Our first trip in a soft floor camper traller was around 1990. We'd had tents and caravans before so weren't exactly newbies,but this was our first soft floor camper trailer so it remains memorable.
We were intending driving from Adelaide to Perth and decided we'd try a soft floor camper trailer. I spotted one in the weekend paper and went to investigate. At $1800 it was cheap but it seemed in good condition so I handed over the money and dragged the ctrailer home. Not sure of the the brand but it was probably around a 1970s vintage and was a rear opener mounted on a 6'x4'x10" trailer. Not a lot of storage space in 6x4 trailer, but then again, there wasn't much in the way of camping gear in the early 90s.
At the time I was also after a second car for myself for work travel and was pretty set on a Subaru Brumby ute. I found one out at Klemzig, paid the man $9K and drove the Brumby home. After fitting new tyres to the Brumby, fitting a doggy seat between the buckets for Toby the chihuahua we were ready so I loaded the tub with our bedding and a Gott esky, loaded the camper with a 2 burner stove with a small gas bottle, a kero light, some plates cutlery, saucepans and food, and we were off via Port Augusta, Whyala, Ceduna, Esperance, Albany, Bunbury and then up to Perth via the coast.
Not in any great hurry we took about 4 days to reach the WA border. Pretty uneventful until we got to the western side and stopped for the night by a couple of water tanks. It was March and the flies were everywhere, the size of pigeons and armed with crocodile teeth. We quickly cooked our dinner and zipped up the camper, I remember the wife being a mess of red lumps, darn those things were vicious.
Once across the border we stopped at Norseman for the night, what a strange town, I thought we had stumbled onto the set of Deliverance. The servo attendant didn't want to serve us as she was too busy talking to her friend in a car, so we left and went to the local supermarket, there were about 4 people in the shop, including the cashier chick??? They all stopped what they were doing and just stood there gawking at us. We looked back wondering where they kept their second head. What a strange town, we got out of there very early the next morning feeling very lucky indeed.
In Esperance we found a CP with a couple of residents that just loved a chat and a bit of a sing song: a ****atoo and a maggie. The maggie was a thief stole any food left out and even got into the plastic food containers. The ****atoo, well, he was just a vandal, ripped the rubber of the car door, tried to pull the antenna out and then moved onto the camper's tent. Fortunately, they had plenty of other friends in the park so we only endured them for an hour or so each afternoon.
We had no luck at all with ice and dry ice, couldn't get them to last anything longer than a couple of days. So, across the Nullarbor we ate plenty of baked beans on toast, nothing better when your in a tent trailer.
I was born in Perth but left in 1975, this was my first visit to WA in nearly 20 years. I looked up some family and had a look around but couldn't find anything or anyone familiar, Perth had changed, no going back after 20 years I guess. On our return trip, we visited Kalgoorlie, the place had not changed since 1970 when I was last there. i put the accelerator to the floor through Norseman, strange, strange people there, the wife still talks about it today.
Once past Norseman we stopped at Baladonia for fuel, couldn't believe what they were charging for petrol, no competition I suppose so they thought they could charge whatever they liked. We stopped at the old telegraph station at Eyre going over and coming back, and saw a bit of the ruins going over, coming back all was covered by sand so we saw nothing.. Detoured down the Eyre and York Peninsulars staying at Streaky Bay a few days, nice place Streaky Bay, we vowed to return, but in the intervening 25 odd years never have..
Then we made our way back to Adelaide. We were gone for about 4 weeks if memory serves. The Subaru performed faultlessly and we got around 10 LP100, not bad for a four speed, 1800cc engine towing a camper trailer. Didn't use much petrol, but the Brumby certainly liked an oily drink, a litre every few tanks. The frameless windows rattled like crazy on rough roads and the catalytic converter also proved noisy at revs. The window problem was easily fixed, just kept the windows up tight and the AC I had fitted before we left kept us cool. Not much we could do about the converter so we just put up with it. Kind of quirky the early model Subarus, I like them.
Likeways the camper trailer. The canvas was blown out like a sail so it made plenty of noise when the wind blew but we got used to that pretty quick. Having the tailgate inside the camper proved handy as a table for the stove during inclement weather. The floor area was around 5' x 7', just enough room for a table and a couple of chairs.
A great trip in a very spartan combo, probably one of the most memorable trips we've done, I don't think I'll be trading our current combo in on a Subaru Brumby and rear opening tent trailer any time soon though, we've earned our comforts.
