We have one week to go on this 13 week adventure. I would like to share some of the lessons we have learned out here. We have had a mix of caravan parks and free camps. The CPs at Nullarbor and Mundrabilla had no water so keep that in mind when reading.. here we go
The last time we came across the Nullarbor was 1975 when there was 256 MILES of dirt from Eucla to Penong in SA. This trip I did some research before we left and decided to take 50 liters of water with us and all sorts of gear "just in case". Now, the whistle stops are about 200KMs apart so most needs can be met at these places (dont buy coffee at Balledonia, tastes like kerosine). Bottled water is available at most of these places, the only "tap" water I saw was at Nullarbor roadhouse for a dollar for 2.5 mins flow.
Long story short: We never used the water. The last water going west was Penong and the next was Fraser Range (near Norseman) in the middle of that (lots of KMs) we would shower every second day and baby wipes the others (we only had each other to stink the joint out lol). Not a problem at all even at free camps I would crank the generator for battery top up during a shower on the 12 volt pump. The genny was started after I spoke with the other campers and gained their agreement. Drinking water was the 10 litre containers of spring water from woolies. We started with 30 litres and had about 7 liters left when we got to Esperance.
Food was interesting. We have a large Waco freezer and the normal small freezer in our dometic fridge. We went to woolies, purchased the one meal aluminium take away packs cooked like crazy and froze the results in these packs. The fridge took 16 packs in the freezer and the other stuff (veggies etc) in the Waco. all in all we froze 14 days of food, well and truly enough to do the crossing.
I had plenty of petrol for the genny as required.
Now to the tools: Being an ex electrician I had most of my tools in a tool box that was hardly opened... I used the rattle gun on the pegs when we set the awning out and thats about all. NOW logic failed me here, we are fully insured and only need to contact CIL if disaster strikes and we bend the van to an un-roadworthy state, logic also says that if an incident is that bad what the in the name of blue noo noo can a pair of pliers do? Also had a box of old rags for cleaning etc... doppy so and so I am, you need water to help clean.. duhhhh Also make sure you have jumper leads, we helped a bloke at the edge of an emergency runway with a jump start, lucky he had the leads. They are on my next shopping list when I visit the green tool box (Bunnings) again.
As far as emergency gear like the bottle jack, 12 volt compressor etc... Dont leave town without them, had a flat tyre at Norseman and the compressor became my best friend. We used the levelers and other caravan comfort stuff, again dont leave town without them.
We also have a portable loo... waste of space, with dump points are at Border Village (two days from Penong) and 3 more on the WA side our loo was well catered for. So it sat with the 25 and 30 Liter empty water drums taking up space in the ute tray.
I didnt use the shovel, had no campfires this time, and box of shoes (just in case we go out) was hardly opened, BTW I wore thongs and sand shoes (called sneakers now days) most of the time.
Moral of this story is, research, research and when you thing you are done, research some more, some crap is best left behind. But we live and learn Im told.
Safe and happy travels.
-- Edited by Phil C on Thursday 19th of May 2016 12:37:07 PM
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
Yes we carry things .. Just in case . Seems extra weight ! Until we need them . We have carried our BBQ from Blue mountains NSW to 80 mile beach WA and never used it YET . Bit like other things in life . It's there! How often we use it ? I guess we like to have options ? Lol yes the Nullabor is easy .. 20 to 50 litres for washing . A couple of fresh drinking water 10 -15 litre bottles from Aldi etc is all required .
That all sounds too "Technical" for me Mate Well done though.
You/we learn a lot about packing etc out here in the playground. I have 'Culled' three times now and have just about got down to bare essentials, no not me silly, the tug and den mate. That said, I am very rarely out of shorts, Tshirt and thongs these days.
While here in Townsville and before I leave I will do another check/cull as there is a big plastic box in the tug that I haven't opened since I left here last year so that 'stuff' must be very important
Keep Safe on the roads.
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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)
I have spent 10 or so years working casually in some of the roadhouses on the Eyre H'way, most of them have reverse osmosis plants that are USUALLY maintained quite well, the water at these places is usually very good, especially after new membranes have been fitted. Some of the stuff coming up from the bore can range from 5000 to 12000 ppm and after going through the new membranes can be reduced down to 50 to100 ppm, after checking with Schweppes and finding their bottled water ranged from 150 to 250 ppm I was quite happy with the result. When any body was happy to stay in the CP, I would casually mention to them it could be worth filling up a couple of jerries, if they were prepared to support the business I was prepared to help them. There's to many whingers on the Nully.
