Does anybody else hate grey nomads with dirty great big caravans?

Looking to make a few friends eh Peter hahaha

There was a documentary on gray haired nomads on ABC while back and they seem to do a lot of good.

They proved short term labor for many caravan parks and road houses

They spend a lot in remote towns

There is a entire industry based around them from books to companies supplying them with the good they need

they even helped with border protection and even drug smugglers with eyes and ears camping in remote spots

There were a lot of positives given in this story and I can say places like where I live Broken Hill get a of money spent in the town by them .

Ok yes there are some negative like the speed but your on holiday sit back enjoy the country side no real need to rush off and get to your next town as fast as possible

Just remember one thing Peter... one day you'll be old.

Peter,
Johnny Cash wrote a song for you titled Cry Cry Cry.

i don't actually hate them but i do get p"""""d being stuck behind them. BUT, if and when i ever join them, then i'll be doing the same, enjoying the country. you'll be able to pick me out on the road, a crusty old bloke with his middle finger extended. actually you can probably pick me with that description anyway.
cheers - bb
ps "horn broken, watch for finger"

Hi there. Is it Peter or PITA????

Whilst I do not hate grey nomads (I am grey myself) I do have issues understanding why when they are traveling 1000's of kilometers in a convoy they have to do it 'nose to tail' a la one dog sniffing anothers posterior fashion. This is very frustrating for those wishing to overtake especially where there are limited overtaking opportunities and it is a practice I find very selfish. In WA it is illegal for combinations exceeding 7.5m in length to travel closer than 200m apart (except when overtaking) however most seem oblivious to this clause in the Road Traffic Act 1974.

G'day Peter F9 and all others

Well mate, I'm an grey haired old bloke and I too tow a caravan and just quietly the wife and I returned home after a little while away, we only covered a piddely 2780 kilometres in total over a 15 day period.

Conservatively we spent around three thousand dollars in total, but I did spend up big buying four new tyres for the Land Cruiser and a small fortune went on accommodation at an outer suburban caravan/resort/park home park north of Perth.

We had no real choice in the destination or the reason for the journey, so it wasn't a bona fide holiday, but that's just part of life and living 1200 kilometres away from what most people call normal.

We free camped two nights on the trip down from the Pilbara, only one free camp night on the return journey with a caravan park stay for a single night and that was because it was bitterly cold and we could run a small heater to keep warmish.

We loved every aspect of the open road journey, put up with the loopy drivers in the suburbs and Perth City, but I can honestly say the only thing that caused me (as the driver) any concern were in fact the seemingly light weight vehicles towing what appear to be "large" caravans, I think if it were to go pear shaped for any of these bigger van and smallish vehicles it would be fairly dramatic, luckily no such drama was witnessed and I was the only bugger doing less than the posted speed limits.

Safe travels : Joe

I dont "hate" them - there is probably enough hate around already to want to add to the load. But although we are well and truly grey ourselves, we do wonder at those in big vans who travel with all the mod cons (and then some), but who still seem to think they are "camping". Camping as we understand it is about simplicity, getting back to basics and so on - a far cry from 5 stars on wheels.

And yes we have seen a few stunning incidents - and not just from those in big vans. The lady at a GRR roadhouse wanting to buy pickled walnuts, the lady at an Esperance CP that couldn't face the day until she had ironed all the clothes, including undies, the caravanner somewhere between Derby and Halls Creek that spent lunchtime trying to get his TV antenna adjusted. You really have to wonder why some people bother to leave home.

But what really gets us are people who cant seem to think out simple "problems" that inevitably crop up on the road - how to heat water, how to make a comfortable bed, how to read a map - the list goes on. We are supposed to have a first world education system but to watch some people they haven't learned much either from school or life. Its enough to make you cry - or laugh!

Cheers,

Val

Hate is a strong word but I really dont understand why two retirees and lapdog need such massive caravans. I cant help but think most of it is all about the Jones's.

But I guess they're free to make the choice just as we're free to have an opinion.

Safe travels everyone.
And therein lies the problem for me; I have seen soo many near misses due to Grey Nomads sitting on 90km/hr on long outback roads;
Some do the right thing and let the roadtrains past; but others (and in my opinion the majority) just don't give a damn.
I have seen a GN towing their caravan at 90 with two roadtrains sitting behind. I was behind them again, could not believe how inconsiderate the caravan was. Then comes the faster cars from behind, after an hour getting so frustrated that they attempt to overtake the lot!
Guys, be considerate, I know you want to sit on 90 but consider others want (and are allowed to) sit on 100 or 110 where the speed limits apply!
Or, you get two of them sitting behind one other making it hard for anyone to pass!

