We are having the same crises of confidence that I suspect everybody experiences before they finally take the plunge...

There's a wealth of experience on this forum, and I've been reading through many pages of good, constructive feedback and advice that's been given. I've got a few questions which I hope you'll take the time to help me with:

1. We have a 2015 3.2 Ranger which we'll be using to tow a 2013 Crusader Excalibur. As I've got time to change (if I really need to) I'm wondering if we have the right sort of van. I'm thinking that something a bit shorter (the Crusader is 21') might be an easier proposition to haul around. It seems to fit well within the towing capabilities of the car, and we've already done a few thousand km without issue, but I'm seriously wondering if we need all that space! Generally we'll be sticking to the blacktop whenever possible. What are your recommendations regarding downsizing to something a little lighter and maybe a foot or two smaller?
2. Budgeting. We'll lease our house, but other than that we'll have no form of income until my Super kicks in in a year or two. Our estimates for fuel, maintenance, regos, insurances, site fees, food, and alcohol (a non-negotiable, obviously ) are running at about $1,850 a month, or around $430 per week. Does this sound realistic to you, or am I massively over/underestimating what is involved? I'd be really interested to hear some more experienced feedback regarding what it's actually costing a couple to stay on the road!

Have at it! Don't be gentle with me - I've got pretty thick skin. If you've got questions for me, please fire away.

Hi and welcome.

we r pensioners and we live on the road and we spend about $1,200 per fortnight. Spend a lot of time in free camps And showgrounds. 
if you intend staying in caravan parks only,  add maybe $200 to $300 per fortnight or more Depending on low, shoulder or high season. Our grog bill is under $100 per year. Do not smoke. This includes gifts for family for xmas and birthdays. Always something needs replacing. Washing machine, ipads, phones, clothes, hoses, connectors, ropes, and the list goes on. Then theres the new glasses, chemist, dr, dentist, dentures. Oh and caravan repair, we budget $600 per year, always a leak somewhere Or need for new tv, solar panel, brakes, etc. then theres the car service etc.

Download the wiki ap, it under $10 and tells u all the free, donation, showgrounds and caravan parks.

good luck. Rocket

Spiky wrote:

---

We are having the same crises of confidence that I suspect everybody experiences before they finally take the plunge...

There's a wealth of experience on this forum, and I've been reading through many pages of good, constructive feedback and advice that's been given. I've got a few questions which I hope you'll take the time to help me with:

1. We have a 2015 3.2 Ranger which we'll be using to tow a 2013 Crusader Excalibur. As I've got time to change (if I really need to) I'm wondering if we have the right sort of van. I'm thinking that something a bit shorter (the Crusader is 21') might be an easier proposition to haul around. It seems to fit well within the towing capabilities of the car, and we've already done a few thousand km without issue, but I'm seriously wondering if we need all that space! Generally we'll be sticking to the blacktop whenever possible. What are your recommendations regarding downsizing to something a little lighter and maybe a foot or two smaller?
2. Budgeting. We'll lease our house, but other than that we'll have no form of income until my Super kicks in in a year or two. Our estimates for fuel, maintenance, regos, insurances, site fees, food, and alcohol (a non-negotiable, obviously ) are running at about $1,850 a month, or around $430 per week. Does this sound realistic to you, or am I massively over/underestimating what is involved? I'd be really interested to hear some more experienced feedback regarding what it's actually costing a couple to stay on the road!

Have at it! Don't be gentle with me - I've got pretty thick skin. If you've got questions for me, please fire away.

 

---

 Hi Spikey 

Sounds like you have a good rig there I dont think a foot or two smaller will make much difference.

Your budget of 430 a week might be a bit light if you are travelling and or paying for caravan parks and wanting to see some of the paid attractions.Staying at a free camp will be cheaper but as we found out living expenses are never under 800 a week on average.Dont forget about all the other costs like rego insurance services repairs and so on and then you still have rates and other expenses on your home ,just letting you know its not as cheap living on the road as lots of people let on.

