So we have bought the van, pick it up next week and my mind is spinning. What do we need?? Wish list is as follows - slide out bbq or do we just use an electric fry pan?? (this is what I used to use in my old van many years ao cook in and it also utilises as an oven that can be used outside if it is too warm to cook in the van) solar power (thoughts please, will it runa 240volt fridge?) generator ?? external shower (contemplating chaep solar showers) we are happy to just have a wash in a bucket if we need to do we add easy lifters? we can lift the top quite easily as it is..... does the awning need anti flapper things or just some rope? I have also looked at induction cooktops and those round glass convection ovens........van has a 2 burner gas stove, grill and microwave
Mind you the van is just fine as it is, but you know us girls looking at whats new and what we can add.....ha ha LOL
william the third said
04:45 PM Feb 5, 2010
G'day Caron, If you are intending to spend up big on accessories go to a caravan show , they are generally cheaper there. I spent about $3000 but half of that was for the honda2.0ui genny.
jimricho said
06:26 PM Feb 5, 2010
Some people who go to caravan shows end up buying stuff that they won't use, don't need or isn't suitable.......
uhmmmm
uhmmmm
(guilty as charged Your Honour)
Smokeydk said
07:57 PM Feb 5, 2010
Have bought Coleman chairs there..saved myself $25 each....and bought a campoven and bits all for $40........yes you can get a bargian..but shop around first
caron said
07:58 PM Feb 5, 2010
Thanks so much, looking forward to Sandown and Caulfield shows
brickies said
07:59 PM Feb 5, 2010
Caron you answer your own questions , why buy for the sake of it why would two people need a pull out bbq when a fry pan will do the same job and do other cooking has well, save your money and only buy when you have a real use for it ,every extra thing adds weight
xina said
08:34 PM Feb 5, 2010
If I was going to be in Caravan Parks most of the time, I'd definitely take the bench-top Turbo Convection Oven. You can make absolutely anything in it except may-be Ice-cream.
Cakes, Biscuits, Bread, all types of Baked Dishes, it Toasts, and even cleans itself.
You can buy them for as little as $60, and these work just as well as the $200. ones.
Cheers,
xina.
brickies said
08:50 PM Feb 5, 2010
Xina i also have a Turbo convection Oven I totally agree they are great have cooked Pizzas in it, also i has a induction cooker which I use on a table outside but you have to have the right cookware for it ,has a great range of heat levels from very low to very high I love it
-- Edited by brickies on Friday 5th of February 2010 07:54:57 PM
jandas fun said
08:53 PM Feb 5, 2010
Hi Caron, welcome to the forum.
When we first started, we bought heaps of "must have" stuff.
Most of it is still in the original packaging in the shed.
My suggestion would be to take the bare essentials from home and then buy later if you think you really need it.
Johnw
Delta18 said
09:00 PM Feb 5, 2010
We love our turbo convection oven, in fact we went out and bought another one. One for the house and one for the caravan.
pricey43 said
09:20 PM Feb 5, 2010
If you buy it all now, you will have a great time. But once you've been travelling you will have it all,and there's no reason to go out and check the shops. Its always fun to go out and get that buzz again just from buying one thing for the van. Retail therapy!!!!
william the third said
12:49 AM Feb 6, 2010
Everything i bought at the caravan show i use. Nothing was bought on impulse. I bought only what i NEED.The next time i go to a caravan show, it will be to buy a new van.
jimricho said
08:35 AM Feb 6, 2010
xina wrote:
If I was going to be in Caravan Parks most of the time, I'd definitely take the bench-top Turbo Convection Oven. You can make absolutely anything in it except may-be Ice-cream. Cakes, Biscuits, Bread, all types of Baked Dishes, it Toasts, and even cleans itself.
You can buy them for as little as $60, and these work just as well as the $200. ones.
Cheers, xina.
Pity about the ice cream, maybe they're still working on that one??? Perhaps if one used a reverse cycle microwave to chill it, it would work ok????
