I thought I had it all sorted, what my nomadic lifestyle would consist of, and now it is all up in the air again. I have started to reconsider the MH idea and looking at car and caravan set up. Now of course I would have to do a lot of practical studying as I have never towed before, but considering practicalities of not having a vehicle to get around with ease if I went the MH route, I figure at some point I am going to have to tow something.
I have started to research again, looking at caravans etc. Within that research I have read quite a bit from people who have gone back to the MH because of the maintenance on caravans. So after all that waffling my question is what kind of maintenance is required and how often, and how expensive.
Looking forward to hearing from those much more experienced than I.
Weedy Pigeon said
07:02 PM Jun 14, 2013
Whichever way you go there'll be compromise. I'm intending to use the smallest MH to suit my needs because being an ex mechanic I can't face the maintenance on the extra set of wheels, hitching and unhitching etc. I once had an old 16 ft Viscount van, never leaked, easy to tow [ behind a Hilux with a 253 v8 everything's easy to tow ] cost me $1,000 to buy used it for 3 years and sold it for $1,100. I was 20 years younger then and towing things seemed easy. I don't feel that I have the confidence anymore to tow a van so MH is the next best option.
Yuglamron said
07:21 PM Jun 14, 2013
My preference was a MH,
Just liked the idea of pulling up and that's it, all set up already to stay a while or move at a moments notice. No reversing, although a semi driver so holds no fears there.
Decided to add a towed vehicle on an "A" frame. No problems just have to remember it's there. Set up the rear camera to keep check. No reversing with an "A" frame cannot be done so it's unhitch if you need to reverse.
Two rego's so no savings there, but the ability to use the towed vehicle Suzuki 4x4 to do the shopping and sightsee etc made the choice easy for me.
Hope you get some other input from all those others with different points of view so you end up with what suits you.
Mark said
03:50 AM Jun 15, 2013
shekon wrote:
I thought I had it all sorted, what my nomadic lifestyle would consist of, and now it is all up in the air again. I have started to reconsider the MH idea and looking at car and caravan set up. Now of course I would have to do a lot of practical studying as I have never towed before, but considering practicalities of not having a vehicle to get around with ease if I went the MH route, I figure at some point I am going to have to tow something.
I have started to research again, looking at caravans etc. Within that research I have read quite a bit from people who have gone back to the MH because of the maintenance on caravans. So after all that waffling my question is what kind of maintenance is required and how often, and how expensive.
Looking forward to hearing from those much more experienced than I.
Easiest way to look at it is simply............What difference!!
Start from the front of each vehicle and work back looking at all of the components, so for instance,
Engine - Caravan doesn't have one, so IF we have to get a service done (which you will on a motorhome) you can relax in the caravan. Brakes - Caravan has brakes but, if they go wrong you can pull up, un-hitch and go and get spares............... In a motorhome you pull up and call for a recovery truck!! Water systems - Both have water systems
Get the idea??
I am currently working on the spanners in Broome, ALREADY we are seeing folk coming into town to have their car serviced, so they get a cab back to the caravan, have a cup of tea and read/watch TV etc, and then they pick their car up. Conversley we have folk with motorhomes that are then stuck with nowehere to go for the day AND, face huge problems IF we need to keep the vehicle overnight for more work as they cannot stay in it in the workshop whilst it is being repaired.
Prior to buying our caravan, we toyed with all the various options, a caravan gives you the most flexibility and It will take forever to convince me otherwise!! Sorry Motorhome owners, that's my opinion.
Mark
Sheba said
04:06 AM Jun 15, 2013
Don't forget Mark, that you're quite a bit younger than a lot of people who are either on the road, or want to go. Therefore, age, and the physical aspects must be a priority. You have to take into account what you'll be capable of doing 5 or 10 years down the track.
I recently met another Nomad solo lady, who tows a Caravan. She's about 12 years younger than me, and still capable of hitching and un-hitching on her own. There is no way I could do that at my age, and physical condition, so I'm happy with my Hi-ace.
What you can manage in a few years time, is important.
Cheers,
Sheba.
biggles said
04:33 AM Jun 15, 2013
Mark wrote:
Engine - Caravan doesn't have one, so IF we have to get a service done (which you will on a motorhome) you can relax in the caravan Brakes - Caravan has brakes but, if they go wrong you can pull up, un-hitch and go and get spares............... In a motorhome you pull up and call for a recovery truck!! Water systems - Both have water systems
Get the idea??
Isn't it nice to be able to do our own thing ..
