New Age Wallaby

Two and a half years of drama – Purchased this van Wallaby Deluxe with an Off-Road chassis and extended A frame late 2016 after many months of research. Great sales team. Problems from the beginning: Incorrect compliance plate fitted and no hot water. New Age Melbourne unwilling to take responsibility and to assist us and we missed out on our 2017 dry season northern trip… Read more

because of many months of delay. After a one week trial camp in January 2018 we took the van back to New Age Melbourne for its first (offered for free) service and to attend to several problems including the roof. When we collected the van nothing was done, the service book was not stamped or signed, the hand brake did not work. We were told that there was nothing wrong with the hot water but somehow we had hot water after we picked it up. The jockey wheel was bent when we picked it up. A new jockey wheel of the wrong size was posted to us. It was eventually replaced by ourselves and refunded after we picked one up on our trip in Port Augusta SA. After we adjusted the wheel bearings, the brakes and the hand brake ourselves we did embark on our dry season 100 day Kimberley trip after owning this van for 17 months in May 2018. We traveled 16000 km all up. This included about 1000 km unsealed but graded roads to visit Mount Augustus in WA and traveled these roads at around 45 kph. We suffered the following failures: The diesel heater stopped but it fixed itself after a week, the heater control is fitted above stove top and the heater stops operating because of incorrect temperature readings, the range hood has no discharge duct and pumps cooking moisture into the electrical equipment behind the switch panel, the water pump became faulty within a few weeks and continued to run, the water pump non return valve is suspect faulty putting the tanks under pressure when on town water causing them to leak, the shower screen rivets break out, the shower door opens up on rough roads, the glass stove top fell off, the kitchen drawers runners broke out (lack of screws), water was leaking from the sink into cabinet, brakes and ECS wiring came undone under the van, switch panel above the stove fell off, the screen door catches broke off, electric step seized (no dirt protection), waste discharge wrong thread, unable to lift roof by one able adult (inadequate struts), roof crossover braces screws dropped out, roof vinyl not folding inwards without the aid of a broom to push it in from the outside, laminated springs in roof vinyl warping to an "S" shape by the sun, roof latches not lining up, mudflaps too narrow and too high up for the wheels fitted causing damage, front tool box filling with water also when parked, floor mounted air conditioner has a major dust issue under the bed and dust enters through every cable and pipe entry in the floor, shower rose falls down when showering, cabinet handles come off (screws too short and threads stripped), jerrycans can not be secured in the holders - too close to the van body, kitchen sink plug fell to bits and disappeared into the waste tank, support legs bolts were loose, rear view camera was facing straight down and glued into place, we removed it and cut away the silicone to free it up to adjust it. Construction rubbish is left behind switch panel dropping onto the stove top, rubbish under all cabinets and under the stove that rains down for months on end into the kitchen storage drawers(stove has to be removed to clean it away). New Age was contacted several times during our trip. They said to continue to use it as planned and it would be sorted out when we arrive back home. The van has been delivered to New Age Melbourne in January after several months of no communications and delays and we doubt if anything has been done by now after about 4 months with New Age Melbourne. They do not contact us, there are no replies to our emails for a month or so and there is no completion date. In short, this years northern trip is not happening again. Our retirement has been affected severely. On a positive note we must say that the caravan tows well and the Off Road chassis and extended A frame works well. Our advise: Do not deal with New Age because nobody appears to be willing take any responsibility of any problem you will encounter.