I've been following your journey Jason and you're doing what I plan to do. Although I'm in my mid sixties, my approach will be much the same as yours. I'm recently retired and ummming and ahhhing about what vehicle to use. I was thinking of an older Toyota Troopy however I'm impressed with your van set up and appreciate your videos showing the process of setting it up. I just subscribed to your channel. Great channel too. Cheers, Sean.
Thanks Sean. Hopefully there's some useful ideas in amongst my videos. I just re-released several more of the weekly build videos, they should be visible now.
@MakingStuffGoingPlaces I have been living full-time in my Toyota Hiace van for 3 weeks, my base area for work is Newcastle. Your videos are good encouragement to stay with this lifestyle and see how it goes.
It's certainly easier when you move away from the bigger cities. Newcastle has been a challenge for me in the past, but always found places to sleep and get water eventually. I can't say it gets easier, but you get more comfortable with the difficult parts 😂
No, another of my freaky traits.... don't drink alcohol, coffee or tea. Hence why my videos never start with a step by step 60 second clip of me making coffee like EVERYBODY else 😂😂
I haven't done it for a great many years but you used to be able to walk from the rock platforms just south the Bogey Hole below King Edward Park Newcastle all the way to Dudley Beach, traversing several rock platforms to get to Susan Gilmore Beach just north of Bar Beach, another between Merewether and Burwood Beach and another one before accessing North Dudley Beach. There's also another rock platform between Dudley Beach and Redhead Beach but I'm not sure if its traversable on foot. Have you ever done that walk, Jason? By the way, kudos on your videos. Very enjoyable.
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying them 😊 I will definitely try Bogey hole to Susan Gilmore. Really want to check out that rock shelf. I haven't done either of those walks. They sound like a nice walk for calm seas 😁
Good one Jason. And there are good hiking/MTB trails and more lookouts at Bouddi National Park. Even a couple beaches accessible only by hiking or MTB to them.
I'm just Alltrails. It shows heaps of places but you need to make sure you download the sections you're heading in to as it falls over with no phone reception. For mountain biking, I use Trailforks and then to record my activities I use Strava.
Mine's a Ford Transit. If you're buying new, then it probably one of the better value options. They'd be maybe $65k now, not sure but you can check the price on the Ford website. It is very confusing with all the choice and anyone you talk to will say "get a Toyota HiAce" 😂
Keep in mind that is the price of the empty van. I've spent about$17k fitting it out, doing all the work myself. Got videos on my channel of the build if you're interested 😁
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces oh yeah I definitely have to take that into consideration, I cant really build myself but I'm willing to cop the extra price it would take to get someone to build it. I really appreciate the advice and cant wait until your next video!
How do you go about getting insurance on these vans Ive heard when its been a converted self contained van the insurance is harder to get or is a different / special category of "car" insurance ??
I only have the van insured, not the fit out. If it's a write off, I will take the loss... unfortunately a motorhome in general has limited options for insurance, regardless of being self built. The only quote I got as a motorhome was over $3000, and I have the van insured for less than $800....