Love my MH ..
about the service .. all mine have been done on the day .. easy to fill in time by other distractions .. simple matter of a little planning ..
then there's the brakes .. the trailer that carries my bike and extras has electric brakes fitted .. recovery truck ? .. what for ? .. the Honda 4 gets me around just fine ..
Yes .. water is a top consideration .. usually have around 150 litres available ..
I got the idea .. Yes .. it suits me .. we are all different ..
Jon
shekon said
03:45 PM Jun 15, 2013
Thanks everyone. I will take it under advisement and continue my exploration and contemplation. Great answers from both sides of the RV lifestyles.
jules47 said
04:46 PM Jun 15, 2013
Motor home - I think for a woman - if there is any trouble when parked up (hoons etc-especially if in free camp) - you just walk to the front and drive away, no getting out of van, re-hitching etc. Have towed a caravan,and now in motorhome - much prefer the motorhome! Amember on here, Jano - has a really nice slide on sort - very roomy inside, easy to drive, she is on the West coast at the moment.
bill12 said
06:40 PM Jun 15, 2013
Being a mad fisherman, where do you put the boat in your mhome? I have an inflatable and small outboard, but don,t like the snappy handbags in northern waters. Also you have to break camp everytime you go to the shops, unless they are close .Also, you have topay 2 regos on a car and van. 6 to one half a dozen to the other.Have put the slide on on a trailer,and will try the config.Thinking of getting an off road trailer soI can go further a field.Good fun think the different rigs, though. Billabout
GaryKelly said
08:24 PM Jun 15, 2013
Took me a while to figure out what snappy handbags were hehe. I thought long and hard about caravans, camper trailers, camper vans and slide-ons, and eventually decided on the slide-on. I'm one of those people who has a notepad in the kitchen and every time I think of something I need, I write it down. I NEVER run out of things and need to nick up the road for something I forgot. So I hope that stands me in good stead when I'm camping.
As to servicing the car, I can either remove the slide-on beforehand or just wander around town for the day. No big deal. But apart from anything else, I don't like the idea of towing something.
shekon said
10:55 PM Jun 15, 2013
Well Bill, I hate fishing so the boat is not a concern for me, will leave that one to you. Gary I agree with you, I am fairly well organised and think ahead, and hey if all else fails there is always shank's pony or a bike. I guess every good MH should have a bike attached, well at least the rack.
Mark said
02:22 AM Jun 16, 2013
Sheba wrote:
Don't forget Mark, that you're quite a bit younger than a lot of people who are either on the road, or want to go. Therefore, age, and the physical aspects must be a priority. You have to take into account what you'll be capable of doing 5 or 10 years down the track.
I recently met another Nomad solo lady, who tows a Caravan. She's about 12 years younger than me, and still capable of hitching and un-hitching on her own. There is no way I could do that at my age, and physical condition, so I'm happy with my Hi-ace.
What you can manage in a few years time, is important.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Yes Indeed
Point taken Sheba, I actually didn't give any thought to the comparison from an age point of view. I agree, it is something to consider and yes I am not at the age yet where it is an issue. Thanks for making that point.
Mark
Mark said
02:29 AM Jun 16, 2013
biggles wrote:
Mark wrote:
Engine - Caravan doesn't have one, so IF we have to get a service done (which you will on a motorhome) you can relax in the caravan Brakes - Caravan has brakes but, if they go wrong you can pull up, un-hitch and go and get spares............... In a motorhome you pull up and call for a recovery truck!! Water systems - Both have water systems
Get the idea??
Isn't it nice to be able to do our own thing ..
Love my MH ..
about the service .. all mine have been done on the day .. easy to fill in time by other distractions .. simple matter of a little planning ..
then there's the brakes .. the trailer that carries my bike and extras has electric brakes fitted .. recovery truck ? .. what for ? .. the Honda 4 gets me around just fine ..
Yes .. water is a top consideration .. usually have around 150 litres available ..
I got the idea .. Yes .. it suits me .. we are all different ..
Jon
It is so good that we are all different Jon, that's what makes it such an interesting journey............ Life that is, as well as the nomadic lifestyle, and of course whatever makes us happy. What is a Honda 4 ??
Also, the quote, Get the idea?? was not meant to be sarcastic, I was referring to the comparisons that I had made, apologise if that came over a bit wrong
Mark
Shogun said
11:03 PM Jul 5, 2013
I picked a MH for the ease of driving and setup. Ive never liked towing long distances so for me it was an easy choice :)
I have had a 23' Jayco and now a 27' Jayco. Both have bike racks on the back so can ride into town if necessary.
