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Today’s world is definitely based on ‘the couple’. It’s particularly evident in caravans and motorhomes, where all the industry advertising is directed to the ‘retiring couple’ and the travel portrayed is that of a happy couple doing their thing. That’s fine, but what about the singles?

Words by Gil Schott

While I’m sure there are many single folks who enjoy the touring travel, I’m equally sure that many more are put off by the notion of ‘going solo’ on the road. It can be a bit daunting to just take off on your own, but it’s nowhere near as difficult as it might seem, and the benefits are just fabulous.

Getting Started
You’re reading this, so you’re already thinking about it. Weigh up the pros and cons, but always remember that there’s a vast country out there full of really nice people and wonderful things to see and do. It’s your life, and you’re a bloody long time dead! Make the decision. Once you do that you’re on the way. Okay, so you’re now a nomad-in-waiting. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

Obviously the first thing you’ll need is your mobile accommodation. This can be a caravan, motorhome or campervan – it’s your choice. If you already have an RV, you’re all set, but if you are going to start from scratch you’ll need to put in a fair bit of research. Start by reading the ‘van and motorhome reviews in C&M to get an idea of the basic layouts and sizes that will suit you. Remember that this will be your home away from home, so pay plenty of attention to the amenity of the RV. Is there enough room for your needs? Are the cooking and sleeping areas adequate? Have you enough room to kick back and relax?

Next, check out the RV show circuit. You’re going to end up with sore feet here, but spend plenty of time looking at the RVs on display. Sit on the beds and the dinette seats; imagine yourself cooking up a feed in the kitchens; check out the storage space, pantry space, fridge size and so on. Imagine yourself living in it. Gather up as much info as you can get, including prices.

Now, as a single you’re not really going to need a jumbo van or motorhome to be comfortable. There are some fabulous small vans, motorhomes and campervans on the market these days that would be perfect for a single nomad. Keep in mind however that at some stage you might have company on a trip. A van around the 16 or17ft mark should be eminently comfy for one and roomy enough for two if need be. The range of small campervans and motorhomes is huge and while they may be a little less roomy than a van, they may well suit you.

‘Van, campervan or motorhome? Well, now, there’s a choice. Each has its good points and it comes down to just what you want to do and where you want to go. Motorhomes are generally bigger than campervans, and as a rule much more comfy. They have the advantage of being a real home on wheels, but if you want to go somewhere ‘interesting’ off the beaten track (or even just run down to the shops) you have to take everything with you. Campervans are more versatile in that they are smaller and, in the case of 4WD-based campers, they can take you off the tar with few worries. The trade off is in the setting up and the lack of space. Small caravans can provide the best of both worlds if your tow vehicle is a 4WD. You can leave the van in a ‘van park and make excursions to lots of interesting places in your 4WD. The trade off with a van lies in unhitching the thing and in the towing, but that’s not really a big deal. My choice? Well, being a fisho I like to take a small boat on top of the towcar, so a van is for me. I can park the van, launch the boat and run around all I want.

One good option is to hire a rig and take it out for some trips. Folks like Kea have a try before you buy policy, and it’s good. If you want to try out a motorhome or campervan, rent on and go live in it for a while.

If you decide to go caravan the choice of tow car is a little more interesting. You’ll need to consider the weight of the van and the vehicle and this is something you’ll need to discuss with the dealer from whom you buy the van. They will have info on recommended towing weights for your vehicle. Similarly, if you’re buying a tow car as well as a van, the dealer should be able to tell you how much you can tow with it. As a rule of thumb, the mid-range 4WDs will generally comfortably tow a 16 or 17-footer, but make sure you confirm this with your dealer.

When you pick up your rig, ensure your van dealer shows you how to hitch and unhitch the van, and operate all the accessories inside. You should also have him fit a Weight Distribution Hitch so that your rig can be set up perfectly for towing. These hitches also have the added bonus of stabilising the rig under tow. You will also likely have electric brakes fitted, with a controller in your car. Have the dealer show you how to adjust these. You’ll find you’ll fiddle about with these for a while, but pretty soon you’ll get the hang of it.

Okay, you’ve got your caravan, motorhome or camper all set up and ready to go. What next? Well, it’s a bit too soon to just thunder off over the horizon just yet. I think some short test runs are in order – a few ‘shakedown cruises’ so you can get the feel of your rig and how everything works in the real world (outside the dealer’s showroom). Then you should consider joining a caravan or motorhome club. There are hundreds of such clubs around the country and there’s bound to be one near you. Often they organise regular short-range excursions and you can go along on these while you get used to your rig. You’ll be able to pick the brains of the more experienced RVers in the club and get some good advice.

All through these initial stages you’ll probably get a bit frustrated with all the research and mucking around, and wonder whether all the effort is worth it. Keep your eye on the main game – the day will come when you can drive out of your street with the whole of Australia before you. It’s a hell of a feeling. It’s called ‘freedom’!

As the big DD approaches (Departure Day) it’s time to tidy up the loose ends and do some final checks. Whether tow car, motorhome or camper, arrange a thorough service. You should also have your van fully checked out. Don’t skimp on this. You’ll feel much more confident in the knowledge that everything is working just as it should.

Communications gear is also important. A CDMA mobile phone will keep you in contact in many areas, but the coverage is largely patchy and in the inland it’s restricted mainly to the larger towns. It’s a wise precaution to take a satellite phone. You can rent them if you’re not keen to buy one, but if you have a problem out in the backblocks it’s comforting to now you can get assistance.

