The cost of free camping

[A’van]

Hehe.
All these places you are talking about, we got a new 55″ tv and computers. I can sit at home and see them all on the telly and there is no flies, mossies,dust and heat in my lounge room(Maybe dust)
I have worked, about 40 years on dozers, loaders and other earth mowing gear, i think i have seen enough bush in my lifetime and listen to enough bull, i don’t have too go looking for it.
We got a nice new place here, we can see the hills around us and lake Illawarra out the front, not far to the beach and the kids and grand kids are close by. Hospitals and doctors are also close. We got neighbors, but i don’t know their names, that’s fine they don’t bother us and we don’t bother them.
So tell me why i should race around the country and get others and ourselves in to trouble.
This may sound a bit negative, don’t worry if you feel like going, go for it by all means. This is just me getting old.

Hans

[Motherhen]

Hi Hans

“Free Camping” is all about choices. Your choice is to stay in your chosen location. Others may want the power supply and amenities in a sardine can caravan park in a town. Some will like getting out in to National Parks to enjoy the bush and wildlife. Many like to camaraderie in the free and low cost campground. We have a caravan so we can from time to time enjoy many of the options, but mostly so we can stop where we want to; out under the stars a hundred kilometres from anyone else is the best.

[Ant@Shez]

Gran N Grumps, thanks for your lovely pics. You both look so happy and thats how it should be. We will look at doing some free camping when we do hit the road long term in a few years time.

[Boroma577]

Ant@Shez….you should start practicing now.

[johnoft]

I just want to comment on free camping we love to free camp saves about $30 night on average van parks. I tow my 1800 van with 2006 falcon average 18 to 20 liters per hundred, depends on how flat or hilly the road is the person getting 13 liters towing a 2000 kg van must be dreaming I drive steady about 90 and thats the best I can get. I have had 3 fords and not towing I average 11 t0 12 Liters per hundred. but as soon as I hool the van on the fuel goes up to 18 even on flat roads.

[dieseltojo]

Ant@Shez, We are spoilt allright with the new toilet and shower I installed, but I would never go backwards to a non toilet van.
We were going to upgrade prior to fitting the gear but they didn’t even want the van as a trade-in or would give nothing for it; and it was only 5 years old at the time. I have to add that it was trading from an Avan to an Avan as well.
The owner of the yard said he just could not sell a second hand van with no built in shower and toilet. Seems as though most of us are spoilt as well.

As others have said , we all free camped in our younger years and thought the latest tap that fitted a jerry can was the beez Kneese….

[Jay&dee]

We are heading off at the end of April for 6 weeks. Then back for Specialists appt. Then off again until………………………………… when ever.
Whilst our preference is to enjoy bush camping by a river or lake, we also frequent C.Parks if and when we have to.
Can still keep in touch with family and friends and enjoy all the comforts of home but away from the suburban lifestyle.
Love the van life.
As for cost of camping…. at our stage in life we do not worry that much about the costs. Just do what we want. The kids can have what ever is left.
And you know what, they will probably travel FIRST CLASS.
But we hope that we have educated them better than that.
Jay&Dee

[hank]

I have to agree dieseltojo, my my wifes sister and her husband have just had their 2005 Olympic for sale for months, they advertised it first for $20,000 and only got 2 inquiries, no other interest shown and then they dropped the price to $15,000 which gained a few more lookers and finally they accepted an offer of $13,000, someone got a great van for a great price, granted, no toilet though, but the buyer said that he had had a porta potti for some time and was happy to keep it.
As a side note the buyer sold his old van a 1990 model for $10,000. He did well on both fronts.



Hank