your ideas about the best rig for a solo lady for round Oz trip
inthegloaming said
06:06 PM Jan 31, 2013
Hi to all the solo nomads, love to have your considered advice.
I have just joined the forum, getting ready to travel round Oz in 2014 when I finally fully retire.
I am a seasoned 4WD driver and traveller, have a Pajero to tow with, recently sold my (too big for one person) Pioneer camper and now considering the best rig for a solo mature age lady nomad with safety, ease of handling and economy in mind. I want to be able to go on all roads and off road when I want to, eg. cross the Tanami. I am considering small easy to manage camper trailers (really like the Bolwell Edge), but wondering if a Landcruiser simply fitted out with pop-top and awning would be more reliable and easier to manage in the long run. I am a seasoned off road driver but mechanically challenged.
Have forum members ever bought ex hire camper vehicles, and is this a good way to go?
looking forward to your thoughts on this.
cheers
Maggie
spida said
12:40 AM Feb 1, 2013
I thought about a trailer but think myself that a small off road caravan would be safer for you....... The thought of having to set up a camper trailer in the rain put me off also - but then I have hardly ever been where it is raining! My van feels safe and cosy and I like to be dry. My computer is safe, the fridge is great, and I do have the luxury of a toilet/shower. I guess it depends on how outdoorsy you really want to be. Then it sounds as though the pop-top Cruiser would be perfect for what you want to do. Maybe just a small trailer to carry extra stuff?
Yuglamron said
01:05 AM Feb 1, 2013
Hi Maggie,
I have a friend who has an imported Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 pofessionally converted to a camper.He tells me it's basically all Pajero running gear so quite versatile and capable.
Seems to suit him and he also tells me there are parts available quite easily.
Just a thought.Hope you get sorted with something that suits you.
Cheers
Trevor
wendyv said
04:25 AM Feb 1, 2013
My solo adventurous female friend set herself up for post retirement travel with a Toyota Troopie. She has done some great travel with it - places like the Canning, Kimberley, Cape York, Arnhem Land. She carried a tent that she set up when staying in one place for several days - to cook in, have more comfortable sitting space etc. But she did have issues when just stopping for a n ight or two - trying to cook at the back of the vehicle, for example. She did have a type of awning that fitted over the door. but it didn't work all that well. And only place to sit in bad weather was the drivers seat.
Eventually she decided to invest in more comfort and had the Troopy professionally converted to a camper. It has a poptop roof. She has a comfortable lounge seat that is also her bed. She can cook, wash up etc inside. It is very similar to the set up in hire Troopys.
Gerty Dancer said
05:33 AM Feb 1, 2013
wendyv wrote:
My solo adventurous female friend set herself up for post retirement travel with a Toyota Troopie. She has done some great travel with it - places like the Canning, Kimberley, Cape York, Arnhem Land. She carried a tent that she set up when staying in one place for several days - to cook in, have more comfortable sitting space etc. But she did have issues when just stopping for a n ight or two - trying to cook at the back of the vehicle, for example. She did have a type of awning that fitted over the door. but it didn't work all that well. And only place to sit in bad weather was the drivers seat.
Eventually she decided to invest in more comfort and had the Troopy professionally converted to a camper. It has a poptop roof. She has a comfortable lounge seat that is also her bed. She can cook, wash up etc inside. It is very similar to the set up in hire Troopys.
We met a lady travelling on her own in an ex-hire converted Troopy, she was quite happy with it, said she felt she could tackle anything in it.
A word of caution though... these vehicles are hired out to adventurous people for a number of years before being sold, make sure you get a mechanic to have a very careful look, especially at the suspension!
If I could change vehicles now, I'd be getting a pop top slide-on.
Oh, and welcome to the forum.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Friday 1st of February 2013 07:05:48 PM
wendyv said
03:43 AM Feb 2, 2013
Gerty Dancer wrote:
We met a lady travelling on her own in an ex-hire converted Troopy, she was quite happy with it, said she felt she could tackle anything in it.
A word of caution though... these vehicles are hired out to adventurous people for a number of years before being sold, make sure you get a mechanic to have a very careful look, especially at the suspension!
I too would be a bit wary of ex-hire ones. Some companies permit them to be driven off the bitumen, so a unit may have had a tough life.
My friend's unit was ex-Telstra, fairly low kms. The conversion cost about $14,000.
Cruising Granny said
05:17 AM Feb 2, 2013
The upside of ex-rental is they only do about 50,000 KMS when they change over, so if anything needs a bit of attention it's a good time, BEFORE you start. The Delica has a good reputation and is reportedly very comfortable. Troopies work well with the pop top. I have an Indigo awning on the side of my Landcruiser for extra shelter. Very handy at Prominent Hill in the blazing sun. The awning is easy one-person operation available online only. There are others but they are very expensive, and the ones I have seen don't seem to be as sturdy as the Indigo awning. Just Google "Indigo". Good luck with your plans and your travels.
inthegloaming said
06:06 AM Feb 2, 2013
thanks to everyone who has responded to my question. I do appreciate the welcome and the advice. Will follow up on the leads and off to the Camping and Caravan Show in Melbourne in March. cheers Maggie
wendyv said
02:28 AM Feb 4, 2013
Maggie, notice you are around Melbourne. If it ends up being relevant, the business that did the conversion of my friend's Troopy to a poptop camper is a Melbourne one. I think they also helped her find her vehicle in the first place.
