Great vid mate and what I loved is it is all relevant and upto date. We have just built the big girl ready for serious touring on and off road in remote locations and will now be looking for our van that will need to be able to support us off grid with power and 300lts of water + and added bladder of 150lt on car floor for some really remote trips we are planning - it all adds up and seems hand is always in the pocket adding bits and pieces. See you in the tracks hopefully
Thank you and sorry for not responding sooner. You hit the nail on the head mate it seems the spending never ends but to see the amazing places we get to visit it’s worth every cent. Even though we’ll be working for a month or two to cover our NT fuel bill 😂. Safe travels
Top video and advice for new people wanting to get out and about! All excellent ideas i only add sat phone/PLB like someone earlier and also likely airbags for rear suspension as most vans are very heavy if off road and putting too much down force on tow ball
Thanks Aaron we’re really happy you enjoyed the vid. We haven’t gone down the PLB track yet but it’s a get idea and certainly more than useful in emergency’s. I might not have mentioned it in the vid but the car is fitted with airbags and I think they definitely make a difference when we are towing. cheers Steve
Really interesting video. The carbon monoxide detector is a great idea inside the van. One thing that is essential along with the first aid kit and snake bite kit, particularly if traveling remotely is a PLB and/or an EPIRB.
Totally agree mate we haven’t purchased a PLB or EPIRB at this point but we’ve started researching them because we’ve started doing a lot of remote hiking lately
The other channels go out of their way to brake stuff. The also go out of their way to manufacture drama. “The End for Us?” …………. this means they’ve blown a tyre
Thank you, we did exactly the same as well, we’d spent a week at Notch Point with the sun on the cassette side of the van and made the decision to install one as soon as we could 😀
Very good information. A lot of engineering firms make winch cradles that fit behind the factory bumper, so you can save even more weight (and money) that way.
Thank you I wasn’t aware of that, I was talking to Allison the other day about future plans and how I could reduce weight in a new car ( if we brought one). Even though we rarely use the winch we want that piece of mind just in case we ever get stuck.
Hi Steve, thanks for this video. So good! We are planning to hit the road full time in a few years. Our van has nearly all the things you’ve mentioned. Did you mention you have a blue generator or something? Also, do you have a video talking through the considerations you and Allison went through before jumping into full time travel? We’re keen, but are a bit nervous about jumping. Thanks again for this video mate.
Hi mate, thank you. We use a BLUETTI AC240 power station which works perfectly for us but it’s not for everyone, it’s something you need to research before spending your dollars. We put a budget vid up a few months ago and we talk about some of things we did prior to travelling but it’s mostly about budgets etc. here’s a link to that vid th-cam.com/video/xNUYqcw_aJo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5Rx_zGk0bZ2VWrJl I think for us once we made the decision to do it we just made it happen and we have no regrets, we really enjoy our lifestyle. Hope to see you out on the road one day, safe travels. Steve
Thanks so much for sharing your experience on the road and the reasoning behind your decisions. I’ve been on the fence with getting a bar with hoops or not (I hate the look of hoops and the weight), but it sounds like the animal encounters can be mitigated with driving at appropriate times of the day like you’ve said.
Handy vid to watch thank you guys 👌 we are only a month or two from starting our full time on the road, and the sorta tips I appreciate thank you mate 👌
Great run through. Do you use your Bluetti station in the van to supplement your existing solar / battery setup? Do you have a portable solar panel for this as well?
Yes we do, I’ve mounted it in the Ute and run a lead back to the van if we need to give the batteries a quick hit but we generally use it to power the Starlink etc. We have used it to run the van aircon we get about 3 hours at 23 degrees c. Yes we have a cheap Aldi 200w panel that’s at the end of its life now so we are looking to upgrade very soon
Driving lights were needed on my last car, y62 led lights are great, so not needed this time. If you fit a bar, then a snorkel becomes important- otherwise agree optional for most people. Good video
Thanks! great advice. One question @ 16:50 you showed those storage boxes for your linen in the bathroom area - from Ikea. Can you tell me what they were called? thanks
Thank you I’m fairly certain they are hemmafixare storage boxes, we found them in the bedroom wardrobe storage section, I hope this link points you in the right direction www.ikea.com/au/en/p/hemmafixare-storage-case-fabric-striped-white-grey-80503912/
Thank you I think it’s called the pocket buddy I brought it online at Navigator here’s a link navigatorgear.net.au/collections/shop/products/build-it-pocket-buddy
Another great video mate! Full of great info & tips. We are going to start our journey very soon so very helpful. You look like you have dropped a bit of weight too mate looking fit 👍 Mick & Jodie from the Gong
Hey Mick & Jodie, thank you and we’re really happy you enjoyed the vid. I have dropped a few kegs I’m trying to get a little fitter before my prostate surgery next month.
