How long did it take you?

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

RE: How long did it take you?

fwdoz · Guru

We carry a 12V camping fridge for keeping all the important liquids at the right temperature.

Have never had a heater in a caravan. Only ever struck one night below 0C which was free camping at Indi Bridge. I think we slept in about 3 layers that night!

For now we will just work on getting "know it when we see it/this is the one" caravan. If we need an add on or two so be it.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

We went from Darwin to Victor Harbour SA middle of winter . Dam near killed us ! Lol

fwdoz · Guru

Well after all that is one hell of a temperature change! I always make sure there is clothing variations in the van depending on where we are going.

yobarr · Guru

fwdoz wrote:
When it came to buying your last caravan & tow rig to see you into retirement & beyond, how long did it take you to research before buying? And did you get it right the first time, or did you find that you missed anything that you perhaps overlooked or over bought?
I ask as we are now coming to this point later this year. While we know what we want & are giving this process due diligence with a fine tooth comb, I am wanting to ensure that we do not overlook anything at all.
Just after peoples experiences & their thoughts.

Dont know if you plan to freecamp,but if you do,water is another consideration.I carry 420 litres under the van floor,in 5 separate tanks,and I have a 70 litre grey-water tank to keep the do-gooders happy.There also is 120 litres of water under the tray of the ute,in case I want to leave the van somewhere to go bush.On the roof of the car is a 70 litre black plastic tank which provides as much hot water as I need for showers etc.Originally I had a 1200mm length of 200mm plastic pipe up there,painted black,but the flat black plastic tank seems to heat up much more quickly.All water passes through at least two filters,with drinking water going through four filters. Fitted $4000 of satellite TV on the van,but also have the rabbits ears type for closer to town. Have fitted air intake near roof of van to supply air to Donaldson cartridge-type air-cleaner in front boot,with bilge fan connected to pressurise van when in dusty conditions,to keep dust out.Raised van so I have 700mm clearance under the floor, and I have brackets on to chassis of both the car and the van so I can use Trailamate jack when changing wheels or doing maintenance etc. Fitted 5 micron fuel filter to car,before the factory filter,and carry a 5 micron and a 2 micron as spares.To the diesel I add 3ml/litre of Activ 2,which is a 2 stroke engine oil which seems to make everything work much more smoothly,and keeps CRD injectors clean. I use BP Ultimate Diesel whenever possible,as it has the highest cetane rating,as far as I know. I DO NOT use a WDH,as all that does is control a problem which wouldnt exist if the correct van/car selection had been made initially. Good luck with your project....I look forward to any progress reports you may provide? Cheers. .

-- Edited by yobarr on Sunday 1st of April 2018 03:26:42 PM

fwdoz · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Dont know if you plan to freecamp,but if you do,water is another consideration.I carry 420 litres under the van floor, . in 5 separate tanks,and I have a 70 litre grey-water tank to keep the do-gooders happy.There also is 120 litres of water . under the tray of the ute,in case I want to leave the van somewhere to go bush. On the roof of the car is a 70 litre black . plastic tank which provides as much hot water as I need for showers etc.Originally I had a 1200mm length of 200mm . plastic pipe up there,painted black,but the flat black plastic tank seems to heat up much more quickly.All water passes . through at least two filters,with drinking water going through four filters.Fitted $4000 of satellite TV on the van,but also . have the rabbits ears type for closer to town. Have fitted air intake near roof of van to supply air to Donaldson . . cartridge-type air-cleaner in front boot,with bilge fan connected to pressurise van when in dusty conditions,to keep dust . out.Raised van so I have 700mm clearance under the floor,and I have brackets on to chassis of both the car and the van . so I can use Trailamate jack when changing wheels or doing maintenance etc. Fitted 5 micron fuel filter to car,before the . factory filter,and carry a 5 micron and a 2 micron as spares.To the diesel I add 3ml/litre of Activ 2,which is a 2 stroke . engine oil which seems to make everything work much more smoothly,and keeps CRD injectors clean. I use BP Ultimate . Diesel whenever possible,as it has the highest cetane rating,as far as I know. I DO NOT use a WDH,as all that does is . control a problem which wouldnt exist if the correct van/car selection had been made initially. . Good luck with your project....I look forward to any progress reports you may provide? Cheers. .