Cheers John 

Spiky wrote:

---

We are having the same crises of confidence that I suspect everybody experiences before they finally take the plunge...

There's a wealth of experience on this forum, and I've been reading through many pages of good, constructive feedback and advice that's been given. I've got a few questions which I hope you'll take the time to help me with:

1. We have a 2015 3.2 Ranger which we'll be using to tow a 2013 Crusader Excalibur. As I've got time to change (if I really need to) I'm wondering if we have the right sort of van. I'm thinking that something a bit shorter (the Crusader is 21') might be an easier proposition to haul around. It seems to fit well within the towing capabilities of the car, and we've already done a few thousand km without issue, but I'm seriously wondering if we need all that space! Generally we'll be sticking to the blacktop whenever possible. What are your recommendations regarding downsizing to something a little lighter and maybe a foot or two smaller?
2. Budgeting. We'll lease our house, but other than that we'll have no form of income until my Super kicks in in a year or two. Our estimates for fuel, maintenance, regos, insurances, site fees, food, and alcohol (a non-negotiable, obviously ) are running at about $1,850 a month, or around $430 per week. Does this sound realistic to you, or am I massively over/underestimating what is involved? I'd be really interested to hear some more experienced feedback regarding what it's actually costing a couple to stay on the road!

Have at it! Don't be gentle with me - I've got pretty thick skin. If you've got questions for me, please fire away.

---

 Hi Chris What is the ATM of your van,found on the compliance plate,usually in the van's front boot area.My (very quick) research shows that it may be a bit heavy for your car? The length of the van will be personal choice,but if you propose to generally stay on the blacktop,it should be OK.If safety is of ANY concern,it is VERY important that the weight on the wheels of the car be at least 10% greater than the weight on the van's wheels.Your Ranger will have a GVM (maximum weight on car's wheels) of 3200kg,and GCM (total weight of car and van) of 6000kg.With the generally accepted 10% towball weight,the most your van should weigh is 3100kg.Take away 10% towball weight (300kg +/-) and you have GTM (weight on van wheels) of 2800kg behind a car that CAN weigh up to 3200kg,including the 300kg towball weight.IF you can achieve this,you will be right on your maximum legal weight of 6000kg,and the car will be around 11% heavier than the van.PLEASE NOTE that it does NOT matter if your van has the 3500kg ATM that my research shows it may have,as long as you don't load it to more than 3100kg.If you could post your van's ATM and the plated tare,we may be able to give more specific help.There is little chance that the van still will weigh what the compliance plate says,so it may be wise to run it over a weighbridge to learn more.Cheers

Hi Spiky

>We are having the same crises of confidence

Of course you are :) You would be naive not to have one.

>I'm thinking that something a bit shorter (the Crusader is 21')
>might be an easier proposition to haul around.

No. Once you have a large, heavy box to drag around it makes no
difference if it's 21', 18' or 25' - it's a pain in the bottom
compared to a solo vehicle and that's just the way it is.

>but I'm seriously wondering if we need all that space!

You do. Having lived in my van solo (25' from tip to tail) for 2.5
years I assure you that you need all the space you can get.

>What are your recommendations regarding downsizing to something a
>little lighter and maybe a foot or two smaller?

Don't do it.

>Budgeting.

I have maintained a spreadsheet for those 2.5 years which covers
*all* my expenditure. Single male and I camp in the bush ('cause I
like the bush) 95% of the time; I run about $13,000 per year. I live
well, eat well and drink too much :)

You'll be fine but it is a big (massive!) change and I understand
your concerns.

$430 week to me seems very underestimated. You would have to free camp and live on the smell of a oily rag. No alcohol.

We spent 8 weeks six years ago going from Ballarat to Margaret River on long service and cost us $1200/week.

We stayed only in parks and did live it up a bit but we were then both working, so it was a holiday treat.

We have retired now and are living off my super. We draw $800/week and find that about right, some weeks we spend way less, some times a bit more.

By the time you service/insure/rego vehicle, maintain/rego/service van add fuel costs, food, some entertainment, unexpected expenses I think $430 is way short.

