I am looking at changing from an 18ft van and 1 ton ute to an all in one motorhome .
My van got wrecked in a storm ( not insured at the time ) and I am trying to work out just how much vehicle I need to be comfortable .
I am on my own , have been for several years now . I have limited funds , about 30k will pull me up most likely ( allowing some for repairs )
I have looked around the web and found quite a few at that price ( some of them pretty sad ) but most are laid out in a manner not really suited to a single person .
My caravan had island bed at rear "kitchen" on right , wardrobe and Toilet shower combo on left with table at the front ( converts to 3/4 bed if needed ).
and 12ft ally punt and 4 horse out board on the ute .
Boat is now gone as I can no longer lift it on to the ute . If I get one later it will need to be on a trailer ( thats why I need a self propelled unit rather than a van )
I am finding it quite daunting as this will be my only home for the next 4 or 5 years ,
That is a tough question ponytail, I have a VW T5 2010 with fridge, 60 litres of water, led lights, and double bed with pop top, 55,000 kilometres when I bought it in February and it cost $36,000 and believe me I looked everywhere but this was the best I could do for the money. (bought private). I have a 3 burner gas stove and mainly cook outside.
The van suits me, easy to drive, great on fuel (diesel) around 750 kilometres to a tank and very reliable.
When I first started looking around 5 years ago I could have picked up a multitude of great vans for around $30,000 but demand has sent the prices skyrocketing.
I have added a small annexe to the the tail gate for $850.00 and use that for the extra's ie showering etc.
Everyone is different with their requirements so wish you luck in finding your new van.
I really do not mind if it is pretty old ( I used to be a mechanic )
I have found quite a few of the Winnebago and the various clones the ones with the double bed over the cab .
I am too fat and too old to climb up into the bed in some of them ( the fat part - I am trying to fix - the old part .... yeah well !)
I guess I could use the top bed for storage and leave the table made up as a bed permanently .
I am hoping for a Mazda , Toyota or Ford as I can fix them .
There was heaps around a couple of months ago but not so many now , unfortunately took a while to rake up the funds .
Hoping to head for W.A. and once I leave Geraldton , not much suburbia any more .
Here is a pic from an add for one I was looking at ( the vehicle not just any pic )
This one is pretty close to my budget limit and seems pretty good but the layout internally is not entirely suitable I could use it but wanted something configured differently .
It is nice and looks to be in ok nick but not quite what I need - I have till January to get one organised and set up as that is when I leave ( Sunshine Coast Qld to Geraldton WA ) - Although I have not bought it yet it is on my very short list .
I do not wish to borrow money so the cash I have is pretty much all I have to spend .
Have you considered something like a converted Coaster bus? Some of those would fit in your budget.
Have you looked at the Members Market section of the CMCA web site? You do not have to be a member of CMCA to access this, and there's lots of units for sale there.
Pony,
I have been travelling Oz for many many years, as a solo.
My bus is a 1991 Mazda T3500. The great advantage over Toyota Coasters is the ten speed g/box. The four cyl. diesel is great, and I find is enough, providing you don't overload the bus.
Pipes.
Out looking again today - some really nice ones out there at the 45 to 50 k mark - more than I can afford . Some of the sellers seem a bit sus. and some , as soon as they find out that I have cash up front to buy one want to flog off whatever they have in stock even if it is not what I am after , trying to tell me that it is more suitable -
I am 182 cm tall and 155kg I am not going to be comfortable in a converted ( name removed) van - it made me fell seriously claustrophobic .
hi, I bought a Ford Transit, long wheel base, high roof, 2010 model, had been used as a Courier van, then I fitted it out myself, took a couple of months, less than $25k all up, have put about 10k on it since, from a trip up to Mackay, out west to Cunamulla, then the last one was down through the Snowy, have made some adjustments to it each time I have come home, SE Qld, I have a 40ltr Engel Fridge, a Shower, Porta Potty, for those times when it is required, some storage, a water tank under the bed, set it up for Free Camping, definately not a Chippy, apprentice Cupboard maker at best, but it works, I am happy with it.
it is all a compromise, even mine is a pain to park in some places, any larger and they are more of a problem to park, a friend has a full on Winni, lots of room, great set up, but he has to tow a small car, think he paid more in Stamp Duty than mine cost,
mine is a long way from perfect, but it suits me.