Yes, I also carry some extra junk, tools of trade (Fitter), such as 12-volt impact (rattle) gun, 150 ft lb mechanical torque wrench, full sets of - sockets - combination spanners - screwdrivers, etc. I have never had to use them on my own vehicle while travelling, as I like to give my vehicle a service, prior to all my long distance trips.
I sometimes wonder why I carry them
But...
It is peace of mind, (to me), knowing that, I do have the tools available, if required
I also use to carry 2 x 15 litre spare tap drinking water, and used this water only once, (my own fault when the main tank got low). I have now fitted a 60 litre potable water tank, to complement the original 80 litre potable water tank, and still carry the empty 2 x 15 litre water containers, once again, just in case
I have a built in shower, but carry 2 x portable showers, I had in my caravan One is a 12 volt, and the other is a rechargeable cordless, and I have never used them, but they are available to drop into a bucket of warm water, just in case
The motorhome has 13 LED lights, and apart from the normal hand torch, I also carry 3 x 60 LED type 12 volt rechargeable work lights, I use to have in my caravan. I have never used them, but have loaned them to backpackers at times, who found that they had flat batteries in their torch, and were cooking by the light of their phones
I carry a genset, (came with the vehicle), and have never used it while travelling I carry an empty 5 litre petrol container, the method behind the madness, is that if I eventually use the genset, it would be easier to fill the container, than to drag out the genset, at the bowser
I carry heavy-duty jumper leads, and 12 VDC clamp type amp, multimeter, and have only used them to assist other travellers
I have recently purchased an Amphibian, which will probably only be used, from my home base, to my motorhome, about four days in each year, but will live in the motorhome I take this opportunity to put in a good word for oldtrac123, as it was when he quoted from one of my replies to a post, that first alerted me to the fact that such a tool was available
I carry a telescopic ladder, which I have never used
It will be interesting when I finally put my vehicle over a weighbridge, prior to my next long distance trip. I may have to decide, what junk to actually remove
We saw an ultralight aircraft strapped on top of an off-road camper-trailer, just in case. The whole thing was in a BIG 4 caravan park that our friends were staying in. Seriously, the best thing we carry is a towing strap, we've pulled three lots of people out of bogs so far which was greatly appreciated on every occasion. The one thing we wouldn't cull is a gas lamp & bottle. Call us old fashioned but after camping in the bush for over 40 years we feel nervous without one aboard! Batteries of all kinds tend to go flat at the worst possible time.
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Cheers Keith
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts, of beauty rich & rare. We'll be out there enjoying it somewhere, camped by ourselves much of the time.
Some very interesting discussion going here. BTW welcome to the forum Pauly. Your point is taken about the RO filtered water. I had a very nice hot shower at Mundrabilla, have to admit I was surprised that they let us use so much water but I suspect even the grey water was filtered and re used.
I think you need to be very keen to carry an ultra light on the roof, but to each his own.
OK a slight shift in the discussion, and a question to ponder.
If we have full insurance, roadside assist and top cover with medical, why would you even need a screwdriver if you were only ever on the blacktop? I carry the full socket set, screwdrivers, torque wrench etc as well, so far I have only had to use minor tools when on the road. I have rewired my caravan after Jayco botched it up at the built, that was at homebase. Interesting... hmmmm
Dougwe if it was up to me I would have 7 undies, 3 tshirts, 3 tracky daks, uggies, thongs, sneakers and not much else. SWMBO insists on a lot more
Cheers
-- Edited by Phil C on Friday 20th of May 2016 11:15:47 AM
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
I have full socket set, 1/2 and 3/8 drive . Philips and blade screwdrivers . Pliers, vice grips. Two shifters , adze ( hammer-axe ) angle grinder and AEG portable drill pack . I helped a guy on the Nullabor who's clutch was slipping in his 300k Cruiser . We just undid bell housing, pressure plate a little and spayed Coka Cola in there . Tightened back up . I didn't see him on the side of the road ? So I guess temp repaires worked ?
haha.....I think most of us have this problem "better take it - just in case" and you end up carting so much around that never gets used.
Previous posters have suggested on this topic that you carry a box of self adhesive, small coloured stickers and put them on anything that you load into your RV. If you use the item, you remove the sticker. After an agreed (that's the decision the wife makes lol), period of time - usually about 6 months anything with a sticker still on it, comes out of the RV. This includes certain foods - packaged, bottled etc that you don't normally use
Reckon we would have to buy a carton of button sticker boxes to sticker up all the stuff in our 'van !!!!!
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
haha.....I think most of us have this problem "better take it - just in case" and you end up carting so much around that never gets used.
