Hi. I am new to this semi retired part of life and before my partner and I venture out I am seeking some advice from people who have gone through painful and stressful experience of traveling, and trying to decide what type of accommodation they should purchase.. Currently we have a 4WD and when we do out back trips we now just either stay in cabins/motels or if out in the bush I have a large awning attached to the car. A "room" 3 x 2.5 is attached to this and I have a queen size bed on a frame with blow up mattress. Also have a hot shower system connected to the motor, and porta loo. So we are reasonably well set up. However it always takes about an hour to get all set up for these nights in the bush. We still want to travel off the beaten track and so I have been looking at 4WD motor homes and off road caravans and hard floor camper trailers. I have dismissed the first as the cost is prohibitive, and also you have the issue of packing up just to go down the road, or to do day trips. Caravans are nice but the weight and also they are really not true off road. So I am more seriously looking at a camper trailer. For about $45K full price I can get a good brand new (Pioneer) with shower, aircon/heater, hot water, and queen size spring mattress bed. I read that at some of the free camp sites you must be FULLY self contained. What does that mean? Can a camper trailer stay there? I have read the general comments about trailers under the rig tab, and it appears that the advice given there is rather negative for grey nomads. Hence my question here. Does anybody use a camper trailer on this forum? What issues or problems do they encounter when out camping or traveling on road trips of 2-3 months or longer? My 4WD is not one of the big boys, but is very heavily modified for serious off road use. So a caravan is probably too heavy to tow where I would want to go. I dont want to fork out another $80K to get another bigger unit and then spend another $15K getting it up to a suitable standard to tackle proper 4WD tracks. Thanks in anticipation.
David
Red Nomad OZ said
06:04 PM Dec 5, 2015
We use a 1983 Jayco Dove Camper Trailer (ie solid tray, canvas top, solid roof with pull out bed ends) with a Tare weight of around 750 kg - we don't go off road too much as you would like to, but we have taken it to some very remote locations. We bought it about 18 years ago for a 10 month trip in NSW and QLD, but then lived in it (for a total of 18 months) when we returned home as we'd sold our house before we left! We regularly travel for 3-4 months at a time. If you are looking for a de-facto house while you're away with all the amenities you'd have at home, then a camper trailer probably isn't for you. But if you are looking for convenience, shelter, economy of space, fuel economy, maneuverability and more floor/living space than a caravan the same size, then it's worth considering. It takes us about 20 mins (max) to set up, depending on factors like whether we want the awning up or not etc. Ours isn't off-road, but there are lots of off road campers out there that wouldn't need too much (if any) modifications for your purposes. Have you been to a caravan and camping show? Having a look at what's around (then looking for a 2nd hand version if price is an issue) might help decide what you want.
Fully Self Contained means own toilet and grey water storage - ie you must carry out all waste and dispose of it elsewhere. Luckily, many towns now have a dump point to make this easier. You don't need fancy equipment for this - a basic porta potti might be sufficient.
Hope this helps! Good luck!!
Desert Dweller said
06:48 PM Dec 5, 2015
We've got an Off-Road camper trailer, a caravan & a 17ft fibreglass boat that we use when tent camping. They all take pretty much the same time to set up at our selected site, give or take half an hour. It all depends what we want to do & where we're going. There's no magic formula IOO. We use our camper trailer to go where our caravan won't safely go.
Phil C said
07:24 PM Dec 5, 2015
Welcome to the new members, hope you enjoy this great forum.
We bought a camper as our first RV. Took a while to set up but very comfortable. We "suffered" the same inconveniences as most do, but being intrepid campers we forged on.
In 2013 we took delivery of our first caravan, a Jayco Starcraft 20-62-2. This is our home as we live in it 24/7, drag it all over Australia (except when we arent cruising on the sea) and have enjoyed every part of it.
While the camper has a place for younger folk, it is now not suitable for us. The van takes a small amount of time to set up and very easy to live in.
Good luck with your shopping.
Cheers
peter1 said
08:54 PM Dec 5, 2015
David
From what you have said, I would suggest purchasing a good off-road tradesman trailer properly modified with pull out kitchen and other creature comforts to suit your needs plus a 30 second tent for sleeping. I have had tents in the past, camper trailers, pop up caravans, wind-up campers and off road caravans. Horses for courses but one thing that is clear to me is that camper trailers are good if you plan to stay in one place for a lengthy period of time - you get tired of putting them up and down in the end. At least with a good quality trailer you can design your unit to suit your own needs. The 30 second tents are great as they literally moments to erect and pull down.
Hope this helps in your deliberations.
Regards
Peter
Hey Jim said
09:21 PM Dec 5, 2015
Hi David,
We had a Kimberly camper for 13 years. Many many great trips including a full lap.
The years soon catch up and at 60 and getting tied of cooking / eating / washing / in inclement weather.
We still want to do our free camping.
If both of you still like the above, go for it.
We have moved on. Sold our camper and after a very long wait we are getting a Jayco Journey Outback 17.55 Pop top.
With full independent suspension an clearance.
We will do the same as before PLUS. No more eating with the bugs. Making sanbo's in the sun with the flies.
My Lambie gets a shower / toilet combo, and we can still go offroad and just be us. No more packing up in the rain will be a great comfort. Many times we hit bad weather and opted for a motel along with other folks with campers.