 We are not travelling this year for family reasons, 800 is just living at home.

Spiky,

Dont know your situation re super, but you may be able to look at a Transition to Retirement pension through your fund, as long as you are at the allowable age. Mine was 60.

May be worth looking at.

Hi, i have kept account of our expenses over 6 years. Yearly $31,000. Two of us. this includes replacing tvs, i pads, glasses, washing machine, microwave, car repair, etc. Livin the dream. If we want  to do a tour say, we free camp for awhile and save. Most we have free camped is 182 days in one year. go to woodford folk festival yearly and if we go the whole week there is no change out of $1,600. This is early bird tickets in, showgrounds  accommodation, all food, mostly takeaway Lunch n tea as its our family holiday And whoop it up. it can be done and we do everything we want, go where We want, eat what we want n enjoy life.

can give you a run down of all expenses if that helps but bottom line is $31,000 per year for two people.

enjoy while you are still above the ground.  cheers. Rocket

Spiky,

After a while, 21ft will seem too small, that extra foot or two is appreciated when two of you are in the van.

I knew a bloke who lived week to week on the pension, when he ran out of money he just stayed put and didn't buy fuel for a week or so.

We have averaged about $600 a week mainly free camping but driving a lot.

Cheers Bob

Nevd wrote:

---

Hi Spiky - how old are you? There's a lot of misinformation about access to super out there. I may be able to fill you in because that's in my professional area of operation.

Nev.

---

Hi Nev, i am 65 now, and planning to hit the road full time in around 18 months time.

I will get what ever the Ausie pension is for a single guy, and i believe i can also get half of my UK pension, less tax of course, which is arouind $75 a week.

I intend to live solely on those funds.

It will will be in a brand new caravan, being pulled by a brand new Iveco Daily E6 Van.

I will have a big chunk of cash left from my super as back up, but i also intend to pick up work along the way while i am still fit enough to do it.

I am going to get some free advice from a consultant as part of a deal with my super fund (N.G.S) in regard to the best way to park my reserve funds.

Like most people i guess, the more i look into living costs on the road, the more i realise there are lots of little "hidden" costs that i hadn't considered.

I will aim to free camp wherever possible, and having two modes of transport means the location of the overnight stays is not that important.

I have been doing a spread sheet of my daily/weekly/monthy living costs for the last three months, its amazing what that can reveal. I know where every single dollar goes now.

I am pretty confident, that i can live on what should be a weekly total pension income of around $500.

I have included the on road costs, such as rego, insurance, and servicing of the prime mover, the caravan, and my BMW motorbike.

I suppose the good thing is, i will have a few dollars behind me, just in case i have got my sums wrong.

Its been 4 months of research so far, in regard to tow vehicles, and caravans, so i am pretty sure that i now know the exact caravan i want, and the tow vehicle.

Like a few others, i am a bit apprehensive about it all, but i am also pretty sure that after a few weeks it will settle down, and a routine will soon develop.

Let shope the Corona Virus thing settles down soon, and all those new nomads start going overseas for their hollidays again.

Nevd wrote:

---

Hi Spiky - how old are you? There's a lot of misinformation about access to super out there. I may be able to fill you in because that's in my professional area of operation.

Nev.

---

 Nev,

I'm 7 months short of my 60th, and we have a decent(ish) super fund bubbling away in the background. I've been loath to touch it, so I'd be interested to hear your opinion.

Chris

the rocket wrote:

---

Hi, i have kept account of our expenses over 6 years. Yearly $31,000. Two of us. this includes replacing tvs, i pads, glasses, washing machine, microwave, car repair, etc. Livin the dream. If we want  to do a tour say, we free camp for awhile and save. Most we have free camped is 182 days in one year. go to woodford folk festival yearly and if we go the whole week there is no change out of $1,600. This is early bird tickets in, showgrounds  accommodation, all food, mostly takeaway Lunch n tea as its our family holiday And whoop it up. it can be done and we do everything we want, go where We want, eat what we want n enjoy life.

can give you a run down of all expenses if that helps but bottom line is $31,000 per year for two people.

enjoy while you are still above the ground.  cheers. Rocket

---

You sound like our sort of people Rocket. Throw in a bit of overnight hiking, and that's the sort of lifestyle we're thinking of. 

