My Wife and i are new members and are looking forward to purchasing a van in the next few months and start a trip around Australia. Have been retired for just under a year, were i had a major health scare and we also lost our jobs and more. Back on track now after moving from NSW after the borders opened and purchased a lovely property on Russell Island. Any tips on getting something setup and just to get started in our preparation would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Cheers, Greg.
Dougwe said
11:23 AM May 17, 2022
Welcome to the gang Greg, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Just have a good read through all the different sections on this forum as heaps of great info. Whatever you get just make sure the van is under it's ATM and car axles and overall weight are under their max as well. Try not to get tied down in some of the garb from the forum XSpurt/s or you will get so confused you won't know what's what.
Get yourself the Wikicamps App on your phone and you're set. For around $10 it's a great helper.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 17th of May 2022 01:10:42 PM
Tony Bev said
10:20 PM May 17, 2022
A warm welcome from me also, Greg and wife
Firstly I hope that your health scare has gone away, and that there are many happy road trips ahead of you, when you finally start your lap of the country
As we are all different, and look at things in a slightly different way, there is unfortunately no one plan, which will suit everyone, to set up a rig, to travel in
Doug has given some good advice about Wikicamps, as I never had that on my first lap
What I did was to look, and then look some more, at a caravan which was suitable for my vehicle to tow
It took approximately six months to find a caravan which ticked, most but not all of my boxes I adapted to this caravan, and did a lap, using a pop top shower tent, and a porta potty
It was then decided that the wife wanted something, which the cat could be comfortable in, for travelling with us
Once again, I looked then looked some more, and once again after about six months, I purchased the motorhome, which is in my Avatar, which I have adapted to We are now currently looking for something else, which will be smaller, lighter, but still have a shower and toilet, as I like to be self contained, as we no longer have a cat, and the wife no longer likes to do long road trips
I know of very few people, who kept the caravan/ RV they originally purchased, as they found down the track, that (for whatever reason), they would prefer something else. I suppose one answer, (and there are obviously many more answers), is to buy cheap, just in case you want to change it, later on
Gregmaur said
04:41 AM May 21, 2022
Hi Dougwe, we appreciate the feedback and will be sure to keep this in mind when buying our van. I will also look at the app. Safe travels. Cheers, Greg & Maur.
Gregmaur said
04:47 AM May 21, 2022
Hi Tony & Bev, thanks for the information. We had looked at a motorhome but not sure we want to spend that much for one. The other thing we have been told is you are restricted to the bitumen and not able to get to some of the locations inland. Maureen wants a shower and toilet so it will need to cater for that. They have gone up in price but we are looking at around $45k to $50k and something around 19-20ft. We have a Jeep Cherokee Limited which is in the smaller range of the jeeps. Safe Travels. Cheers, Greg & Maureen.
Possum3 said
01:55 PM Jul 29, 2022
Welcome Greg, Download free technical advice, checklists and such at www.caravancouncil.com.au/ , it may assist you in you deliberations.
My Wife and i are new members and are looking forward to purchasing a van in the next few months and start a trip around Australia. Have been retired for just under a year, were i had a major health scare and we also lost our jobs and more. Back on track now after moving from NSW after the borders opened and purchased a lovely property on Russell Island. Any tips on getting something setup and just to get started in our preparation would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Cheers, Greg.
Welcome to the gang Greg, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Just have a good read through all the different sections on this forum as heaps of great info. Whatever you get just make sure the van is under it's ATM and car axles and overall weight are under their max as well. Try not to get tied down in some of the garb from the forum XSpurt/s or you will get so confused you won't know what's what.
Get yourself the Wikicamps App on your phone and you're set. For around $10 it's a great helper.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
-- Edited by Dougwe on Tuesday 17th of May 2022 01:10:42 PM
A warm welcome from me also, Greg and wife
Firstly I hope that your health scare has gone away, and that there are many happy road trips ahead of you, when you finally start your lap of the country
As we are all different, and look at things in a slightly different way, there is unfortunately no one plan, which will suit everyone, to set up a rig, to travel in
Doug has given some good advice about Wikicamps, as I never had that on my first lap
What I did was to look, and then look some more, at a caravan which was suitable for my vehicle to tow
It took approximately six months to find a caravan which ticked, most but not all of my boxes
I adapted to this caravan, and did a lap, using a pop top shower tent, and a porta potty
It was then decided that the wife wanted something, which the cat could be comfortable in, for travelling with us
Once again, I looked then looked some more, and once again after about six months, I purchased the motorhome, which is in my Avatar, which I have adapted to
We are now currently looking for something else, which will be smaller, lighter, but still have a shower and toilet, as I like to be self contained, as we no longer have a cat, and the wife no longer likes to do long road trips
I know of very few people, who kept the caravan/ RV they originally purchased, as they found down the track, that (for whatever reason), they would prefer something else.
I suppose one answer, (and there are obviously many more answers), is to buy cheap, just in case you want to change it, later on
Hi Dougwe, we appreciate the feedback and will be sure to keep this in mind when buying our van. I will also look at the app. Safe travels. Cheers, Greg & Maur.
Hi Tony & Bev, thanks for the information. We had looked at a motorhome but not sure we want to spend that much for one. The other thing we have been told is you are restricted to the bitumen and not able to get to some of the locations inland. Maureen wants a shower and toilet so it will need to cater for that. They have gone up in price but we are looking at around $45k to $50k and something around 19-20ft. We have a Jeep Cherokee Limited which is in the smaller range of the jeeps. Safe Travels. Cheers, Greg & Maureen.