Hi I am another one considering selling up and going on the road although daunting so much to consider as a 68yr old wonder if have left it too late to do so. Having looked at the different rigs keep coming back to the 5th wheeler (the smallest one) as this will now be my home wanted to have some creature comforts. Anybody own a 5th wheeler how do you think it compares with a caravan for towing as I have never towed in my life but will get some lessons
Hi MB, Like you I have been looking at what it is that I need. I have found the whole process daunting (with a large dose of excitement). The 5th wheelers look great . Good luck with your search.
Hi Mazab Before you jump in 'boots and all' try renting various rigs and have 'trial' trips to see how you like it. Selling up is a big decision, maybe you could rent out your place for a while until you find out how you like 'van' life. 68 is not old!! The 60's are the new 40's, so you are still a spring chicken. Read all the threads on this site, there are a few re van vs motor home vs 5th wheeler vs slide on vs camper, get all the opinions you can, then rent something and try it out. Cheers Allara
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Enjoy life above ground...you will spend a lot of time under it
Thanks for your advice and ordinarily that would be the ideal solution but financially that is out of the question to be able to do it need to sell my house as no other funds avail. As they say live the dream and thats what I am hoping to do. Will be 6 - 12 months before realize this dream and am researching it extensively before jump in.
Hi again mazab, It's good that you are doing a fair bit of research. There are a lot of helpful people on this site with good information and friendly advice. It is a big decision to sell up your home, when you are a solo, but on the road you generally meet some lovely people and are not alone. You may find some grey nomads nearby that you could go visit to talk about life on the road. Talk, read, listen and discuss with everyone, then you can make an informed decision on what to do and how to do it. Best of luck Allara
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Enjoy life above ground...you will spend a lot of time under it
Mazab, you're certainly not too old at 68 -- we've met solos both younger and older. One in particular at Broken Hill last year had a small Venture 5th-wheeler and was quite happy with it.
And our experience with our own 'fiver' over the last 18 months (full-time travellers -- we also sold everything to do this; John is 74 and I'm 65) is that it's great to drive. It's actually not towing as such, when hitched up it's as stable as any articulated vehicle, and much more so than a caravan. Ours was built in Brisbane, to our own layout, and there are now quite a few Australian builders of 5th-wheelers -- far better than importing one.
So, best of luck, and as Allara says, keep talking and listening and asking questions. See you 'on the road' one day!
Andrea
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Free-ranging, in a Southern Cross 5th wheeler, in between property-minding (to save money!).
Thanks for answering would like to know how long you stay in one spot as the way I think I would like to do it is to pick an area for say a month or so and use the vehcile to sightsee and then move on. Certainly the idea of not having the security of a home base is the only drawback but to make a go of it properly feel that you need to burn your bridges and get on with it - life I mean and just cross each bridge as I come to it.
What do you mean,,(not haveing the security of a home base)--------Every where you go ,, your home is with you. What more do you want, ????? Wipe your nose Mazab, & get out there & do it,, But H-ey do it your way ,& have Good time.
Straycat is right in that your home is always with you. We do tend to linger in one area for a time -- a week, a month, it matters not; we spent three weeks in a small wheat town in WA because the caravan park was cheap ($90/week) and it was close to the Stirling Ranges. We've spent longer in areas close to Perth and Adelaide, where we have family who want to see us. We then just wander around in the Mazda. We even have a pod on top with a tent, sleeping bags, mats, etc. just in case we want to stay 'out' for a night or two. Other than that, every time we pull in somewhere, we get out of the Mazda, open the van door and we're home.
Cheers --
Andrea
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Free-ranging, in a Southern Cross 5th wheeler, in between property-minding (to save money!).
Thanks so much for the comments. Have pretty well made up my mind that its what I really want to do. Just a matter of what type of rig. Straycat is that a photo of your rig, are you driving a Iveco Daily with your 5th wheeler as this is what I an looking at need a vehicle that has an height adjustable drivers seat thats the problem with being a shorty. Will probably ask more questions with regards to equipment but have a ferw months to work all that out.