Installing a CB radio in your vehicle is also a very good idea. The CB is limited in range, but you can chat to passing vanners (usually Channel 18) and trucks (usually Channel 40) and perhaps get updates on road conditions, fuel availability and so on.

A GPS unit is also a handy addition to your communications kit. With these you’ll always know where you are, and if you’re stuck you can tell someone exactly where you are so they can find you (GPS Lat/Long coordinates will pinpoint your position to within 10m or so).

Have you dealt with your house – your home base? Some folks arrange house sitters or relatives to look after the house. Others leave it under the watchful eye of their good neighbours. You can rent it through a reputable estate agent if you wish. Indeed, some folks just sell up and dedicate themselves to a life on the road.

Organise your income. Obviously your income is your own business, but however you arrange it, make sure you can get at it. You might need to have a chat to an outfit such as Clearview to get your financial house in order before you go.

Maintain your insurance cover for your vehicle and/or caravan. Accidents do happen, and it pays to be covered if you’re stuck in Woop Woop with a sick van or motorhome. Similarly, make sure you have current roadside service with your state motoring organisation and make sure you can arrange reciprocal road service through other state groups.

Mail? You can have someone pick it up, or use an organisation such as Landbase Australia to redirect your mail for you. Just make sure it doesn’t pile up in your mailbox at home.

Now that the dry stuff is out of the way you can get into the fun part – planning your actual trip. Route planning may seem like you’re restricting yourself, but a general route plan is a good idea. You can deviate from it whenever you want to, but it helps to have some objective down the road. Why? Well, some areas are worth visiting at certain times of the year, while others are worth avoiding. For example, the West Aussie wildflowers fire up around July in the north of the state and peak in October/November in the south. You can plan your route accordingly if you want to see them. Similarly, you might want to visit the Territory in the dry season when the temperatures are easier to handle and access to many areas is not restricted by wet season flooding. There are plenty of internet sites that cover touring around Australia, as well as travel books and so on. Sit down and work out the things you really want to see, then allow plenty of time to get there.

Okay, DD is just around the corner now. Time to pack the van. You will need to include a good first aid kit, non-perishable foodstuffs (it’ll be cheaper to buy these in the city before you go), top up your water tank, clothing, bedding and activity-based gear. Pack your gear so that the van remains balanced. Heavy stuff should basically sit over the axle(s). Don’t load it all up front or down the back as you’ll throw the balance out of whack.

And before you know it, the day has arrived! Departure Day! As you drive out of your street, through the city and out into the countryside you’ll feel a real lift. Your life is your own. There’ll be no train timetables, no appointments to keep, no queues, no bloody annoying call-centre twits ringing you with “Good aftanon, mistar, do you like a good deal on phones?”

Now that you’re on the road, relax and take it easy. You’ve got all the time in the world, and here is plenty to see and do. Don’t try to crank up too many miles in one go. A maximum of around 200km is plenty and you’ll find that even those few kilometers may be too many when you start to look around. You might think about booking ahead into van parks, especially during busy periods. That way you don’t have to worry about accommodation while you’re looking around.

I’d recommend using caravan parks for most of your journey. For a start there’s more security in a van park for lone travellers. But you’ll also meet some beaut people in the parks. Your fellow travellers will be a great source of information, from locations you should see to where the cheapest fuel and food can be found, and even where rip-offs can be avoided. They’re a great bunch. Enjoy a sip with them at happy hour and you’ll make friends all along your journey.

As you travel, keep a journal of your trip. Make notes on fuel costs, food costs, accommodation rates and so on so you can keep track of your expenses. Also record all the highlights (and lowlights) of the journey. If you can, take a digital camera and a laptop computer with you. You can capture all those beaut moments and download them onto your laptop, and later you can arrange all this into a beaut record of your trip.

Make a point of chatting to the locals along your way and you can discover some great spots they know about that aren’t shown in the tourist brochures. The local pub or roadhouse are great sources of information.

Don’t forget to stock up on some books before you go. You can also replenish your reading supply at one of the many second-hand bookshops that seem to pop up in some small towns. You can find some real gems in these.

On the road, be considerate of other road users, particularly the truckies plying their trade on the outback highways. If you do want to doddle along, keep your eyes on your mirrors and if you start to accumulate a ‘tail’, pull over when it’s safe and let ‘em go. This particularly applies to the big rigs, especially the road trains of the outback. Those big guys need a lot of energy to get rolling and keep rolling. Let ‘em roll on by.

You might also consider restricting your driving time to the middle of the day, say late morning to mid afternoon. Why? Lots of areas, particularly in the outback, carry both wild and domestic animals and in the early morning and late evening they’ll wander around the road edges looking for some pick. In the hotter part of the day they’ll sit in the shade of trees away from the road. You don’t need a roo strike, so try to be off the road at roo time.

But most importantly of all, enjoy yourself. The freedom of life on the road is a priceless thing, even if you only travel for three months of the year. You’ll enjoy yourself immensely, see some amazing things and meet a heap of friendly locals and fellow travellers. It’s something that gets in your blood and when you get back to civilisation you’ll find yourself planning your next trip.

Sure, there are thousands of couples on the road, but there are more and more singles joining the RV touring scene. So if you’re single, go solo. You’ll love it!