re: when is too old?

booboo · Member

re: when is too old?

dabbler · Guru

Good on you for rethinking lifestyle. You will be the better for anything that stops you sitting on the couch. If you are thinking early the next dry, then you have options. It's tempting to jump on early to a perceived bargain but there will always be another around the corner. Squeeze in short trips for experience and understanding your setup before a longer trip. I wouldn't rule out flying into Darwin and renting either. A few years back the Ghan had cheap one ways on offer to Adelaide residents too. Explore solo traveler groups and all the various forum and Facebook groups. Download Wikicamps it's the best $8 spend you will make I can't advise on this camper other than to say you need it's history. Even a privately owned vehicle can have missed recalls and Hilux has had a few. Good luck and safe travels.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I would avoid slide-ons.
We owned a 4WD slide-on for 12 years. They have many weaknesses, in particular they tend to be heavy for the vehicles they are fitted to and have little capacity to carry extra supplies, food and water and fuel. Getting them on and off is a PITA.
I suggest you look at a Landcruiser Troopy camper, even an ex hire one. Much more capable and have a much lower centre of gravity.
Hire one a couple of times and try it out.
Cheers,
Peter

Lily2018 · Senior Member

I've been in much the same situation booboo. Leaving it too long to make the break but I'm now getting to it. I'm looking at buying a motorhome and plan to live in it full time.

All the best and good luck with your buying.

booboo · Member

Thank you for your replies. The reason why I don't fly to Maningrida is because from Jabiru to Maningrida has the most spectacular scenery that you can imagine. I need to do this one more time and because accommodation is scarce out there I need a few creature comfits these days.

I intend to go around May next year for 4 months or so. Most of my friends have out stations they go camp in to hunt, fish, and the mud crabs 'yum'.

Thanks for the info re slide on. I will keep a look out for a troopy.

Jo

booboo · Member

Hi Lily, Have send you a private message re living in your van.

Helen

dogbox · Guru

as suggested earlier try hiring one it might seem expensive at first look but depending on your circumstances it might be cheaper than buying , maintaining , repairing ,insuring , registering ect an then selling one.

we hired one an decided that what we thought was a good idea wasn't quite what we wanted an moved on (was just to small and inconvenient )
so that saved us being stuck with something that didn't work for us

-- Edited by dogbox on Monday 12th of August 2019 01:41:45 PM

booboo · Member

Thanks dogbox, I think or heard that the hire companies are no longer renting off road vehicles for off road especially in the Territory but asm now going to check because yes it would be a better option money wise.

Thanks

dogbox · Guru

booboo wrote:

Thanks dogbox, I think or heard that the hire companies are no longer renting off road vehicles for off road especially in the Territory but asm now going to check because yes it would be a better option money wise.
Thanks

even if you hired one for a few days or a week similar to what you might be thinking of buying you will work out if the setup works for you.

-- Edited by dogbox on Tuesday 13th of August 2019 08:23:59 AM

Nifty150 · Veteran Member

Dont be too concerned about ex hire vehicles. We bought a 4wd diesel Hilux Adventure Camper, ex Apollo, for under $30,000 and are having a great run with it. Required no work to get a roadworthy - I guess the hire companies hate the cost of remote recoveries! It has a pop top roof which might be hard for you to lift but airlifters will fix that. Its fairly basic but goes anywhere, and a full setup or pack up takes less than 10 minutes, solo. Whatever you choose, with an attitude like yours you will have a great trip.

Lily2018 · Senior Member

I've replied with a private message booboo

roker · Veteran Member

Hi boobo.Just back up the other comments .Try to hire if possible to try camper out .

Go for a couple of short trips ,get used to the vehicle cheers. roker

-- Edited by roker on Wednesday 14th of August 2019 12:09:30 PM

HunnyBunny · Senior Member

I guess it's very much a " horses for courses" situation with what ever you choose to drive, it has to suit you! I am 65 years young & know only too well that 10 yrs can make a huge difference at this time of life. I drive a F250 with a slide on camper that I can manage without any problems at all. I like it because it gives the me the opportunity to tow my boat, I am not keen on the idea of towing a van, although, if I did, it would be one of those pyramid shaped A Vans. I guess you just have to consider where you plan on taking your vehicle, if it's off road then a 4x4 with a camper might be best for you. I wish you luck with your plans, one thing I know for sure is, you really need to get out there. :)

