Firstly this is one of the best place on the internet for info.
I use the search function quite a lot, and I find that I get a lot of my questions answered there so thank you all for the wealth of information.
I want to keep my budget to $30,000 - $40,000 for a home on wheels. I have been going around in circles and decided that the engine is one of the most important things.
Motor homes and camper vans are too old in this price category.
I want to buy a tow vehicle and a camper trailer, ( one of the caravan wind up ones- not a tent one).
Apparently they are quite light and easier to tow than a full size caravan.
I want to test it out first though.
I thought that I a would go to bunnings and hire a ute and a trailer from there, to test it out and see if it's going to be possible for me.
My current vehicle does not have a tow bar.
The question is :
If I have never towed anything before is it safe for me to test it out with this method?
I have to drive the thing home and get it back there and I will have to turn a corner at some point too I expect so I don't want to be a liability on the road.
The idea would be to hire over 2 days (weekend) which will be pretty cheap and, drive it and reverse it to at least get a feel for it before I go spend all that money.
I don't want to buy a new vehicle to find out that I am horrible at towing and it is too hard for me.
And no I don't have any family or friends and I don't know any of the neighbors. I have to do everything on my own, and I have no problem with that.
Any advice will be appreciated thanks in advance.
Peter_n_Margaret said
03:07 PM Mar 14, 2018
Caliban wrote:
Motor homes and camper vans are too old in this price category.
Why?
Ours is 24 years old and counting.
Something around 2000 ish will be cheaper to service and maintain too and no electronics to give you grief.
One vehicle instead of two makes a lot of sense.
Cheers,
Peter
in transit said
04:02 PM Mar 14, 2018
As Peter has said. Why?
Something similar to our Ford Transit campervan will be available in your price range. Full factory fit-out with AC, shower, toilet, HWS, good size fridge and cooktop, and a diesel motor. No towing, no parking problems, no need to go outside to enter whatever you are towing, full headroom which gives extra storage, and if it has reliability problems it has concealed them from us. We have been in every state in Australia in the last 2 years and have lots more plans
My suggestion is keep your options open, and I hope whatever you choose gives you as much pleasure as we have had from ours. Good luck.
STRETCH ARMSTRONG said
01:58 PM Mar 15, 2018
Hi caliban, campervans are pretty good to tow and reverse. Specially if the wheel is set back from centre. They are light weight so there is a bigger range of vehicles able to tow them. Practice is a good idea to see how you feel about towing. Like anything practice and you will be ok. Goodluck.
Aus-Kiwi said
05:00 PM Mar 15, 2018
The new campers are way easier to put up than the old ones . If you can live in main part without putting up awning etc . Itâs makes setting up much much easier . Son bought a new black series for under $10K . Family loves it . All set up in 10 minutes . High frame with large 4 wheel type wheels . Adding a few things like solar and elect water pump to suit your needs wasnât expensive !! Easy to tow also . Nice long drawbar for easy reversing etc .
PeterD said
05:14 PM Mar 15, 2018
What is your current vehicle? It may be suitable for a snail camper trailer. You could also look at tear-drop campers.
Caliban said
07:21 AM Mar 19, 2018
Thanks for the reply's everyone!!!!
I have found a towing course in Gympie where you have the use of their vehicle and caravan to learn in.
I am going to do that and then I can decide if I am comfortable with towing or not.
My current vehicle is a hyundai i30, 2012, 2L petrol, automatic, hatchback.
ShortNorth said
09:22 PM Mar 19, 2018
Caliban wrote:
...............................My current vehicle is a hyundai i30, 2012, 2L petrol, automatic, hatchback.
Hi Caliban,
Have you considered an Avan Aliner camper - light to tow, easy to setup, no canvas (unless you put up the awning / annexe). They are worth a good look at !
I have your 'sister' car - a Kia Cerato 2011, 2L petrol, auto, hatchback - the Kia's ratings are 1200kg max ATM and 75kg ball weight - my Aliner is 1050kg fully loaded (max ATM 1100) and digital measured ball weight at 71kg.
We have towed it for 7300 klms around south-east Qld and northern NSW for the last 6 years without drama. However, I don't do BIG hills, like I have never gone UP the Toowoomba range (I have used the Esk - Hampton road instead, still the same height but over a far longer distance, so a gentler tow), but I have come down the range, and twice did the Bangalow hill before the St Helena tunnel was opened. Most of my towing is on dual-lane highways and I cruise around the 90-95 mark, and get around 11L/100klms towing. But, there again, I'm only touring for around 200-300ks around Brisbane, and not intending to do long trips.
Your handbook, or the plate on the drivers doorframe, should show the max ATM and ball weight you can tow, it should be similar to the Cerato, so an Aliner is entirely doable with your existing car.
