Travelling

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Travelling

jimricho · Guru

You can expect a range of opinions on this one as it depends on individual lifestyles.

I would suggest making a list of all the advantages and disadvantages of each type. This may help "crystallise" your thoughts.

The other thing to consider is your financial position down the track when your "grey-nomadding" days are over and if you wish to buy back into the real estate market. This is a very personal decision.

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thank you, we are torn we are told you can tow a good 4wd behind a motorhome. As you said both have advantages and disadvantages.

JRH · Guru

uncle wombat wrote:
Thank you, we are torn we are told you can tow a good 4wd behind a motorhome. As you said both have advantages and disadvantages.

Welcome Uncle Wombat, sorry can't really help with your question. Personally I prefer a caravan to a Motorhome.

Are you our Wombats uncle come to keep him in line by any chance? biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Ma · Guru

JRH wrote:
uncle wombat wrote:

Are you our Wombats uncle come to keep him in line by any chance?

There couldn't be two of them .......... could there??? biggrin biggrin biggrin

Cruising Granny · Guru

Aw gee, not another wombat. No offence "Uncle Wombat", but one of your rellies is a very regular contributor to this forum. You won't have to look hard to find his efforts.
I bid you a warm and friendly welcome to this forum and can only offer my reasoning for choosing caravan and tug.
There is only 1 of me, and I couldn't see any sense in having all those vehicles. The motorhome, rego, tyres, fuel and running. The trailer, rego, tyres and maintenance. The piggy back tyres, rego and fuel.
I don't have endless resources so I chose the most practical and economical option for my travel and lifestyle.
The van is my home. When I'm parked up the tug is my vehicle for everything including work as you see on my avatar.
While the motorhome is a comfortable option, I find they have a lot of couches and not enough cupboards. Very impressive but not very practical unless you're going to be on the road full time, and only parking up for a day or 2. When sightseeing there are places you may have problems accessing with the big vehicle with a small motor. There's also the issue of height on national park roads/tracks.
It's a personal choice, and there's no right or wrong.

Vic · Guru

Gawd, not another Wombat !!!! wink

Sorry Phillip, we have a couple of Wombats on here, one of whom stirs the possum (or should that be wombat) quiet often, a few of us are gunning for him (joke).

A lot depends on your needs, are you going to work while travelling or spending a lot of time in one spot, if so then I would suggest a caravan although there are some here who live full time in their motorhomes or campervans and do it quiet successfully, you just plan your activities etc a bit differently.

If you are able to hire both modes of transport and do a trip in each that may help make up your mind.

Welcome to the forum and good luck with whatever you do.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Oh no, now uncle wombat, I spose all the wombat family will be here soon. smile

Wombat, you will have to extend your hole to accommodate them all now, no more scratching around the country now my friend.

Welcome from me too uncle wombat, enjoy. biggrin

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Hi All,

Im not sure who the other Wombat is but yep there are more of us.

I wont be stirrin the possum (wombat) not yet anyway

Thank you all for your comments they are appreciated and its a big decision are there many who live full time on pensions in their vans

uncle wombat · Senior Member

all my young wombats have left the burrow and got their own little wombats now, so its just Mrs Wombat and this ole fella

PeterS · Senior Member

Hi Uncle Wombat. I am like you tho solo. I have just purchased a almost new MH and in the throws of sellingmy house, business and anything else that will sell. It's a huge decision but the closer I get to actually hitting the road the more I think it's the right thing, at least for me. MH V Caravan is something you and only you can decide. I just like the Idea of it being all in one, andI amgoingto be towing a small 4WD behind the MH. Over the coming months I will find out if I was right or wrong with my choice. As long as you study the options well you will get it right. Maybe we will meet someday somewhere in the huge land.

Peter

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thanks Peter, appreciate your comments we are pensioners and have a small mortage on our home but are sick of the struggling and paying bills and see this as an opportunity to enjoy life.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

uncle wombat

WOW another wombat great to have you aboard, how did I miss this post yesterday?

Take no notice of those other DH (Vic & JRH) they do come up with some silly suggestions every now and then, in regards to you choice of rig as most have said it's a personal choice whatever suits you may not suit others, I know that is not much help, maybe we will meet along the road somewhere some day, perhaps we can share some roots and leaves (wombat happy hour).

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Hey hi Wombat god to see we are not an endangered species (yet) thanks for that info it is a hard one to agree on but we may have to bite the bullet and go for it.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

B-T wrote:
Uncle Wombat.

You need to do extensive, and I mean extensive research before commiting a lump of capital to a purchase - which at the moment you do not seem to have a sound knowledge of. One of your first priorities is to decide on your style of caravanning or motorhoming - where you want to go, what sort of country and roads and preference for independent camping or staying only in caravan parks. A lot of this work needs to be done before you even go looking for a caravan or motorhome.

I have recently completed a CD "Planning you First Caravan Purchase which may be of interest to you. It will take your through the whole process from first base. 33,500 words and hundreds of his res images.

