We have a 91 GQ 4.2 turbo diesel Patrol with dual batteries, extra 20 lt water, VHF & UHF radios, rear storage drawer system (Fourby Fitout) only done 252.000 km. We tow a 16' 1992 Jayco "Classique" with Island Dbl bed, added shockers, raised 75 mm, 100 amp hr battery, smart charger, in good nick bodywise and no leaks.
However, a few health issues have appeared and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to tow and set up. I need the collective wisdom of all the GM,s to help me with what would be a good alternative to allow us to continue travelling.
We have been considering the following alterrnatives which we believe would be easier to travel in and set up. - 1. Light truck or 4x4 ute with a slide on. Or 2. a motorhome such as an A-van Applause or similar based on some thing like an Iveco Daily, Ford Transit, Merc Sprinter, Fiat Ducato.
What I am hoping is that some of you have had experience with, or even have one of these units and could offer some advice or suggestions to enable ease of travel, less set up, and no towing.
one issue I see with the motorhome is having to pack up every thing to go to town and buy the milk! I have thought of a little scooter on a rear carrier as an answer.
With the slide on you just unload and drive away. We are both in our late 60's so its's not going to get any easier. Sorry for the long post but it's hard to precis this. Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks in anticipation. Scotty
ChiChi1 said
04:11 PM Oct 19, 2011
I have a Transit M/H. One thing I have become is very tidy and a good planner. Make sure I have sufficient milk etc. If you get into the habit of not leaving things around its not too hard to pack up to go somewhere. I usually find I can be mobile in about 5 minutes.
Sheba said
06:56 PM Oct 19, 2011
I'm a 70 year old solo female. I have a Campervan for all those reasons. Don't want to tow, only one lot of Rego. and Ins., and Tyres to worry about. As far as milk goes, I only ever use Powdered anyway.
My sister is a few years younger, and has a Sunliner Islander MH. She tows a Getz to use as a runaround when house-sitting anywhere.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Yuglamron said
10:01 PM Oct 19, 2011
Hi Scotty,If I may put my penny in.
I drive an A class M/Home 7.6 meters long and tow a Suzuki Grand Vitara on an A frame flat towing sytem.
I am in my early 60's and not getting any younger either.
I have adapted my A frame with a Mac-Hitch ,advertised on the GN site. A personal preference to a towball type hitch.
Yes it makes me more mobile when I arrive at a selcted spot, but getting older makes unhitching the Suzuki harder and harder when the old aches and pains set in.The flat towing systems are good and save on rego and maintainance for a trailer.
Some pros some cons make it a difficult choice. I am happy for the moment with my choice.
I am not sure when the day will come to opt for an electric scooter on the rear bumper ,but it is sure getting closer.
A self contained motorhome seems to me the way to go,pushbike/scooter whatever for transport on the back.
Hope you find the answer you need from all the good folks on the site.
Safe Travelling
Elle on Wheels said
12:03 AM Oct 20, 2011
Another option is a 5th wheeler although they are very expensive but you can pick up 2nd hand ones. They disengage electrically and you have the tow vehicle to run around in. They are making smaller and cheaper ones now so maybe there could be one in your budget range.
I have always liked coasters and motorhomes and have been persuaded to try out a caravan and will do so because it is an exciting challenge which i was not confident enough to try before. When it gets too much to handle by myself will go back to a coaster or similar. I think you will get used to having enough supplies on board (powdered, canned, dried etc) to see you through and if you have to go without for a couple of days it doesn't matter. If I had a motor home I would have a small motor trail bike on the back for touring.
jimricho said
07:39 AM Oct 20, 2011
A couple of months back I was staying in Mission beach and a couple "camped" nearby had a larger size camper van (could almost call it a motor-home). They had temporarily "decamping" to go shopping/sightseeing etc down to a fine art and only took a few minutes to pack their stuff and disconnect the power/water/sullage. It would take me a lot longer as I'm not the most organised person in the world (and that's a euphemism if ever there was one!)
