My wife and myself are also joining the Grey Nomad band wagon albeit much younger then many I guess, no caravans for us I am rebuilding my 70 Austin bus into a motor home and its coming along great, we plan to wander down to Tassy and spend some time there meandering about, follow this with South Oz and then the NT and Qld and just keep going until either I cark it or the bus does lol
Ma said
06:25 AM Feb 9, 2012
Good for you droppy. My brother fitted out a bus but due to unforseen circumstances he has to sell it now. Does yours have bedrooms as his does, he has three and would you believe a full size bathtub.
I hope all goes well for you and you enjoy your time on the forum. You certainly will find heaps of info on here. Welcome
Cruising Granny said
07:05 AM Feb 9, 2012
Welcome Dropbear68. I hope you enjoy your stay. Look forward to learning your story.
Blue Orchid said
07:20 AM Feb 9, 2012
Welcome Dropbear68, I am Mas' other half, have seen that old bus but never got to use the bath. It probably would have been handy after a long session fishing and wiping my smelly hands on my jeans.
Enjoy the freedom while you can, we do, and hope it will last us a few decades more.
animalcarer said
07:35 AM Feb 9, 2012
Welcome aboard, strait jackets on the left, meds on the right, if you hurry you may catch a group session. Just kidding. Enjoy you will learn heaps.
aussietraveller said
08:18 AM Feb 9, 2012
Welcome Dropbear the name brings back great memories of when my kids were young and we went into remote areas to camp and the kids always went to bed by 9.00 pm because thats when the drop bears came out, we still laugh about it and they are adults now. look forward to seeing you posting in the future.
_wombat_ said
10:08 AM Feb 9, 2012
Dropbear68
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Thursday 9th of February 2012 10:34:05 AM
dropbear68 said
05:08 PM Feb 9, 2012
OK heres some pics of my rig, the interior shot is what Im currently working on which is to raise the rear floor to the hieght of the wheel arches this is the rear bed room, its hard yakka but im progressing well, thanks for all the replys hope to meet a few of you along the roads
Shes not a big rig only about 24 foot but for the wife and I its absolutely ideal, Ill go into the overall plan at some stage of your wanting to here about it
-- Edited by dropbear68 on Thursday 9th of February 2012 05:09:27 PM
Welcome from me too Dropbear. You're just a couple of spring chickens aren't you!
How about some photo's of your bus? We're always interested in fellow nomads rigs.
clazandaza said
06:41 PM Feb 9, 2012
Dont forget to organise a sticker for the bus so that other GNs can find you in camp sites etc and help you drink your beer etc.
Happywanderer said
06:45 PM Feb 9, 2012
Welcome dropbear, Cindy has a thread she is out of stickers at the moment. Will let us know when there is a new batch.
JRH said
06:51 PM Feb 9, 2012
Welcome Dropbear, hope you enjoy the forum, just watch out for that fellow called Wombat.
Dougwe said
10:38 PM Feb 9, 2012
Welcome from me too Dropbear, enjoy here and out and about.
dropbear68 said
01:39 AM Feb 10, 2012
Sadly my little bus is a bit small to partition it out inside into rooms, it has a master bed at the rear and at a push the custom made lounge/ dining will collapse into a 3/4 double, but its just going to be the wife and I and our little doggies so its ideal for us, Ill delve a bit deeper into the workings of everything a bit later tonite when its quiet here
dropbear68 said
01:41 AM Feb 10, 2012
aussietraveller wrote:
Welcome Dropbear the name brings back great memories of when my kids were young and we went into remote areas to camp and the kids always went to bed by 9.00 pm because thats when the drop bears came out, we still laugh about it and they are adults now. look forward to seeing you posting in the future.
Yeah drop bears and joe blakes my dad used to try that one on us up North when we went camping but up in the NT the place is full of things that creep and crawl and drop lol
JRH said
01:44 AM Feb 10, 2012
dropbear68 wrote:
aussietraveller wrote:
Welcome Dropbear the name brings back great memories of when my kids were young and we went into remote areas to camp and the kids always went to bed by 9.00 pm because thats when the drop bears came out, we still laugh about it and they are adults now. look forward to seeing you posting in the future.
