Hi, We spent last winter up the middle and across the top. Mainly in CPs but we overnighted in Free Camps on Long hauls. We met some lovely people and learned a lot. The one question we never asked, given all our free stops were single overnighters is, when you stay for a few days how do you arrange for the security of your outfit? Do you arrange a mutual with other campers, does it work? We pick up our new van tomorrow for an early May departure. Few days to check everything before we go of course.
Many Thanks.Chris
B-T said
10:00 PM Apr 15, 2012
Yes, in many cases, arranging a 'mutual' - just somone who is staying over keeping an eye on your van will work out fine. Just a precaution make a note of their rego number for your own peace of mind.
John
Cruising Granny said
11:09 PM Apr 15, 2012
If you unhitch in the free camp spot to go sightseeing, do you put a tow hitch lock on the van? There are great camp spots off the road, but the roadside parking bays are subject to more attention, and if they are only 10kms from the nearest town they are vulnerable.
aussietraveller said
12:01 AM Apr 16, 2012
No matter how friendly people seem it is always wise to secure your van with a tow hitch locking device and a quality padlock as the people keeping there eye on it may have to leave the site for some reason, best to play safe
villatranquilla said
01:10 AM Apr 16, 2012
we have a tow hitch lock but mostly take the generator and laptop with us - so far so good
pricey43 said
01:13 AM Apr 16, 2012
We also have a wheel clamp which gives us even more piece of mind.
Cruising Granny said
01:40 AM Apr 16, 2012
When I travel with the van I used van parks. When I'm on the job I camp in my "spare room" in the truck bay. It's all good.
lyn-n-ken said
01:48 PM Apr 16, 2012
hi i thought you had to stay hitched when at a free camp, were in a camper trailer so not practical for us , but we in the process of looking for a small poptop caravan so we can widen our horizens. lyn
Gerty Dancer said
06:55 PM Apr 16, 2012
Just something we wouldnt do, is leave the caravan in a free-camp and drive away. So we usually dont stay long in a free-camp, mostly use them as overnighters on a long haul. A long haul is anything over 300k's!!! How far do others go for a days drive???
Happywanderer said
07:02 PM Apr 16, 2012
When I pulled into Kumbia Qld, camp on my way up the only other that was there was one lonely offroad caravan. Well a cross between that and a 5th wheeler. They must have locked it up well and gone touring. When they came back that evening they said they had been up Bunya Mountains. People do it a lot in Kumbia as too windy or steep to get their bigger bits up there.
Edco said
08:29 PM Apr 16, 2012
lyn-n-ken We are upgrading so are selling our Coromal 16'6 poptop. Will pm you in case you don't see this. Any other querys welcome. Ed
Cruising Granny said
09:25 PM Apr 16, 2012
I guess that once again defines caravan park, free camping and camping on a camp ground with minimal facilities for minimal or no fee. There is a need for all of the above to suit everyone. I don't think the overnight or 2 free camp is a safe camp ground.
lyn-n-ken said
02:05 PM Apr 17, 2012
hi
thats around what we do or even less, have bad shoulders and that 300k usually takes 5/6 hours as i have to stop and rest the shoulders. so its a slow haul but we get there, thats why we are going to trade up to a caravan so we can stop along the way with out having hubby having to put up the camper trailer, she has been so good though i will miss her.
lyn
beiffe said
04:01 PM Apr 17, 2012
I stay in camp sites and have often WATCH others vans etc whilst they travel around.
It works both ways as often the cost of watching their van they bring me back a loaf of bread or something I need to stay longer.
They often think it is OK when they return and their fire is going. HEHE
Many people leave their vans and some even for a day or two but I have never seen any problems when camped with fellow nomads but I have heard of plenty pof problems in the caravan jails.
I now it does take a little while to settle into the bush camping life but once you are hooked it is hard to be crammed into a site in the caravan parks.
Regards Brian
Beth54 said
05:32 PM Apr 17, 2012
Edco wrote:
lyn-n-ken We are upgrading so are selling our Coromal 16'6 poptop. Will pm you in case you don't see this. Any other querys welcome. Ed
Hello Eddie the stalker! Nice to see some words from you!
dropbear68 said
09:44 PM Apr 17, 2012
I figure on my two delightful Staffys to provide security for my bus plus a baseball bat lol, my wife is Irish and shes got the temper to go with it so if anyone stuffs with our stuff Ill let her loose and she will fix things
Hi, We spent last winter up the middle and across the top. Mainly in CPs but we overnighted in Free Camps on Long hauls. We met some lovely people and learned a lot. The one question we never asked, given all our free stops were single overnighters is, when you stay for a few days how do you arrange for the security of your outfit? Do you arrange a mutual with other campers, does it work? We pick up our new van tomorrow for an early May departure. Few days to check everything before we go of course.
Many Thanks.Chris
John
There are great camp spots off the road, but the roadside parking bays are subject to more attention, and if they are only 10kms from the nearest town they are vulnerable.
We also have a wheel clamp which gives us even more piece of mind.
It's all good.
i thought you had to stay hitched when at a free camp, were in a camper trailer so not practical for us , but we in the process of looking for a small poptop caravan so we can widen our horizens.
lyn
How far do others go for a days drive???
People do it a lot in Kumbia as too windy or steep to get their bigger bits up there.
We are upgrading so are selling our Coromal 16'6 poptop. Will pm you in case you don't see this.
Any other querys welcome.
Ed
There is a need for all of the above to suit everyone. I don't think the overnight or 2 free camp is a safe camp ground.
hi
thats around what we do or even less, have bad shoulders and that 300k usually takes 5/6 hours as i have to stop and rest the shoulders. so its a slow haul but we get there, thats why we are going to trade up to a caravan so we can stop along the way with out having hubby having to put up the camper trailer, she has been so good though i will miss her.
lyn
It works both ways as often the cost of watching their van they bring me back a loaf of bread or something I need to stay longer.
They often think it is OK when they return and their fire is going. HEHE
Many people leave their vans and some even for a day or two but I have never seen any problems when camped with fellow nomads but I have heard of plenty pof problems in the caravan jails.
I now it does take a little while to settle into the bush camping life but once you are hooked it is hard to be crammed into a site in the caravan parks.
Regards
Brian
Hello Eddie the stalker!
Nice to see some words from you! 
I figure on my two delightful Staffys to provide security for my bus plus a baseball bat lol, my wife is Irish and shes got the temper to go with it so if anyone stuffs with our stuff Ill let her loose and she will fix things