510 Views:7102 Replies:2 FollowUps:6
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Well, a new milestone, I think this is a first, but recall that there might be another.... "Third Bushtracker Owner", but the first two were second hand... I think there was another Third Bushtracker Owner, one second hand and two new... And we joked about it, so this might be the second from memory... Anyway, they have reported their activity over the past five years, and I think it is note worthy, not because it is unique, but because it is now the norm that is reported..

I am putting it in their words, as a couple of Bog Readers think I am too shiney about it all, (non Bushtracker Owners) when in reality I am reporting the correct and current Trends for Bushtracker as reported. These "new" Bushtracker Owners, report having turned a profit on both of their vans in the past five years. And after much arduous searching they claim "There are not as many out there for sale as you might think, they sell before they hit the Caravan Trader Magazine off the Website".... They go on to say "We have had a lot of fun with our vans, and find it just amazing how they not only hold their value but appreciate more than we would have expected.." Or words to that affect...

They are coming for a new one now, larger than both before "Because we are tired of making do, a bit of a compromise, and now one one built just for us to our layout ideas and specifications..".... They went for a bit of a Tour and the comment was "It is amazing how far you have come and how much better they seem now over our second hand ones"... They also mentioned: "In our experience, is in searching trying to find one that suited us better, is that the expensive up market ones really well equipped, seemed to sell even faster than the older and less expensive ones".... !!!

The up point of it was their comment: "I just can't believe how much fun we have had for years and still gotten all of our money back and then some...."

Now is the lone Ranger skiting? Too glarey like one Non BT Owner said??? Don't think so, just reporting how it is and the trend for the benefit of the Newbies. We have nearly 100 Bushtracker vans forward Ordered, it is not like we are short of work... Ha! So that eliminates any motivation I would have to want to put a shine on it... This is just how it really is....

I told them and I quote directly as I think I can remember my exact words:

"It is one of my own greatest sense of Satisfaction, that my Customers can enjoy this Lifestyle and have it be a good investment too. It just makes me feel good, to have a great business that is that good for the Clients as well.... It gives me a deep sense of satisfaction, sort of acheivement sort of thing, to benefit the Customers like that, with a win-win situation..."

One other Client was upset that a couple of months ago, with 3000 vans on the CT website, there was not one Bushtracker second hand... We must be doing something right..

And dat is just like it is, "Struth" from the lone Ranger....
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Reply By: Kenso - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 04:52

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 04:52
Hmmm a BT pop up?

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Follow Up By: Mobi Condo - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:14

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:14
Had a look at the link but could not raise the pics. Wonder if it is the same one we saw at Arkaroola after Easter 2005?
Motherhen had just that morning moved on and this one arrived!
Belonged to a chap from southern Adelaide suburbs!
Cheers - Ian & Sally
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Follow Up By: Grumblebum & Dragon - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:19

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:19
Mmmm. interesting - great water capacity 2 x 9L tanks - that should be enough for the sunday morning coffee. And it offers full Bushtracker toughness. May be he bought a wreck from an an insurance sale and added a flop top.

John
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Follow Up By: Motherhen & Rooster - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 09:53

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 09:53
That one has been on rvpoint for some time - no relation whatsoever by the look of it. I recall Steve owning up to having built one pop top (is that correct Steve?) - must be the one Ian and Sally met up with last year.
Motherhen

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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:45

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 17:45
Hello Bogger Friends,

We built a few of the Startracker Campers, but NO ONE stayed with them very long, proving to be just another stepping stone to a Bushtracker like most other choices end up being...

Here is what I started to say about them from years ago:
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We built the StarTracker range of campers, because of trying to do the best thing by our Customers that could not afford a full Bushtracker. We affectionately called them a "half a Bushtracker". In the Outback, we are undoubtedly viewed as Number 1. There are many Jackaroos and such that would come to us, but just could not afford the Bushtracker; in all fairness that is why the StarTracker but there are some problems as follows:

We all went through the "Camper Trailer" phase. In the 70’s we were in tents and in the 80’s camper trailers looked attractive. The main problem is that they did not turn out to be much of a labour savings. They always show you one at the shows that pops up in only three minutes. What they don’t show you is unloading and organising a half tonne of gear twice a day. What you don’t realise is all the work to unpack and organise the kitchen, make up the beds, unpack all the camping gear, set up an outdoor shower, pull the fridge out and get in on gas, and on and on. It really results in about 45 minutes of work twice a day if you are on the road trying to go places. It has a mild success with those who are not really on the road, just going one short hop and sitting there for two weeks. But those who zig-zag across Australia taking in the sites, various events and activities, as they are on the road two weeks to get somewhere; have another outlook that you will soon learn. They are so sick of packing and unpacking the camper twice a day that by the time they get to where they are going all they want to do is fly home and go on a real vacation.

