It has been left as a reference point only.
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This is a very special page to hopefully help those thinking of investing in their first A'van. We have put together a sampling of emails, letters, A-Forum posts, USA A'liner Owners Club postings etc. from very happy owners. Many of the stories here tell you how the A'vanners reached their decision that A'van was the way to go. Just email if you need more advice/help/opinion and we will do our best to put you in touch with someone with the appropriate answer!
| Since we wrote to you originally we have
purchased a second hand A/Van at a great price and despite not having used
it a great deal yet are delighted with it. This year my wife and I are
reducing our workload as we approach retirement and are hoping to head off
regularly. We are delighted with the change from a soft top camper trailer. Cheers Gary and Jane Shepherd (16/1/03) (Australia) |
| My wife and I bought our CL layout Sportliner 19 months
ago, and if starting again would buy the same model, irrespective of
price! Our original selection was based on the space available at home to
store it. We have since moved and space is no longer a problem. With the
Sportliner, it helps if you are not too tall (we are 5'5" and
5'4" respectively), and reasonably organised i.e. a place for
everything and everything in its place! The large opening window in the
front roof is essential to provide that extra headroom when using the
sink. It also provides excellent ventilation and we have found it to be
perfectly weatherproof.
As well as being cheaper to buy, the Sportliner is easier to open up, manoeuvre, tow and requires less storage space. We stick ours in the back of the garage and can open it up inside the garage (a big plus when loading). Leaving mains power connected is usually easier if the van is in a garage than if it has to be left outside. The awning can be fitted with the roof up. The CL layout in fact provides as much if not more storage space than may of the A'liner layouts. It certainly has more bench top space than most A'liners. We make up the bed before leaving home then roll back the outer half of the bedding to the back seat. Making the bed then just involves lowering the table and rolling the bedding over the outer cushions. Provided you are not planning on throwing wild parties in your van, we have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending the Sportliner CL! PS: Anyway, caravanning is all about being out there in the wild blue yonder, not stuck in front of the TV. You can stay at home to do that! Pam and Keith Thomas (Australian A'vanners) |
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| G'day folks, first off, let me congratulate the people
responsible for the web site. What an absolute wealth of information. I
think you'd be hard pressed to find anything else like it!
I am seriously considering the purchase of an A Liner and am trying to get a few answers to some questions, as well as some opinions. If anybody can find the time to answer, I would be very appreciative: What are the internal dimensions (length and width)? I am 6' 4" tall. Is the bed, as in the 3C or 1B, considered long enough by tall owners (I'm sure there must be someone about my length who has an opinion!)? Are the standard mattresses OK, or should I consider the innerspring option? What are the advantages/disadvantages of the sofa type bed (3C) verses the double bed (1B)? Is there enough storage space for all the kit and kaboodle a couple would carry on an extended trip? And lastly, what are the opinions of using the A Liner for extended periods (possibly up to 12 months)? Hope I haven't asked for too much. Any replies to any of me queries will be gratefully received . Thank You. A possible new owner! (Australia) |
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| If you reside in Queensland, Australia I would suggest you
visit the following Web Site
http://www.qldcampers.com.au/
Or alternatively telephone the Dealer on (07) 3805-5499.
You really need to personally have a look at the A'vans yourself and evaluate your requirements from there. We purchased the A'liner Expedition 1D model. It has higher walls which has more headroom. So that higher wall OPTION would be worth thinking about in your case, as height is essential. Bench height of course is higher too. If your towing vehicle is a 4WD, I would strongly recommend going with the A'liner with the front boot OPTION, as that gives you further space. See if the Dealer has a RENTAL A'van available for you to rent for an extended period of time. That would be an excellent way of finding out if it will suit your needs. We went with the 1D because of the Double Bed already there. We have the OPTION of the Innerspring Mattress. There are a number of other Options we have too, which of course add both weight and extra money outlay to the final price. Our priorities were a good night sleep over extra sitting space. Also, we did not want to make the bed every night. Hope my comments have helped you in some way. Regards Therese Goodwin (Australia) |
| What a great site!! I have spent hours looking at all that
information. We are in the market for a campervan in the near future and
am impressed with the A'van as a concept. I have started to gather
information to make sure that we don't make mistakes like lots of people
do and get it right the first time. I know that it is all a matter of
preference but wouldn't it be great if someone that has owned an A'van
compiled "must have" list for prospective buyer should have - i.e.:
vents, windows, layout, additions, extras etc. What's the go? What works
and what does not?