We always carry plenty of water to suit where we are going. Will make sure this van has good filters as the last thing we want is nasty illness. We also have a portable shower unit that you hang in a tree; has always delivered a nice shower when needed. When the time comes I will post about both the tug & van along with all their fitments & any additions required. Hopefully the less I need to add the better!

Gaylehere · Guru

I've been reading this with interest.

I guess we are different. - Driving past a caravan place. Saw three motorhomes in the yard. Had a look. Like the look of the middle one. Can we afford it - yep (a third hand ex rental). Took it for a drive. Bought it. I would think about an hour. Have we ever regretted it. Nope. Cheers.

fwdoz · Guru

Gaylehere wrote:
I've been reading this with interest.

I guess we are different. - Driving past a caravan place. Saw three motorhomes in the yard. Had a look. Like the look of the middle one. Can we afford it - yep (a third hand ex rental). Took it for a drive. Bought it. I would think about an hour. Have we ever regretted it. Nope. Cheers.

I think the main reason we are taking our time with it is because we can. Our purchase will be made from an inheritance that we will receive in September, so it gives us plenty of time to pay our due diligence.

However, if we already had it at the time we planned to change vehicles, I dare say we would have done exactly what you did & said "there it is"!

rockylizard · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Don't know if you plan to freecamp, but if you do, water is another consideration. I carry 420 litres under the van floor, in 5 separate tanks, and I have a 70 litre grey-water tank to keep the do-gooders happy. There also is 120 litres of water under the tray of the ute, in case I want to leave the van somewhere to go bush. On the roof of the car is a 70 litre black plastic tank which provides as much hot water as I need for showers etc. Originally I had a 1200mm length of 200mm plastic pipe up there, painted black, but the flat black plastic tank seems to heat up much more quickly. All water passes through at least two filters, with drinking water going through four filters. Fitted $4000 of satellite TV on the van, but also have the rabbits ears type for closer to town. Have fitted air intake near roof of van to supply air to Donaldson cartridge-type air-cleaner in front boot, with bilge fan connected to pressurise van when in dusty conditions, to keep dust out. Raised van so I have 700mm clearance under the floor, and I have brackets on to chassis of both the car and the van so I can use Trailamate jack when changing wheels or doing maintenance etc. Fitted 5 micron fuel filter to car, before the factory filter, and carry a 5 micron and a 2 micron as spares. To the diesel I add 3ml/litre of Activ 2, which is a 2 stroke engine oil which seems to make everything work much more smoothly, and keeps CRD injectors clean. I use BP Ultimate Diesel whenever possible, as it has the highest cetane rating, as far as I know. I DO NOT use a WDH,as all that does is control a problem which wouldn't exist if the correct van/car selection had been made initially. Good luck with your project....I look forward to any progress reports you may provide? Cheers.

Gday...

That is INCREDULOUS ! !

Cheers - John

Desert Dweller · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
yobarr wrote:
Don't know if you plan to freecamp, but if you do, water is another consideration. I carry 420 litres under the van floor, in 5 separate tanks, and I have a 70 litre grey-water tank to keep the do-gooders happy. There also is 120 litres of water under the tray of the ute, in case I want to leave the van somewhere to go bush. On the roof of the car is a 70 litre black plastic tank which provides as much hot water as I need for showers etc. Originally I had a 1200mm length of 200mm plastic pipe up there, painted black, but the flat black plastic tank seems to heat up much more quickly. All water passes through at least two filters, with drinking water going through four filters. Fitted $4000 of satellite TV on the van, but also have the rabbits ears type for closer to town. Have fitted air intake near roof of van to supply air to Donaldson cartridge-type air-cleaner in front boot, with bilge fan connected to pressurise van when in dusty conditions, to keep dust out. Raised van so I have 700mm clearance under the floor, and I have brackets on to chassis of both the car and the van so I can use Trailamate jack when changing wheels or doing maintenance etc. Fitted 5 micron fuel filter to car, before the factory filter, and carry a 5 micron and a 2 micron as spares. To the diesel I add 3ml/litre of Activ 2, which is a 2 stroke engine oil which seems to make everything work much more smoothly, and keeps CRD injectors clean. I use BP Ultimate Diesel whenever possible, as it has the highest cetane rating, as far as I know. I DO NOT use a WDH,as all that does is control a problem which wouldn't exist if the correct van/car selection had been made initially. Good luck with your project....I look forward to any progress reports you may provide? Cheers.
Gday...
That is INCREDULOUS ! !
Cheers - John

OMG