If you want more details about Aliners, send me a PM and I'll send you a link to our Aliner website that has LOTS of information.
Regards, Brian
Caliban said
06:35 AM Mar 20, 2018
Hi ShortNorth,
Thanks for your reply.
I have seen the Avan Aliner and yes they have the hard walls. My concern about the weight is that when you put your stuff in the camper, there will be additional weight.
Won't this then be at the upper limit or even over the limit of the cars ability of handle this weight?
I will look at that plate thingy in the door jam thingy and see what weight it can handle.
There will be me about 65kg, a 4.5 kg dog and my whole life on the road with me. I won't be taking an excessive amount of stuff though, I want to keep it simple.
-- Edited by Caliban on Tuesday 20th of March 2018 06:38:42 AM
Hi everyone!!
Firstly this is one of the best place on the internet for info.
I use the search function quite a lot, and I find that I get a lot of my questions answered there so thank you all for the wealth of information.
I want to keep my budget to $30,000 - $40,000 for a home on wheels. I have been going around in circles and decided that the engine is one of the most important things.
Motor homes and camper vans are too old in this price category.
I want to buy a tow vehicle and a camper trailer, ( one of the caravan wind up ones- not a tent one).
Apparently they are quite light and easier to tow than a full size caravan.
I want to test it out first though.
I thought that I a would go to bunnings and hire a ute and a trailer from there, to test it out and see if it's going to be possible for me.
My current vehicle does not have a tow bar.
The question is :
If I have never towed anything before is it safe for me to test it out with this method?
I have to drive the thing home and get it back there and I will have to turn a corner at some point too I expect so I don't want to be a liability on the road.
The idea would be to hire over 2 days (weekend) which will be pretty cheap and, drive it and reverse it to at least get a feel for it before I go spend all that money.
I don't want to buy a new vehicle to find out that I am horrible at towing and it is too hard for me.
And no I don't have any family or friends and I don't know any of the neighbors. I have to do everything on my own, and I have no problem with that.
Any advice will be appreciated thanks in advance.
Why?
Ours is 24 years old and counting.
Something around 2000 ish will be cheaper to service and maintain too and no electronics to give you grief.
One vehicle instead of two makes a lot of sense.
Cheers,
Peter
Something similar to our Ford Transit campervan will be available in your price range. Full factory fit-out with AC, shower, toilet, HWS, good size fridge and cooktop, and a diesel motor. No towing, no parking problems, no need to go outside to enter whatever you are towing, full headroom which gives extra storage, and if it has reliability problems it has concealed them from us. We have been in every state in Australia in the last 2 years and have lots more plans
My suggestion is keep your options open, and I hope whatever you choose gives you as much pleasure as we have had from ours. Good luck.
I have found a towing course in Gympie where you have the use of their vehicle and caravan to learn in.
I am going to do that and then I can decide if I am comfortable with towing or not.
My current vehicle is a hyundai i30, 2012, 2L petrol, automatic, hatchback.
Hi Caliban,
Have you considered an Avan Aliner camper - light to tow, easy to setup, no canvas (unless you put up the awning / annexe). They are worth a good look at !
I have your 'sister' car - a Kia Cerato 2011, 2L petrol, auto, hatchback - the Kia's ratings are 1200kg max ATM and 75kg ball weight - my Aliner is 1050kg fully loaded (max ATM 1100) and digital measured ball weight at 71kg.
We have towed it for 7300 klms around south-east Qld and northern NSW for the last 6 years without drama. However, I don't do BIG hills, like I have never gone UP the Toowoomba range (I have used the Esk - Hampton road instead, still the same height but over a far longer distance, so a gentler tow), but I have come down the range, and twice did the Bangalow hill before the St Helena tunnel was opened. Most of my towing is on dual-lane highways and I cruise around the 90-95 mark, and get around 11L/100klms towing. But, there again, I'm only touring for around 200-300ks around Brisbane, and not intending to do long trips.
Your handbook, or the plate on the drivers doorframe, should show the max ATM and ball weight you can tow, it should be similar to the Cerato, so an Aliner is entirely doable with your existing car.
If you want more details about Aliners, send me a PM and I'll send you a link to our Aliner website that has LOTS of information.
Regards, Brian
Hi ShortNorth,
Thanks for your reply.
I have seen the Avan Aliner and yes they have the hard walls. My concern about the weight is that when you put your stuff in the camper, there will be additional weight.
Won't this then be at the upper limit or even over the limit of the cars ability of handle this weight?
I will look at that plate thingy in the door jam thingy and see what weight it can handle.
There will be me about 65kg, a 4.5 kg dog and my whole life on the road with me. I won't be taking an excessive amount of stuff though, I want to keep it simple.
-- Edited by Caliban on Tuesday 20th of March 2018 06:38:42 AM