We actually moved out of our home in Sept and have been experimenting, planning and
camping locally around the 'Northern Rivers Region' in preparation for a 1-2 year trip around Oz and Tassie. I am a single mummy who will be travelling with a 3 and 5 yr old, documenting a single parenting comparative lifestyle study and writing a childrens story book series.
Ever since we moved out in Sept we have had nothing but storm and rain so I feel I have been weathered but still not unsure regarding the ideal set-up for us, the unpredictable weather and long-term travel.
I begun with and still have the Toyota Hiace high top SLWB Campervan which has beddding enough for the 3 of us, cupboards, a sink, a deep cell battery, seats 5 but pretty tight for girls on a bench
seat in 2 car seats, has no air con nor central locking, I had an awning in a bag made for it and it has travelled
well so far. With this I was going to tow a 'Trek Kudu' camper trailer, with lockable lid, tailgate kitchen and 60l
water tank etc, and at only 280kgs it was a breeze to tow, manouver and for me as a shorty to handle and hitch ! HOWEVER ! actually setting up a camper trailer with a full enclosed annex is difficult to set up on your own with 2 little kids to supervise, so sadly I am trying to sell this now.
From here I was advised and told by many otger travellers that you will end up with a caravan anyway so may as
well go straight for one, so I bought a cub drifter 6 ! lols ! the one that you have to pop with big effort the roof up and the sides are all canvassed, hmmmm on our first big down pour the canvas was leaking in through to our beds, soooo we sold this one at a small loss only thank goodness !
From here...... I 'thought' i had worked it out and bought a viscount ultra lite pop top caravan with single beds and an end table that converted to large king singlish size ! I was towing this with the campervan but at 780kgs the campervan was working a little too hard u hills for my liking and after living in the van for 1mth, i have just decided this is not going to work for us either ! Arrrrrrrr ! We so need any advise that anyone may have here ! The van was nearly going to work, however the bed was too uncomfortable for me long term and it was not gong to work when one of my girls were sick as they normally sleep with me. sooooo here I am with the camper trailer, caravan and campervan and still not sure of how we are going to travel.
After experimenting for over 3mths already it was such a blessing to come across a friend of a friend who was going overseas for 7 weeks and needed someone to rent her house, fully furnished ! SCORE ! So here I am now with all units sitting out the front with 4 sale signs on them whilst I work out an advertising strategy (as selling is very expensive when you need to sell 3) and hopefully work out what may work by Feb 5th !
I have concluded that I need to simplify and cull much of what we have already and Keep It Simple !
I am 'considering' keeping the campervan, 'Toyota Hiace' It has 300k on a 3L diesel engine and needs some work, maybe, 2,000, using a large tarp and a blackwolf pop-up tent with a large outdoor space under tarp, towing a small trailer for our gear behind ? (like the awesome one for sale on this trader page). OR ?
Buying a 4wd drive 'Toyota Prado' for example and towing a larger caravan 16ft with a double bed and usuing van as our main home base and then taking tent with us if we want to do 4wd drive treks / wekends etc ?
I will be home schooling my 5yr old and I tell you the distance education prgram sends you heaps of gear ? so will need space for her just for this also so thinking maybe tent and van may not work ?
THANK-YOU for reading my novel of a background and would LOVE any feedback anyone may have for us !
Rainbows and Sunshine ! to al Travellers, hope to see many of you on the road at some point !
Donna.