Hi all, new to this, so please forgive any mistakes.
We are finally starting to look at the grey nomad years. this will not be for a couple of years yet but it will come up fast, so as I am the planner in the family, I have started with the homework and the planning.
Husband wants to take the boat, it is a 4.8 centre console, but I am not so sure.
The options are
1. travel by mobile home/Camper van e.g. Sprint long wheel base with boat in tow or not
2. 4x4 Ute towing a van, hopefully off road one, with smaller boat on top or not.
I would really like your opinions on these option. Maybe some advise as to the best method to maybe tick all the boxes for husband's sack or a good explanation for not taking the boat.
How hard is it to travel with a 4x4 and van with a tinny on the top of the 4x4, are you able to go to pretty much all places or are you restricted because you are towing a van.
My concerns are that we will be limited as to the locations we can go to, or that it will be just a big hassle taking the boat as we may not use it as much as we would think. I just don't want to make an expensive mistake.
We started off with a Falcon RTV ute with a slide-on camper, towing a 4mtr Stabicraft boat. Travelled and fished over the years in places such as the Darwin and Kakadu areas and rivers, Karumba, up to Weipa, a lot of time fishing between Hervey Bay and Inskip Point (western side of Fraser Is.), as well as many of the Qld bass/barra dams and northern rivers and estuaries. The slide-ons are a bit tight for space but served us well for 4 Years, However we found the RTV not suitable for launching a boat off dam/river banks so upgraded to a Hilux Xcab 4X4, to allow us to travell a bit further off road.
Later on, we also decided we needed a bit more comfort so changed to a Concept Icon caravan. Also because of the caravan, we had to downsize the boat to a tinny on the roof setup. The smaller boat restricts where you can fish, we now do not fish any northern croc waters (but we have already done that) so really we are restricted to the fresh water dams and sheltered salt water rivers/inlets, but there are heaps of those. Surprising, the wife loves the caravan but also misses the safety and comfort of the larger boat, but that is the trade off. As an aside, I have spoken to many men on the road who have quite large caravans or fifth wheelers who do not take a boat with them, and whilst they will not admit it in front of the wife, a hell of a lot do say (complain) they really miss not having a boat of some sort. So really you have to decide how important it is to have a boat and also the type of fishing/boating you wish to do, bearing in mind the smaller boats will restrict you to the areas where you will be safe.
Ok, it cost a bit of money on our change over, but we do not regret doing it that way.
I am sorry I did not answer Nathalie ,I have had very little time on the forum at the moment .Moving house and we are very busy.
I see that the other forumites have been able to help.Once again my appoligies.
wants to take the boat, it is a 4.8 centre console, but I am not so sure.
