My wife and I are seriously thinking of purchasing a new van for a 12 month trip around Aus. We had a Jayco Swan with our kids who have left home now.
It looks like there is a mine field full of great info on this forum.
Kevin
PetaSmall said
01:19 PM Jun 7, 2019
Hi Kevin, certainly no shortage of variety from the basic camper trailer to a massive bus and the forum provides so much experience. Caravans are by far the more popular although I prefer a motorhome with a bike on the back. Being conscious of safety it is very easy to be locked inside your motorhome and just drive away if necessary. I've heard of caravan owners waking from a quiet night to find their tow vehicle robbed, vandalised or gone. All that aside there is no better way to see our beautiful country than being part of it as you travel the lap. You will find however that 12 months is insufficient time although by then you'll have the bug so will not stop. Enjoy and travel safely. Peta
Possum3 said
01:30 PM Jun 7, 2019
G'day Kevin,
Go to Caravan Council of Australia website www.caravancouncil.com.au/ you can download a lot of free information and technical articles to assist you with your deliberations.
KevinJ said
02:11 PM Jun 7, 2019
Thanks Peta,
The next van will be off road, shower toilet, A/C and no setting up, no kids. Luxury!
KevinJ said
02:12 PM Jun 7, 2019
Thanks for the tip.
PetaSmall said
02:16 PM Jun 7, 2019
Perfect. You are going to love it. Kids are great but the experience of leaving them behind when you and the plus 1 can escape is just so rewarding and enriching. Enjoy. Peta
MarkAC said
07:53 PM Jun 26, 2019
do a list of the things you must have and the things that you would like to have,
I have always had an off roader, wc/shr, and of course a/c in a van
i had a massive motorhome mainly for the stuff i could carry but they have their limitations
everything has pros and cons
someone mentioned a m/h over a van for safety. I had a bunch of hoons doing donuts around my van one night for 20 mins and apart from that, i traveled full time for 10 years without any problems.
Tony Bev said
11:03 PM Jun 26, 2019
I hope that it is not too late for me to also say, welcome to the forum KevinJ
KevinJ said
01:13 PM Jun 27, 2019
Thanks for the further feedback. I have been reading the forum topics quite a bit lately to prepare for the adventure. There's a tremendous amount of good tips to be had, many I had not thought of. My wife and I caravan'd for about 10 years with our kids, always at a different caravan park ranging from Tweed Heads down to Batemans Bay and inland as far as Mudgee. In all that time we never saw or had any security related problems. I am wondering when I read the security related posts how many simply relate to nomads preparing for the worst, hoping for the best versus actual negative incidents. It sounds like it is best to prepare securely though like insurance, is very rarely required. We plan to do a lot of free camping which we have never done, hence my research.
PetaSmall said
02:09 PM Jun 27, 2019
Hi Kevin, Ive travelled to a many places and only had some ocky straps stolen from my motorcycle cover in Port Macquarie. Opportunistic kids or fishermen with a greater need Id presumed, otherwise it has been fairly uneventful with regards to security. I am always careful though and it is most important when travelling north from Port Augusta where, if free camping, you are well advised to be at least 20ks out of Alice or Katherine. Id not free camp within town limits as even people within the caravan parks are often robbed. Not a pleasant experience but you certainly need to be prepared and careful. There are several free camps where Ive seen some locals drive through after dark with their headlights off just looking for easy pickings so erring on the side of caution with an eye on security is always good practice. Better to be safe than sorry. There is no way Id swap my nomadic lifestyle for anything these days as travelling this beautiful country is priceless. Im just aware of what some unscrupulous people will do. As you say. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Travel safe. Peta.
My wife and I are seriously thinking of purchasing a new van for a 12 month trip around Aus. We had a Jayco Swan with our kids who have left home now.
It looks like there is a mine field full of great info on this forum.
Kevin
Go to Caravan Council of Australia website www.caravancouncil.com.au/ you can download a lot of free information and technical articles to assist you with your deliberations.
Thanks Peta,
The next van will be off road, shower toilet, A/C and no setting up, no kids. Luxury!
Thanks for the tip.
Perfect. You are going to love it. Kids are great but the experience of leaving them behind when you and the plus 1 can escape is just so rewarding and enriching. Enjoy. Peta
do a list of the things you must have and the things that you would like to have,
I have always had an off roader, wc/shr, and of course a/c in a van
i had a massive motorhome mainly for the stuff i could carry but they have their limitations
everything has pros and cons
someone mentioned a m/h over a van for safety. I had a bunch of hoons doing donuts around my van one night for 20 mins and apart from that, i traveled full time for 10 years without any problems.
Thanks for the further feedback. I have been reading the forum topics quite a bit lately to prepare for the adventure. There's a tremendous amount of good tips to be had, many I had not thought of. My wife and I caravan'd for about 10 years with our kids, always at a different caravan park ranging from Tweed Heads down to Batemans Bay and inland as far as Mudgee. In all that time we never saw or had any security related problems. I am wondering when I read the security related posts how many simply relate to nomads preparing for the worst, hoping for the best versus actual negative incidents. It sounds like it is best to prepare securely though like insurance, is very rarely required. We plan to do a lot of free camping which we have never done, hence my research.