Hi ! I have posted a few times but have not officially introduced myself ~ My name is Donna and I will be solo parent traveling with my 2 yr old and 4 yr old girls ~ Summer-Rain and Genaveve. I have a clear purpose for my trip of which I am selling up most of our stuff, storing some and squishing the rest into my Toyota Hiace Van. Dematerialising life to become a better parent ~ will most likely be my blog name ?
I will be writing and hopefully publishing articles and my story in regards to comparing living as a solo mum with minimal support in a rental house and everything that comes with it, bills, repairs, lawns, kiddies schedules, domestics galore etc etc Basically, by the end of nearly everyday I find I have minimum time for actual quality parenting as there is always something that is stressing me out or I have to do ~~~~~ soooooo, I am leaving all this behind to see if releasing most of these duties / stresses can actually help me to more present with my children and a be better mum.
Since buying my van in Feb we have done a few all day trips and a couple of overnights and it feels so freeing just to have a basic set-up already. SO bringing me to my set-up and ANY advice will be so appreciated as I already feel that you guys are probably going to become my 2nd family as we are on the road ~ I am planning on 2-3 years ! ARR !
One concern I have is, the van has no air con ? It is a Toyotal Hiace high top LWB, 95. I was going to get the basic one put it in and this will cost about 800ish to do ? so not sure if I really need this ? On hot days here the van is pretty cool when we are driving ? I am from Mullumbimby NSW, near Byron Bay ? Is it really needed ?
2nd is ~ I have no bull bar ~ is it a good idea to have one ?
Does anyone travel with and use the solar panels ? I was thinking of getting the portable 120w foldable panels ?
I only have a smallish waeco fridge and was wondering if it was possible to get by with basic fridge items ? We are not big dairy eaters and do not eat meat so am hoping we can get by as van does not really have another spot for a bigger sized one ~ it is snug on the right hand side door and anything bigger would overlap the step ? I could get a 2nd small one if needed but have been told it will eat into power etc running 2 ?
I will be buying some roof racks and the roof storage pod boxy thing to store my 10man studio oztent, tables, chairs, kids bikes etc in ~ anyone have any roof racks for a high top, or a boxy thing and do you think this will be enough space ? I guess I will also need some sort of ladder to get to the box ?
I also have an oztent pull-out gazebo market tent thing attached to side of van (can see in pic) which sets up alone so I can still use van when I do camp set-up, however I would also like a pull out awning attached to van (these are pretty expensive and hard to find 2nd hand) on door side so we can picnic etc during days of travel ~ any suggestions or anyone have one ? I only know of ebay to search for these kinds of items.
Sounds like from another post I have read - would be wise for me to get a little heater ? Are the blower ones better or the bar ones ? I will be using in small space with little chickens (kids) so I will have to be careful.
How many cooking utensils do you really need ? I am going to get a dream pot ? Does anyone have one ? is it worth it for $200 ? I have a 2 gas burner and a little cheapy tin can single burner ? I was just going to bring a steamer saucepan set, a juicer as the girls will drink all vegies juiced with apple and mint but not necessarily eat them ! a frypan and not sure what else ? I know vinnies is agreat place to pick-up whatever I may I find need as I travel as well.
Also we have a scaly breasted lorikeet 'lovey' who thinks he is one of the kids and he IS as naughty as them alot of the time ~ I am not sure the girls will cope without him for so long so am considering bringing him ? Pet shop people say he will be perfectly fine but not sure if I am crazy or not ?
Sorry ~ I know I am majorly picking your brains and expertise but I have to get sorted in a month and any advice will be invaluable X I will be most likely stayng at the sufolk park caravan park for a mth for a practise run before we head out to the red center to begin our journey !
Thanks for reading and I look forward to meeting many of you on the road ~ I have the stickers ~ yay !
-- Edited by deespath on Thursday 11th of March 2010 03:28:34 PM
-- Edited by deespath on Thursday 11th of March 2010 03:31:48 PM
Dee's Go for it, as you see fit. to answer your questions I will start and have a crack at them.
The A/C - its a personal issue, and if not already fitted, then an expensive retro fit. Short answer - if you purchased without it, then it was not important to you. As you travel, the answer may change, so wait and see.
Bullbar - they do not stop bull's by the way. Again, a personal issue. I like them and a van like yours has a lot of frontage that can be crinckled. If your finances stretch comfortably enough, then I would fit something to the front.
