Concerned

Dave83 · Senior Member

Concerned

AmandaJayne · Guru

Stick a mattress in the back park under a tree for a snooze n your a grey nomad!!! roflol dont think its the size that matters... not too sure why you guys always worry about it!!!!

bill12 · Guru

I use the"kiss" principle.Keep it simple , stupid. The less things you have, the less can breakdown.Put a bed in the back , get a $20 stove from Bunnings,a 20ltr drum of water , a couple of chairs and some cloths and whatnot, and hit the road. As long as the vehicle is in reasonable condition, you will enjoy yourself. Who cares whatother people think. Do it, and worry about the consequences later. Bill

Father Ted · Senior Member

Well the best way not to be worried about being mistaken for a backpacker is to NOT talk with a pommie accent.We have travelled the length of the East Coast in our Toyota Hi Ace and I can truthfully say that that is when we had our best times.Go, just do it you will not be sorry.We found the secret was not to take too much gear that you never use.A Roll up awning is invaluable,cooking,sipping,looking,observing life as it meanders past you.By awning I mean the ones that are attached to the van and roll out when you need to use it.Good Luck on your travels. wink PS.Just read Bill 12's reply,spot on mate good advice.

Vic · Guru

Dave,

My first "home made" campervan was an old Mitsubishi Express with sliding sun roof (people mover, took the seats out).

I had a matress on the floor in the middle and clothing etc in bags along the sides where the wheel arches were. Across the back in line I had three milk crates, one had cooking pots/pans, cooking implents, plates/cutlery etc in it, the middle one I had a small gas bottle with a cooking top on it which came just above the edge of the crate and could be used without removing it insitu, the other end crate had all my food in it, I used all dry stuff/cans etc and didn't worry about refrigerated stuff. Water containers just behind the cooking crates on either side of the van.

When I wanted to cook I just went and stood at the rear of the van and lifted the hatch, which also acted as shade and also protected me from the rain if raining. Pretty basic but I went solo around Oz like that and had a ball, don't worry about what people think, I didn't find I was outcast because of what I had etc. Yes, whiz bangs can be annoying to some, but then so can noise from caravans with noisy TV's and other things, that is the nature of the beast.

I also came across another chap that just had a Toyo van, he had converted a single steel bed (removed the wire and underneath supports and put a wood ply base on it instead, and bolted it to the floor on one side of his van, with a comfortable innerspring mattress. He used the unobstructed underside of the single bed to store things under, and was quite happy with his set up etc.

As the others have said here, just go for it whichever way you decide to convert your van for camping etc.

-- Edited by Vic on Tuesday 1st of November 2011 12:19:15 PM

jonathan · Guru

Hi Dave ..

The priority to me is always the person first .. whatever you choose to have as your mode is entirely up to you !

I've been fortunate to meet you and regardless of your mode of transport I'm happy to see you on board .. that will never change !

Attitude rules Dave !

Jon

gubby · Guru

Dave83 wrote:
Does anyone have any thoughts on how I could avoid being tarred with that brush?

Easy Dave... Just put a Grey Nomads sticker on the back.... Job Done... wink

The difference between a backpacker and a grey nomad is not the gear, it's an attitude and you've got a GN attitude..

Get out and enjoy, worry only causes stomach ulcers and heart problems....

jimricho · Guru

Dave83 wrote:
From some of the comments I've read here and on other forums, I am becoming concerned that I would be written off as "just another backpacker" and as such would miss out on a fair bit of the fellowship that everyone talks about.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how I could avoid being tarred with that brush?

Here we go..... We complain about others tarring all us grey nomads with the one brush, you know the usual whinges, crawl along the highway, hold up the traffic, mess up the roadside rest areas etc, etc, etc, and now we are tarring all backpackers with the same brush!

(PS: whizz bang that door a few times in the middle of the night and you'll certainly be tarred with the backpacker brush!)

animalcarer · Senior Member

You have nothing to be concerned about. JUST DO YOUR OWN THING and hang what other people think or do. We have met the good the bad and the ugly on our travels, we have had a lovely time socialising with backpackers, and met some odd nomads, so you cant generalise with people. Met some spanish backpacker boys who cooked Howard and I a lovely spanish dinner, quite memorable,. Just be yourself, and relax and enjoy the journey,

Lynette

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Theres lots and lots of Wizz-bangs out there, being enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds, if people are uppity with you, they arent worth bothering about in the first place! (But please open/shut your side door quietly at night?)

Gee, we go off with the tent sometimes and nobody has been uppity with us. (And we have noisy zips to open and close at night!)

yeoeleven · Guru

It has been my experience that any discrimination or the feeling of being looked down on is mostly in your own mind.

I spent 2 weeks in Trial Bay Big 4 caravan park surrounded by 4WDs pulling shiny caravans and was overawed at the start of my visit but it was in my mind not theirs. When I joined the morning teas arranged by the park I found that they were more interested in what I was doing on my trip around Australia than being concerned about my old Hi Ace.

They were in fact envious because next week they had to return to their jobs and old life whereas I was free to continue on my quest.

Go for it Dave, just maintain a positive attitude and be yourself and if you do get any hassle realize that they have lost out by not being friendly with you.

John

-- Edited by yeoeleven on Tuesday 1st of November 2011 11:48:07 AM

Beth54 · Guru

Maybe you could put a sign on the back Dave, that says something like, This is not a whiz bang!

Cupie · Guru

yeoeleven wrote:
It has been my experience that any discrimination or the feeling of being looked down on is mostly in your own mind.

Go for it Dave, just maintain a positive attitude and be yourself and if you do get any hassle realize that they have lost out by not being friendly with you.
John

-- Edited by yeoeleven on Tuesday 1st of November 2011 11:48:07 AM

Spot on ..

For my part I just love those occasions where I can get away for a few days in the Patrol with a mattress in the back & a few eats in milk crates & a small gas BBQ. (leave the ensuite van & SWMBO at home but take a couple of kayaks instead)

Only problem is that I need to switch to red rather than a cool beer or nice crisp dry white.

Pam · Guru

Have you got your grey nomad stickers yet? Put them on the vehicle.

Dave83 · Senior Member

Thanks for the tips everyone - some helpful advice there.