Goldenyears your rig looks so big and comfortable, I had a roof over my head the other night.

Snail.

yes footprint I do give a stuff its all about good manners my friend !!!!    think about that !  and you will find that there are people out there that agree ....   I have no insecurities about anything and to be perfectly honest love everyones feed back ...  lol   !  at 70 years of age maybe I'm just getting old  lol  .....

No problem eagle max I wasn't offended  ..........   love your rig by the way  brilliant and a credit to your handi work .

Hi Golden years,

We have the best of both ends.

We are off to the West in six weeks time with the boat and 2x tents,

While on the road for 7-8 days we use our RV3 tent for quick up and go's. We get the your doing it hard mate in over night camps, Three and a half months in that they think.

When we get to our camp 5400km away,we set up our Yardie Novatel tent for three months in the dust, rain and midgies. Then another 5400km back home.

Then we get the, Your so Lucky having a nice comfortable Boat to go fishing in over here can we get a ride.

Not a problem, Can we use your van for a few nights sleep eh.

What they say, well if we have to tuff it, why not yourself do the same.

Our Yardie Novatel has more bells and whisles then their vans.

Its not what you know, But who you know at happy hour.

We take so many first timers out, and give them the time of their lives, if they don't become snobs up front.

Of course we would love to take the new van, however we can only take the boat on this trip.

Jim & Lambie.

The best Happy Hour (laugh a minute) was held in Deloraine about 12 months ago. No one talked about their rig, how far they had travelled, or how long they had been on the road. We all talked in turn about the past, present and future.

We laughed with "laundry lady" and her story about when she was a novice nurse. We commiserated with our host and her issue with her legs, and discussed with "blondie" about what they would do if they could not get a berth on the spirit.....

Best ever happy hour.

Golden Years. All happy hours are different. If you don't' like the conversation, leave. If you have something to add, stay. Don't let the others get you down. Your rig is your chosen vessel, we all choose what we have for our own reasons.

Really enjoying this thread, some very interesting comments.

Our rig is quite adequate for our requirements, 4 year old 17ft van (no en-suite by choice) & 2 year old Navara ute all up probably worth around $70,000.

When we occasionally get someone living on the road with a massive rig worth $200,000 lecturing us that we need to upgrade to their standard we always laugh it off.

We've got a beach-side home on the bay worth more than $1,000,000 as a home base that we've owned for many years.

If we wanted a bigger more impressive rig we'd go out & pay cash for one.

Like the old saying says: DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER.

I think this sort of "rig snobbery" that a few show is no different to the type of "snobbery" or "arrogance" shown by some in many other ways.

There are those who are like it in the solar vs generator discussion, or in the free camp vs caravan park debate, or the pets vs no pets threads. Even in the "go here" or "don't go here" discussions.

In short, I think it is the fact that there are those who cannot see there is any other way than the way they do it, to travel this country. We see it in this place in many threads with personal prejudices coming through loud and clear, so it would certainly be no different on the road. What is important is that how we let that attitude affect us is up to ourselves.

I must say that personally, whether we were in our small pop top, or our current large full van, we have been lucky and not bumped into anyone like this on our travels. Like many of the things people seem to encounter, we appear to have had a very boring travelling life.  

Lovely little rig Pinball.

BUT.. Did you HAVE to use a Toyota??.  

Chuckle.

KevinC wrote:

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Interesting observation Goldenyears, but maybe simply a reflection of what we all do in our daily interactions.
I've observed many folk in a car club. The ones who compete believe they are the "real" enthusiasts. The ones who maintain a vehicle in showroom condition believe they are the "real" enthusiasts. The ones who use the car daily in all weather believe they are the "real" enthusiasts. So who is right? Well they all are, provided you believe as I do that everyone is an individual who is entitled to live his or her live the way he or she chooses.
My reason for being in a caravan park or free camp is different to yours, so we really can't compare notes, except to share some of the experiences we've had and encourage the other to enjoy them too. I'd like to hear your take on life, maybe you could tell me about your younger years, your family, your brushes with the law, whatever you want to share with me. I must say some folk are more inclined to share than others, but I'll not criticize anyone for their personality.
But don't judge me if my van is bigger than yours, or smaller for that matter. It's my choice of transport, let it go without comment.
The ones among us who feel they are the only ones who are doing the "real" thing, Ignore them. They're running a race in their imaginations, legends in their own glove boxes.
This topic should never be a demand that members try to justify their choice of transport, or their choice of campsites. We are all the same as travelers and explorers, we are all the same as aging individuals, and in a few years we'll all be dead so It probably doesn't much matter what way we think.
But back to your first observation Goldenyears, Yes there are snobs out there but just as many use tents as use vans. Look forward to seeing you on the road.

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 Well said Kevin what counts is not what you can afford it's the type of person you are ...