Camper Trailer constructed off-shore are made from ‘recycled’ steel that is at best second rate and are prone to rust and structural failure.

NOTE: Many companies advertise that their trailers are Australian Made BUT they are actually imported trailers PARTS bolted or welded back together here in Australia. General consensus is that the welding is also second rate at many of these imported trailer outlets.

Imported tents are made from what is called ‘Rip Stop’ Canvas that has just over 10% of the water proofing of Australian Canvas and doesn’t have the right ‘treatment’ for Australian conditions and is prone to failure.

There is a concern among industry insiders that many of the imported tents are treated with carcinogenic chemicals (causes cancer). Imported tents have also proven to be difficult to set up.

Trailers that only have twin or dual draw bars are prone to a less stable tow and have proven unreliable in extreme off-road conditions.

Most imported or cheaper trailers have a 1.6m long draw bar which again gives a less stable tow and makes reversing that much more difficult.

Axles that are constructed from sub-standard material offer more flex which equates to less stable tow and are prone to failure no matter the conditions.

A camper trailer that is undercoated then painted or galvanised are far more susceptible to be penetrated by rust than the ‘Lifestyle System’.

Low grade, imported or cheap replica Leaf Suspension is not suitable for Australian condition and has a history of structural failure.

Trailers with more than a 7-Leaf system are sprung too hard and create a less stable tow.

Used Tyres and Rims obviously don’t last as long as new items.

It is illegal to tow a trailer that does not have at least one ADR Complied Safety Chain and Rated ‘D’ Shackle. Most imported or cheap camper trailer do not comply with this standard.

Cheaper versions of pinch weld rubber seal or foam tape will NOT protect your belongings from dust and moisture thus potentially ruining clothes, bedding, food stuffs and personal items.

Cheaper bearings simply don’t last as long and tend to fail prematurely while Parallel bearings are seen as a more durable bearing solution than tapered bearings.

Wires or Hoses that weave their way throughout a camper trailer that are NOT protected by rubber grommets WILL fail prematurely thanks to the vibration and movement of the trailer during towing.

Camper trailers that are drilled into AFTER being painted, powder coated or galvanised will be susceptible to rust and eventual failure.

The tail gate is a heavy item and there is a lot of weight on the hinges during towing so IF there is no ‘support block’ for the tail gate it is only a matter of time before the hinges fail.

Ladders are the least convenient way to climb up onto your camper trailer bed and there have been many people injured thanks to losing their balance or the ladder giving way.

The tonneau cover is what protects your bedding and either a zip or Velcro simply does not stop dust or moisture entering that area. It is the combination of the two that forms the best seal.

Most camper trailers only have Jerry Can holders down each side which minimised what can be done with that space.

ALL off-road camper trailers weigh over 750kg once they have all of the bedding and personal belonging packed inside and it is illegal to tow a trailer that is more than 750kg at the time of towing without brakes. AND, many of the imported or cheaper brake systems are not designed for Australian condition and fail prematurely.

It is well documented that camper trailers that feature ‘standard’ bolt and nut combinations are prone to increased cases of failure.

“Now, I am not going to deny that these imported campers are sometimes quite a bit cheaper, but there are reasons for this, like nasty shortcuts taken in materials and labour.” John (camper forum)

“A friend of mine bought one of the top of the range models and it was the biggest heaps of s#!t you have ever seen, to start off with the gas line was never done up tight from the factory and the first time he lit the slide out bbq it blew up in his face then while half way up the cape the axel let go. Looking in the mirror all he could see was the wheel and hub getting dragged along by the hand break cable and after closer inspection the hub was only welded on three sides and tore the metal at the welds from the trailer. If this is what the Chinese are putting out I’m pretty sure I wont be getting one….” Cheers Wayne (ausfish camping forum)

“I personally have looked at several of the Chinese camper trailers and I am the first to admit that some of them are border line dangerous in their manufacturing quality, in fact, they put some bird poo weld on the draw bar to help if the bolts fail but that’s hardly being ‘made’ in Australia.” Danny (my swag forum)

All but a few camper trailer retailers will give you a 12 month ‘limited’ manufacturer’s warranty (usually because they are not the manufacturer). Imported camper trailers purchased on Ebay or via Auction essentially have no warranty.