Hi all, 

I'm absolutely out of my depth here, but I have confidence and will to do this.  My choice in partners has left me otherwise  flat on my arse,  and knowing I wont be able to purchase a home, I have come to the decision that at the age of 61 I could purchase a Motorhome and travel ( fur kid in tow ). What i'm concerned about is that these posts that i'm reading all seem to be old. are there any new posts, or am i on the wrong sort of forum ? I am waiting for settlement before i embark on such a trip so I have time to really examine all areas  of concern and pick people's brains and use your experiences to my advantage.  Iv read of people selling up and buying caravans , motorhomes ect & travelling, but in my case i have nothing to sell up, so i will only have settlement money, at a minimum and that would be to purchase the motorhome. Am i out of my mind in thinking i can achieve this ??  I am able to pick up work along my travels i'm sure. 

What absolute necessities does one take when travelling by oneself ? safety wise.

any advice is welcomed, and will be considered , thanks all in advance. 

First off - don't rush into anything but do your research first. If you can, hire a campervan for a week or two to try out the 'van life'. You might find that it is something that you want to pursue but fur bubs may have other ideas. You will find that there are a lot of places that are not pet friendly and those that are have very strict rules even to the size of fur-babies that they allow.

I've read that there are a lot of single ladies that they prefer campervans as they a smallish, easily managed, great for stealth parking and, if need be, quickly pack up and move out of unsafe areas.

If you are claustrophobic or like collecting nick-nacks then van life will not be for you. Can you tolerate spending days on end in a confined space (unfortunately not all days are sunshine and lollipops) and every square centimetre is precious. Look at your wardrobe - 90% of your clothes will have to go - only the bare minimum as space will not allow you to have too much. Learn about layering clothing to make the most of your much reduced wardrobe.

You may also want to talk to a financial advisor to discuss what your best options are. Van life doesn't come without it's ongoing expenses. There is registration, insurance, servicing/breakdown, road-side assist. They all need to be part of your calculations.

About me: I'm new to this stuff as well. I will (hopefully) be picking up my van in February 2025 (https://www.avansupercentre.com.au/current-stock/display/323-avan-ovation-m9-c-class) It's a beast but it what suites my future adventures.

I'm not trying to dampen your expectations - just being realistic.

I agree with the thoughts expressed in the responses.

As this will be a substantial change in your life, don't jump in feet first. As available funds will be limited, I suggest starting off with a cheap motorhome and keep your travels local. Then after a few months you will have a much better idea of what you want. Maybe space will be more important than manouevrability and economy, or vice versa. Will a combined shower and toilet work for you? Outside amenities such as BBQ? How much storage space you want. Maybe you will find a small table and seat too confining. Will the motorhome require the bed to be converted every day for sitting at a table? Can you manage with a small fridge or cooking area? Everything is a compromise.

With the benefit of wisdom, then, sell the cheapy and buy something that has the features that are important to you. You may in fact totally change your ideas on what you want. Or perhaps decide that motorhoming is not the life for you after all. But you need to give it a few months.

Just ensure that the cheapy you buy is not something that is ready to cost money in repairs. Getting it inspected before committing would help.

You asked about what you should take safety wise. I think you may be overthinking the risk. I have never thought about needing anything to keep me safer. Just normal locks to help protect your possessions. Caravan parks are rarely a problem. In some cases, freecamps near towns may attract a troublesome element, but I have never been bothered. Maybe a can of hairspray or stronger at the door would give you more confidence.

As for working, I often see help wanted advertisements in windows of retailers. I think if that is what you are considering and you have experience you should be able to build up some kitty. Most will want locals in preference and prefer younger but there will be some recognise the benefit you may bring. I don't know how easy it will be to get government benefits while travelling until you reach pension age.

As others said. Don't jump in quickly. Personally I would give it a year. 

It's easier to save a dollar than earn a dollar.

If you have a car do some camping with what you have. Maybe you need to buy a tent. This is a bit more work but at least you can get some travelling experience without wasting too much money.

Putting the tent & small car issues to one side, hopefully otherwise you will get a reasonable feeling of this new lifestyle.

Do a budget of capital costs, running costs, budget for major repairs & alternative accommodation. You don't want to be backed into yet another corner!

One more thing to think of. Major health issues later in life & living out of a van.

Take your time to have a very clear mind.

Hello  possum, 

My god I sound like Dame Edna . Thank you for your reply.  This is certinally something to really think about, & I do have time to think. Thinking is the easy part... actually doing,  is the challenge.. just as well I like challenges  . In all seriousness, everyone's responses have been wonderful & lots of things to consider & figure out which way is the best way for me..  

Have any of you regretted doing what your doing ?

As I said,  I have time to sort through information so nothing will be rushed.  Keep watching this space, you never know where I might pop up. thanks again for your food for thought. Greatly appreciated. 

Cheers Suzi. 

Hi there. Thank you for your input.. I agree there are many many things to think about & Possum stated a few, I have time to do research knowing that this move will be life changing.  I believe,  life changing for the better.  

I will look into as many forums & groups as I can but sometimes that can  end up confusing me even more  

Hi Jeff

Thank you for your reply. Yes there is heaps to consider,  lots of information to absorb & sort through this maze of a mind I have . It gets a bit daunting, but the space, that's fine... I guess it's the " different lifestyle " breaking away from the norm. Living out of a car, I've done that, I survived.  I don't need or have all the material things that most want, my needs are very simple.  As far as wardrobe goes....  I can go away for 3 months with an overnight bag     I think my dog has more clothes than I do ( only joking ) she has a fur coat,  I don't.   

I had already given consideration to insurances, break downs, rego, maintenance of vehicle, roadside assist ect, that's all part & parcel of owning a vehicle.  But this is a serious decision & one im not taking lightly.  

May I ask what made you choose your choice of vehicle ? & congratulations for when you pick it up. You must be excited. 

Me again, 

I too have been looking at the Avan... nice choice !!

Hi Suzi,

You sound as though you have your 'head screwed on right' - very down to earth and very practical. You don't need a fur coat as I'm sure that fur-bubs is only too happy to share hers (lots of cuddles and snuggles).

The Pros

• I wanted something with all the 'mod-cons'. I'm getting too old to rough it and I'm not in the best physical condition.
• It had 2 single beds. I'm getting one of the beds converted to a desk/work area. I will have this area for my computers / printer / stationary etc and guitars (which I play very badly - if I practice in the evening it might keep all the nocturnal wildlife away).
• I chose the C Class for the additional storage area above the cabin (double bed) as I will use this to store bulky items like guitar cases, suitcases etc.
• the visitors chair - behind the passenger seat is being converted to a cabinet.

The Cons

• the external storage - the grey strips running along the outside are the external storage drawers. I don't know the dimensions of these so I'll have to wait and see. Will these drawers be big enough to store outdoor chairs/tables etc?
• This van is almost twice the normal car length so parking is going to be a bit of a problem in certain areas.
• Fuel consumption is about 16L/100k or 6ltr per kms (and that is probably achievable with a strong tail wind and on a steep incline).

The other day I dropped another $17k on the van for levellers. Due to the size of the van, normal levellers will twist the framework and Avan will not authorise this work (levelling your van is really a 2 person operation). I'm getting airbag levellers thus the enormous cost - not only levelling but also smooth out rough roads but more importantly is the van can tilt/kneel when emptying the grey water tank.

Comfort comes at a price - I've not much change from $225K.

I have both equal parts of excitement (about the new adventure that I'll be taking) and fear of the unknown (as I've never done anything like this before).