Was just reading some of the profiles in the "Grey Nomads Characters" on the main website - really interesting!
However I noticed that most of them had what I'd call 'big' rigs, ie. Landcruiser or Pajero and dual axle caravan around 20'.
Got me wondering if it's doable with a smaller setup? We have a mid sized SUV and a 16' single axle caravan and really can't afford to upgrade, so it'd be reassuring to hear from those who also have smaller rigs.
Thanks.
suengreg said
07:05 AM Nov 25, 2018
We have a single axle 2005 Island Star van. No shower or toilet. When free(?) camping we have a pop up toilet tent which hides our porta pottie and use a solar heated water bag for a shower. Big truck stops often provide showers for truckies for a few $$
We used to tow with a 6cvl Falcon dual fuel wagon but eventually found a diesel Prado at a good price. Now have over 300,000kms on it Re the van it does not like corrugations as it was designed for the blacktop only.
Safe travels
SouthernComfort said
09:09 AM Nov 25, 2018
Nothing wrong with smaller rigs at all. When you say "is it doable with a smaller setup" presumably you mean for extended nomadic wanderings. Anyhow, not all of us tow a block of flats, its a matter of what works for you personally. Some people can't cope with less than a 20' van, others do the lap camping under canvas. So long as your rig is within weight capacities for both car & van and you have enough space and payload capacity for what you need to carry, it's then only a matter of whether you can 'live' in the space you have for extended periods. If you're not suitable for off-road, plan routes accordingly.
Yuglamron said
10:37 AM Nov 25, 2018
It's a state of mind thing. You don't have to have the biggest and the best. People are remarkably adaptable and can survive very happily in small spaces. If you were one of the keep up with the Jones's personality different matter. As long as you are happy with what you have it won't take too long to get set up just how You like it.
I saw some back packers with a Toyota Hi-Ace with two plastic drain pipes just big enough to slide into for sleeping, with a sheet of Ply on top and the other two on a mattress atop of that.
I have to admit they looked like Japanese who have some real small hotel systems in Japan, but you can get used to anything.
Enjoy what you have and enjoy the trip.
Old salt said
10:49 AM Nov 25, 2018
Hi,
Agree with what Tony was saying. If it suits you go for it.
We have a small Coromal rear entry van towed by a Mitsubishi Triton.
Travelled heaps in it.
We wouldnt swap it for quids.
I often think about the costs for the big rigs. Not only fuel but insurance, rego etc.
So if you plan your trip to suit your van capability and you are happy.
Just do it.
Thanks
Old Salt
Mamil said
12:22 PM Nov 25, 2018
SouthernComfort wrote:
Nothing wrong with smaller rigs at all. When you say "is it doable with a smaller setup" presumably you mean for extended nomadic wanderings. Anyhow, not all of us tow a block of flats, its a matter of what works for you personally. Some people can't cope with less than a 20' van, others do the lap camping under canvas. So long as your rig is within weight capacities for both car & van and you have enough space and payload capacity for what you need to carry, it's then only a matter of whether you can 'live' in the space you have for extended periods. If you're not suitable for off-road, plan routes accordingly.
Yes, I'm thinking for extended nomadic wanderings. We've only done small trips up to two weeks in ours so far, and still learning how to manage gas, food supplies, and water when free camping, but do feel that we can live in the space we have. Over the next couple of years I'm planning to gradually extend to longer trips of a month or more as work allows, then by the time we retire we'll be ready to take off on the grand tour. I realise that our van, being very much a 'tarmac tourer', will preclude us from some of the areas that require an off road capable setup, so I'm interested to hear from others who are in the same position whether they have found this a real limitation to their enjoyment or not?
Thanks.
Aus-Kiwi said
12:36 PM Nov 25, 2018
Theres some well sorted camper trailers too . On our round trip . Up north we saw a Harley trike pulling a little van . Other small van / camper trailers had awnings to extend if staying more than one day . Over time you become sorted whatever you use . If your the type that thinks buying a van to suit ? You WONT 100 % totally be happy in most cases ? You have to change or add a few things to your needs .
