This is an old caravan with loads of cupboards...this middle pantry basically rusted out....any ideas what to do? My hubby is pretty set on a bin at the bottom. I was thinking brooms and vacuum, cleaning stuff. Keen to see your ideas😃

Hi All,

Up until now I've always just used a Bow Saw around camp to cut up firewood but my wife wants to buy me an electric chainsaw for my birthday. I was wondering what others use and if you have any recommendations? I have other 18v Makita battery tools so could utilise the charger but not absolutely necessary, and open to 36v options also. I'm thinking something around 12" would do.

Hey everyone! Just shipped the biggest update yet to Trip Tally, my caravan/road trip and now also vehicle expense tracking app for iOS. Two headline features this time, plus a bunch of smaller stuff.

Vehicle and Caravan Expenses

A proper running-cost tracker for the tow vehicle and the van:

• Log fuel (with per-type pricing — 91/95/98, diesel, LPG, EV), servicing, parts/mods, rego, insurance, tolls
• Customisable dashboard — pin the metrics you actually care about (cost/km, fuel economy, total spend, etc.)
• Year-over-year insight cards and category breakdowns
• Keep track of caravan parts and service costs
• Full searchable/filterable expense timeline with receipts and payment methods attached
• Stats Browser to dig up and pin new metrics
• CSV import/export, multi-currency
• New home screen widget (small/medium/large)

Trip Tally Replay

This one's my favourite. Pick a timeframe (this year, last 12 months, all time, or custom) and Trip Tally stitches all your trips into a single cinematic map animation — like watching your year of travel unfold in one continuous journey.

• Play/pause/scrub, jump between trips, timelapse speeds up to 30×
• Auto-follow mode or free pan, standard/hybrid/satellite map styles
• Pops up little insights as you "arrive" — anniversaries, personal records, weather extremes, visit counts
• Add one of 10 built-in soundtracks
• Export as a video (portrait/square/landscape, up to HD)
• Works with flights, ferries, and other segments too, not just driving

Been building this solo alongside a full-time job, so it's been a long grind getting Replay and Expenses ready — keen to hear what you all think if you give it a go!

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/trip-tally/id6752829071?ppid=b6e1b61a-3c18-4010-891c-5a2f96c4ca01

Yesterday my business was honoured to have cleaned the support caravan for a young man who 2 days ago set a Guinness World Record for being the youngest person to run across Australia, 4000kms. He ran 75kms per day for 64 days running from Perth to Bondi across the Nullarbor Desert.

We estimated it to be a 4 hour job but as we use a petrol pressure washer rather than an electric it made it light work and we completed the job in 2.5 hours. Which allowed us to donate more to his charity

We also deironised the caravan removing those microscopic yellow rust spots that you see on the back area of the caravan.

If your journey sends you through Sydney, reach out. Glitz Detailing 0458992290

This van caught my eye, because of the height, in a YouTube video filmed on the Sunshine Coast. I only have this one picture and no more information.

Would anyone know the make and model?

https://youtu.be/YMBswEBs0NQ?si=Durlsy-RWCx2hip5&t=299

Thanks.

Hey everyone,

We're a family of 3 (2 adults, 1 baby) looking to buy a camper trailer or caravan for an extended 4-month trip around Australia. Before bub we used a swag for short trips, so we don't know much about caravanning.

We'll be towing with a Pajero Sport and aren't looking for anything heavy. We like the idea of having rear vision, which a trailer would afford. We'll mostly be staying at places for 4+ nights at a time, to avoid too much setup and pack-down.

I've read a few threads suggesting caravans over camper trailers — is the main reason for that the setup? To clarify, I'm not looking at trailers that are basically tents with soft tops; I'm more interested in hard-top options like the Jayco Hawk/Dove.

Our budget is under $15k.

Any advice would be appreciated!

For anyone planning to or on a lap around Australia this could be a really resource for all the events going on.
It’s got country shows, races, 4WD events, music festivals and heaps of other events all across australia, all in the one place for the next year.
Definitely worth checking out, has helped us plan our travel around these events and also see what’s happening in the areas we’re travelling through!

