campervans

milo · Guru

campervans

petengail · Guru

Dont know much about campers but I would probably try carpoint.com - thats where I got my current vehicle (diesel 4x4) but then I am towing a van, so for me diesel makes more sense. Imho diesel would be better if it had higher k's but take the advice of more learned than I. Best of luck

-- Edited by petengail on Sunday 1st of August 2010 04:58:38 PM

Sheba · Guru

Hi Milo,
Wondered where you were. Glad you've been out and about looking. The interior of mine was almost identical to that one, [a couple of small differences] and you've seen the changes I made to mine.

Mine is a '98 High-ace. Diesel/Auto. Got it for $24,000 almost 3 years ago.

The sink area is a little different, and mine has a shelf which can be raised or lowered at the end of the sink.[Seat end.]

Re. a High-top, the reason I chose a Pop-top is because I didn't want any wind-drag. I don't think I'm wrong in believing fuel consumption would go up with one of these. [I'm sure if I'm wrong in thinking this, some-one will let us know.]

As for the strong wind situation, if it got too strong, I would just lower the roof 'till things calmed down. You don't drive with it up anyway, and there is enough room to move for a while like that. I never put it up if I'm just staying over-night anyway.

I still think Diesel is the way to go.

Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Sunday 1st of August 2010 07:28:57 PM

brickies · Guru

Milo good to hear from you I think you might be on the right track with a camper van it allows you to use it has your car and home when you travel , A big fuel tank can be handy can go further between refueling but if you fuel up more often it wont seem to cost so much

VHW · Senior Member

The Mazda on RV point looked really well looked after Milo, and with only 121,000ks on the clock seems ok for the price, nice layout too.

I had a Mazda pop top some years ago, I found out it was the same motor etc as the Ford Econovan so parts were cheaper if you bought them for that instead of the Mazda.

Eg: Central hub wheel caps, Mazda $45 each, Ford $26 each.

I ended up getting the Mazda badged ones at a wrecker for $5 each.

Happywanderer · The Master

Thats EXACTLY what I'm after milo, so any advice you get on here I will be taking careful note of too.

Happywanderer · The Master

I have been advised by the lovely people here it is better to have a pop top rather than a hiace for the reasons of wind drag being a problem on the road which also will use more fuel. A pop top doesn't have that problem.
With a pop top someone on here suggested they are great when staying over night as you can undo the zipped areas over the windows (up top) which gives a lovley breeze over night if you so wish and of course if windy you would close it all down for the night for better comfort.
What to look for, the latest model you can afford, the one for the lowest mileage, and the best price is my thinking.

milo · Guru

do these units hold there value like motor homes do?

VHW · Senior Member

Re the price Milo, yes they are a most sought after type of RV, especially for singles or those wishing an economical RV that they can also use as a runabout at home when not travelling.

Re the suggestion of closing them down when it is very windy, that is fine but if camping is dangerous if running fridge on gas overnight. Some years ago in WA a bloke and his young daughter died in their sleep in a campervan because they had put their top down and blocked the vents on a cold night. Not sure if it was from the burnt gasses or a gas leak.

-- Edited by VHW on Monday 2nd of August 2010 02:18:55 AM

lilly · Senior Member

gee some many thing's to think about ..think i will stick to small van or camper trailer for a while .... i know it more work seting it up but i think it will be ok that way can have a base if i want to stay for while in one spot is which i intend to do .... hope to have my van by christmas time planing 4 week trip up throught q.l.d in march / april 2011 smile

brickies · Guru

I don't think venting is a problem on new types of camper van has they have built in vent in the van body , the camper van in question in WA may have been a home made job, pop top van have vents has well also for venting gas the vents are at floor level not in the pop top

VHW · Senior Member

lilly wrote:

gee some many thing's to think about ..think i will stick to small van or camper trailer for a while .... i know it more work seting it up but i think it will be ok that way can have a base if i want to stay for while in one spot is which i intend to do .... hope to have my van by christmas time planing 4 week trip up throught q.l.d in march / april 2011
Lilly, if your thinking camper trailers,have a think about an A'Van camper trailer (see pic of Waltzing Matilda's van in travelling solo) easy to put up, no wet canvas to worry about (unless you use the awning or annexe), easy and econimical to tow etc. I had one for 7 years and loved it. Downside is not as much storage as a small caravan and need to pop the roof up (only 30 second job) if you want to make a cuppa on the move.

I don't know what state your in but I have a 12' pop top for sale, just on hold with it at the moment (WA, near Perth). Not sure where you're from. If you want to see some pics of it just to get an idea of the type of van available pm me an email address and I will send you some.

