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Post Info TOPIC: Serious planning
Elle on Wheels


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Serious planning
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Hi all

I just joined today and it has been great reading all the posts and so encouraging - what a great community. I will probably be starting off next year maybe around March or so depending on a lot of factors out of my control. I will be solo  travelling with 3 dogs, two of them quite elderly (a Belgian shepherd and an Auz terrier) and the third, an intelligent but frenetic 4 year old Portuguese water dog. I know he will settle quickly to life on the road and will calm down with some full on handling. I have been longing to be on the road for the last twelve years or so and career and other stuff have got in the way. I will be on a very limited budget and will need to find work here and there or wwoofing/help exchange - has anyone come across www.helpx.net ? It is a wonderful scheme and I have been a host for 4 years and have had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful travellers from all over the world. I will now be looking for opportunities as a helper and some of you may find opportunities as well.

Anyway my main question is about what sort of rig to buy. I started out with a cub campertrailer which was fantastic to tow - no discernible impact on fuel consumption at all and was easy to set up and the dogs had lots of room.  The only hassle was the dining was almost impossible to use because it was so cramped so I would want a bigger set up if I went down that route - maybe one of the jayco range. I later had a lovely old coaster which was very basic because it was cheap and I enjoyed taking it on short trips of a few weeks or so.

I am thinking that maybe the best set up would be a pop up campervan towing a very small caravan or roomy camper trailer. This is partly for security reasons if I set up camp alone so I can drive off if I get scared and also for the convenience of having a car to drive around in if I wanted to stay in a place for a week or few. And a priority is room for my dogs - living permanently is a campervan would not be ideal. I am rubbish at reversing (but working on it) and also don't want to be stuck lugging around a large thing which would only take up fuel and maintenence costs.

What I will be looking for is a rig that has been set up and well used as permanent living because I figure the owners would have sorted out the bugs. It would be good to have a solar set up and a generator and the communications stuff all included. And a big annex would be good for extended camping. From all the ads I've been reviewing it seems the small busses and set ups with beds over the cabin for sale are more likely to meet most of those criteria so I might end up with an all in one. I'm also aware that CMCA membership eligibility requires a van or bus set  up.

Sorry for such a long post and am really thinking out aloud but any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers Ellen

 



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Rarin' to go
Rip and Rosie


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Hi Ellen
Welcome

We travel with 2 dogs, but not full time, so our choices will be different when it comes to the set up.

Everyone makes different choices when it comes to a rig. I suggest you do whet you have already begun doing - get a list of what you want, and don't want, and then see what will suit you. There is no right or wrong to this, just get what suits you.

We began with an annex, but was way too much trouble to but up, and a nuisance to carry around when not in use, and soon got rid of it.

We have a Roadstar poptop and are about to upgrade to a Ford Territory, diesel, rear wheel drive tug. We specifically researched good towing vehicles which would accomodate the dogs - space, good rear air flow, cargo barrier.

We carry a portable pen for the dogs. The pen is large anough for both of them, and we use it under the awning to allow the dogs to be with us but not tied up all the time. It comes apart for travelling- got it on "Deals Direct" on the internet.

We are about to do a Tow-Ed course because - like you- we are rubbish at reversing, and despite practice, its not getting better. So I bit the bullet, paid the money and we are booked in !

I'm sure you will get plenty of advice and support on this forum.
Good luck
Rosie

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Rosie
HeadnHome


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Hi Ellen,

I don't travel full time, just weekend getaways etc, so I have a toyota hi-ace, and have two small dogs and like Rosie have a small pen for the dogs which is the best thing I've brought. Would love to travel full time, but quite a few working years yet before that happens but in the mean time I get away when I can.
can't help with what sort of rig to buy, but yes you would need a bit of room for yourself and 3 dogs to be comfy full time, I'm sure someone on here will be able to point you in the right directions.
good luck
Honi

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ChiChi1


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H Ellen, I have a camperan size motorhome and I travel with a small dog. Just spent two weeks away(shakedown). It rained most days and its no fun having the dog inside after being out in the mud. Will remember to take a large supply of doggy towels next time. At least if you have a vehicle where they are not under you feet some of the time would be good. That said, if they are in the vehicle and you are in the van, who are you going to discuss plans with? I think I will get a pen too. Its a bit of a performance finding the lead and putting it on everytime she wants to go out.

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Rip and Rosie


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I agree with the others, if you travel with 3 large dogs, you need a large enough space and storage for the stuff you need specifically for the dogs.

Dogs + rain + van = wet and smelly

We always cover the beds with throws during the day, and also the upholstered seats. In addition, in wet weather I put down extra floor coverings. Much easier to wash.

Of course, never travel without dog towels. Swimming, bathing and wet weather- can't do without them.

In addition, doggy deodorant freshens them up till I can bath them. I try not to bath them unless I really have to, then a plastic storage bin becomes a bath, and I use wool wash as the eucalyptus helps keep fleas away, and it doesn't matter if I don't rinse it 100% off.

Other stuff I won't leave home without are washable dog quilts, flea treatments, balls, leads, vaccination documents and first aid kit.

Sounds worse than it is, but you do need space for it.

Rosie



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Rosie
Cruising Granny


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Sounds like hard work to me. The dog pens are a great idea. The park I'm living in allows dogs and the pens are a popular accessory.
Full time travel without real estate or furniture is a different story to doing annual trips, long or short.
Welcome to the forum. I hope you enjoy your stay.
I'm a full time van dweller, and travel when the need or necessitiy arises.
I'm currently pursuing work which will take the itch out of my feet wthout the van while topping up my income and diesel fund, so I can do more travel when I retire again.
Work with your needs and budget and you'll do ok.


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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment.
Transport has no borders.

Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Elle on Wheels


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Hi all thanks for your replies and info. This looks like such a wonderful community and has alieviated some of my earlier jitters. I can't leave any of my dogs behind regardless of the restrictions that come with them. At least two of them are placid - it's just the young one who will take a bit of dealing with and I know he will respond positively to full time attention, lots of walks and some one to one training. I am already acting on this. The dog panels are a great idea and i have checked some out. Depending on what sort of rig and storage capacity I may experiment with roll out plastic coated wire and stakes first. I've been compiling a comprehensive budget. Dog essentials have been simplified through 3 year vaccinations and annual heart worm injections but ticks are a worry particularly in the Eastern states so that requires very vigilant monthly treatment and continual checking when in a risk area. Life is complicated and I am finalising separation stuff and it looks like my startout funds might be miniscule as opposed to meagre once all the wrangling is done. I will be able to secure some consultancy work which I can do online but it may tie me to WA. I was hoping for a good long break of at least a couple of months before I had to worry about that sort of stuff. I will not have a house and will be living full time in the coaster or whatever it wll be. It would be such a bonus to have say at least 3 months to just cruise around and get used to the life. I can't wait for it to all fall into place. Thanks again for all your lovely responses and I look forward to life on the road.
Ellen

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Rip and Rosie


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I'm a sagittarian, and my motto is jump in and do it- if its wrong, fix it later.

Now, I know this doesn't work for everyone - Rip for example is cancerian, and procrastinates over every decision (we balance each other well)

Don't stress the small stuff, move ahead with confidence, and you'll be ok

Rosie

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Rosie
nu one


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Im sure that could write a mini hand book with tips for all of us ...but many thanks your a gem..

Michael



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