This is our first post as new members. We have just bought a VW camper T4 and will soon be setting off round this great country. Any general advice is most welcome eg what to bring, phone/tv reception, free camping etc. Many thanks in advance!
Hugh and Annette
Bunbury. WA.
Tony Bev said
02:08 AM Apr 7, 2017
Hello Hugh and Annette
May I be one of the first to welcome you to this great forum
The most important piece of advice I can give is, go at your own speed, drive to the conditions, and do not forget to enjoy yourself
Try and do a few small trips, before you start the big lap You will then find out what you need, or forgot to take with you, and what you can throw away to lighten the load
I shall attempt to answer your questions, in the order you have asked them
What to bring Spare fuses, fan belt/s and hoses (even if you can not fit them yourself, someone else can). Spare parts outside the bigger towns are few and far between Try to carry the minimum amount of personal stuff, clothes etc, as they say that lighter is better than heavier None iron clothes, means that you will not have to iron them Collapsible table and camping chairs, as most people sit outside in the hot weather If you plan to travel slower than the truckies, then a (cheap hand held will do), UHF radio will assist them to overtake you and get on with their job If you are going to use a UHF radio to talk to the truckies, then a name on the back of your rig will be handy A good reading/puzzle book is always handy, for when you just want to sit back and relax
Phone The consensus is that Telstra although the most expensive, is the carrier which covers more area than other carriers
TV Normal TV reception is only near the towns If you wish to have TV everywhere in Australia then you must have a satellite system If you require a satellite system, then I can recommend, that you have a talk with Access Antennas at 61 Albert Rd Bunbury. I have their system and it is OK There are other systems out there, which do not seem to work up the north
Free camping I can recommend Camps Australia Wide (latest is book 9) $51 from a Perth seller on EBay I can also recommend the WikiCamps apps, a one off charge of less than $10
I can also recommend the following site on this forum. Just click on the link below, it is free/budget camp sites recommended by some of the members, and is set out for each state/territory
Bunbury WA mmmmm, that name rings a bell I know someone there who was born very close to me, but I can not say who it is, in case I incriminate myself
I am sure that there will be others who will come along, who can give much better advice than me, as I have only been a part time traveller since 2013, and I am still learning
I wish you both a happy and enjoyable road trip
Dougwe said
08:45 AM Apr 7, 2017
Welcome to the gang Hugh and Annette, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I wont add any more to what Tony as said as I reckon that's enough to take in already. Once ya start Tony ya can't stop him :)
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Hughcr said
10:38 AM Apr 7, 2017
Many thanks Tony. That is exactly the sort of advice I was hoping for. I was thinking that being minimalist is best. will check out the antenna place.
Hugh
Tony Bev said
01:17 PM Apr 7, 2017
Usual disclaimer, that I am not associated with anyone who sells anything, but I will recommend any who give me good service
When you check out the antenna place you will find that they are very friendly and helpful If you are only after information, (as you will be, on your first visit, before you buy anything) Just stand back and let them serve their paying customers first, then ask your questions
They appear (to me, as I am no expert), to be a full bottle on satellite TV, solar power, and batteries
Below is a link to their Perth website, but prices are compatible, or perhaps just a few dollars more for freight Just click on the left column to see the stuff you are looking for, and that their prices are within your current situation
I was only trying to get my money's worth from my keyboard, Doug. It is not my fault, that I was born with short arms and long pockets
Cadpete said
03:41 PM Apr 7, 2017
G'day Hugh and Annette, and welcome you to the forum. Plenty of great advice and folks on here. Don't forget to try out the two games - Who is This in the I digress section and Pick ThisPlace in the general section. 'Pick this place' is a great way to find new places to explore.
Pete & Marion
Woody n Sue said
08:33 AM Apr 9, 2017
And it's welcome from us two 2 Hugh n Annette great advice from tony up there we are still learners so can't add anything to his good info, we have just fitted a Satking set up on our van so all I can say yet is that it works and has a very clear pic here in our back yard.
Rember that there is a " search " button put of each page on here hit it and pit in a discriptuon on what ever you are interested in and for sure it will have been discussed before.
Hi Fellow Nomads
This is our first post as new members. We have just bought a VW camper T4 and will soon be setting off round this great country. Any general advice is most welcome eg what to bring, phone/tv reception, free camping etc. Many thanks in advance!
Hugh and Annette
Bunbury. WA.
Hello Hugh and Annette
May I be one of the first to welcome you to this great forum
The most important piece of advice I can give is, go at your own speed, drive to the conditions, and do not forget to enjoy yourself
Try and do a few small trips, before you start the big lap
You will then find out what you need, or forgot to take with you, and what you can throw away to lighten the load
I shall attempt to answer your questions, in the order you have asked them
Spare fuses, fan belt/s and hoses (even if you can not fit them yourself, someone else can). Spare parts outside the bigger towns are few and far between
Try to carry the minimum amount of personal stuff, clothes etc, as they say that lighter is better than heavier
None iron clothes, means that you will not have to iron them
Collapsible table and camping chairs, as most people sit outside in the hot weather
If you plan to travel slower than the truckies, then a (cheap hand held will do), UHF radio will assist them to overtake you and get on with their job
If you are going to use a UHF radio to talk to the truckies, then a name on the back of your rig will be handy
A good reading/puzzle book is always handy, for when you just want to sit back and relax
The consensus is that Telstra although the most expensive, is the carrier which covers more area than other carriers
Normal TV reception is only near the towns
If you wish to have TV everywhere in Australia then you must have a satellite system
If you require a satellite system, then I can recommend, that you have a talk with Access Antennas at 61 Albert Rd Bunbury. I have their system and it is OK
There are other systems out there, which do not seem to work up the north
I can recommend Camps Australia Wide (latest is book 9) $51 from a Perth seller on EBay
I can also recommend the WikiCamps apps, a one off charge of less than $10
I can also recommend the following site on this forum.
Just click on the link below, it is free/budget camp sites recommended by some of the members, and is set out for each state/territory
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/f474339/freebudget-campsites-suggested-by-our-contributors/
Bunbury WA mmmmm, that name rings a bell
I know someone there who was born very close to me, but I can not say who it is, in case I incriminate myself
I am sure that there will be others who will come along, who can give much better advice than me, as I have only been a part time traveller since 2013, and I am still learning
I wish you both a happy and enjoyable road trip
I wont add any more to what Tony as said as I reckon that's enough to take in already. Once ya start Tony ya can't stop him :)
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Many thanks Tony. That is exactly the sort of advice I was hoping for. I was thinking that being minimalist is best. will check out the antenna place.
Hugh
Usual disclaimer, that I am not associated with anyone who sells anything, but I will recommend any who give me good service
When you check out the antenna place you will find that they are very friendly and helpful
If you are only after information, (as you will be, on your first visit, before you buy anything)
Just stand back and let them serve their paying customers first, then ask your questions
They appear (to me, as I am no expert), to be a full bottle on satellite TV, solar power, and batteries
Below is a link to their Perth website, but prices are compatible, or perhaps just a few dollars more for freight
Just click on the left column to see the stuff you are looking for, and that their prices are within your current situation
http://www.accessantennas.com.au/
As a sidenote
G'day Hugh and Annette, and welcome you to the forum. Plenty of great advice and folks on here. Don't forget to try out the two games - Who is This in the I digress section and Pick This Place in the general section. 'Pick this place' is a great way to find new places to explore.
Pete & Marion
Rember that there is a " search " button put of each page on here hit it and pit in a discriptuon on what ever you are interested in and for sure it will have been discussed before.
Enjoy it here
Woody