Regards

John

is the CD for sale?

uncle wombat · Senior Member

B-T, Thank you for that, I have done camping in an old Kombie van back in the 70s and have a fair idea where we want to go and a lot of it would be off the beaten track which makes me lean towards a 4wd and van
Is the CD for sale?

Thanks

Uncle

Pejay · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
uncle wombat
WOW another wombat great to have you aboard, how did I miss this post yesterday?
Take no notice of those other DH (Vic & JRH) they do come up with some silly suggestions every now and then, in regards to you choice of rig as most have said it's a personal choice whatever suits you may not suit others, I know that is not much help, maybe we will meet along the road somewhere some day, perhaps we can share some roots and leaves (wombat happy hour).

Oh bother - there is only one postcode for Wombat, sorry Uncle Wombat it appears we can't help you with a postcode, but will keep my eye open for something 'special' for you and Mrs Uncle Wombat!

PS Welcome to the forum, hope you have as much fun as us when we are on the road - and at home too!!

uncle wombat · Senior Member

hi all well i brought a couple of magazines today and they included a couple of dvds but it hasnt made the choice any better. Like everything the more you look the more confusing it gets.
Anyway we will get there

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Hi all,
How many of you all are permanent travellers

fireheart · Senior Member

Hi Uncle Wombat,

It does seem that the choice is wide and varied. i am also in your situation of just starting out. I thought I was pretty well sold on a motorhome, however as the time gets closer to making the decision I am now pondering if that is the correct thing. My reasoning for this was that i have never towed anything in my life and as I will be a solo traveller, thought it would be easier. Now I am wondering about the wisdom of that, only in regards to moving around towns and sightseeing. I had thought of a bike as an optional extra as far as ease of movement. but then does one really want to be in town when you are on the open road. All interesting questions and from what I can glean from here is that it really is an indivdual choice, but oh how does one make the right choice?
I will be at the Adelaide Camping and Caravan show this week, to have a look again at the different options and see if the motorhome that I think is my choice still looks as good as I think it will be.
Looking forward to getting out there though in whatever form it takes.

Sharon.

Ma · Guru

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that everyone (finances permitting of course) should contemplate the hire of the various types of set ups that are available.

Take them out for a week each, if possible, and then it may help to make the decision easier.

At least that way you would have some idea of what wouldn't suit your budget, lifestyle and capabilities.

I realise that not everyone is in a position financially to do this so maybe there is a friend or neighbour who would be willing to take you out for the weekend and let you have a go. I am in no way advocating "borrowing" any rig no matter how close in friendship or familyship you are as this leads to problems in itself.

STOP MA. STOP. Enough already......

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thanks Sharon, Hope you make the right decision its hard one

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thanks Ma, we dont have anyone we know who has either and the costs of hiring are above our reach

beiffe · Guru

Another suggestion is to find the popular rest stops in your area and make a habit of visiting and talking to the people camped there. Take a chair a few drinks (your own poison) and perhaps a freshly baked cake etc. Best time is around 5 -7 in the afternoon as that is HAPPY HOUR.

Talk to all and ask why they bought their rig and how they use it and where they go. Explain that you are researching so you can join them and very few will not give you all the info you want. Many will take you into their rigs to show you the best and worst bits as well as that you will gain lots of little tips for YOUR travels.

Take photos when you can (use discretion of course) and also many noes for further perusal.

I have a 7mtr bus and love the life, this is my second as I upgraded to a better and more powerful bus because that was my plan. I have been on the road for 4 years and hope to get a few more before I go to the great camp site in the sky,ground,sea AU who cares.

Workout your preferences, caravan parks free camping and in what percentage and be prepared for that to change. Whether you wish to be self contained or just stay reliant on 240v power. We all fit somewhere in between. I am full self contained so I am that side where some stay in parks 100% and we should all respect each others choices. Some black top only some go right out bush.

There is a lot more but get that sorted first and then worry about the finer points when you get closer to making your decision

Regards
Brian

Ma · Guru

Not to worry Unc. It may give some others something to think on.

I am sure when the right set up for you comes along you will recognise it.

The more you look and the more you read can be confusing at times but it is not a wasted effort as any "homework" is beneficial and can come in handy down the track somewhere.

Good luck.

Ma · Guru

I just read Beiffe's post and couldn't agree more. What a top idea.

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Thank you all its greatly appreciated

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Hi All looks like we have made our mind up on what to get, looks a motorhome for us we had a good look at all types, so we will see you all on the road somewhere soon, and thank you all for your comments, so I suppose we will see if we have made the right choice then

Thanks

Uncle Wombat

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Hi Peter, is your 4wd a Suziki Jimny?

uncle wombat · Senior Member

Hi all, hope you are all enjoying travelling around, we have conversed with a few fellow travellers and are starting to get real itchy feet and cant wait to get on the road.