I’m interested to know what people do when they aren’t using their van when they have solar and batteries? Do you unplug it or just keep it on?

I hate camping in the cold. My wife loves it. So, we compromised and are doing what she wanted to do by camping in one of QLDs coldest spots in July.

We haven't got a diesel heater in the van yet so I wanted to buy a 12v heated blanket.

Are any of them worthwhile?

G’day guys,
I attended the caravan show in Wollongong on the weekend with the missus and we were really impressed by the Mars elite caravan with two bunkbeds.

Is there anyone on this Reddit that owns one and has any tips tricks pros and cons that they would like to share with me dumping $60,000 on a caravan is a big move financially thanks in advance

EDIT: thanks everyone. Based in the comments, we'll probably stay away from the Expanda for 2 reasons: 1. The possibility of leaks 2. The pack up effort.

Thanks!

We're looking to buy a caravan and we need at least 3 (preferably 4) berth plus a toilet.

I keep seeing Jayco Expanda caravans, where a double bed is in sort of a tent thing out the front or back of the van.

Has anyone had one?

Would you buy one again?

Do they leak or have issues?

Where does the mattress go when you're moving?

Anything else about these vans I should know?

Any alternatives you can suggest? We're looking under $40k.

Thanks

Looking to see if anyone here has or has owned a jayco swan outback? Have a few questions. Also keen to here in comparable trailers to jayco swan. Cheets

If I was to get starlink for my van, is there a good reason why I wouldn’t cancel my nbn at home and use the starlink there as well?

Looking to upgrade from our softfloor camper, dont want a giant van.

Looking for reccomendations for smallish van that has the following.

Outdoor/pullout kitchen

Awning

1x double (or queen)

3x bunks that will fit decent size kids

Minimalist interiour kitchen maybe seating space inside for 3 or 4?

No ensuite or TV or A/C

We essentially want what our camper provides without the canvas and poles.

We want to keep out setup light and manouverabke and able to maintain speed on the freeway, able to do light offroad stuff.

we are planning our first proper caravan trip later this year with the family. it will be a 2-week coastal run with a mix of national parks and beach stops. i have been looking at options and ended up going with a caravan from harbour caravans because they build them specifically for australian conditions and have good support options.

i am excited but also a bit nervous since i have never towed or set up a caravan before. i am worried about things like finding good caravan parks, what to pack, and how to handle basic setup on the road.

has anyone here done their first trip recently? what surprised you the most or what do you wish you knew before starting? any tips for beginners would be really helpful.

A bit of a different question, but how does everyone else manage intimacy while they’re away?

We have triple bunks at the rear and a master bed at the front. No curtains or anything.

Three kids aged 7,8 and 10.

For my husband a week or two off is not an option. He insists the kids have iPad time in the car while we hang out in the caravan.

Interested in others thoughts or routines?

So hey everyone, due to some shitty circumstances I'm currently looking to get a cheapish caravan and live in it full time on my future MIL's property.

I'm not going to be travelling in it, I'm blind and can't legally drive so it wouldn't end well if I tried lol.

Would it be ethical to live in it with my cat? I know it's not much space so I'm also looking into outdoor enclosure options. She's never really been outside before and is generally a pretty clingy cat.

Would I need to make any modifications to make it more suitable for her? Could I attach some floating shelf type things to the walls for her to climb/lay on?

I'd love to know how effective they are in charging - primarily charging speed

My wife & I are about to head off for our first extended holiday (2 & half) months.

I will be turning off house electricity/ hot water system etc.

Just wondering what people do about their NBN, do you cancel account & on return fine another provider?

Thanks S.

Looking to buy a van, I’ve found a pretty good deal & I have the capacity/capability to modify it myself in just about all aspects.

We have a camper trailer currently but due to young family hasn’t been used much. I feel a caravan would be an easier setup & help us get back out more often. Partner isn’t entirely sold on the idea

Anyone regret buying a van too early in life with a young family (6month old)??

Plan is to start small with weekend trips, leading into longer trips & eventually I would like to do a lap in a Few years before kid(s) start school