Welcome to the forum Nelly. Motorhomes can often be driven over roads where a you might not be able to tow a caravan. We did a bit of off-roading with a camper-trailer, and covered the roads you mentioned. But the requirement for comfort meant we changed to a caravan. Nowadays we leave the caravan in town in a safe place and take a tent for a couple of days if we want to go somewhere the caravan cant. Which doesn't help with your enquiry, sorry. I'd be thinking about the clearance, also length of wheel-base if looking for a "dirt-road" M'home.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Monday 17th of June 2013 01:59:37 PM
Nelly said
06:52 PM Jun 17, 2013
Looking at motorhomes/campervans - for you out there that own one and have travelled places are you really restricted in getting to a lot of the wonderful places. I realise that you wouldn't be able to do the real 'off-road stuff' but what about places like going on the Strezlecki Track via Cameron Corner or going on the Birdsville Track even going to Oodnadatta via The Painted Desert. Hope someone can help with ideas - thankyou.
Sheba said
07:41 PM Jun 17, 2013
Posted before seeing that Gertie had already done them.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 17th of June 2013 07:42:44 PM
traveling bob said
07:59 PM Jun 17, 2013
Nelly I have done the Strezlecki Track and the Oodnadatta, the Painted Desert in a Coaster motorhome back in !995 with no problems. I have travel the Birdsville Track in 31 bus motorhome or might have been Coaster not sure now as it was about 2000. So I hope it give you some idea.
Bob
Renfrew said
08:02 PM Jun 17, 2013
Hi Nelly,
Check this website:- http://www.australian-4x4.com.au/ then click on "Great Aussie 4wd Trips" then select your preference. Plenty of detail.
Plus here's plenty to chose from:- http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/Default.aspx
Or this webpage, far right hand column:- http://www.qorf.org.au/_dbase_upl/3. eKit.pdf
I had a 23' Jayco motorhome and it was fantastic to get around in. I could park it in most shopping centre car parks and it was very easy to drive.
I liked the idea of being completely self contained and I have never really liked towing so that was my choice for getting a motorhome.
I am upgrading to a new 27' Jayco optimum this month and cant wait to get back on the road to explore this sensational country.
Cheers
Brett
Sheba said
02:44 AM Jun 18, 2013
You can buy 4x4 Motor-homes and Campervans these days Nelly.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Cruising Granny said
04:01 AM Jun 18, 2013
The short the better when it comes to floodways and kerbs. Even my "little" Sprinter has bellied out on a low driveway and the rear bumper dragged itself out of a carpark today. Pick your places, and drive with great care and you'll have a fabulous trip wherever you go. My van isn't the big, wide heavy motorhome which I think makes a big difference to what you can do. The Strez Track can be brutally corrugated and the stones are sharp after it's been graded. It's all about driving to conditions as carefully as you can. If the road surface if basically hard, open surface you should be right. As the locals before you set out, and chat to other travellers on your UHF radio as you go to get the latest updates on road conditions. Welcome to the world of Grey Nomads.
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:34 AM Jun 18, 2013
Like cars, the ability of MHs off the bitumen varies a great deal. Check the ground clearance, choose larger diameter tyres, avoid low profile tyres, avoid long rear overhangs and avoid front wheel drive.
Cheers, Peter
mongrel said
04:45 PM Jun 18, 2013
Welcome to the forum Nelly..It is amazing how quick you get responses to your questions..I am in the same situation as you and are not sure at this stage whether to continue with the motorhome idea or go with the van..All I can do is wish you good luck on your quest for answers....Alan
Nelly said
07:13 PM Jun 18, 2013
Hello all and thank you for your welcome to this terrific site also thank you for your responses. Peter and Margaret - you said in your response to avoid front wheel drive - could you please explain this to me - I really am not mechanically minded at all - just the necessarys - like checking oil, water changing a tyre - pretty basic stuff really.
jetj said
07:27 PM Jun 18, 2013
Nelly wrote:
Hello all and thank you for your welcome to this terrific site also thank you for your responses. Peter and Margaret - you said in your response to avoid front wheel drive - could you please explain this to me - I really am not mechanically minded at all - just the necessarys - like checking oil, water changing a tyre - pretty basic stuff really.
Front wheel drive motorhomes include Fiat Ducato, some VWs, Renault Master are common ones. Sprinters, Hiace, Iveco, Isuzu and lots of trucks are rear wheel drive. Have better traction in some conditions with the weight over the rear wheels particularly.
-- Edited by jetj on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 07:28:38 PM
Sheba said
07:36 PM Jun 18, 2013
Hi Nelly. A friend of mine told me that you get better traction with Rear Wheel Drive, especially on grass. At the moment, I have a Hi-ace, but if I was going to upgrade, I would get a Paradise Oasis. The one I like, is now called the Anniversary. [ It's the original.] I love the layout of that one, and it's not huge.
-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 07:37:06 PM
wendyv said
10:17 PM Jun 18, 2013
Coaster mini buses are used to transport people, extensively, in remote areas up north - aboriginal communities, tourism operations and the like. They are tough vehicles that cope with dirt roads. They are a popular base for conversion to a motorhome - some companies do that better than others, and there are some pitfalls.
The Members Market section of the CMCA website often has pre-loved Coasters advertised for sale. You do not have to be a CMCA member to browse this.
A long-wheel base Coaster is about 7 metres long - less than many 4WD vehicles and caravans in combo. There is also a short-wheel base, which is (duh..) a bit shorter.
With any motorhome, you do need to watch out that the weight is not over the limit for driving on a car licence - if that is the only licence you have. I think that is 4.5 tonnes???