Scotty said
10:29 AM Oct 20, 2011
Thanks everyone I was sure there was some wisdom I could plug into. Any m ore suggestions would be welcome. Does any body have a slide on camper van they could comment on? I have found an Iveco Daily cab chassis that would carry a decent slide on and allow the tow vehicle to be available if staying somewhere for a few days. I would love to hear from any one who has had experience with a slide on. Thanks again for the feedback. Cheers, Scotty
Nicholstones said
05:11 PM Oct 20, 2011
Scotty, in your original post you talk about 'we' having the current rig, which implies there are 2 (or more!) of you going travelling. I think this complicates the situation with a campervan, as it is not just a matter of being easy to pack up, but it means that you always have to be together when the home is away from camp. What happens if one of you wants to, say, go to the pictures or go shopping, but the other one would prefer to stay at camp? With a van/slide-on/fifth-wheeler, there is still a home to stay at, but unless towing another vehicle (or a bike of some sort) then once the motorhome goes out there is no camp left to stay at.
AmandaJayne said
01:06 PM Oct 25, 2011
Both my hubby and I are only in our 50's but we suffer from back pains and other ailments... hubby did not want to tow anything if he could help it and we could not afford anything too flash... we opted for a short wheel base coaster bus.. we bought one with the basics already in there (an unfinished project) and have had the best fun putting in the things we think we might need.. its taken us a good 6 mths and now its near done... but when I looked for one I scoured the net, looked at as many layouts as possible for something I liked.... then went on the hunt for a bus to buy.... Because its a 'get in and drive' not too large to go into most camping spots and has a diesel engine that might last for many years.... it will suit us. It might not be the fastest thing on the road but we dont want to go too fast... it uses a little more fuel than my car and its comfy as... ours is already packed appart from clothes so we could go at a moments notice anytime we feel the need.....
oh almost forgot it can park in a parking bay pretty well so shopping will be a breeze!
-- Edited by AmandaJayne on Tuesday 25th of October 2011 01:07:12 PM
pauline said
03:59 PM Oct 25, 2011
Nicholstones wrote:
Scotty, in your original post you talk about 'we' having the current rig, which implies there are 2 (or more!) of you going travelling. I think this complicates the situation with a campervan, as it is not just a matter of being easy to pack up, but it means that you always have to be together when the home is away from camp. What happens if one of you wants to, say, go to the pictures or go shopping, but the other one would prefer to stay at camp? With a van/slide-on/fifth-wheeler, there is still a home to stay at, but unless towing another vehicle (or a bike of some sort) then once the motorhome goes out there is no camp left to stay at.
Scotty the Nicholstones make a very good point that I hadn't considered before with two people in a motorhome or similar, one in all in, not very practical when you look at it that way.
-- Edited by pauline on Tuesday 25th of October 2011 03:59:35 PM
Scotty said
06:14 PM Oct 25, 2011
Hi All,
Thanks for all your responses to my original past. While reading all you had to say, I also did some research on Google. As well during this time, I have been having a myriad of medical tests. The results of these tests so far, do suggest a change is required and believe I will have to find an alternative to my present rig and towing vehicle. A slide on has pretty well emerged as the most logical replacement. We were thinking ; smaller off road van; small motorhome, or slideon. We are both convinced we now need the added convenience of an on board shr/wc. The responses by Nicholstones and Pauline about no flexibility if one of us wanted to stay at camp while the other wanted to go somewhere in the vehicle got us thinking and the only rig that would allow that (barring a caravan and tow vehicle) if we didn't want to tow any more would be a slideon!
So, that's where the current thinking is at the moment, finding a suitable slide on and host vehicle. This is where it gets interesting! I am considering 3 brands of slide on - EscapeRv; Trailblazer, and Northstar. All of these appear to have an average tare weight of round 900 kgs. This means that all the one tonner cab chassis vehicles would not be suitable as the load carrying capacity plus the two of us and all our gear, would exceed the LCC of the one tonners, e.g Navarra, Rodeo, 70 series Land cruiser, etc
The only exception may be a Ford Ranger and or Mazda BT50 which I believe have a LCC of around 1400 - 1500 kgs. So, the current investigation is looking at a SWB Iveco Cab Chassis with 3.0 Lt diesel.
