We are a couple of early '60s models with a a few miles on the clock and a bit damaged, making camping it tent-style, let's say less than comfortable. Not quite ready for the pasture yet though, and still a few adventures in the offering that I'd like to do while the body is still capable. Gearing up for The Big Lap however has us in a bit of a quandary. There are a few places I definitely want to go, where any caravan that's compatible with my wallet, is simply a no-go. Hence I would have to leave my caravan somewhere and rough it in the back of the wagon for a few days. My question is, how many of you have experienced this sort of scenario, how often, was it easy enough to find places to leave the van, cost, etc? The comfort of a full blown van is attractive, but the logistics have me a bit worried. any advice, experiences, horror stories, whatever, would be most appreciated.
Tony Bev said
07:07 PM Oct 27, 2016
Hello Wotamidoing
Welcome to the forum
As I do not go off road, the following is only my opinion, so I could therefore be wrong
I only know of two areas you could leave your van, while you go roughing it off road
You could leave your van in a paid camp, and ask others (as well as owner/employee) to keep an eye on it As I do not normally use a caravan park, then I do not know the cost. I have read somewhere that some caravan parks, have some space out back, and allow unattended parking of vans, at a reduced cost
You could also leave your van in a free camp, and ask others to keep an eye on it
I mainly use free camps, and many times I have noticed caravans unattended. I will assume that the owners went into town or other places If someone had asked me, and I knew that I was going to stay there for that amount of time, then I would, (and assume that many others), would keep an eye on it, for the owners
In any case when you are going into an area, which is too rough for your caravan, the minimum precaution is to let others know where you are going, so you might as well ask them to keep an eye on your van, at the same time
Hope that this info is helpful to you
Bass said
07:57 PM Oct 30, 2016
Hi welcome to the fourm. I cannot fully answer your problem however, we have a " dirt road caravan " and a 4WD and have towed it along the strez track , the odnadat track , up through warri gate, we have dragged it through dry and not so dry river beds a bit of common sense and a holiday mind and normal vans will surprise you how far they can be taken, we even seen road going jayco's at loyalty beach cape York june 2015. whilst we have never left our van over nite at bush camp sites we have been asked to keep an eye on a van while the couple took off for 2 days. we have left our van for anything up to 10 hrs on many occasions and so far not had any problems. hope this helps. cheers
Peter_n_Margaret said
08:19 PM Nov 1, 2016
On a tight budget but want to go everywhere is common problem, but there is a solution.
It starts with an ex hire Toyota Troop carrier camper.
They are sometimes available from $25,000.
They are basic but will go anywhere and they are tough, reliable and economical to run.
Cheers,
Peter
macka17 said
04:05 PM Jan 8, 2017
Starting out. limited budget.
Second hand dual cab ute. Pay the extra for better quality.
I bought a 2010 as new with 67k on clock for $23k 2 yrs ago.
ex Plumbing managers wheels for Indroopolly Council.
'98 535 Coromal Capri van tandem full height. $12k. Very economical rig.
Used. Clean. New tyres and installed Air-Cond.
You going sans van.
Either spend $12\1500 and buy a rooftop tent to fit on top of tug.
Or. Like me. Roll out on side of ute with mesh sides,
and sleeping gear inside for mossies\midgies.
Some use swags. tents. and just tarp's.
They all work. just have in mind. "This is only temp, while I explore".
I have a mate bought Discovery with full books. $7000.
tows a $6.500 camper trailer. Not comfy enuff for me but I'm 75yrs.
Goes everywhere costing cents almost.
Small Evernew vans abound down in Melb. from around $6k up.
$8 to 12k will buy a very nice late '90's 16\16ft 6in.
Coromal are a good cheaper build van but abound in Aust. like ****roaches.
Do the job. Cheap, and don't cost much.
Utes, wagons on gas. Disco's etc, will all tow comfortably either.
Jayco. I wouldn't touch.
Too many bad reports and seen. Over too many yrs for me.
Mine cost $35kish.
But you could set off. with well checked over older rigs for under $20k.
Tug, vans that is.
Campers. start at $4.600 basic and climb to the sky.
Roof tents, Around $2500 with racks.
Roll out on car. $200 plus sides, another $250.
Bed\swag ect. $300, according to level wanted
OR a mix of several to suit.
Leaving your van anywhere but known people or back of van parks.
That's your call. and your possible consequences. I wouldn't.
ALWAYS Insure your rig.
MAY cost you a bit.
BUT. If anything happens. Specially if you not so financial.
You know you always have some moneys coning back to start, at least partly.
Again.
Great peace of mind I tell you.
Enjoy yourself. and just go for it.
Cars. Get RACQ check first if you not mechanical or have somebody who is.
Car yards cost more for same. but you get. Normally 12month wty.
Some comeback if faulty.
You already got wheels to suit.
You can go round with a starter of, say a Grand. ad stay in motels hire vans
in inclement weather. A LOT depends on your age.
(I'm 75 . FAT. (115kg) but still fairly fit and flexible.
Just don't like getting up from ground level.
Something to do with gravity and big belly).
Or like us. Last rig in 2000 was $77k for van. $56k for Patrol.
Plus another $10\12k for extra's.
Loved it. But it's last 6 yrs, the van sat in yard collecting cobwebs.
OR anything in between.
Oh.Extended wty's, not normally worth paper they written on.
