Soon to be grey nomad

Happywanderer · The Master

RE: Soon to be grey nomad

milo · Guru

no worries smile

Sheba · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

Thats right brickies, I asked a lot of questions when I first joined here and worked out the pop top driver campervan would be best for me as when its hot at night you can open the vents up in the top and let the breeze cool it down.
Also better for winddrag when driving. The thought of the hiace tops doesn't thrill me at all, they seem so high in some cases.
A pop top can be down when being used as a home vehicle as I will only have the one when I buy and it also has to fit into my car park at my unit plus be used for around town vehicle when I am home. Which takes in normal shopping and general home use.
Taking all into consideration I feel I will be most comfortable in a pop top drive campervan.

Hi Marj,

Don't know if this will be helpfull , but this one has been in the local paper, [Rockhampton] for a couple of days now.   It's only a year older than mine, and it is Petrol.

I don't know what the layout is. The other one is mine. I don't know why the Pics are not showing.

I'll have to do this the long way Marj. Don't know how long it will take to correct the problem with the Pics.

Its a Toyota Pop-top, '97 Auto., 2.4 Ltr. Petrol.   178,000 ks.   Fiama Awning, Log book,   CD, UHF, Batt. Charger,   240/12v Fridge/Freezer, Storage Box, VGC.

$ 21,000. ono.

Ph: 0417 621 511.

Cheers,
xina.

-- Edited by Sheba on Sunday 12th of September 2010 01:35:46 AM

Allara · Senior Member

Hi All,

Met a lady at Condo with a pop top campervan, she was in her 60's and has found trouble with getting the lid up and down, admittilly ,she was a little (lightweight) person.
Also diesel is cheaper to run.

Cheers
Allara

Beth54 · Guru

There's some gadget you can attach to help with the lifting of the poptop. I remember someone on the raod talking about it, but that's all I do remember. confuse

Sorry.

Maybe one of the 'blokes' knows more about that.

brickies · Guru

Yes air lifters are available cost $800 to $900 work by air at the push of a button , JRH Posted that on a previous post

Happywanderer · The Master

Thanks for that Sheba, thats exactly what I'm hoping for. I am down in Vic, have my eye on a couple down this way going for around the $15,0000, but not able to personally view them yet.

Happywanderer · The Master

Forgot to mention the photos are up, maybe they took longer than usual to upload but there now.

Pam · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

Why is it when you type in campervan in ebay you get all the caravan pop tops and a lot of other things that have no connection to a campervan at all.
To me a campervan is something you drive, not tow. The rest are either caravans or camper trailers.

Its the same with the term camper trailer. it can mean things like the jayco ones where beds push out the ends as well as the fold over off the trailer tent ones.

Sheba · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:

Thanks for that Sheba, thats exactly what I'm hoping for. I am down in Vic, have my eye on a couple down this way going for around the $15,0000, but not able to personally view them yet.

Glad you could see them Marj. I still have some sort of problem. Normally I right click on the cross, and click on "Show Picture" in the drop-down box. That's not how it's working at the moment.

Don't know why, but tonight I clicked on the "Go to My Pictures" .
Went to ALL my folders in "My Pictures".

Did you see the AD. I'd scanned and uploaded Marj ?

Would be glad of an explanation if some-one can help.

Cheers,
xina.

Happywanderer · The Master

Yes Sheba, the two campervans are on the screen exactly as you uploaded them, no red crosses and don't have to click on anything to see them.

Ozduo · Member

Here,s another great place to look for a 4X4 or caravan

http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Automotive/Caravans/Browse

-- Edited by Ozduo on Tuesday 14th of September 2010 10:13:15 PM

milo · Guru

some i've looked at seem to be around the 200,000 ks , kinda scares me.

GrumpyOne · Senior Member

Hi Guys n Gals,

I have to agree about the setting up and knocking down in the wet, its a right royal pain, I have a RV2 OzTent which I am using whilst I am able to physicaly lift it and set it up etc...and have the boat to tow as well, all up I have 8 sqm of living space when I set it up with front and sides, and it is very comfy for me, however if I could I would have a small van - but I don't think they will let me daisy chain a 4 1/2 m boat and a 16' van together, even if I have a roadtrain license & a 4bie....

