Travelling in a ute - no caravan ... anyone done this?

Topaz · Member

Travelling in a ute - no caravan ... anyone done this?

markf · Senior Member

Topaz wrote:
Wondering if anyone has done this kind of trip - say a couple of months long at least - and solely stayed in accommodation along the way ... eg cabins, motels etc? We have a dual cab ute, with a canopy. As we would be bringing our small senior dog, we realise we would have fewer options, and would need to seek out pet friendly places.

Years ago, when we were looking for our first camper, a mate suggested that if we spent around $15k on a new camper we would be able to cover a heap of accommodation and for that amount we could do loads of motel / hotel / cabin hopping. We went down the camper route because we wanted the flexibility of being able to stay wherever we wanted - even a spot in a rest area. For us flexibility is the key and going down the motel / hotel / cabin route would remove a lot of the flexibility that the camper offers.

We got a cheap, REALLY cheap, rear fold camper and quickly decided that we really liked the camper option and soon upgraded to a new forward fold camper. For us that was a brilliant solution but for others maybe not so much.

Possum3 · Guru

Welcome to GN's Topaz, We have traveled carrying tent & air bed for months If you've got the right camping gear it can be great - Free-camps can be found using Wikicamps $10 for lifetime membership www.wikicamps.com.au/
Small dogs tend to be best travelling companions - do it.

Topaz · Member

Thanks very much Possum3 and markf for your replies. We do own a small older poptop - but I guess the thing that's putting us off towing it, is the prospect of battling with many, many others who will be seeking free camps and spots in caravan parks this year. As well as the actual towing itself, in unfamiliar places. (We're from Tassie).

Possum3 · Guru

Topaz wrote:
I guess the thing that's putting us off towing it, is the prospect of battling with many, many others who will be seeking free camps and spots in caravan parks this year. As well as the actual towing itself, in unfamiliar places. (We're from Tassie).

If you can travel around Tassie roads - they're no worse or better than any thing on the big island - Only advantage of bob-tailed is slight saving on fuel, easier parking and rear view vision. You will meet so many people out there you'll wonder why you hesitated - Hike, Bike, Car or Caravan - You're a long time under the ground so see as much on top of it as you can.

Topaz · Member

Possum3 wrote:

If you can travel around Tassie roads - they're no worse or better than any thing on the big island - Only advantage of bob-tailed is slight saving on fuel, easier parking and rear view vision. You will meet so many people out there you'll wonder why you hesitated - Hike, Bike, Car or Caravan - You're a long time under the ground so see as much on top of it as you can.

Thanks Possum3. Wise words there.

Whenarewethere · Guru

About 3 months is our limit. We have a tent but mostly sleep in the car & free camp most of the time.

bgt · Guru

We travelled the USA for 5 years in a pickup. Hotels etc. If you do the sums it can work out about the same as buying an RV. But it all depends on your expectations.

Craig1 · Guru

"cheap " motels now from $65 to $125 per night, some are the originals from 1950's, and look and smell like it. CP cabins seem to be at least $100 now.

bgt · Guru

Craige1 Australian motels would fail most standards in the USA. One of the reasons we bought an RV in Australia.

oldbloke · Guru

Topaz wrote:
Thanks very much Possum3 and markf for your replies. We do own a small older poptop - but I guess the thing that's putting us off towing it, is the prospect of battling with many, many others who will be seeking free camps and spots in caravan parks this year. As well as the actual towing itself, in unfamiliar places. (We're from Tassie).

Just take the pop top. I'm at a free camp on the murry River right now. Weather is perfect.

About 80 acres to ourselves. Weekends are busy but not so weekdays.

And SHMBO is thinking of going home.....sheesh

Bobdown · Guru

Topaz wrote:
Wondering if anyone has done this kind of trip - say a couple of months long at least - and solely stayed in accommodation along the way ... eg cabins, motels etc? We have a dual cab ute, with a canopy. As we would be bringing our small senior dog, we realise we would have fewer options, and would need to seek out pet friendly places.

My sister did Perth to Adelaide and return for 4 weeks some years ago, just a car, no tent, no van, no cooking equip etc and cost the two of them $5,000. They weren't happy with some rooms/motels, but averaged $120 per room.

We did it a few years later in a Motorhome, 9 weeks on the road, total cost fuel and food, $3,000 including $195 for Caravan Park fees (about 5 nights) and donation camps etc

Can be costly paying for accommodation every night.

Cheers Bob

peter67 · Guru

Here in Norseman I've just met a guy pedalling a push bike with throw over bags. He's come from Canberra and is going to Margaret River WA. 63yrs old and said he wild camps most nights and averages 150kms per day.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Even though we sleep in the car. We actually embarrassed ourselves.