Seriously though, I use my turbo oven a lot, both on the road and at home, they're great. My little rig doesn't have an oven other than the microwave (no it's not a reverse cycle ). My other must-have when travelling (and at home) is a bread maker as it's usually very difficult to buy bread, although one can usually purchase a poor substitute at the local supermarket.
Re the 240 volt fridge, I'm assuming you mean a normal home type fridge here, you would need to indicate what size fridge you're talking about as the power consumption of a medium to large one would be more than say a small bar fridge.
The arrangement you would need to have, would be a battery of adequate capacity to supply the electricity to the fridge around the clock (day and night) via an inverter (a device that converts the battery dc voltage the 240v ac) and solar panel(s) (and a regulator) of adequate capacity to recharge the battery.
Although I have a technical background I don't have "hands on" experience with solar so maybe if you indicate the size of the fridge you have in mind some other GN members with practical experience may then be able to answer that question.
Check out www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com for some excellent books on the subject of solar and 12v power as it applies to caravans etc.
Ron and Shirley said
11:15 AM Feb 6, 2010
Caron
To a degree it depends on whether you will be touring and staying in Caravan Parks with maybe bush camping for just a couple of days every now and then, or bush camping for extended periods with occasional stays in caravan parks.
The original post sends somewhat mixed messages though with the electric fry pan (240v) it would seem that Caravan Parks are more your thing at this stage.
One item I would suggest worth considering is a Webber Baby Q with and external bayonet gas point fitted to your vans gas system. Many vanners have gone down this route as the Baby Q fills the role of both an external BBQ and oven for use in both Caravan Parks and the bush.
caron said
12:03 PM Feb 6, 2010
Thanks everyone. We intend to do minimal caravan park stays, however will stop occasionally. To start with we will be making smaller trips then venture out to further afield.
We are now looking at getting a generator and that should ensure we have power wherever we go.
Most of the time though I will rely on gas or a campfire.
Cheers
Caron
Fence sitter said
12:10 PM Feb 6, 2010
We picked up our van Thursday, you can thank us for breaking the drought! Is it an omen - 12 months on the road and it starts to rain the minute we drive out of the dealers?
As for the bits and things - I'm trying for a minimalist lifestyle so we are going to only take what we need, if we find anything that we need along the way - we go shopping!
dave06 said
12:20 PM Feb 6, 2010
Hi Caron welcome to the forum, we do most free camping and keep our gear to a minimum, we have a pair of fold up chairs, an aluminium folding table, a portable gas stove and we run that off the main gas bottle from the van, the usual assortment of pots pans and cutlery/plates
we have a solar heated shower bag and a pump setup and we carry a Coleman insta set shower tent, an Engel 40 ltr fridge freezer and of course "slurpy" our porta potty
this is the basics for short trips, when going for extended travel we take "squeaky" our 5 X 3 camping trailer which has full cooking facilities as well as fuel. large gas bottle and extra water plus a fully operational kitchen, we can fill it with firewood on the way, inside is all cooking equipment as well including a sandwich cooker and Cobb and furphy camp oven
if you wish any more info then just ask, if we dont know the answer to something then we will make something up that could sound plausible!
Ron and Shirley said
01:10 PM Feb 6, 2010
caron wrote:
Thanks everyone. We intend to do minimal caravan park stays, >snip<
Cheers Caron
Caron As you seem to heading towards bush camping another item for your "wish list" would be to have a Diesel Heater fitted to your van.
A bit on the expensive side, though usually cheaper at the Caravan shows, however they arefantastic,particularly if you are in the Southern States during the Winter/Spring months.
-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Saturday 6th of February 2010 12:11:37 PM
xina said
03:55 PM Feb 6, 2010
caron wrote:
Thanks everyone. We intend to do minimal caravan park stays, however will stop occasionally. To start with we will be making smaller trips then venture out to further afield. We are now looking at getting a generator and that should ensure we have power wherever we go. Most of the time though I will rely on gas or a campfire.