Thank you, we brought the Jerry can holders at Pro Bar in Caboolture QLD. I’ll drop a link in for you. www.probar.net.au/?rf=kw&kw=Jerry+Can+Holder+-+BOLT+ON%2C+Black
Another great down to earth video. There are lots of great tips. Are you finding plenty of employment opportunities when travelling? I want to do the big lap before i get too old, but i need to give up the long term security of full time employment.
Hey mate, thanks for watching we find there are employment opportunities everywhere we go. I think if you’re willing to give anything a go. If you have a truck licence there seems to be work in most towns. We were very apprehensive when it came time to give up full time employment but like you we wanted to travel before we were too old, in the end we left home with a little over $4k in the bank and we were both casual employees at Woolworths which has definitely helped to fund our travels. Cheers Steve
Thank you mate, we brought them at Pro Bar in Caboolture QLD, They have an online store and their customer service was great. here’s a link www.probar.net.au/jerry-can-holder-bolt-on-black. Hope this helps mate.
@@Rick-si5wz Thanks mate, yes we’ve had a GVM upgrade and I’m looking at the GCM upgrade when we return to Brisbane next month, post rego GCM upgrades weren’t available at the time in QLD. We currently sit just under but we have to be very mindful about what goes in and out of the van.
Thanks mate I don’t disagree we very rarely drive after about 3pm of an arvo but we’ve had a few occasions when we’re driving into the night or before sunrise and I’ve got to say I’m happy I fitted the spotties as the headlights / high beam are rubbish on the Colorado
Horses for courses mate - I was of that belief but have done a twenty odd thousand km on country trips at night or early morning and a good set of driving light makes the driving so much less tiring. We have fitted a set of 9” Laser lights ;uk made) 10/10 and on the couple of uses blows us away with the usefulness!
i made my own dust exclusion system it is non powered needs no setting up and has never let any dust in and i don't have to close off the vents in the stair well
That sounds great mate I saw one recently where the owner used some piping and a few bends to make what looked like a small periscope (that’s the best way I can describe it) on his camper trailer and it worked perfectly, he told me it cost him less an $50 to make. We are the same we’ve never had to cover a vent either
Great video as I think we all buy gear we really don't need me included. One thing I noticed was your rear bumper Jerry can holder are you able to let me know name off and were you got it from Cheers
Thank you we brought them at Pro Bar in Caboolture Queensland, they have an online shop. here’s a link www.probar.net.au/?rf=kw&kw=Jerry+Can+Holder+-+BOLT+ON%2C+Black
Thank you mate I’ve already stated thinking about future replacements if we change cars, I’ve got to be honest I didn’t even consider a polymer bar we I brought the steel one.
Hey mate, actually it goes really well, our total rolling weight sits between 120-150kg below GCM (depending on water levels), It does lose a little power on long steep climbs but nothing to dramatic (like most cars) the gear box temp hasn’t exceeded 99 degrees even on hot days when it’s been 40degrees plus it normally sits around 89-92 and thats with the standard engine . We cruise along at about 90km on the highway at about 1800rpm using on average about 19lt of fuel to 100km. If we decided one day to upgrade the van I think I’d have to upgrade the car for sure but for now everything is good. If I did upgrade I’d probably look toward a second hand 200 series. I’m not interested in American Trucks but I’m very interested in seeing the KIA Tasman when the stats are released.
@@trip42australia only reason i asked was i have a MR triton 2.4l manual and tow a 18ft tinnie and it doesnt like decent hills or trying to get it going off a stop start on a hill, good to hear the colorado is doing the job
Most of the first 5 minutes are back to front to what we do/don’t need, LOL. We DO need a winch, we DO need a snorkel, we DONT need driving lights, we DONT need towing mirrors, we DO need all-terrain tyres. So, viewers beware: this is NOT all-round general purpose advice. Think through your own needs and don’t let YT content owners set the agenda.