These have different LCC based on the wheelbase (of which there are 3). The SWB LCC has a LCC of 4000 kgs Problem solved! (hopefully). Of course this all depends on selling the present Patrol tug and poptop to help defray the costs somewhat.
Stay tuned for further developments.
Cheers, Scotty
Elle on Wheels said
08:49 PM Oct 25, 2011
Hey Scotty I guess that means a 5th wheeler is out of your budget range? Or a coaster/small bus with a motor bike/scooter on the back? You can more easily fit a shower in the bus?
AmandaJayne said
01:35 AM Oct 26, 2011
We dont have a shower in the bus we prefer the room, but we have a portable gas water system, a 12 v pump and a pop up shower room..... this is what we'll use when we free camp, if we're in a caravan park we wont need to get it out... but I have seen long wheel based coaster with lovely shower areas in them :) and alot of them have bike on the back.. hubbys thinking of getting those battery/electric operated bikes to put on the back.
Sheba said
02:50 AM Oct 26, 2011
My sister took the Shower out of her Motorhome, and put in more Shelves for extra storage. She's mostly House-sitting, visiting relatives and friends, or using Caravan Parks occasionally.
I have an external shower at the rear of my Campervan.
Cheeers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 02:51:50 AM
Scotty said
03:47 PM Oct 26, 2011
Thanks again all,
Yes Elle, I have purposely avoided a fifth wheeler on the basis that we actually have a desire to go smaller not bigger. The older I'm getting the simpler I would like my life to become, at least in terms of equipment. The attraction of the slide on is there is no spare or wasted space. I actually took the floor measurements of one we are keen on and found to my surprise, more floor space than in my present poptop!
But in reality, everything when you come to the nomad life style as far as caravan/ vehicles go is there is always compromise necessary. It seems like some unwritten law that there is never anything 'off the shelf' that suits exactly what you want! Another reason that I had not thought of which was introduced by the Nicholstones, was the obvious lack of the baility to leve one of us at the camp, and the other take the vehicle and go somewhere else. With a motorhome once you take the vehicle somewhere there is no camp for the other to stay at. So this influenced the leaning to the slide on, which can be decapmed and left. So thanky Nicholstones, for your input it was valuable.
Sheba and AmandaJayne, I'm glad you like your rigs, but again we wanted something that was right from day one (as much as you can be sure) and we also, at our stage, don't want to be 'improvising' too much. It was fun when we were younger, but no more. That's the one benefit of age, you get to know what you want. Whether you can afford it is another reason (don't even talk about the economy and my super!) Any way it's all academic for the moment. The health issues that started me on this thread have decreed I need an arthroscopy on my right knee tomorrow. So I off I go to hospital, and am told it should be a quick recovery. But then the doc said 'it depends what we find!' So the game continues. Stay tuned
Regards, Scotty
pauline said
05:17 PM Oct 26, 2011
Hope all goes well Scotty with the op.
AmandaJayne said
07:52 PM Oct 26, 2011
Hope you have a speedy recovery!
Sheba said
10:20 PM Oct 26, 2011
Just be careful mate. This was on another Forum a few days ago.
AS many as 3500 campervans with a potentially lethal safety flaw could still be on NSW roads, despite the Roads and Traffic Authority having evidence since June the vehicles are prone to rolling.
It was revealed yesterday no steps have been taken to investigate the safety of the modified utilities, more than two years after one caused a crash that killed Wodonga man Barry McLean.
An inquest on Mr McLean was told all registered Toyota HiLux utilities with a Matilda slide-on campers should be checked by engineers to ensure they comply with safety standards.
But the RTAs principle policy manager of light vehicles, Daniel Leavy, said no action had been taken to notify owners because the RTA just hasnt had the resources.
Mr Leavy said he would recommend owners be told by mail to have utilities assessed.
He would recommend registration of unchecked campers be cancelled.
If we identify a vehicle with a inherent risk we are obliged to do anything we can do get the vehicle off the road, Mr Leavy.
Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes rejected Mr Leavys suggestion other makes of utility were also prone to rolling, and that the issue wasnt confined to this vehicle when fitted with a slide-on campervan.
This is a person driving on a straight road having a problem with steering, Ms Forbes said.
