The gasless caravan

Submitted: Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 11:12
ThreadID: 81525 Views:7359 Replies:6 FollowUps:7
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I've never owned a caravan before, but I'm currently refitting an old 16 footer. It is an interesting opportunity to reassess my camping needs, and I'm thinking of going without gas. I'd be interested to hear from any other vanners that may have considered this approach.

For a few months next year I'll be using the van as weekday accommodation parked at a powered site, but after that most of its use will be touring and extended bush camping away from caravan parks. It will also form part of a semi-permanent home on an unpowered bush block.

I'm planning to install a relatively efficient bar fridge and a decent solar setup. I'll use a generator to top up the batteries when required. I've been a fan of the 3-way chest fridge for extended camping, but it isn't ideal for a caravan due to ventilation requirements and for long term use the gas costs will still add up whereas solar is free. Cooking will generally be done outside over a fire, or on a portable stove when required.

I plan to install a shower with a solar hot water system and electric backup. I know this won't be quite as convenient in the winter but I figure I can always run the gennie or boil a billy if I get desperate.

I realise that gas has its benefits, but eliminating it has benefits also. I can use my drawbar space for other things, I only need to carry one type of fuel and the only noxious gases wafting around the bedroom are ones I've built up an immunity to.

Any thoughts?
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Reply By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 11:42

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 11:42
Thought about it myself but just felt is was unnecessary due to the fact I go through very little gas even though I have a 3 way fridge, 2 way hws and a gas stove.....as I said I use so little and always have a spare gas bottle etc......it all comes to balance....having the right things on hand to make a holiday relaxing and stress free and having the right stuff on hand to cope any situation.

I feel sorry for folks who have hamstrung themselves by believing they can do more with less only to see them come unstuck when the circumstances are against them.

Just my thoughts.

.
AnswerID: 431303

Reply By: bjgard - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 11:43

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 11:43
Kimberley Karavan has a gasless system in their vans. It is diesel system, supposed to be cheaper than running gas. It works a stove hot water service and heating for Van. Mind you also they do have a gas ring on the outside for cooking ouside.

This is their web site http://www.kimberleykaravans.com/ so go and have a look rather than me try and explain ands stuff it up.

BarryG
AnswerID: 431304

Follow Up By: ben_gv3 - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:40

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:40
Check out this mob. They make the diesel heaters etc for vans.
Webasto
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FollowupID: 702051

Reply By: Bushranger1 - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:44

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:44
I have a caravan set up in a large open ended shed on my bush property that has no power & have it set up pretty simmillar to your suggestion.
I decided to get an Engel instead of a bar fridge so that I still had the portability of using the fridge when I go bush. The bar fridges I looked at hardly used any more power than the Engel.
I have deep cycle batteries & a small gennie if I run out of battery power & I use a Coleman duel fuel stove that I use outside the van in the shed. I have had this stove for years & it is real cheap to run on unleaded petrol. I heat my shower water on the fire in a drum & use this in the bush shower. So like you I have no need for gas.
AnswerID: 431307

Follow Up By: Bushranger1 - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:56

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:56
I forgot to add that I use a small 12/240v inverter to run 240volt compact flouro lights in the caravan because it was not wired for 12 volt. If you purchase an modified sine wave inverter (cheaper than pure sine wave) get good quality compact flouro globes because the inverter seems to generate an error if you use the cheap flouros. Also allows me to use my Laptop for transferring photos off my Digital camera by having a bit of 240v power.
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FollowupID: 702052

Reply By: Member - OzGazza (VIC) - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 13:23

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 13:23
I have a Kimberley Karavan which are essentially gasless except for an outdoor kitchen. The inside stove top is diesel as is the water and space heater.

It might be worth taking a look at their website - the Stove is a Webasto X 100.

They also have a fantastic Solar setup, and the fridge has a remote danfoss compressor 12v only.
AnswerID: 431309

Reply By: WATTS2C - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 13:34

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 13:34
Gasless is the way to go if you can - another caravan manufacturer who plan on going gasless are Free Spirit - http://www.freespiritcaravans.com.au.

