Imported Campers

[Rads]

Hi guys
Looking for people actual experiences (3rd hand info is not normally productive) with the imported hard floor campers.
I have a Caravan, and am looking for a cheap camper to go where the van cant, we are not talking outback or Gibb river road etc, but dirt tracks, (dwellingyup, Karijini etc)
So I am after people thoughts on what the 10k imports are like, is there some better than others? companies better than others etc.
I am in Bunbury WA
Thanks in Advance

[BigRed]

I'm also interested in this topic. Plenty of people bagging them but IMHO people and quick to put something down and slow to praise.

[Ern_Reeders]

Have a look at productreview.com.au

Also note that GIC had their solicitors write to two forums with cease and desist letters, claiming GIC owners' critical comments were harming the firm. That's why a thorough Google search won't be helpful in this case but it is in others.

[jw2170]

Most of the comments I have seen, seem to be happy with the GIC.

However, lack of after sales service seems to be the issue if any owner does have a problem.

You would think GIC would be able to solve their customers genuine warranty issues without fuss.

[Ern_Reeders]

From memory the forums where you won't find comments, or critical comments, about GIC are myswag.org and 4x4earth.

[Msbavn]

There seems to be a few that aren't to bad you just need to look carefully at them. Has anybody imported there own camper from China?

[mike&nicola]

yea my lovely wife and I bought a mars camper its chinese built the only real problems are the cost of aussie made as we looked around and these campers were pretty good value for money .I guess the only other hassle is worksmanship its definitely not as good but half the price of aussie built .

[GEOFF.PAULINE]

We have a MDC forward Fold that we paid $16,000.00 for in 2013.
It came with a Kitchen, Batteries, lights , potable shower , inverter etc all ready to go..

The chassis is Australian , Cooper tyres , king coil suspension ? ,galvanised.

BUT. it came with 7 faults at Delivery which took 3 weeks to be repaired.
When told it was ready I found 2 faults still not done , 4 more days.

During the warranty period a Stabalizer leg broke , I contacted them , got a half sentence back, "not covered under the warranty", then basically blamed me.

Got a new leg after threatening Dept of Fair Trading and and being one of the complainants on my Swag.

Everything was a battle to get repairs done ,but they were done in the end.

Conclusion. chassis good , Chinse fittings above chassis are adequate and do the job. Only part to fail since Warranty was the 240v Battery charger.

In conclusion it is not a $50,000 camper and I do not expect it to be , If it did not have the problems when Delivered to me and I didn't have to struggle to get things fixed on it under the warranty I would have a higher opinion of the them.

Public relations and Dealing with repairs lets them down .

But I believe they are all the same , To be fair they have not gaged the forums like the other Company.

[Snatchem & Shackle]

In my opinion you get what you pay for in Campers.
Most Campers,manufactured in China are vastly inferior to their Australian made counterparts.
The imported frames are lighter, the welding substandard and attention to detail non existant.
My mate, who imported two hard floor forward folding Campers from China travelled with one of these new units from Alice to Katherine to Cairns last year - all on the tarmac !
He was 'tail end charlie" on this day !
Not far out of Normanton we were called up by a 'truckie" travelling in the opposite direction,who had spotted my mate's in his rear view mirror, to tell us both the wheels on the camper were collapsing inward.
On inspection we found the axles on both sides had collapsed and we limped into Cairns where we were lucky enough to find an engineering works prepared to do a full rebuild.
Conversely , my Australian made Camper has travelled 30,000 klms in the last 2 years over some of the most arduous tracks in this country with just one flat tyre to report.
Give me Australian made any day !

[willanda]

Hi all, just joined this forum because I thought I was the only one having issues with MDC. I must declare that I did not and will not purchase any MDC product but my son has. My involvement was to ask for a 'quote' to purchase a Venture Cape York upgrade model at the Newcastle caravan show in February 2016. Beyond that, my son proceeded independently with his own purchase - I questioned a "dealer orientation fee" of $700 odd and the amount was immediately withdrawn and my quote price amended downwards. I then posted an opinion on the need to be wary of dealings with MDC and not to trust their words and assurances based on my (and my sons) initial experience. The delivery date 'guarantee' and the inclusions listed in the 'upgrade' kept moving with each enquiry and nothing could induce the firm to respond in a positive way. My trip planning based on those 'guarantees' just turned into and expensive and time wasting exercise because the sons van did not arrive on time and other accommodation had to be paid at a premium.
When the sons van did arrive, I accompanied him to the Sydney outlet to assist with the 'pick up' and was involved in what can only be described as intimidation, threat and bully boy tactics where MDC put conditions on releasing the sons van to him ONLY IF I TOOK DOWN MY BLOG. I rejected that request (mainly because of the immoral linking of my blog with my sons purchase). Make you own opinion of MDC business ethics.
Oh yes, and today my son is repairing some 20 odd serious faults with his van - including shock absorbers, electrics, paintwork, unsealed drill holes through galvo chassis etc. while MDC keep harassing him to 'have his father take down the blog'. Thanks for your patience but others should be aware that the salesmans smiles hide a very dark business behaviour.
Bill Lambkin 0412666698

Just an update that illustrates my observations of this business - they are deliberately withholding the sales receipt for my sons purchase until he meets their expectation that he take down his post because it is damaging their business (??) First, the offending post is MY post and secondly, they are so full of their own importance that they cannot accept they are damaging their business by behaving the way they do - the product is basically good although imported.