It is a bit different to a rollover crash.
Ms Forbes said the campervans safety affected all road users.
Mr McLean wasnt driving the campervan, he was driving home to his family, she said.
We just want to make sure other lives arent taken.
According to the NSW RTA, there have been no fatal crashes in NSW involving NSW-registered campervans in five years.
The vehicle in the 2009 Hume Freeway pile-up that killed Mr McLean, a father of two, was registered in Queensland.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Elle on Wheels said
01:17 AM Oct 27, 2011
Hope all goes well with your operation
sheeds said
07:54 PM Oct 29, 2011
Sheba. Just interested. When you shower do you stand in a large tub or bowl? Thinking what to do with the grey water? Carrry it over to a tree or let it meander along the ground to soak in?
Sheba said
12:40 AM Oct 30, 2011
Haven't used it yet Noel. So far have used Truck-stop showers or Sponge-baths. Don't start long-term travel for probably 8 or 9 months yet.
Will work it out before I leave.
Cheers,
Sheba.
_wombat_ said
09:43 AM Oct 30, 2011
in very dry area's we take our waste water over to some dry looking plant to give it a drink
AmandaJayne said
01:39 PM Oct 30, 2011
we have a small baby/child blow up pool (it had those plastic balls in it) and a camping mat for underneath to keep it from getting puctured... in the dry areas we are planning on reusing the water at least once... we have a 20 liter container... the water is pumped from there thro the hot water system... over us into the pool, then pumped back into the container... we have the option to use again or to take to a thirsty looking plant/tree.
Elle on Wheels said
09:22 PM Oct 30, 2011
sheeds wrote:
Sheba. Just interested. When you shower do you stand in a large tub or bowl? Thinking what to do with the grey water? Carrry it over to a tree or let it meander along the ground to soak in?
Excellent thought, I'll get one of those tubs with handles so I can recycle with aplomb. I scored a 40litre solar pack for $5 off ebay as well as a great little battery pump for $15 so i have no excuse not to shower with all that state of the art equipment. Will get a shower tent from a camping shop as you can see what you are buying and there are some good specials.
Good point about safety Sheeba, might be worth getting an engineer to have a look once you've decided on which slide on.
PeterD said
04:04 PM Nov 8, 2011
Scotty wrote:
We have been considering the following alterrnatives which we believe would be easier to travel in and set up. - 1. Light truck or 4x4 ute with a slide on. Or 2. a motorhome such as an A-van Applause or similar based on some thing like an Iveco Daily, Ford Transit, Merc Sprinter, Fiat Ducato.
snip. . .
I have thought of a little scooter on a rear carrier as an answer.
I see Sheba has covered the coroners report on the instability of things built on to small utilities. There is still ongoing disputes between the junior police and their superiors regarding their twin cab utes with prisoner capsules built on their rear chassis. The current state of play there is they are not to be used in pursuits or other high speed work.
The weight you add to the rear of a motorhome is just like the weight you add to the rear of a caravan. The further you go out the rear the higher the multiplying effect of that weight on the yaw inertia. You can read the effect in http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/pdf/vehicle_dynamics_complete.pdf - The effect increases by the square of the increase in distance, it is not a linear action.
You will note they both mention the 60% rule. "Rear overhang (ROH): 60% of the wheelbase or 3.7 metres, whichever is the lesser." Most of the units built on European chassis are built with the rear overhang already at the 60% limit. This is to reduce the wheelbase to achieve a good maximum turning circle. You will find that not many of the chassis lengths will provide the opportunity to hang things off the rear. I think the Ford transit is about the only one you will see with a short overhang (but open to advice on others.)
I suggest all members who have motorhomes with additions on the rear do some measurements to check whether they are transgerssing or not.
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:26 AM Nov 12, 2011
Scotty, we owned a slide-on for 12 years. After about 3 years I fixed it permanantly to the ute. Getting it on and off was a PITA and registration of a 'MH' is cheaper than registration of a ute.
My advise is to buy the smallest MH that you reckon you can live in. That way you don't need a second vehicle. Our OKA is set up for 2 people. It has an inside shower and toilet, fridge, seperate freezer, heaps of storage, full solar. It is under 6m long so can be parked in any parking spot in the street (max 6m).
