What 2 buy for 1 year on the road???

Yeah, LC is at the top of my wish list!
Trailer maybe something like a 2020 Market Direct Campers Explorer Forward Fold...
Definitely suitable for off-road use.

Yeah, it's also an idea...
But I have problems with sleeping and need enough protected space around me to get up and walk around a bit in the night.
I thought about a big tent, but it's too much work...

Most Troopy campers allow sleeping downstairs on a single bed as well as (or instead of) upstairs in a double.
The big advantage (in addition to their ability to go any place) is that they also allow you to live inside if necessary to hide from lousy weather or plague insects.
Set up time is almost zero. Quicker than any trailer rig.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

I have travelled this country long and wide, I am yet to find a place I could not tow a well built trailer. I know you don't like them Peter, but that doesn't make a trailer a worthless investment.

Just sayin.

Steve in Kakadu, my experience differs. I do have a well built trailer, probably one of the best, if not THE best for off road. It is quite exceptional where we can take it, & it is fair to say that it has managed everywhere we have taken it to date. However there have certainly been limitations, mainly on very tight tracks. There have been a number of occasions when we have walked a track to check it out first & been glad that we did as we found a camp spot just large enough for a single vehicle to turn around but insufficient for us, even if we were to unhitch first. To be fair this number of occasions has not be high, but the experiences have seen us pass the end of other tracks because of the *possibility* we may be unable to turn around, which can be frustrating. For us towing still makes sense, but there have certainly been times when I have looked enviously at single vehicle campers. On the other hand we have also managed to get into a few spots which Peter would be unable to access with his OKA due to height, but I also look at that & similar with envy at times too. Every vehicle choice is a compromise. What I want is a Tardis like single vehicle - no bigger than a standard 4wd wagon on the outside but the size of a comfy expedition vehicle on the inside. Unless anyone has a wand they can magic one up for me, I'll stick with our Tvan for the time being & accept it has some small limitations.

Just me.
It's hard to find someone who wants to / can travel this great country for such a long time and who also fits to you ;)

Heiner

They look like fun :)
But what is important to me: can I stand in it? (186cm)
And is there enough storage space for a year of travel?

Heiner

Plenty of stand-up room, and plenty of storage. Not much walk around space, but a little bit.
You'll be so comfortable you will sleep soundly and not need to wander around in the night !!

Cheers
Jim

You can't cook outside with an Ultimate, but you can with "Chinese" or other campers with o/s kitchens.
I have both campers, and they have good/not good points.
Has the perfect camper been built yet?
Safe travels when you get here.
TonyT

Actually Tony, we often cook outside, with a portable camp gas two burner. Just carry it in the spacious front area.
It's nice to have the option.

Cheers
Jim

Apologies Jim.
Precise use of language was never my strong point.
Cheers
TonyT

Chinese campers are made to a spec designated by the company who plans to sell them here in Oz. I bought a second hand one , very cheap, and threw $3000 at upgrading suspension, batteries, plumbing , electrical and bits and pieces. It will go anywhere any ausiie made $40000+ camper will go and has the latest in quality fittings. All this for $20,000 and it looks brand new. Austrack TelegraphX..has an great reputation (but does need a few issues fixed like most vehicles/campers sold nowadays). Buy second hand and you,ll save heaps. Will certainly last you 50000klms and you wont loose much on the resale as it is already secondhand. You wont need to cook inside...if you do buy a caravan. Your off on an adventure and if planned properly inclement weather shouldn,t be an issue.

Tow vehicle...get a good second hand Pajero. Like driving a car and will go anywhere a landcruiser or patrol will go at half the cost.

Tvan have an outside kitchen and will go anywhere the tow vehicle will go.

Yeah, I also think it's great when I open the hood and not just see a black box :)

Heiner

Yes, I really like the LC70 workmate :)
And that together with an Ultimate Camper is a perfect duo.

Heiner

That's exactly how I think.
Have a base and then start from there for small tours.

I think I'm right about that.

Whether the LC 70 or the series 100 or 200 depends on what I can get for my money when the time comes.

I hope that the government will reopen the borders for tourists at the end of September, then my plan to start in 03/2021 could come true :)

G'day Heiner.

Oz border opening internationally 9/20... Good luck with that.

My guess is no intnl flights for tourists into Oz all of 2021. Most countries haven't even hit 'first wave'. Let alone subsequent storms...!.

