|
The new 2008 model is here -
(see gallery for interior and
exterior photos). I know how long many of you have waited. I
think you will agree it was worth it. The 2008 model has further
refined the design and quality. The new colour schemes matched with
stainless steel appliances and now upgraded greaseable suspension
with 50% greater carrying capacity makes the 2008 model Flagstaff 23
the best yet.
50% Greater Payload or
Carrying Capacity - Most Australian tandem axle (double axle)
caravans have approximately 400 kg of carrying capacity. However
once you start carrying significant quantities of water this can
easily be reduced to 300 kg or less. The new 2008 model Flagstaff
has had its payload increased by 50% to 600 kg*. Upgraded suspension
has allowed the Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM or maximum allowable
weight of the 5th Wheel loaded) to be increased from 2650 kg to 2850
kg. An extra 200 kg of gear like portable BBQs, annexes, tools,
generators, sports gear, push bikes, etc can come in very handy on
the long trips.
(* Approximate only - Please note
that water, LPG, additional dealer options etc., can reduce this
figure. Loads carried are also dependent on the capacities of the
towing vehicle.)
Geaseable Suspension - The
2008 Flagstaff 23 still retains arguably the best handling
suspension in its class with load sharing, leaf spring suspension
and four wheel shock absorbers. The 2008 model also has metal
greaseable bushes with grease nipples. For the really dusty
conditions greaseable suspension can come in handy.
For about the same price as a similarly equipped 21-23 ft caravan
you can own a Flagstaff 23 but you will also get the about 30 – 40%
more floor space (when slide-out is out) a queen bed not a cut down
double, a fridge that is almost twice the size, probably the best
stove/griller/oven on the market, a towing length of a 16 foot
caravan, and the handling and ride of one of the best handling 5th
wheels on the market (owners regularly say, “you forget it is even
there”).
Our Flagstaff 23 has proven to be one of the most
sought-after low profile fifth wheelers on the Australian market.
After five years with regular upgrades it remains in virtually the
same form. This says something for its original concept.
Right from the start we designed the Flagstaff 23 to have as many of
the features as the full size fifth wheels but in a van that you
could tow with regular sized pick-ups like the Navara, Rodeo, Ranger
etc.
We wanted a walk around queen size bed not a mattress on the floor,
a full size flat floor slide-out with lots of living area, full
sized appliances and light-weight fully insulated vacu-formed
fibreglass walls. We wanted a van with much larger floor space than
a caravan but with a very short towing length making it really easy
to tow.
When you’re driving down a corrugated dirt road chasing that
illusive isolated location the last thing you want is a trailer
bouncing all over the place. We maintain that no caravan will
out-handle a well set up fifth wheeler down corrugated dirt roads.
The really important new feature of the 2008 Flagstaff 23 is the
suspension. By upgrading the suspension, making them greaseable and
including metal bushes we have been able to increase the carrying
capacity by over 50%. Previously, like most tandem axle caravans,
the Flagstaff 23 had up to 400 kg carrying capacity. The upgraded
suspension allows us to increase this to over 600 kg. The other
really important point is that we can achieve that without going
over the 3000 kg towing limit of many commonly available tow
vehicles, e.g. Navara, Ranger, BT50 and Rodeo. The ATM of the
Flagstaff 23 is just 2850 kg with a standard unladen weight of just
2230 kg. (Dealer options may change this like any other towable
unit.) The other good news is that they are still the same price at
around $80,000.
Caravaners would say to us that 400 kg was just not enough for long
trips especially if they frequent National parks. By the time they
carried 100 kg (100 litres) of water, full gas bottles, a couple of
dealer options they were often already over 150 kg of the available
400 kg leaving just 250kg for their bedding, clothing, galley needs,
food, sporting equipment etc., hence the upgrade in the 2008 model.
The great thing is that you do not have to upgrade the relevant tow
vehicles.
Most fifth wheels will easily out handle a caravan. Just the
intrinsic nature of the coupling causes this. Our new Flagstaff 23
properly set up will handle as well or better in these conditions
than any other fifth wheeler. Why? Unsprung weight is a killer on
corrugated roads. By opting for lighter but stronger tubular axles
and standard alloy wheels we have substantially reduced the unsprung
weight. Leaf springs have long been known to handle corrugations
well, so we teamed them up with four wheel shock absorbers and
upgraded shackles. We also included all metal greaseable bushes and
load sharing.
When travelling the highways most of our Flagstaff 23 owners have
the same thing to say, “we forget it is even there. We want them now
to say the same about corrugated dirt roads.
We finish by stressing that the Forest River Flagstaff 23 despite
its huge ground clearance is not designed or warranted for off-road.
Our units are designed for bitumen roads with the occasional dirt
roads. We ask that you drive the 20 or 30 km into a national park or
whatever, unhitch, set up camp and then do your off-roading.
Why is our 2008 model 23 footer so
significant? Because it reflects the almost 5 years of feedback we
have had from shows all around Australia. People were saying that
they liked our 5th wheel because it had everything that the really
big ones had but that you could tow it with a very conventional
vehicle such as a standard medium sized pickup
such as the new Navara, Rodeo, Ford Ranger
and Mazda BT50. My wife even feels comfortable about driving
it. .
Click here for further info.
Of course we are biased because we designed these new Flagstaffs the
way we would want to do the big trip. We hope once you see one you
will agree.
|
New 23 Footer for Navara Ranger Rodeo
