Motorhoming Lifestyle Articles

Internet on the road

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 02:18:00 GMT

I have had a email this month from a subscriber who wants to know which is the best way to access broadband internet whilst on the road. There are many options from free to several thousand dollars so you really need to know what your needs are. If you just want to keep up with the family and friends via email the free options may work for you. If you are running your business whilst on the road the top of the range satellite kits may be the better options. So let’s look at the options in detail from free though cheap to the more expensive

Firstly the free

Local Libraries. If you come into a town find the local library and you can usually find free internet

McDonalds and other free wifi hot spots. Go to most McDonalds restaurants and you can access free wireless internet. You do not even have to purchase anything to use it. Simply go to the restaurant, log on and agree to terms and conditions. There is a 50mb limit which should be plenty for downloading your email, paying some bills and doing some banking.

A good way to find free wifi hot spots is this website http://www.freewifi.com.au/index.htm. Just type in the post code or suburb to find free spots easily

Family and friends. When you visit family or friends most are happy for you to use their internet. Make sure you are aware what sort of plan they are on as you may not be invited back if you use up their entire download for the month during your visit.

The low cost

Internet cafes or kiosks. These cafes or even just banks of computers in shopping centres can be found in increasing numbers all over the place. Just find a place in town that attracts the tourists, especially international tourists (like the bus terminus or local backpackers) and you will probably find a kiosk. Local computer shops often also often have computers available for short term internet use at the cost of a few dollars. Using the same link as above for free hot spots http://www.freewifi.com.au/index.htm you can also find paid spots. This can be useful if you cannot find a free one

Prepaid internet

Most internet providers have prepaid plans where you have a USB modem and buy access to a defined amount of download with a defined period in which to use it. One example is currently Vodafone is offering 6GB of data to be used over 6 months for only $100. If you do not have a USB modem it will cost $79. This is just one example and there are many plans out there so shop around

Phone plans

When I travel I use the internet though my Telstra Next G mobile phone connected to my laptop. I have a data plan attached to my phone plan that is cheaper that the wireless USB modem plans, and can be turned on and off when I want. As I am not full time on the road this is a great option. I simply connect my phone to my laptop via a cable provided with the phone, or Bluetooth, and connect to the internet. The software comes with my data enabled phone and is easy to install.

I find the 150mb for $10 plenty for a few days to week on the road each month for email and maintaining my websites. If I am not planning to travel for a few months I can turn it off by a simple phone call and turn it back on a few days before I go away again. This way it does not cost $10 each month. A similar USB Modem plan is $20/month as well at the $149.00 up front for the modem. If you wanted to just keep up with emails to the family for full time travel this would be more than enough. Plans with higher downloads are also cheaper than the mobile USB option with $29.00 for 300mb with the data pack compared to $40.00 for the USB option, and $60.00 will give you 1GB with the data pack on your mobile phone and only 750 MB with the USB option. You can even get a 5MG plan for infrequent users for only $5.00 per month.

Monthly costs

If you want to do a moderate amount of surfing or more than the occasional email to catch up with family and friends you may want a contract with an internet provider. There are many providers, but if you are travelling away from the big cities unfortunately one company has a monopoly. The Telstra Next G network, in our experience, will give you fringe of city or decent small town access and is the only option if you want to go out bush and do not have satellite. If you are happy to wait until you get back into the bigger towns to access the internet all other providers will be OK.

There are hundreds of plans available from about $20 per month to over $100 per month for larger users, so do your research to find the best plan for you and your needs

The really serious

If you want to surf the net all day and have to have internet access wherever you are you should probably not be out there on the road. But if you are funding your lifestyle by running your business from your motorhome then this is serious business and your need a serious set up.

Satellite Systems

Unlike many other countries Australia has a large proportion of its landmass that is not covered by mobile phone or internet service. This is where satellite systems come in. In a previous article I have discussed the Australian Nomad Technologies (ANT) system. To see the article go to http://www.nomadsnotes.com/_blog/Motorhoming_Lifestyle_Articles/post/Satellite_Mobile_Internet/or contact ANT http://www.ausnomadtech.com.au/

Low cost satellite systems.

You will find these on eBay and other places. Whilst I have not personally seen or tried these setups Gavin from www.hobohome.com has, and you can see his write up at http://hobohome.com/news/?p=36. In summing up his conclusions you basically get what you pay for.

Other satellite systems

Again there are several companies out there who are offering satellite broadband. Be careful though that you read the fine print. The Australian government does offer free satellite system hardware to remote and rural communities so websites may appear cheap. This offer from the government though does not include mobile installations. The up side of this is where communities had satellite systems in the past and now have access to normal broadband services there may be opportunities to acquire a cheap second hand hardware setup.

