Feeback and Information Appreciated

Geraldine · Newbie

Feeback and Information Appreciated

yeoeleven · Guru

Welcome Geraldine,

please post questions as you get closer to decision time, we all will try to help if we can.

John

Travel Bug · Guru

G'day and welcome Geraldine smile

Looking forward to hearing about your plans and your final choice of travel home.

Feel free to ask anything that you may need to know as there is a wealth of experience on this forum...and everyone is happy to help.

Cheers. Travel Bug. smile

Sheba · Guru

Welcome from me too Geraldine.

Cheers,

Sheba.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

As Forrest Gump would say -welcome,welcome,welcome - to the madhouse!!!!! No, really, have fun,join in-ask questions -
jules

milo · Guru

welcome to the site

VK3FEMT · Senior Member

Welcome to the forum Geraldine. There are many people here that can bestow a wealth of information to you - there are some new names also that I don't recognise, its been awhile since my last drink here you could say :)

In a nutshell before worrying about what kind of vehicle etc you wish to purchase, you need to know, or at least have some idea of how much you are prepared to spend. It is also worth having a good long think of where you want to go, and the types of roads you think you will be travelling on, as this will also reflect on what choice in vehicle you make.

If you're going to stick to sealed (tarred) roads, then you don't need a big thumping 4WD, and can pick yourself up a good camper reasonably cheaply. If you wish to explore goat tracks out in the never never then needless to say a 4WD is really the best option there, and if your not experienced in driving same, its not a silly idea to chase up the 4WD courses on offer - it may just save you getting stuck between a rock and nowhere.

Whatever you do, don't try and take the whole house with you, it doesn't work I've proved it :)) I'm in the situation again where I have to do a 'cull' and rid myself of stuff I don't need the bus is chockas along with the trailer - I found stuff the other day I forgot I had.

Anyway just ask and I'm sure someone will give you all the help possible.

Cheers;
Stew.

pauline · Guru

Great advice there Stew, whether solo or a couple.

Dougie · Veteran Member

Welcome Geraldine, it's a great forum for info on almost anything.
The advice given by Stew is sound, & I would add to that by saying whateven mode of travel you eventually select, make sure you understand the basics of mechanical issues, as any will attest, all things mechanical will sooner or later give you grief, so better to try & understand the basics before you set off.
Things like carrying a spare fan belt & knowing how to put it on. Have a good battery & a spare if possible. Have good tyres that are suitable ply rating for where you want to go & know how to use a jack & how to change a wheel. Always carry spare water & fuel if you are in doubt about the vehicle's range & supply where you are heading etc.
Always carry a torch & a mobile phone on the Telstra network as others won't work out of town.
These are just a few things to jot down on a sizeable list if you want to head off into this great country, as there are places that are very unforgiving for newcomers, novices & the inexperienced, so my advice is to do short trips first until you are confident to go further afield.
Tagging along with others is also another good way of gaining experience & confidence.
Happy travels mate.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Hi Geraldine,

Welcome (although we too are new).

We too are planning the "Big Lap" and so are in the middle of planning it.

I agree with the notion of short trips till you are comfortable - and ditch stuff along the way that you don't need- we began with stuff we laugh at now! (We actually ditched the first van after the first couple of trips)

Although to date we have never free camped, I don't believe we can do the big one without free camping, and so I am interested in how to set the van up for this. Certainly we have no shower or loo in our van, and although we have 12 volt power, god knows how you make it work! So, have just purchased Camps 6 and am researching alternate power sources (as when I tried to run the bloody fridge on 12 volt it flattened the battery!)

Still, it's all a learning experience, and the only one to have never made a mistake is either inexperienced or a liar.

Rosie

Sheba · Guru

Rip and Rosie wrote:
Certainly we have no shower or loo in our van, and although we have 12 volt power, god knows how you make it work! So, have just purchased Camps 6 and am researching alternate power sources (as when I tried to run the bloody fridge on 12 volt it flattened the battery!)
Rosie
Hi Rosie,
Don't you have at least one Solar Panel ? Or are you referring to the 12V Car battery ? I wouldn't think you could run any size Fridge for very long from the Car battery.
My fridge switches automatically from 240 to 12 V, although so far I've only free-camped, and not used it on 240.
Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Sunday 10th of July 2011 06:59:02 PM

VK3FEMT · Senior Member

Ah Dougie - Spare batteries...

Jesus I've been through the mill with batteries in the last year or so. I replaced the original in this with a 700cca job and after a few days it wouldn't start the bus. This became a regular habit - in the end the battery had a buggered cell. So in with a newie, just your standard car battery (I'm only a beastie 4cyl in the bus); not 12 months down the track and it was as dead as a tack and dry as a bone. I have a short somewhere in this thing I thought I had located but obviously not. So I'm onto the third battery! Seems if I pull the fuse for the tail lights out I'm good. Although the wiring in this was a home job it seems and its becoming a nightmare tracking it all down.

As for the list of things to have/do/know - how long is a piece of string?
No matter what Geraldine you will always learn something new, or a different (and maybe better) way of doing things. Whatever type of vehicle/accomodation you choose make sure it is comfy and not a pain to setup - otherwise you will get sick of it. I've outgrown my coaster somewhat, or maybe I'm just collecting to much junk, either way I need more space. I was thinking along the lines of a coach but that would restrict me to much on where I could go, and needless to say they are much more expensive to run and maintain. CMCA is worth joining and they have great insurance plans as well.

