We received some advice that maybe we should have a look at these vans from some people that had done all the similar research that we were currently undertaking. They had nothing but praise for the manufacturer, although they were yet to take delivery of their van.
As Boroma are also in Brisbane / Gold Coast and have no dealers (Factory direct ONLY), it's a case of starting communications with them via e-mail once again.
This time the communications have been going very well! Virtually every question gets a direct answer, and even when something is not what I want to hear, it is not presented as an issue.
From: Mike [mailto:mbg@bigpond.net.au] Sent: Tuesday, 6 January 2004 11:20 PM To: sales@boroma.com Subject: More information please
Hi “guys”,
Happy New Year!
Is there any chance you have a brochure which details a bit on what is included in each van? Your Website is a tempter, but doesn’t really tell much.
We like the floorplan of the Tourista Brezza 580ST, but would want to split the toilet out to it’s own compartment (I gather by making the van longer?)
Can we get an indication of costings, indicative weights, build times etc, please?
Are such things as windout louvre windows (as fitted to Winnebago motor homes) available? And hydraulic corner jacks? And the washing machine!
We have a 2700kg towing capacity, (and we take about 400kg of personals including water in tanks away with us) and would like to know if a Boroma might be able to satisfy our touring desires?
Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding our Luxury Boroma Caravans. We custom build a full range of off road and touring caravans starting at 17ft. The Boroma Caravan is the top of the range and comes with many features as standard as you will see from the inclusion listing attached.
The construction of a Boroma Caravan is very unique, inspired by the late Tony Bottaro, with European styling and built to withstand the harshest Australian conditions. Tony passed away in 1998 but left us with the legacy of these marvellous caravans. They are continued to be built to this exacting standard and will continue to surpass all expectations as Australia's finest caravans.
Each of our caravans is custom built to individual orders. You are invited to attend the factory during the construction to follow the transformation of your caravan through the different stages.
At Boroma we understand that your caravan may become your home from time to time and we believe that it should not only be comfortable but pleasing to spend time in. All of our caravans are handcrafted with a high quality timber finish and with the décor of your choice along with an endless supply of accessories available for you to choose from. We take enormous pride in every caravan we produce however our best advocates are the Boroma owners, who we believe, are special people. The Boroma Brezza Tourista Grand recently won the "Best Luxury Caravan" Award in Caravan and Motorhome Magazine (December 2002 Yearbook).
As you may be aware we invite you to visit the factory and take a comprehensive tour to see how the Boroma Caravan is constructed and finished.
At this time, either one of my sales staff or I will be able to answer any questions you may have. As well as that I can also draw up a sample plan during your visit. Alternatively, please phone with any queries. We are located at 17 Quarry Road, Staplyton, Brisbane Queensland, just south of Beenleigh and 20 minutes from the Brisbane City Centre on the M1 (Exit 38).
The base price for a 580ST starts from around $60,200.00 registered on road in Queensland plus whatever optional extras you desire.
The weight of a standard 19 foot touring van is somewhere around 2000KG Tare, however once again this can vary with the level of inclusions. At the present time I have delivery spots available from April 2004.
In answer to your other queries, yes hydraulic corner steadies are available at an additional cost of around $1255.00 fitted and there are a number of washing machines available depending on layout etc. And finally we are able to supply and fit most styles of windows to our vans. There may or may not be additional cost involved depending on availability etc. We look forward to hearing from you and again thank you for your interest in Boroma Caravans.