Watch out for the Trump Tulsa wave coming near USA midwest very shortly; which will hit our USA visiting rellies plans with a cold splash thereafter.

Cheers (I think).

JB.

Really?
I don't think the car will work in rough terrain.
Maybe for the normal tracks and some gravelroads but I wouldn't dare to do the big red for example. Or even on the GRR I would have reservations.
And it's not a Toyota...

Heiner

"And it's not a Toyota..."

Hmm, well I lost eight days of travel time due to various mechanical issues with my hire troopy last year. They actually brought a replacement vehicle from Alice Springs to Coober Pedy. Then that turned out to have problems that required attention before I could finally get back on the road.

G'day mate,
yep, thats what I'm preparing for: 03/2021 !!!
Look @ my attached picture :)

cheers
Heiner

.
Geez Mate, you missed out Big Red and the Simpson Desert!
And don't forget that Tasmania is part of Australia! lol
Never mind, seems you will experience The Wet up north!

Agree with Allan B, you missing out on some great country by not visiting the Simpson & Tassie.

Macca.

I f you are wanting to cross the Simpson Desert you will find it North and west of Birdsville and not where that map has put it.
Enjoy the preparations,
Graham.

That looks like an absolutely brilliant trip to me. You're going to criss-cross the Aussie landscape and see and experience an awful lot. Take your time when you can ...... it's easy to exhaust yourself.

And there'll be places to come back to next time.

Cheers
Jim

Hope for the best(03/2020), plan for the worst, ( minimum post July 2020)

This post has been read by the moderation team and has been moderated due to a breach of The Double-up Post Removed Rule .

Forum Moderation Team

G'day mates,

Big Red is near Birdsville? So it's on my plan,
Don't take the plan too seriously, it's a CanDo :)
So also Simpson is on my bucketlist...

??? Wet in 08/09 up to the north??? Thought that this time is the best to visit Darwin,...???

09/20.. is what the government says today. Maybe it's he beginning of 2021.
Hopefully March at the latest.

cheers
Heiner

Yes Heiner, you are correct, August/September are not usually “wet” in the North.

Macca.

.
Yep, the "Build-Up" to the "Wet" starts in November but from Heiner's map I cannot see him clear of Darwin before Jan or Feb. Rather than a Landcruiser, he would need a Formula One to achieve his plan.
Still, nothing beats ambition.

It takes at least 5 years to acclimatise to Darwins/Top End humdity. After that you can only just tolerate it. Many are sick of it even after 20 years! From October to March is not a time for tourists. Unless in an air conditioned van, prepared to be rained in for weeks, have a cyclone shelter, be aware most tourist spots are shut and the humidity will see mould growing under your armpits!!

G'day mate,

I dont understand Allan!?!?

As you can see on my map...

July - Pilbara
August - Halls Creek GRR, ...
September - Darwin Kakadu, Litchfield,...
October - Palmer River, Cairns, maybe The Tip,...
November - Brisbane and Surroundings...

So, what do you mean with "I cannot see him clear of Darwin before Jan or Feb."???

Cheers
Heiner

.
Heiner, I just mean that I believe your plan is too ambitious. The distance will leave you little time to explore local interests. I would expect that you will not reach the Northern regions before the onset of the Tropical Wet season. You may be better to head directly from Perth up the coast to Broome then via The Kimberley to reach Darwin before The Wet.
From there you could reconfigure the rest of the trip to travel the lower latitudes in the hotter months and reach Sydney by your planned departure time.

I found the problem...

The first planning started in January.
After I decided to start in March I just renamed the first few months in the plan and left the rest as it was.
So the journey ends not in December but in March.
I have to renew the plan !!

Sorry mates...

cheers
Heiner

"09/20.. is what the government says today. Maybe it's he beginning of 2021.
Hopefully March at the latest."

You're definitely an optimist! :)

Personally, I wouldn't think of international travel before 2022. JMHO.

Not sure it'll help however ours is here https://discoverthedreaming.blogspot.com - we live in Colombia, and brought our own vehicle to Australia. We're not trailer-minded.

G'day mate,

TVAN looks great but it's definitely too expensive for me.

cheers
Heiner

.
G'day Cuppa,

I agree with all you say but would add something......

Our Troopy contains a double-size bed internally with very comfortable 150mm foam mattress.
No body mods. No lifted or pop-up roof. It is possible to sit up in bed although that may be a problem if you are over 6ft tall. Beneath the bed are drawers and storage.
All clothing is in flexible overhead storage at each side. Limited but adequate.
Reading lights and fans overhead. All mod cons installed. But no TV !!!