Hi All,
We have a 91 GQ 4.2 turbo diesel Patrol with dual batteries, extra 20 lt water, VHF & UHF radios, rear storage drawer system (Fourby Fitout) only done 252.000 km. We tow a 16' 1992 Jayco "Classique" with Island Dbl bed, added shockers, raised 75 mm, 100 amp hr battery, smart charger, in good nick bodywise and no leaks.
However, a few health issues have appeared and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to tow and set up. I need the collective wisdom of all the GM,s to help me with what would be a good alternative to allow us to continue travelling.
We have been considering the following alterrnatives which we believe would be easier to travel in and set up. - 1. Light truck or 4x4 ute with a slide on. Or 2. a motorhome such as an A-van Applause or similar based on some thing like an Iveco Daily, Ford Transit, Merc Sprinter, Fiat Ducato.
What I am hoping is that some of you have had experience with, or even have one of these units and could offer some advice or suggestions to enable ease of travel, less set up, and no towing.
one issue I see with the motorhome is having to pack up every thing to go to town and buy the milk! I have thought of a little scooter on a rear carrier as an answer.
With the slide on you just unload and drive away. We are both in our late 60's so its's not going to get any easier. Sorry for the long post but it's hard to precis this. Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks in anticipation. Scotty
I'm a 70 year old solo female. I have a Campervan for all those reasons. Don't want to tow, only one lot of Rego. and Ins., and Tyres to worry about. As far as milk goes, I only ever use Powdered anyway.
My sister is a few years younger, and has a Sunliner Islander MH. She tows a Getz to use as a runaround when house-sitting anywhere.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Hi Scotty,If I may put my penny in.
I drive an A class M/Home 7.6 meters long and tow a Suzuki Grand Vitara on an A frame flat towing sytem.
I am in my early 60's and not getting any younger either.
I have adapted my A frame with a Mac-Hitch ,advertised on the GN site. A personal preference to a towball type hitch.
Yes it makes me more mobile when I arrive at a selcted spot, but getting older makes unhitching the Suzuki harder and harder when the old aches and pains set in.The flat towing systems are good and save on rego and maintainance for a trailer.
Some pros some cons make it a difficult choice. I am happy for the moment with my choice.
I am not sure when the day will come to opt for an electric scooter on the rear bumper ,but it is sure getting closer.
A self contained motorhome seems to me the way to go,pushbike/scooter whatever for transport on the back.
Hope you find the answer you need from all the good folks on the site.
Safe Travelling
I have always liked coasters and motorhomes and have been persuaded to try out a caravan and will do so because it is an exciting challenge which i was not confident enough to try before. When it gets too much to handle by myself will go back to a coaster or similar. I think you will get used to having enough supplies on board (powdered, canned, dried etc) to see you through and if you have to go without for a couple of days it doesn't matter. If I had a motor home I would have a small motor trail bike on the back for touring.
Both my hubby and I are only in our 50's but we suffer from back pains and other ailments... hubby did not want to tow anything if he could help it and we could not afford anything too flash... we opted for a short wheel base coaster bus.. we bought one with the basics already in there (an unfinished project) and have had the best fun putting in the things we think we might need.. its taken us a good 6 mths and now its near done... but when I looked for one I scoured the net, looked at as many layouts as possible for something I liked.... then went on the hunt for a bus to buy.... Because its a 'get in and drive' not too large to go into most camping spots and has a diesel engine that might last for many years.... it will suit us. It might not be the fastest thing on the road but we dont want to go too fast... it uses a little more fuel than my car and its comfy as... ours is already packed appart from clothes so we could go at a moments notice anytime we feel the need.....
oh almost forgot it can park in a parking bay pretty well so shopping will be a breeze!
-- Edited by AmandaJayne on Tuesday 25th of October 2011 01:07:12 PM
Scotty the Nicholstones make a very good point that I hadn't considered before with two people in a motorhome or similar, one in all in, not very practical when you look at it that way.
