My wife and I are in the final throws of working out/planning our first trip west from Adelaide.
We have laid out some sort of a plan but as every one knows that person called Murphy and his uncompromising law can and will inevitably require amendments hence my questions
As we only have a 15 footer we require ninety five percent of our stays to be in CP's
What do members do re accommodation further down the track (How many members actually do book a head or do they take pot luck) should due to strong head winds on the day of intended travel decide to sit tight
What criteria do members use in making the decision not to travel re wind strength
Regards
GeoffC
briche said
10:05 AM May 3, 2016
Hi Geoffc, welcome aboard and trust you have a wonderful time on the road. I would think at this time of the year most CP would have space so unless you are really not sure I would play it my ear.
As far as traveling in windy days, if you don't need to travel on days like that I would have a day off and enjoy the your present location wherever you are. It only makes for more pressure on the driver in keeping it all together and you fuel usage will climb so good time to save some dollars.
once again enjoy the journey and stay safe.
briche
Delta18 said
10:08 AM May 3, 2016
We have found the only times a pre-book is required is if traveling coastal routes during school holidays, long weekends etc.
Anytime outside these times is fine.
If head winds are predicted we may choose to to sit it out unless on the Nullarbor perhaps. Usually we'll carry on albeit at reduced speed & lower gear. Top gear, 1:1 that is, no lower.
Phil C said
11:03 AM May 3, 2016
Gday Geoffc
During our recent trip across and back, I made a decision that each whistle stop I would fill up. All except Mundrabilla, where I heard reports that water was in the diesel.
Going over we stayed at Kimba free camp, Penong CP, Twiggys Camp free camp, Moordini free camp, Fraser Range CP then Esperance.
Coming back Southern Cross CP, Norseman Sportsground free camp, Baxters free camp, Mundrabilla CP, Nullarbor CP, Penong CP, Elliston CP, then Port Lincoln CP
We rang the remote caravan parks the same day we were staying, by about 3pm they were full (Mundrabilla had only 12 spots). Telstra covers most of the whistle stops so take advantage while filling up.
I read the weather reports on meteye which is part of the BOM website www.bom.gov.au very useful if you click the details tab on each day will give you wind direction and velocity.
If you have 15 footer I would guess that the wind may be kind to you. Our 20 footer draws a great amount of drag so we sat on 80 to 90 KMPH. That returned 13.9 L per 100K average for the trip. I found if you leave a place early and aim to get there (wherever there may be) by about 2pm, the winds were kind most days. We had a few big wind days but battled through, most of our weather was rain going west and cold clouds coming east. Water was not a problem as we carried 30L of drinking water and tanks filled for showers and washing up. All in all, it was a great trip and a pile of fun. We had a ball and it was a joy to drive it.
Enjoy
the rocket said
11:09 AM May 3, 2016
Hi geoffc, do not travel in high wind. Prefer to travel sunday, less traffic n semi trailers. do not book. Prefer staying in showgrounds. Cheaper n more room. Love seeing and stepping onto green grass. Regards. Rocket n strop
wendyv said
05:54 PM May 3, 2016
We tend to phone caravan parks and book, day before we plan to arrive, or on morning of day we will arrive. Exceptions would be places like Broome, Darwin, Alice Springs at the height of the season (June - mid August) where one has to usually book a lot further ahead.
Bruce and Bev said
06:00 PM May 3, 2016
Hi Geoff and welcome to the nomading life style.
I agree with all the others have said, but you will learn from bad and good experiences what makes this life style so pleasant IF you don't rush and over plan your travels. Most experienced nomaders only drive 3-5 hours a day, unless there is a particular reason to do otherwise. This means if you leave site at 8 or 9am (later if in or near a city to avoid rush hour), you will be at your destination by early arvo and if you don't like what you see, you can move on without driving at night - a bad idea in the country with our wild life.
We never travel in HIGH winds. Only you can decide how strong the wind is at the time and how well your tow vehicle and health can cope with it.
We also prefer to stay in show grounds, although some are dirty and overpriced with few or no facilities - but most are good and cost around $10-15 for a van for the night.
We try to avoid the group CPs like Big 4 as they are very expensive - unless you like bouncy trampolines/castles, mini-putt and tennis.
Generally speaking CPs in tourist areas or on or near the coast are expensive and you are sandwiched in with others. If you intend to stay at these places, you will need to book ahead during the warmer months, school holidays or warmer climates where many geriatrics stay in their RVs in winter before returning home.
Privately owned CPs are often as good as the Big 4 type ones and much cheaper - this also applies to the many Shire owned and operated CPs.
Always tell the CP that your van is longer than it is. In your case I would be telling them its a 20fter - many CP sites are tiny and you end up spending 30 mins or more trying to get onto your site (often to the amusement of other campers -although some will volunteer to help you) and then you have no room to park your tow vehicle.
Use wikicamps as a good source of info for camping - both free and CPs. Usually there are photos, always prices and comments about the place as well as their contact details. Don't believe one negative comment though - read the last few months worth so you get a balanced view
In the off season (usually the cold, non-school part of the CPs year), they offer deals which might be stay 2 nights and get 2 nights free or stay 6 and get the 7th free. Always ask if they have any deals. If you have a pension card, always ask if they do discounts for geriatrics. Many will give you 10% off, but wont offer it to you - you need to ask.