Solar Panel - hell, you need to do a test on power useage. The second battery runs the lights and fridge in those things (normally), so it depends on the amount of travel you do (recharge) and whether you stay at CP's with power. Maybe again, wait and see, but the fold outs are good but a bit of a thieft problem.
The fridge - same as above - do a test at home now, using just it. that will be your best indicator as to whether it is pratical for you current needs.
Roof rack - when people ask about roof racks I always cringe. They are noisy and cost fuel. Hard to get to and make the rig top heavy, altering the steering. All the useless stuff goes there. Most people take too much at first, so why not just have what fits inside the van as a starting point. Leave it off (trailer maybe as an alternative)
Cooking - take what you can fit and work it out from there. Your short term trips will be your best guide
The Bird - take it with you and be prepared to lose it unless its clipped.
Going to the Red Centre as a starting point - talk about jumping in at the deep end - I would use the city and surrounds as much as possible at the start. That gives you the ability to rethink your needs and still be able to change them at a reasonable cost and availablity.
There you go, i had a crack at it, how did I go - Best of luck to you and the kids
Oh BTW, if the picture is the rig, then its not a high top, IMO
-- Edited by twobob on Thursday 11th of March 2010 05:44:45 PM
Hi Donna! Welcome & I love your letter, This is what I like to see in these forums.. exchanges of Q&A, help & advise. It is an exciting trip your planning & one hell of a challenge with the 2 rugrats in tow but what a learning experience for all 3 of you. I can't help you with too much so will leave most to wiser heads than mine but we do have a dream pot & have used it a fair bit. If you are watching your power consumption then it is an excellent idea as you only use the burner for about 15 to 20min & if you cook in the morning then drive to your next place while the food is in it then you have a ready made hot meal in the evening which is so handy after a long drive then setting up camp. I am not sure what veggie meals would be made in it but in the case of us omnivorous I often cook a silverside in it on the first day then use the stock for a stew on the next day. but there are many uses, I'm sure you have seen the web site & videos of it. As for cooking utensils take the minimum you have mentioned & pick up what you find you may need at the op shops later as you suggested(same with clothes). We found we couldn't do without a toaster as the silly wire thing we bought which is held over a flame is a hassle. Cheers from us Jon
__________________
Home is where we hang our hats - Home now in Yamba NSW
Wow! You've really set yourself a challenge. I'm a single mum of 3, and now a granny of 4. I found it hard living on the benefits in public housing. No expartner support. I couldn't afford a car, and we lived on the very, very bare basics. When my youngest was kindy age I began working from home, as a freelance radio news journalist and contributor to magazines, newspaper and television. I'm still writing, but it's books these days. It's much easier to write the stuff than get published, but I'm blogging wherever I feel is appropriate for my work. In the mean time I'm searching for an agent who will take me and my work on. I live in my van full time, with no real estate or furniture, and nothing in storage. The tug is a Landcruiser. I've towed from Nowra to Broome via Qld and NT, and in 07 I left Broome heading for the Daintree via Albany, Pt. Lincoln, the Great Ocean Road, Wilsons Prom, - oh you get the idea. It took me 12 months to get to the Daintree. I'm still in Cairns, with plans to head out in a couple of months. I have no idea how you'll travel with 2 very young children and a bird in such a compact space. I guess you have already set up a lifestyle for yourselves, you know their behaviour and coping capacity. Their eating habits and lifestyle. One thing is for sure, their social skills will take off as they mingle with fellow campers around parks etc. The learn much more about life and the world around them out there on the road, out among the geography, history and landscape of our country. The need for aircon will depend on the country you plan to travel to. It's not all like what you know as home, season to season. A blower heater is very effective and safer than any bar heater. There are compact upright and floor models. Choose wisely for your needs. All the best to you and your family, including the bird. Keep us posted of your progress mentally and physically. Cheers Chris
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Aircon - personal choice. There are cool to moderate areas in Australia you can go in mid summer. In a vehicle your size I would not consider it.
Does anyone travel with and use the solar panels ? I was thinking of getting the portable 120w foldable panels? - would never consider leaving without solar panels
We are not big dairy eaters - that is a worry for a women and especially two young children. Setting yourself up for Osteoporosis and insufficient calcium for your children is tantamount to child abuse. UHT milk in the better brands like Devondale low fat taste like fresh cold. There is insufficient appreciation in young women to how bad Osteoporosis is. Nearly impossible to get sufficient calcium from other forms of food. A high fibre low fat no added museli or HiFibre Weetbix with milk for breakfast should be a minimum. Adding half a banana sliced to each is bowl makes a super good breakfast. You are never far from food stores and once you get used to buying not hard to go three days on a small fridge. Case of been organised and have a meal plan for the three days so you don't have uneccessaries in the fridge.