-- Edited by pauline on Tuesday 25th of October 2011 03:59:35 PM
Hi All,
Thanks for all your responses to my original past. While reading all you had to say, I also did some research on Google. As well during this time, I have been having a myriad of medical tests. The results of these tests so far, do suggest a change is required and believe I will have to find an alternative to my present rig and towing vehicle. A slide on has pretty well emerged as the most logical replacement. We were thinking ; smaller off road van; small motorhome, or slideon. We are both convinced we now need the added convenience of an on board shr/wc. The responses by Nicholstones and Pauline about no flexibility if one of us wanted to stay at camp while the other wanted to go somewhere in the vehicle got us thinking and the only rig that would allow that (barring a caravan and tow vehicle) if we didn't want to tow any more would be a slideon!
So, that's where the current thinking is at the moment, finding a suitable slide on and host vehicle. This is where it gets interesting! I am considering 3 brands of slide on - EscapeRv; Trailblazer, and Northstar. All of these appear to have an average tare weight of round 900 kgs. This means that all the one tonner cab chassis vehicles would not be suitable as the load carrying capacity plus the two of us and all our gear, would exceed the LCC of the one tonners, e.g Navarra, Rodeo, 70 series Land cruiser, etc
The only exception may be a Ford Ranger and or Mazda BT50 which I believe have a LCC of around 1400 - 1500 kgs. So, the current investigation is looking at a SWB Iveco Cab Chassis with 3.0 Lt diesel.
These have different LCC based on the wheelbase (of which there are 3). The SWB LCC has a LCC of 4000 kgs Problem solved! (hopefully). Of course this all depends on selling the present Patrol tug and poptop to help defray the costs somewhat.
Stay tuned for further developments.
Cheers, Scotty
We dont have a shower in the bus we prefer the room, but we have a portable gas water system, a 12 v pump and a pop up shower room..... this is what we'll use when we free camp, if we're in a caravan park we wont need to get it out... but I have seen long wheel based coaster with lovely shower areas in them :) and alot of them have bike on the back.. hubbys thinking of getting those battery/electric operated bikes to put on the back.
My sister took the Shower out of her Motorhome, and put in more Shelves for extra storage. She's mostly House-sitting, visiting relatives and friends, or using Caravan Parks occasionally.
I have an external shower at the rear of my Campervan.
Cheeers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Wednesday 26th of October 2011 02:51:50 AM
Yes Elle, I have purposely avoided a fifth wheeler on the basis that we actually have a desire to go smaller not bigger. The older I'm getting the simpler I would like my life to become, at least in terms of equipment. The attraction of the slide on is there is no spare or wasted space. I actually took the floor measurements of one we are keen on and found to my surprise, more floor space than in my present poptop!
But in reality, everything when you come to the nomad life style as far as caravan/ vehicles go is there is always compromise necessary. It seems like some unwritten law that there is never anything 'off the shelf' that suits exactly what you want! Another reason that I had not thought of which was introduced by the Nicholstones, was the obvious lack of the baility to leve one of us at the camp, and the other take the vehicle and go somewhere else. With a motorhome once you take the vehicle somewhere there is no camp for the other to stay at. So this influenced the leaning to the slide on, which can be decapmed and left. So thanky Nicholstones, for your input it was valuable.
Sheba and AmandaJayne, I'm glad you like your rigs, but again we wanted something that was right from day one (as much as you can be sure) and we also, at our stage, don't want to be 'improvising' too much. It was fun when we were younger, but no more. That's the one benefit of age, you get to know what you want. Whether you can afford it is another reason (don't even talk about the economy and my super!) Any way it's all academic for the moment. The health issues that started me on this thread have decreed I need an arthroscopy on my right knee tomorrow. So I off I go to hospital, and am told it should be a quick recovery. But then the doc said 'it depends what we find!' So the game continues. Stay tuned
Regards, Scotty
Hope you have a speedy recovery!
Just be careful mate. This was on another Forum a few days ago.
The Border Mail News Skip directly to: Search Box, Section Navigation, Content.
No checks on fitted campers
It was revealed yesterday no steps have been taken to investigate the safety of the modified utilities, more than two years after one caused a crash that killed Wodonga man Barry McLean.
