We are considering buying a 24ft van for our future travelling around Oz, the salesman pointed out to us that most people are now buying 21ft and under because parks in the Eastern States (we're in WA) are making the bays smaller in order to squeeze more people in and that we may have problems getting into a park unless we plan well ahead ... any advice much appreciated
Cruising Granny said
07:34 AM Mar 8, 2012
Hi and welcome Paul and Sue. The advice is pretty close to true. 22ft seems to be the preferred size including shower and toilet. You can check out just about every van park in the country be googling to find out if any restrictions are being imposed. They are actually making more room for the big 5th wheelers and large motorhomes but squeezing vans closer together. Bribie Island is the squeeziest I've had to get into. It's your choice but you are showing great fore thought by doing some homework first. It's a major investment and you'd hope it will last you a long time. Safe and happy travels.
Boroma577 said
07:51 AM Mar 8, 2012
Hello Paul and Sue and WELCOME.
I have a 20ft van and whilst I do free camp a lot there are times when one needs to set up in a CP. I have on occasion had some difficulty in getting into some of the parks due to very tight turning areas.
I also find the diesel pump on some service stations present a bit of a challenge at times.
Another thing to watch with the larger vans is the ground clearance at the drawbar....fine, when standing still but often not so when accessing driveways.
jimricho said
02:57 PM Mar 8, 2012
paulandsue wrote:
Hi Everyone,
We are considering buying a 24ft van for our future travelling around Oz, the salesman pointed out to us that most people are now buying 21ft and under because parks in the Eastern States (we're in WA) are making the bays smaller in order to squeeze more people in and that we may have problems getting into a park unless we plan well ahead ... any advice much appreciated
Most of these parks were established before the advent of the larger vans common today and I think the salesman makes a valid point in essence if not in detail.
I've noticed that some of these larger vans (and some not so large ones too) have very poor ground clearance especially in regard to departure angle and I feel this should be looked at carefully when considering a purchase.
Dougwe said
03:48 PM Mar 8, 2012
Welcome from me too Paul and Sue, enjoy on here and out there. I don't have a problem of being too big (just me) as I only have a Avan camper but if and when I upgrade it would be around 18 foot and I'm not all that fussy about having on board en-suite. I would also consider a medium size campervan, in that way I wouldn't have to tow anything.
Gerty Dancer said
05:42 PM Mar 8, 2012
Welcome Paul and Sue. Thats true about the caravan park site sizes, but it varies from park to park. Some have a larger size for everybody, others might have a few larger ones for big rigs. And its definitely not just the Eastern states that can be squeezy, we were very tightly squeezed in several popular WA tourist parks too.
Dunco said
06:09 PM Mar 8, 2012
I have a van that is about 25' all up with the A frame and rear bar (Van itself is 22') ....I have NEVER had a problem in ANY caravan park anywhere in Australia and I have traveled fairly extensively with this van...about 30,000km
But in saying that, if you can get a van that is about 20' with everything you want in it, go for it !!!
glassies said
09:36 PM Mar 8, 2012
welcome paul and sue, we too have just purchased a 21 foot van it has seperate toilet and shower and everything we need i didnt realy even care if we didnt go 21ft 18 or 20 would of suited me but we will be living in it and hubby says no 21ft is much better.
Enjoy a great site great and loving people
cheers Della
paulandsue said
02:47 AM Mar 9, 2012
thankyou so much to all of you that have replied - don't think I explained myself very well, the van is acutally 24ft not including the A frame ! we currently have a 21ft van and apart from hitting it a couple of times haha ... and occasionally having to rely on very experienced caravaners to help us park it we really haven't done too badly with it ... problem is we've fallen in love with the new van and really want it ... was hoping all you experienced travellers would say GO FOR IT ... but you haven't
Also, thakyou you for all the warm welcomes,
Sue and Paul
Dougwe said
04:35 AM Mar 9, 2012
Paul and Sue "GO FOR IT"
I have found out in life that if you want it and can afford it get it now as it might be gone tomorrow.
Get it and enjoy.
Blue Orchid said
04:45 AM Mar 9, 2012
paulandsue wrote:
thankyou so much to all of you that have replied - don't think I explained myself very well, the van is acutally 24ft not including the A frame ! we currently have a 21ft van and apart from hitting it a couple of times haha ... and occasionally having to rely on very experienced caravaners to help us park it we really haven't done too badly with it ... problem is we've fallen in love with the new van and really want it ... was hoping all you experienced travellers would say GO FOR IT ... but you haven't
Also, thakyou you for all the warm welcomes,
Sue and Paul
I'm with Doug, if you find a van that you love and are comfortable with then GO FOR IT, we did, upgraded to a new van that we loved and never looked back.