Yeah drop bears and joe blakes my dad used to try that one on us up North when we went camping but up in the NT the place is full of things that creep and crawl and drop lol
Sentry in the army in Townsville went missing and all they found were some blood stained uniform, the Dropbears got him hence the name Gotcha's.
DandS said
01:54 AM Feb 10, 2012
Welcome Dropbear, (seems they are real after all)
We are relatively new to the GN forum, and will say a great bunch of people and some great characters.
Enjoy
Daryl & Sylvie
dropbear68 said
02:42 AM Feb 10, 2012
DandS wrote:
Welcome Dropbear, (seems they are real after all)
We are relatively new to the GN forum, and will say a great bunch of people and some great characters.
Enjoy
Daryl & Sylvie
yes indeed Im learning this quickly this is my kind of forum lol
dropbear68 said
02:45 AM Feb 10, 2012
clazandaza wrote:
Dont forget to organise a sticker for the bus so that other GNs can find you in camp sites etc and help you drink your beer etc.
Indeed if you see my old Austin bus parked under a tree you can be guaranteed ill be knocking the tops of a few ambers, I will always have a good supply of home brew available for consumption around the fire.
_wombat_ said
02:56 AM Feb 10, 2012
dropbear68 wrote:
clazandaza wrote:
Dont forget to organise a sticker for the bus so that other GNs can find you in camp sites etc and help you drink your beer etc.
Indeed if you see my old Austin bus parked under a tree you can be guaranteed ill be knocking the tops of a few ambers, I will always have a good supply of home brew available for consumption around the fire.
Hey DB68 where are you now? I'm bloody thirsty
JRH said
02:59 AM Feb 10, 2012
_wombat_ wrote:
dropbear68 wrote:
clazandaza wrote:
Dont forget to organise a sticker for the bus so that other GNs can find you in camp sites etc and help you drink your beer etc.
Indeed if you see my old Austin bus parked under a tree you can be guaranteed ill be knocking the tops of a few ambers, I will always have a good supply of home brew available for consumption around the fire.
Hey DB68 where are you now? I'm bloody thirsty
Womby the drunken Wombat.
dropbear68 said
03:03 AM Feb 10, 2012
I have a few moments of quiet time so ill try and describe what Im upto
My old girl is a 1970s Austin Bus its a tropical special built by Athol Hedges in Queensland tropical means sliding windows lol
Its a 24 footer has a 6 cyl BMC motor with a Turner 5sp and a 2 spd diff, not a speed demon hence why I am shoe horning an Internation 345 V8 and a 4spd ACCO gearbox, very torquey and strong and will happilly run LPG, I have nearly 200 liters of fuel tankage, the bus was in very good condition when I got it it had been sitting since 1997, I have attacked the interior with great gusto and enthusiasm.
Were simple people and not scared to rough it to a degree, the inside will be fairly basic but functional for two people and yes its airconned nice 3.5kw Daikin for those powered sites, genset for the non powered stops, Im figuring were going to be stopping and staying in various van parks etc so I didngt see the need for an on board dyke and shower set up, no room anyway, many parks have these facilities anyway, a shower bag under a tree doesnt bug me much and we have a portable dyke and a privacy tent for it.
While the bus will have a kitchenette again we will be eating and cooking outside, the bus will have a full length annexe and Im fitting a rathe rlong table / bench which will be hinged and fitted to the sid eof the bus and just folded and locked when driving, so all cooking will be done on the barby etc
We have horses and weve decided we will hook on the float jam a horse in it and follow the show scene arouind the country, Im developing a mobile saddle buisness to run along with this to assist with income, we wont be in a hurry to go anywhere happy to spend as much time as I like anywhere that I like, thats the whole idea of being a GN, who is in a hurry and who know where ones van or bus can pop up.