Great vid mate and what I loved is it is all relevant and upto date. We have just built the big girl ready for serious touring on and off road in remote locations and will now be looking for our van that will need to be able to support us off grid with power and 300lts of water + and added bladder of 150lt on car floor for some really remote trips we are planning - it all adds up and seems hand is always in the pocket adding bits and pieces.
See you in the tracks hopefully
Thank you and sorry for not responding sooner. You hit the nail on the head mate it seems the spending never ends but to see the amazing places we get to visit it’s worth every cent. Even though we’ll be working for a month or two to cover our NT fuel bill 😂. Safe travels
Top video and advice for new people wanting to get out and about! All excellent ideas i only add sat phone/PLB like someone earlier and also likely airbags for rear suspension as most vans are very heavy if off road and putting too much down force on tow ball
Thanks Aaron we’re really happy you enjoyed the vid. We haven’t gone down the PLB track yet but it’s a get idea and certainly more than useful in emergency’s. I might not have mentioned it in the vid but the car is fitted with airbags and I think they definitely make a difference when we are towing. cheers Steve
Great video, thanks. I find the rubbish bag that hangs off our caravan's spare wheel to be an essential item. (I too love our Fusion Loc).
Thank you and yes I totally agree, I actually forgot to mention it
Really interesting video. The carbon monoxide detector is a great idea inside the van. One thing that is essential along with the first aid kit and snake bite kit, particularly if traveling remotely is a PLB and/or an EPIRB.
Totally agree mate we haven’t purchased a PLB or EPIRB at this point but we’ve started researching them because we’ve started doing a lot of remote hiking lately
I like this channel because you don't break something every day and it's positive 😊
Thank you mate we are really happy you’re enjoying our channel
The other channels go out of their way to brake stuff. The also go out of their way to manufacture drama.
“The End for Us?” …………. this means they’ve blown a tyre
@@effkay3691 totally agree, we’ve switched a few off for that very reason😀
Great tips! Keep safe and have fun.
Thank you, we will
We really enjoyed this video. We chuckled when you mentioned the SOG because we installed one after watching a caravanner's channel.
Thank you, we did exactly the same as well, we’d spent a week at Notch Point with the sun on the cassette side of the van and made the decision to install one as soon as we could 😀
Very good information. A lot of engineering firms make winch cradles that fit behind the factory bumper, so you can save even more weight (and money) that way.
Thank you I wasn’t aware of that, I was talking to Allison the other day about future plans and how I could reduce weight in a new car ( if we brought one). Even though we rarely use the winch we want that piece of mind just in case we ever get stuck.
Some good practical advice for people… well done #suncoastcaravanservice
Thank you Jenny
Hi Steve, thanks for this video. So good! We are planning to hit the road full time in a few years. Our van has nearly all the things you’ve mentioned. Did you mention you have a blue generator or something? Also, do you have a video talking through the considerations you and Allison went through before jumping into full time travel? We’re keen, but are a bit nervous about jumping. Thanks again for this video mate.
Hi mate, thank you. We use a BLUETTI AC240 power station which works perfectly for us but it’s not for everyone, it’s something you need to research before spending your dollars. We put a budget vid up a few months ago and we talk about some of things we did prior to travelling but it’s mostly about budgets etc. here’s a link to that vid
th-cam.com/video/xNUYqcw_aJo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5Rx_zGk0bZ2VWrJl
I think for us once we made the decision to do it we just made it happen and we have no regrets, we really enjoy our lifestyle. Hope to see you out on the road one day, safe travels. Steve
Great info thanks
o worries that’s for watching
Thanks Steve,good solid down to earth advice.👍
Thank you mate
Amazing information 👌 new to caravanning. Thank you ❤🇦🇺
You’re welcome we’re vey happy you enjoyed the episode
Great video, very informative. My vehicle is setup almost the same as yours, with the exception of a canopy. Great tow vehicle. Enjoy your travels. 🤙🍻
Thank you mate, we love our Colorado I think they are very underrated by a lot of people but a very capable Ute.
Nice informative vid, thank you
@@gregwade6719 thank you very much
Fantastic video guys, great insight.