Standard inclusions that you will find in the Luxury Boroma Brezza and Di Lusso series · Double rail hot dipped galvanised box section chassis · Tandem load sharing beam axles with 4 wheel electric brakes · 195 x 14LT 8 ply radial tyres on alloy rims including spare · Heavy Duty bumper bar · Full one-piece fibre glassed shower unit (Shower and toilet models only) · Cassette style toilet (Shower and toilet models only) · 12 Volt exhaust hatch (shower and toilet models only) · Electrolux A&E rollout awning · Electrolux Cal 136 roof air conditioner · Omni Pullout Step · Full front to rear fibreglass cladding over roof (Di Lusso models only) · Rear Air Foil/Dust Deflector (Di Lusso models only) · 2 x 65 litre camel water tanks with 12 volt flowjet pump (Shower and toilet models only) 1 tank only on non shower and toilet model · Truma gas electric hot water system (Shower and Toilet model only) · Pressure water fillers · Water tank gauge · Mains Water inlet and exterior tap · 2 gas bottles · Galaxy windout windows · 3 pin security entry door · 12 Volt system throughout including 25amp automatic battery charger and 1 x 100 amp hour deep cycle battery · 12 Volt lighting · Awning light, boot light, Step light and entry handle with light. · Internal and external TV points · Exterior 240 volt and 12 volt power outlets · Innerspring mattress · Block out curtains plus sheers or alternatively slimline Venetian blinds throughout · High density plus foam upholstery · Solid timber furniture mouldings · 100 litre 3 way refrigerator · Sovereign or Clarke deep bowl sink with drainer and quality tap ware · LPG stove with oven and grill · 12 Volt rangehood · 20 litre Microwave · Fire extinguisher and smoke alarm · Starter kits including water hose, sullage hose, power lead, 5 tonne bottle jack and Wheel brace. · Laminate or Ceramic Tile splash backs
From: Mike [mailto:mbg@bigpond.net.au] Sent: Wednesday, 7 January 2004 8:57 PM To: Administrator Subject: RE: Boroma Caravans
Hi Peter Russell,
Thank you kindly for your quite detailed response to our query.
We're hoping you will indulge us just a bit further, please?
Does one of the Website photos show a bed folded up against a wall?
We currently have a 21' Jayco, and were imagining a replacement van around a similar size. You included indicative weights and pricing for the 19'. Could you also indicate the same for 21' or so? We are looking for something along the lines of the 580ST floor plan, but stretched to a 640 and the toilet separated out, etc. You indicated the price of hydraulic corner stabilisers, any chance you can also track down the weight (and is there a sizeable hydraulic tank that also adds more weight?)
You included the list of standard inclusions for Boroma Tourista and Tourista Grand. For luxury Brezza and Di Lusso series. What IS each of these please? Your Website does NOT give much away about full height or pop-top or whatever. I can only guess that Brezzo has something to do with less wind drag maybe? A bit of information about what is what would be oh so good, please?
Any chance you can confirm that the same windows used on Winnebagos are definitely available and can be fitted. (You indicated any sort of windows can be fitted, but I am after an actual confirmation that these wind out louvres are available and not exclusive to Winnebago please).
We have an X5 diesel that we would be pulling the van with. It has the German 13 pin plug with such things as reversing lights, etc included. Can this be wired in to use the full functionality of the 13 pins? (I'd also like a rear vision camera wired in...)
Further on the inclusions list, can you please provide a bit more for each of the following: * What is the framing material? How are the joins fixed together? * Are 15" wheels an option? * Are 12" brakes an option? * If the toilet is a separate room, does it get it's own 12 volt exhaust hatch? * Are the water tanks plumbed separately, to allow for one of them to be potable and the other for washing, etc? * How big are the gas bottles? 9kg, or 4.5kg? * Are solar panels an option? And additional batteries, plus the solar controller units, etc? * Can an Omni TV Aerial be fitted as part of the build? * What size is the standard bed? Double or queen? * Apart from the mouldings being timber, what is the cabinetry and wall cladding? Chipboard, MDF, Cheap 3 ply with paper finish? (I'd hope not!) * How many power points are standard? * What model is the standard fridge? (If you tell me a Dometic 4401, you've lost my confidence straight away!) * What sort of taps are fitted? Flick mixers? * Is the rangehood vented to outside? Is there a magpie over the vent or some positive pressure means of keeping the weather out of the vent? * What is the standard brand of appliances (microwave, stove, etc) fitted to the van? * Is the first registration in another state possible?