PS: Just saw you are from Qld on your profile. Lilly/Milo, have a look at this buy/sell link based in Qld but Oz wide, click on;
http://www.firstnetrader.com/category/realestate/for_sale/campervan

-- Edited by VHW on Monday 2nd of August 2010 01:19:21 PM

-- Edited by VHW on Monday 2nd of August 2010 01:21:06 PM

VHW · Senior Member

brickies wrote:

I don't think venting is a problem on new types of camper van has they have built in vent in the van body , the camper van in question in WA may have been a home made job, pop top van have vents has well also for venting gas the vents are at floor level not in the pop top

Not sure brickies what they had, I think the pic of their van showed a VW camper, but it was a long time ago. Being an ex fireman you would have seen a lot and know a lot more about gas than I would, and would know that gas is heavier than air (not sure about the burn gasses though). I think this bloke blocked all the vents, he was bush camping in icey freezing weather, suicide was ruled out and it was deemed accidental.

The camper van is not so much the question as is dropping the roof while you are using gas and not to block the vents wherever they are.

countryroad · Senior Member

Any comparison to Toyota...are they as good....Mazda I mean.

Lady selling a Toyota on CMCA had 28 phone calls from folk wanting an auto, so I'd say resale was

real good and getting better. Hers is a manual and still for sale, 2003..in SA

I emailed re another couldn't be delivered...silver 1996

I think you will just have to be lucky...seems to be a lottery nearly.

milo........ just have to keep looking, at least they are being sold in your area.

Re the grey imports...only Delica..to small Nissan El Grande...also too small. It seems they can only import what isn't sold here..so

there's that good idea out the window...back to the drawing board.

Robyn

milo · Guru

thanks for the link VHW

how old is too old? ,im not sure i want to go pre 2000 ,
am i being too fusy, ? if i do this i just want it to be right when i do it
and get it right the first time so i can enjoy my travelling and not be worried
about being stranded some where ,

Zoomtopz · Guru

I would go Anywhere in my old 71 Inter - I do heaps of dirt roads .
But when they made Inters they made em like me .
Built to last .

Sheba · Guru

VHW wrote:

Re the price Milo, yes they are a most sought after type of RV, especially for singles or those wishing an economical RV that they can also use as a runabout at home when not travelling.

Re the suggestion of closing them down when it is very windy, that is fine but if camping is dangerous if running fridge on gas overnight. Some years ago in WA a bloke and his young daughter died in their sleep in a campervan because they had put their top down and blocked the vents on a cold night. Not sure if it was from the burnt gasses or a gas leak.

-- Edited by VHW on Monday 2nd of August 2010 02:18:55 AM

That's another example of why I won't have Gas. My Fridge is 12/240V only.

Cheers,
Sheba.

VHW · Senior Member

I think most campervans are gas Sheba like yours, gas used only for cooking top. In my small poptop caravan I have a warning not to use ANY appliances while the roof is down, I think the roof would be too close to the cooktop in a campervan to use when the poptop roof in down so nobody would probably do it anyway.

Country roads, yes Mazda is just as good. I spoke to an engine reconditioner once who see them all when they are pulled apart for reconditioning etc, I was asking about Mercedes, and his comment was for reliablity and longer lasting engines with less problems go "Jap", so if that was the case I would assume any Japanese made engine.

Sheba · Guru

VHW wrote:
I think most campervans are gas Sheba like yours, gas used only for cooking top. In my small poptop caravan I have a warning not to use ANY appliances while the roof is down, I think the roof would be too close to the cooktop in a campervan to use when the poptop roof in down so nobody would probably do it anyway.

I gave the Gas stove and 2 small bottles that came with it away, and only use a Camping stove with a Butane Canister, for making coffee. I have a windshield, and use it on the floor in the doorway when the top is down.

I have a KKK set-up for other outside cooking, and a Dream-pot. If you don't know what a KKK is, Google Kelly Kampa Kooka. Amazingly simple.

Sorry guys, This is not working how I wanted it to.

The above shots are from some-one elses' KKK set-up, and I can't delete them.

Cheers,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 2nd of August 2010 06:37:56 PM

VHW · Senior Member

Sheba, I looked up that website you mentioned for the KKK set up, what a great idea!! Anyone wants to view it here is the link;

http://rvseachange.com/?p=40

-- Edited by VHW on Monday 2nd of August 2010 08:55:22 PM

Sheba · Guru

My pleasure Vic. I've posted this info quite a few times now. Last Post on this site is a long way back, so I thought it was time for a renewal.