Chad and Amanda (Australia) |
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| Hello,
What is the size/weight of your A'lite? We have a 15" A'liner (1990) and LOVE IT ! We are also having some problems with the space limitations. Basically most of the "stuff" (dirty laundry, tarp, screened in room, tarps/poles, extra equipment) is stored outside with a huge plastic sheet under and over everything. We are looking into a portable playpen to "hold" the stuff in a neater fashion. Then just a tarp over everything in case it rains. We camp in the northeast US, live in Maryland. Off to Trapp Pond State Park, DE in 10 minutes. Happy Camping! Helena (USA) |
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| HELENA,
OUR A'LITE IS 12"L X 66"W. HAS A/C, STOVE, FRIDGE, HEATER. DINING TABLE MAKES UP PART OF THE QUEEN SIZE BED. WHEN THE BED IS OUT YOU ONLY HAVE 36 SQUARE INCHES TO GET DRESSED IN. SMALL, YES. BUT LUCKILY WE ARE AGING BACK PACKERS SO WE THINK LITE AND SMALL. IT DOES HAVE A SCREEN HOUSE THAT GIVES US MUCH MORE ROOM. ITS NOT FOR EVERYONE BUT WE LOVE IT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO E-MAIL US DIRECTLY IT ,arleen.mail@ascent.net Take care. JOHN & ARLEEN HECK (USA) |
| Hello, We have the air conditioner a/c in our A'liner and
LOVE IT. We live in Maryland, USA and travel in the north east area. An
afternoon nap is so nice when the a/c keeps things cool. It also keeps
things from getting that "damp" smell. For heat we use a small
portable table top heater that uses forced air/fan. This also helps thing
dry out and keeps the inside smelling fresh. Well worth the initial
investment. On a recent trip we used the heater one afternoon and the a/c
the next. Go figure! Enjoy your new "toy house"!
Helena (USA) |
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| We took delivery of our new A'liner Expedition Model 1D
just prior to Xmas 2000. We ordered the Factory Air-conditioning and FULL
Annex.
We have used both the above accessories in the short time we have owned the A'liner and do not regret the purchase of either. Factory fitted Air-conditioning is better than aftermarket, better finish etc. So if you decide to have it installed, definitely have it done at the Factory whilst the unit is being built. Regarding the Annex.......it gives you an extra room. Also, in wet weather having that accessory is excellent for obvious reasons. We keep our Porta Potty in the Annex and it really is better than the long walks to the Amenity Block during the night. Invest in the FULL annex. It took us 25 minutes to erect it the first time, but we are getting quicker now (without interruptions). Facing the Annex to the west in summer makes the A'liner cool as a cucumber inside, for an afternoon rest if required. Re the Air-conditioning - get a reverse cycle model. That way you can utilize it for warmth in winter too if required.. If you live in the humid tropics or intend travelling around Australia with it, the Air-conditioning will really come in handy. You will find the A'liner without air-conditioning during summer is bearable inside, as long as there is a breeze to aid ventilation. If you have air-conditioning in your home and car like we do, believe me you will regret not getting it. Hope our input helps. Regards Ian & Therese (Australia) |
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| Bob & Chrissy,
Thank you very much for the USA A'van websites, lots of reading. Found an interesting link from an A'van owner's trip to Alaska, thought it might be of interest to some other A'vanners. It has lots of pictures and a day by day diary. www.bhoffcomp.com/alaska John & Yitske Alberts (Australia) |
| I looked thoroughly at all the options out there. Most of us
did. I
think I've considered most of the issues regarding A'liners through
the years and am convinced it is a fine product for my needs.