Even with the bigger MH I can still park at the back of shopping centre car parks if I need to.
I thought I had it all sorted, what my nomadic lifestyle would consist of, and now it is all up in the air again. I have started to reconsider the MH idea and looking at car and caravan set up. Now of course I would have to do a lot of practical studying as I have never towed before, but considering practicalities of not having a vehicle to get around with ease if I went the MH route, I figure at some point I am going to have to tow something.
I have started to research again, looking at caravans etc. Within that research I have read quite a bit from people who have gone back to the MH because of the maintenance on caravans. So after all that waffling my question is what kind of maintenance is required and how often, and how expensive.
Looking forward to hearing from those much more experienced than I.
I'm intending to use the smallest MH to suit my needs because being an ex mechanic I can't face the maintenance on the extra set of wheels, hitching and unhitching etc. I once had an old 16 ft Viscount van, never leaked, easy to tow [ behind a Hilux with a 253 v8 everything's easy to tow ] cost me $1,000 to buy used it for 3 years and sold it for $1,100.
I was 20 years younger then and towing things seemed easy. I don't feel that I have the confidence anymore to tow a van so MH is the next best option.
My preference was a MH,
Just liked the idea of pulling up and that's it, all set up already to stay a while or move at a moments notice. No reversing, although a semi driver so holds no fears there.
Decided to add a towed vehicle on an "A" frame. No problems just have to remember it's there. Set up the rear camera to keep check. No reversing with an "A" frame cannot be done so it's unhitch if you need to reverse.
Two rego's so no savings there, but the ability to use the towed vehicle Suzuki 4x4 to do the shopping and sightsee etc made the choice easy for me.
Hope you get some other input from all those others with different points of view so you end up with what suits you.
Easiest way to look at it is simply............What difference!!
Start from the front of each vehicle and work back looking at all of the components, so for instance,
Engine - Caravan doesn't have one, so IF we have to get a service done (which you will on a motorhome) you can relax in the caravan.
Brakes - Caravan has brakes but, if they go wrong you can pull up, un-hitch and go and get spares............... In a motorhome you pull up and call for a recovery truck!!
Water systems - Both have water systems
Get the idea??
I am currently working on the spanners in Broome, ALREADY we are seeing folk coming into town to have their car serviced, so they get a cab back to the caravan, have a cup of tea and read/watch TV etc, and then they pick their car up. Conversley we have folk with motorhomes that are then stuck with nowehere to go for the day AND, face huge problems IF we need to keep the vehicle overnight for more work as they cannot stay in it in the workshop whilst it is being repaired.
Prior to buying our caravan, we toyed with all the various options, a caravan gives you the most flexibility and It will take forever to convince me otherwise!! Sorry Motorhome owners, that's my opinion.
Mark
Don't forget Mark, that you're quite a bit younger than a lot of people who are either on the road, or want to go. Therefore, age, and the physical aspects must be a priority. You have to take into account what you'll be capable of doing 5 or 10 years down the track.
I recently met another Nomad solo lady, who tows a Caravan. She's about 12 years younger than me, and still capable of hitching and un-hitching on her own. There is no way I could do that at my age, and physical condition, so I'm happy with my Hi-ace.
What you can manage in a few years time, is important.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Isn't it nice to be able to do our own thing ..
Love my MH ..
about the service .. all mine have been done on the day .. easy to fill in time by other distractions .. simple matter of a little planning ..
then there's the brakes .. the trailer that carries my bike and extras has electric brakes fitted .. recovery truck ? .. what for ? .. the Honda 4 gets me around just fine ..
Yes .. water is a top consideration .. usually have around 150 litres available ..
I got the idea .. Yes .. it suits me .. we are all different ..
Jon
As to servicing the car, I can either remove the slide-on beforehand or just wander around town for the day. No big deal. But apart from anything else, I don't like the idea of towing something.
Yes Indeed
Point taken Sheba, I actually didn't give any thought to the comparison from an age point of view. I agree, it is something to consider and yes I am not at the age yet where it is an issue. Thanks for making that point.
Mark
It is so good that we are all different Jon, that's what makes it such an interesting journey............ Life that is, as well as the nomadic lifestyle, and of course whatever makes us happy. What is a Honda 4 ??
Also, the quote, Get the idea?? was not meant to be sarcastic, I was referring to the comparisons that I had made, apologise if that came over a bit wrong
Mark
I have had a 23' Jayco and now a 27' Jayco. Both have bike racks on the back so can ride into town if necessary.
Even with the bigger MH I can still park at the back of shopping centre car parks if I need to.
Brett