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Workwise have a look at www.workabout australia.com.

I think there is a place called Centrelink, they would be able to answer all your questions, I was talking to a bloke a few weeks ago in a caravan park he is 52 and was quite happy to collect the Dole and I believe he also gets Rental Assistance plus other perks, he and his wife are enjoying their travells around Australia,without a care in the world.

Cheers

A van that size will need a large (expensive) tow vehicle.

If you haven't done this before why not keep your house, store your personal effects, rent the house out and buy a small setup.

Try that for 6 months, a year or two maybe.

You've then still got your house, it will have gone up in value and, while you may have some maintenace, that will be tax deductible.

And you will know what you think of caravanning before going for a bigger rig.

By the way, my personal opinion, fwiw, anything bigger than 20 ft will end up giving you the whoops. Too big to negotiate almost every obstacle Oz will throw up at you.

My only comment would be as follows:

1. Please make sure you aren't throwing out the baby with the bathwater, once you are without the house (Security) then you may make it hard for yourself to get back in. The house provides security for when you are older and not capable of working, if you can cater for that then fine.

2. It sounds like you may just need a break so by all means take a year or 2 off but as someone else suggested how about renting your house out so you have something to comeback to when you are ready.

3. Whats to say you don't also get tired of the travelling Australia in the manner you plan?

You might get hit by a tram tomorrow. Just go fer it!

Oh.... no trams in SA??


Seriously. Take the plunge. You have identified a plan, you may regret it if you don't take the bull by the horns.

Sell the house, make the break, hit the road.

BUT..... consider the worst case scenarios..... are you willing to risk it?

If the answer is 'yes'... you will have the most exciting time of your life. If you are fit and ask about, you will find all sorts of work.

Go on ... you know you want to. :-]]

I can only re-iterate the good advice given here Terry - try it for the short term before you make the big decision to sell up from where there may be no turning back. I also agree with comments about the size of caravan. Many people have as their only home a 20' caravan; some nothing more than a camper trailer. A large rig such as you suggest would really only be suitable for dragging from city to city and stay in a job for a year or so. Not my idea of getting away from the grind.

Motherhen

Than you ALL for your honest and revealing replies. Spose the real thing to do really is to way up the pro's and con's and the FUTURE !!!! needs in say 10 yrs time.. which in that time there will atleast one superanuation fund to enable access to.. Really appreciate the time you people have put into your replies and has opened my eyes up to some of the needs we should look into more...

On yes Adealide does have trams.. infact the Govt here is actually udating and extending its Tram rail system.. so who knows maybe there could be a chance of being run over by one yet :)

Terry

daza thats a good idea.. not sure if I would have enough from selling house to buy a smaller house pluss a van and a tow vehicle.. but definately worth looking more into. thanks

Terry you are in a similar situation that I was in a few years ago. Firstly their are employers out their that seek out older employees(hard to believe I know)
All rental car agencies only employ older people as ferry drivers(get to see the country while getting paid)Also a lot of trucking Co prefer older drivers as they are easier on the rigs.
We have chaps in their seventies still ferrying for us, one just retired at 78.
Remember houses appreciate, vans deappreciate.
Try working part time(maybe also the wife) so you can trial the life style.
Good luck Pete

Terry, It would be a good idea to ask the Moderators (alert Moderator button at bottom of thread will get their attention, or through the Contact Us screen) to change the topic of your thread to something more suitable to your question.

Mh

Hi Terry and your wife,

Its a big step that you are proposing, but understandable at your age (the new 40s?). I can only endorse what others have said about working out what all your options are and then trying before buying. I retired from paid employment in my mid 50s but was able to move onto super and into a lot of volunteer work which kept me very busy. But, looking back, without that activity time may have hung heavily at times. Since then John and I have done a 3 - 4month trip most years but it is really nice to come home, and to have a home to come back to.

Some other thoughts :
Have you talked to Centrelink and an investment adviser?
Have you had a recent medical check?
How much travelling have you done up till now - if not much then getting experience via shorter trips would be sensible.
Do you have a family; if so what is the future outlook especially re grandchildren?
Would you be better off work wise moving somewhere else permanently rather than immediately adopting a nomadic lifestyle?
Lots of questions but its better to think about them all before you take any irrevocable steps.

Cheers,

Val

Hi Terry,

If you have tickets/ Licence (forklift, front end loader, Truck ) Youll find it easier to pick up work.If you havent got them , Can you get them?

If your keen, you can fruit pick, and follow the fruit trail.

Carefully research and cocider the size of your van. Do you need a big van. People have lived out of a much smaller van.

Cheer

do not sell your home to finance the the trip----you'll be sorry ----just think of the rent you will be paying years ahead ---rent out ---income will be handy after expenses and maintenance and the house will increase in value

Hi Terry

have you ever owned a van before? If not I guarantee that the van you first get as your dream perfect van wont be after you have used it for a while and finally get to know what you really need and want. You do not necessarily need all the trimmings and bells and whistles to have a great time. If you havent owned a van or travelled extensively before you may not handle living in one full time without the option of coming back to a home to spread out in.

Also the larger the van the bigger the tow vehicle and more money in towing costs - eg fuel and all running costs, maintenance etc. If you dont get work when you need it for an income how will you afford to tow the large van any further.

Like others have said a large van is not always the perfect answer. They can be very difficult due to their size when travelling without experience. And if you are planning on permanent travel wouldnt you also be planning on seeing all that this country has to offer? If so a larger van cannot get in some of the places you can with a smaller type one. You maybe better trying to get an off road smaller type van that gets you everywhere and anywhere without many restrictions.

Remember things can go wrong when out on the open road (theft, accident, illness etc). So factor in for a worst case scenario - if you cannot afford to do that strongly suggest you reconsider until you can.

If you bought a larger van thinking you can just sell it later if you wanted a smaller one, you have to find a purchaser in the market for your larger van and that may be easier said than done. Could a dearer van result in more money depreciated from your purchase cos?. Vans do keep their value, but one thats been travelling huge kms may not be as easy to sell at a good price than a similar van with low kms. Dont necessarily need to buy new to buy a great van.

You havent mentioned if you are thinking of free camping most of the time, staying in caravan parks and if you are going to get off the main road to really see Australia. If you stick to the larger cities can you afford all the costs of attractions etc as well? As others have said its a big decision that requires plenty of planning before heading off. If you dont do it now, the right time will come along later with planning especially now you have the travel bug in your mind. Good luck....

Hi all..

Wife and I have been reading all your replies and the advice of your past experiences. ALL of the advice we are taking on board and yep at this stage we will disguss all points made out in this thread. Some views have opened our eyes to the finance area of the future and that is the big crunch in our lives. So after all the fantastic insight advise from you all we will NOT be rushing into things at this stage..
Good to see there are still some wonderfull people out there who are not selfish and do want to help others out THANK YOU ALL>

Regards Terry