We have done the Birdsville, Oodnadatta?painted Desert, Strez tracks in our offroad caravanning days. I'd take the Coaster on any of those. But I'd want to make sure the creek crossing near Arckaringa HS was pretty dry. My memory of the track around Cameron Corner was that it was quite sandy, so I'd want to check that out too.
-- Edited by wendyv on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 10:21:19 PM
Ontos45 said
12:20 AM Jun 19, 2013
Welcome Nelly. I'm changing from a 4x4 Landy and caravan to a motor home, more a truck with pantec back. I will build the interior myself. This gives me less overhang, more differential clearance and the toughness of a diesel truck.
Peter
neilnruth said
05:54 AM Jun 19, 2013
Welcome to the forum from us Nelly. Hope you continue to enjoy this great forum.
Welcome to the forum Nelly. Motorhomes can often be driven over roads where a you might not be able to tow a caravan. We did a bit of off-roading with a camper-trailer, and covered the roads you mentioned. But the requirement for comfort meant we changed to a caravan.
Nowadays we leave the caravan in town in a safe place and take a tent for a couple of days if we want to go somewhere the caravan cant. Which doesn't help with your enquiry, sorry.
I'd be thinking about the clearance, also length of wheel-base if looking for a "dirt-road" M'home.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Monday 17th of June 2013 01:59:37 PM
Looking at motorhomes/campervans - for you out there that own one and have travelled places are you really restricted in getting to a lot of the wonderful places. I realise that you wouldn't be able to do the real 'off-road stuff' but what about places like going on the Strezlecki Track via Cameron Corner or going on the Birdsville Track even going to Oodnadatta via The Painted Desert. Hope someone can help with ideas - thankyou.
Posted before seeing that Gertie had already done them.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 17th of June 2013 07:42:44 PM
Bob
Hi Nelly,
Check this website:- http://www.australian-4x4.com.au/ then click on "Great Aussie 4wd Trips" then select your preference. Plenty of detail.
Plus here's plenty to chose from:- http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/Default.aspx
Or this webpage, far right hand column:- http://www.qorf.org.au/_dbase_upl/3. eKit.pdf
http://www.australian-4x4.com.au/
http://www.exploroz.com/TrekNotes/Default.aspx
http://www.qorf.org.au/_dbase_upl/3.eKit.pdf I deleted the space before eKit to make this clickable, hope it still works.
I had a 23' Jayco motorhome and it was fantastic to get around in. I could park it in most shopping centre car parks and it was very easy to drive.
I liked the idea of being completely self contained and I have never really liked towing so that was my choice for getting a motorhome.
I am upgrading to a new 27' Jayco optimum this month and cant wait to get back on the road to explore this sensational country.
Cheers
Brett
You can buy 4x4 Motor-homes and Campervans these days Nelly.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Even my "little" Sprinter has bellied out on a low driveway and the rear bumper dragged itself out of a carpark today.
Pick your places, and drive with great care and you'll have a fabulous trip wherever you go.
My van isn't the big, wide heavy motorhome which I think makes a big difference to what you can do.
The Strez Track can be brutally corrugated and the stones are sharp after it's been graded. It's all about driving to conditions as carefully as you can.
If the road surface if basically hard, open surface you should be right. As the locals before you set out, and chat to other travellers on your UHF radio as you go to get the latest updates on road conditions.
Welcome to the world of Grey Nomads.
Check the ground clearance, choose larger diameter tyres, avoid low profile tyres, avoid long rear overhangs and avoid front wheel drive.
Cheers,
Peter
Front wheel drive motorhomes include Fiat Ducato, some VWs, Renault Master are common ones. Sprinters, Hiace, Iveco, Isuzu and lots of trucks are rear wheel drive. Have better traction in some conditions with the weight over the rear wheels particularly.
-- Edited by jetj on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 07:28:38 PM
Hi Nelly. A friend of mine told me that you get better traction with Rear Wheel Drive, especially on grass. At the moment, I have a Hi-ace, but if I was going to upgrade, I would get a Paradise Oasis. The one I like, is now called the Anniversary. [ It's the original.] I love the layout of that one, and it's not huge.
http://www.paradisemotorhomes.com.au/oasis-range/range/oasis
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 07:37:06 PM
Coaster mini buses are used to transport people, extensively, in remote areas up north - aboriginal communities, tourism operations and the like. They are tough vehicles that cope with dirt roads. They are a popular base for conversion to a motorhome - some companies do that better than others, and there are some pitfalls.
The Members Market section of the CMCA website often has pre-loved Coasters advertised for sale. You do not have to be a CMCA member to browse this.
A long-wheel base Coaster is about 7 metres long - less than many 4WD vehicles and caravans in combo. There is also a short-wheel base, which is (duh..) a bit shorter.
With any motorhome, you do need to watch out that the weight is not over the limit for driving on a car licence - if that is the only licence you have. I think that is 4.5 tonnes???
We have done the Birdsville, Oodnadatta?painted Desert, Strez tracks in our offroad caravanning days. I'd take the Coaster on any of those. But I'd want to make sure the creek crossing near Arckaringa HS was pretty dry. My memory of the track around Cameron Corner was that it was quite sandy, so I'd want to check that out too.
-- Edited by wendyv on Tuesday 18th of June 2013 10:21:19 PM
I'm changing from a 4x4 Landy and caravan to a motor home, more a truck with pantec back. I will build the interior myself. This gives me less overhang, more differential clearance and the toughness of a diesel truck.
Peter