Volume equates to weight. Equates to balance.
larger the vehicle. higher the volume of load\s.

Fuel. Water. You. etc.

Piece of string mate. But basically.
As much as you can LEGALLY fit while staying within SAFETY limits.
Veh balance etc.

How's that for a politicians answer then.
Absolutely nothing about anything.

Get your rig first. then worry about what and where.
Within the aforementioned limits.

One thing I WOULDN"T buy though. would be a front wheel drive vehicle.
Have fun.

We travelled the eastern seaboard for 3 months. Because we like to free camp, and shower each day, we have 240 kg of water on board. Installed a grey water tank, but most times put the water onto the trees in the area so we were reducing our weight as each day passed.
BUT - it all depends on what you can legally carry!

Depends entirely on where you intend to travel.
In remote areas water can be harder to find. If you spend a month away from a water supply point (as we often do), then you won't get too many showers (if you have one on board), even with the 280L that we carry.
If you are intending to travel the tourist routes there will be water available on a regular (daily) basis, so the need to carry lots is reduced.

Cheers,
Peter

We must be frugal with showers or have larger tanks ? Lol . We have stayed out free camping for up to 3 weeks never actually run out of water . Some air in system which lets us know we are getting low !! Shower or wash every night . Just wet up turn off rub soap or wash liquid all over then wash off., Washing dishes ? We wipe them clean with nappy wipes then wash up in evening . Each to their own . We still enjoy free camping . How far you push being frugal with water usage is up to you . I found the small restrictive shower head better as itâs not flooding, more time to wash !! Not that I have much !! Lol

What is the best quality Australian made motor home?

Are you looking to get off the bitumen? Many of the unique places in Australia only have gravel roads, or worse, so that may influence your choice of motorhome significantly. I would presume if you are coming from overseas you would want to see stuff that is different from where you come from, rather than just another bunch of cities and towns, so getting off the bitumen will definitely widen your horizons.

Then it all comes down to the budget and your driver's licenses. A car licence from Europe is only good for 3.5T and not too many motorhomes will be under that. In Australia a car license is good for up to 4.5T, but even that is marginal if you want to carry significant volumes of water and fuel. Most 4WD motorhomes designed for the bush will exceed 4.5T and will need a light truck drivers license. Ours is about 6T fully loaded.

"Best" quality Australian made motorhome built for bitumen roads is possibly the Paradise range http://www.paradisemotorhomes.com.au/ . Jayco would not be on the top 5 list.

In the 4WD "off road" category, your budget will determine the choices. 

 

Cheers,

Peter

 

 

macka17 wrote:

---

""Jayco would not be on the top 5 list.""

That's a nice way of putting it, When it's a list of 4.

---

 X 2 

It also depends on the size of said motorhome. We have what is considered a small type, a LWB VW LT35 (see photo) able to "free" camp for about five days with regular showers etc. Water is usually available somewhere each day or every other day. sometimes it will be non-potable water in the more remote area which means drinking water is purchased from supermarkets enroute.

We have a water capacity of 120 lts. 

Good point about the capability of some mechanics to fix certain brands only, but the clue is get a reliable vehicle, service it regularly making sure the fuel filters are maintained, carry spares and only fill with diesel from high volume outlets.

The smaller size motorhome has certain advantages in that it is more fuel efficient, can be parked in smaller car parking spaces, often able to go where the larger motorhomes cannot get.

Downsize is carrying capacity and living space.

 

Macka old son,

Once again your dribbling S##t, and again having total disregard to what happens outside of you legal opiate and single malt induced sense of knowing it all and telling the world.

I have a seven year old motor home, an ex rental.  These were produced by Jayco for the rental market, and have no frills or bells and whistles, as such were probably produced to a price.  This motor home is on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis ( with dual wheels).  Apart from the rental company, we are the third owners, and guess what? It is still in one piece, having done a total of 160,000 km ( 45,000 of those towing a Suzuki).  So I do not see your dribble as been in the least relevant to Jayco.

Further your "superior than thou" attitude wears a bit thin after a while.  When you think you are sailing close to the wind, you make a self serving groveling reference to "Cindy" and then carry on on your merry way. You seem to have a thick skin, and when challenged, ignore negatives.  Lots of posters have made some pointed comments about you.