Even if we have booked into a CP we always park at the entrance and check out the site they have allocated you to make sure its not a 40 point turn or right beside the council dog pound - and have a look at their toilets and showers etc.
If youre staying for a while in a town with a launderette, have a look at their prices - often cheaper than CP washers/dryers
Most important - enjoy yourselves and don't rush !!
Greetings all.
My wife and I are in the final throws of working out/planning our first trip west from Adelaide.
We have laid out some sort of a plan but as every one knows that person called Murphy and his uncompromising law can and will inevitably require amendments hence my questions
As we only have a 15 footer we require ninety five percent of our stays to be in CP's
What do members do re accommodation further down the track (How many members actually do book a head or do they take pot luck) should due to strong head winds on the day of intended travel decide to sit tight
What criteria do members use in making the decision not to travel re wind strength
Regards
GeoffC
Hi Geoffc, welcome aboard and trust you have a wonderful time on the road. I would think at this time of the year most CP would have space so unless you are really not sure I would play it my ear.
As far as traveling in windy days, if you don't need to travel on days like that I would have a day off and enjoy the your present location wherever you are. It only makes for more pressure on the driver in keeping it all together and you fuel usage will climb so good time to save some dollars.
once again enjoy the journey and stay safe.
briche
We have found the only times a pre-book is required is if traveling coastal routes during school holidays, long weekends etc.
Anytime outside these times is fine.
If head winds are predicted we may choose to to sit it out unless on the Nullarbor perhaps. Usually we'll carry on albeit at reduced speed & lower gear. Top gear, 1:1 that is, no lower.
During our recent trip across and back, I made a decision that each whistle stop I would fill up. All except Mundrabilla, where I heard reports that water was in the diesel.
Going over we stayed at Kimba free camp, Penong CP, Twiggys Camp free camp, Moordini free camp, Fraser Range CP then Esperance.
Coming back Southern Cross CP, Norseman Sportsground free camp, Baxters free camp, Mundrabilla CP, Nullarbor CP, Penong CP, Elliston CP, then Port Lincoln CP
We rang the remote caravan parks the same day we were staying, by about 3pm they were full (Mundrabilla had only 12 spots). Telstra covers most of the whistle stops so take advantage while filling up.
I read the weather reports on meteye which is part of the BOM website www.bom.gov.au very useful if you click the details tab on each day will give you wind direction and velocity.
If you have 15 footer I would guess that the wind may be kind to you. Our 20 footer draws a great amount of drag so we sat on 80 to 90 KMPH. That returned 13.9 L per 100K average for the trip. I found if you leave a place early and aim to get there (wherever there may be) by about 2pm, the winds were kind most days. We had a few big wind days but battled through, most of our weather was rain going west and cold clouds coming east. Water was not a problem as we carried 30L of drinking water and tanks filled for showers and washing up. All in all, it was a great trip and a pile of fun. We had a ball and it was a joy to drive it.
Enjoy
Hi geoffc, do not travel in high wind. Prefer to travel sunday, less traffic n semi trailers. do not book. Prefer staying in showgrounds. Cheaper n more room. Love seeing and stepping onto green grass. Regards. Rocket n strop
I agree with all the others have said, but you will learn from bad and good experiences what makes this life style so pleasant IF you don't rush and over plan your travels. Most experienced nomaders only drive 3-5 hours a day, unless there is a particular reason to do otherwise. This means if you leave site at 8 or 9am (later if in or near a city to avoid rush hour), you will be at your destination by early arvo and if you don't like what you see, you can move on without driving at night - a bad idea in the country with our wild life.
We never travel in HIGH winds. Only you can decide how strong the wind is at the time and how well your tow vehicle and health can cope with it.
We also prefer to stay in show grounds, although some are dirty and overpriced with few or no facilities - but most are good and cost around $10-15 for a van for the night.
We try to avoid the group CPs like Big 4 as they are very expensive - unless you like bouncy trampolines/castles, mini-putt and tennis.
Generally speaking CPs in tourist areas or on or near the coast are expensive and you are sandwiched in with others. If you intend to stay at these places, you will need to book ahead during the warmer months, school holidays or warmer climates where many geriatrics stay in their RVs in winter before returning home.
Privately owned CPs are often as good as the Big 4 type ones and much cheaper - this also applies to the many Shire owned and operated CPs.
Always tell the CP that your van is longer than it is. In your case I would be telling them its a 20fter - many CP sites are tiny and you end up spending 30 mins or more trying to get onto your site (often to the amusement of other campers -although some will volunteer to help you) and then you have no room to park your tow vehicle.
Use wikicamps as a good source of info for camping - both free and CPs. Usually there are photos, always prices and comments about the place as well as their contact details. Don't believe one negative comment though - read the last few months worth so you get a balanced view
In the off season (usually the cold, non-school part of the CPs year), they offer deals which might be stay 2 nights and get 2 nights free or stay 6 and get the 7th free. Always ask if they have any deals. If you have a pension card, always ask if they do discounts for geriatrics. Many will give you 10% off, but wont offer it to you - you need to ask.
Even if we have booked into a CP we always park at the entrance and check out the site they have allocated you to make sure its not a 40 point turn or right beside the council dog pound - and have a look at their toilets and showers etc.
If youre staying for a while in a town with a launderette, have a look at their prices - often cheaper than CP washers/dryers
Most important - enjoy yourselves and don't rush !!
Ditto with Bruce.
Good advice mate...