This is our first foray into caravanning, so we decided to go down the second-hand route and keep the price down, something that is a bit of a challenge with the sudden popularity of holidaying in Oz instead of travelling overseas (yeah, thanks COVID-19!) We were fortunate enough to pick up a 2000 year model 21-foot Jayco Westport with pretty much the floorplan we wanted, the amenities (shower and toilet) and in good condition. Happily, the vendor was prepared to haggle a bit, so we think (hope?) we got a bargain! We'll need to spend a bit on modernising the electricals, but given we've probably saved $15-20k on a newer second-hand van or $35-45k on something brand new, we're more than happy.
Karyn is planning on retiring at the end of this year (cos' she's old enough! ) whilst I still have a couple of years to go. I'm presently preparing our big house for sale (we're recent "empty nesters" so 4 bed, 2 bath is a bit OTT now). Luckily, we have a 3 bed, 2 bath duplex which we'll quite happily downsize to.
Once we've upgraded some of the electrics and have working refrigeration and lights, we'll start with some weekend trips to "shake down" us and the van. Ideally we'd like to get to the stage where we can free-camp for a night or two, and eventually for up to a week. Interestingly, the van has three water tanks (2 x 80L and 1 x 120L) which seems a little excessive. We'll probably convert one to a grey-water tank which will still leave us with 160 or 200 litres which should last us a while with judicious use.
We're planning a 3-month trip commencing in May and will be heading down to Adelaide to visit our youngest then starting a slow meandering return via inland NSW in to QLD and over to Noosa to visit Mother. Eventually we'll wander back to Darwin so Karyn can complete her working life and I can look for a casual job driving trucks or buses..... nothing too strenuous please! Of course COVID could (and probably will) throw a spanner in the works, but I guess the upside is that we'll have cheap(ish) accommodation!
Anyway, I'm sure we'll have a bunch of newbie questions for y'all and we look forward to hitting the road soon!
Cheers!
Possum3 said
10:16 PM Jan 26, 2021
Welcome to GN's Dave & Karen.
280 kilos of water would certainly make a dent in your load carrying capacity, it seems excessive to me. I would suggest that you download some free technical information and checklists at www.caravancouncil.com.au/
Dougwe said
07:32 AM Jan 27, 2021
Welcome to the gang Dave and Karen, enjoy here and out in the playground.
You seem to have an idea of what it's all about so just keep going the way you are and all will be good.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Edit....Ooops, I forgot to say and for something different, if you need to use a generator at all make sure you use it around 2.00am cos everyone is asleep then and won't hear it.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Wednesday 27th of January 2021 07:34:24 AM
DaveA1963 said
08:46 AM Jan 27, 2021
Hi guys,
Yes, it's certainly a lot of water for a caravan, although dearly beloved does washing that long hair of hers.....
I'm thinking maybe 120 + 80 = 200 for water and the other 80 for grey water. Even then though, I might have to look at an ATM upgrade as 200 litres is half of the rated payload, plus however much grey water has been accumulated. I'd like to do without a grey water tank, but from what I've been reading, if you're free-camping and don't have a grey water tank, they'll often fine you or ask you to move on.
Tare is 1656kg and ATM is 2056kg according to the plate (although of course I need to take those numbers with a grain of the proverbial until actually proven via a weighbridge). One excellent feature of the older vans is definitely their lighter weight! Our tug is rated to 3.1 tonnes, so I'm well within it's capacity, although having towed it home empty(ish) for the first time the other day, I wouldn't like to be towing the full rated load!
G'day all!
This is our first foray into caravanning, so we decided to go down the second-hand route and keep the price down, something that is a bit of a challenge with the sudden popularity of holidaying in Oz instead of travelling overseas (yeah, thanks COVID-19!) We were fortunate enough to pick up a 2000 year model 21-foot Jayco Westport with pretty much the floorplan we wanted, the amenities (shower and toilet) and in good condition. Happily, the vendor was prepared to haggle a bit, so we think (hope?) we got a bargain! We'll need to spend a bit on modernising the electricals, but given we've probably saved $15-20k on a newer second-hand van or $35-45k on something brand new, we're more than happy.
Karyn is planning on retiring at the end of this year (cos' she's old enough!
) whilst I still have a couple of years to go. I'm presently preparing our big house for sale (we're recent "empty nesters" so 4 bed, 2 bath is a bit OTT now). Luckily, we have a 3 bed, 2 bath duplex which we'll quite happily downsize to.
Once we've upgraded some of the electrics and have working refrigeration and lights, we'll start with some weekend trips to "shake down" us and the van. Ideally we'd like to get to the stage where we can free-camp for a night or two, and eventually for up to a week. Interestingly, the van has three water tanks (2 x 80L and 1 x 120L) which seems a little excessive. We'll probably convert one to a grey-water tank which will still leave us with 160 or 200 litres which should last us a while with judicious use.
We're planning a 3-month trip commencing in May and will be heading down to Adelaide to visit our youngest then starting a slow meandering return via inland NSW in to QLD and over to Noosa to visit Mother. Eventually we'll wander back to Darwin so Karyn can complete her working life and I can look for a casual job driving trucks or buses..... nothing too strenuous please! Of course COVID could (and probably will) throw a spanner in the works, but I guess the upside is that we'll have cheap(ish) accommodation!
Anyway, I'm sure we'll have a bunch of newbie questions for y'all and we look forward to hitting the road soon!
Cheers!
280 kilos of water would certainly make a dent in your load carrying capacity, it seems excessive to me. I would suggest that you download some free technical information and checklists at www.caravancouncil.com.au/
Welcome to the gang Dave and Karen, enjoy here and out in the playground.
You seem to have an idea of what it's all about so just keep going the way you are and all will be good.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Edit....Ooops, I forgot to say and for something different, if you need to use a generator at all make sure you use it around 2.00am cos everyone is asleep then and won't hear it.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Wednesday 27th of January 2021 07:34:24 AM
Hi guys,
Yes, it's certainly a lot of water for a caravan, although dearly beloved does washing that long hair of hers.....
I'm thinking maybe 120 + 80 = 200 for water and the other 80 for grey water. Even then though, I might have to look at an ATM upgrade as 200 litres is half of the rated payload, plus however much grey water has been accumulated. I'd like to do without a grey water tank, but from what I've been reading, if you're free-camping and don't have a grey water tank, they'll often fine you or ask you to move on.
Tare is 1656kg and ATM is 2056kg according to the plate (although of course I need to take those numbers with a grain of the proverbial until actually proven via a weighbridge). One excellent feature of the older vans is definitely their lighter weight! Our tug is rated to 3.1 tonnes, so I'm well within it's capacity, although having towed it home empty(ish) for the first time the other day, I wouldn't like to be towing the full rated load!