So I'm back again .. thinking after christmas I might be up for the hunt again..
and campervan is the thing for me , hopefully toyota based with poptop..
something like in the pics below ..
any whooo. thinking which do I want , bed at the front or back?
it will only be me and my budgie (she in her cage)
I wont be having a tv or aerial or satellite tv as i don't watch tv at home, only for the odd dvd etc..
with the pop ups do you have to have them up all the time ? I'm only a short bloke around 5"5 ish and just wont some lights to run at night, maybe an cd player with fm am radio in the back as well, but I'd like to be able to stop for a few days with out having to worry about plugging in the van all the time, I might get my self a macbook pro with the long battery life so I can surf the net or watch dvds on that, and the odd game under the windows thing..
so wonder how much solar would I need, would solar be enough to run a small fridge unless thats gas ? and gas stove?
can you run a small microwave on gas/solar ?
the other thing is which ever way I go I'll leave the bed made up all the time , so that I don't have to make it up all the time like I had to in Dads motor home..
also it has to be auto as I cant drive manual and I'd like a diesel as I've been told they last longer than petrol engines
Its been a hell of a rough 3 1/2 years and I'm thinking I'm going to have to do something soon or not all..
I'd like to mix it with free camping and caravan parks, but only free camp if other people are around..
and I'd like some times convoy with a group too from time to time...
oh I am not a speed demon or anything like that so would like to spend time at a place I like set up camp and enjoy it and I don't know if you can have a postie bike on the back ie just to do a little sight seeing etc or get stuff from the local shops etc ...
ps can a postie bike fit on the back of one of these??
so many questions, nice to be back here guys..
thanks for sticking with me ...
-- Edited by milo on Monday 1st of August 2016 04:03:37 PM
That's a nice looking unit Milo - something like that would be good to start with - though one of our members has a Ford MH - just a bit bigger than a hi ace, she also has a toilet and shower - small but adequate for one person - much llike the one in your pic - but a bit bigger. Good luck with whatever you decide - have fun, that's the best thing about travelling this big country.
brickies said
07:11 PM Aug 1, 2016
Great to see you back mate , It look like you you have a great plan and looks good to me keep your dream alive .
newhorizons said
07:38 PM Aug 1, 2016
When I was making enquiries, a friend who has had one of those, said make sure you get one with the bed at the back. That way you can leave it set up and its not in the doorway when you go in. It's second had advice but hope it helps.
I noticed that one also has an awning that pulls out. Looks pretty good to me!
I opted to tow a small poptop but if that doesn't work out well, something like yours would be the next choice. Motorhomes and slideons always look too high and a bit unstable to me.
Good luck with your choice.
Gaylehere said
10:05 PM Aug 1, 2016
Many moons ago (back in the 1980's) we had a kombie camper pop top. One thing we liked with it was that we could walk from the cab part to the back which was especially good in bad weather and for safety. I don't think you can do that with a high ace. Depending how it is set up I guess. The pop top doesn't always need to be up when camping but do put it up on a nice sunny day if you've had it up during rainy weather just to air and let it dry out. I'd do the same with an awning. If the van doesn't have insect screens on the main windows, popping the top up and opening the meshed vents gives you air without letting in the mossies. The high ace size vans are easy to park, don't take up much space, less likely to hit overhead branches etc. Loved camping in our Kombie, but when 2 became 3 and then 4 it got a little snug. Now that 3 and 4 are grown up we got another van. Bigger this time but again walk through for weather and safety and a loo so we don't need to go walk about in the middle of the night. What ever you buy, enjoy it and see some countryside. Cheers.
milo said
10:40 PM Aug 1, 2016
I think I'd prefer the one with the bed at the back,
thats a start any way
Izabarack said
06:40 AM Aug 2, 2016
My experience - being able to walk between the seats into the back is a HUGE advantage. Pulling up in the night and not having to get out is a safety thing. Not getting out in the rain is a comfort thing. Easy access to the passenger side footwell is also sometimes a good thing/
Putting a swivel under the seat on the passenger side, at least, doubles the living area floor space. I have both on swivels. I usually stop and turn the passenger seat 45 degrees and leave it there while camped. TV in one back corner and fan in the other, both mounted high and out of the way. The swiveled seat becomes my lounge chair.