Tony Bev said
01:47 PM Nov 25, 2018
Mamil wrote:
Was just reading some of the profiles in the "Grey Nomads Characters" on the main website - really interesting!
However I noticed that most of them had what I'd call 'big' rigs, ie. Landcruiser or Pajero and dual axle caravan around 20'.
Got me wondering if it's doable with a smaller setup? We have a mid sized SUV and a 16' single axle caravan and really can't afford to upgrade, so it'd be reassuring to hear from those who also have smaller rigs.
Thanks.
Not everyone started out with a big rig, Mamil
In 2013/14, I done the lap solo, in an old 17 foot Viscount pop top caravan, using my old 6 cylinder Ford Falcon to tow it It had 3 x LED lights, a 12 volt TV, which all ran off the 55 Amp Hour AGM car battery
I had a pop top shower tent, and a porta potty, 59 litres fresh water tank, and a container for grey water, I did not use caravan parks as I was self contained
On returning home, I started to modify the caravan, for my next lap When wife saw that I was dinkum, she asked/ordered/told/commanded/said (put your own word here) That we were going to get a vehicle so that the cat could travel with us, not be lonely, and be able to walk from one end to the other
That is the reason we now have our "Big Rig"
You do not require a big rig to enjoy yourself The secret is, (in my opinion so I could be wrong), if you can adapt to what you have, you will enjoy yourself
Mamil said
05:47 PM Nov 25, 2018
SUV and Tony Bev wrote:You do not require a big rig to enjoy yourself
The secret is, (in my opinion so I could be wrong), if you can adapt to what you have, you will enjoy yourself
Wise words Tony. Before we bought the SUV and caravan last year we'd travelled all over WA for the previous ten years or so with just our Toyota Corolla and a tent we bought in Big W. Have been to Ningaloo, Shark Bay, Esperance, Karajini and many others. As it was all new to us we enjoyed what we could do, rather than regret what we couldn't, and I guess it'd be the same if we embarked on the big loop in our modest rig.
Peterpan said
01:59 PM Nov 26, 2018
We have had a great time travelling around in our small 12'6" Jayco Starcraft being pulled along by
a Great Wall x240 . We have been around the block, and numerous trips to the northern states.
SWMBO had to have chemo treatment through 2017, but still able to do shorter trips this year.
Last 2 were to Rockhampton, Emerald ,Saphire, Jericho ,Barcaldine, Augathella Tambo, Cunamulla ,
down though to Bourke and wended our way home in Vic. A month ago we went to Malacoota,Buchan caves and back to home.
Had to come home due to an appointment with the oncologist. He's not sure if the beasty has come back or if its something else.
More appointments to see more people. I digress, sorry, regardless of what happens we will still get in our little home and
buzz off into the great outdoors somewhere. 'Cos were little we can fit in anywhere.
Desert Dweller said
04:06 PM Nov 26, 2018
You can do a lap using a small sedan and a two man tent if you want to. Our parents traveled most of Australia with a Kingswood towing an 11ft caravan in real comfort. Huge caravans towed by large 4x4s only became the norm in recent times.
Dickodownunder said
09:36 AM Nov 27, 2018
The choice of travelling with a larger van and an arguably more comfortable tow vehicle is purely the travellers choice....it has nothing to do with keeping up with Joneses or anyone else for that matter.
If your choice is to use a smaller unit then as long as you are enjoying the journey and doing it safely then away you go.
Over the years I have had a camper trailer, a pop top Millard 14 ft van with a tent for the kids and a couple of larger twin axle vans. We could not go back to the camper or the pop top even though there is only the two of us now.
My mum and dad had a 6ft. X. 4ft trailer that my dad built with a canopy on top and with a lean to type tent attached to the back which was our mode of holiday in for many years. A Tilley lamp was a luxury back then.
