Hi this is my first ever forum post, so please bear with me if I do things a little wrong.
We are at the planning stage, starting from scratch to work out what we will need to live on the road for a couple of years, and one of the topics I do not understand all of the ramifications off is free camping.
I am fine with the principal, the power side of things, and the water supply, I am struggling on the iquids disposal (grey and black), is it possible in a caravan (with a cassette), or do yu need a larger unit with a tank.
Guidance would be greatly appreciated.
BTW, I a sure there are many more questions to follow, this is just the beginning.
Welcome to the forum Plendo. You will love it here as they are all a friendly bunch of people and the knowledge amongst everyone is vast. You will get heaps of responses then your task is to sift through it all and take onboard that which applies to you. We just bought our van last month along with our tug and are still housebound till my mum goes home first week in Sept. Then we will test the waters and go for little trips away until next March when we do the big one lol cannot wait. Hope to see you out there somewhere on your travels.
Welcome Peblo. First and fore-most, get a copy of "Camps Australia Wide". That will give you all sorts of useful info. such as Dump Points, Pet friendly sites, Free Camps, & National Parks, just to name a few.
Never be afraid to ask even what you might think is a "silly" question. Aint no such thing. The only silly question is the one not asked.
I can't say too much about "Free Camping" as I still use CV Parks but will try FC'ing when I think I can cope with it. I just need to sort out the best way to provide power and shower as I only have a Avan Camper.
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Plendo, you need a cassette toilet, or a good spade for the black water. For grey water its best to have holding tanks on your rig, but some campsites are ok to allow the water to go under bushes/trees. Be careful not to leave your campsite wet and muddy for the next camper, and dont let dirty/soapy water go into a creek or watercourse. You also need to take your garbage with you, or deposit into a proper bin.
As stated, a good map/camps reference book is essential and many of us swear by the Camps Australia Wide books.
Consisder going on short trips to practise, and refine your wants/needs.
Welcome to the forum, and keep asking! The only silly question is the one you didnt ask.
Hi and welcome, shower is what I find the hardest free camping. Have used a cold shower on a beach, a hospital toilet, a bucket with some boiled water in a paddock, but you live and learn. Where there's a will, there is a way. Enjoy!!!
Hi Plendo and a big Welcome. Get a copy of The Grey Nomads Guidebook, written by Cindy and Jeremy Gough who run this website and forum. We have just started out and found their book to be of immense value. On the question about free camping, some have no facilities , some have toilets only, and some showers as well for a small "donation". Most free camping your grey water runs out on the ground through your sullage hose, with the outlet around a tree or away from your van and also other vans. Your cassette can be emptied at "dump stations" that located around the country. The Camps Australia book has all the sites listed, and I think I am right in saying there is no charge for these. But some camp grounds only allow residents to use theirs. As you drive through towns you often see the dump station signs. Hope this has been of help.
I think you have started the whole thing in the right way by asking questions.None of us know it all and only by asking do we find things out without making lots of mistakes.
One of the things I found extremely helpful was the question of Black water/Toilet odour.
I read on here about mixing up some of the Woolworths own brand nappy soaker in warm water to add to the cassette or holding tank to stop odours.
The propriety stuff is a bit expensive and the Woolies Select stuff is around 1/8th the cost.Works well.
Welcome to the site and I expect it will be a good experience.
I have used a porti potti for nearly 4 years and have always found a dump point to dump. Never wait till it is full. Plan your stays so it never gets full. If you plan to stop for a while then dump your tank before you go to the site.
Napi soaker allows you to dump your waste in a septic toilet if needed as the councils use the stuff to correct the chemical inbalance when someone uses the drop toilets etc for their Chemical induced tanks.
I used a container under the grey water and emptied each day on a tree etc while it is still fresh. I use little water as I can wash my dishes in the frying pan that I cooked the meal. I carried 30 ltrs of water so it was valuable. I use creek water for washing of body and clothes as I can not afford to waste the water on these deeds.
Is you plan to freedom camp or in the caravan jails. If selecting to spend time out in the Australian country side enjoying nature then you will need to ensure you have the ability to run your appliances and life needs hopefully without the need of a generator.
When camping always allow a reasonable space between your vehicle and others and always be prepared to learn from the people you meet on the forums and in the camp sites.
A good rule is to never do to another that you don't want done to you.
As you start you will have a lot to learn and most will allow you the time to learn but always be appreciative of any advise and constructive and considerate with any advice you give to others as you gather the skills needed.
When gathering you advise take note of all you hear and then before you spend your dollars put all the information in the blender and then make you decision so you are happy.
We all have different ways of doing things and sometimes the arm chair experts don't know a lot about what they spruke. Take notice of the older travelers as they are doing it and have usually tested the methods they are advising on.
I hope you enjoy you time here and ask the questions you want as there are many who would like to ask the same questions so they will read the advise given to you. Also the info stays for later members can read by using the search facility.
Regards Brian
__________________
11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
If free-camping (i.e. not in a caravan park) you can buy a portable solar hot water shower bag or two. It is a black bag with a shower hose that you lay in the sun (or hang from a tree branch in the sun) and you will have lots of free hot water for your evening shower. When free camping with our camper trailer, we used a 12 volt shower pump in a 20 litre plastic drum filled with cold water and hot water fom our solar bags. There was always plenty of shower water for two people using such a set up.
Hi Plendo Welcome to the forum, I,m sure you will find lots of help here. Some free camp sites, will state that your van must be completely self contained and you cannot dispose of anything at that site but it doen't mean you must have built in tank for your grey water, all you need is a container for your grey water that you can carry away with you when you leave and dispose of later usually you dispose of the toilet contents at a dump site. Cheers David