All thing being equalyou must consider these things before you hand over any cold hard earned $$$;

1. Your abilities and any physical limitations...
2. The worst possible scenario you could find yourself in...
3. Weather, what will be the prominent weather you are likely to encounter...
4. The towing capabilities f your vehicle/intended vehicle...
5. Cost of each option
a. to buy
b. to maintain
c. to use eg... camp fees etc...
6. Parts availability, if for some reason it breaks...
7. Could you live in it for a week or more comfortably (be realistic)...
8. Resale, what will the resale value be like in say 6, 12, 18 mths if it it's not right...
9. Is it easy to tow and manouvre (by hand if needed)....
10. Warranty/After sales service/support...

This is only the top of the iceberg, dont let despair get in your way and don't let sale people railroad you into buying what they want you to have...

REMEMBER
All salesmen/women are after is a sale, regardless of it being a private or commercial sale, they just want YOUR money....

Caveat Emptor

Hoo Roo Happy Days
grumps

Beth54 · Guru

The ANCAP rating is also something to consider. Unfortunitely, I think a lot of the older campervans have a lower rating.

lilly · Senior Member

yes buying your home on wheels or poles is bit danting ..i been tossing beween small van and camper trailer to get me started.. maybe as i learn someing diffferent in next couple of years ..i have budget that i intend to stick to ...on and off road .... some people buy bigger because there are two to fit in and lets face it if you are stuck somewhere because of wet weather or sickness you both need some space ..where myself been solo i just need bed .small kitchen so as to cook and a table and chairs ... right now i tent it got it down to fine art lol..

-- Edited by lilly on Monday 20th of September 2010 05:12:58 AM

Beth54 · Guru

lilly wrote:

yes buying your home on wheels or poles is bit danting ..i been tossing beween small van and camper trailer to get me started.. maybe as i learn someing diffferent in next couple of years ..i have budget that i intend to stick to ...on and off road .... some people buy bigger because there are two to fit in and lets face it if you are stuck somewhere because of wet weather or sickness you both need some space ..where myself been solo i just need bed .small kitchen so as to cook and a table and chairs ... right now i tent it got it down to fine art lol..

-- Edited by lilly on Monday 20th of September 2010 05:12:58 AM
Yes lilly, I used a tent before buying my little 'Gypsy'. It's still a bit of a physical job, but nowhere near as difficult as the tent. Towing has it's disadvantages, but when I park her up, my i30 is economical around town. If I'd gotten a campervan, it wouldn't have been so economical...carting my 'kit' around town.

lilly · Senior Member

Your camper trailer is so cute beth 54 .... yer i have good car it only 3 years old so that why i want a caravan or camper trailer ..hope the car see me out for many years to come ... have thougth about a campervan but i would like to get small van then if not that a small camper trailer like your gypsy ...

Quietmike · Member

Hi Happy - recently accompanied friends looking for a campervan - checked out the
www.sydneyrvcentre.com.au who have a very wide range of vans, from incredibly expensive to reasonably priced and they were able to pick up a Hi lux within their price range. Might be worth skimming their website? Anyway, good luck - I'm looking forward to joining the throng in the not-too-disant!

Happywanderer · The Master

Thanks for that quietmike, will check it out.
By the way, love your little dog

Quietmike · Member

Good luck with your search -there's no shortage of good people helping wih great advice!
My little dog "Maddy" was a great companion for 14 years, but passed away last January - I'm not ashamed to say that a few tears flowed. Now am over it, keeping hold of happy memories, and have her as my 'avatar' quite happily to say 'Hi' every time I log on! The little stuffed toy was no. 2 in 14 years - she was hand raised as a week-old orphan and we gave her the toy to cuddle up to at nights - she never chewed it, just carried it around till she found a spot to settle down and snuggle up to it. Enough chatter, just thought I'd share that!

-- Edited by Quietmike on Wednesday 22nd of September 2010 11:30:53 AM

Happywanderer · The Master

Oh, I know the feeling quietmike. Lost my little Mindy in May of last year at the age of 17 years. She was a mini foxy, I still miss her.