I was in a park and overheard two old codgers in the dunnies guffawing about a bloke who was camped near the facilities with quite a large van and a yankee 4wd ute. They went very quiet when I mentioned to them that this guy had this rig because he and his wife travelled the countryside with their adult disabled son and needed the space.
Each to their own....
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Tuesday 27th of November 2018 09:37:57 AM
Warren-Pat_01 said
04:13 PM Nov 27, 2018
You're only a young fella, Mamil. You have plenty of time to go adventuring in what you have at the moment - I see that you're enjoying it so just keep going. Upgrade only if you want/have to.
Like the others we've slowly gone up from small tent (ten years), big tents (twenty years), camper trailer (nine years), Jayco camper (also nine years) & finally a pop-top van - generally with changes in work, financial situations & later, the aches & pains of getting older. With each upgrade from the camper trailer, the ability to go into the rougher stuff has diminished! Wide vans do not go down narrow tracks! And staying in a caravan park in Canberra in winter & without an onboard toilet, makes for some ch-ch-chilly runs to the toilet at 3-4am!
My first car was a 1948 Singer 9 Sports (looked life a TD MG) - bought a 12' boat, built the trailer & added a towbar to the car. The small tent & basics went in the boat - saw lots of SA with that "rig". The two cars that followed got a little bigger & more reliable. While working in Darwin, I bought my first 4WD - an older TLC but went from that to a Subaru wagon, etc, etc!
This forum is for ALL members who have some sort of a caravan - regardless of personal, financial situations. The help that is available beats that from caravan sales/service yards - for me, I have saved quite a few $$ from the forum.
Was just reading some of the profiles in the "Grey Nomads Characters" on the main website - really interesting!
However I noticed that most of them had what I'd call 'big' rigs, ie. Landcruiser or Pajero and dual axle caravan around 20'.
Got me wondering if it's doable with a smaller setup? We have a mid sized SUV and a 16' single axle caravan and really can't afford to upgrade, so it'd be reassuring to hear from those who also have smaller rigs.
Thanks.
We have a single axle 2005 Island Star van. No shower or toilet. When free(?) camping we have a pop up toilet tent which hides our porta pottie and use a solar heated water bag for a shower. Big truck stops often provide showers for truckies for a few $$
We used to tow with a 6cvl Falcon dual fuel wagon but eventually found a diesel Prado at a good price. Now have over 300,000kms on it Re the van it does not like corrugations as it was designed for the blacktop only.
Safe travels
It's a state of mind thing. You don't have to have the biggest and the best. People are remarkably adaptable and can survive very happily in small spaces. If you were one of the keep up with the Jones's personality different matter. As long as you are happy with what you have it won't take too long to get set up just how You like it.
I saw some back packers with a Toyota Hi-Ace with two plastic drain pipes just big enough to slide into for sleeping, with a sheet of Ply on top and the other two on a mattress atop of that.
I have to admit they looked like Japanese who have some real small hotel systems in Japan, but you can get used to anything.
Enjoy what you have and enjoy the trip.
Agree with what Tony was saying. If it suits you go for it.
We have a small Coromal rear entry van towed by a Mitsubishi Triton.
Travelled heaps in it.
We wouldnt swap it for quids.
I often think about the costs for the big rigs. Not only fuel but insurance, rego etc.
So if you plan your trip to suit your van capability and you are happy.
Just do it.
Thanks
Old Salt
Yes, I'm thinking for extended nomadic wanderings. We've only done small trips up to two weeks in ours so far, and still learning how to manage gas, food supplies, and water when free camping, but do feel that we can live in the space we have. Over the next couple of years I'm planning to gradually extend to longer trips of a month or more as work allows, then by the time we retire we'll be ready to take off on the grand tour. I realise that our van, being very much a 'tarmac tourer', will preclude us from some of the areas that require an off road capable setup, so I'm interested to hear from others who are in the same position whether they have found this a real limitation to their enjoyment or not?
Thanks.