Anyway far as the inside of the bus is concerned, it has a rear double bed which is elevated and I have a mass of space under the bed for storage, it will have full length roof mounted over head storage, lots of little storage areas actually,
Kitchenette is made up of flat packs from Bunnings simple 4 burner hotplate, sink with grey water storage and 100 litre fresh water with 12v pump, L shaped lounge which will fold down into a 3/4 double of sorts, umm small fridge, freezer, microwave usual other electric mod cons, have seating 3 including driver all off which are nice modern 4wd bucket seats, full curtians and weather seals etc its gonna be a ripper when its more advanced Ill stick up more pics of it, then we will talk about the outside lol
JRH said
03:10 AM Feb 10, 2012
Sounds great to me DB, I am sure you are going to have a ball.
dazren said
04:42 AM Feb 10, 2012
))) WELCOME ((( From me to dropbear, your rig sounds like it's going to be a ripper ! you have some good idea's there ! The only change i would have made is find a corner to fit in a toilet shower [ combo ]
In the old day's I used to drive a similar, early 70s Austin furniture van with the standard 6 cyl and '' yep'' fantastic idea to go the V8, will make it a lot more powerful and an easy quiter drive.
I think you have stirred up a bit of interest re-your rig, and we are looking forward to you letting us come along for the ride, as it progresses
Welcome again db68, and I to will warn you about 'wombat' and his bestmate Vic, they are on this forum because no one else will put up with them. and the rest of us are ; normal' and compassionate.
PS. wombat is really quite knowledgeable and helpful, but don't tell anyone as it will ruin his reputation [ lol ]
glassies said
05:20 AM Feb 10, 2012
welcome to a great site drop bear enjoy a great bunch of fun loving people thats for sure they are all like famiy to me
_wombat_ said
04:20 PM Feb 10, 2012
Thanks Dazren, I did not miss your PS
dropbear68 said
09:56 PM Feb 10, 2012
Im sure Wombat is a total gent and wont leave his emptys in my annexe when hes done and gone home to sleep it off lol, I really dont have the room for a shower dyke combo i would have loved to put one in but just dont have the room.
_wombat_ said
10:34 PM Feb 10, 2012
dropbear68 wrote:
Im sure Wombat is a total gent and wont leave his emptys in my annexe when hes done and gone home to sleep it off lol, I really dont have the room for a shower dyke combo i would have loved to put one in but just dont have the room.
DB68, you are on my mate's list total number to date is 3 and that include's me
dropbear68 said
04:01 AM Feb 11, 2012
Thanks Wombat, your moire then welcome to assist in the consumption of my finest home brew, better make sure I have enough stashed under the bed.
dropbear68 said
02:06 AM Feb 14, 2012
I did a few jobs on the old girl last few days, copped a mega splinter today that made me lose interest in doing what I was doing, back into it tomorrow though so much to do,
My wife and myself are also joining the Grey Nomad band wagon albeit much younger then many I guess, no caravans for us I am rebuilding my 70 Austin bus into a motor home and its coming along great, we plan to wander down to Tassy and spend some time there meandering about, follow this with South Oz and then the NT and Qld and just keep going until either I cark it or the bus does lol
Good for you droppy. My brother fitted out a bus but due to unforseen circumstances he has to sell it now. Does yours have bedrooms as his does, he has three and would you believe a full size bathtub.
I hope all goes well for you and you enjoy your time on the forum. You certainly will find heaps of info on here. Welcome
Enjoy the freedom while you can, we do, and hope it will last us a few decades more.
Just kidding. Enjoy you will learn heaps.
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Thursday 9th of February 2012 10:34:05 AM
OK heres some pics of my rig, the interior shot is what Im currently working on which is to raise the rear floor to the hieght of the wheel arches this is the rear bed room, its hard yakka but im progressing well, thanks for all the replys hope to meet a few of you along the roads
Shes not a big rig only about 24 foot but for the wife and I its absolutely ideal, Ill go into the overall plan at some stage of your wanting to here about it
-- Edited by dropbear68 on Thursday 9th of February 2012 05:09:27 PM
Welcome from me too Dropbear. You're just a couple of spring chickens aren't you!
How about some photo's of your bus? We're always interested in fellow nomads rigs.
Dont forget to organise a sticker for the bus so that other GNs can find you in camp sites etc and help you drink your beer etc.
