Newbies to wanting to buy a RV in the near future..

Cooma · Member

Newbies to wanting to buy a RV in the near future..

Possum3 · Guru

Welcome Ann & Dave,
Dependant on your lifestyle, proximity to beaches, parks and tourist destinations camping fees can range from nil (free camping) to $600/week (luxury caravan park).
How much actual travelling are you going to do varies from sitting idle at a destination to touring around Australia lapping the Continent in six months.
Vehicle maintenance and running costs are another unknown.

May I suggest you download a lot of technical advice and checklists at www.caravancouncil.com.au/ (Free).

Sites like this and the editorials contained will give you some ideas of others lifestyles Click here for the Grey Nomads website

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Couple of suggestions...
1. Don't sell the house yet.
2. Hire an RV that is a bit like what you think you want for a couple of weeks on a couple of occasions at different times of the year.
3. Buy a second hand RV that is close to what you think you need, but don't spend all your money.
It is almost certain that after purchase and a year or 2s travel, you will come to realise that you need something different. You may need to try a couple of different rigs before you understand your own needs.
4. Get out there and get some experience on the road and then ask your detailed questions again.
Cheers,
Peter

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi Cooma (Ann & Dave), welcome to the forum

I am not an expert, but I do enjoy road travelling

I agree 100% with both Possum3, and Peter (Peter n Margaret) above

During the last few months, of the lockdowns, I was grateful for having a house, to go home to
To add on, from what the others above, have already said, the method in my madness, was to go and look, with a notebook, what was out there, and then look again, and again, etc

It took me about six months to find a caravan, which ticked most, but not all of my boxes

Many years later, it took me six months to find a motorhome, which ticked most, but not all of my boxes

What I had seen on my travels, was that, those who had adapted to what they had, were usually happier, than those who now wanted something different

As not many people come to this part of the forum, it may pay to copy and paste your questions, in the techi part of the forum

Without trying to answer the technical parts of the question, I can only tell you what I have, which is adequate for my needs, to stay off grid, in free/donation/low cost camp sites

Toilet/shower/grey water tank
Fresh (Potable) water, of 140 litres in two built in tanks, plus 120 litres (6 X 20 litre collapsible containers)
300 watt roof solar, plus 160 watt lightweight portable solar
At that time I had a 3 way fridge running on gas, while parked up, plus TV with portable satellite dish
Two X 120 Amp Hour (AH) Bosch AGM Batteries (Lithium batteries are now coming down in price, but early days, if the cheap ones will last the distance)
DC/DC 20 amp charger, which charges the house batteries from both engine, or solar

For whatever reason, the wife weaned herself off the TV, we now have a 12 volt fridge, which more or less uses about the same battery power, as the TV used

Hope that this info is useful to you

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Ann and Dave, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I won't add anymore to what has already been said and risk confusing you, only to say, enjoy and,

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

2_Paws_Up · Veteran Member

G'day :)

Cooma · Member

Thankyou lovely people for all the suggestions :)

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi Cooma

You have sent me a message on the whiteboard, so I have replied with a PM (Private Message)

To see the message, log into the forum, then in the area you logged in, it will say there is a message waiting for you, just click on that