Some may say if I dont like what you post, ignore you.  Fair point, but you are over the forum like mould on a fourty year old caravan.

So back on track, I cant see any problems with the Jayco that I own.

Oh, and by the way, are you up to speed on "defamation", just in case have a quick read.

Under common law, to constitute defamation, a claim must generally be false and must have been made to someone other than the person defamed. Some common law jurisdictions also distinguish between spoken defamation, called slander, and defamationin other media such as printed words or images, called libel.

 

Wal

Land cruiser wrote:

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Hi guys. We are totally new to the RV world. We are looking to buy a motor home and travel Australia for two years. Not sure the ratio of camp sites or free camping yet. What size fresh water tank would you recommend?  The Australian RV,s seem to have small fresh water tanks. Is fresh water easy to get?  What is the best quality Australian made motor home? ( don't like the build quality of USA makes)  Any offers of advice would be appreciated

---

 G'day mate

To add to earlier comments - yes a lot depends upon your travelling target destination / district [coastal vs outback] and so on

Our 15yr old MH is a Sunliner on a Ford transit chassis, now with well over 400,000km on the dial and still going strong.  We are on the road for 8-9 months annually.  We have a 100Lt fresh water tank which usually lasts us 4 or 5 days without any issues, as we have installed a 5-star water saver shower head [amongst other bits]

Replacement water is obtained from many sources ... fuel stops where we get fuel + water; town showgrounds; town information centres and so on. All across Oz any town water is council-certified to be healthy drinking water regardless of where the water source is [river vs underground]

I personally would not be worried about getting a MH with "only" 100-130Lt of fresh water on board - and if ever needing more, it's easy to buy a 20Lt plastic container for a bit extra

Hope this helps, Phil

Thank's Max. Just ignore them I do.(Mostly)
It just shows their lack on brain material. stooping down there.

Sunliner have a good rep for a loong time. They and Paradise would be safe.
Jayco. Well.
They have very good aftersales service.
For a reason.

Read up on why. Go back 35 (40) yrs or so. To where they did make good solid vans.
and b4 the "get 'em off the line and out the door"
Mentality set in.
There's been too many cupboards dropping. Fibreglass walls splitting. Roofs collapsing.
Wiring. NON proper assembly of parts for it to be non existent.

It's NOT my comments on them. Everybody involved with vans over last 40 odd yrs
Apart from a few one eyed (Roadstar?). Owners, maybe
They've been a talking point for decades.

WHEN they do become better value again. They'll still have a lot of bad memory's. (Like Jeep and others)
to overcome first.
Patrol 3 ltrs with Oilway and Internal heating problems. 5th gear Layshaft splines in ONE batch.
Pressed tops letting go on Intercoolers. Exh Manifolds warping.

Ladcruisers with 100 ser Front suspensions dropping out onto the road in front of them. Burning pistons. Transmissions. etc. Mitzi's with gearboxes Early.
They all have\had problems. Just that some stand out and are more of. Than others.

With the choices of and volumes of nowadays.
just stick to the KNOWN reputable. Least problem vans\cars.
leave the rest to the others.
Jayco's call sign is CHEAP. CHEAP. come and get one. We'll fix it for you.
Eventually.

Anyway. They'll only jump down my throat again so I'm Bolting. See Ya.

 

Landcruiser.

 

I made a Stainless 60ish ltr tank for under sink with a double filter through line for it.

Either clean water. or good "other tank" water only, through filters.

I also always travelled empty tanks (320ish ltrs.) and just a 20 ltr in tray of ute.

Till we got there. THEN top up.

-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 28th of October 2017 03:28:05 PM