Semi flexible solar panels are light and can go on a Pop- Top roof. My 120 Watt panel weights 2 Kg.
My towbar handles 140 Kgs. Don't know what a Postie Bike weighs.
I have platform bed on the near side going all the way to the back door. Fridge is on a homebuilt slide (cost me under $20 to make) that puts it back under the bed frame. If outside, I simply go to the side door and pull the fridge forward for access.
I have a VW van but do see lots of HiAce types out there.
Iza
milo said
08:16 AM Aug 2, 2016
thanks guys keep the suggestions coming, out of interest, the coasters seem to be longer ,
which doesnt worry me but the height for my drive thru carport does... some ideas I'm thinking about
Possum3 said
01:41 PM Aug 7, 2016
Speak to Guy or Mel at Aussie Inlander Campers - they make them at Tamworth NSW. www.aussieinlander.com.au/
I think they also have some hire ones if you want to try different styles. (on road or off road, hard or soft floor, front, side or rear fold-over).
jules47 said
05:07 PM Aug 7, 2016
Great idea from Possum3, there, Milo - try hiring - even if just for a weekend - say a Hi Ace one time - Sprinter next - and then Coaster. Important to have toilet and shower as well, in my opinion, especially for long term living and travelling.
So I'm back again .. thinking after christmas I might be up for the hunt again..
and campervan is the thing for me , hopefully toyota based with poptop..
something like in the pics below ..
any whooo.
thinking which do I want , bed at the front or back?
it will only be me and my budgie (she in her cage)
I wont be having a tv or aerial or satellite tv as i don't watch tv at home, only for the odd dvd etc..
with the pop ups do you have to have them up all the time ? I'm only a short bloke around 5"5 ish and just wont some lights to run at night, maybe an cd player with fm am radio in the back as well, but I'd like to be able to stop for a few days with out having to worry about plugging in the van all the time, I might get my self a macbook pro with the long battery life so I can surf the net or watch dvds on that, and the odd game under the windows thing..
so wonder how much solar would I need, would solar be enough to run a small fridge unless thats gas ? and gas stove?
can you run a small microwave on gas/solar ?
the other thing is which ever way I go I'll leave the bed made up all the time , so that I don't have to make it up all the time like I had to in Dads motor home..
also it has to be auto as I cant drive manual and I'd like a diesel as I've been told they last longer than petrol engines
Its been a hell of a rough 3 1/2 years and I'm thinking I'm going to have to do something soon or not all..
I'd like to mix it with free camping and caravan parks, but only free camp if other people are around..
and I'd like some times convoy with a group too from time to time...
oh I am not a speed demon or anything like that so would like to spend time at a place I like set up camp and enjoy it and I don't know if you can have a postie bike on the back ie just to do a little sight seeing etc or get stuff from the local shops etc ...
ps can a postie bike fit on the back of one of these??
so many questions, nice to be back here guys..
thanks for sticking with me ...
-- Edited by milo on Monday 1st of August 2016 04:03:37 PM
When I was making enquiries, a friend who has had one of those, said make sure you get one with the bed at the back. That way you can leave it set up and its not in the doorway when you go in. It's second had advice but hope it helps.
I noticed that one also has an awning that pulls out. Looks pretty good to me!
I opted to tow a small poptop but if that doesn't work out well, something like yours would be the next choice. Motorhomes and slideons always look too high and a bit unstable to me.
Good luck with your choice.
thats a start any way
Putting a swivel under the seat on the passenger side, at least, doubles the living area floor space. I have both on swivels. I usually stop and turn the passenger seat 45 degrees and leave it there while camped. TV in one back corner and fan in the other, both mounted high and out of the way. The swiveled seat becomes my lounge chair.
Semi flexible solar panels are light and can go on a Pop- Top roof. My 120 Watt panel weights 2 Kg.
My towbar handles 140 Kgs. Don't know what a Postie Bike weighs.
I have platform bed on the near side going all the way to the back door. Fridge is on a homebuilt slide (cost me under $20 to make) that puts it back under the bed frame. If outside, I simply go to the side door and pull the fridge forward for access.
I have a VW van but do see lots of HiAce types out there.
Iza
which doesnt worry me but the height for my drive thru carport does... some ideas I'm thinking about
I think they also have some hire ones if you want to try different styles. (on road or off road, hard or soft floor, front, side or rear fold-over).