This trip sold us on soft floors, well me at least, the wife was never too fond of packing up the muddy floor after it rained, a dirty job. That was our first soft floor, another 5 followed and we traveled the Gibb, all through the Territory and down the west coast a few times. The wheatfields and Goldfields, the south west, up the middle to Newman and Port Hedland all the while upgrading our gear: fridges, solar panels, LED TVs, AGM batteries and my favourite, a Honda EXD battery charger. I still have it but haven't used it for years.
Our first soft floor was spartan, but having come from a Triumph M/C, a tarp and sleeping bag style camping in the late 60s, I thought the soft floor quite luxurious. Things have certainly changed. Somehow, I don't think the wife would have enjoyed my early camping days on the Triumph.
-- Edited by toglhot on Tuesday 30th of May 2017 05:49:10 PM
-- Edited by toglhot on Tuesday 30th of May 2017 05:53:19 PM
What a great read. Times sure have changed but I think that trip would have been more exciting than now.
Lynda
Dunmowin said
10:44 PM May 30, 2017
Interesting reminisces toglhot. I wont steal your thread, I might write my own up about our early travel days as well.
Dougwe said
09:20 AM May 31, 2017
Good read Tony. I am not sure if I am the only one but I found it hard reading with all that sort of white highlight.
toglhot said
10:24 AM May 31, 2017
Yes, don't know what that is. It's not a cut and paste job.
toglhot said
10:28 AM May 31, 2017
Dunmowin, do it quick before you forget. You'll notice there;s not too many side stories in my post, that's because I've forgotten most of them.
wasn_me said
07:27 AM Jun 3, 2017
Hi tolghot, what an interesting read. It was probably better than a lot of articles in camping magazines. Since 2011 I've recorded my journeys in photos & cataloged them into months each year. Prior to that the memory is a bit vague.
Cheers Pete
Dunmowin said
10:09 PM Jun 5, 2017
toglhot wrote:
Dunmowin, do it quick before you forget. You'll notice there;s not too many side stories in my post, that's because I've forgotten most of them.
I have a lot of early days of camping trips already written up. Pre grey nomad days. Just don't have the time to present them between writing current blog and freelance journalism
first time 53 said
04:32 PM Apr 4, 2019
Hi Have I found toglhot ?? I am new to caravaning etc Did i read one of your comments where you said you have a Ford Escape ?? If yes, just asking your thoughts / advice on the Escape. We are looking at buying 2018 Escape 4x4 Diesel to tow a 2006 Galaxy Pop Top.
So if that's correct re your Tow Car,can you give me some info re your Escape,re Tow ability , Fuel Economy and your overall thoughts on the vehicle. Can provide more info re weights etc of the Galaxy. Thanks Peter N [ first time 53 ]
Our first trip in a soft floor camper traller was around 1990. We'd had tents and caravans before so weren't exactly newbies,but this was our first soft floor camper trailer so it remains memorable.
We were intending driving from Adelaide to Perth and decided we'd try a soft floor camper trailer. I spotted one in the weekend paper and went to investigate. At $1800 it was cheap but it seemed in good condition so I handed over the money and dragged the ctrailer home. Not sure of the the brand but it was probably around a 1970s vintage and was a rear opener mounted on a 6'x4'x10" trailer. Not a lot of storage space in 6x4 trailer, but then again, there wasn't much in the way of camping gear in the early 90s.
At the time I was also after a second car for myself for work travel and was pretty set on a Subaru Brumby ute. I found one out at Klemzig, paid the man $9K and drove the Brumby home. After fitting new tyres to the Brumby, fitting a doggy seat between the buckets for Toby the chihuahua we were ready so I loaded the tub with our bedding and a Gott esky, loaded the camper with a 2 burner stove with a small gas bottle, a kero light, some plates cutlery, saucepans and food, and we were off via Port Augusta, Whyala, Ceduna, Esperance, Albany, Bunbury and then up to Perth via the coast.
Not in any great hurry we took about 4 days to reach the WA border. Pretty uneventful until we got to the western side and stopped for the night by a couple of water tanks. It was March and the flies were everywhere, the size of pigeons and armed with crocodile teeth. We quickly cooked our dinner and zipped up the camper, I remember the wife being a mess of red lumps, darn those things were vicious.