As an aside, what's your view on having a heater in the van? We're imagining being up north in the winter, then moving further south come the summer. Does it actually work like that in reality, or do you reckon we'll need heating?

Chris

gdayjr wrote:

---

 

Lets hope the Corona Virus thing settles down soon, and all those new nomads start going overseas for their holidays again.

 

 

---

 Amen to that!

Spiky wrote:

---

the rocket wrote:

---

Hi, i have kept account of our expenses over 6 years. Yearly $31,000. Two of us. this includes replacing tvs, i pads, glasses, washing machine, microwave, car repair, etc. Livin the dream. If we want  to do a tour say, we free camp for awhile and save. Most we have free camped is 182 days in one year. go to woodford folk festival yearly and if we go the whole week there is no change out of $1,600. This is early bird tickets in, showgrounds  accommodation, all food, mostly takeaway Lunch n tea as its our family holiday And whoop it up. it can be done and we do everything we want, go where We want, eat what we want n enjoy life.

can give you a run down of all expenses if that helps but bottom line is $31,000 per year for two people.

enjoy while you are still above the ground.  cheers. Rocket

---

You sound like our sort of people Rocket. Throw in a bit of overnight hiking, and that's the sort of lifestyle we're thinking of. 

As an aside, what's your view on having a heater in the van? We're imagining being up north in the winter, then moving further south come the summer. Does it actually work like that in reality, or do you reckon we'll need heating?

Chris

---

 Hi chris,

had this last winter. Had to buy an extra new woollen blanket. If in qld n free camp in winter  just wear extra clothes to bed, beanies n gloves  N blankets.  If its too cold we head to a showgrounds with electricity and turn on our ceiling heater/air conditioner. Same if its too hot in summer we head to showgrounds. Do not know about victoria during winter. Enjoy. Rocket

Spiky wrote:

---

what's your view on having a heater in the van?

---

Without a shred of doubt... yes.

A diesel heater from ebay $200 fit it yourself of pay a handyman to do it.

Mike Harding wrote:

---

Spiky wrote:

---

what's your view on having a heater in the van?

---

Without a shred of doubt... yes.

A diesel heater from ebay $200 fit it yourself of pay a handyman to do it.

---

 Hi, do u ever smell diesel?

Best addition to a caravan ever (if in Southern or Central Australia) - cheap to buy , cheap to run, quiet,  safe, light weight   and very effective.  No diesel smells as they work on a "heat exchanger " system - burner draws air from outside and exhausts to outside - heater side draws air from inside and exhausts the hot air to inside (and can be ducted to different parts eg. ensuite ...etc, of the van.)  When you are caravanning and you cop a really cold night and you cannot get warm all you want to do is "go home " , you have had enough . Diesel heaters overcome this situation and lets you live in warm comfort and continue to enjoy your adventure. Diesel heaters have widespread use in USA and Europe in boats, cranes , trucks , cars, motorhomes......and have been around for years.  

Spiky wrote:

---

Nevd wrote:

---

Hi Spiky - how old are you? There's a lot of misinformation about access to super out there. I may be able to fill you in because that's in my professional area of operation.

Nev.

---

 Nev,

I'm 7 months short of my 60th, and we have a decent(ish) super fund bubbling away in the background. I've been loath to touch it, so I'd be interested to hear your opinion.

 

Chris

---

Hi Chris,

I can't comment on things specifically because I don't know your full circumstances.  Based on your age, you can access your super from age 60.  You won't get Age Pension until age 67.  If your only income is rent from your home, you're going to need to find other income. or draw on savings/super.  As a rule of thumb, allow one third of your rental income to cover costs - rates, insurances, agents fees etc.  That leaves you two thirds.  As others have said, your budget definitely seems to be light on.  