Oldtimer
Thanks to those that replied .
The whole idea has been scrapped , put on the back burner , due to a congestive heart failure , cellulitis and the diabetes they believe caused them .
It would not be ideal for me to be out driving a large vehicle on my own in the middle of nowhere at present .
I am currently pretty much tied to my local hospital ( as an out patient ) while being treated .
Hopefully we can get my weight down and my type 2 diabetes under control and I can revisit this later .
Sorry to hear . Trust me loosing weight is the best thing you can do . I have lost over 40 kg and have had to change my blood pressure medication . Never was diabetic but I could see it being an issue . I went through circle of care program and had the stomach reduction . Pricy, other than that ? No negatives !! Only REAL issue is my Mrs hates me talking to other females these days ., Ahhh you never be perfect !!
I am 155kg and 182cm - they say I need to lose 50kg . Nearly did ( my left leg from cellulitis - left my lower leg permanently scarred - but saved the leg still got all toes and stuff ) but looks like type 2 diabetes and its complications are my new normal . see how it goes Thanks for the kind words to those that have posted .
-- Edited by pony-tail on Thursday 13th of April 2017 09:29:41 AM
I did read a report, so it must be out there somewhere
A university got three groups of volunteers, to find the best method of losing weight
Group one, were told to do nothing, except to eat smaller portions, of what they were already eating Group two, were giving a popular diet of the day, to follow Group three, were giving an exercise program, to follow
The ones who lost the most weight were group one
Hope that this info is useful to someone, but at the same time I say, follow the professional medical advice
Do anything you can . I found eating protein foods . NO carbs or sugar . Crispetts as bread . Salmon or Tuna . Scrambled egg with cheese . Meat and vege. No fried mince but mice stew is fine . I had the odd plate of portage or cereal about twice a week for breaky. It's still about portion control !! I keep telling my wife too much food !! Diet shakes help too !! But be warned of the sugar or blood levels if taking it !! Trouble is arthritis doesn't help excercise . Then it all compounds around itself . It's like you almost have to hate yourself to get strong mindset to lose weight !
Yes .i have found info more . I fell 15m on a power pole plus sever elect shock . My shoulder, neck is in contant pain. This was 20 years ago . I still have to have a life etc . Doing nothing as in testing only makes it worse . Doing too much I suffer the next few nights especially . Losing weight has helped though . Like I said you really brad that hate in your mind to keep you motivated . I found drugs or medication only helped the insurance companies . In my case they are self funded . I just wanted to
Keep working .
Sorry to hear you aren't well pony-tail.
My type 2 diabetes is, according to my GP, reversing after I went on the new CSIRO Diabetic diet.......very low carbs and high protein.
I lost 22 kgs and HbA1c down to 5.0.......still sitting on 110kgs but heaps easier to move etc.
When I tried to stick to the "old" diabetic diet ...you know, 3 serves of carbs each meal....my weight kept going up and up. So, much to the distress of my diabetic educator, I stopped the carbs.
I'm with Aus-Kiwi on this one.......it all compounds itself................carbs for the diabetic diet, weight goes up, arthritis got worse, got sleep apnoea, energy levels dropped, weight increased and around we went again.
Keep your motorhome dream alive, keep your plans for your trip high on your agenda, and get the carbs out of your diet.
After various issues with type 2 diabetes and a heart attack , I am going to try again .
I am no longer allowed to hold a "LR" drivers license so I have had to downsize my aspirations .
I am currently looking at a H200 Toyota HiAce Commuter bus ( yeah I know another bloody "whizzz- bang" )
looking at another one tomorrow .
Then I will have to fit it out .
