For all you well travelled folk
Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 12:13
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pelicans
Hello all
We would like to know how much of the country we will miss travelling for the next few years in an 18ft (real) off road caravan rather than in our off road camper trailer.
We’re prepared to miss some but from my reading we also know there are
places where we could not go. We are prepared to tent it in if the location is worth it. We have an 80 series TD.
We’re getting too old and are (me) starting to winge about the comfort level but we’ve seen nothing really, just the usual bitumen coast stuff but we are very nervous about going to a van and what impact it might have.
Do we stick it out and go around the block once first for a year and then go to a van or will we be right most
places with a van.
We’ve done our fair share of
camping over the years and we prefer to
bush camp.
We know the real remote stuff like the Canning and Simpson is vehicle only but we would do these as a separate thing.
We’re asking for advice from people who have ‘been there done that’ and seen what can and can't be done.
If someone can give specific examples of locations etc. We haven’t got off the blacktop enough yet to know what it’s like out there but we don’t want to go in head first without some opinions.
Thks for your help.
Pat (& Bill)
Reply By: Bros 1 - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 12:32
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 12:32
pelicans,
I don't presume to know much about Aus out of Qld, but if you are going to include
Cape york and associated environs, you will either have to tent it or take the C/T to have a good look at everything and everyplace available to see up there. The van maybe ok if you can afford to leave it somewhere and proceed to some of the remoter locations vehicle and tent only for periods of time. IMHO you need at least two weeks on the Cape itself to take it easy and see everything of interest.
Cheers,
Bros.
AnswerID:
194319
Reply By: Moose - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 13:42
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 13:42
G'day Pat
If comfort is a major consideration and you feel that you can only get that comfort from a caravan then there's your answer. You buy the van, take a tent and rough it every now and then. No point doing it tougher all the time just because you might miss spot X. You will simply enjoy all the others less because you're not as comfy as you would have liked. You need to enjoy your travels so go with the caravan and really enjoy the spots you can get to.
If it is a genuine off road unit you will be able to get to enough spots off the black top to keep you happy. Sure you will miss a few however I doubt that you'd get to see everything anyway - the country's just so huge.
Get yourself a book or two and start doing research on what's out there and where a van will and wont go.
Cheers from the Moose
AnswerID:
194332
Follow Up By: pelicans - Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 19:25
Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 19:25
thks Moose makes a lot of sense that did
Pat
FollowupID:
452789
Reply By: ed. - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 14:22
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 14:22
What moose said is a good idea about the books.
The books by Craig and Cath are nice, have distances and also GPS points. They also talk about the history of the area.
AnswerID:
194337
Reply By: Member - Big Al. Gold Coast - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 14:35
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 14:35
Pat,
After over 35 years of 4wd
camping with, tents, caravans and in the last few years a
off-road camper we have decided a slide on camper will be our best option.
At our age (65 & 70) we need all the comforts plus little or no setting up. This was a big consideration in the purchase of our latest rig. ( and fuel cost!!) We will be heading for the
Kimberley's and simpson next year and another trip to
Cape York
after that. Lots of overnighters SE Qld in between.
AnswerID:
194341
Reply By: ev700 - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:24
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:24
I am not sure the heavier off road vans are worth the money. Sure they are tough but they sure are heavy and the double axles, height, width and weight bring limitations.
As we age I think that some concessions are required for most of us to increase enjoyment and to make it all possible.
For three years with
free camping I'd be inclined to go the whole hog and get a road van with shower and
toilet (s/t) plus a fitting for an outside shower. A road van is much cheaper and at 18', a good common make will have some clearance that can be improved without going up to an 'off road' caravan.
Many areas are accessible via good roads and others can be visited with the tent for a bit of a change (leave the van stored at a c'
park).
I have enjoyed basic
camping for years. Also, over the years I have owned some vans from 17' to 23'. For flexibility you can't beat a good road van around 18' with two single beds (practical, don't laugh), an aircon unit on top and a s/t. Good re-sale down the track.
You need to keep in mind what option will keep you going for more years, especially if health/flexibility declines a bit.
My 2c worth.
EV700
AnswerID:
194371
Follow Up By: pelicans - Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 19:28
Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 19:28
thks for the reply
food for thought
Pat
FollowupID:
452790
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:25
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:25
Doing it tougher?
How could anything be "tougher" than lugging around a 20ft + "house on wheels".
Give me a
well set up Camper Trailer any day. Then I can go anywhere I choose, from
bush camping to a manicured "tourist park"
When I go
camping, I want to get "dirty". It makes the occasional shower all that more enjoyable.
Each to their own I guess.