One evening we realised that we had 7 different cheeses & 2 different coffee beans, we grind our own coffee, & ice cream.

The Life of Riley will creep up on you in the outback if you are not careful!

Radar · Guru

The other year we camped near some travellers in a Chrysler sedan towing a box trailer, they had been on the road for 10 months looking for somewhere to settle, camped a lot, cabins and motels.

I have read a lot of Australian writen books about people who have ridden road bikes, camels, light trucks, cars, all sorts of alternative transpost.

Myself back in 1967 left home in a 1948 Holden, seen a fair amount of NSW before returning to home.

There is no big deal, just do it.

penny1 · Member

In 1987 our family of 4 (2 boys 7 & 8 yo) with modified twin cab ute, swags, tuckerbox, esky, 2 suitcases - for 3 months 1/2 lap up the east coast, down the centre. We all remember it as one of the best trips ever. Less is best.

Eaglemax · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
About 3 months is our limit. We have a tent but mostly sleep in the car & free camp most of the time.

Same here, we towed a 11ft caravan for 13 weeks doing a basic lap of the mainland. At the end we built our 2nd van 16x7ft with ensuite for more comfort.

Tony

Topaz · Member

Whenarewethere wrote:
About 3 months is our limit. We have a tent but mostly sleep in the car & free camp most of the time.

I'd love to read more about your experiences. The idea of doing what you describe, is really appealing, as I love the "KISS" philosophy. I just wonder if we'd be too uncomfortable - are getting on a bit!

gdayjr · Senior Member

I spent just one week travelling around British Colombia in Canada 3 yrs ago.

I rented an almost new Jeep with 750 km on the clock. Returned it with 2800km on it

I slept in the back of it for 6 of those 7 nights, and found it pretty comfortable.

I was not camping though, i ate in cafes and takeaways etc, so traveled pretty light.

A sleeping bag and a borrowed pillow was all i took with me.

I think it can be done pretty easy in most countries.

I am 18 months off living on the road full time, but this will be in a 23 ft caravan, and a big Iveco van prime mover.

I do intend to to use the van as a bit of a camping base as well, for when i want to get a bit more off the bitumen.

-- Edited by gdayjr on Friday 21st of May 2021 10:02:32 AM

Topaz · Member

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for your reply.

KJB · Guru

A great "cost effective", stress free/relaxing way to travel in Western Europe and North America. My wife and I have travelled approx. 75,000 kms in North America and 25,000 kms. in Western Europe in the past 10 years using Hire Cars (SUV's with unlimited mileage ) and some simple cheap camping gear (used when maybe no accommodation available (rare) .

No Bookings and no Plans - just adventure. The only Booking /Appointment is the Return Flight to Aust. -

We are waiting for "travel bans" to lift so we can go back and continue ........

bgt · Guru

KJB we did the same in the USA for about 5 years with just a pickup. (We owned it). Went to WalMart and bought all sorts of stuff. Threw it in the back and hit the road. Hotels most the time. When it came to return home we took all our stuff to Goodwill and gave it to them. Tools and all. Then sold the pickup. I would do it again in a heart beat. We turned left when we felt like it and right when the weather looked bad to the left. No destination. Just the airport to fly home. Once we didn't know where we were going. On our map we had marked a great Armish bakery. It was 700 miles away. But that gave us a direction.

I did the figures and buying a vehicle and staying in hotels worked out about the same as buying an RV.

KJB · Guru

bgt wrote:
KJB we did the same in the USA for about 5 years with just a pickup. (We owned it). Went to WalMart and bought all sorts of stuff. Threw it in the back and hit the road. Hotels most the time. When it came to return home we took all our stuff to Goodwill and gave it to them. Tools and all. Then sold the pickup. I would do it again in a heart beat. We turned left when we felt like it and right when the weather looked bad to the left. No destination. Just the airport to fly home. Once we didn't know where we were going. On our map we had marked a great Armish bakery. It was 700 miles away. But that gave us a direction.

I did the figures and buying a vehicle and staying in hotels worked out about the same as buying an RV.

Yes , a whole lot more cost effective, enjoyable and stress free than Group Tours. (not being continually driven by an Itinerary, time schedules ,accommodation bookings etc. ) And no "middleman " Tour Company - to eat into your hard earned money , so you can stay longer, travel further and see and experience more.

And was the bread good......?

bgt · Guru

KJB it's a long story. One hundred miles up the road I found myself in ER. Almost never came out!! So after 2 weeks I was allowed to leave but had to head back to Australia asap. And we weren't interested in the bread. Cakes!!! If anyone ever sees an Armish bakery stop.