Cheers Caron
An inexpensive alternative to a Cobb, is a Kelly Kampa Kooka. You probably have most of the components at home already. If you google it, you can see the post I found it on, and get more of an idea. Cheers, xina.
-- Edited by xina on Saturday 6th of February 2010 02:58:28 PM
I would not be without my Shuttle Chef. Or my two burner gas stove. For cooking out side.
caron said
04:29 PM Feb 6, 2010
wow I love the KKK. Am going to have a go at making one tomorrow
xina said
07:55 PM Feb 6, 2010
Dream-pot is great too.
Cheers,
xina.
jimricho said
08:01 PM Feb 6, 2010
Popeye wrote:
I would not be without my Shuttle Chef. Or my two burner gas stove. For cooking out side.
Me Too! On both counts, both on my list of useful gear.
The inner pot in the Shuttle Chef is a very good quality "billy" that can used by itself as well as with the SC....the larger one has two. Like the turbo oven above I use the SC regularly at home as well as on the road.
I also have a hot-plate that neatly fits my two burner stove. I use it outside, just hook it up to the van's spare gas cylinder, it has its own regulator.
Using a fry-pan (240v) with a solar/battery/inverter combination is for all practical purposes quite out of the question as, like all heating appliances, they are very power hungry. Likewise a microwave unless you have a seriously large system installed.
PS: Dream Pot is just a variant of the Shuttle Chef, probably much of a muchness as to which would be the better choice.
-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 6th of February 2010 07:06:37 PM
xina said
08:53 PM Feb 6, 2010
I think Dream-pot was around first though Jim. Cheers, xina.
-- Edited by xina on Saturday 6th of February 2010 07:54:41 PM
Di-n-Gary said
10:32 PM Feb 6, 2010
Hi Caron, just my thoughts on your original questions,we have a Hot Ozi bbq and it is the best easiest cooking thing we own, about 1 minute to set up and sells for about $60-65. I have a folding 100W solar panel and it's happy to run my waeco but I' msure that a 240V fridge would be too much, even for twice the solar capacity, they are really only for powered sites. Deflappers are a yes as you'd find out on a windy day. As to the turbo oven, got one too and the 'minister for everything' loves it. Go to Colin Rivers site , I think it was put up earlier, and you will learn alot about solar. Also a very good site that has alot of info about setting up electrics or solar is Exploroz.com.au, definitely worth a look
-- Edited by Di-n-Gary on Saturday 6th of February 2010 09:38:41 PM
jimricho said
08:52 AM Feb 7, 2010
xina wrote:
I think Dream-pot was around first though Jim. Cheers, xina.
Probably quite so, I was just explaining to anyone not familiar with both products that they do essentially the same job.
brickies said
08:59 AM Feb 7, 2010
Looks like most grey nomads place food preparations fairly high on the list of needs we all like our food
jimricho said
09:12 AM Feb 7, 2010
brickies wrote:
Looks like most grey nomads place food preparations fairly high on the list of needs we all like our food
Food and its preparation is the second highest priority of most GNs
brickies said
09:20 AM Feb 7, 2010
Ok Jimricho what's number 1 is it Water
pricey43 said
03:35 PM Feb 7, 2010
Last trip, our best addition was a Sunbeam Vacuum Sealer.
I buy meat when it is cheap, Vacuum pack it and then freeze it in our Engel which is usually used as a freezer. If I cook a stew or spag. sauce, I cook up extra and vacuum seal half, so that on those days when you've been out and don't feel like cooking you can come home and pull a pack out. Cold meat can be bought at the deli and sealed in small amounts. They keep in the fridge alot longer. Don't have to buy the little vacuum pack of meat in the deli fridges.
What do we need??
Wish list is as follows - slide out bbq or do we just use an electric fry pan?? (this is what I used to use in my old van many years ao cook in and it also utilises as an oven that can be used outside if it is too warm to cook in the van)
solar power (thoughts please, will it runa 240volt fridge?)
generator ??
external shower (contemplating chaep solar showers) we are happy to just have a wash in a bucket if we need to
do we add easy lifters? we can lift the top quite easily as it is.....
does the awning need anti flapper things or just some rope?