Knight · Senior Member

HunnyBunny wrote:
I guess it's very much a " horses for courses" situation with what ever you choose to drive, it has to suit you! I am 65 years young & know only too well that 10 yrs can make a huge difference at this time of life. I drive a F250 with a slide on camper that I can manage without any problems at all. I like it because it gives the me the opportunity to tow my boat, I am not keen on the idea of towing a van, although, if I did, it would be one of those pyramid shaped A Vans. I guess you just have to consider where you plan on taking your vehicle, if it's off road then a 4x4 with a camper might be best for you. I wish you luck with your plans, one thing I know for sure is, you really need to get out there. :)

I don't look here very often but your nickname caught my eye and reminded me about a company rep I used to know many decades ago who stayed at a motel in Queanbeyan NSW, near Canberra ACT, and paid with his own credit card. When the bill arrived his wife noted an entry that begged for questions ..... Honey Bunny Corporation. The office accounts clerk who handled expense claims also raised her eyebrows.

Poor fella, the Corporation was the business trading name of the owner of the motel, a honey producer and merchant.

HunnyBunny · Senior Member

Knight wrote:
HunnyBunny wrote:
I guess it's very much a " horses for courses" situation with what ever you choose to drive, it has to suit you! I am 65 years young & know only too well that 10 yrs can make a huge difference at this time of life. I drive a F250 with a slide on camper that I can manage without any problems at all. I like it because it gives the me the opportunity to tow my boat, I am not keen on the idea of towing a van, although, if I did, it would be one of those pyramid shaped A Vans. I guess you just have to consider where you plan on taking your vehicle, if it's off road then a 4x4 with a camper might be best for you. I wish you luck with your plans, one thing I know for sure is, you really need to get out there. :)
I don't look here very often but your nickname caught my eye and reminded me about a company rep I used to know many decades ago who stayed at a motel in Queanbeyan NSW, near Canberra ACT, and paid with his own credit card. When the bill arrived his wife noted an entry that begged for questions ..... Honey Bunny Corporation. The office accounts clerk who handled expense claims also raised her eyebrows.
Poor fella, the Corporation was the business trading name of the owner of the motel, a honey producer and merchant.

My Hubby calls me HunnyBunny. Your story put a smile on my face, thank you for sharing. :)

tipsy-gipsy · Member

I am a newbie here. so hi everyone. I am 70 now and just brought a Mazda E2000 van. small I know but I didn't want anything bigger.

I am going to fit it out myself, with the help I hope of my son in law.

I think if you are wanting to travel then you should do it. as long as you are able.

I will be on the road in my little van in the next few months. I can't wait.

I am in Busselton WA.

you are never too old.

now I have to learn how to use the CB radio my son brought me.

hope to meet some of you on the road.

Thunda · Member

When is too old ?

70 is a number like the others, it's not old, it's young.

Old is when you pray that little fart that promises it's harmless turns out to be wet.

you have forgotten your second name, or you start brushing your teeth with preparation H, at least you'll have the biggest smile around.

But the farmer jiles will never feel the same.

Booboo, just go fer it, life is just too bloody short to muck around we don't come back for a second chance and a pine box is a bad investment.

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

What rig did you end up getting? Have you been on your trip yet? Perhaps Covid 19 stopped you. I've just turned 66 and have some health issues, but am still going to travel part-time, but I'm going to 'do it may way' which means traveling within my capabilities. E.G. no more than 3hrs driving a day and free camps have to have a loo as I don't have one, and stay in caravan parks every 3 days or so to shower and re- freeze the esky ice bricks. I figured now I am o.a.pensioner I have the time to travel at my own pace and my now shrunken frame fits in the back of my 2012 Nissan X-trail on an airbed nicely. When I bought my car, I flew from Adelaide to Newcastle (just before covid hit) and took a week to drive it home, ( I loved it, and learned and what I needed and didn't for future trips) but since then Covid and the cold have kept me home. But as soon as it warms up a bit I'll go to Yourkes Peninsula free camping unless the boarders open up before then. Anyway, my long winded response is that in my humble opinion, as long as you have good enough eyesight to drive, still have your mental facilities and know your limitations; age is just a number. Go for it, the fact that you have friends you can visit along the way will make the trip easier. I've never been but, It's on my bucket list to go there too!! MRS Wannabe nomad is Gonnabe a nomad soon