How am I qualified? I have owned two A'liners. I have TOTALLY
dissembled one, seeing it from the inside out, and totally remodelled
another from a basic model with a bed and pump faucet to an LXE. I was very impressed initially and attracted to the design that was different from the same old "rectangle box". I loved the amount of light that you could get into the camper that created the "bringing outdoors in" design principle. But, the final decision came down to practicality. I purchased A'liner because it was an all-season camper, lightweight, easy to tow, and easy to set up. Pop-tops have extra weight you have to tow around. I agree with Bob. Many of us go 10,000's of miles/ year in our A'liners without a problem. A'liners light weight design gets great gas mileage on the highway. Also, depending on the height and the style of windows, you can usually see traffic behind you OVER the camper! Large up-right campers could never boast this fact. The insulation in a hard-sided camper allows you to go out any time of the year. Insulation helps in cold, but it also insulates against heat. The blackened windows also help with the heat. There are more times then I can count when it was just so hot, I've seen the tent and canvas pop-tops leave the campground. Even the pop-tops with air conditioners. Temperature control is unacceptable to me who may be out, and the temperature rises and I have a dog left inside the camper back at the campsite. Also, I worried about leaving the dog alone in a canvas trailer in "Bear-country". A hungry animal in the wild can smell my dog or his dog food.
Canvas pop-tops take a long time to set up. Just, one more hassle.
Many of us occasionally like to go, "Solo in an A'liner". We can
set
the A'liner up very quickly by ourselves allowing solo women to keep a
low profile, or to set up quickly in a hard rain. I had a camper say
to me one time, "Camping sure is a lot of work. Isn't it"?
"No", I Red (USA A'van Owner) |
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| Your site is absolutely fantastic and
extremely comprehensive. As a second time A'liner owner from the U.S., I
was absolutely fascinated, and my mouth wide open in awe as I read most of
it. I had to rest my jaw occasionally!
I do see some things that you said that were not available on the A'van available in my country on the A'liners, however. I live only 5 hours from the factory and know all the options inside and out. For example, the A'liner does offer the more pleasing wood grain interior, warmer counter tops, and actually, when I was at the factory just two weeks ago they are starting an option of hardwood or tile (quality tile) not linoleum flooring. The kitchen cabinet is much more pleasing and warm also in the A'liner. It took me a lot of extra effort the way I made my curtains, so I had that total privacy. In my country, I ( and everyone else says this too) have always been the only A'liner at the campsite, and so you need the curtains for privacy. It is the same thing every time you go to a campsite: You have travelled all day and are exhausted You pull into the campsite. You get everything from the car into the A'liner because as soon as you pop that first sidewall up... You hear the "Wow! " "Oh, let me see", and someone always comes over. This is only o.k. the first 50 million times and I assure you it becomes very annoying because you cannot be private, left alone, and low-key. I had to alter the curtains myself to make them thicker to block out light and to flow with the line of the interior. The water flow pump they use on the A'liner is the sur-flo pump and they have turn it 90 degrees to condense that wasted space! I love your web site, and have learned so much from reading it. I really could have used it more, 3 years ago when I was deciding what to buy and how to operate my A'liner. I chose the A'liner, because I was so close to the factory that I could get service, only 5 hours away. I didn't base my total decision on this, but found it hard to get information about the Chalet because they were so rude to me on the telephone and appeared very defensive that I wished to asked questions that compared there company to the A'liner company. That's again for your great web site! Bal (USA A'vanner) |
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| G'day from Ray and Lorraine the satisfied owners of a 2B
Off-Road model purchased in Oct 99. Our main trip to date was last year
when for 4 plus months we explored the magic of the Kimberley and Pilbara
areas, across to Broome including Cape Leveque down the coast to Perth
before heading home via Great Central Hwy from Laverton to Yalara, Coober
Pedy back home to Melbourne - a distance of 20,000 k. We really enjoyed
meeting up with other A'liner owners and sharing ideas.