Cheers,
Sheba.

countryroad · Senior Member

Thanks VHW for the interesting site and the Japanese comment also, I can think on Mazda as well. Do they still make Mazda campers ? I've only seen older ones, maybe they haven't been on my radar.

There's a 2002 Ford Transit, on that site, deisel, 154000 km man/auto...does this mean it's partially auto, think I saw a Honda that was a bit of both. The transit is $33,000 it's at Bli Bli Sunshine Coast Qld.

I noticed on the Kea site they use white spirit for cooking, in some of their rental vans as it's available in supermarkets, would that be better than recycling the pressure cans in the $20 cooker ?
Love the look of the kkk but would I use it, When Sheba mentioned it on an earlier post I wrote it in my trusty book and checked out the site when far from the maddening crowd, might be forced too for some variety.

Cheers
Robyn

VHW · Senior Member

countryroad wrote:

Thanks VHW for the interesting site and the Japanese comment also, I can think on Mazda as well. Do they still make Mazda campers ? I've only seen older ones, maybe they haven't been on my radar.

There's a 2002 Ford Transit, on that site, deisel, 154000 km man/auto...does this mean it's partially auto, think I saw a Honda that was a bit of both. The transit is $33,000 it's at Bli Bli Sunshine Coast Qld.

I noticed on the Kea site they use white spirit for cooking, in some of their rental vans as it's available in supermarkets, would that be better than recycling the pressure cans in the $20 cooker ?
Love the look of the kkk but would I use it, When Sheba mentioned it on an earlier post I wrote it in my trusty book and checked out the site when far from the maddening crowd, might be forced too for some variety.

Cheers
Robyn

Dover campers in Perth do Mazda conversions, see; http://www.dovecampers.com.au/p7/mazda-e2000/

And I would imagine other states as well (google campervan conversions).
I like the VW conversions too, mainly because I think the motor is out front (or looks to be) instead of underneath the drivers cab.
I think the manual/auto means you can use either, but not sure so maybe someone else who knows could answer that. Don't know about the white spirit, I had only heard of it being used on campers stoves (tenters).

brickies · Guru

I would think a small lpg cylinder to be much safer than white spirits , LPG is quit safe if treated with respect if a LPG cylinder rolls over on its side while cooking you just pick it back up , think what would happen if a white spirit tip over or bump over you would have great spread of fire , flammable liquids scar me if you follow the guide lines LPG not a problem . I my travels I have been told by many people how they seal the air vent on there caravan door to stop the cold and dust from getting in and when I have pointed out this a safety vent in case of a gas leak they say there vents at the top for the fridge when you tell gas is heavy than air that why the vent is at the lowest point they don't seem to care, it is my experience most incidence with LPG are the result of person not following simple proceeders , in Australia we we have very high safety standard and are put in place for a good reason so please follow and stay safe

-- Edited by brickies on Tuesday 3rd of August 2010 06:59:16 AM

milo · Guru

i thought most of the fridges now are 12/240, i would prefer not to have a gas stove but a microwave, unless i get one of those portable stoves that use those can type gas things.

VHW · Senior Member

Your probably right Milo, although I think there are some that have gas stoves depending on who makes them. I am pretty sure some of the motorhomes have gas stoves also (what does your Dad have in his?).

How old is too old (just re-read one of your previous posts, missed it sorry)?

Well as a rule depends on how many kms and body/interior condition, also some vans may have a reconditioned engine. I would prefer a model around 5 years old or less but then price comes into it as well, it would depend on the condition etc.

Bear in mind that some conversions have been done on older vans that people have purchased and had converted, so sometimes the conversion is younger than the van.

I think you are on the right track looking at all the angles, you could rush into something and regret it older. In older vans look for rusting, especially around the windows, to have them fixed properly by a panel beater or similar they have to remove the windows and furnishings and it could work out an expensive job.

milo · Guru

VHW wrote:
motorhomes have gas stoves also (what does your Dad have in his?).
___________________________________________________

dads stove is gas and electric and so is the fridge,actualy its a 3 way fridge

VHW · Senior Member

milo wrote:

VHW wrote:
motorhomes have gas stoves also (what does your Dad have in his?).
___________________________________________________
dads stove is gas and electric and so is the fridge,actualy its a 3 way fridge
Yes sorry Milo......I meant the fridge not the stove.

brickies · Guru

MILO got your moneys worth out of this post , it sure shows what a good Forum we have everybody out to help one an other hope it has been some help to you

Happywanderer · The Master

Keep it going. Its not only helping milo but a lot of us other newbies to campervanning who are not sure what to look for.
We need all the help we can get.