Thank you we’re very happy you enjoyed it
Thanks so much for sharing your experience on the road and the reasoning behind your decisions. I’ve been on the fence with getting a bar with hoops or not (I hate the look of hoops and the weight), but it sounds like the animal encounters can be mitigated with driving at appropriate times of the day like you’ve said.
Thanks for watching, definitely agree we very rarely encounter animals while we are travelling. We try to only travel between 8am and 4pm
Great video mate. I need to get recovery gear.
Thank you and yes it’s the one thing you have but hope you’ll never need but definitely a must have
Handy vid to watch thank you guys 👌 we are only a month or two from starting our full time on the road, and the sorta tips I appreciate thank you mate 👌
Thank you mate, maybe we’ll catch up for a beer one day on the road.
@@trip42australia look forward to it mate 🤙
Great run through. Do you use your Bluetti station in the van to supplement your existing solar / battery setup? Do you have a portable solar panel for this as well?
Yes we do, I’ve mounted it in the Ute and run a lead back to the van if we need to give the batteries a quick hit but we generally use it to power the Starlink etc. We have used it to run the van aircon we get about 3 hours at 23 degrees c. Yes we have a cheap Aldi 200w panel that’s at the end of its life now so we are looking to upgrade very soon
What a great video, thanks so much!
Thank you
Great tips, thanks for sharing 👍
@@waynetaylor7316 thank you
@@waynetaylor7316 thank you
Driving lights were needed on my last car, y62 led lights are great, so not needed this time. If you fit a bar, then a snorkel becomes important- otherwise agree optional for most people. Good video
Thank you for watching and I totally agree I think if I ever brought a new car I’d probably only fit a decent light bar on the roof
Awesome tips thank you and also a coffee machine lol
Thank you, I can barely make instant coffee 😀
Thanks! great advice. One question @ 16:50 you showed those storage boxes for your linen in the bathroom area - from Ikea. Can you tell me what they were called? thanks
Thank you I’m fairly certain they are hemmafixare storage boxes, we found them in the bedroom wardrobe storage section, I hope this link points you in the right direction
www.ikea.com/au/en/p/hemmafixare-storage-case-fabric-striped-white-grey-80503912/
That was awesome thank you.🍻🦘🦘🌸😎👍🍹🍹
Thank you
Some great tips thanks mate.
Thank you we’re very happy you enjoyed it
Nice video, Thankyou for sharing. Whats the bag you have attached to your fridge? I want one for mine
Thank you I think it’s called the pocket buddy I brought it online at Navigator here’s a link navigatorgear.net.au/collections/shop/products/build-it-pocket-buddy
Another great video mate! Full of great info & tips. We are going to start our journey very soon so very helpful. You look like you have dropped a bit of weight too mate looking fit 👍 Mick & Jodie from the Gong
Hey Mick & Jodie, thank you and we’re really happy you enjoyed the vid. I have dropped a few kegs I’m trying to get a little fitter before my prostate surgery next month.
Great video Steve. Interested in the brand of Jerry can holder on the rear of the van thanks.
Thank you, we brought the Jerry can holders at Pro Bar in Caboolture QLD. I’ll drop a link in for you. www.probar.net.au/?rf=kw&kw=Jerry+Can+Holder+-+BOLT+ON%2C+Black
Great info. We have same car and set up as you guys. Just wondering your weight for car
Thank you, our car weighs in at 2680kg with Ally and I and a full tank of fuel
Another great down to earth video. There are lots of great tips.
Are you finding plenty of employment opportunities when travelling?
I want to do the big lap before i get too old, but i need to give up the long term security of full time employment.
Hey mate, thanks for watching we find there are employment opportunities everywhere we go. I think if you’re willing to give anything a go. If you have a truck licence there seems to be work in most towns. We were very apprehensive when it came time to give up full time employment but like you we wanted to travel before we were too old, in the end we left home with a little over $4k in the bank and we were both casual employees at Woolworths which has definitely helped to fund our travels. Cheers Steve
@@trip42australia wow that is amazing to take the leap. I will certainly push my wife a little harder to take a chance.
Awesome thankyou
Thank you we’re really happy you enjoyed the video
Hi Steve love the episodes hope you are well just chasing jerry can holders for the back of van wear did you get yours.
