Are you worried about taking the plunge?

thomas01 · Senior Member

Are you worried about taking the plunge?

sucastja · Senior Member

Thank you Marilyn and Rob - we've been wishing for years now - a couple of more years work to go and then hopefully we'll be hitting the road too

Duh · Guru

Thanks for your thoughts Marilyn and Rob, they are very profound and will help a lot of those thinking of hitting the road and it gives a good insight into a good mindset to have. smile

Look forward to future posts from you and your experiences.... aww

gypsy rover · Senior Member

Well done Marilyn & Rob, glad to hear you have joined the band of "happy campers". May you have many years of roamin' the roads and discovering every nook and cranny of this great country of ours.

Safe travels.

Cheers!

Chris

jetj · Guru

Great post Marilyn and Rob, yes I don't think many people look back and wish they'd worked longer. Enjoy!

neilnruth · Guru

Welcome Marilyn and Rob. I agree wholeheartedly with your post. I too was a little hesitant about doing freecamping - we've been caravanners for over 35 years - but the last trip put that fear to bed for me. And I agree. A campfire at a freecamp and you'll find the friendliest people. Can't wait to go again. Two more trips planned for this year.

nomadic1 · Senior Member

Great post - thank you. You reinforce what I've always believed - if you wait until the time is right to do something then you'll never do it. And I've lost way too many friends that were still planning their own great 'adventure' but never got around to doing it.

I hope you have many more year of happy travelling.

deadlyprincess · Veteran Member

here here, know where you are coming from, i do likewise, sit and glean, and add and change my list as I learn, Can't wait till we leave the front gate and turn left, or is it right??

milo · Guru

I agree about not having to have the best rigs , like those million dollar units like
we have seen on tv recently.. its nice if you got the money.
I know I have been spoilt by the tardis (which is now on the market by the way)

I have seen people with the weirdest set ups, but in all fairness whats weird for us is perfect for some one else

I also have seen those tear drops which im quite keen on so i can keep my little car ,
I know some would say try the avans but its what will work best for me..

same for you , you have to decide what works for you, what doesnt ,
while we take on board suggestions
its up to us for our own experiances and after all its about the adventure of getting there, not just the destination

Duh · Guru

milo wrote:

I also have seen those tear drops which im quite keen on so i can keep my little car ,
I know some would say try the avans but its what will work best for me..

Don't forget the Avan Weekend Teardrop Milo, you can get the tent bit for the rear too if you want more space for a longer stay somewhere, see this one here, although all Avan Dealers can get them in;

http://www.awrvworld.com.au/index.php/new-in-stock-caravans-for-sale/355-avan-weekender-for-sale

The odd 2nd hand one comes up for sale too now and then.....

See this one also with rear tent/annex set up;

http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Automotive/Caravans/AdNumber=D4392101327143;pgid=H8dkqA02Xvo000c5AkM74ykv0000C-AAcAuJ;sid=9GMoxJT_rTEox8TY9HEiZZ_eXvXxoyUFdzN0Gj1xqL2BSiUFdzO9677_omlUJQ==?HotlistView=true&ExternalHotlink=1

-- Edited by Duh on Sunday 12th of August 2012 11:05:37 AM

milo · Guru

i like the insulated avan weekender, would have to modify the door, i cant believe how heavy it is
the tear drops are timber i think although some maybe fibre glass...
theres also this one too which is almost a carbon copy of the weekender

http://www.chevronrv.com.au/

just had a thought, what about a boat winch?

have that mounted some where and use that when i want to close the door

wind it it down like you do with a boat, or is there an alternative ?

or power method some how??

-- Edited by milo on Sunday 12th of August 2012 05:41:48 PM

milo · Guru

ive had a look at those Vic , but only problem I have with that is the door is very heavy to pull to close
i had a heck of a job trying to close it,
i kind of like these

http://travelbugteardropcampers.com.au/models.html

http://www.hansvans.com/index.htm

ive also had a look at one of these too

http://www.littleguyaustralia.com.au/

also you dont even need a motor home , camper trailer or what ever ,
just jump in your car and go, stay in a nice caravan park cabin etc

JRH · Guru

milo wrote:
ive had a look at those Vic , but only problem I have with that is the door is very heavy to pull to close
i had a heck of a job trying to close it,
i kind of like these

http://travelbugteardropcampers.com.au/models.html

http://www.hansvans.com/index.htm
ive also had a look at one of these too
http://www.littleguyaustralia.com.au/

also you dont even need a motor home , camper trailer or what ever ,
just jump in your car and go, stay in a nice caravan park cabin etc

Staying in A CP Cabin you must have money to burn Milo.

