Bushmaster vs the others
Submitted: Thursday, Jun 25, 2009 at 10:05
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GetItRight
I really don't know how to word this post without ruffling feathers, my appologies but I am still debating the market offerings. I believe that the
Bushtracker is a well built caravan and have been part of the
Bushtracker mfg
forum for over a year reading the many positive reviews owners post about rigs. The problem is the overpowering and incorrect at many times opinions posted by the BT forums most prolific writer. It's actually put me off and I'm seriously considering going to Kedron and having them build me a caravan using more modern technologies and processes...
So the question is why not Kedron versus BT?
I do agree with Mr. BT that a dual rear wheel full sized pickup is the only way to go in a tow vehicle and will be importing a '07 Dodge RAM 3500 Laramie and converting it to RHD. I'm much more comfortable with an engine (Cummins) that is used in ag, construction equipment and industrial applications globally vs the single use GMC/Cheevee, Ford engines. It's a towing 747. I've taken a 24' trailer with 12 full sized Red Angus up the road at 120k/h and still get around 19L / 100 km in hilly Oregon country. I don't think the biggest BT will weigh close to that.
Reply By: Gone Bush - Thursday, Jun 25, 2009 at 10:28
Thursday, Jun 25, 2009 at 10:28
Hullo GetitRight,
First of all, I think your title may be a new hybrid off road van: a mixture of
BUSHtracker and TrakMASTER.... lol
Nevertheless, have a look at these sets of photos to see what's under the skin of both brands you mentioned:
Site Link
They were posted by one of this site's members. Look at the wiring on both vans. Kedron is all over the place while the BT is neat and you know exactly where NOT to drill if you want to modify something. With the Kedron you could drill right into a wire, could even be 240v.
By the way, my Trakmaster, which I've sold, is wired the same as the Kedron. I take delivery of a BT in September. May I suggest that you don't let the other
Forum's most prolific writer deter you from getting the best off road van in Australia; I haven't, despite some good reasons to do so.
And I don't think your post will ruffle any feathers here.
cheers
AnswerID:
578129
Reply By: Andy1 - Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 00:24
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 00:24
Mate
If you are serious & would not buy a BT because of some web comment buy Kedron & be damned!
Andy
AnswerID:
578130
Reply By: Deleted User - Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 04:59
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 04:59
Hi Getitright
We had a Kedron which we sold a couple of years ago after we ordered our 19'
Bushtracker.
If you do your research thoroughly I think you will find as e did that the BT is superior in many if not most aspects. My wife & I cannot think of anything that we preferred on the Kedron but we did enjoy the experience of owning one.
Good luck with your search.
Greg
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Mobi Condo - Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 07:33
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 at 07:33
Howdy GetItRight,
We spent some years (about 5 in fact) researching what we wanted and have set out the skeleton of our endeavours in the document "Why we chose a BT" which is listed on the Home Page of this site. Tried to make 'light' of various experiences etc, but generally what you read is what we experienced.
Then we camped nearby a Kedron on the Central Gasgoyne in July 2007 and got an earful of how heavy we were and must have troubles towing and that for a 17' van our BT must be so heavy! It seemed a strange way to have what we hoped was to be a convivial camp fire socialisation with complete strangers when this tirade was launched right at the start of the evening!
So we just told them the facts of our tare wt, our GVM and that we were in fact a 19' van and he was welcome to measure that with a tape.
He nearly fell off his camp chair as he himself was 17', had needed to upgrade his tug three times to be legal to tow his van and it was still heavier than us by some 300 Kg!
PLUS he had paid 'lotza motza' more for his van than we did ours - Oooh! THAT hurt him! :-)
There sure is some savage competition out there in the land "Off-road Van" owners but we are very happy with our "Masculine" / "Industrial" looking rig we named "Mobile Condominium" as it is like an extremely comfortable and towable castle compared to our swag and tents and home made trailer of the previous 40 years of outback touring.
Cheers - Ian & Sally
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578132
Reply By: Jimjan - Monday, Jun 29, 2009 at 03:13
Monday, Jun 29, 2009 at 03:13
You need a dual rear wheeled F350 to tow a
Bushtracker! You have been listening to the wrong people. We had a Land Rover Discovery 3 which towed our 20ft BT over all kinds of roads and terrains. We bought a Silverado because all up we were over 3.5 tonne. The Silverado is overkill so I don't know what info you got that says you need a dual rear wheeled tow vehicle. I understand why you are thinking of buying a Kedron. However, talk to the Australians at
Bushtracker and you will not find a more helpful and pleasant group of people and the fact is they build the best off road van. I have been to the factories at trackmaster, Kedron and Phoenix and the latter is the only one that comes close to the BT. Good luck.
Jim
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