If you want further details, let me know and I will send them via a PM.
Pet-els said
04:58 AM Feb 5, 2013
Maggie , It depends how much you wish to spend, the Traka 4x4 camper looks the ants pants. But exxy.
way2gokev said
05:38 AM Feb 6, 2013
Hi Maggie and welcome.
I made a vow a few years back that if ever I got the chance and had enough money I would travel in comfort, no more camping (except for short 4wd trips in the Patrol, that has a double bed and all creature comforts) so I bought the near new 22ft van with onsuite, queen bed etc etc, battery and solar power backed up with a genny, with all this I can travel when and where I want. Drop the van off at a safe place and go 4wding knowing that I can return to all the comforts of home.
If I was you and felt comfortable towing I would get a van with all the comforts, Then like me you can enjoy the best of both worlds and hang the expense and kids inheritance, enjoy in comfort.
Hi to all the solo nomads, love to have your considered advice.
I have just joined the forum, getting ready to travel round Oz in 2014 when I finally fully retire.
I am a seasoned 4WD driver and traveller, have a Pajero to tow with, recently sold my (too big for one person) Pioneer camper and now considering the best rig for a solo mature age lady nomad with safety, ease of handling and economy in mind. I want to be able to go on all roads and off road when I want to, eg. cross the Tanami. I am considering small easy to manage camper trailers (really like the Bolwell Edge), but wondering if a Landcruiser simply fitted out with pop-top and awning would be more reliable and easier to manage in the long run. I am a seasoned off road driver but mechanically challenged.
Have forum members ever bought ex hire camper vehicles, and is this a good way to go?
looking forward to your thoughts on this.
cheers
Maggie
Hi Maggie,
I have a friend who has an imported Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 pofessionally converted to a camper.He tells me it's basically all Pajero running gear so quite versatile and capable.
Seems to suit him and he also tells me there are parts available quite easily.
Just a thought.Hope you get sorted with something that suits you.
Cheers
Trevor
Eventually she decided to invest in more comfort and had the Troopy professionally converted to a camper. It has a poptop roof. She has a comfortable lounge seat that is also her bed. She can cook, wash up etc inside. It is very similar to the set up in hire Troopys.
We met a lady travelling on her own in an ex-hire converted Troopy, she was quite happy with it, said she felt she could tackle anything in it.
A word of caution though... these vehicles are hired out to adventurous people for a number of years before being sold, make sure you get a mechanic to have a very careful look, especially at the suspension!
In my humble opinion, I'd be looking at something like these. http://activecampers.com.au/gallery/
If I could change vehicles now, I'd be getting a pop top slide-on.
Oh, and welcome to the forum.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Friday 1st of February 2013 07:05:48 PM
I too would be a bit wary of ex-hire ones. Some companies permit them to be driven off the bitumen, so a unit may have had a tough life.
My friend's unit was ex-Telstra, fairly low kms. The conversion cost about $14,000.
The Delica has a good reputation and is reportedly very comfortable. Troopies work well with the pop top.
I have an Indigo awning on the side of my Landcruiser for extra shelter. Very handy at Prominent Hill in the blazing sun.
The awning is easy one-person operation available online only. There are others but they are very expensive, and the ones I have seen don't seem to be as sturdy as the Indigo awning. Just Google "Indigo".
Good luck with your plans and your travels.
notice you are around Melbourne. If it ends up being relevant, the business that did the conversion of my friend's Troopy to a poptop camper is a Melbourne one. I think they also helped her find her vehicle in the first place.
If you want further details, let me know and I will send them via a PM.
It depends how much you wish to spend, the Traka 4x4 camper looks the ants pants. But exxy.
Hi Maggie and welcome.
I made a vow a few years back that if ever I got the chance and had enough money I would travel in comfort, no more camping (except for short 4wd trips in the Patrol, that has a double bed and all creature comforts) so I bought the near new 22ft van with onsuite, queen bed etc etc, battery and solar power backed up with a genny, with all this I can travel when and where I want. Drop the van off at a safe place and go 4wding knowing that I can return to all the comforts of home.
If I was you and felt comfortable towing I would get a van with all the comforts, Then like me you can enjoy the best of both worlds and hang the expense and kids inheritance, enjoy in comfort.
cheers
Kev
what about that vista rv, that is on here?
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t52325448/jen-and-sols-vistarv/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa_iLuQFQIw
-- Edited by milo on Wednesday 6th of February 2013 03:54:54 PM