We are going thro the planning stage and deciding on our rig. Looks like a compromise hubby doesnt want a caravan And I dont want a trailer! So seeking an off road hybrid van/camper with internal & external en-suite and kitchen made in Australia. Anyone with experience with the main brands or independent comments/suggestions welcome!
Possum3 said
07:42 AM Jul 9, 2020
Welcome to GN's,
You can download a lot of free technical information and checklists at www.caravancouncil.com.au/
Dougwe said
08:23 AM Jul 9, 2020
welcome to the gang Apollo88, enjoy here and out in the playground.
You have picked a good group to join and I tel you that for free.
Good luck with the hunting down and purchase of a new mobile home, but,
Keep Safe out there.
woolman said
09:06 AM Jul 9, 2020
We started with tent, then camper trailer, pop up caravan, full caravan now motorhome with Suzuki flat towed. Full caravan was on retirement. Tenting was from 1973 to 1980. Basically as we wanted more comforts and easier setup we moved up the ladder.
Camper trailer has done Gibb River rd and much central Australia tracks and hundreds of weekends. It is still going today with next generation. Caravans fell apart, second hand 9m motorhome was our only home for 12 years now for looong "weekends" not necessarily Saturday , Sunday. A smaller motor home probably all we need now but current one not worth much money and is well maintained, just bloody expensive to licence in Qld after coming from WA.
Basicallly it is about how much effort you wish to put in setting up, and if you are needing to travel long distances each day. Camper the easiest for 1000 or klm a day.
Good luck and enjoy
Neil
Cupie said
09:55 AM Jul 9, 2020
Welcome Jennifer to the GM Family ...
It's commonly said that we are all different with different wants & needs, & ain't that the truth.
From your comments it sounds like you want something with off road capabilities.
Given that you don't have an Aussie house, you may be considering a rig to live in & travel around looking for Teaching/Architectural work. Lots do that for many years quite successfully. If that is the case you'll require a much bigger rig than otherwise. Perhaps to do that until you find the spot where you want to set down roots.
In the case that you would prefer to buy a house to use as a base for semi permanent work and branch out from there something smaller might be the go. We are coming in to a good time to buy into the real estate market. Perhaps something that you can live in till you decide if the nomadic life is for you and what sort of set up is appropriate. The house/unit might then be a suitable rental/investment option while you live the good life in your perfect rig.
Of course there are endless variations of lifestyle & solutions.
You financial position is of course a key as is how serious you are about off roading & how self sufficient you wish to be.
To answer your question as best as I can ...
Whatever you choose then you may be able to pick up something Au made from the Kimberly Kamper secondhand range (No longer making vans I believe). But I've seen several that would suit your description. They are a quality product as are the Lotus range (more caravan like than the Kimberly)& well worth considering.
The other critical element is the tow vehicle. Off roaders and particularly the larger ones (for full time living) are usually quite heavy & require a serious tow vehicle. You would need to look at Cruisers or Patrols or better still some of the big Yank Tanks (Dodge RAM, F3xx series, Nissan has a monster too) that are steadily becoming more common on our roads. There are some light trucks that would suit too. The authorities are becoming more serious about acting against overloaded set ups. Then of course there is the safety, reliability & legal aspects of being overloaded.
The answer might be to put your toe in the water first & get something that is affordable (but with good resale potential like the Lotus & Kimberley)but does most of what you want, & set off for a period to find out what you really want/need.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 9th of July 2020 10:48:51 AM
Mobi Condo said
12:45 PM Jul 9, 2020
Good Day Newbies / Jennifer / Apollo 88,. Good to see another couple / family about to get out and about. I shall NOT be rude and ask, but I do wonder of age factors here. I am coming up to 72, my wife Sally 69 to turn 70 by end of year.
I was the anti tower for years and eons of time.
However as we aged, we longed for a set up where in we could pull over, place car in a safe manner out of the way of other travelers, but ready to escape/drive off quickly if needed, and then simply open a door, go in, have a table set up already, have a fridge to open whilst standing or sitting, a full 4 burner stove and gas oven the bed was immediately ready to rest on or in and we have an inside toilet/shower ensuite with HWS.
Me, the original Macho, of swag, tent, loo / shower tent now seriously regrets NOT getting a van even before our 4 sons were born. It would have made life so much simpler as we travelled and provided myriad more hours of quality family time.
We meet lots of folks on the road loving that they have a van and agree with our story.
Any way it is a personal decision, a BIG financial decision, but towing the van is easy.
Mind you we (Wife & I) both have HR Australian Driver's Lic. and are used to large vehicle driving since 1970.
Hope this is of some food for thought.
