I certainly agree with Mike Harding that 'going bush' is often hard work. At the grand old age of just 64 I struggle at times with what were once tasks I managed without thought. Carrying & lifting jerry cans, getting up & down off the ground, working underneath our vehicle etc etc. Back & neck issues. Worn out knees, Arthritis in several places & easily hurt rotator cuffs all make me 'careful'. I can manage because there are two of us to do stuff together. If I were alone it would be far harder.
If I were on my own there is no way I would choose a caravan though. Compared to a single vehicle it just adds to the workload & stress.
We think our next rig will be an off road motorhome so long as our health is up to it. Larger truck based vehicles take more concentration to drive, & parts on them are generally bigger & heavier. Higher ground clearance gives easier underbody access though & off course there are always ways of doing things to make the task easier. Generally though we think a single vehicle is much easier living than a caravan...... and nothing beats that choice for access in the bush.
If I were alone I would choose a smaller more manageable campervan - preferably with some off road ability to facilitate me 'going bush'.
As for needing any specific type of vehicle because of not having a bricks & mortar home to return to - that makes no sense to me at all. If a significant part of that choice to to be able to carry more 'stuff' simply because of no longer having a home to store it in, I say either divest yourself of anything unecessary for travel, or find some other means of storing it. No need to cart it around with you.
I acknowledge the versatility of being able to unhitch a van, & drive off leaving it behind but disagree that travelling in a single vehicle is overly restrictive. Even in times of health crises, I would still choose a single vehicle. We have been towing for the past 4.5 years & find that leaving the van behind is an uncommon practice for us, having 'trained for travel' in a motorhome.
-- Edited by Cuppa on Thursday 16th of December 2021 12:55:15 PM