Grey Nomads - grumpy pains in the ***

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by ronwest

For the most part I think that is true but some people (me) really like driving.

Our road trips are 8-10K kms and if I had more time I'd do more.

Absolutely zero interest in towing a van or trailer but I'll take all the driving I can get

me too re holidays, feck towing feck camping - all that baggage for me isn't holidaying but prep up prep down clean clean clean, communal toilets/showers in some case's, yuk.
And IF it rains - blow me that ain't holidaying especially when the kids were small.
In saying that I love driving hols anywhere and love the outdoors but were cabin type people if at a caravan park otherwise its a nice rental house on the coast.
It makes me giggle the pecking order on some of the "look at me" camper/trailer types, I have the biggest of everything.
Just like city pretentious folks but outdoors on hols.
We love flying holidays as well - only OS for flying Oz with family is a utter rip off........
Good thread Franco, for some grey nomads from my observations over the years think they're entitled as well, go figure.

[lra]

When my body and brain decided that I had worked for long enough, and it was time for the obligatory grey nomad caravan, missus and I went to the largest nearby caravan dealer.
She told the sales guy what she wanted, I told him what I wanted, and he took us to a van that filled the bill, very nice, about $55K thank you, and he asked what we were going to tow it with.
I pointed to my RWD Terri, and was promptly told that it would not do it. He then gave me a list of ‘must have’ accessories, (more money) and their weights, along with the anticipated personal gear weights. I had no idea.
Cost of a new 4WD ute + cost of van – trade-in of Terri = about $100 > $120K.
Well, that is a lot of nights in motels and resorts. No thank you to a vehicle that I would not enjoy, and an expensive front garden ornament.
I bought a cheapish, ‘disposable’ second hand Commodore ute (that has turned into a bit of a favourite ) so, with it, bus trips, air fares etc, we have spent about that amount of money in the past 10 years seeing a lot of outback and other places, to the point of now we are scratching to think of where else to go.

[guzzis3]

I have a canopy/camper on my au falcon. I'm intending to build a new one before we go away again. Flying and holidays can make sense but they don't always work. Everyone has a different idea of what works for them so...

We went to NZ in 09 and spent a lot of the trip finding accommodation that wold not make her sick. We had not had the problem before but apparently she is suddenly allergic to certain chemicals.

So in order to travel I decided I needed a safe bed for her at least. I can't sleep over 20C so air conditioning was also required.

I bought a teardrop camper. I spent much of the first few trips repairing the (brand new) thing. The biggest problem with them is you bring dirt in every time you enter, so the sheets have to be swept out regularly. I also hated towing it.

The canopy set up decided to leak on our first trip, and of course has the dirt problem, but no towing bother, no extra charge going to tassie on the ferry (terrible idea, possibly the worst holiday experience I've ever had). The new pod will have an integral floor and more space for appliances. I'm hoping to fit a combo washer and dishdrawer to go with the fridge and air con. That should sort if for us. Water tight bed area, appliances, kitchen in the under tray drawer.

We try for ensuite sites. Massively better than shared amenities. There is another reason to go caravan park over hotel. They are like little communities. People talk to each other, and you can pick up clues along with a chuckle and a cuppa.

2c.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by FTE217

me too re holidays, feck towing feck camping - all that baggage for me isn't holidaying but prep up prep down clean clean clean, communal toilets/showers in some case's, yuk.
And IF it rains - blow me that ain't holidaying especially when the kids were small.
In saying that I love driving hols anywhere and love the outdoors but were cabin type people if at a caravan park otherwise its a nice rental house on the coast.
It makes me giggle the pecking order on some of the "look at me" camper/trailer types, I have the biggest of everything.
Just like city pretentious folks but outdoors on hols.
We love flying holidays as well - only OS for flying Oz with family is a utter rip off........
Good thread Franco, for some grey nomads from my observations over the years think they're entitled as well, go figure.

Geeze you wouldn't last long on the road full time.