Both of you together, must look forward to where and how you will travel our great country with some extra comfort as you get a little older. Your not getting any younger You know. $47.000 driveaway.
Regards Jim
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Saturday 5th of December 2015 09:23:08 PM
dirvine said
08:12 AM Dec 6, 2015
Thanks for the info so far everybody. We are both past 60, and my partner, Helen's idea of camping out is under any 5 Star sign! However we plan to do 2-3 month trips twice a year and I want to take her to all the places I went when I was young. For starters we are going to do the Canning Stock route with our son, onto Broome (for recovery and to see grand children), then down the Gibb River road, and home via Daihousie, Oodnadatta, Flinders and home. So you will understand my reason for some comfort but not excessive weight. Also accomodation (under signs) is very expensive as opposed to camping. I dare not tell you my vehicle, as you would all laugh out loud, but it has done some very serious trips, but is not one that is designed to tow great weights. Infact I think its max is 2000kg. Campers seem a good compromise and having been to a few shows we sort of narrowed down the choice to an Ultimate or a Longreach Pioneer. Ultimate are light (fibreglass) but very strong. No probs with flies as the kitchen is inside. I think thats not great as smells etc. But it is very robust and $45 to $60K. Pioneer is a lot cheaper, but also a bit heavier to start off with (850Kgs as opposed to 1100kgs) $45k with full enclosed annex, aircon/heater. I thought the aircon was a joke, but at the factory when it was 32 degrees, the unit was amazing and just made the inside almost too cold.
Hi. I am new to this semi retired part of life and before my partner and I venture out I am seeking some advice from people who have gone through painful and stressful experience of traveling, and trying to decide what type of accommodation they should purchase.. Currently we have a 4WD and when we do out back trips we now just either stay in cabins/motels or if out in the bush I have a large awning attached to the car. A "room" 3 x 2.5 is attached to this and I have a queen size bed on a frame with blow up mattress. Also have a hot shower system connected to the motor, and porta loo. So we are reasonably well set up. However it always takes about an hour to get all set up for these nights in the bush. We still want to travel off the beaten track and so I have been looking at 4WD motor homes and off road caravans and hard floor camper trailers. I have dismissed the first as the cost is prohibitive, and also you have the issue of packing up just to go down the road, or to do day trips. Caravans are nice but the weight and also they are really not true off road. So I am more seriously looking at a camper trailer. For about $45K full price I can get a good brand new (Pioneer) with shower, aircon/heater, hot water, and queen size spring mattress bed. I read that at some of the free camp sites you must be FULLY self contained. What does that mean? Can a camper trailer stay there? I have read the general comments about trailers under the rig tab, and it appears that the advice given there is rather negative for grey nomads. Hence my question here. Does anybody use a camper trailer on this forum? What issues or problems do they encounter when out camping or traveling on road trips of 2-3 months or longer? My 4WD is not one of the big boys, but is very heavily modified for serious off road use. So a caravan is probably too heavy to tow where I would want to go. I dont want to fork out another $80K to get another bigger unit and then spend another $15K getting it up to a suitable standard to tackle proper 4WD tracks. Thanks in anticipation.
David
Fully Self Contained means own toilet and grey water storage - ie you must carry out all waste and dispose of it elsewhere. Luckily, many towns now have a dump point to make this easier. You don't need fancy equipment for this - a basic porta potti might be sufficient.
Hope this helps! Good luck!!
We bought a camper as our first RV. Took a while to set up but very comfortable. We "suffered" the same inconveniences as most do, but being intrepid campers we forged on.
In 2013 we took delivery of our first caravan, a Jayco Starcraft 20-62-2. This is our home as we live in it 24/7, drag it all over Australia (except when we arent cruising on the sea) and have enjoyed every part of it.
While the camper has a place for younger folk, it is now not suitable for us. The van takes a small amount of time to set up and very easy to live in.
Good luck with your shopping.
Cheers
From what you have said, I would suggest purchasing a good off-road tradesman trailer properly modified with pull out kitchen and other creature comforts to suit your needs plus a 30 second tent for sleeping. I have had tents in the past, camper trailers, pop up caravans, wind-up campers and off road caravans. Horses for courses but one thing that is clear to me is that camper trailers are good if you plan to stay in one place for a lengthy period of time - you get tired of putting them up and down in the end. At least with a good quality trailer you can design your unit to suit your own needs. The 30 second tents are great as they literally moments to erect and pull down.
Hope this helps in your deliberations.
Regards
Peter
Hi David,
We had a Kimberly camper for 13 years. Many many great trips including a full lap.
The years soon catch up and at 60 and getting tied of cooking / eating / washing / in inclement weather.
We still want to do our free camping.
If both of you still like the above, go for it.
We have moved on. Sold our camper and after a very long wait we are getting a Jayco Journey Outback 17.55 Pop top.
With full independent suspension an clearance.
We will do the same as before PLUS. No more eating with the bugs. Making sanbo's in the sun with the flies.
My Lambie gets a shower / toilet combo, and we can still go offroad and just be us. No more packing up in the rain will be a great comfort. Many times we hit bad weather and opted for a motel along with other folks with campers.
Both of you together, must look forward to where and how you will travel our great country with some extra comfort as you get a little older. Your not getting any younger You know.
$47.000 driveaway.
Regards Jim
-- Edited by Hey Jim on Saturday 5th of December 2015 09:23:08 PM