What to Prepare Before a First Consultation
Berth count, licence code, and whether you plan gravel park roads or tar only. Bring those three answers and the shortlist narrows fast.
Read the checklistBuyers who travel from Gauteng or the Garden Route usually arrive with the same set of questions: which layout survives a two-week trip, what a code B licence really limits, and how much water and solar you need off the grid. These three pieces cover that ground in plain terms, written from what we see at the Kuils River yard.
Start with the consultation piece if you are still choosing between a coachbuilt and a panel van conversion.
Berth count, licence code, and whether you plan gravel park roads or tar only. Bring those three answers and the shortlist narrows fast.
Read the checklistSemi-integrated, coachbuilt, or a 4x4 bush camper with a pop-top. Each suits a different trip length, road surface, and towing plan.
Compare the formatsTare versus GVM, water and solar sizing, tow bar ratings, and how a walkaround video saves a wasted trip to Cape Town.
See the answersStill weighing a trade-in against a rental fleet unit? Those sit in their own section of the catalogue, and a viewing slot at the yard is the quickest way to settle it.
The specialists page is where we get specific about the people who actually inspect, measure and road-test the units in the Kuils River yard. Before you book time with any of them, read the notes below. They cover the wording we use in listings, what we do and do not verify, and where a buyer's own checks still apply.
Tare and GVM come from the manufacturer plate and the registration papers. Payload is the difference between them, not a number we invent. Once you add water, gas, a full fridge and two passengers, the usable load drops fast. On a 3 500 kg GVM semi-integrated that gap is small, so we flag it early rather than at handover.
A code B licence covers units up to 3 500 kg GVM. Anything heavier, including most coachbuilts and 4x4 bush campers, needs code C1. Tow bar ratings are quoted as fitted, but the legal tow limit also depends on your own vehicle and trailer combination. We list the rating; the responsibility for matching it sits with the driver.
Clearance figures are measured at the lowest point, usually the diff or the water tank. A 210 mm coachbuilt handles graded gravel and park roads. Deep sand, river crossings and rocky tracks are a different category, and that is where the 4x4 builds with 265 mm and a locking diff belong. We say which is which instead of calling everything "off-road".
Fresh and grey water capacities are tank volumes, not usable litres once the pump pickup sits above the bottom. Solar output is the panel rating under test conditions, and real yield on a cloudy Karoo day is lower. Gas fittings are described by bottle size and regulator type. If a listing says "two 20 L jerry cans", that is what is mounted, not a suggestion.
Pre-owned and ex-rental units carry service history and known wear points, which we note in the listing rather than leave for you to find. Rental fleet vehicles usually have higher mileage and simpler interiors. Trade-ins sit in their own section. A walkaround video shows the current condition, but it does not replace a physical inspection at the yard.
A yard visit gets you a walkthrough with a specialist, a look at the bed arrangement, washroom and kitchen block, and time to check storage and clearance yourself. Bring your licence and, if towing matters, your own vehicle details. Measurements you take on the day are the ones to trust when you plan a build or a route.