[Burnout]

Here's another bloke whinging:

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by guzzis3

I have a canopy/camper on my au falcon. I'm intending to build a new one before we go away again. Flying and holidays can make sense but they don't always work. Everyone has a different idea of what works for them so...

We went to NZ in 09 and spent a lot of the trip finding accommodation that wold not make her sick. We had not had the problem before but apparently she is suddenly allergic to certain chemicals.

So in order to travel I decided I needed a safe bed for her at least. I can't sleep over 20C so air conditioning was also required.

I bought a teardrop camper. I spent much of the first few trips repairing the (brand new) thing. The biggest problem with them is you bring dirt in every time you enter, so the sheets have to be swept out regularly. I also hated towing it.

The canopy set up decided to leak on our first trip, and of course has the dirt problem, but no towing bother, no extra charge going to tassie on the ferry (terrible idea, possibly the worst holiday experience I've ever had). The new pod will have an integral floor and more space for appliances. I'm hoping to fit a combo washer and dishdrawer to go with the fridge and air con. That should sort if for us. Water tight bed area, appliances, kitchen in the under tray drawer.

We try for ensuite sites. Massively better than shared amenities. There is another reason to go caravan park over hotel. They are like little communities. People talk to each other, and you can pick up clues along with a chuckle and a cuppa.

2c.

The build quality of caravans is a joke, once you've had to fix heaps of them you'll realise they're not worth a pinch of goat ****.

The caravan manufacturing industry was pushing for a 2 year 'apprenticeship' in caravan manufacturing a few years ago, what an absolute joke, how about you build them properly first before you start wanting to make it a trade

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

The build quality of caravans is a joke, once you've had to fix heaps of them you'll realise they're not worth a pinch of goat ****.

The caravan manufacturing industry was pushing for a 2 year 'apprenticeship' in caravan manufacturing a few years ago, what an absolute joke, how about you build them properly first before you start wanting to make it a trade

Have to agree but what is your qualifications to pass judgement!

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Officemanager

Have to agree but what is your qualifications to pass judgement!

I have to agree with Franco.
I've built 3 motorhomes myself playing the ADR game and often see Minnie Winnies, Jayco's etc which do not meet ADR compliance.

Left hand side shore power inlets, hinged backward doors on MH's, leaking rubber roofs, inward open doors etc etc etc. I've seen heaps of manufactured crap. Apart from the usual cheap fit out materials which are stapled together not glued and screwed like most home builder would do anyway.
One reason I build my own.

[buggerlugs]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-...sland/11478538

[XR Martin]

https://m.facebook.com/logged_out/wa...Fposts%2F&_rdr

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Officemanager

Have to agree but what is your qualifications to pass judgement!

Auto electrician - hence why I dislike caravans, built with scotch locks

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

I have to agree with Franco.
I've built 3 motorhomes myself playing the ADR game and often see Minnie Winnies, Jayco's etc which do not meet ADR compliance.

Left hand side shore power inlets, hinged backward doors on MH's, leaking rubber roofs, inward open doors etc etc etc. I've seen heaps of manufactured crap. Apart from the usual cheap fit out materials which are stapled together not glued and screwed like most home builder would do anyway.
One reason I build my own.

It'd be good fun making your own van I reckon, the closest I've come was fitting out the electrics on an ex horse transport trailer for Victoria Police, we turned it into a mobile 'interrogation room' - it was semi trailer sized horse transport and we turned it into an office with all the fruit.

If I was gonna have a van, semi trailer size I reckon

Or maybe Snap-on Truck, I was eyeing off our local Snap-on reps truck - has Cummins 5KVA generator, internal lighting and refrigeration AC.

Load it full of batteries and the roof covered in solar panels and you could virtually have an apartment on wheels and take everything including the kitchen sink with you.

Maybe forget shower and crapper - sign up for national gym membership and use their showers and crapper

[Citroënbender]

You’ve mentioned the Snappy trucks before. Go on, you know you want to do it!