Sorry if this is a big list, but perhaps you may gather we are serious?
What days of the week are factory tours available? And what days are sample plans possible?
In response to your reply dated 7th January 2004, I will attempt to answer each of your queries in order.
1. Yes one of the website photos does show a van with a fold up bed. The bed was on gas struts and when locked away in the wall a further seating arrangement was available. 2. A 21' caravan is priced from $63,650.00 and would weigh in the vicinity of 2200-2300Kgs dependant on what luxury extras are included 3. Hydraulic corner steadies would add no more that 10-15Kgs to the overall weight of the van. 4. We have basically 4 models of full frame caravans. There are two Tourista models and two Tourista Grand Models. The difference between these two is that a Tourista does not have a front boot and a Tourista Grand does. If you have a 20' Tourista as compared to a 20' Tourista Grand, both will be the same external length but the Tourista will have more internal space. 5. The next model difference is the Brezza and Di Lusso. I.e. both Tourista and Tourista Grand are available as either Brezza or Di Lusso. The difference in these being the Brezza has a fibreglass front and a fibreglass rear with adjoining aluminium roof sheets. Whereas the Di Lusso is Fibreglass from front to rear over the roof with a new style boot lid (where applicable for a Tourista Grand) and also a fitted airfoil on the rear of the van. The Di Lusso is the latest model and is considered to be the upmarket version. 6. The windout louver windows used in a Winnebago Motor home are a brand called HEHR and are imported direct from the USA by Winnebago. Winnebago are currently shut for their Christmas break and are not due to start back to work until the 14th January. However I have been speaking to the owner of Brisbane Motor Camper Centre who is an agent for Winnebago. He advised me that the windows are available from Winnebago but only in the sizes they import for their motor homes. He also advised that they are quite expensive. Therefore at this stage I can say that yes, provided the available sizes of windows suit your needs, then we can supply and fit these windows. 7. As far as the German 13 pin trailer connection plug is concerned, I have no knowledge of these. However if you were able to obtain one the yes we could fit it. 8. Normally we wire a reversing camera through a separate trailer plug but we may be able to include it in your situation. 9. Our caravans are framed with Meranti timber and the joins are all stapled together not glued. However the internal wall ply is all glued to the frame work. 10. 15" wheels and 12" brakes are optional extras but if weight is going to be an issue then I would advise that these items will increase the weight of the van in the vicinity of 100-150Kgs. 11. Yes a separate toilet/shower configuration is afforded 2 x ceiling hatch fans. 12. The standard water tanks we are using are 65 litres camel tanks, which are a far superior tank to the black camec tanks we used to use. 2 are standard and are usually plumbed together, however many people choose to have a third tank plumbed separately through its own pump and filter for drinking water. This option is valued at an additional $895.00 13. The gas bottles are normally 2 x 9Kg but we can supply smaller if so desired. 14. Yes solar panels are an option as are additional batteries and controllers etc. the first solar panel and controller will cost in the vicinity of $2180.00 and $1250 per additional panel. 15. Omni TV aerials can be fitted. 16. You can either have a double or queen size bed as standard. 17. The cabinetry material is a ply with a printed surface to mimic Tasmanian Oak. This is finished with a polyester sealant. It is a nice smooth and hard finish and can withstand vigorous cleaning unlike some of the other paper finishes that the colour rubs out at first touch 18. The Wall panels are a semi embossed paper finished ply, which once again can withstand a good clean. 19. The number of power points in a van, depends a bit on size etc. We don't really have a standard but if you go overboard with the number required we will put the brakes on you. 20. Unfortunately the Electrolux RM4401 is what is considered a standard fridge. But you must understand that we are custom builders and the 4401 is used in our pricing structure. I have only seen two such fridges installed in a caravan in the 3 years I have been with the company. What fridge you choose is up to you. 21. The Sink and Vanity taps are good quality household Flickmixer taps. The shower tap is also a Flickmixer and is normally incorporated with a rose on a sliding rail. 22. Yes the rangehood is vented outside. We use the Electrolux CK155 as our standard model and have had no problems with it unless situated on the back wall. We do not normally cover the outlet. 23. We will fit either an Electrolux, Smev or Newhome stoves/cookers as standard an normally use the sharp carousal microwave. 24. Registration in any state is possible with the right documentation.
