Hi All

am not sure whether to post on the solos or here for these questions. Am just starting to look at rigs and what would suit me best. My price range is an absolute max of $30k and more realistically $20k. Am tossing up between towing a small van and a coaster or similar. Probably the coaster will win out as I intend being on the road full time from early in the new year with my 3 dogs. If I buy something in the eastern states possibly early or late January would be a good time to buy unless something perfect comes up beforehand. To date one of the items that took my fancy was a gorgeous 1976 rare VW Jurgens camper caravan which must have gone around the clock because it only had about 90000kms or so. The living area is nice, basic but cheery. I would love to adapt something like that and fit it out with all the stuff I need. The price was $14k so it is tempting. You can see it at http://www.caravancampingsales.com.au . According to the ad, there are only 2 in Oz. I suppose I would be a lunatic to buy something like that and expect it to be reliable.... but I am seriously smitten. The price allows capacity to do some work on it and fit it out to my requirements. I really feel like rushing out and buying it and need restraint.

The other item that caught my eye was a nicely fitted out basic 1980ish coaster with a reconditioned holden engine. It needs a full on paint job and I would have to add all the stuff I need like solar, CB or whatever etc... and the ad said it did not have a water tank which seems strange. The price tag was $3500. If it was a reliable van it might be worth investing in.

So this is a very long winded way of coming up with some basic questions such as: what does it cost to install a basic solar system, inverter etc...bearing in mind my total ignorance on these matters? Is a CB the best way of chatting to people on the road? What do I look for in a generator? What are the costs in installing a separate house battery system if not included? Would I be better off buying a more basic set up and paying for the latest facilities or paying more and getting a well equiped home that has been loved, tried and tested and all the bugs sorted?

I'm sure all these questions have been asked many hundreds of times so thank you for your patience in advance.

Look forward to seeing you on the road and am counting down the days..... we won't mention the months.

Happy census night and it's nice to think that people will be looking at us in 100 yrs time... if there is still a planet.

ellen

I love the Skull in the front Elle.   Not my cup of tea however for a couple of reasons.   I don't like Cab-overs.  For me, they look far too Top-heavy.  Another big concern would be the fact that Parts would [I think] be impossible to find if needed.

I'm sure if you take your time, You'll find something more suitable in your Price-range that already has the Solar, and quite likely, most, if not all, of anything else you need.

Cheers,

Sheba.

It is a good idea to stick with a vehicle type that is common in Australia, especially as you will be buying something older. Toyota Coaster buses are used all over the country, so one probably doesn't have to go too far to find a mechanic who knows something about the engine.

You need to do quite a bit of research about the solar power. A starting point is to work out what you want to run off it, find out what the power requirements of those things are, and then that will give you an idea of the panel size you need, ditto batteries. To give you an idea, our van lights are 12v, as is our bar-sized fridge/freezer; we use the inverter to run laptops. We have two van batteries and about 260watts of solar panels. Even with this setup, a week of really cloudy weather will see us low on power - but I think there are now panels available that do better in cloudy conditions. Our system is 7 years old and cost, I think, about $5000. Be very careful - our experience was that there were too many people setting themselves up as solar installers, who really didn't have a clue.

A man called Collyn Rivers has written a book (s?) about solar power for motorhomes and vans - if you google his name you should find out title and availablility.

A CB is well worth while. It does allow communication with nearby vehicles similarly equipped. We use ours to listen out for talk between pilot vehicles and oversize loads - knowing that something big is coming up gives good time to find a place to pull off road. It also allows us to talk with truck drivers coming up behind, which lets them know that we are aware of them and will assist their passing.

You may also want to consider a sat phone, for security and peace of mind. The Telstra Next G network is the best of the mobile phone coverages, but there is an awful lot of Australia where it isn't!

-- Edited by wendyv on Wednesday 10th of August 2011 04:56:53 PM

Elle on Wheels wrote:

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Hey thanks everyone for all your advice and I will definitely be sensible and not buy anything exotic. Thanks Wendy for your tips and I have come across Collyn before and my brain is probably too lazy to digest all the great info he gives. In terms of solar I would like something to run the fridge and lights when camping so I don't have to use gas and batteries unnecessarily - it does not have to be elaborate. One of my soapbox items is how pathetic the govt support is for encouraging people to use solar and equivalent and that goes for both sides of our national hot air balloon chamber. There is no reason why solar should be so expensive and a very good argument for full subsidisation for conversion. A silly question - what are the pros and cons for CB vs UHF - is it worth considering both? I hope you are all enjoying this lovely night where ever you are.
Ellen

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