Your super is there to use it in retirement.  As long as you keep reserves for the unexpected, there may be no point in hoarding it for later.  The example I give my clients is that of my parents.  My mum only ever wanted to go to WA to see the wildflowers in bloom.  My dad thought he was indispensable on my sister's farm.  In the end mum got sick and never got out of Qld.  You just don't know what life will throw at you.

I'm not saying blow it all in the first few years.  It's a balancing act, but a combination of using some and keeping some for later can lead to a great retirement.  A lot of my clients retire with only $250,000 - $300,000 and have a great retirement - some even do it comfortably on considerably less.  Not everyone needs to spend $250k on a new setup. 

One thing I do advocate is to keep growth investments in your super.  Many (including some default super fund portfolios) go too conservative in investment approach in retirement.  Sure, a more shares/property style portfolio will be more volatile in the short term, but long term results speak for themselves.  Long term in financial products is 5-6 years or more.  At age 60 in good health, a man has about 25+ years to go, on average.  Definitely long term.  If you go too conservative, you use your capital faster.  How is that not losing money?

Maybe get some professional advice before you set up.  They can help with budgeting, cashflow and help make sure you know you can live your life and still not end up a pauper.

Best wishes on your retirement.  I wish I was there, but still have a little bit to go.  In the meantime, I try to mix as much pleasure (travel) with work I can.

Nev

gdayjr wrote:

---

Nevd wrote:

---

Hi Spiky - how old are you? There's a lot of misinformation about access to super out there. I may be able to fill you in because that's in my professional area of operation.

Nev.

---

Hi Nev, i am 65 now, and planning to hit the road full time in around 18 months time.

I will get what ever the Ausie pension is for a single guy, and i believe i can also get half of my UK pension, less tax of course, which is arouind $75 a week.

I intend to live solely on those funds.

It will will be in a brand new caravan, being pulled by a brand new Iveco Daily E6 Van.

I will have a big chunk of cash left from my super as back up, but i also intend to pick up work along the way while i am still fit enough to do it.

I am going to get some free advice from a consultant as part of a deal with my super fund (N.G.S) in regard to the best way to park my reserve funds.

Like most people i guess, the more i look into living costs on the road, the more i realise there are lots of little "hidden" costs that i hadn't considered.

I will aim to free camp wherever possible, and having two modes of transport means the location of the overnight stays is not that important.

I have been doing a spread sheet of my daily/weekly/monthy living costs for the last three months, its amazing what that can reveal. I know where every single dollar goes now.

I am pretty confident, that i can live on what should be a weekly total pension income of around $500.

I have included the on road costs, such as rego, insurance, and servicing of the prime mover, the caravan, and my BMW motorbike.

I suppose the good thing is, i will have a few dollars behind me, just in case i have got my sums wrong.

Its been 4 months of research so far, in regard to tow vehicles, and caravans, so i am pretty sure that i now know the exact caravan i want, and the tow vehicle.

 

Like a few others, i am a bit apprehensive about it all, but i am also pretty sure that after a few weeks it will settle down, and a routine will soon develop.

Let shope the Corona Virus thing settles down soon, and all those new nomads start going overseas for their hollidays again.

 

 

---

 Hi Graham,

Great to see you doing what a lot of us would like to do.  

I hope you haven't turned your super into cash - see my comments to Spiky about including long term growth investments.  Getting good advice is a great idea.  Your super fund is a good start for your super money, but often their advice doesn't cover anything else.  Centrelink's Financial Information Service is a great free resource.  They can give you an idea of how your UK pension will affect your Age Pension, investment concepts and some tips about managing money & cashflow.  It's popular, so there may be a wait for an appointment.

Have fun out there.

Nev

Nevd wrote:

---

---

Hi Chris,

I can't comment on things specifically because I don't know your full circumstances.  Based on your age, you can access your super from age 60.  You won't get Age Pension until age 67.  If your only income is rent from your home, you're going to need to find other income. or draw on savings/super.  As a rule of thumb, allow one third of your rental income to cover costs - rates, insurances, agents fees etc.  That leaves you two thirds.  As others have said, your budget definitely seems to be light on.  