Then, when you get to busier roads such as Bruce Highway, they sit there with probably a km of cars/trucks behind them. Now you have 50 people getting frustrated, why can't they just be considerate and pull over?

CJ

Hey, I'm 100% with you Peter.

There I am tootling along at oohhh about 85 90 kph minding my own business, 4 plus 2 in tow, get to where I want to camp for the night and all the good spots are taken..grrrrrrrrr. Bloody grey nomads.
Don't get me started on the cost of fuel and booze. Don't these inconsiderate shop owners know we are on a tight budget. Transport costs...HA. Have a look at my transport costs.
As to the gluttons that want their bread toasted in a separate toaster...tough. I got my breadmaker, toaster, expresso machine, hot water system, air con, full cook top and oven, TV, radio tape deck CD thumb drive thingo, fridge, freezer,,,um...Oh yeh...and a 6KVA generator to drive that lot. So don't expect me to go more than snails pace when we come to a hill. Boy, you wanna see me pick up speed on the down hill run though with all that weight on board...hehehe.
Of course it takes a bit longer to fill the tanks at the servo. I mean you try pumping 360 liters into the tanks from a normal nozzle, then clean the slow bugs off the windscreen, check the tyre pressures, dip the oil, etc, and then go in and wait behind the bloody line of grey nomads that want their skimmed milk milkshake shaken not stirred so you can order your hamburger...hmmm maybe a toasted ham sanger....or possibly the steak sandwich..so many options, so little time and that bloke parked behind the van tooting his horn isn't helping.

That's it the van's going on the market and the swag's going on the ute...lol

Cheers
Pop

I've lost count of the number of times I've been toodling along at 90ks and had cars pass me at 110ks +. I finally pull in for the night somewhere hundreds of Ks further along and find the dudes who passed me miles back either camping in the same area or arriving five/ten minutes later. Doesn't make sense to me. Travel at 90ks all day and you travel 720ks, travel at 100ks all day and you travel an extra 80ks, is it really worth the effort and stress. 100ks is the limit not the target.

Having just completed a 3 month lap of Oz with my camper trailer, I feel qualified to comment.

While I don' t have too many problems with them on the road, I still wonder WHY they have to have a minimum 18 foot and typically 21foot van.

My wife is grateful as she now has no trouble using the laundry at caravan parks as most now have a washing machine! Aboard. I recall a bloke at Kununurra telling me they had a disaster as the washing machine had broken! A bloke at 80 mile beach in WA told me he had great trouble selling his 16 footer, as everyone wanted a bathroom and washing machine.

I have been looking at smaller vans for when opening and closing the camper trailer becomes harder but my wife says why , we are quite comfortable in our hard floor camper trailer.

I can't help but think it is princesses driving this obscenity. " I wont go UNLESS I have a toilet washing machine etc" . has anyone ever seen a woman emptying atoilet?

I am grateful for my wife who is happy with our 17 year old camp'o ' matic with not even a winch to its name. She says why spend money on a depreciating asset that will just sit there most of the time, jewels like her are few and far between as she constantly reminds me.
Regards Philip A

If I'm reading this correctly anyone who has a caravan over, lets say, 17', must be an idiot. Reminds of a saying I heard once: Any idiot can be uncomfortable, not all are smart enough to be comfortable. Not all are comfortable in a tent, not all are comfortable in a 23 footer. I don't have a 23 footer (would if I could afford it though), I have a 12' Avan camper it suits us, same as a 23 footer suits someone else, or a tent suits someone else: Their money, their choice, their life!

Thanks Peter, I'm a caravanner but not a 4 bedroom one, but I do agree 100% with your advice for the whingers. Well said,

Travelling south from Alice Springs last week, I was amazed at the “Silver Tsunami” heading up the Stuart Highway towing every kind of mobile accommodation known to man. Caravans, trailers, slide-ons, 5th wheelers, Roof top tents, you imagine it, someone was pulling it. OK I admit I was a bit glad to be going the other way and not towing for a change (The quad stayed at home this trip) but I was heartened to see so many older Aussies getting out there. Yes there is the slow driving, the inevitable disaster here and there like the odd blown tyre or sheered wheel nuts I stopped to help,but by and large, they were all chasing the sun north in a regimented but safe manner.