The idea of a forum and a Bulletin Board is a great idea. Many thanks and congratulations for creating such an informative and skillfully produced site. Count us in. Best Wishes Lorraine and Ray Davis (Australia) |
| We set off in July 99 just one week after picking up our 3C, and took eight weeks. Our route was basically up the coast, leaving the A'van with relatives near Cairns for a quick trip to Cooktown, returning on the Bloomfield track. Then Atherton Tablelands, Undara, across to Normanton staying at Karumba, before heading south then west to Lawn Hill, the highlight of our trip (for it's peacefulness and natural beauty. Go canoeing first thing in the morning) We then headed to Cloncurry, Mt Isa, then south with Carnarvon Gorge another great stop, though fully booked. We coped with the unsealed roads without difficulty, just driving to the conditions. We visited 28 National parks altogether, and spent very little time in towns and cities. If you want any more info and if you haven't left yet, you could contact us direct. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. |
| Bob, my husband and I were most highly impressed with the
quality and information on your web site. It is really terrific, and I
given the URL to several friends who are not A'liner owners just so they
could see what an interesting and informative site you have.
In looking at photos on webshots.com (Cosy Camp), I became acquainted with an Australian A'liner owner who lives in Healesville, Victoria. Her first name is Danielle, but I do not know her surname. She had given me the e-mail address where you could be contacted. Danielle is a most enthusiastic owner, and I understand that she and her husband took a 10 month, 35,000 kilometer trip with their A'liner about a year or so ago. She has passed on a lot of helpful tips, and we see a lot of additional ideas on your web site. Thank you for being on the US A'liner rally forum news. Sarah and Arch Avary (Australia) |
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| We tow our Sportliner with a 1999 Forester GT - a dream
machine! Like yourselves, we usually take our bikes with us when we go
A'vanning, but carry them inside the Forester. To secure the bikes
vertically, we have fitted two quick release bike wheel axles (with skewers)
using eyebolts to a 1.2 metre length of 75x25 mm dressed hardwood decking.
This is placed across the boot floor just behind the rear door and secured
with rope to existing luggage strap anchors. The two bikes (with front
wheels dropped off) are placed side by side in the Forester (rear seat backs
folded down), the front forks secured to the QR wheel axles on the timber.
The back wheels are tied down by rope to existing seat anchors. Once the
length of timber is installed, loading or unloading the bikes takes less
than a minute each. The advantages are that the bikes are out of the weather
and secure. Disadvantage is that the rear seat back has to be folded down,
so with two bikes, carrying rear passengers is a not on.
As Sportliners are relatively rare, ideas on making the best use of the space are not as many as those for the A'liner. We have a microwave fitted in the cupboard on the left just inside the door on the CL layout model. Four wire baskets on runners have been fitted in the space below the microwave. The baskets were purchased from the local hardware store, but the frame and runners had to be made up externally and assembled inside the cupboard, as getting the frame through the opening was not possible! Each basket size is 430mm wide by 530mm long by 80mm deep. There is sufficient room in front of the cupboard to remove each basket that can then be taken inside the home for loading. Regards Keith Thomas (Australia) |
| Thanks so much for all the interesting items , in things
you can do to the A-Van, we are going to try a few out especially the pull
out cupboards under the bed, we have had the van since November and we
have been away five times , the questions we get asked and can we have a
look in the van is amazing, we are so thrilled in the van , the only
really trouble is putting the dead lock on the door and trying to get
through the man hole we have learnt a very hard lesson,
Many thanks Carmel and Ray Martin (Australia) |
| I am about to commit to an A'van, but need some
opinions/comments from the experienced! Anything will be gratefully
received!
