Different RV, Same Adventures
When Mike and Chris Gilbert's motorhome of 16 years was written off, they switched to a caravan. Different RV, same adventures.
Back in 2010 we decided to semi-retire in our late 50s. For some reason I don't recall, we were set on a motorhome. We purchased a VW-based, seven-metre Winnebago and moved back to our original town of Lakes Entrance in Victoria from the Sunshine Coast. We did many, many long and short trips away, including local trips to various bush camps such as Marlo and Bemm River, as well as caravan park stays at Mallacoota and Eden.
There were also big adventures back to Queensland, visiting the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Cairns, Atherton and out west. All up, we enjoyed more than 100,000 kilometres of adventures, including trips to Tasmania/lutruwita. Along the way we became CMCA members, CMCA Parks custodians and rally volunteers.
We have become very proficient at the off-grid lifestyle, rarely staying at powered sites. Our motorhome has evolved to suit our lifestyle. We invested in extra solar panels and a small genset that was rarely used. Cooking was simplified to suit a three-burner stove and small barbecue. Coffee in an old-style percolator. Short showers and a bush shower in remote areas. Laundry either in a tub or at the laundromat when in town. Push bikes carried on the back, so we rode and hiked to see the local sights. In 16 years, we never had a breakdown I couldn't fix. I attribute this to good maintenance and a bit of luck.
So why did we change to the caravan lifestyle at 72 years old? Well, last year we did another trip to Tasmania for Christmas, travelling for two months during December and January. One week into the trip we got caught in a huge gust of wind with the awning out. The awning was pegged down securely but the gust was so strong, it broke guy ropes and tore the awning out of the composite wall, leaving a number of holes in the wall as the brackets tore through.
We knew this was likely doom for poor old Winny. With the help of other campers, we patched the Winnebago up with gaffer tape, notified our insurance company, and took a heap of photos for them. Then we did what seasoned travellers do and got on with having fun, hiking Hartz Mountains, Geocaching and enjoying happy hours making new friends.
Knowing the motorhome was in serious trouble, we started to discuss what next. We wanted to keep it simple, as we have learnt more stuff equals more stuff-ups. We looked at everything from slide-ons and small motorhomes to pop-tops and camper trailers. Being self contained is very important to us as we live the ‘leave-no-trace’ lifestyle. After many hours of debate, and the fact that our at-home runaround car was also 16 years old, we decided that we would purchase a new car capable of towing a van. That way our choices would be open should the motorhome be a write-off.
We purchased a GWM Cannon dual-cab tray. We fitted a canopy with a rooftop tent, solar power, fridge and power pack for 240V. We now had a bush camping vehicle to use on our next trip to Tasmania to do the Tarkine. We were really getting into this idea of another Tassie trip after hiking to Hartz Peak and Mount Field during our last visit.
Well, many months of insurance quotes and dealings gave us time to look at many vans, campers and motorhomes. We had long since decided we wanted composite construction, same as the motorhome, a shower, toilet, internal cooking and diesel heater. We wanted to keep it small and keep to mostly bitumen roads. After weighing all these things up, it became blindingly obvious that, now that we had a tow vehicle, the most economic option if the motorhome was dead, would be to buy a small caravan with all the features of our motorhome.
Meanwhile, insurance quotes went in, and months of waiting ensued to see what we would be taking to the National Rally in Bundaberg. We have been booked to volunteer at the rally since attending last year's event in Orange.
Finally, we were informed the motorhome was a total loss as its value at 20 years old made it uneconomical to replace a composite wall. By this time, we had settled on the Snowy River SRC 16 as our preferred van. It ticked all our boxes and was available off the lot in a number of locations. This was important as time was closing in ahead of our winter trip, and horror stories of people ordering new vans and losing their deposits due to companies going under were a real concern.
Well, it finally fell into place. We purchased our new Snowy River caravan, fitted with a diesel heater. We have done one small trial run and are very happy with the whole setup. We've since loaded all our stuff, checked weights and have set off on a three-to-four-month trip to Queensland via western New South Wales, Burke, Charleville and Bundaberg, then south via the Newell.
People ask did we choose a caravan so that we can unhitch and use the car? Well, no. Twenty years of motorhoming has taught us how to get around without one, and pack up quick. Getting packed and on the road is definitely quicker with a motorhome.
We looked at FSC Off Road slide-ons; they were more expensive than a caravan and struggled with carrying capacity. A new seven-metre motorhome as well as a new car was just way outside our budget. A caravan gave us everything we wanted at a reasonable price.
Does this suddenly make our attitude to CMCA different? Not at all. We are the same people with the same ambitions to travel to the same destinations and volunteer when time suits.
We will be at the National Rally in Bundaberg, again as volunteers. RV siting and dog-sitting. See you there.
