Thread: Big changes coming for GJ

Originally Posted by Grumpy John

The advantage with the Iveco is it's rear wheel drive and has up to 3000Kg towing capacity if needed.

would you need a light rigid truck licence to tow a car with that van? I think the gross combination (or GVM) would be above that allowed with a car licence.

Originally Posted by Grumpy John

Looking to get something in the 6 metre range, preferably built on the Iveco Daily chassis.

Something like this.

Attachment 424615

well, here in Canada, it's getting on to winter and most of the mobile homes have either gone into hibernation or disappeared to well south of the border.

One comment, the 6 m size mobile home seems to be favoured by those renting the van for a trip. Owners tend to have a ute tray camper -- similar to what Dai Sensai has -- or something a mite bigger than 6 m with push out sides. This might suggest that on a very extended trip, more space inside the van is desirable.

best wishes for the "lap"

I know this isn't exactly what you have suggested is your probable purchase, but it could be a possibility.

https://www.caravancampingsales.com....so=0&pss=Price

Mick.

Originally Posted by ian

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One comment, the 6 m size mobile home seems to be favoured by those renting the van for a trip. Owners tend to have a ute tray camper -- similar to what Dai Sensai has -- or something a mite bigger than 6 m with push out sides. This might suggest that on a very extended trip, more space inside the van is desirable.

best wishes for the "lap"

Most of the 6 & 7 metre motor homes come in under the 4500 Kg limit for car license. Hooking up a 1800 Kg vehicle to tow around should not make a difference as it is the vehicle being driven that determines which license is required. At least that is my understanding, otherwise all these people driving around in 200 series Landcruisers towing 3 Ton vans are in a lot of trouble. The combined weight of these rigs is approaching 6 Ton .
We may go bigger to 7 metre, nothing is set in concrete. When we get a signed contract for the sale of the house we'll have a better idea what our budget is.

Originally Posted by Optimark

I know this isn't exactly what you have suggested is your probable purchase, but it could be a possibility.

https://www.caravancampingsales.com....so=0&pss=Price

Mick.

That style of truck is a no no for long trips and why any company would think that they are a good thing beats me. The leg room and seating are only suitable for short distances and the original use was metro work only. They are also a death trap in any sort of front end prang, at best you break or get your legs trapped and at worse you need a wheel chair for the rest of your life. All in all horrible things however you look at them. And that is before we get into the gearing and motor issues for long distance work.

Before putting down your hard earnings on a unit, I suggest that you borrow/hire a unit for 8 -10 weeks to see how you both like it!!!
Once you own a unit and for some reason don't like it, you could loose a bit of your cash.
Kryn

It's often suggested that those planning long distance sailing voyages should try living in one room of their house before they do so. Perhaps the same applies to road trips.

Things are starting to move here, we've had an offer on the house (subject to finance and building/termite inspection) we have accepted it as it is in the mid to high range we were asking.
We have done a bit of a 180 re the motor home. We've decided to keep our off road camper and buy a more economical tow vehicle (2012 Colorado). My wife has sold her Corolla and with the trade in on our 2004 landcruiser we break even. We pick the Colorado up on 12th Dec after they fit an ARB bull bar to it.
Fingers crossed on the inspections and finance going through, when that's sorted we can look for another property.

Thanks for the update John, I spent a bit more than a month living out of a camper trailer, wasn't to bad a lifestyle.
Kryn

We've found a house that suits and made an offer that was accepted. Just waiting on our buyers finance to be approved, the inspection on our place is tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed.

Update:
Both the house we are selling and the house we are purchasing have gone unconditional, this means we now have firm dates to work on and we can start making definite plane.
The 1 year lap is out and we are doing a 6 month half lap starting at the end of March next year. We plan on heading west and go up the W.A. coast and work our way across to Darwin and then down the guts and back home.
2019, head up the east coast to Cape York then wander down through Queensland to Birdsville, and then through western N.S.W.

In the mean time we have the fun job of sorting through all our accumulated "junk" and decide what to take with us, and what to chuck out. Pat, and "the guy over the road" have already scored some clamps and other bits and pieces.