I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on what they found was essential and what they regretted giving space to. So far I have a camp stretcher and mattress, small stove and cooking utensils and plastic boxes for clothes. I will use an esky to keep food cool and a plastic bucket for loo emergencies. Oh and a basic toolkit. I have a fairly large dog who needs some floor space. Any other suggestions? Cheers and thanks
Hi Rosie
Is your hi ace a hi roof or a pop top ? Is it a camper van?
At one stage I was travelling in an ex Telstra hi ace, no pop top, but did have sliding windows each side at rear, a raised bed area across over the wheel arches...this gave me storage underneath and a decent space by the door.. not the most comfy of beds though.
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Connor - Whippet
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If your stretcher is high enough above the floor, you should encourage your dog to sleep under your stretcher both for security and the heat that rises from his body on a cold winters night. Also buy a good torch - there are plenty on Ebay and it pays to buy 2.....finally a decent portable radio that has good reception - we use a Degen DE1103 which costs less than $90 and will pick up distant stations.
What sort of travelling are you planning - caravan parks or free camping?
Good Luck.
I've got a Hiace. I carry too much stuff, but stuff I use a lot is a portable butane can stove, a wind shield, chair, table, eating utensils, cup wine glass, portable fridge and a porta potti. I got ideas for set up from gum tree adds for backpacker vans. There are lots of other things worth carrying but good to work out as you go.
My Hiace had a box on the back and it was full. The only thing I used out of it was the portable stove and gas canisters. That was in a 10 month trip around Aus. When I got back to Geelong my son took the box off and I've stacked the portable cooker etc in the van through the back door which I can now open, also using it open for fresh air on a hot day.
Everything else is stored in his shed, plus I took another 5 bags of bits and pieces to the op shop. I can now live comfortably in a very spacious van.
My Projecta Jumpstarter. It gives my 12volt power, a LED light, is portable and charges well from my cigarette lighter. Also my Caframo 12volt fan. Plugged into my Jumpstarter it gives me air movement, essential for me to get a good night sleep when it's hot or humid.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I also have a ex Telstra van. I didn't want a camper because I wanted to have the option of using the van for carting stuff when I go back to my block in the NT keeping it multi purpose. This means of course I am trying to reinvent the wheel in temporarily decking it out so advice is much appreciated. I'm thinking of travelling for 6 months at a time Cheers
Krispy does that jump starter need solar panels and where could I get one? What's the cheapest I could get to run it if so? I will definitely need to run a fan, not just for the heat but also sharing a small space with a dog. Sorry for so many questions but I appreciate your experiences.
The Jumpstarter (you can use them to jump start your van if it gets a flat battery) you can get from any Super Cheap Auto or Repco store. They start from cheap to about $500 for the top of the range Projecta model which I got (44 amp hours). I don't need solar power as it seems to recharge fully off my cigarette lighter socket in about 30 min of driving.
My Caframo 12 volt fan is a beauty which I got from Whitworths (a marine supplier). Cruising yachties swear by them as their quiet and reliable. 0.5 amps on high so 10 hrs sleep with the fan on only uses 5 amp hours of my 44 amp hours. I have a 3 in 1 cig socket outlet so I can charge my IPad and IPhone at the same time (they're very small users as well).
Let me know if you want to hear how I work my fridge and the Cheap Deals you can got at Backpackers sleeping in your van. :)
I've got a small esky type 12volt fridge in my Landy. I've taken out the front passengers seat and strapped it in there which makes it a one seater (bed in the back). I chopped off the cigarette plug end replaced it with O ring which are connected to the starter battery terminals. (The other end of the 12volt lead into the fridge). After I've started the engine I turn on the fridge Flat Out which uses 5amps. As my Landy alternator puts out 65 amps it's nothing. I've got a divider in the fridge which turns it into half freezer, half fridge. While travelling I freeze water bottles in the freezer section and the normal stuff is in the fridge section. Ice lasts in the esky for 5-10days. When I stop I remove the divider and have it like an esky. I don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off as the compressor is about 8inches from my pillow. :) if I ever flattened my starter battery I've got a
Oops... If I ever flattened my starter battery I just use my jump starter (see above) starter batteries are cheaper than deep cycle batteries. Works for me as my needs are few and my power consumption is small. :)
We have previously had a couple of Hiaces. The best thing you can do for space is to put in a bed or platform at a height that you can put stuff under. Judge the height needed by the height of your boxes. Or the dog may go there also as said. I made a platform up using a single bed and extended the legs a bit more. Then put in a couple of brackets with screws to hold it to the floor and the side.
The jump starter is also a great idea. I always travel with one. It can run some modest items at night and also is insurance for starting. Do not buy the cheapest type and perhaps the dearest is a bit pricey but pay a good amount for one, as it is basically a good quality small versitile battery. Get a good cord to plug into the car socket to charge it.
I made a platform up using a single bed and extended the legs a bit more. Then put in a couple of brackets with screws to hold it to the floor and the side.
