On the road.

[John 13]

In 1984 we emigrated to the west, No relatives here, consequently we have completed numerous circumnavigations of the continent by road. Often going one way over the top/ across the Great Australian Bight and returning by the other. I have done some research of random data and found evidence of approximately 150 over night motel stays and 30 + trips via the Bight. In the early days an overnight motel stay for up to 5 people was as low as $45.00 and fuel (petrol)price was considered high at 65 cents/l.
Had many interesting experiences; black soil near McKinley, Victoria River in flood and in about 1987 buying petrol at Top Springs at $1.00/l. It was pumped out of a 44 using a Macnaught quart stroke pump and measured in a 20 l jerry can. In the early days there were virtually no caravans on the road, unlike over the recent three years when the roads are polluted at least till 3.00pm.

[Itsme]

In the old days caravans most likely would not handle the roads quite well, tents and camping gear was much easier & cheaper.
From my experience I look at caravans not being a big problem, trucks are bigger problem for travelers, just saying.

[prydey]

Have been a passenger or driver of a road trip at least once a year for pretty much all of my 47years on the planet so far. The joys of having dads family in qld and mums in SA.

Due to this I'm a big fan of road trips and I've passed the love on to at least one of my daughters. For me, while the destination is often what we looked forward to, the journey itself was part of the holiday.

Never really understood those who get upset at other road users. If you travel enough you come across a wide range and in the big scheme of things they don't really cost you too much.

Exploring this great country was already on the rise prior to covid but the whole international border closures thing simply forced people travel locally more instead. It never really eased once borders reopened.

I think it's a good way to be brought up and a great way to raise your own family. So many memories get created.

[Trevor 57]

The number of caravans on the road is just a testament to a prosperous country, I travel a lot and it is not just boomers in the flash caravans being towed by a Next Gen Ford Ranger or a 200/300 Series Land Cruisers.

[XR Martin]

I remember as a kid going on trips and forever being stuck behind a caravan doing well under the limit on a single lane highway. Actually what I mostly remember is my dad screaming out "bloody caravans, shouldn't be allowed on the road!" as he tried to find somewhere to overtake.

Oh and I also remember every diesel blowing dirty plumes of smoke.

[FTE217]

very true XRMartin re the vans and single lane Hwy back in the day.
'70's was my young era driving up or down the Pac Hwy north or south.
Always vans holding up countless cars, you'd wait for that unbroken white line and whoooossshka try and over take 3/4 cars and then the van lol, great driving days got to say.
My fam never was a vannie traveller, we always booked beach house's, I get the van/camping hang around and the road travelling.
I think great good on them, glad we have dual carriage ways now so you can get beck with ease.
John 13, as much as the ol days we're brilliant, less crowded, cheaper life moves on.
Its still great doing road trips pity the open road has become a revenue raising excercise mind you And might I add whereever you park etcetc where once beach parkign etc was FREE.

[John 13]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

The number of caravans on the road is just a testament to a prosperous country, I travel a lot and it is not just boomers in the flash caravans being towed by a Next Gen Ford Ranger or a 200/300 Series Land Cruisers.

Those new rigs unlikely to leave much change out of $200K?
How about the profile of the latest c vans, riding high (high centre of gravity) and a flat square rear, absolutely no consideration of aerodynamics.

[yanknbank]

Launching out of Vic for Perth next Sunday. Havn’t drive across for over 20 years, so looking forward to it. We’ve always flown across in either the 210 or on the burner out’ve Adelaide, so figured we were well overdue for a road trip over and back.
The only problem is, we gotta drive back. Reckon we’ll be well and truly all roadtripped out be then. Taking the Y62 and it’s only done 10,000k’s since I’ve had it, so it’s due for good run and if you have to spend a lot of time on the road the Patrol is a good machine to do it in.

[prydey]

I have family in Perth (well, Bunbury). Doing the drive is on the bucket list. Driven to Tas, Vic, Syd, QLD and NT so need to do it. Not interested in ACT.

[smoo]

Have done Syd - Perth and Mel - Perth in the last 12 months.
Looking to buy a car over east intentionally next month so I can do it again.

I can recommend Balladonia and Eucla road houses for accomodation and meals.
I stayed at Highway Inn in Ceduna as they allow dogs, but if I stay there next time I’d probably try the Foreshore Hotel as it has a pub and lock up car park, a few nefarious locals roaming the streets there.

Don’t fill up at Border Village as fuel 10k down the road in Eucla is cheaper.
WA is riddled with 1080 so if you have a dog keep it on leash.

First trip BMW X5 diesel with 1000km fuel range. No dramas.
Second VF2 SS with 650km range so stopping every 400km or so to play it safe. That got old pretty quick.

Had to laugh at the grey nomads, one would appear around a corner and hard up their **** would be a truck wanting to get past. I don’t envy the truck drivers.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by prydey

I have family in Perth (well, Bunbury). Doing the drive is on the bucket list. Driven to Tas, Vic, Syd, QLD and NT so need to do it. Not interested in ACT.

We've done it 3 times, all I will say is, it is a bloody long way and you can't wait to get to the other end

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by smoo

Had to laugh at the grey nomads, one would appear around a corner and hard up their **** would be a truck wanting to get past. I don’t envy the truck drivers.

image

being an ex-truckie and now a caravaner, I am truly conscious of trucks on the road, the CB is always on Ch 40. Mind you, there is some ****-head truckies on the road, I had a run-in with a couple in FNQ - Big loud mouthed idiots on the CB going in the other direction.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by John 13

Those new rigs unlikely to leave much change out of $200K?

try $250K - $300K. we just bought a new van and NOT one of the top end models, they had vans in the yard that were $160k, just the van, add a 300 Series Land Cruiser Sahara in (around the $150k mark)