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

The build quality of caravans is a joke, once you've had to fix heaps of them you'll realise they're not worth a pinch of goat ****.

Couldn't agree more...

Go to a few salvage Auctions & have a look at the Written Off Ones.. Full of Glue Scotch locks & double sided tape....

[dunga]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Auto electrician - hence why I dislike caravans, built with scotch locks

Can you show us a picture of what you class as a scotch lock.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by dunga

Can you show us a picture of what you class as a scotch lock.

Anything you put wires in and a contact breaks through the insulation to create a circuit - you see them on trailers and caravans rather than proper connectors and terminals.

The most common one is a plastic housing with a blade in it that you crimp with pliers - they last about all of 2 weeks with the heat and vibration of cars, trailers and caravans

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by dunga

Can you show us a picture of what you class as a scotch lock.

https://www.google.com.au/search?cli...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[dunga]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Anything you put wires in and a contact breaks through the insulation to create a circuit - you see them on trailers and caravans rather than proper connectors and terminals.

Ah yes I know the ones you mean I hope my 3 year old Jayco doesn't have them they are nasty but having said that we are all guilty of using them.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Auto electrician - hence why I dislike caravans, built with scotch locks

That is the problem with you auto sparkies taking short cuts and not doing a proper job!

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Auto electrician - hence why I dislike caravans, built with scotch locks

Pfft...... you should love scotch locks..... they keep proper auto electricians in work!

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Officemanager

That is the problem with you auto sparkies taking short cuts and not doing a proper job!

They're not built by auto electricians unfortunately

The industry is shocking and it needs further standards and regulation, they're very cheaply slapped together and I wouldn't trust them pushing for some 2 year apprenticeship pushing out tradesmen.

The idea has merit because the apprenticeship will expose people to so many different skills in the automotive industry but it should be 4 years like every other apprenticeship and the industry needs to pull up it's socks before it turns into a scam collecting government spondoolies.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

They're not built by auto electricians unfortunately

The industry is shocking and it needs further standards and regulation, they're very cheaply slapped together and I wouldn't trust them pushing for some 2 year apprenticeship pushing out tradesmen.

The idea has merit because the apprenticeship will expose people to so many different skills in the automotive industry but it should be 4 years like every other apprenticeship and the industry needs to pull up it's socks before it turns into a scam collecting government spondoolies.

You not wrong, caravan industry needs to be regulated going by what I've seen. I reckon trained chimpanzees would do better!
Cheers.

[vztrt]

Alot of the aftermarket electrical stuff is ordinary.
But it's cheap.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Geeze you wouldn't last long on the road full time.

Wouldn't want a full time driving job so no problem

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Wouldn't want a full time driving job so no problem

Err, full time living on the road, sorta like a grey nomad

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Err, full time living on the road, sorta like a grey nomad

yep nup, not for me as well.
Horse's for course's as we all know.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Err, full time living on the road, sorta like a grey nomad

Yeah- but at least you get out and are physical, pretty strenuous building rock walls. Healthy getting out stretching, building works of art. Just a bonus being in different locations and driving job to job- but then getting out and physically working in fresh air.

I realised I could not be a long distance truck driver when I drove Melbourne to Darwin over 3 days. Bloody hard being cooped up for days on end in a little cabin.

[Trevor 57]

All those who stay in cabins, morels etc, please continue to do so. It leaves the good places for us.

We are bush campers, and while you cabin/motel dwellers think it is wonderful you are missing the best parts of Australia.

And tell me how can staying in motel/cabin compare with sitting around a fire with your kids, their partners and the grandkids?

PLEASE keep staying in your motels and cabins

[Citroënbender]

The whole idea of “holidaying” doesn’t really gel with me.

So - the idea of just sitting around a campfire? After ten minutes (max) I’d feel it was dead time and I should either be sleeping or doing something useful!

[XByoot]

https://www.google.com.au/imgres?img...ce=sh%2Fx%2Fim