G'Day. Thanks for the comment. That's just what I was leaning towards. 4x4 Diesel Snorkel. Plus my roads wont all be smooth so suspension is important.

You've touched on an issue, budget - which I'm undecided on. I can afford a new one if I can convince myself its worth it. But I don't see a $60K 2nd hand much dif. from $110k newbie. Plus I'm a bit of procrastinator when it comes to deciding on things.

If I go for a NEW rig there's so many options + models. Money aside what would you guys choose for yourselves as a lone traveller. My own 'must haves' are a similar style to the photo attached + shower & loo.  So far I agree with Diesel + snorkel + best suspension.  So what else to look for in a small motorhome? 

-- Edited by AaLF on Monday 7th of December 2015 01:30:36 AM

We owned a slide-on for 12 years.
I would advise against one. They will always be heavier than a similar sized motorhome and a motorhome will also have a much lower centre of gravity.
Those smaller vehicles don't have the weight carrying capacity and are always overloaded, or close and that problem is even bigger with the 4WD versions because they start out heavier.
My advise would be to go for a Toyota Landcruiser Troopy. A much tougher vehicle with plenty of capacity for fuel and water.
4WD is for getting out of trouble. It is also more stable on gravel roads.

Cheers,
Peter

Hi Alf,

Like me you are having all these issues. I can understand why a slide on could be preferable, as you can leave it behind on day trips. Fixed ones are another issue. But like what others say, they are very heavy and loaded up and usually are at maximum weight for the vehicle. You can get axle load upgrades on many of the popular utes, however, one thing i noticed on the Simpson this year was the number of bent chasis by ute type vehicles either overloaded or not properly balanced. And I am not talking about cheap brand names. As you will see, what you find with the difference between 2wd and 4wd of the same units, other than the transmission, is that the 4wd has a little better suspension that in all reality needs to be beefed up even more in any case. Its what is not beefed up that matters. Also the carrying capacity of some utes is very questionable. I think Pat Callinan did something about how the Ford ad tried to say they could carry a heap more than a Toyota. In reality the overall numbers did not stack up. I wont try and advise you what to buy, but rather try and help point you in the direction of what you need to consider and make sure has been addressed by the manufacturer should you decide.

Wooo. Some feedback. Haven't been touring since the 70s/80s. And that was Kombie +tenting + shovel. I'm looking forward to more comments.

Here's what I got from the above remarks.......

My original idea of a Matilda on the back of a ute is maybe not the best idea. No problem. I'm wide open for change. PeterinSA has thrown me a bone which I'm gnawing on right now. A 4x4 van. Never thought of that. http://www.customcoasterconversions.com.au/Mercedes-Sprinter.html

I like it. Meets the basis needs> Single traveller. Shower + loo. Easy to avoid caravan-parks (I'm a bit of a loner).

• Could u blokes throw in some feedback on this style of touring?
• And are there other Sprinter style 4x4 small motor homes around that I can look for?
• If I go for a 4tyres on rear (not dual axle) will a 2x4 get me around dirt tracks etc OK or does the 4x4 offer something way & above?

-- Edited by AaLF on Monday 7th of December 2015 02:36:13 PM

Now he's 1000% confused ?? HAHA ..
yES I would ere on the larger more room style.. Especially if you plane to free camp ?
With solar, water etc.. Sprinter has basically same running gear as Cruiser so parts and spares shouldn't be an issue..
Stick my neck out again .. Are you really into 4WD type sights ?? As plenty do fine with RWD dual tyres on rear..
Could be the difference in price ?? Extra weigh more fuel consumption.. But obviously safer in bad terrain..

OK. So 4x4 is superior. But No...I'm not aiming for macho 4x4 treks. My journeys are intended to be long ones - gone for a year or more - not 3 weeks north or 2 weeks west etc. So hence a shower & loo on board is more appealing than a landcruiser and a shovel. I'd love to venture beyond Birdsville but what small motorhome can go there? None me thinks. Saw a youtube video on a Sprinter 4x4. I'd roll it for sure. Plus I doubt its got enuff grunt for those sand-dunes.

So 'Back of Birdsville' seems maybe a little too bold for an on-board shower + loo setup. What I like about the sprinter is you are up higher plus walk-thru. What I dont like is it looks as if it could tip over with just a slight bit of carelessness.

Solar panels self sufficiency etc are a 'given' as I intend to shy away from caravan parks.

Thank God I've decided to think about this well in advance.