Table and gas stove quickly sets up outside for cooking. Close to the drawers and water taps. Water is in three tanks also under bed. No chance of being damaged by rocks or stakes. No pump needed.

If the need be, we can even climb from the seats into bed without opening a door!
Opening out from over the back doors is a generous sized canvas awning should the weather be inclement due to sun or rain. LED lighting is installed at the body back and under the awning.

It affords all the comfort of a camper-trailer without the towing. But yes, if you're in company, you do need to pull your jeans on while lying on your back on the bed! If you can't manage that then you shouldn't be out there! lol

G'day Allan.

Sounds good and all when I read it quickly, but what are the contingencies when one is caught a bit short and needs to get out tout suite...?.

Just conjecturing...

JB.

Hi Allan B,

I know it is off subject, but any chance of some pictures of your set up?

Macca.

Allan B, in response to your last paragraph-

“ But yes, if you're in company, you do need to pull your jeans on while lying on your back on the bed! If you can't manage that then you shouldn't be out there! lol”

‘Tis a serious issue for me with neck & back issues! Having to get dressed in a sitting position was the primary reason we gave up on the otherwise great Shippshape rooftop tent we had. Glad you added the ‘lol’ as our 3rd anniversary of being ‘out there’ comes around in about a week’s time. ?? But I have looked at single vehicle set ups with some envy from time to time. A friend in Kununurra has the nicest ‘79 series custom camper.

Heiner, TVAN’s are a comparable price to the Ultimate campers. You can buy an older one in good condition for $20k upwards & sell it after your trip for much the same as you paid for it. A beaten up Chinese cheapie used off road would virtually be a ‘write off’ . Older Tvans are just as capable as the new ones, probably more so because they don’t have all the extra weight (but still the same basic design). We have a 2010 Mk2. Paid $31k for it about 5 years ago & would still expect to get $28k for it today. They are not a perfect design (nothing is) but whilst there are many alternatives on the market, nothing, with the exception of the Ultimate comes close in ability, capability, & durability. The choice between the two is really a personal preference as to which you value most - ease of setting up/packing up or indoor cooking. Yes both mean a higher initial cost over cheaper more cumbersome camper trailers, but at the end of your trip, that cost reduces to virtually zero $’s.

.
Cuppa and John,

Yes, it does require some flexibility. And, as said, "There is no perfect setup."
With time I will need to move to a more sedate rig I guess.

"Contingencies"?....... Willpower John, pure willpower! lol

.
Macca,
Strangely, I have never taken photos of my Troopy setup. Must get around to it soon.
When I do, I will put them in my Profile blog and alert you by MM.

Rangie,

A clever jibe at Toyotas :-) Your name bespeaks your, ah, ummm, "leanings". Lol

Agree 100% re trailers on the Simpson. I was with a group in 2008, crossing west to east on the French line. Middle vehicle was a Prado towing a Tvan. The Prado needed 12 recoveries and suffered some damage (cracked inner guards) and a pretty well cooked clutch. As you can imagine the track got pretty cut up too. The Tvan was fine.

Yes, you're allowed to take them, but whether you should or not, or even if it's wise, are different questions.

Seems to me that Toyotas are still popular, and generally very reliable. Not why I'm posting though.

I was wondering if the Prado and Tvan had their tyres right down ?

Cheers
Jim

Yes, Jim, they did have then down, but I don't know about "right down". On that trip I was a newbie in a Prado. Not one second attempt on any dune, including Big Red. My pressures were around 18, IIRC.

Tvan driver and the third vehicle driver were both highly experienced outback travellers, but being a newbie I didn't query them, just did what they advised, basically. But on that crossing the sand was hot and dry. IIRC temps were up in the mid to high thirties.

TBH, I think there is generally more awareness of the importance of tyre pressures now than there was then. Just guessing on that. I'm sure many experienced folk back then knew the secret, it just hadn't got out.

Some still deny it or are ignorant.

Single bloke travelling solo...Troop carrier , well set up is perfect. $40,000 for a good set up unit...You dont need the v8 model either. Normal aspirated 6 cyclinder will be cheaper, reliable and not too bad on fuel. . Will allow you to go anywhere with a fair bit of room.

Yeah, right.
that was still a wish of mine since I only made half of the csr in 2015.
I would of course drive it without a trailer.

cheers
Heiner