I have also looked at induction cooktops and those round glass convection ovens........van has a 2 burner gas stove, grill and microwave
Mind you the van is just fine as it is, but you know us girls looking at whats new and what we can add.....ha ha LOL
uhmmmm
uhmmmm
(guilty as charged Your Honour)
-- Edited by brickies on Friday 5th of February 2010 07:54:57 PM
Seriously though, I use my turbo oven a lot, both on the road and at home, they're great. My little rig doesn't have an oven other than the microwave (no it's not a reverse cycle
Re the 240 volt fridge, I'm assuming you mean a normal home type fridge here, you would need to indicate what size fridge you're talking about as the power consumption of a medium to large one would be more than say a small bar fridge.
The arrangement you would need to have, would be a battery of adequate capacity to supply the electricity to the fridge around the clock (day and night) via an inverter (a device that converts the battery dc voltage the 240v ac) and solar panel(s) (and a regulator) of adequate capacity to recharge the battery.
Although I have a technical background I don't have "hands on" experience with solar so maybe if you indicate the size of the fridge you have in mind some other GN members with practical experience may then be able to answer that question.
Check out www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com for some excellent books on the subject of solar and 12v power as it applies to caravans etc.
Caron
To a degree it depends on whether you will be touring and staying in Caravan Parks with maybe bush camping for just a couple of days every now and then, or bush camping for extended periods with occasional stays in caravan parks.
The original post sends somewhat mixed messages though with the electric fry pan (240v) it would seem that Caravan Parks are more your thing at this stage.
One item I would suggest worth considering is a Webber Baby Q with and external bayonet gas point fitted to your vans gas system. Many vanners have gone down this route as the Baby Q fills the role of both an external BBQ and oven for use in both Caravan Parks and the bush.
As for the bits and things - I'm trying for a minimalist lifestyle so we are going to only take what we need, if we find anything that we need along the way - we go shopping!
Caron
As you seem to heading towards bush camping another item for your "wish list" would be to have a Diesel Heater fitted to your van.
A bit on the expensive side, though usually cheaper at the Caravan shows, however they are fantastic,particularly if you are in the Southern States during the Winter/Spring months.
-- Edited by Ron and Shirley on Saturday 6th of February 2010 12:11:37 PM
You probably have most of the components at home already.
If you google it, you can see the post I found it on, and get more of an idea.
Cheers,
xina.
-- Edited by xina on Saturday 6th of February 2010 02:58:28 PM
The inner pot in the Shuttle Chef is a very good quality "billy" that can used by itself as well as with the SC....the larger one has two. Like the turbo oven above I use the SC regularly at home as well as on the road.
I also have a hot-plate that neatly fits my two burner stove. I use it outside, just hook it up to the van's spare gas cylinder, it has its own regulator.
Using a fry-pan (240v) with a solar/battery/inverter combination is for all practical purposes quite out of the question as, like all heating appliances, they are very power hungry. Likewise a microwave unless you have a seriously large system installed.
PS: Dream Pot is just a variant of the Shuttle Chef, probably much of a muchness as to which would be the better choice.
-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 6th of February 2010 07:06:37 PM
Cheers,
xina.
-- Edited by xina on Saturday 6th of February 2010 07:54:41 PM
-- Edited by Di-n-Gary on Saturday 6th of February 2010 09:38:41 PM
I buy meat when it is cheap, Vacuum pack it and then freeze it in our Engel which is usually used as a freezer. If I cook a stew or spag. sauce, I cook up extra and vacuum seal half, so that on those days when you've been out and don't feel like cooking you can come home and pull a pack out. Cold meat can be bought at the deli and sealed in small amounts. They keep in the fridge alot longer. Don't have to buy the little vacuum pack of meat in the deli fridges.