Hello AaLF

                The late much respected Mr David_Attenborough said that "Australia was the Flattest continent on earth" but we lack bitumen roads for 2x4's here. We need Traction to travel a lot of our scenic places for which 2x4 does not allow. For myself 2 examples come to mind for 4X4. I saw a segment on a 4X4 TV show many years ago about Litchfield National Park and the Lost City. It exited me to travel and see such a place and in 2012 I did. Leaving from the Caravan Park just passed Batchelor we arived at the turn off to The Lost City and first warning sign you see is 4X4 Only. The first Part of the track is quite sandy which requires in my opinion a vehicle with substantial traction. So the difference between seeing and not seeing the Lost City is having a 4X4.

The other example having travelled around the country on Highway One is the many Beaches that you Free Camp on. Tractor Beach and Fitzgerald's Beach come to mind. Sure there are plenty of other travellers out there to pull you out of a sandy mess  but being able to look after ones self is better. Hope this helps you in your decision making process. Tom.

Having done extensive 4wd sand driving Alf, its not traction but "floatation"that gets you through. So low tyre pressure to 15psi and using momentum you will float over the top. As far as birdsville, that is easily done in 2wd car. West of birdsville, good idea to have 4wd although it can be done in 2wd but I would not reccommend due to enviromental damage it may cause. But north of birdsville is also 2wd.as is east. You are correct about dual wheels off the bitumen and I would steer clear of that type of vehicle. As others have said above, what a can of worms, and so many possibilities, but each with its own type of compromise. Everybody is different so in the end its what you can not do without and go frim there. The other thing which we are doing is hiring items ie campertrailers in our case to fund out what we like and dont like. Also the hire companies with motor home hire, often have hire rates for nothing even with a small fuel allowance tonget people to drive them from place a to place b. We did a cairns to sydney trip in one and that put us off motor homes expecially the ones where the bed is above the cab or you lower down, or have to drop the kitchen table to make the bed. We are not monkeys any more and if one person wants to sit up they are a pita. Others however will extoll all the vitues of these. So that is another possibility to do some short test runs to eliminate what you dont like.

AaLF wrote:

---

I would love a 4x4 landcruiser + mini caravan equivalent in size to say a matilda snail home (see pic).  But..... onceu tow a van it makes nat. park campsites etc more difficult no?  Plus u got to leave the van behind even on easy 4x4tracks unless u spend big money.  And it seems an uncomfortable way to travel yes?

As for a landcruiser camper set up it seems too small for long trips for months on end + no loo & shower?

How about a 4x4 lunch-mobile?  Any comments (see pic)?

---

 I was thinking camper trailer.. lighter if set up right suspension wise it will tow EASY.. ???

Yes we want it ALL.. lol..

 

Hello AaLF - welcome to this great forum. I have a sprinter and have driven on a few gravel roads - I have been to Birdsville in a 4wd but I would consider going in the sprinter. My idea is that you just drive to the conditions obviously no off-road as such. The gravel roads out there seem to be quite ok. I have also considered driving to Coober Pedy and then to the Painted Desert and as far as I know it would be on gravel roads but at the end of the day it is up to you and what you want to do and see I suppose. Good luck with your research!!    

Thanks for comments ppl. For now I'm leaving 4x4 alone. I think I'll be content with a2wd. Many days will be spent turning off to drive up a side road to access Nat. Park camp sites. I can always change later if the urge takes me. As I mentioned in most posts. I'm not setting off with a shovel in one hand & a toilet roll in the other. Nor am I willing to squat in a fly-blown sauna tent on a potty. This time its an on-board ensuite.

As for the vehicle I'm leaning towards a Medium-length hi-roof Merc sprinter.  As I'm a single traveller I'll likely want to do some mods to what I find.  Such as tearing out those big family lounges and setting up a desk/bench with a good chair for Net browsing and dinner table.  And give some space to a bigger ensuite.

So can someone recommend a custom campervan conversions business in Sydney?

Is it better to grab an empty van and start from scratch rather than modify?

Do I really need to buy a 'new' diesel sprinter?

 

-- Edited by AaLF on Thursday 10th of December 2015 05:46:09 PM

-- Edited by AaLF on Thursday 10th of December 2015 05:46:59 PM

Let us know what you come across.. There's more options than you think..
I'm not scared of second hand diesels, [I diesel?] I check them big time ...
Cleanliness inside rocker cover and blowby out rocker cover under load..
How its sounds from cold start etc..

Most are white .. Keep in mind in outback engine is sort of important.. LOl..