I admire their sacrifice in leaving safer climes, without realising the hardships ahead....not being able to get a double decaf chai soy latte with lemon twist at Glendambo! I'm comforted though in knowing they’ll still spend their dwindling pension on the unleavened banana bread (toasted) instead, making the Israeli backpacker chick who managed to escape from the Kibbutz and now flipping soy sausages at the BP roadhouse feel valued.

Imagine their hardship at not getting audible reception of Macca on Sunday morning!!! Strewth, they’ll have to break out the ambient rainforest music OR their worn copy of Johnno W singing “True Blue” to recover. Thankfully they'll have Telstra Bluetick 4G and be able to comfort themselves with Doug T's Sunday history post (Bless you Doug).

Cut them some slack I say. They are simply you and me at a different stage of life and above all, they are still out there doing it! The little extra time it takes you to negotiate a path through the aluminium clad mobile apartment block means little in life's rich tapestry (I like trotting that one out ;-)

Their time, effort and money supports many a roadside business, the outback economy in general and above all, enlightens and introduces the concept of separate toasters, faux meat products and clever ways to disguise cask wine in areas where it's sorely needed! Above all, It keeps them hearty, hale and enjoying life.

Like the sands through the hour glass, so are the......oh bleep , I forgot!

Hi Peter,

Nice to know it is 'tongue in cheek' however to brand all Grey Nomads with a broad brush is not nice at all.

Sure, a lot of people do not subscribe to your theory, and a lot do....all depends on a persons perspective on what applies to them.

As for us, have travelled this country with all sorts of 'living arrangements...panel van with two kids + dog/2man tent ---up market to 4man tent and 2kids plus dog....camper van +2kids and dog...small caravan plus kids and dog...........all the way down/or up to/ large caravan plus.

Many years, and travels with just a swag and basics have led my wife and myself to a
decent caravan and 4wd tow vehicle.

We tow our Kedron behind the F250 at whatever the road conditions determine.....
up to the limit.......and it is advised by the factory to tow the Kedron at 100km ph....MAX

If you really, really have a problem traveling behind me..........SHOUT OUT on uhf
and I will gladly pull over and let you blast past.

Catch up with you at the next comfort stop and you can buy me........

Oh and I do not whinge about any of your above;)))

No smiles Peter..


rgds
Michael

G.day Pal

Yep, we have had a few 'testing trips' and am pleased to report all is good....
as you know, I am at ease in a swag -with minimal showers- as I am in a 5star bush camp!!!!!
Soon off the HOB to see the Whales and then toodle up to Toowoomba for family stuff...

Have almost got the Effie to scrub standards, hoping for a trip next year ;))))))))))))))

Mum and I are good and sorry to have missed you on the way through..Love to Vick
and will catch you very soon.

..PS spoke to JDUB tother day, hope to catch up with Scotty and Gab............

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

NJ

The thing that pees me off is these barstewards with all the facilities demand sites near the amenities block. When I rock up in a small van without a shower and dunny I'm stuck up in the back blocks.

Remember folks...the cold weather has set in...the school holidays will soon be over...so the turtle migration season will hit full swing. ( slow and carrying their homes on their backs).

I have done a couple of short highway trips in the last few days and the advance party is well and truly on the road for the northern migration.

If you are traveling north next week..get on the road real early.

cheers

Are you saying I should wash my caravan when in the outback Peter F9?


Motherhen

That's another thing I notice.
A high proportion of GNs seem to be obsessed with washing their car and van regardless of whether they are dirty. Step ladders come out and there they are every day washing.

I guess the behemoths and white 200 cruisers are worth lots of money, but I commented to my wife while at AFAIR Cable Beach, as we walked past half a dozen washing away.
GNs must be the most car proud of any sector of the community.

The 90/110 comment struck a chord with me. Although I don't generally have any problem, I came across a few of these between Brisbane and Sydney ., southbound. And it is really annoying , but not restricted to GNs at all.
I once was business traveling in NSW with a guy who told me he varied his speed all the time to just cure the boredom. I almost jumped across the seat to throttle him.
Regards Philip A

Peter

Thanks for a good laugh (gluten free toasters!)

