From the Dark Side to the Twilight Zone

[chartrock]

I have been a forum member for 13 years, joining when we purchased our 14’ Expanda in September 2010. We kept that unit until buying our 18-55 Journey pop top which is still our van behind our BT50.
However times are changing, another birthday last week convinced Mrs CR that I am getting too long in the tooth to be hooking and unhooking caravans as well as dragging them around the country and parking etc. So we have skipped the dark side (vans other than Jayco) and gone over to the Twilight Zone and bought a motor home.
It is a 2019 Fiat Ducatto with only 21,000km on it, unmarked inside and out but needed a polish (now done). We found it in Sydney and flew down, test drove it, purchased then drove it back to the Gold Coast. It performed well and I enjoyed driving it and Mrs CR also had a drive, giving it her tick of approval. I bought the bike rack and fitted that on Saturday as we plan to take our electric bikes to use in place of the tug. We have covered most of Oz where we would be away from towns and now plan to be picky about where we go but hope to be more able to just up and go with no advanced planning.
We are planning to run down to Vic to do the Great Ocean Road which will be a real trial as to whether we can manage the disadvantages of the motor home. If it all goes good there will be a Jayco Journey for sale this side of Christmas and if it is not as we like we still have the van and tug and can sell the MH.
Hopefully we will be able to meet and greet a few members down south on our way.

 

[poor but proud]

I have been a forum member for 13 years, joining when we purchased our 14’ Expanda in September 2010. We kept that unit until buying our 18-55 Journey pop top which is still our van behind our BT50.
However times are changing, another birthday last week convinced Mrs CR that I am getting too long in the tooth to be hooking and unhooking caravans as well as dragging them around the country and parking etc. So we have skipped the dark side (vans other than Jayco) and gone over to the Twilight Zone and bought a motor home.
It is a 2019 Fiat Ducatto with only 21,000km on it, unmarked inside and out but needed a polish (now done). We found it in Sydney and flew down, test drove it, purchased then drove it back to the Gold Coast. It performed well and I enjoyed driving it and Mrs CR also had a drive, giving it her tick of approval. I bought the bike rack and fitted that on Saturday as we plan to take our electric bikes to use in place of the tug. We have covered most of Oz where we would be away from towns and now plan to be picky about where we go but hope to be more able to just up and go with no advanced planning.
We are planning to run down to Vic to do the Great Ocean Road which will be a real trial as to whether we can manage the disadvantages of the motor home. If it all goes good there will be a Jayco Journey for sale this side of Christmas and if it is not as we like we still have the van and tug and can sell the MH.
Hopefully we will be able to meet and greet a few members down south on our way.


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Good luck on the next part of life's journey , I do like driving Mercedes sprinters at my nursing home gig, I always tell the oldies I will turn one into a motorhome one day, see you on the road , ️
,

 

[chartrock]

Well, it has happened again. We have purchased another motor home. This time it is a Horizon Casurina and this will be permanent as the Journey leaves for a new home tomorrow. I put it on Marketplace Wednesday last week anby the weekend I had 3 people asking questions. The first guy came out Tuesday, went over it with a fine tooth comb, using a torch to look into corners and cupboards. He left a deposit and is coming tomorrow (Saturdayj) to take it away. Rego and gas check went well but I had to replace the breakaway battery ($60) so all good.
i will post some pics of the MH when I bring it home tomorrow.

 

[Drover]

So what was wrong with the other one ?????? Been thinking along the same lines myself but a rear wheel drive Iveco or Merc, would need to mortage the house again to get one though and not allowed plus tow a little car behind...

 

[chartrock]

The layout of the other was wrong. There was no access to storage from outside, to get hoses, wheel ramps, etc you had to get on your knees and scratch around under the bed then drag them through the van to the outside. The tv was mounted in the wrong place and would need major wiring mods to reposition. This one, you open the back doors and it is all there under the beds, and the tv is on a swing mount where it can be seen from multiple places.I’m sure I will find some disadvantages with this one as well but we are committed now with the Journey gone.

 

[DRW]

The layout of the other was wrong. There was no access to storage from outside, to get hoses, wheel ramps, etc you had to get on your knees and scratch around under the bed then drag them through the van to the outside. The tv was mounted in the wrong place and would need major wiring mods to reposition. This one, you open the back doors and it is all there under the beds, and the tv is on a swing mount where it can be seen from multiple places.I’m sure I will find some disadvantages with this one as well but we are committed now with the Journey gone.

