Iveco motorhome with trailer - comments please.

Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 17:15

ThreadID: 104746 Views:4780 Replies:4 FollowUps:8

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MKO

We are looking at getting away for 12-18 months at the end of next year so are in the planning stage. We want to go offroad and be self reliant.Cape York, Gibb River etc. I love the North.

We had been looking at a landcruiser and a 20 - 22 foot offroad van such as Kedron.

After drivng around some roads in NSW and the Otways in Victoria I realise that you are not going to be able to tow a van into a lot of areas.

After lengthy discussions with the wife I am wondering if the Iveco Daily 4*4 with a motor home setup is a better way of going.

I am attracted to the iveco because of its off road ability.

On the iveco we would have bed, seating and kitchen. We could then tow a much smaller trailer with toilet/shower setup, boat and spare room. Also somewhere for water etc. I dont know how big a trailer but was thinking 12-16'. There shouldn't be much weight in it.

This gives us about 50%+ more space than towing a van.

I don't know how much this would affect the off road ability of the iveco having living areas on the back but I doubt it would make much difference. Similarly with towing a trailer behind I hope it would not notice it being there and not lose any manoeuvrability.

Also when we are home, with this setup we can just go somewhere without needing to hitch up a caravan etc its always ready to go for a weekend/week.

Any comments on how sensible this is are welcome.

Mark

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Reply By: Rick (S.A.) - Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 18:16

Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 18:16

Why not dispense with trailer altogether?
One less thing to worry about/ insure/ consider on tight corners/manoeuvrability/fix bearings on/buy tyres for/register.

Payload of Iveco daily is 2655 kg

ADD
100 L fuel tank (original is a paltry 90 L; diesel is approx 75 % weight of water + new tank weight) - 100kg
200 L water tank - 250kg (including new tank weight)
Custom alloy canopy with kitchen/bedding/standing room height/HWS/lights etc - 1100kg
decent fridge installed - 125 kg
passenger + driver - 175 kg
second spare tyre & rim with jib crane on rear of canopy- 100 kg
tools, compressor, etc - 50 kg
tucker - 50 kg
miscellaneous - 250 kg
motorised Boat loader on roof - 100kg
Boat on roof - 100 kg

TOTAL = 2,400 kg - under GVM

Use pop up shower tent + external click on fittings for shower head.

FWIW, a few mates [extremely experienced Outback drivers] have just test driven them & were very impressed with driver seating, performance, suitability for off road.

here's a website to explore http://www.goannatracks.com/Home/Iveco_Daily_4x4.html
Cheers

RM

AnswerID: 519819

Follow Up By: MKO - Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 18:52

Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 18:52

Thanks for the reply, very informative.

The trailer with ensuite was basically to make the wife happy :) and also room for extra stuff such as boat motor, rods and office. The boat on top of the iveco is going to be very high up.

Also, I wasn't sure exactly how long the canopy could be but I think it is 3m or 11 feet. A bit cramped.

Payload of iveco can also be increased to 3150kg but then need a truck licence, which I have.

Mark

FollowupID: 800091

Follow Up By: Rick (S.A.) - Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 20:53

Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 20:53

Yep, high up, which is why I suggested motorised. Climb up the ladder [which would be permanently mounted on rear or side of canopy], untie the boat, hop down & stand on the ground with remote control to lower it. May need skid rail guides or ???

I agree, a 3 m canopy would be tooooo squeezy.

Any way, it is an interesting concept & if you search on line you'll find motor homes in Europe etc on the Iveco Daily 4x4.

Good luck - what a dilemma ;)

RM

FollowupID: 800100

Reply By: toffytrailertrash - Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 19:10

Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 19:10

One very important thing to remember if you go to light truck and that is .00% blood alcohol at all times which can be difficult if you are touring.

Cheers

Merv

AnswerID: 519822

Follow Up By: Member - johnat - Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 20:12

Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 20:12

Missed that one!
You mean Light Rigid licence? That's the one which permits up to 4.5T (or thereabouts)
From NSW RMS - "A Light Rigid 'Class LR' covers a rigid vehicle with a GVM of more than 4.5 tonnes but not more than 8 tonnes. Any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9 tonnes GVM. Also includes vehicles with a GVM up to 8 tonnes which carry more than 12 adult including the driver and vehicles in class 'C'."

And, from the same source ... "Blood alcohol limits

A Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.02 applies to:

Drivers of vehicles of "gross vehicle mass" greater than 13.9 tonnes.
Drivers of vehicles carrying dangerous goods.
Drivers of public vehicles such as taxi or bus drivers.

A BAC of 0.02 can be reached after the consumption of only one standard drink (a middy of beer, a nip of spirits or a small glass of wine). This means that drivers subject to a 0.02 limit must not consume any alcohol before driving."

So the 0.00% is bull!

FollowupID: 800096

Reply By: PhilD - Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 21:47

Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013 at 21:47

MKO,
I am an owner of the Daily 4x4 and in the initial stages of building up an expedition style camper. Mine will be custom built as there are no manufacturers in Australia currently who are building them except Travel Trucks/Ridgeline.
I am building full height which you will need if putting a tinny on top, and that will be about 3 metres from the ground level, maybe 3.2 metres. I will be towing a 5 metre boat with mine, so I don't have that issue.
The Daily drives well with the 3 litre twin turbo, but bucks in the rear end if there is not enough weight on it.
I suggest you google Bimobil for an example of what you can do with them. Anything is possible, as with 3 locking diffs and 35s in my case, they are basically unstoppable. Everything can be done at a price!
If you would like more info pd@dewings.com.au.
Phil

AnswerID: 519833

Follow Up By: MKO - Thursday, Oct 17, 2013 at 10:38

Thursday, Oct 17, 2013 at 10:38

Thanks, I will definitely email you later.

One thing I noticed on the Bimobil site is that their units are 2m wide, while in Australia caravans etc can be 2.5m wide. A lot of width to lose.

Mark

FollowupID: 800134