All I can say, (and what little hair there is is very grey) is "stop the flow of bitumen".

Bob

I drive an F350 towing a 32' van complete with 3 bedrooms a bathroom and ensuite.
This behemoth cruises at 120kph and it really gives the gripes when some stupid non grey nomad in a 4WD and swag sits on 100kph slowing me down.
Get the hell out of my way or else.
And yes, I know that speed is illegal in most states, but the best fuel economy is at that speed and what I pay in speeding fines is less than the price of fuel I save.
I use an international driving license and the police generally don't waste their time in tickets, so it's rare occasion when I can't avoid the fine.
If someone is driving slower than me, I just wait for a wide verge and pass on the left side, the stones being flung through their windscreen should educate them into letting others pass in the future.
As for parking the van near the toilet block, the smell from that is better than the black exhaust stink from all the Landcruisers and Patrols doddering along at 100kph, so it's a refreshing change of odour.
If you want to get somewhere faster than me, take a plane or charter a helicopter, don't whine about my choice of speed.
As far as cooking Gluten free bread, I found most places will deep fry it for me, so a dedicated GR toaster isn't required.
Cheers

I never went away on holiday during the school holidays.... screaming & yelling & they were the parents!!!! I decided to go away after or between school holidays....bloody screaming & yelling They were the grey nomads without hearing aids or they had turned them off or down!! My "pet hate" people towing off road camper trailer or small caravans with a Commodore or Falcon. They could travel at the posted speed limit but NO I am doing 80 because I save fuel even though their vehicle could tow the trailer/van at 100. Did someone just yell....INCOMING!!!

Well we left Alice this morning with our mobile armchair behind and traveled up to Tennant creek. At the scary speed of 90kph I held up nobody for more than a few hundred metres. What did really irk me was I had to pass 2 camper trailers traveling slower than myself, bugger I had to think a bit, but with skill and precision I was able to accomplish this. Bloody inconsiderate camper trailers, one even had the hide to talk to me on the uhf and ask for fuel prices around Tennant Creek. I also passed 3 cars who must have been smoking Hooter by the speed they were traveling at.

In the whole 515 Kilometre trip about 15 vehicles passed me and of those 3 passed me twice, an NT copper in a paddy wagon passed me 3 times and he even waved each time (hope he wasn't cross with me). I find it funny most of this section is unlimited speed and here is me at a piddly 90kph virtually not being passed by anyone.

The biggest inconvenience was the missus wanting to use our gold-plated loo. I know what I am going to do is HATE her. Trouble is I can't hate anyone, unless they do something really really bad to me or my family.

I knew it was a wind up when I saw mention of the nomads buying burgers and steak sangas at the roadhouse ---
everyone knows they pull up in the best shady spot out the front, top up with jerry cans filled at the last major centre that will get them too the next, then come into the road house, use the dunnys and grab things like salt and pepper sachets which they take to the van and make up sangas using the bread and cold meat bought from the last centre and wash it down with a latte from the in van latte machine before carrying on to just short of the next major centre where they cram in vans touching each other in the closest overnight stopping bay they can find and complain about the high costs of the roadhouse and how crowded the caravan parks are

I live in Alice and its entertaining watching these 3 bedroom houses make their way through town trying to find a parking spot...Wife and I bush camp with a swag and billy....and go where only the locals know :-)

I can't believe the judgemental, holier than thou attitude of a lot of the posters in this thread.
Some of the people that you are so much smarter than have most likely worked hard all their lived & paid taxes that have been paying your dole & "disability" pensions.
Others may not even own houses & their vans are their only home because their bloodsucking kids have drained all their resources.
Maybe when you fly past them with your 6" lift & illegal wheels they probably just think, there goes another bogan!

