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Valoren · Newbie

New Member

Whenarewethere · Guru

The little bit I have heard of the issue is that various councils have different regulations but having something on wheels by default is not a building.

Valoren · Newbie

As far as I know there are no laws saying I can't live in one permantly. I can use another address for mailing purposes. Is bouncing from truck stop to truck stop an option along with free campsites?

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Val, enjoy here and out in the playground.

"After all a house on wheels had less problems" Don't bet on it Val disbelief I am full time on the road and live in my aluminium TeePee and have the odd problem now and then. Things don't last forever and seem to have to be replaced. I think what the problem is CV's are made for holiday's still cry so things don't last as long as should when you live in it furious It's all good though and yes, if you don't like a spot you just hook up and high tail it outa there

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Cadpete · Guru

G'day Val and welcome to the forum. Don't forget to try the two ongoing games here - 'Who is This' in the 'I Digress' section and 'Pick this Place' in the 'General' Section - a great source to find new places to visit. Most councils have a time limit on staying in a van, even on your own property! Some allow living in the van while building a 'real' house.

Pete & Marion

Possum3 · Guru

Hi Val, You can download a lot of useful and technical information at www.caravancouncil.com.au/ Also shorten your shopping list by looking at www.facebook.com/groups/lemoncaravansinaus/

Tony Bev · Guru

Welcome to the forum, Val

As you say that you are not yet grey, or a nomad, I will assume that you are still eligible to enter the employment playground

If you wish, or if you are forced, to enter the employment playground, sometime in the future, you will more than likely have to stop in one place for an extended period of time

There may not be any free camps, near some employment playgrounds

If you get hold of a copy of Camps Australia Wide edition 9 (New edition comes out about February 2019)
It shows where a lot of free/donation/low cost/paid caravan park, camps are

Wikicamps download (less than $10), will show where there are free/donation/low cost, camps

Hope that you enjoy yourselves, when you start travelling

Valoren · Newbie

TonyBev Employment's a difficult thing for me. I have Asperger's syndrome along with a bunch of other things that come with being born pre 26 weeks so it makes participation in the mainstream workforce difficult. Especially with the job market as competitive as it is there's really no incentive for an employer to take on someone like me. I have to really think outside the box for employment options. When I have worked it's mostly been rather strange jobs. I was a reptile keeper at the Australian reptile park at one point before my symptoms got so bad. I've designed a mentoring course for young men on the spectrum and I've got three novels to my name. Weirdest thing I ever did was a brief stint as a crime scene/extreme cleaner. I survive on a DSP mostly but hopefully I can supplement that soon with royalties from my books when I pull my finger out of my rear and get them on the market. At the very least a CV seems like a great measure against homelessness (Been there - do not want to repeat experience)

Tony Bev · Guru

Valoren wrote:
TonyBev Employment's a difficult thing for me. I have Asperger's syndrome along with a bunch of other things that come with being born pre 26 weeks so it makes participation in the mainstream workforce difficult. Especially with the job market as competitive as it is there's really no incentive for an employer to take on someone like me. I have to really think outside the box for employment options. When I have worked it's mostly been rather strange jobs. I was a reptile keeper at the Australian reptile park at one point before my symptoms got so bad. I've designed a mentoring course for young men on the spectrum and I've got three novels to my name. Weirdest thing I ever did was a brief stint as a crime scene/extreme cleaner. I survive on a DSP mostly but hopefully I can supplement that soon with royalties from my books when I pull my finger out of my rear and get them on the market. At the very least a CV seems like a great measure against homelessness (Been there - do not want to repeat experience)

H Val

If you are travelling full time on the road, and no longer seeking/needing to go into the employment playground, then in my opinion it is six of one, and half a dozen of the other, concerning having a caravan, or motorhome.

I was thrown out of the employment playground at 61 years of age, due to a work related accident.
I never returned to work, as I was unable to drive a motor vehicle, until I was 66 years of age.
I can therefore feel just a little of what you are going through, employment wise

I did the lap as a solo, (as the wife did not want to come along), with an old (1978) pop top Viscount caravan, and an old (1994) Ford Falcon 6 cylinder car.
I was self-contained in respect that I had a pop up shower tent, and a porta pottie. I was on the road for five month, and never went into a caravan park.
I can therefore recommend the above combination

I believe (but I could be wrong), that the secret is to be adaptable.
If you can adapt to whatever vehicle you have, you will enjoy yourself

My current vehicle is a Jayco motorhome, on a 2006 Fiat Ducato.
I will not recommend this type of vehicle, as Fiat commercial workshops, and spare parts, are very few and far between, in Australia

I have come across travellers, who are on the old age or disability pension, in a variety of rigs, who are full time on the road.

Their mode of operation appears to be

They know how much they have to save, in regards to future rego/insurance/maintenance of their vehicle
They will religiously save this amount, each pension pay period
They know what their food/beer/wine bill will be for that area
They put this amount aside
What they have left over is fuel money, for the next part of their journey
They were all enjoying themselves

I wish you luck selling your books, and hope that if/when you get out on the road, you have a good time, with plenty of enjoyable road trips ahead of you

Valoren · Newbie

Thanks heaps for the advice guys. It helps to learn as much as you can from people in the know before you launch into any sort of venture. Are there any meet ups of people that are into caravaning in Sydney that would be worth attending?

Lily2018 · Senior Member

Valoren wrote:
Hi everyone, call me Val. I'm not grey yet or a nomad and I know absolutely nothing about caravaning. My missus is interested in the tiny house movement and I was considering if maybe a motor home or caravan might offer us greater flexibility down the line. After all a house on wheels had less problems (I assume) if you want to relocate. Looking forward to learning all I can from you all. Val.

Hi Val and welcome to the forum. As a fellow newbie I can say this is probably the best site for advice that I've found.

I have a home I'm looking to sell as it's simply too large for what I want now and like your wife I looked into the tiny house movement. I want a simple and no frills life. I agree with you though that buying a motorhome/caravan/whatever suits is my best option for now rather than a tiny home. It will give me the chance to travel wherever I would like to go, meet new people, enjoy life without the hassles of looking after a home base. Of course there will be problems to face but that's the same with anything we own. There's always work to be done.

I am still researching what motor home to buy and am looking to do a good lot of free camping mixed with caravan parks when required and staying with family.

All the best and let us know how you get on. Cheers Anne