just ordered my OYSTER LTX MAX for delivery in 2 weeks - YAY

check the new 2023 Torpedo on facebook - nice features but high in front and low in back - wind resistance?

they say the top of my tow ball must be 550mm from the ground but my elantra is only 450mm - a problem??

Install a drop plate 

needs to higher not lower?

anyway i have mailed them - have sees lots of LTX being towed by cars smaller than mine on their website

Ek dink 450mm vanaf grond is reg. My Ranger was 550mm en het n drop plate ingesit om hom nader aan 450mm te kry. Veral met Skipper sal ek hom net so los. 

Baie geluk solank, stuur maar fotos as jy hom gekry het

You don't have to worry about wind resistance- the Oyster tows much like a trailer. We tow with a larger higher vehicle so I do not have any experience of you a sedan car would handle the Oyster, but I do not think you will have any difficulty.  It is anyway much more streamlined that conventional caravans due to its small frontal area. 

If this is your first caravan, which I presume it is, I would suggest right from the start take it slow. We had been forced once to tow at 120 on a long trip and the Oyster behaved perfectly, but normally we travel at 100k/h.  Make the holiday start right at the moment you leave your front gate, get into the holiday mood and enjoy the journey, not only the destination. And stop often to enjoy a cup of coffee. We regularly tow our Oyster on long journeys of about 1600 km between Limpopo and the Southern Cape, sleep along the way and enjoy every kilometer.  We even try and work in detours on our way to see more of the country.   I haven't yet heard of a Skipper owner that was unhappy with his van, so I recon you too will find the little van a great pleasure.

According to the pictures, the Max looks even better that our Oyster.  I especially like the new Rally awning and the smart mag rims.

Kyk net hoe pragtig het ons vriende hulle Skipper gemaak. Ons kamp elke jaar saam by Ebb and Flow. Lekker mooi gemaak aan die binnekant. Skadu-net vir die tent. Kundige vakman.

thanks Fred

I have had a van years ago but on a new adventure now - i was commenting re wind resistance on the new Skipper Torpedo (face book) which is high in front and low at the back

I am no expert on this subject, but if you look at the shape of some supposedly streamlined cars as well as the also supposedly streamlined Teardrop caravan, they are all high in front and sloping to the back.  My consumption is quite reasonable so I don't think it is a problem.  The difference driving the car alone at a true 120 and towing at a true 100 long distance, is more or less 1l/km or about 12 to 15%.

https://www.facebook.com/skippertenttrailers

when i saw the first picture of the flap i wondered where the a-frame was and saw the van is back to front

fridge is at the front lifted off the floor (as the front is higher than the back) as the pull out kitchen runs under it

nice to see sliding door cupboards that wont open when you travel

fred i'll let you know as i usually get 5l/100 to durban from JHB

I expect the sedan's increase in consumption will be higher than mine because your car is lower and therefor the Skipper presents a much larger area to the air. But by keeping your towing speed low, you will limit this increase. A lower speed is safer as well. 

I am just wondering which van you ordered. The title of your thread mentiones the Torpedo but in your text you mention the Max. What you describe in your recent reply, sounds like the Torpedo. Do let us know.

Alastair, I have reread your introductory contribution, which I seem to have misunderstood.  It is clear that you in fact ordered the Max.  The Torpedo looks like an impressive van from what I can deduct from the pictures.  I wonder what the capacities are, how high it is folded down and how the price compares to that of the Oyster and Max.  One of the main reasons we bought our Oyster is the fact that it is low enough to fit through a standard garage door.  It looks as if the Torpedo might also be able to do this.

Fred, hulle is nog besig met berekenings om die prys te bepaal maar dit sal tussen R210k en R220k wees.

Nogal hoog vir 'n tweebedwa, maar ek aanvaar die kwaliteit sal tipies Skipper wees, so steeds 'n goeie kopie.  Dis omtrent dubbel wat ons in 2016 vir ons Oyster betaal het. Oorweeg jy een Chris?

Nee Fred, ek is baie gelukkig met my Fleetline.

My persoonlike opinie is dat hy "over price" is......eintlik al die nuwe waens is wat my betref.

Ek stem saam daar, ek het ook 'n "Vagabond teardrop" gesleep en nee wat dit is die selfde as jy 'n sleepwa sleep geen verandering nie. Dit wel duurder en kleiner en ja die fleetline bly "TOPS" Chris.

Drove from JHB to the factory today to fetch the Oyster- safely back home.

Elantra 1.6 consumption going down 4.9l/100

I cannot believe the number of trucks on the N3, more trucks than cars and all trying to overtake each other when that just doesn't work and they just mess up both lanes for everyone

Coming back i have never changed gears so many times in my life. Going up from DBN to PTN to PMB was hell, midlands was OK then Van Reenen was a mission.

Consumption at Harrismith was 8.5 l/100 but after this through FS and GAU use 6th gear a lot. Arrived home at 8.1 l/100 so the last bit on mainly flat must have been quite economical. I should have reset it at Harries to see the actual "flattish" road consumption

they have also changed the cupboards from opening doors to sliding doors, much easier access the tucked away space next to the fridge

That is a good consumption on a difficult road. Didn' Skipper offer yoy a couple of free days at McNicoll's to get used to the van?