Previous posters have suggested on this topic that you carry a box of self adhesive, small coloured stickers and put them on anything that you load into your RV. If you use the item, you remove the sticker. After an agreed (that's the decision the wife makes lol), period of time - usually about 6 months anything with a sticker still on it, comes out of the RV. This includes certain foods - packaged, bottled etc that you don't normally use
Reckon we would have to buy a carton of button sticker boxes to sticker up all the stuff in our 'van !!!!!
I love that idea, must give it a go.
This discussion could go on forever because we all have different ideas of what may be needed and could be useful. Just to chuck a small spanner in the works: I wonder how many blacktop breakdowns occur that we, ordinary non mechanics can actually fix and get rolling again? I believe in a discussion such as this that should be taken into consideration. How the heck will our set of spanners, sockets and screwdrivers (which I carry as well) get us out of the deep noo noo? Then again it can be argued that these tools can handle the little issues not the big ones that are best left for a tow truck?
I saw an interesting flow chart on facebook a while back, it asked the question is it meant to move? if yes use WD40, If no use gaffer tape. I carry them as well
Behave
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
What vehicle you have and licence matter too . The guy I helped with clutch had KFI . Was surprised his clutch worked in the morning ., often simple things lead to major issues . Like exhaust filters etc .. You must learn on modern diesels how to go through precess of cleaning them ? Or vehicle will eventually shut down and cost .. Being ignorant of these things doesn't make it go away . Much lighter wallet tho !! It's like a fine for no common sense !! Lol
Great idea!....I just neatly tied one of them sticker thingys' around my own' thingy'...... if its still there in 6 months......I just told wifey, it's HER that gets taken out of the RV.......I recently made the offer of supersex.......she said she would prefer the soup......lmao....Hoo Roo
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'The secret of happiness is not in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less'.Socrates BC399.
'Be a Cheerful Nomad, not a Grumpy Gromad, it's the Surly Bird who catches the Germ'!
6.5mtr offroader. we travelled for 3 or so months every yr. Van empty 2.35 ton. Full NEVER more than 2.7ish ton. Incl gas in bottles, spare etc. etc. empty water while travelling normally.
Never used all we took with us. Tinny on roof. Tool box plus Boat donk and bits. Generator, can of Boat fuel and 20ltr diesel. 80 ltr Waeco as freezer.
Nobody needs all the crap they carry. "Maybe" never comes unless you unlucky and didn't plan well in advance and KNOW your rig.
Who HONESTLY ever travels or stays more than 100km's from some sort of civilisation. and there's that many people travelling our country nowadays. 90% of us wouldn't ever go more than 20km's from civilisation apart from when travelling on main roads, Which aren't often empty.
The hardest thing is to get out of reach of them.
Most of us have modern rigs and vans, when do they 'really" break down. %age wise. My last Patrol 3 ltr towed my van all over from 2002 till late last yr.(210k when sold) Breakdown costs. Totalled $450 for key ring sensor (happened in drive at home) and 2 x front belt pulleys at around $150 ea from memory.
It's the old pensioners travelling on a shoestring that need the wherewithall and knowledge to keep things going with empty back pockets (Fortnightly pension inputs.) and ooold rigs.
Meee now. 2010 D Max dual and '98 Coromal 18ft tandem dual axle with new roof and front.(Hail damage.)
-- Edited by macka17 on Friday 27th of May 2016 06:12:49 PM
Agree 100% Phanto. Im learning what is important in the van and what needs to be in the bin or Ebay. From my perspective, only take the stuff that will be used for getting little problems fixed, eg multimeter, screwdriver, spanners and sockets etc. Keep the welder etc at home.
Hope you are well mate.
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Ex RAAF, now retired. EX Electrician/Teacher.
Homebase is Murray Bridge Tourist Park (in a cabin). New Horse.. 2020 Ford Everest Titanium, Jayco swan for touring.
I used the rattle gun on the pegs when we set the awning out and thats about all. NOW logic failed me here, we are fully insured and only need to contact CIL if disaster strikes and we bend the van to an un-roadworthy state, logic also says that if an incident is that bad what the in the name of blue noo noo can a pair of pliers do? Also had a box of old rags for cleaning etc... doppy so and so I am, you need water to help clean.. duhhhh Also make sure you have jumper leads, we helped a bloke at the edge of an emergency runway with a jump start, lucky he had the leads. They are on my next shopping list when I visit the green tool box (Bunnings) again.
, and box of shoes (just in case we go out) was hardly opened, BTW I wore thongs and sand shoes (called sneakers now days) most of the time.
Well done though. 