Welcome Dropbear, hope you enjoy the forum, just watch out for that fellow called Wombat.
Sadly my little bus is a bit small to partition it out inside into rooms, it has a master bed at the rear and at a push the custom made lounge/ dining will collapse into a 3/4 double, but its just going to be the wife and I and our little doggies so its ideal for us, Ill delve a bit deeper into the workings of everything a bit later tonite when its quiet here
Sentry in the army in Townsville went missing and all they found were some blood stained uniform, the Dropbears got him hence the name Gotcha's.
Welcome Dropbear, (seems they are real after all)
We are relatively new to the GN forum, and will say a great bunch of people and some great characters.
Enjoy
Daryl & Sylvie
Hey DB68 where are you now? I'm bloody thirsty
Womby the drunken Wombat.
I have a few moments of quiet time so ill try and describe what Im upto
My old girl is a 1970s Austin Bus its a tropical special built by Athol Hedges in Queensland tropical means sliding windows lol
Its a 24 footer has a 6 cyl BMC motor with a Turner 5sp and a 2 spd diff, not a speed demon hence why I am shoe horning an Internation 345 V8 and a 4spd ACCO gearbox, very torquey and strong and will happilly run LPG, I have nearly 200 liters of fuel tankage, the bus was in very good condition when I got it it had been sitting since 1997, I have attacked the interior with great gusto and enthusiasm.
Were simple people and not scared to rough it to a degree, the inside will be fairly basic but functional for two people and yes its airconned nice 3.5kw Daikin for those powered sites, genset for the non powered stops, Im figuring were going to be stopping and staying in various van parks etc so I didngt see the need for an on board dyke and shower set up, no room anyway, many parks have these facilities anyway, a shower bag under a tree doesnt bug me much and we have a portable dyke and a privacy tent for it.
While the bus will have a kitchenette again we will be eating and cooking outside, the bus will have a full length annexe and Im fitting a rathe rlong table / bench which will be hinged and fitted to the sid eof the bus and just folded and locked when driving, so all cooking will be done on the barby etc
We have horses and weve decided we will hook on the float jam a horse in it and follow the show scene arouind the country, Im developing a mobile saddle buisness to run along with this to assist with income, we wont be in a hurry to go anywhere happy to spend as much time as I like anywhere that I like, thats the whole idea of being a GN, who is in a hurry and who know where ones van or bus can pop up.
Anyway far as the inside of the bus is concerned, it has a rear double bed which is elevated and I have a mass of space under the bed for storage, it will have full length roof mounted over head storage, lots of little storage areas actually,
Kitchenette is made up of flat packs from Bunnings simple 4 burner hotplate, sink with grey water storage and 100 litre fresh water with 12v pump, L shaped lounge which will fold down into a 3/4 double of sorts, umm small fridge, freezer, microwave usual other electric mod cons, have seating 3 including driver all off which are nice modern 4wd bucket seats, full curtians and weather seals etc its gonna be a ripper when its more advanced Ill stick up more pics of it, then we will talk about the outside lol
Sounds great to me DB, I am sure you are going to have a ball.
))) WELCOME ((( From me to dropbear, your rig sounds like it's going to be a ripper ! you have some good idea's there ! The only change i would have made is find a corner to fit in a toilet shower [ combo ]
In the old day's I used to drive a similar, early 70s Austin furniture van with the standard 6 cyl and '' yep'' fantastic idea to go the V8, will make it a lot more powerful and an easy quiter drive.
I think you have stirred up a bit of interest re-your rig, and we are looking forward to you letting us come along for the ride, as it progresses
Welcome again db68, and I to will warn you about 'wombat' and his best mate Vic, they are on this forum because no one else will put up with them. and the rest of us are ; normal' and compassionate.
PS. wombat is really quite knowledgeable and helpful, but don't tell anyone as it will ruin his reputation [ lol ]
they are all like famiy to me
Thanks Dazren, I did not miss your PS
DB68, you are on my mate's list
total number to date is 3 and that include's me 
Thanks Wombat, your moire then welcome to assist in the consumption of my finest home brew, better make sure I have enough stashed under the bed.