Hi I love your videos and you really know your stuff. My son just bought a hybrid camper trailer which he loves. I have a 26 ft paradise rv which has everything you have in your home. To each his own. When you get a little older it’s nice to have all the creature comforts. Safe travels, Pete.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment Pete.

With so many categories and options within those categories, this was an awesome episode. Thank you 👍🏻

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Camping is about being outdoors and cooking etc with family and friends but when the weather comes in you need to be able to get inside or under cover. That's why I'm looking at the UEV 490. Yes a van is great and I believe the UEV 14 is fantastic but not sure my Budget will stretch that far. Thanks for your video's I have enjoyed watching them.

@SmartTouringSystems

2 ай бұрын

Cheers mate thanks for tuning in.

Or you could be like us and just go with the basics and hope it works. lol Made it round Oz in both parks and off grid, no inside dunny or shower. It was an adventure! Great ep. Would love a hybrid :)

As someone who is currently looking its a fascinating and timely video. It's tough because in my head I think that the 490 is the pick. Better to take to places like Moreton Is but speaking to experienced people who go travelling a bit.... well they all say you will regret not getting a hybrid or straight to caravan. I guess you got to listen to those with experiences.

@SmartTouringSystems

21 күн бұрын

Yeah it’s a hard one for sure, we have been using the 490 a lot lately and it’s a great unit, and are enjoying the more camping feel of it.

UEV-490 is still the one for me... (for now anyway) 😊 We've got one and it's a good compromise in size, set up and usability. We have a family of 4 and eventually they kids won't want to join us in trips so it's not too big for both my wife and I when we decide to travel by ourselves in the future, yet still able to cater for the 4 of us today.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. The 490 is a great package that's for sure.

We've always had swags/tents but added a Tvan 14 years ago and a 2.5T single axle offroad 9 years ago. We still use them all. Swags/tents get used for Canning type trips, boys trips and the grandkids. Tvan gets used for desert and other 4wd trips and van gets used for most other trips. The ensuite and air cond is a winner with the caravan. But we love the ease of towing and the ruggedness of the Tvan - it eats the corrugations. I have 400Ah lithium, 300W solar, 3000W inverter and 75L fridge in our Troopcarrier. And if I need more power for the caravan offgrid, I simply run a powercord from the Troopy inverter. Caravan still has 200Ah lithium, and 420W solar to power compressor fridge whilst Tvan has 100Ah and 60W solar and 30L drawer fridge. Like you, I treat our vehicle as a power bank. When you're out for a drive or a day trip, the 40A dcdc charger puts heaps back into the battery bank which is handy when you are parked up, shaded or have bad weather. And we mostly use gas for cooking. We love using an airfryer, pod machine, hair dryer, toaster etc but not interested in induction because the benefits are not worth the extra power consumption when you still have gas stoves.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Great comment, thanks for taking the time to watch. You have a few options there for sure.

@michaelhermans4753

3 ай бұрын

I agree, induction is overkill on batteries, handy to have a cheap K mart unit when windy and access to mains 240V Most induction cookers are not built rugged enough for 1000’s k’s of corrugations so you need gas as a backup anyway

love the show and great episode with honest thoughts, my only 2 cents is that i really believe inverters are just not needed these days and really over complicate everyone's 12V needs. Apart from a microwave or coffee machine (which if your off grid and in the bush do you really need?) everyone use to say I need 240V to charge my camera, makita , drone batteries etc, but they all have very capable 12V chargers to do these things. My trailer has 240V shore power input but i only use that at home to maintain batteries & when i go to a caravan park mid trip for a comfort reset for a few days etc. I challenge people to drop the inverters... would help with the pesky engine runners & bloody generators thats for sure lol. but also totally agree its personal choice, im just putting out a challenge. When i had my 12V system installed in my cruiser 200ah lithium, the guy had blank stares when he asked me what inverter i wanted and i said i dont want one and i asked him why i needed one. lol we as humans just get programmed to easily.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for tuning in and yes you are spot on with not really needing inverters, my inner nerd loves tech more than I actually need it.

Good episode and was good to get your perspective on the pros/cons between the 490 and 14. They look like a great option.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. 👍🏼

Currently have an oztent sv5max but a good mate of mine has given us his jayco eagle out back for a few years with all the fruit going to be hard to go back to the tent just simple things like getting out of bed and sitting on the lounge to put shoes on and the hot water system makes life so much easier so it’s a camper for me great vid keep them coming

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. for longer trips a camper, hybrid or van is always going to be a bit more comfy. It's hard to go back that's for sure. good every once in a while though.

We have a MDC Cruizer Highside forward fold camper trailer. To us, the 490 is a "house on wheels"! I guess it's all perspective. We are in the process of modifying our trailer into more of a hybrid so that it's easier and faster to setup, drier in wet weather, and live out of as we are shipping it and our Defender to South Africa for a year long adventure in 2026.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching. Sounds like quite the adventure coming up 😂

Depends on age also eg grey nomads!

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Very good point.

Thanks guys great info in this video ❤👍

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Awesome video 👌

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching.

Good ep great points. We have gone from a dual swag to a 22 440 platinum. We love the remote camping but we do wish the unpack and pack up was quicker and easier but yet on the other hand love how small it is. Our camper is now highly modified with all the luxurys (induction/Ac) to make the camping experience more comfortable but are limited to weight and space. It's a constant battle between what we need and don't need but we think we have come close to nailing our set up and are getting ready for a lap around Australia as of July 1st with a 1 year old.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and congrats on the upcoming lap. I'm getting very keen to get out of the shed and do a proper trip very soon.

Subscribed awesome videos 🎉insightful

@SmartTouringSystems

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for tuning in.

Covered some good ground especially from someone who has done it all I tent with a good size boat in tow for annual fishing trips, swag for over nighters, And about to buy an ultimate camper for comfort, remote camping, weight and quick setup and pack up Most caravan owners spend their time on a concrete pad in a crowded caravan park next to noisy neighbours. I can’t imagine anything worse!!

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and taking the time for such a detailed response. The boat and tent/swag setup is a good one that we have done many moons ago.

Cool Ep and set ups guys, Me I use a Tent Cot I bought second hand for $50 when I do my Solo fishing trips up north with our 5m tinny in tow. I Am going for 12 weeks soon. And on our Fam northern trips we use a 1983 Wind Up Jayco that we rebuilt around 10 years ago it sleeps our Fam of 6. only around 1 ton loaded. We tow it anywhere our 4wd goes, But thinking of buying a old 15ft full height single axle van and gut it out a fit 6 single beds inside and take the stove and gas out, for our southern travels to handle wet colder weather.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks Craig, sometimes simple is best hey mate.

@craigtomkinson2837

3 ай бұрын

Well it is for us mate as we are frugal, haha. @@SmartTouringSystems

Swag for the boys trips away but just me and the minister of war, finance and fun activities it's definitely the Hybrid 🍻

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Fair call 😎

I’m travelling Aus with a 23ft 3500kg caravan. It’s not to bad but I am looking forward to downsizing once we finish full time travel.

@SmartTouringSystems

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the honest comment.

At last someone who admits a caravan is a holiday home on wheels.