Peter.
Obviously you are a Truckie on your four week annual leave.
We are under 60 and when we hit the road for months at a time and we tow our 25' caravan. It's great mate. Plenty of room, has a queen size bed and shower, loo and many other comforts of home. That's why we have it because we are away for lengthy periods.
We know that fuel is costly in many spots and therefore we sit on 80kmph to save a little fuel consumption and carry 40ltrs on top of our 2 fuel tanks in the Landcruiser, and yes it's WHITE. Travelling at 80kmph also helps to see the sights for a little longer along the way.
We are not in a hurry to get freight from A to B or seeing Uluru and Kings Canyon in 7 days. The road is for all of us and you have to put up with what is happening when you are on it. Don't do the inland H'way from Pt Hedland to Perth mate because you are constantly held up or stopped to make way for the HUGE rigs going to and from the mines. Took us 7 days. Loved it!
Don't get me wrong we do leave the bitumen and store the van when ever we want to explore a little deeper and that's when we get out the Tent.
Nothing wrong with big vans my friend, it's the individual driver that is the problem. There are heaps towing small vans or heck even driving B-Double's out there that shouldn't be on the road because they are reckless, impatient or just plain bad drivers.
I suggest you take a trip to the USA. We were there for 3 mths last year and the amount of lengthy 5th wheelers we saw on the road over there was staggering. Made our 25' van look like a matchbox. As time goes by you will probably find there will be way more of them on our roads that there are at the moment.
Anyway we all have our own opinions on vans, campers, tents, RV's etc etc. We should celebrate variety and the fact that we are able to travel this great country of ours in any way we choose.
Hopefully your next trip will be less stressful putting up with the "NOMADS" :)

Never thought of myself as a GN, but it seems I have just joined, got my van & wheels & just come back from my first trip & yes I washed both when I got home. Both units cost me a lot of money & I see nothing wrong with looking after them.

I don't have a big van (18'), it weighs around 2 tonne, it is my first big unit though, I have got to say that those little caravan wobbles, going down a hill or when B-doubles go hurtling pass can be daunting, on some roads me & the car were comfortable at 90kph, but on the freeways I noted I was doing the speed limit (110), maybe still getting used to it, I guess this thread is TinC, but TBH, I will travel at the speed that I feel comfortable with or the car dictates at the time.

Some of you must give the "P" platers hell:)

Next year, I will be joining the travelling show around aus & were certainly looking for some comforts, a bed, a toilet, smll kitchen, fridge & the ability to free camp in the van, you don't want them then fine, but me & the wife do.

Oh BTW, I have budgeted about $40k for the trip, so I will be doing my bit for the economy.

Cheers

Good thread. Havent seen to many threads with over 100 replies.
Maybe the next thread could be on which state has the worst drivers ......

just got home from town for a few farm parts, my líl Suzuki soft top would not get over 80kph flat strap against a howling headwind (not towing) . backed off to 75kph to make it easier on motor , was on a very buisy hwy with miners and travellers going to and fro, held no one up anyone who wanted to pass could- no one stressed. everyone to his own speed (legaly) and own towrig I say.

Peter, ( PITA )

Australia is such a huge country there's plenty of room for people who wish to enjoy the space and take time to appreciate our great country. No need to rush,chill.

PITA, You sound like a very caring ,sharing sort of person why don't you puk off to Bali and join other bogans of your ilk and have a great time!

Rangiephil replied:


"While I don' t have too many problems with them on the road, I still wonder WHY they have to have a minimum 18 foot and typically 21foot van"

Probably the same reason many young people with small families insist they need a McMansion with 4 bedrooms, study, 3 bathrooms, theatre room, rumpus room, 3 TV's, 4WD to take the kids to school etc.

We have a 23 footer - cos we can and I do empty the loo

I don’t know why everybody is getting so anti about their little pet hates. I can picture some of the whingers here, sitting in their cars, banging on the steering wheel, yelling obscenities at everyone, so stressed out they’re ready to pop a valve.. Comical if it so disturbing.

Motorists who speed up once they get to a passing lane or sit 20kph under the limit, and other such annoyances that have been mentioned are a rarity. Far more prevalent are farmers driving their tractors from paddock to paddock, tractors/utes towing mobile silos, low loaders moving houses – big deal – it doesn’t happen that often.

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the ‘City Truckies’. Quite often you see someone sitting on 60/80 in a 60/80 zone with some idiot in a fully laden heavy or semi only metres off their bumper. Then you get the ones stuck halfway across a traffic lighted intersection and others that insist on parking their trucks across your driveway or those that stop in the middle of the road while they unload – now that is what you call inconsiderate.

Yes, they are a pain in the butt:-)

The last sentence from the O.P. tells me that this is a Troll, and a lot of people have fallen for it. I have been a Grey Nomad for the last year, I cannot help smiling as the O.P. has hoped for! Regards G.T.