Get good quality panels that have a high output - check out http://www.dkasolarcentre.com.au/ for live independent information on what the panels are producing.

Add a few good deep cycle batteries and you should be fine

cheers

mh
AnswerID: 431310

Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 17:30

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 17:30
The 240V bar fridge will be power hungry though. 12V remote Danfoss and lots of insulation is a better answer.

Cheers,
Peter
AnswerID: 431334

Follow Up By: Pradobob - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 18:38

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 18:38
I've just completed a 12000km/3month trip from Adelaide to Cooktown via Bourke, Normanton etc and back home via Qld coast . Stayed in Caravan Parks all the way. I didn't turn the gas cylinder on at any stage. Used CP facilities, elec frypan and cheap convection oven for cooking.
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FollowupID: 702077

Follow Up By: time waster - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 20:37

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 20:37
Hi Pradobob, I would be interested to know what your accomodation cost all up as we have just done almost the exact same trip and could not justify the rip off that caravan parks charge.

We have a 4 and 6 year old and 90% of places charge between $6 -$12 each on top of the site fee ending up in the $50 regon per night and dogs are free.

Bourke C/P charge from new born, what a joke.

Our costs over 3months worked out to $16 per night as we camped 70% of the time free and 5x9kg gas refills as we have a shower van and use it, this was for almost 100 nights.

I thought camping was for families not ripping them off.

Got that off my chest.

Christian

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FollowupID: 702085

Follow Up By: Pradobob - Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 23:48

Friday, Sep 24, 2010 at 23:48
Christian
Only 2 of us (adults) travelling. Averaged $30 per night. I did a lot of online research before we went. Lowest price park was $10 (shocker), highest $36 (5*). Did lots of washing by hand. Also worked out that the Prado cost 21c per km to run overall. Diesel fuel varied from $1.06 - $1.48 per litre. Serviced the vehicle myself while we were away. Museums, other entry fees were about $1000.
Hope I've been of some help.
Bob
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FollowupID: 702107

Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Saturday, Sep 25, 2010 at 07:17

Saturday, Sep 25, 2010 at 07:17
Got to agree Christian. C/parks have priced themselves out of the equation for my liking. For my work I basically live on the road and I would not spend 2 nights a month in a van park the majority is free camp for me. We stay at a nice park in Yamba NSW each xmas and it costs me with 2 kids $550 a week for an ensuite powered site.........absolutely ridiculous in my opinion but who am I to spoil the kids 1 week a year with thier dad.....it is a very kid friendly park and I figure for that one week, the quicker I forget how much it is costing the quicker I can enjoy it as well.

With regard to the gas question, I got a mate who fills my bottles but the last time he filled it was to go to the 2007 national gathering at Warraweena. You definately don't need gas if you don't want it. You will need lots more battery power with charging options if this is the way you decide to go though.

Cheers, Trevor.
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FollowupID: 702115

Follow Up By: Outa Bounds - Saturday, Sep 25, 2010 at 09:47

Saturday, Sep 25, 2010 at 09:47
Yes we have two kids now and have found the same thing, by the time you add up the costs of staying in a caravan park, even for just unpowered sites in a tent in some cases, you may as well book into a motel! Even their chalets / cabins etc are close to if not equal to motel price these days.

I don't know if caravan fees changed or if it's just the fact that it was a lot cheaper back when it was just the two of us. Whatever it is I know we can forget the $17/night or whatever it used to cost us normally for a basic unpowered site.

Mind you the argument from one caravan park is that the kids use the same amount of the facilities (particularly water for showers etc). Water shortages and all that have probably driven some prices up, and no doubt greedy land holders probably charging the parks more rent as well.

Lets just hope "bush" camping doesn't become illegal!

And on the original topic, we're not caravaners but have just switched our camping set up so as to get rid of gas bottles. Particularly as we now drive a petrol vehicle we brought a Coleman dual fuel stove, a couple of those lanterns too that run on shellite / petrol. The rest will hopefully be a dual battery set up with engel fridge and maybe a couple of 12v lights, also a few battery lanterns and torches as well. I'd love to look at some sort of solar backup once we have a trailer of sorts.
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FollowupID: 702123

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