Roof pod/rack - please please please dont even consider it. On a vehicle like that the wind resistance would send you broke with fuel. Secondly cross winds and instability cornering would be a nightmare. A fast swerve to miss something would gurantee a roll over. I am NOT been alarmist it is a fact. Tow a small trailer instead and much easier on you and your vehicle. Water is always an issue would suggest an extra water tank in the trailer of say 60l. I would also highly recommend a Coleman hot water system which could be fitted up in the trailer so you don't have to pack and unpack which could soon become the bane of your daily life.
The bird - no. Extremely dangerous to cohabit with a bird especially with young children. Suggest you do research via Google to see how dangerous this can be.
Dream Pot - definitely not. Ripoff for a start and takes to much space the amount of time you will use it. Being minimilist you will soon find is the absolute best way to be. Clutter and stuffed cupboards would soon become a nightmare and you will end up dumping stuff for free just to get rid of it. You need multi purpose multi functional cooking utensils that will be used everyday.
-- Edited by Martin on Thursday 11th of March 2010 08:45:19 PM
Hi Donna, The 120W solar panel should keep up to a small Waeco easily, I use 100w panel with a CF40 Waeco & it keeps up. Heater we are in a small van with a small dog & find a fan heater safer than a bar heater. Cheers Daryl
Hi Donna, I agree with all that has been said about having things on the roof. I have a '98 Toyota Pop-top, rather than a Hi-top, [which yours isn't by the way.] for the same reason. Catch too much wind, therefore more fuel expense. I tested the weight of an Oz-tent and decided it would be too heavy for me to handle later on. How on earth are you going to put a 10- man one on top of the Van ? I've decided to get an RV Shade from BCF. They're just for Shade, but only cost $129.00. I get mine in a couple of weeks. I posted a pic. of one some time back. If you go back to page 9 on this thread, down the bottom at "Wanted", and bring it up to 400%.
Being permanently on the road ourselves we try to be minimalistic though not to the extreme you may have to be but still we are very aware of space. Our dreampot has a number of uses including the use of the 2 saucepans in it which we often use separately. The Dreampot website says "The Dream-Pot is a five in one appliance. There is no need to take a lot of pots and pans. It is your cooker, your cooler, your barbeque food warmer, rice cooker, yoghurt maker and saucepans" Yoghhurt may be one of the dairy products you do have as you said "We are not big dairy eaters" so that may keep you out of the courts for child neglect...haha. Cheers.
-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Thursday 11th of March 2010 09:00:07 PM
__________________
Home is where we hang our hats - Home now in Yamba NSW
Dream Pot - definitely not. Ripoff for a start and takes to much space the amount of time you will use it. Being minimilist you will soon find is the absolute best way to be. Clutter and stuffed cupboards would soon become a nightmare and you will end up dumping stuff for free just to get rid of it. You need multi purpose multi functional cooking utensils that will be used everyday.
-- Edited by Martin on Thursday 11th of March 2010 08:45:19 PM
Hi Donna and welcome.
I have to disagree with that one. I use my Dreampot all the time and love it. I do not ever go camping without it. And I do use it everyday, in fact I don't just use it for camping I use it at home as well, and lent it to friends when they went off on thier 6 week camping trip and she just loved it . Wish it was around when my 5 kids were littleuns. I guess it comes down to if you think you will use it enough to make it viable. All personal choice. Cheers Ell
Thank-You everyone XXX Some great great advice ~ and thanks for the yoghurt tip re- the courts ! lols ! One eats dairy yoghurt and the other goats so that will be fun traveling finding the goats yoghurt !
WOW ! I was so told it was a high top ~ lols ! I just researched it more properly and found out it is SLWB commuter van ! Thanks for that as I will be blogging so important to know my own vehicle !
Thank-You so much for the roof rack top advice I was so going that way but will look at other ways now ! A little worried about towing anything as I have only just learnt to park etc confidently in the van ~ but I guess most of the time the trailer would be unhiched somewhere before we went shoping etc etc ! If that is case then may be worth my while to get a trailer tent set-up and sell the large oztent ? Soooo much to think about ~ AR !
I am lucky that I know someone else who is going to the red center at same time and also another person who wants to travel with me just for this segment so I should be supported pretty well for this first part ! Thank-You universe !
Well back to ebays and trailer hunting and tent re-assessmenting ! lols !