Lamb Chop said
02:13 PM Jan 14, 2017
We found at Laura some were leaving rigs behind the Pub while they traveled to the Cape. I'm not sure of the cost but assume it would be minimal.
theberrys said
05:29 PM Mar 5, 2017
We have travelled somewhere in the order of 200000 k's over about 20yrs driving a 94 troopy towing a 22 ft evernew van over all sorts of tracks and terrain and the only time we left the van was when we went to the top in 08 and in those days one could leave a van at Lakeland and lived 2wks in the Troopy to do the cape journey. As Peter n Margaret said they are basic - tough and reliable ours is not fitted out as a camper but has a few creature comforts. We have since sold the van and bought a small motorhome but my love affair with the Troopy continues as I have not been able to part with him. There is nothing wrong me as I equate the almost no use of the Troopy for the past couple of years to costing rego & Ins to about 1ctn of beer/week.
The story so far;
We are a couple of early '60s models with a a few miles on the clock and a bit damaged, making camping it tent-style, let's say less than comfortable. Not quite ready for the pasture yet though, and still a few adventures in the offering that I'd like to do while the body is still capable. Gearing up for The Big Lap however has us in a bit of a quandary. There are a few places I definitely want to go, where any caravan that's compatible with my wallet, is simply a no-go. Hence I would have to leave my caravan somewhere and rough it in the back of the wagon for a few days. My question is, how many of you have experienced this sort of scenario, how often, was it easy enough to find places to leave the van, cost, etc? The comfort of a full blown van is attractive, but the logistics have me a bit worried. any advice, experiences, horror stories, whatever, would be most appreciated.
Hello Wotamidoing
Welcome to the forum
As I do not go off road, the following is only my opinion, so I could therefore be wrong
I only know of two areas you could leave your van, while you go roughing it off road
You could leave your van in a paid camp, and ask others (as well as owner/employee) to keep an eye on it
As I do not normally use a caravan park, then I do not know the cost.
I have read somewhere that some caravan parks, have some space out back, and allow unattended parking of vans, at a reduced cost
You could also leave your van in a free camp, and ask others to keep an eye on it
I mainly use free camps, and many times I have noticed caravans unattended.
I will assume that the owners went into town or other places
If someone had asked me, and I knew that I was going to stay there for that amount of time, then I would, (and assume that many others), would keep an eye on it, for the owners
In any case when you are going into an area, which is too rough for your caravan, the minimum precaution is to let others know where you are going, so you might as well ask them to keep an eye on your van, at the same time
Hope that this info is helpful to you
It starts with an ex hire Toyota Troop carrier camper.
They are sometimes available from $25,000.
They are basic but will go anywhere and they are tough, reliable and economical to run.
Cheers,
Peter
Second hand dual cab ute. Pay the extra for better quality.
I bought a 2010 as new with 67k on clock for $23k 2 yrs ago.
ex Plumbing managers wheels for Indroopolly Council.
'98 535 Coromal Capri van tandem full height. $12k. Very economical rig.
Used. Clean. New tyres and installed Air-Cond.
You going sans van.
Either spend $12\1500 and buy a rooftop tent to fit on top of tug.
Or. Like me. Roll out on side of ute with mesh sides,
and sleeping gear inside for mossies\midgies.
Some use swags. tents. and just tarp's.
They all work. just have in mind. "This is only temp, while I explore".
I have a mate bought Discovery with full books. $7000.
tows a $6.500 camper trailer. Not comfy enuff for me but I'm 75yrs.
Goes everywhere costing cents almost.
Small Evernew vans abound down in Melb. from around $6k up.
$8 to 12k will buy a very nice late '90's 16\16ft 6in.
Coromal are a good cheaper build van but abound in Aust. like ****roaches.
Do the job. Cheap, and don't cost much.
Utes, wagons on gas. Disco's etc, will all tow comfortably either.
Jayco. I wouldn't touch.
Too many bad reports and seen. Over too many yrs for me.
Mine cost $35kish.
But you could set off. with well checked over older rigs for under $20k.
Tug, vans that is.
Campers. start at $4.600 basic and climb to the sky.
Roof tents, Around $2500 with racks.
Roll out on car. $200 plus sides, another $250.
Bed\swag ect. $300, according to level wanted
OR a mix of several to suit.
Leaving your van anywhere but known people or back of van parks.
That's your call. and your possible consequences. I wouldn't.
ALWAYS Insure your rig.
MAY cost you a bit.
BUT. If anything happens. Specially if you not so financial.
You know you always have some moneys coning back to start, at least partly.
Again.
Great peace of mind I tell you.
Enjoy yourself. and just go for it.
Cars. Get RACQ check first if you not mechanical or have somebody who is.
Car yards cost more for same. but you get. Normally 12month wty.
Some comeback if faulty.
You already got wheels to suit.
You can go round with a starter of, say a Grand. ad stay in motels hire vans
in inclement weather. A LOT depends on your age.
(I'm 75 . FAT. (115kg) but still fairly fit and flexible.
Just don't like getting up from ground level.
Something to do with gravity and big belly).
Or like us. Last rig in 2000 was $77k for van. $56k for Patrol.
Plus another $10\12k for extra's.
Loved it. But it's last 6 yrs, the van sat in yard collecting cobwebs.
OR anything in between.
Oh.Extended wty's, not normally worth paper they written on.
We found at Laura some were leaving rigs behind the Pub while they traveled to the Cape. I'm not sure of the cost but assume it would be minimal.