We did have to cancel a few plans just to afford it, but the pleasures we have had in the last 18 months with the van since cancelling the overseas trip far outweigh what we may have done in our two months OS.
barrie said
04:48 AM Mar 9, 2012
Pau & Sue do it for yourselves as it's you that have to live in it and that's what really counts
golivers travels said
05:54 AM Mar 11, 2012
WOW a big van, must be so good. Have looked at them and they offer so much comfort. I am sure where ever you travel, caravan parks, free camping you will not have any trouble finding a suitable site. Most parks are more than accomodating if you book ahead. Yes we have has some squishy situations even with a 19 ft van, usually only during peek time albiet there have always bigger vans around.
Just get out ther and enjoy your wonderful van.
Glenda
ParamountCruiser said
06:34 AM Mar 11, 2012
I'd be more worried about the loaded weight of the van and that it is within the legal weight that can be towed by your vehicle.
Insist upon having the van weighed to verify weights before signing on the dotted line.
Hi Everyone,
We are considering buying a 24ft van for our future travelling around Oz, the salesman pointed out to us that most people are now buying 21ft and under because parks in the Eastern States (we're in WA) are making the bays smaller in order to squeeze more people in and that we may have problems getting into a park unless we plan well ahead ... any advice much appreciated
The advice is pretty close to true. 22ft seems to be the preferred size including shower and toilet.
You can check out just about every van park in the country be googling to find out if any restrictions are being imposed.
They are actually making more room for the big 5th wheelers and large motorhomes but squeezing vans closer together.
Bribie Island is the squeeziest I've had to get into.
It's your choice but you are showing great fore thought by doing some homework first. It's a major investment and you'd hope it will last you a long time.
Safe and happy travels.
Hello Paul and Sue and WELCOME.
I have a 20ft van and whilst I do free camp a lot there are times when one needs to set up in a CP. I have on occasion had some difficulty in getting into some of the parks due to very tight turning areas.
I also find the diesel pump on some service stations present a bit of a challenge at times.
Another thing to watch with the larger vans is the ground clearance at the drawbar....fine, when standing still but often not so when accessing driveways.
Most of these parks were established before the advent of the larger vans common today and I think the salesman makes a valid point in essence if not in detail.
I've noticed that some of these larger vans (and some not so large ones too) have very poor ground clearance especially in regard to departure angle and I feel this should be looked at carefully when considering a purchase.
Welcome from me too Paul and Sue, enjoy on here and out there. I don't have a problem of being too big (just me) as I only have a Avan camper but if and when I upgrade it would be around 18 foot and I'm not all that fussy about having on board en-suite. I would also consider a medium size campervan, in that way I wouldn't have to tow anything.
Thats true about the caravan park site sizes, but it varies from park to park. Some have a larger size for everybody, others might have a few larger ones for big rigs. And its definitely not just the Eastern states that can be squeezy, we were very tightly squeezed in several popular WA tourist parks too.
But in saying that, if you can get a van that is about 20' with everything you want in it, go for it !!!
we need i didnt realy even care if we didnt go 21ft 18 or 20 would of suited me but we will be living in it and
hubby says no 21ft is much better.
Enjoy a great site great and loving people
cheers Della
thankyou so much to all of you that have replied - don't think I explained myself very well, the van is acutally 24ft not including the A frame ! we currently have a 21ft van and apart from hitting it a couple of times haha ... and occasionally having to rely on very experienced caravaners to help us park it we really haven't done too badly with it ... problem is we've fallen in love with the new van and really want it ... was hoping all you experienced travellers would say GO FOR IT ... but you haven't
Also, thakyou you for all the warm welcomes,
Sue and Paul
I have found out in life that if you want it and can afford it get it now as it might be gone tomorrow.
Get it and enjoy.
I'm with Doug, if you find a van that you love and are comfortable with then GO FOR IT, we did, upgraded to a new van that we loved and never looked back.
We did have to cancel a few plans just to afford it, but the pleasures we have had in the last 18 months with the van since cancelling the overseas trip far outweigh what we may have done in our two months OS.
WOW a big van, must be so good. Have looked at them and they offer so much comfort. I am sure where ever you travel, caravan parks, free camping you will not have any trouble finding a suitable site. Most parks are more than accomodating if you book ahead. Yes we have has some squishy situations even with a 19 ft van, usually only during peek time albiet there have always bigger vans around.
Just get out ther and enjoy your wonderful van.
Glenda
I'd be more worried about the loaded weight of the van and that it is within the legal weight that can be towed by your vehicle.
Insist upon having the van weighed to verify weights before signing on the dotted line.