Thank you mate, we brought them at Pro Bar in Caboolture QLD, They have an online store and their customer service was great. here’s a link
www.probar.net.au/jerry-can-holder-bolt-on-black.
Hope this helps mate.
Good info mate. Just curious, did you get a gvm/gcm upgrade for the Ute ?
@@Rick-si5wz Thanks mate, yes we’ve had a GVM upgrade and I’m looking at the GCM upgrade when we return to Brisbane next month, post rego GCM upgrades weren’t available at the time in QLD. We currently sit just under but we have to be very mindful about what goes in and out of the van.
Great info except Driving Lights are useless as Cocktail Hour (And Corragations) stop at 4 pm regardless of time zone. 😊
100 percent
Thanks mate I don’t disagree we very rarely drive after about 3pm of an arvo but we’ve had a few occasions when we’re driving into the night or before sunrise and I’ve got to say I’m happy I fitted the spotties as the headlights / high beam are rubbish on the Colorado
Horses for courses mate - I was of that belief but have done a twenty odd thousand km on country trips at night or early morning and a good set of driving light makes the driving so much less tiring. We have fitted a set of 9” Laser lights ;uk made) 10/10 and on the couple of uses blows us away with the usefulness!
@@tonyf7997 agree I've done 12 Simpson's, 15 High Country & Canning - must be my age. :O)
Great tips
Thank you
i made my own dust exclusion system it is non powered needs no setting up and has never let any dust in and i don't have to close off the vents in the stair well
That sounds great mate I saw one recently where the owner used some piping and a few bends to make what looked like a small periscope (that’s the best way I can describe it) on his camper trailer and it worked perfectly, he told me it cost him less an $50 to make. We are the same we’ve never had to cover a vent either
Great video as I think we all buy gear we really don't need me included. One thing I noticed was your rear bumper Jerry can holder are you able to let me know name off and were you got it from Cheers
Thank you we brought them at Pro Bar in Caboolture Queensland, they have an online shop. here’s a link www.probar.net.au/?rf=kw&kw=Jerry+Can+Holder+-+BOLT+ON%2C+Black
Thank you
You take whatever you want and spend whatever you want, simple as that, cheers
Exactly! 🤓
Grey informative video 💯🇦🇺
Thank you
Main thing is a fat wallet and time , setup doesn't matter as much
you’re right mate you need a very fat wallet, we’ll be working a couple of months just to cover our current fuel bill.
Instead of a steel bullbar, use a polymer one.
Thank you mate I’ve already stated thinking about future replacements if we change cars, I’ve got to be honest I didn’t even consider a polymer bar we I brought the steel one.
Don't Say Car, Say Holden Colorado, Hilux, Ranger.
Thanks for watching mate, that seems like a reasonable request
the colorado must struggle with that much weight mate?
Hey mate, actually it goes really well, our total rolling weight sits between 120-150kg below GCM (depending on water levels), It does lose a little power on long steep climbs but nothing to dramatic (like most cars) the gear box temp hasn’t exceeded 99 degrees even on hot days when it’s been 40degrees plus it normally sits around 89-92 and thats with the standard engine . We cruise along at about 90km on the highway at about 1800rpm using on average about 19lt of fuel to 100km. If we decided one day to upgrade the van I think I’d have to upgrade the car for sure but for now everything is good. If I did upgrade I’d probably look toward a second hand 200 series. I’m not interested in American Trucks but I’m very interested in seeing the KIA Tasman when the stats are released.
@@trip42australia only reason i asked was i have a MR triton 2.4l manual and tow a 18ft tinnie and it doesnt like decent hills or trying to get it going off a stop start on a hill, good to hear the colorado is doing the job
When you’re travelling
Y-o-u-‘-r-e
I’m sorry I’m not quite following , did I mispronounce you’re🤓
*you’re
Thank you, amended 🤓
@@trip42australia good content btw, I’m just a grammar freak….
Most of the first 5 minutes are back to front to what we do/don’t need, LOL. We DO need a winch, we DO need a snorkel, we DONT need driving lights, we DONT need towing mirrors, we DO need all-terrain tyres. So, viewers beware: this is NOT all-round general purpose advice. Think through your own needs and don’t let YT content owners set the agenda.
Hey mate thanks for watching and thanks for your thoughts.