First - air conditioning. With the aircon fitted to the front section of the van, what effect does this have on the ball weight on the towbar (I am limited to 120 KG ball weight) and on vehicle/van handling? Second - I am seriously considering the option of the extended sides and bigger fridge. Any pros and cons or opinions? And last - I am undecided on the bed set up. I'm leaning toward the 2B configuration i.e., with the lounge at the rear with the two side seats which convert to a double bed. Once again, any opinions? My grateful thanks to anyone who can respond. Peter (Australia) |
| All the options you have listed are desirable to have (in
fact we have them). You have indicated a tow ball limit of 120kg. You
would be right on the limit with the options you have listed.
You need to look at your Car Owners Handbook and see what your vehicle is rated to tow. You will probably find with all these options you would exceed the limit. Remember that the weight in your Car Manual is DRY weight. You have to allow for Petrol, Water, Luggage, Cargo Barriers, Weight Distribution Hitch, Bull Bar and anything extra as far as accessories. As you did not indicate what Towing Vehicle you have, I am guessing it to be a smaller type vehicle. That is what the Basic A'van was designed for. Forget the options unless you have a Towing Vehicle legally able to tow it. Regards Therese (Australia) |
| Therese, thank you for your comments. I thought the ball
weight would be close to the limit. I have a Suzuki XL7 which has a towing
capacity of 1800kg, but unfortunately a maximum ball load of only 120.
I guess I will have to rethink the options. Once again, thank you. Peter. (Australia) |
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| As a new owner of an A'liner I know how hard it is to make a
decision. At least I knew that I wanted an A Frame trailer (after
selling my 26' Class C) so I was not going through everything you are
going through, Bill. I was hampered by the fact that in my area it
is a three hour drive in two separate directions to see these
campers. My experience with the manufacturer was good. Both manufacturers sent materials promptly by snail mail. I actually approached A'liner several times. They sent me material about a year ago when I was thinking of selling my RV and simplifying my RV'ing. Unfortunately, I tossed it. I contacted them again after the RV sold and they sent more info. I contacted them again and they sent all kinds of info, including the weight of each option, etc. etc. ad nauseum. I have had a couple of occasions to call the manufacturer with a question like today "I tried to turn on the light and nothing happened. What do I do?". They put a technician on and he gives me step-by-step directions. That works for me! I did not want to buy from a salesman whose only interest was to sell me something - anything - on his lot. I decided to buy from Tony who owns Backyard Boats and RVs in New Mexico. The man is fantastic! He knows A'liners inside and out. He talked to me at length about what I did and did not want and helped me to decide which model, etc. I would be best off buying. He does not keep much stock, just orders as his customers want it - although if you need it now he will try to get it from another dealer. We had worked out an agreement for him to bring the trailer part way to me - he's in NM and I'm in CA. Then, amazingly, I found just what I want in a late model used one. (I did pay Tony for his "expert consultation" but he would have done it for free, I just didn't feel right about that). Good luck Bill in finding what you're looking for! I'm DELIGHTED with mine even if it is still confusing for me. Gotta go outside now and check those fuses before it gets dark. Christine Manson (USA) 1991 Dodge Dakota 2001 A'liner Expedition |
| Dear Bob and Chrissy,
Thank you for the very kind thought of the newsletter. it was truly welcomed. To put you in the picture about us, we have now purchased a A'van A'liner XL, a new one with the deluxe annex and we are thrilled with it and looking forward to reeking in the benefits and the joy of it all. I do not know if you are familiar with the XL version as we had not seen a floor plan of one in the brochures, but it meets what we we were looking for. It has a three burner gas stove, a 90 litre 3-way fridge, microwave, reading lights and at the rear three wall style divan that readily converts to a double bed and with a little touch of effort to a Queen size wide bed, a opening large window at the front as well as the rest the options that the A'van carries, and stills has the low profile sides, which is good as I have "duck's disease" (bum to close to the ground). Irene and I are very interested in joining the A'van club. Any information that you have on this and the joining, or on any similar club we would more than welcome. Need to go as family has arrived so I will send this and catch with you. Kind regards, Graham and Irene. (Australia) |
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