Here's me and my two pooches, thinking I would just buy a smallish poptop caravan, hitch it up to my stationwagon and hit the road.... far out!

I've found a couple of vans I like, but now I'm going through the whole... but what about brakes? Oh, need a brake guy to fit the electric brake controller.

How does the 12v electrical system work? Oh, need a battery connected! Should I get a generator because I won't be using caravan parks... omg, what size? Where do I store a generator?

If I buy a van will the van fit under my carport, before I move out of the house & leave? (prolly not!) So, can I park the van on my sloping driveway?? And most importantly, do I buy the van with the pink curtains or the fawn curtains?? Sheesh!

Lol......breathe first.
Then we'll address the rest one by one mate.
If your vans over 750kg it'll need brakes. (The boys can help with all those specific boy things) - hahaha listen to me....yes I have brakes. Towing capability of vehicle inportant. But if you buy something too heavy....get a new vehicle. 
With a van that size....maybe you only need solar...it's not going to be drawing heaps...but it depends on what the expectations are - ie fridges etc. Same with gen size question - depends on what you want/need to run (don't get some of the boys started on that topic lol).
Wouldn't worry about the slope in the drive for now if it's temporary.
Curtains......fawn....pinks too girly.

Hey.
You keeping your current veh ??. Fine.
as long as it RELIABLE then some.

Next/ look at it's MAX towing weight. with brakes.
Subtract around 1\2 ton from that.

and that's YOUR SAFE towing weight.

Poptops and modern full height vans are around the same wind resistance when rolling.
Just don't travel on windy days and it won't empty your pocket.

Get a battery in boot or van and 80+ watt panel on roof to cover Tv Lights, fan etc.
with a 20aq regulator..
Then you can upgrade panels easier later with no problems.

Unless you going for Aircond. a 1kva Genny will do all. WITH a 25a Minimum Batt charger.
You can always go more solar and battery's later if req.Fridge.

Waeco comp the best. but 3 ways can do the job.
Just expect to buy a Waeco compressor type later to do your freezing.

Pension\Income.??

Income easy. top up as you go along.
pension.
try to get what you need to start. once travelling and especially strange to it.
You'll find it'll be a bit tight till you get your brain around it. specially with 2 dogs.

There are quite a few info pages on "free" (I hate that word) camping etc.
Plenty here will sort you.
I went right round on a 600 dirt bike, Tarp, and sleeping bag on under $5 grand. back in the early '80s.
and did it easy.
The Following trip on Yacht. with dog. cost around the same,
mainly harbour fees and fuel for desal, genny. But took a lot longer.

Do it. Enjoy it. and make some great memory's hey.

I've been travelling since 13 yrs old. in half a doz country's,
on 75th birthday nowadays and still learning.

THink about everything twice b4 you go. then go with the flow.

Not so hard. As Grubbygypsy said just work through all your questions one by one, and you will get it all sorted. Its half the fun, getting things ticked off the list.

Cheers, John.

Thanks so very much for the reassuring replies, everyone!

Well, I have purchased my first caravan!! And, sorry GrubbyGypsy, I've never had *anything* 'pink' in my life... so I went with the pink curtained van! And the pooches and I love it! haha! 

-- Edited by NannyJam on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 12:14:53 PM