If you a little unsure of things, start off with small trips, weekenders here and there and then build up to weekers and so on. This will give you confidence and also give you the ability to 'roadtest' your setup and see what is working and whats not. If you're by yourself get yourself a portable radio and whack it on some talkback show or ABC news radio - theres nothing like hearing another voice to stop you going round the bend. It can get rather lonely when your out by yourself, and this in turn can lead to you getting depressed and not really enjoying your trip - so some form on interaction is always good even if its only listening to the radio, you're still engaged with what's going on. I usually setup my HF and 2m/70cm gear and have a yap to whoever is about, a good way to pass the time - as is coming on here :)

My next move will be to sell the bus, buy myself some form of popup caravan and then a 4WD, as I do radios and like to participate in the Field day contests I am often found scampering up mountains in my coaster - and while I've done ok thus far I have gotten stuck a few times as well lol. The idea behind the caravan/4WD combo is that if I need to pop into the local town for anything just unhitch the van chain er to the nearest tree and off I go. With the bus (and trailer) I've got to pack everything before I move.

Cruising Granny · Guru

The whys and wherefores of travel. Camping, sightseeing, what to sightsee, where, when etc etc.
What size vehicle can you feel confident managing?
A couple living here in this park have hoarded so much stuff from Salvo shops they've bought a twin-cab truck, put a curtain rail in the back seat to add to their wardrobes. They live in a 26ft Jayco Heritage.
They paint demountable houses so their paint gear is in a tent under the awning, and in the truck which doubles as a workshop and kitchen when they're on the job. Down both sides of the losed-in truck is a wall of wardrobes which contain household appliances and other equipment and tools.
To accommodate the extra weight in the van they've upgraded the van axles and suspension.
I was just overwhelmed at the indulgence and adjustments they've made to accommodate the indulgence.
I feel absolutely totally minimalist after visting them.
It seems like minimalist is the way to go at the end of the day.
Welcome Geraldine.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Oh, Granny - how I agree with you - having lived in this little cottage for a while now, I notice that I am starting to "gather" stuff. Have decided to discipline myself, and only buy what I need from now on - I will only have to get rid of it down the track, so no more op shopping, or online buying, the van however is still minimalist - just the basics in there, only need to add clothes and towels etc., when I want to take off.

Welcome Geraldine, you will find we tend to meander all over the place sometimes, drift off topic, but I like it that way, like talking to friends, hope you feel the same.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Sheba wrote:

Don't you have at least one Solar Panel ? Or are you referring to the 12V Car battery ? I wouldn't think you could run any size Fridge for very long from the Car battery.

Nope, not solar panel, and Yup, you can't run the fridge for long !

So, is it a solar panel we should get? and who/where do we get it from and is it hard to install?

(I sound like a bit of a bunny, but we have only ever used CPs, and never needed to free camp)

Rosie

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Go to "search" at the top of the page here, and put in solar panel - there will be a wealth of information - ask lots of questions, you use the solar panel to charge the battery, I have two batteries, a cranking battery which runs the car, and a deep cell(is that right?) that is used when we are camped, the solar panel charges this battery, and I can leave the van plugged into the car and run my Bushman frdige and also lighting in the van .

I have two plugs in back of 4wd, one to use when travelling which runs from cranking battery, and the other is direct from the second battery - have never had a problem running out of power, I have portable panels, so even if I sell the van, I still have my solar panels.

I don't know the technicalities of it all, I just know it works - and the sun doesn't run out of fuel!!!

Happywanderer · The Master

Rip and Rosie wrote:
Although to date we have never free camped, I don't believe we can do the big one without free camping, and so I am interested in how to set the van up for this. Certainly we have no shower or loo in our van, and although we have 12 volt power, god knows how you make it work! So, have just purchased Camps 6 and am researching alternate power sources (as when I tried to run the bloody fridge on 12 volt it flattened the battery!)

Rosie

Rosie, although I am pretty dumb to this travelling myself I can offer a bit of help. Firstly the only time you put the fridge on 12 volt power is when you are travelling so the battery is charging at the same time. Is it a 3 way fridge? If so you should have it on gas while parked or 240 volt if at a powered site.

Also, you should try freecamping, I did all the way up to Qld and back and really enjoyed it which even surprised myself. You will need a portaloo of course and can go without a shower for a few days, just do a hand wash until you get to showers.

I was surprised at the amount of freecamping sites, and most have plenty of room to spread out so you are not parked on top of each other but feel safe knowing someone is nearby.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Thanks Marj.
it is a 3 way fridge.
I guess I should get the gas system/cylinder checked before I start to play around with it- as it is an old van which we got second hand and we have never used the gas.

Can't wait to try free camping. Got a copy of Camps 6 at the weekend, and can't believe how many places there are.

Rosie

Happywanderer · The Master

You need to get the gas sorted out Rosie. I always said I would never travel with gas as I don't like it, till I found it is the only way if you have a 3 way fridge and want to free camp.
Never park up and leave your fridge on 12 volt if you don't want your battery to go flat. I haven't done that but was warned about it before I went out on my first trip.
And never leave the fridge on gas while travelling. I did once and got 40 ks up the road before I realised it was still on gas. Now I have notes on the inside of my sunvisor. Turn off Gas - Fridge on 12volt - Pull down Pop top. So when I get in the drivers seat they are the first things I see. In big black permanent marker.

Sheba · Guru

Marj beat me to the "Fridge off Gas while moving" thing Rosie. You can however leave it running continually, [travelling, or parked] if you have Solar and a house-battery.

Cheers,

Sheba.