I must apologise if I did not make it clear to you that we are a custom builder. In that respect we attempt to build your caravan to suit your own personal requirements. Hence we do not have a standard set of layouts. Usually what you want is what you get.
At this time I would urge you to take the time to visit us at our factory under appointment at which time I can answer all of your queries and show you first hand what you can expect.
I look forward to working closely with you in the near future.
We needed to figure out how to progress further as Boroma are not just a drive down the road, It's a drive down the road, a two hour flight, and another drive down the road!
Whilst we were trying to figure out if it warranted jumping on a plane for a look see, we continued looking at the brands that were built around Melbourne.
Our experiences with Trakmaster have pushed them in front of Boroma on our short list. I therefore sent the following to Peter to keep him informed of what we were doing.
From: Mike [mailto:mbg@bigpond.net.au] Sent: Friday, 23 January 2004 10:23 AM To: Administrator Subject: RE: Boroma Caravans
Hi Peter,
The content of your last note are very tempting, however our timeframe does not match what you had on offer.
We are also having conversations with the guys at Trakmaster who are here in Melbourne. At this point we are swayed in their direction if for no other reason than they are local and build a product that we can see lasting for our foreseeable caravanning future.
Thank you tremendously for all the time and effort you went to with us. If things go differently from what we expect with Trakmaster, we shall resume our conversations with yourself.
As Trakmaster said they could not do the louvre windows, we made contact with Boroma again. (Sadly something went strange with the save as JPG format of the layout, and the e-mail became 1Mb in size so I hope that Peter isn't too annoyed with us!)
From: Mike [mailto:mbg@bigpond.net.au] Sent: Thursday, 29 January 2004 10:04 PM To: Administrator Subject: RE: Boroma Caravans
Hello once again Peter,
Trakmaster have now indicated the louvre windows are a problem for them, and they can not do them.
Could you please give us an indication of what size the attached might be? (I've got this as a Microsoft Publisher file but don't know if you can open that so have included it as a jpg.)
Thanks once again for your patience with us.
Regards, Mike & Shona
Perhaps Peter was pleased to win us back from Trakmaster as he responded the next day:
Friday, 30 January 2004
Mike and Shona mbg@bigpond.net.au
Dear Mike and Shona
Re: Boroma Caravans
Thanks for your email dated the 29th January 2004.
I have sketched up a similar layout to the one you sent me as per the attached file.
The caravan is 25 feet long and the wheel arches are drawn onto the plan so that you can see where they should be positioned so as to end up with the correct ball weight. I have included on the plan the standard Galaxy Windows at this stage as I am yet to be provided with the available sizes of the HEHR windows from Winnebago. I have followed up with them again today but will have to see what the out come will be.
It could be possible to reduce the size of this van to a minimum of about 23'6" feet but any smaller would loose its appeal. Also I have to be careful with the placement of the wheels etc. in order to obtain a safe towing van.
Please take the time to study the layout and let me know where you wish to go from here.
Kind Regards Boroma Caravans (Aust) Pty Ltd
Peter Russell Sales and Design Manager
Now that leaves us in a bit of a spot! We didn't want a van vastly bigger than what we currently have. Granted we want more on board, just didn't think it would take another 4 feet!
As we are not really prepared to invest in a much bigger caravan (which would mean the X5 would be near it's towing weight ceiling as well), we have pulled our heads right in and are now looking at what we can do to make the Jayco fit our needs better!
All original work unless otherwise shown For problems or questions regarding this web contact Mike. Last updated: Monday, 06 September 2004 09:55 PM .