Wow Paul I missed the first bit where you bought a motorhome now on your second, I get the advantage and glad you’re happy with your choice. Hopefully we can catch up again in the not too distant future

 

[Drover]

The layout of the other was wrong. There was no access to storage from outside, to get hoses, wheel ramps, etc you had to get on your knees and scratch around under the bed then drag them through the van to the outside. The tv was mounted in the wrong place and would need major wiring mods to reposition. This one, you open the back doors and it is all there under the beds, and the tv is on a swing mount where it can be seen from multiple places.I’m sure I will find some disadvantages with this one as well but we are committed now with the Journey gone.

Was actually watching a fella have that issue last week and thought thats just like my old camper trailer set up, horrible.............. You need to look after those knees old fella ......................................................... Looks good in the brochure even if Im not a Fiat fan ............................................

Now what was that saying again ............................. No pics it didn't happen ........... Dont forget those wheel nuts either..........

Big Mal is undergoing a water integrity test today, glad Big Mal is big I can tell you. ................... might even test the diesel heater as well soon........

 

[straydingo]

Even my missus has mentioned the dreaded "motor home" words recently - thought that would never happen.
I'm not opposed to them, but I don't like the idea of having t pack everything up to go sight seeing - not sure how I'll overcome that. Is it that much of an issue, or just need to change ones mind set on how to structure a holiday and selecting places to set down overnight?

(we'd still would've considered another Expanda as ours is getting long in the tooth, but as Expandas are no more....gotta look at the alternatives)

 

[Drover]

Even my missus has mentioned the dreaded "motor home" words recently - thought that would never happen.
I'm not opposed to them, but I don't like the idea of having t pack everything up to go sight seeing - not sure how I'll overcome that. Is it that much of an issue, or just need to change ones mind set on how to structure a holiday and selecting places to set down overnight?

(we'd still would've considered another Expanda as ours is getting long in the tooth, but as Expandas are no more....gotta look at the alternatives)

I could only go to one if I dragged a small car behind, possibly trailered then I could carry, extra water, fuel and proper camping junk as well..hence why it must be RWD..... short trips just hook up with A frame.........Have parked my Jeep on some folks spot to stop interlopers, even told some folk off when they went to drag this nice couples chairs and table out of the way once.... they tried to spin some BS they thought someone had forgotten them...

 

[straydingo]

I could only go to one if I dragged a small car behind, possibly trailered then I could carry, extra water, fuel and proper camping junk as well..hence why it must be RWD..... short trips just hook up with A frame.........Have parked my Jeep on some folks spot to stop interlopers, even told some folk off when they went to drag this nice couples chairs and table out of the way once.... they tried to spin some BS they thought someone had forgotten them...

thought of that too, then the messing around of drive thru sites, or unload car, drop trailer first. Or wear and tear on the car from being towed ex trailer etc. (yeah, yeah, I over think it)

we were in Flinders Ranges a couple of months back and got assigned a site. Someone left their table and chairs on the site so be moved them to the back. They got all pissy when they came back and found us on 'their' site having moved their belonging. Looked at their tag - another site. "yeah, we didn't want that site so came here. Management must've stuffed up giving you this one" "Did you tell them you moved?" "no". Ummmmmm.......

 

[Drover]

Makes you wonder what goes on inside some folks heads at times ......................... those same thoughts ran thru my grey cells as well, little car needs to be a FWD with a transfer case, Zook, Wrangler etc, so I could just slot the whole drive into neutral so really just diffs turning but using a trailer meant life was easier for camping gear not being needed to be squashed under a bed or into a tiny bin, seen some with table and chairs loaded onto bed so there's no room for important cushions , so we couldn't have that at all................
Rarely use parks ever now so sites not an issue and the day I can't hook up blind is the time I give it all away, mind you the trailer would have a McHitch fitted so just like hooking up a real trailer, whack, click, done.

 

[chartrock]

I hear what you say about the ability to sightsee once stopped or head to the shops because you forgot the milk. We figure we have done most of the sight seeing we need to do and now plan to just go to place where we can sit and relax, fish or walk etc. We do have electric bikes to do short runs if needed but hope to plan our stops by stopping at shops before parking up. Time will tell but Mre CR is happy.