Ive just read through these posts. Some good informative information and oh boy, haven't some of you let fly. Firstly may I say this is disappointing. We are all I presume of similar ages or so and a wealth of experience with a vast array of knowledge over a broad range. We havedifferent viewpoints and opinions about life, politics and our vans or motorhomes. Ive had 3 Jaycos and have been delighted with them all. Mates who have different brands and love them and some who swear to never touch a certain brand again. What we dont need on here is a little war of words and personal opinion or veiled threats. This makes this forum dysfunctional and valueless. The folk who started this topic in good faith were after the wisdom and experience of the group. I hope they found what they were looking for but it is disappionting that as a group we have abused this query in this fashion. To them I say I am sorry this has happened. On a personal level, I really like the layout of the new Conquest Play. It is a style that I think makes clever use of limited space in a brand, Jayco and Mercedes, that I enjoy. But we have a 5 year old Conquest on a Merc base and that is the vehicle I will keep until age or fate intervene. Dont know much about the Paradise but know that the beauty of this lifestyle in the golden years of our life sees and myriad of setups, makes, vehicles and rigs of every shape and size. Thus suiting every persons individual likes, needs and wants. So to finish up folks. Remember that this is the time of our lives when we should be experiencing the best time of our lives. Sure it is a time of age, and the range of infirmities that go with getting older but hey....we do t have to go to work anymore. We dont have to set the alarm clock. Breakfast in bed is a daily possibility not a rare event. Sitting around the campfire under a million star hotel is our reward for the effort we have made in helping to build this wonderful nation. So lets drop the crap hey. We dont need it, we dont deserve it and none of us want it. Cheers all.

Hi Landcruiser who would have thought that such a simple question would have stirred up such a hornets nest of replies !

How much water to cary it seems from 120 of litres to however much you want while keeping in mind your overall weight (GVM)
And if you are going to tow a car / trailer your (GCM )

As for which make well............ now that's an interesting one isn't it "....... seems there as many opinions as there makes and models ,
Probably the first thing that would be on my list would be the layout inside the MH after all that's where you are going to be living , then get it put on the make of truck you like now that's where it gets controversial and personal opinions can get heated it's a bit like the Holden V ford thing there's been good ones and bad ones in both camps same with MH trucks, it's really a personal thing and perhaps where you think you might like to go.

Ok then points I have gleaned in my time, take it or leave it it's up to you .

Front wheel drives seem to be easily stuck off the black top , need to be careful where you go/ park and be mindful if it might rain.
They are also potentially dearer to fix if you are unfortunate enough to have a close encounter with Australian wild life , however this is covered by insurance .

Some say and I haven't researched so I don't know personally, that rear wheel drives are dearer to buy ?
But will usually go further off the blacktop.

My humble opinion my choice would be a rear wheel drive, which make well now that's a hard one isn't it in two wheel drive my choice and it's only my choice, would be an Iveco daily .

In the 4X4 lineup in MH size there not too many to pick from anyway but I am waiting to lay my eyes on the new hino due in AU shortly over the mitsy mostly due to a bigger engine and better torque , I'm old school as there is no substitute for cubes in my mind .

Personally I'm a fifth wheeler kinda guy due to safety when towing and versatility when camped up , next would be a MH last on my list would be a car n van far too unstable with a small shift in weight distribution and wind shear when passing big trucks on the road .

There are certainly a lot of caravan accidents these days ( crickey especially on that Bruce's highway in Qld would love to know why it seems to be so over represented in the van accident stakes ) now readers don't rip my bloody arms off yet, I know there are a lot more car n van setups on the road so i I will say it would be very interesting to know the breakdown % wise for the car n van V MH V fifth wheelers having stacks in relation to the numbers of each of them on the road .

Ok that's it for my two bobs worth , it just my opinion, others can disagree but that doesn't mean that they are right either, and no doubt others will disagree with some of my points, but that's what makes us individuals not sheep hey .

Woody

Interesting point Peter something I had not considered one assumes the chassis goes all the way to the rear , your post is confirmation that one should never assume anything .

Woody

Fiats leave the factory as a pair of cabs (with front wheels only) bolted together back to back. The chassis finishes 300mm behind the cab.
The motorhome manufacturer does the rest. This is why they are cheap and why the motorhome manufacturers like them - they can do whatever they like with the design behind the cab and the rear of each can be the minimum required for the particular van. Alco make a series of light chassis with suspension that simply bolt onto the factory bit, others in Europe make their own.

Cheers,
Peter

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Sunday 29th of October 2017 05:51:00 PM

Howdy,

Re Macka and his posts, I enjoy them.......its like doing a cryptic crossword trying to figure out what is being said, but, I for one have no problem with them.

Wal, you just need to have a bit of patience and realise we are not all the same and let what irritates you go through to the keeper. Your post re Macka was somewhat over the top unfriendly and I hope/perhaps it was a reflection of you having a bad day.

Regards AL