An inquest on Mr McLean was told all registered Toyota HiLux utilities with a Matilda slide-on campers should be checked by engineers to ensure they comply with safety standards.
But the RTAs principle policy manager of light vehicles, Daniel Leavy, said no action had been taken to notify owners because the RTA just hasnt had the resources.
Mr Leavy said he would recommend owners be told by mail to have utilities assessed.
He would recommend registration of unchecked campers be cancelled.
If we identify a vehicle with a inherent risk we are obliged to do anything we can do get the vehicle off the road, Mr Leavy.
Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes rejected Mr Leavys suggestion other makes of utility were also prone to rolling, and that the issue wasnt confined to this vehicle when fitted with a slide-on campervan.
This is a person driving on a straight road having a problem with steering, Ms Forbes said.
It is a bit different to a rollover crash.
Ms Forbes said the campervans safety affected all road users.
Mr McLean wasnt driving the campervan, he was driving home to his family, she said.
We just want to make sure other lives arent taken.
According to the NSW RTA, there have been no fatal crashes in NSW involving NSW-registered campervans in five years.
The vehicle in the 2009 Hume Freeway pile-up that killed Mr McLean, a father of two, was registered in Queensland.
Sheba. Just interested. When you shower do you stand in a large tub or bowl? Thinking what to do with the grey water? Carrry it over to a tree or let it meander along the ground to soak in?
Haven't used it yet Noel. So far have used Truck-stop showers or Sponge-baths. Don't start long-term travel for probably 8 or 9 months yet.
Will work it out before I leave.
Cheers,
Sheba.
in very dry area's we take our waste water over to some dry looking plant to give it a drink
we have a small baby/child blow up pool (it had those plastic balls in it) and a camping mat for underneath to keep it from getting puctured... in the dry areas we are planning on reusing the water at least once... we have a 20 liter container... the water is pumped from there thro the hot water system... over us into the pool, then pumped back into the container... we have the option to use again or to take to a thirsty looking plant/tree.
Excellent thought, I'll get one of those tubs with handles so I can recycle with aplomb. I scored a 40litre solar pack for $5 off ebay as well as a great little battery pump for $15 so i have no excuse not to shower with all that state of the art equipment. Will get a shower tent from a camping shop as you can see what you are buying and there are some good specials.
Good point about safety Sheeba, might be worth getting an engineer to have a look once you've decided on which slide on.
I see Sheba has covered the coroners report on the instability of things built on to small utilities. There is still ongoing disputes between the junior police and their superiors regarding their twin cab utes with prisoner capsules built on their rear chassis. The current state of play there is they are not to be used in pursuits or other high speed work.
The weight you add to the rear of a motorhome is just like the weight you add to the rear of a caravan. The further you go out the rear the higher the multiplying effect of that weight on the yaw inertia. You can read the effect in http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/pdf/vehicle_dynamics_complete.pdf - The effect increases by the square of the increase in distance, it is not a linear action.
Regarding hanging a scooter on the rear of a motorhome. Download yourself a copy of VSI-10 - Carrying bicycles on motor vehicles and VSI-05 - Vehicle dimension limits
- from http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_dl1.html
You will note they both mention the 60% rule. "Rear overhang (ROH): 60% of the wheelbase or 3.7 metres, whichever is the lesser." Most of the units built on European chassis are built with the rear overhang already at the 60% limit. This is to reduce the wheelbase to achieve a good maximum turning circle. You will find that not many of the chassis lengths will provide the opportunity to hang things off the rear. I think the Ford transit is about the only one you will see with a short overhang (but open to advice on others.)
I suggest all members who have motorhomes with additions on the rear do some measurements to check whether they are transgerssing or not.
After about 3 years I fixed it permanantly to the ute. Getting it on and off was a PITA and registration of a 'MH' is cheaper than registration of a ute.
My advise is to buy the smallest MH that you reckon you can live in.
That way you don't need a second vehicle.
Our OKA is set up for 2 people. It has an inside shower and toilet, fridge, seperate freezer, heaps of storage, full solar.
It is under 6m long so can be parked in any parking spot in the street (max 6m).
Cheers,
Peter