There are a few funny little sayings and situations that you will become familiar with:
1. Like try to stop for lunch in bad weather like pouring down rain, wind, dust, etc..
2. Like trying to put up the camper in the rain or in the dark will become a fun time to look forward to, Ha!
3. Like "Sorry Dear, I know we wanted to go on today, but it rained again last night and the canvas is wet and will have to dry out before we can pack up, maybe tomorrow.
4. Like having an outdoor shower in a dust storm and being dirtier after the shower.
5. Like having to turn around and around in the shower to keep the sandflies or mozzies from biting and still getting bit 8 times trying to get your pants back on.
6. Like standing in the doorway with a folding shovel and dunny roll looking out at the rain belting down like a "cow piddling on a flat rock", Oh this is going to be fun….. Ha!
7. Like the Missus thinking she saw a black snake just on dusk in the brush, oh yes she is going to be keen on getting up in the middle of the night to take care of business!!
8. Like the familiar smell of mildew and mold and dust and rotting canvas, oh joy!
9. Like knowing the real way to travel great distance is having a turnkey operation to pull over in blasting down rain and just go back in the van to have a leisurely lunch instead of battling on risking life in the rain because you have no choice.
10. Like missing a turnkey operation of stopping after a long days drive and having a hot shower and a nice glass of wine and a queen sized bed, instead you will be battling the losing battle with a camper trailer until you join the ranks of veteran travellers.

While it is probably true that this is the growing pains that many must go through, most will not last there all that long. When you get a bit older, creature comforts will weigh more on you and then you will be thinking about "Bushtracker". It may annoy you to have someone telling you this now, but I can assure you will eventually come around to it on your own: That camper trailers are just not the way to go for serious long distance travel.

We are going to decline from building any more at this time, as we do not think it is in the Clients best interests when no one has stayed with them very long… . In short, we would not be doing the right thing by our existing Orders for Bushtrackers to delay them by building a half measure.

My best advice is to go back to the Bushtracker Website, at www.bushtracker.com and have a bit of a study; and try to understand that I am really giving you some good faith advice on future lifestyle. It should ring a serious bell of truth, in that we stand by our convictions in good faith, and are not even going to take your money for a StarTracker! Simply because you are going to want a turn-key higher grade lifestyle eventually... We are really doing you a favour..

Good Luck , and Kind Regards, Bushtracker.

NOW FRIENDS: Yes you will also see a Pop-Top Caravan now and then, we built a few of them.... But now what I tell people is the following:

SIX MAJOR DISADVANTAGES TO POP-TOPS

1. Firstly, with the good aerodynamic rake in front like we have, the fuel savings is minimal. And the problem is that the minor fuel savings will never pay for the maintenance on the pop-tops. The canvas is always being crushed, damp, dusty, windows, screens, lift mechanisms, dust seals, latches, catches, gas struts; all of them wear and cost money to maintain and replace. The fuel savings will never pay for all that maintenance.

2. On our full height vans we have 3 inches of refrigeration board insulation in the roof, so they stay cool even in the full sun. There is only room in the pop-top extrusion for one inch of insulation and the sun goes right through it. Pop-tops are colder in winter and hotter in summer.

3. Pop tops are not cheaper, to build them strong they are the same cost as full height.

4. You lose all of the lovely overhead cupboards in a pop-top.

5. They are not lighter if you build them strong for off-road. You need extra structural strength in the walls to carry the roof section, they are just the same in weight.

6. They are not as strong as a full height van. No matter how good you build them, long term they will have more problems than a full height van, as you are removing the entire roof and structural value off-road.

The only advantage of a pop-top is in how some people store the van. We would suggest that alternate storage be used rather than negate the use of the van just for easy storage. Park it in the yard, build a carport, most do fine letting it sit out in the weather like both of the Directors of Bushtracker store their own vans. Do anything but compromise the use of the van just for easy storage. Pop-tops have too many drawbacks.

No one in the History of Bushtracker has stayed with one very long before moving on…. With your own best interests in mind, we decline to build any more, as they have proven to be just another stepping stone…

Really…….. Sincerely yours, Steven Gibbs, Director, Bushtracker
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Follow Up By: Bushtucker Man - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 19:49

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 19:49
As I recall, in 2001 when trish & I visited the factory there were about 4 of these on the floor in various stages of construction, have never come across one on the road or track.
Sold our 16' and 100 series can't wait until November, just praying we will have the new 200 series to tow it.

Cheers Stan.
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Reply By: Bushtracker Buck & Babe - Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 20:20

Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007 at 20:20
Steve, I can definitely agree with the sentiments about living in a van being so easy. Many times I have seen others having to set up their configurations in either rain or extreme cold and doing it very tough. At the Watagans over Easter it was like tent city and we were the only ones in a caravan for quite some time (until an old one arrived). The weather was inclement and our neighbours in their camper trailer were doing it tough as they had no where to sit but on their bed when usually they would be sitting outside enjoying the sunshine.

I guess I figure that if that is what people can afford at the time, that is better for them than sitting at home wishing they were doing something different, but as you say, it may be a temporary measure for something a little more permanent down the track. Whether everyone can afford a Bushtracker is another matter, but when I lay in my nice warm bed and the rain is pelting down I am so thankful that we were able to in the end. The alternative for me doesn't bear thinking about.

See you tomorrow.

Angie
AnswerID: 571167

Follow Up By: Mobi Condo - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 04:38

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 04:38
Yeah! We went van because of "Tent Fever" one Jan along the Glenelg River in SW Victoria - there we were in all this natural beautiful scrub and it was pouring with rain for two days (which was great for all) so we were not upset at the rain it was that we just had to keep dry in the tent but we had NO WINDOWS to look out through! Now with windows all round - WOW!
Cheers - Ian & Sally
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