Youve spent a small fortune setting up your travel equipment.
The caravan and tug have been decided.The motor-home is under conversion from the road coach or school bus.
All the big decisions have been made, the budget has been set, and you are all ready to leave to hit the road.
Forgot something sport?
Dont sit there arguing with the missus, scratching your head, checking the bucket list.
Where will you install the UHF radio?
You heard me right.The CB radio.
The wise traveller will already have the UHF installed and working fine but not you, not yet.
There are several brands, units and prices, including installation and antennas.
Need some convincing to justify the added expense and delay, caused by the installation?
You will need a radio to monitor the movements of other motorists, especially trucks and oversize loads.
You chat to other nomadic travellers, so why not call the pilot vehicle heading in your direction?
It could save your life.
Some oversize loads could be up to nine metres wide, heavy, high and long.The pilot vehicle drivers will guide you safely around the big truck.
So while youre setting up your travel rig, include a UHF radio.Most importantly, USE IT!
Monitor channel 40 at all times.Dont clutter this channel with chat.
Usually channel 18 is the caravanners chat channel.If youre wondering why its quiet, is because everyone else is on channel 40.I have tried to call caravans on both channels with no response.
Channel 20 could be used by the motorhomers to chat, but in all instances, monitor channel 40 everywhere.Ive had similar experiences when Ive called this channel.
Some roadwork sites will also display advice regarding the channel they use.This helps to advise motorists of the road blocks, delays and hazards.
We all want to enjoy our travels, and to return home safely.
A UHF radio scanning channel 40 could go a long way to achieve this.
Truck drivers and pilot vehicle drivers encourage you all to monitor channel 40 at all times on the road.
Don't whinge about the language. It's worse in the metropolitan area where you don't really need the radio. Besides, they only have about 2 minutes to chat, and they usually compare work notes, and there's no time to swear.
We would not leave home without it. It was invaluable when we spent 2013 in the Pilbara and did a weekly trip to Port Hedland without the van in tow. We have also used it to notify other caravaners that we can see a problem - ie. the hatch is still open or they have what maybe a flat tyre on the van etc.
And yes we turn it off on the outskirts of larger towns.
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Tuesday 5th of April 2016 04:39:49 PM
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Tuesday 5th of April 2016 04:40:34 PM
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
G'day Cruising Granny. Please you must be more forthright with your comments so we all understand what you are trying to say. (just joking). Good post. Never travel without one. Cheers Jack.
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Jack Cherie and the memory of the four legged kids.
Channel 20 could be used by the motorhomers to chat, but in all instances, monitor channel 40 everywhere.Ive had similar experiences when Ive called this channel.
Some roadwork sites will also display advice regarding the channel they use.This helps to advise motorists of the road blocks, delays and hazards.
We all want to enjoy our travels, and to return home safely.
A UHF radio scanning channel 40 could go a long way to achieve this.
Truck drivers and pilot vehicle drivers encourage you all to monitor channel 40 at all times on the road.
Don't whinge about the language. It's worse in the metropolitan area where you don't really need the radio. Besides, they only have about 2 minutes to chat, and they usually compare work notes, and there's no time to swear.
And don't forget, it's channel 29 on the Pacific Highway and feeders....
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Yes I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
Just for info, the pilot vehicle featured here is my current pilot vehicle. I pensioned the 80 Series off almost 3 years ago, and "Betty Benz" has been my loyal and faithful working vehicle since then.
See you out there somewhere.
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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.
Keep on moving CG - hope to see you somewhere on the road - we always look for you. And yes, we use our UHF - ch. 40 mostly - need to know what is happening out there!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
G'day Cruising Granny. Please you must be more forthright with your comments so we all understand what you are trying to say. (just joking). Good post. Never travel without one. Cheers Jack.
This is actually an article I'm distributing to magazines and forums, as well as Facebook pages of anything related to caravans and motorhomes.
I try not to preach, rather make it light and entertaining, as well as informative.
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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.
Thank you CG! Good advice is always welcome. You helped me out with a few ideas a few years ago and we keep a lookout for you when we are on the road. Cairns had the hottest driest summer in a very long time. SA weather was possibly better this year. Glad you still on the road and hopefully you are keeping safe and healthy. Cheers Trish
Excellent post CG and may I add mirrors that you can see behind your van went past one yesterday with dicky little add on mirrors about 3-4 inch square and they could not be seen when I lined up the side of the van before passing it ( was just in my car ) why would you bother with these , oh and no CB radio either
Woody
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When the power of Love becomes greater than the love of power the World will see peace ! 24ft Trailblazer 5th wheeler n 05 Patrol ute and Black Series Dominator camper trailer ( for the rough stuff)
I agree with the sentiments above re rear view mirrors but think they are much more important than the UHF - the law thinks so too. One time I called to a van in front of us to say hello and they replied "are you behind us?" so totally blind.
There is no way I am going to tell a heavy that it's OK to pass on the UHF - he has much better knowledge of the road ahead as he sits much higher and knows the overtaking abilities of his rig. Listening to the many comments passed by truck drivers about caravanners on CH40 has made me stay out of this. Consequently we only use our UHF for monitoring or talking to other vanners.
I agree with the sentiments above re rear view mirrors but think they are much more important than the UHF - the law thinks so too. One time I called to a van in front of us to say hello and they replied "are you behind us?" so totally blind. There is no way I am going to tell a heavy that it's OK to pass on the UHF - he has much better knowledge of the road ahead as he sits much higher and knows the overtaking abilities of his rig. Listening to the many comments passed by truck drivers about caravanners on CH40 has made me stay out of this. Consequently we only use our UHF for monitoring or talking to other vanners.
Good Luck.
When I see a large vehicle or whatever coming up behind I use ch40 to say something like
"This is the red Patrol pulling the Jayco caravan (sometimes I might include ...'driving west out of (last town)') ... to Yellow Fox truck coming up behind me.
I see you.
Please tell me what you want me to do when you are ready to pass"
Seems to do the trick & they usually say something like
"Just maintain your speed & stay on the bitumen. I'll tell you when I'm coming through"
I flash my lights when they are completely past & they usually respond with their blinkers & an acknowledgement on the CB.