Cheers - Ian
-- Edited by Mobi Condo on Thursday 9th of July 2020 12:47:45 PM
Tony Bev said
01:09 PM Jul 9, 2020
Welcome to the forum, Apollo88
I have no comments/suggestions about the type of rig you are looking for, as I have never had that type
As others have already said, we are all different, so we look at rigs in different ways
My own experience, was that (not knowing at the time, what we wanted), we looked at everything, with my notebook in hand
Many years ago, it took us about six months of looking, to find a caravan, which ticked most, (but not all), of our boxes
Six years ago, it took us about the same amount of time, to find a motorhome, which ticked most, (but not all) of our boxes
When/if the Coronavirus allows uninterrupted travel again, I have been given other boxes, the better half wants, so I will no doubt be looking again
Hope that when you get a rig, you are able to adapt to it, and that there are many happy road trips, ahead of you both
Aus-Kiwi said
03:55 PM Jul 9, 2020
Dont be too put off with camper trailer . Just the TYPE that suits you . The hard floor versions are so much easier, stronger to set up . Then theres the annex type which fits to side of 4WD or van with awning as roof . Annex around the sides . If you have enough storage . What one person likes could be totally different to another . The warmer areas makes a difference also . Ive found camper trailers more common from Sydney - north . In out back with distance etc they tow well !!
the rocket said
05:34 PM Jul 9, 2020
Apollo88 wrote:
We are going thro the planning stage and deciding on our rig. Looks like a compromise hubby doesnt want a caravan And I dont want a trailer! So seeking an off road hybrid van/camper with internal & external en-suite and kitchen made in Australia. Anyone with experience with the main brands or independent comments/suggestions welcome!
Hi apollo88, got no advice just wanted to pop in and say hi and welcome. Enjoy. Rocket
Apollo88 said
12:42 AM Jul 10, 2020
Thanks everyone for the welcome and the support. Were in our 60s and exited about the adventures ahead!
You can download a lot of free technical information and checklists at www.caravancouncil.com.au/
You have picked a good group to join and I tel you that for free.
Good luck with the hunting down and purchase of a new mobile home, but,
Keep Safe out there.
Welcome Jennifer to the GM Family ...
It's commonly said that we are all different with different wants & needs, & ain't that the truth.
From your comments it sounds like you want something with off road capabilities.
Given that you don't have an Aussie house, you may be considering a rig to live in & travel around looking for Teaching/Architectural work. Lots do that for many years quite successfully. If that is the case you'll require a much bigger rig than otherwise. Perhaps to do that until you find the spot where you want to set down roots.
In the case that you would prefer to buy a house to use as a base for semi permanent work and branch out from there something smaller might be the go. We are coming in to a good time to buy into the real estate market. Perhaps something that you can live in till you decide if the nomadic life is for you and what sort of set up is appropriate. The house/unit might then be a suitable rental/investment option while you live the good life in your perfect rig.
Of course there are endless variations of lifestyle & solutions.
You financial position is of course a key as is how serious you are about off roading & how self sufficient you wish to be.
To answer your question as best as I can ...
Whatever you choose then you may be able to pick up something Au made from the Kimberly Kamper secondhand range (No longer making vans I believe). But I've seen several that would suit your description. They are a quality product as are the Lotus range (more caravan like than the Kimberly)& well worth considering.
The other critical element is the tow vehicle. Off roaders and particularly the larger ones (for full time living) are usually quite heavy & require a serious tow vehicle. You would need to look at Cruisers or Patrols or better still some of the big Yank Tanks (Dodge RAM, F3xx series, Nissan has a monster too) that are steadily becoming more common on our roads. There are some light trucks that would suit too. The authorities are becoming more serious about acting against overloaded set ups. Then of course there is the safety, reliability & legal aspects of being overloaded.
The answer might be to put your toe in the water first & get something that is affordable (but with good resale potential like the Lotus & Kimberley)but does most of what you want, & set off for a period to find out what you really want/need.
-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 9th of July 2020 10:48:51 AM
Good Day Newbies / Jennifer / Apollo 88,.
Good to see another couple / family about to get out and about. I shall NOT be rude and ask, but I do wonder of age factors here.
I am coming up to 72, my wife Sally 69 to turn 70 by end of year.
I was the anti tower for years and eons of time.
However as we aged, we longed for a set up where in we could pull over, place car in a safe manner out of the way of other travelers, but ready to escape/drive off quickly if needed, and then simply open a door, go in, have a table set up already, have a fridge to open whilst standing or sitting, a full 4 burner stove and gas oven the bed was immediately ready to rest on or in and we have an inside toilet/shower ensuite with HWS.
Me, the original Macho, of swag, tent, loo / shower tent now seriously regrets NOT getting a van even before our 4 sons were born. It would have made life so much simpler as we travelled and provided myriad more hours of quality family time.
We meet lots of folks on the road loving that they have a van and agree with our story.
Any way it is a personal decision, a BIG financial decision, but towing the van is easy.
Mind you we (Wife & I) both have HR Australian Driver's Lic. and are used to large vehicle driving since 1970.
Hope this is of some food for thought.
Cheers - Ian
-- Edited by Mobi Condo on Thursday 9th of July 2020 12:47:45 PM
I have no comments/suggestions about the type of rig you are looking for, as I have never had that type
As others have already said, we are all different, so we look at rigs in different ways
My own experience, was that (not knowing at the time, what we wanted), we looked at everything, with my notebook in hand
Many years ago, it took us about six months of looking, to find a caravan, which ticked most, (but not all), of our boxes
Six years ago, it took us about the same amount of time, to find a motorhome, which ticked most, (but not all) of our boxes
When/if the Coronavirus allows uninterrupted travel again, I have been given other boxes, the better half wants, so I will no doubt be looking again
Hope that when you get a rig, you are able to adapt to it, and that there are many happy road trips, ahead of you both
Hi apollo88, got no advice just wanted to pop in and say hi and welcome. Enjoy. Rocket