Help please (and no laughing!)

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 11:58

ThreadID: 83380 Views:4855 Replies:8 FollowUps:18

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littleredcar

Hi everyone - having travelled most of Oz as a kid and a young adult, now as an older adult I want to do it again, but this time take my time. I am planning on doing the whole country, not so much off road as I can always hook up with others on the way who have off road gear. I do intend to work in the van - so I need enough space to run my computers and gear (I am a photographer/artist and I will have sat uplinks etc and I teach as I go, so need a little space to work upright).

Before I go buy a whole new outfit, I am exploring my current options.

I have a 2000 Daihatsu Sirion GTVi - 1.3l, 75kw with a (theoretical) towing capacity of Brake(950kg), Unbrake(350kg) ... however, these numbers seem to vary depending on which site you look at!

My question is - Can my Sirion tow a caravan? If so, what size and weight am I looking at? Which brands? And can I get them secondhand?

I am in no real hurry, still waiting for the last awkwardly flapping chick to leave the nest (if ever lol)... but if I can get away with not having to buy another tow vehicle to pull a van, I would be ecstatic...

Any genuine help would be most welcome.

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Reply By: Ozhumvee - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 12:05

Reply By: Trevor R (QLD) - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 12:29

Reply By: cycadcenter - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 12:52

Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 13:13

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 13:13

Hi littleredcar

I think like most of us, you are wanting the Tardis. Think of all the things you will need to live on the road long term; clothes, food, appliances and equipment. That alone will take space and be a weight. A miniature caravan will not have much space to work. Hire or buy cheaply something tiny and try it out for a couple of weeks at a time. The best way to find out what is good, bad or ugly about other people's rigs is to ask them when you meet them in the camp grounds. Would you consider a motorhome type of unit? You may get more room as much of the car part becomes living space. Try before you buy if you can - several different types of outfits.

Motherhen

Motherhen

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AnswerID: 440454

Follow Up By: littleredcar - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 13:48

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 13:48

LOL! Yes - funny, I just searched the Trading Post for a Tardis and couldn't find one!
Thats a brill idea to try before buying - I will certainly do that - it will make such a huge difference because I do plan on being on the road for a long time...
xoxox

FollowupID: 712338

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 17:14

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 17:14

I note others have also suggested the motorhome-campervan option as possibly better for you. Whereas a caravan and four wheel drive suits us, our needs are very different to yours. Moving your whole rig when a small motorhome is really no different to driving your car away from your caravan except you don't have to come back for the caravan if you change your mind about where you want to be. My family (four of us) toured UK and Europe for some months in a camper van when i was a teenager. Although not as sturdy as the campervans today and on tiny wheels, it took us up switchback clay surface mountain roads and anywhere we wanted to go.Home was where we stopped for the night. Moving off was as simple as swinging the beds around back into seats for us in the back.

Mh

Motherhen

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FollowupID: 712373

Follow Up By: littleredcar - Thursday, Jan 06, 2011 at 20:54

Thursday, Jan 06, 2011 at 20:54

The campervan is so NOT an option LOL - I need to leave my home base and cruise off to do other things and moving the whole set up is not really in my idea of fun times. I have done the campervan thing as a twenty something and that was ideal, but running my business from my mobile base is a crucial factor to me being on the road, so I need a portable office just as much as a portable home. And being 50 plus now, I want the luxury of being able to leave things as is, and nick off down the street or the beach in my tow vehicle...
You must have had some AMAZING adventures!
xox
Marg

FollowupID: 712812

Reply By: Member - Matt L (WA) - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 13:39

Reply By: Member - Royce- Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 14:19

Reply By: Member - Porl - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 16:26

Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 16:37

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 16:37

maybe look at something like a "Coaster" bus, if you dont plan on going to far "off road" you can still do the gravel roads and so on and you can park up and camp wher ever you feel like, well leagally alowed to any way.....
I know you plan on un-hooking and going places but you still have to go back to sleep ect and if set up right you dont need to do anything to stop and start again, just turn the key and off you go...
Hire one of those "Campers" that the overseas tourists drive around and see what you think ...
You can set a bedding ect at the rear and then build a lounge/dineing/kitchen area with inverters, batterys, chargers and so on and fix all your computers and stuff in place, have solar panels for extended remote stops and plug into power for parks and have the engine to charge while moving .....
Part of the fun is buying, planning and building something like that, you have the freedom to design it to suit YOU and your life style .....
Man it sounds so good i may just do it myself....

Cheers and good on you..
Joe

AnswerID: 440472

Follow Up By: littleredcar - Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 16:45

Sunday, Jan 02, 2011 at 16:45

Thanks Joe - so many good ideas! Still prefer the idea of not having to move the base at all, tho. Like if I run out of something and have to duck down the shop or whatever... (the pub, the beach, lol) I don't want to have to unhook and drive off. But I will go look at the camper thingies - I have lots of time before I am ready to go so can afford to LOOK and hopefully not make too many mistakes:) Looking forward to being a gypsy again... Cheers!
Marg

FollowupID: 712369