I posted this in the wrong section, so posting it again.
Basically we are looking in the future of changing from caravan to 30 to 35 ft Motorhome towing a little Suzuki behind. I am interested in opinions from travellers in Motorhome already as in the ease of getting into caravan Parks and service Stations. How Manouverable are they and what are the Pros and Cons of Motorhomes.
I cant advise but on our recent trip 2 motorhome owners were going to sell there units...why? They were front wheel drive. Get bogged too easily.
Just mentioning.
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Be nice... if I wanted my school teacher here I would have invited him...
Just like to add my 2 cents worth here if that's OK. Welcome to the dilemmas of camping. It is really a matter of your expectations and usage (time spent on the road and extra creature comforts etc...) and the choices of where and what you would like to visit. ( A very personal choice)
Personally I have recently changed over from a motorhome into a 4X4 Toyota Hilux with a slide-on camper after spending nine (9) months doing the 'BIG LOOP' road around OZ in my beautiful motorhome. There is now a significant lifestyle change, (the giving up of many creature comforts do come at a cost) so of course it won't suit everyone. Therefore the few restrictions I found with my motorhome you may/maynot find useful, but here goes:
Always being aware of weather conditions: If rainy or looming bad weather came in, this dictated where I could potentially go or how long I could actually stay in many remote camp sites
The roads conditions: Off the bitumen was not always an option due to low clearance and/or sandy conditions, so that left out camping at many beautiful National Parks and free camps sites
Extra space at c/van parks: Most parks have limited drive-through or oversized sites available
Being highly organised: The sites that were available are always booked out well ahead of time
Hope you find these hints helpful, good luck and have a safe and happy travels out on the road. Gwynnie
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'The self is not something one finds, it is something one creates.' - Thomas Szasz
What Gwynnie said would have to apply likewise with big caravans , I have had to give another caravanner a hand with a snatch strap as even in 4wd trying to pull his 3 odd tonne van out in greasy conditions he spun all 4 wheels
Hi I struggle with the motor home towing a car idea verses towing a caravan with the car , although many do it, sure the motor home will be safer to tow with being larger , however this is why we went with a fifth wheeler safer towing and a 4x4 to drive around with when we get there , even though we discovered on our trip to Coober pedy and the flinders ranges recently it does limit where we can tow and camp in some beautiful spots in the flinders and many other places also .
So to this end we have bought a camper trailer so we can do the real out of the way stuff while we still can , sure is a downgrade on the on board facilities though , are well life is full of compromises , hopefully the scenery we get to will make up for that .
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)
Hi Perry , we have owned a M/H for about 8yrs and have found it to be absolutely terrific .We do tow a Suzie behind. When fueling up we do tend to go to truck stops
which is no big deal, drive in drive out, very easy .If going to ordinary servo which is very rarely ,I do have to check the Ht of servo 'cos we need at least 3.6mtrs
maybe that is a negative to some people but for us it's no big dramas . I do have to watch where i park , if i can't get in or out easily i just forget it ,it's never
been a big problem. Australia is so vast that there are plenty of places to visit without having to worry about getting bogged ,M/H being scraped by trees etc.etc etc
We have never owned a caravan so we cannot comment ,but i dare say they will have problems of their own.
Whichever way you go you will enjoy what the RV lifestyle has to offer.
We have gone from caravan to motor home. Due to shiny builders and more shiny laws we ended up homeless other than caravan. Being full time on the road we found that any hobbies we wanted to do whilst on the road would not fit in a caravan. We now have a motor home with 500 l water, 220 l compressor fridge, plenty of solar panels and Suzuki on the back. Even the wife has not been able to meet the load limit. Would not go back caravaning although the capital cost is a bit more the running cost over all is less.
This is what suits us but up you if it is for you, no one else can make that decision.
Neil
I personally would not be going too far off road with a motorhome, it would be a base in a Caravan park and do day trips in the Suzuki, basically thats what i do now, leave the caravan in a park and use the cruiser for day trips.
Thanks again for the different opinions, Im probably a year or two from getting into a motorhome but when I do it will be a substantial motorhome so I can spend 8 to 9 months a year in it and have grandies come and stay.
Getting in and out of Caravan parks and fuel stops is all Im concerned about.
I have a small motorhome. I have had smaller caravans in the past. We chose a smaller motor home after having a bigger truck based one. Mostly comfort and ease of driving generally. I have a truck licence so size is no problem on the road. I doubt that a big rig will be hard to get in and out of a caravan park or servo and a big caravan will be just as bad. I have my height written on the dash so I can check it against the sign if in doubt
Once out away from the coast popular areas there is a lot more space to maneuver. Country towns usually have plenty. But if you do not handle it well then get some lessons before you cause some damage to the rig or the park fittings. A truck licence trainer will give you a couple of hours of handy tips and training for a good price and on your own rig too.
But generally the bigger the rig the more ackward it is if you want to go off the sealed roads. That is why we have a smaller rear wheel drive motorhome. We like to get away from the beaten track a bit but not into real 4WD places. But the comfort factor has to be ballanced to what you want. Learn to live with less as the size reduces
Only thing I would add to the other comments is Reversing with a Flat Tow behind the motorhome. I made a booboo following a GPS. It took me up a side road that was a dead end. Not quite enough room to do a U turn. As you cannot reverse a flat towed vehicle I had to unhitch complete my U turn and Hitch up again. Only problem I have had in ten years with my MH and flat towing. Had some tight CP sites but never had to leave a CP because I couldn't get in to the site. Sometimes you have to unhitch to get in but that wouldn't be a problem. My MH is 32' long so not huge.
i don't own one but I'm surprised that no one has mentioned what to do when putting it in for a service or repairs. Stay in a Motel is the obvious answer, but what of all the gear in the motorhome, I wouldn't be inclined to trust the local mechanic with that.
As for service stations, if you can't get an outside pump with easy access and departure just use the truck pumps. I see many big rigs do that and I have had to myself as when the teepee is connected to the tug it is 13mts and some servo's don't have diesel on outside pumps or there is something that stops you going in the car section.
My tug only has a loflo inlet but I made up an adaptor so I can fill at hiflo pumps if needed. I had to use it the other day but that was my choice to use that servo.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Most motorhomes wil fit under most roofs . I have traveled Vic, SA, WA, NT and back down the centre . NEVER had an issue refuelling . 6.5 ton 8.5m motorhome . Even local service stations . Not a problem !
Disconnecting the Towed vehicle and Parking the Motorhome first is what I would do, my caravan is 8.5 metres ( Total Length ) and I have no trouble with that but I dont want to sell my Van , buy a MH and then need to sell the MH and buy a van again, so thanks for all the advice and opinions.
They both have there good points ,the reason we don't own a MH is it would be a big useless thing as a second vehicle when we're home ,when we're camped up we need the car to get around,if you have to tow a car with the MH what's the point in owning one?