Once across the border we stopped at Norseman for the night, what a strange town, I thought we had stumbled onto the set of Deliverance. The servo attendant didn't want to serve us as she was too busy talking to her friend in a car, so we left and went to the local supermarket, there were about 4 people in the shop, including the cashier chick??? They all stopped what they were doing and just stood there gawking at us. We looked back wondering where they kept their second head. What a strange town, we got out of there very early the next morning feeling very lucky indeed.
In Esperance we found a CP with a couple of residents that just loved a chat and a bit of a sing song: a ****atoo and a maggie. The maggie was a thief stole any food left out and even got into the plastic food containers. The ****atoo, well, he was just a vandal, ripped the rubber of the car door, tried to pull the antenna out and then moved onto the camper's tent. Fortunately, they had plenty of other friends in the park so we only endured them for an hour or so each afternoon.
We had no luck at all with ice and dry ice, couldn't get them to last anything longer than a couple of days. So, across the Nullarbor we ate plenty of baked beans on toast, nothing better when your in a tent trailer.
I was born in Perth but left in 1975, this was my first visit to WA in nearly 20 years. I looked up some family and had a look around but couldn't find anything or anyone familiar, Perth had changed, no going back after 20 years I guess. On our return trip, we visited Kalgoorlie, the place had not changed since 1970 when I was last there. i put the accelerator to the floor through Norseman, strange, strange people there, the wife still talks about it today.
Once past Norseman we stopped at Baladonia for fuel, couldn't believe what they were charging for petrol, no competition I suppose so they thought they could charge whatever they liked. We stopped at the old telegraph station at Eyre going over and coming back, and saw a bit of the ruins going over, coming back all was covered by sand so we saw nothing.. Detoured down the Eyre and York Peninsulars staying at Streaky Bay a few days, nice place Streaky Bay, we vowed to return, but in the intervening 25 odd years never have..
Then we made our way back to Adelaide. We were gone for about 4 weeks if memory serves. The Subaru performed faultlessly and we got around 10 LP100, not bad for a four speed, 1800cc engine towing a camper trailer. Didn't use much petrol, but the Brumby certainly liked an oily drink, a litre every few tanks. The frameless windows rattled like crazy on rough roads and the catalytic converter also proved noisy at revs. The window problem was easily fixed, just kept the windows up tight and the AC I had fitted before we left kept us cool. Not much we could do about the converter so we just put up with it. Kind of quirky the early model Subarus, I like them.
Likeways the camper trailer. The canvas was blown out like a sail so it made plenty of noise when the wind blew but we got used to that pretty quick. Having the tailgate inside the camper proved handy as a table for the stove during inclement weather. The floor area was around 5' x 7', just enough room for a table and a couple of chairs.
A great trip in a very spartan combo, probably one of the most memorable trips we've done, I don't think I'll be trading our current combo in on a Subaru Brumby and rear opening tent trailer any time soon though, we've earned our comforts.
This trip sold us on soft floors, well me at least, the wife was never too fond of packing up the muddy floor after it rained, a dirty job. That was our first soft floor, another 5 followed and we traveled the Gibb, all through the Territory and down the west coast a few times. The wheatfields and Goldfields, the south west, up the middle to Newman and Port Hedland all the while upgrading our gear: fridges, solar panels, LED TVs, AGM batteries and my favourite, a Honda EXD battery charger. I still have it but haven't used it for years.
Our first soft floor was spartan, but having come from a Triumph M/C, a tarp and sleeping bag style camping in the late 60s, I thought the soft floor quite luxurious. Things have certainly changed. Somehow, I don't think the wife would have enjoyed my early camping days on the Triumph.
-- Edited by toglhot on Tuesday 30th of May 2017 05:49:10 PM
-- Edited by toglhot on Tuesday 30th of May 2017 05:53:19 PM
Lynda
Interesting reminisces toglhot. I wont steal your thread, I might write my own up about our early travel days as well.
I have a lot of early days of camping trips already written up. Pre grey nomad days. Just don't have the time to present them between writing current blog and freelance journalism
Hi Have I found toglhot ?? I am new to caravaning etc Did i read one of your comments where you said you have a Ford Escape ?? If yes, just asking your thoughts / advice on the Escape. We are looking at buying 2018 Escape 4x4 Diesel to tow a 2006 Galaxy Pop Top.
So if that's correct re your Tow Car,can you give me some info re your Escape,re Tow ability , Fuel Economy and your overall thoughts on the vehicle. Can provide more info re weights etc of the Galaxy. Thanks Peter N [ first time 53 ]