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Just wondering a Jayco dove mid 80's mdl how good would it be offroad and on the beach/sand would do a little bit of a lift would my TD Paj cope or would it bog down in the sand?

I think as long as the wheel width in the camper and the paj are the same and you run the same pressure in both
You would have no problem's.

Sorry mate as soon as I posted it relised it was in the wrong section just thinking about one as they are a compromise caravan/camper and as to how good it would be on the sand (fraser found one reckon I'd get it for around 2 grand with annexe. need to find 2 grand We actually had one few years back and never used it. I guess I'm just a bit worried about the vehicle sinking trying to pull the jayco through the sand as I've never towed on the sand before. I'm not sure as to the size of the wheel track on it so will do a bit of investigating.

For Fraser you will be ok with it. Many people take these style CT's on Fraser and GENERALLY they are ok.

The bush is a different matter. The Jayco is wider than your Paj (approx. 7 foot) and can get stuck on narrow tracks. I've seen it happen and it's a right pain as you have to totally unhitch, turn the Jayco around, drive the car around and then hitch back up and go back the way you came. Wide fire trails and gazetted gravel roads would be fine but if you are wanting to take it 'bush, bush' then you will have issues in some of your travels

Also, what's the TARE weight of the Jayco (ATM)? That will make a difference as will the pwoer plant of your Paj.

We got rid of the Jayco wind-up simply becuase it wasn't a camper and it wasn't a van. But that's something you'll have to figure out as to what you want.

HTH

Scol.

Thanks scol pulling it with a TD2.8, I would be wanting to also use it offroad but I guess it depends how well the chassis is made I did have one of these and reversed the axle on it which gave it great ground clearance would be looking at doing the same with the next one if I get one.I guess I will come across tracks it wont get through it was more to see if anyone had used these campers as offroad and to how they went and whether they're capable of handling a bit of rough stuff or not Cheers

Raising it is a good idea ... mine was an Outback so I was ok with it. The thing you need to remember is they can brake easily as they are not really designeed for deeply rutted tracks. Again, gravel is ok, and maybe wide tracks but once you hit the ruts .

You'll need to check the TARE weight ... I know I said it before but if it's over 1tonne you will have issues with the Paj towing it on sand ... my Paj is an NJ V6 3000 and there's no way I was prepared to take my Jayco Eagle (1200kg's ATM) on sand ... it would have stuck well and truly.

Good Luck!



Scol.

I'll see if I can find the weights on it but loaded it would probably get over that I think

steve80 wrote:I'll see if I can find the weights on it but loaded it would probably get over that I think

I thought it might ... in which case you could have issues on Fraser unless you camp at Central Station and just do day trips out from there. Getting to CS shouldn't prover a problem for you.

Scol.

steve i have a 79 dove & the tare is 720kg, i haven't taken it on the beach yet nor have i under slung the axel [yet].
i have a v6 paj & i yoused to tow a old chesney pop up on the beach with no problems except for forgetting to keep the revs up , but one thing that does help with towing in sand is have wide tyres on the van & make sure you let the tyres down on it to [makes it flote on top insted of sinking].

No worries thanks for the info its just a thought at the moment, As I will be traveling solo when I go I cant afford to get stuck

Found this sunwagon with a bit of suspension lift and maybe some shocks do ya reckon it would be any good on the beach/offroad, guy reckons it weighs about 300-400kg(which I doubt) but its probably going to be the right price

You really are desperate to get on the beach with this thing aren't you ...

IMO the lightness denotes lack of strength ... the Jayco's are ok but not fantastic ie. they will still brake BUT they are around 750kg's ... so again IMO something that is 300kg's is likely to have structural issues. Even an Avan is 600kg's (plus) and they have a habit of breaking up even when the bitumen get's a bit rough.

Does it have to be a wind-up camper? Do you have issue's about a normal camper trailer ie. 7x4ft trailer with tent top?

Scol.

I do like the tent trailers but would like the beds off the ground, would love a track shack tent camper but$$$$$$$$ I seriously doubt this one is 300kgish would probably be more like 700 I think!.

Oddly enough my mate wanted a trak shak ... until he saw it ...

All beds are off the ground as it is over the trailer ... well ours is ... and we have a double camp bunk that was used for our son and the dog (son got the top bunk ).

Ours weighs in at approx. 300kg TARE and prolly 500kg gross.

Can chat when I get back from Yeppoon.

Scolly.

no worries thanks scol I found a good one right price but its in a place about 300ks NW sydney, bugger that not going that far!