Duh · Guru

The A van alternatives look nice too Milo, I would check them out with a tape though especially the bed sizes inside.

The Avan Weekender looks better insulated, if it is fibreglass it will be, also seems better finished to me and not so much wood to rot as the others. But in the end it depends on what suits your.

Those shelters can be bought at big camping stores the alternatives are using, could also use one of them on the Avan weekender instead of their annex and would probably be cheaper.

Cabins might be ok for a couple of days away Milo, but if you are going to do a long trip you need to be able to afford it (or sleep in your car or tent occasionaly).

Do some sums and see whether you can afford the cabin option, if you can great, providing there are vacancies etc.

Good luck with whatever you are doing,

Vic

Duh · Guru

Thanks for the link to the Guppy Milo, very interesting and fringing on copyright of the Avan Weekender.

Seems better in terms of layout and gear, such as the fridge, stove and sink. Although it is heavier than the weekender, you would have to take in account the extra's (60litre Waeco 12/240V Compressor fridge, I have the 80 litre and they are very good) which would account for the weight difference along with other things.

I would have like to have seen the height dimensions in the specifications from ground to the top of the dome at the back, to see if it would fit under a carport etc.

Did you get a price on them?

PS: On the Avan Weekender, would a strap pull down on the inside lift up door help with both starting the pull down from outside and also pulling down from the inside. I have seen these on modern VW campervans on the rear lift up doors.

-- Edited by Duh on Sunday 12th of August 2012 09:24:34 PM

milo · Guru

god if i was rolling in money id by my own motor home oh well loto tickets are on the fridge

Duh · Guru

Hope you have a win Milo, in the meantime you are doing the right thing taking your time and doing your research.

Better to make sure what you get is going to suit your purpose than have to sell it later because it doesn't.

No rig is perfect, there is always something you wish you had in it or had done differently, part of the lifestyle, but best to get it as right as possible the first time! smile

milo · Guru

Duh wrote:
Thanks for the link to the Guppy Milo, very interesting and fringing on copyright of the Avan Weekender.
Seems better in terms of layout and gear, such as the fridge, stove and sink. Although it is heavier than the weekender, you would have to take in account the extra's (60litre Waeco 12/240V Compressor fridge, I have the 80 litre and they are very good) which would account for the weight difference along with other things.
I would have like to have seen the height dimensions in the specifications from ground to the top of the dome at the back, to see if it would fit under a carport etc.
Did you get a price on them?
PS: On the Avan Weekender, would a strap pull down on the inside lift up door help with both starting the pull down from outside and also pulling down from the inside. I have seen these on modern VW campervans on the rear lift up doors

-- Edited by Duh on Sunday 12th of August 2012 09:24:34 PM

i dont know about the copy right and it would be heavier than the standard model...

there must be an easier option for the door?

Duh · Guru

The copyright is not our problem Milo, they can fight it out with Avan if it comes to that. Avan have taken others to court before for copying their copyright designs, so wouldn't be surprised if they did, I just noticed the similarities in the designs, albeit a few distinct differences.

I notice the Guppy lift up door has struts, so maybe that may be the answer? May be easy to put up though and not so easy to pull down.

milo · Guru

i have gas struts on the back door, tailgate on my mazda
wonder if i could get them changed over?? to a lighter set??

Duh · Guru

milo wrote:
i have gas struts on the back door, tailgate on my mazda
wonder if i could get them changed over?? to a lighter set??

There are companies that deal just with gas struts Milo, google for your area, some do mobile visits.

Why would you want your mazda struts changed to a lighter set?

This might be better posted in the Tech section, we are getting a bit OT here.

milo · Guru

Duh wrote:
milo wrote:
i have gas struts on the back door, tailgate on my mazda
wonder if i could get them changed over?? to a lighter set??

There are companies that deal just with gas struts Milo, google for your area, some do mobile visits.
Why would you want your mazda struts changed to a lighter set?
This might be better posted in the Tech section, we are getting a bit OT here.

yeah sorry about the ot, i also said the mazda struts as a comparison to how they were on the avan