AnswerID:
194372
Reply By: Member - Vincent A M (NSW) - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:38
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:38
If you take your time & pick the time you will be able to go a lot of
places with your van & you have to expect a lot more problems with that said my parents use to tow a large 7 mtr ply boat to
Cape york every couple of years in the sixty's with us kids & now i often do it myself ive towed large trailers to cape pre eighty's when it was a challenge, Towed on Fraser (Toyota classic) & thru the Tanami & when i crossed east to west in 1977 i came across a family in a old dodge power wagon towing a carapark caravan near
giles weather station & they had come from Kalgoorlie so good luck with what you decide
I try not to tow anything if i can help it because it is ALLWAYS more problems
regards Vince
AnswerID:
194376
Reply By: Crackles - Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:39
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006 at 17:39
Pat & Bill.....An offroad van will get you around the majority of Oz without too much restriction. The dissapointing part of towing something that big is often you may get to within a few KMs of an attraction but are unable to leave the van any where safely. A good example is a Van is not allowed into the Bungles but there is no where near that you could leave it even if you had tents etc to
camp. Would often mean missing out or back tracking long distances to drop the van off at a caravan
park to avoid unsuitable tracks.
Many travellers I spoke to who had crossed the Nullabour with vans had only stopped at one or two attractions as it was either too much trouble to disconnect for the 4x4 sections or there was nowhere nearby to leave the van. It would be a pity to drive so far, then get so close, only to miss out because of the restrictions that towing presents.
A good friend in a similar position to you got around the problem by using a Trayback ute with a Trayon camper. Many of the creature comforts of a Van with the flexability to go pretty much where he wanted, then instead of spending his money on a caravan he spends it on cabins & motels.
Cheers Craig........
AnswerID:
194378
Follow Up By: pelicans - Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 19:31
Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 19:31
thks Crackles
that's our fear re the Nullabour example
we may look into the trayons
Pat
FollowupID:
452791
Reply By: TroopyTracker - Thursday, Sep 14, 2006 at 17:32
Thursday, Sep 14, 2006 at 17:32
Pat,
I think if you are sure you will be on the road for 3 whole years, you would not regret a van. An off road van will allow you to travel to many more
places than a conventional van with confidence. There are thousands who have gone before you and if there is a particularly good place to go that is impassable for vans, some kind of storage will be available and usually at a very reasonable price.
We just spent 3 weeks up the Cape and left our van behind at Mt Carbine, cost $0! If you stay at the van
park for anytime before or after they offer free storage. This is an exception but normal storage rates or quite cheap anyway, maybe 10 or $20 a week??
We sold our off road camper trailer after 18months on the road and bought an 18 foot van with shower and
toilet, not sure I'd ever go back. Solar, 200litre fridge, playstation etc. Some may say that's not
camping, I say they're probably right. When I'm having a hot shower, or watching some tv I don't think about it too much ;-)
We've been travelling working for over 5years now and for long term touring, nothing beats the van. Camper trailers are perfect for maybe afew months away in my opinion.
Matt
AnswerID:
194559
Follow Up By: pelicans - Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 19:10
Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 19:10
Hi Matt
Thks for your advice. We are very encouraged by it.
Could we ask what make of van you went with.
Thks again
Pat
FollowupID:
452784
Follow Up By: TroopyTracker - Saturday, Sep 16, 2006 at 08:11
Saturday, Sep 16, 2006 at 08:11
Pat,
We looked at Phoneix, Trackmaster, Kedron and ended up with and 18ft Bushtracker. (I also looked at everything else, from Jayco etc, then decided we something more heavy duty). I think the four I mentioned are the top four in Aus. Only van I didn't look at and would next time is Evernew.
Only preference of building materials and methods split up the final few-3mm box section aluminium vs treated pine with the final two.
My other advice would be to go as small as possble while remaining comfortable for two people to sit around in during poor weather or just relaxing. Some have
well set up annexe's to nearly double living space and therefore get away with a smaller van. The bigger you go the more hassle towing a van is in my opinion. We wanted a 16 ft originally and if we weren't full time (working part of year out of van) would have gone that way. You can still fit a shower and
toilet in 16ft or smaller depending how much you want to compromise other things.
There is a Bushtracker Owners website. Most there have larger vans but don't think thats all they do. They do single axle now also. I think they go as small as 14 and up 27ft. Here's the group anyway-
Site Link
Have fun choosing anyway.
Matt
FollowupID:
452836
Reply By: Trevor R (QLD) - Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 20:52
Friday, Sep 15, 2006 at 20:52
Not sure if you are aware but Bushtracker has a website and
forum similar to this and there is many examples of
well travelled setups on this site so it could be worth finding this site and asking the same question there.
I wouldn't hesitate taking my supreme getaway anywhere I've been (including
cape york) but understand there is limitations to this. My partner however is of a much more sound mind and judgement and the van rarely sees more than a dirt road for this reason lol.
Regards, Trevor.
AnswerID:
194746