Not everyone started out with a big rig, Mamil
In 2013/14, I done the lap solo, in an old 17 foot Viscount pop top caravan, using my old 6 cylinder Ford Falcon to tow it
It had 3 x LED lights, a 12 volt TV, which all ran off the 55 Amp Hour AGM car battery
I had a pop top shower tent, and a porta potty, 59 litres fresh water tank, and a container for grey water, I did not use caravan parks as I was self contained
On returning home, I started to modify the caravan, for my next lap
When wife saw that I was dinkum, she asked/ordered/told/commanded/said (put your own word here)
That we were going to get a vehicle so that the cat could travel with us, not be lonely, and be able to walk from one end to the other
That is the reason we now have our "Big Rig"
You do not require a big rig to enjoy yourself
The secret is, (in my opinion so I could be wrong), if you can adapt to what you have, you will enjoy yourself
Wise words Tony. Before we bought the SUV and caravan last year we'd travelled all over WA for the previous ten years or so with just our Toyota Corolla and a tent we bought in Big W. Have been to Ningaloo, Shark Bay, Esperance, Karajini and many others. As it was all new to us we enjoyed what we could do, rather than regret what we couldn't, and I guess it'd be the same if we embarked on the big loop in our modest rig.
We have had a great time travelling around in our small 12'6" Jayco Starcraft being pulled along by
a Great Wall x240 . We have been around the block, and numerous trips to the northern states.
SWMBO had to have chemo treatment through 2017, but still able to do shorter trips this year.
Last 2 were to Rockhampton, Emerald ,Saphire, Jericho ,Barcaldine, Augathella Tambo, Cunamulla ,
down though to Bourke and wended our way home in Vic. A month ago we went to Malacoota,Buchan caves and back to home.
Had to come home due to an appointment with the oncologist. He's not sure if the beasty has come back or if its something else.
More appointments to see more people. I digress, sorry, regardless of what happens we will still get in our little home and
buzz off into the great outdoors somewhere. 'Cos were little we can fit in anywhere.
The choice of travelling with a larger van and an arguably more comfortable tow vehicle is purely the travellers choice....it has nothing to do with keeping up with Joneses or anyone else for that matter.
If your choice is to use a smaller unit then as long as you are enjoying the journey and doing it safely then away you go.
Over the years I have had a camper trailer, a pop top Millard 14 ft van with a tent for the kids and a couple of larger twin axle vans.
We could not go back to the camper or the pop top even though there is only the two of us now.
My mum and dad had a 6ft. X. 4ft trailer that my dad built with a canopy on top and with a lean to type tent attached to the back which was our mode of holiday in for many years. A Tilley lamp was a luxury back then.
I was in a park and overheard two old codgers in the dunnies guffawing about a bloke who was camped near the facilities with quite a large van and a yankee 4wd ute.
They went very quiet when I mentioned to them that this guy had this rig because he and his wife travelled the countryside with their adult disabled son and needed the space.
Each to their own....
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Tuesday 27th of November 2018 09:37:57 AM
Like the others we've slowly gone up from small tent (ten years), big tents (twenty years), camper trailer (nine years), Jayco camper (also nine years) & finally a pop-top van - generally with changes in work, financial situations & later, the aches & pains of getting older. With each upgrade from the camper trailer, the ability to go into the rougher stuff has diminished! Wide vans do not go down narrow tracks! And staying in a caravan park in Canberra in winter & without an onboard toilet, makes for some ch-ch-chilly runs to the toilet at 3-4am!
My first car was a 1948 Singer 9 Sports (looked life a TD MG) - bought a 12' boat, built the trailer & added a towbar to the car. The small tent & basics went in the boat - saw lots of SA with that "rig". The two cars that followed got a little bigger & more reliable. While working in Darwin, I bought my first 4WD - an older TLC but went from that to a Subaru wagon, etc, etc!
This forum is for ALL members who have some sort of a caravan - regardless of personal, financial situations. The help that is available beats that from caravan sales/service yards - for me, I have saved quite a few $$ from the forum.
PS - The "Search" button is a valuable tool.