Your super is there to use it in retirement.  As long as you keep reserves for the unexpected, there may be no point in hoarding it for later.  The example I give my clients is that of my parents.  My mum only ever wanted to go to WA to see the wildflowers in bloom.  My dad thought he was indispensable on my sister's farm.  In the end mum got sick and never got out of Qld.  You just don't know what life will throw at you.

I'm not saying blow it all in the first few years.  It's a balancing act, but a combination of using some and keeping some for later can lead to a great retirement.  A lot of my clients retire with only $250,000 - $300,000 and have a great retirement - some even do it comfortably on considerably less.  Not everyone needs to spend $250k on a new setup. 

One thing I do advocate is to keep growth investments in your super.  Many (including some default super fund portfolios) go too conservative in investment approach in retirement.  Sure, a more shares/property style portfolio will be more volatile in the short term, but long term results speak for themselves.  Long term in financial products is 5-6 years or more.  At age 60 in good health, a man has about 25+ years to go, on average.  Definitely long term.  If you go too conservative, you use your capital faster.  How is that not losing money?

Maybe get some professional advice before you set up.  They can help with budgeting, cashflow and help make sure you know you can live your life and still not end up a pauper.

Best wishes on your retirement.  I wish I was there, but still have a little bit to go.  In the meantime, I try to mix as much pleasure (travel) with work I can.

Nev

---

 Nev,

Great advice. Thanks for your reply.

Chris

Mike Harding wrote:

---

Spiky wrote:

---

what's your view on having a heater in the van?

---

Without a shred of doubt... yes.

A diesel heater from ebay $200 fit it yourself of pay a handyman to do it.

---

Ok, you've convinced me!

I'm pretty handy so it shouldn't be beyond my capabilities to fit myself.

the rocket wrote:

---

 Hi, do u ever smell diesel?

---

When it starts up it automatically runs at high speed before settling down to the setting you chose. In that period there is the aroma of a diesel engine, and it makes a bit of noise, although it's your neighbours who will notice it more.

Internally, there is no diesel smell. Although when mine was new it did have a sulphur smell. That was enough to encourage me to install a carbon monoxide detector, but the alarm has never triggered and the smell has now mostly dissipated.

AN installation tip. The ticking from the pump transmits noise if anything on it's high pressure side touches the van body. Soft mount it and insulate it, including the fuel line from the pump to the heater. Then you will hardly hear it.

Mike Harding, I would be careful about getting a handyman to install it unless he knows them well. I recommend doing it yourself after plenty of reading or getting someone who knows about them. Other than that, installation is fairly simple.

Spiky wrote:

---

Ok, you've convinced me!

I'm pretty handy so it shouldn't be beyond my capabilities to fit myself.

---

Most mornings in the cooler weather I utter the salutation "Blessed be the diesel heater" :)

Providing you can use had tools they are easy to fit, the worst part is cutting a 100mm hole in the floor of your lovely new caravan! Hint. If you don't have a 100mm hole cutter Bunnings do a cheap ($14?) pack of hole cutters intended for LED downlights which includes a 100mm one.

In reply to "The Rocket": zero smell of diesel ever. If you can smell it it means the heater is not working correctly and should be investigated. However a CO alarm should be purchased as well - imo, like smoke alarms, they should be a mandatory fitment in caravans.

FYI my diesel heater (a 5kW unit) normally runs on minimum power and consumes 125mL diesel per hour.

I have been so impressed with mine I bought a complete second unit as a spare.

Good advice from "Are we Lost" regarding the pump; ensure it is mechanically isolated from the chassis.

Just make sure you run "heavy" cabling  from your power supply to the heater unit to prevent voltage drop on "Start Up.."   (glow plug needs full voltage )   Low voltage supply for "start up" causes more troubles than anything else with new heater installations.   Once running, current draw is much lower. (I do not have the figures ...)   Dedicated cabling is the sure way as  existing caravan cabling is often too light and problematic.