The best advice is often from people who are out there doing it, so for this sort of information again I refer to Gavin from www.hobohome.com who is actually running a satellite broadband system. His advice can be found at http://hobohome.com/news/?p=350

In summary there are many options for internet on the road, but like your home service it depends on your needs and usage. From free access for those who want to check on emails every now and then, to running a multinational company from the comfort of your motorhome when you are out in the remote outback, there is a viable and realistic option

Caravan and Motorhome Magazine

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:24:00 GMT

Caravan and Motorhome On Tour is Australia’s best-selling RV magazine.

Get inspired with amazing RV destinations across Australia, from beautiful coastal towns to beyond the black stump. The DVD brings all this to life with footage of beautiful scenery and great ideas on what to do while you're touring. Learn about towns and regions and discover things you didn’t know, places you want to visit and things you want to try. Get touring advice from Roothy, learn tips and techniques from the experts for your RV and tow vehicle that you can't get anywhere else and read up on the latest and greatest in new products and RVs.

Pop online to Caravan and Motorhome On Tour’s website at www.caravanandmotorhome.com.au where you can get even more great information, interact with other tourers for great hints, tips and trip ideas at the online forum and sign up for the fortnightly e-newsletter which has plenty of excellent ideas, park profiles and the latest news as well as the popular photo of the month contest

Is your motorhome ready to go

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:22:00 GMT

How long does it take you to pack up and go away for the weekend? Can you make up your mind at the drop of a hat and decide to go away today and be on the road in less than an hour? Or do you need to do a major pack every time you want to hit the road? In a video article saw on another website motorhomers talked about taking anything from 30 minutes to a week to get ready.

If you live in your home and use your motorhome for regular short weekend getaways the ability to get on the road in a short period of time is a great benefit. In the interests of being able to enjoy the lifestyle any time you can get away it is best to keep the motorhome ready to go so here are a few tips for those who are new to the lifestyle. We have also found having the motorhome ready to go is handy if you need extra bedding for guests.

Power: Keep the motorhome plugged into power and the fridge running. This will keep the fridge in good condition as well as be ready to fill up and take off on the day. If you travel often you can even keep a meal or two in the freezer ready to go so you do not have to think about dinner of the first night or a few hours of driving

Plumbing: Unless you live in a snow prone climate or you are not travelling often keep the fresh water tank full and the black and grey water tanks empty when parked at home. Keeping the grey and black full when parked for any length of time will only cause bad smells anyway so empty them as soon as you get home and keep them ready to go. If you do live in a snow prone climate you may have problems with frozen pipes in the winter time. As frozen water has a larger volume than fluid the pipes can crack leading to leaks. Therefore keep your water tanks empty in winter and drain the pipes. If you are not travelling often it may be better to also keep the fresh water tank empty to prevent mould

Kitchen: Keep the motorhome kitchen stocked with cutlery, crockery and pots and pans as well as your disposables like gladwrap and alfoil. It may seem expensive at first to essentially keep two kitchens worth of essentials but it is worth it. It gives you the benefit of being ready to go when you want to use the motorhome as well as not having to worry about breaking your good home wares. If you are just starting out check out the op shops and second hand shops as they have lots of cheap options that you will be happy to use outdoors. The other benefit is that you have spares for when you have visitors at home or you run out – as long as you remember to replace them as soon as you can.

Linen: Have a set of linen, including sheets, towels, tea towels exclusively for the motorhome and keep them in there. Every house has some old sheets and towels you can keep in the motorhome. When you get home from your trip do the washing and put them straight back in the motorhome. If you only go for the weekend you may not even need to wash the sheets. Make the bed up so that it is ready to go when you need it.

Pantry: Keep the panty well stocked with non-perishable foods. The basics are easy – condiments, pasta, tinned food, flavour packets etc. Then all you need to add is fresh food on the day and away you go

Bathroom: Toiletries are another usually non perishable item that can be kept in the motorhome. If you use your own bathroom keep it stocked with soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste. If you use other facilities keep your toiletries bag together in the motorhome

Fuel: if you have a small range tank fill up just before home each time so you are ready to go without having to fill up. This is a good way to also keep track of fuel consumption for each trip as well as you start with a full tank.

Clothing: The usual dress whilst travelling in your motorhome is very casual so a few sets of underwear and a few old T-shirts and shorts may be all you need. An old jacket for cold nights may also be handy. They do not need to be your best clothes and again the op shops can be a great outlet for the types of clothes you may want to leave in the motorhome. When you get home do the washing and put the clothes straight back in the motorhome.

Leisure: Keep a few books in the motorhome as well as a few decks of cards or board games.

Maintenance: My husband is very fanatical when it comes to maintenance. This is a good thing and does prevent breakdowns whilst on the road. Usually on the way home he gets me to write a list of what he needs to do from this trip so he has a plan of what he needs to do before the next trip if anything.

When we go away we usually just pack a few clothes and fresh food. It usually takes us more time to get organised in the house than it does to actually pack the motorhome.

When we get home we do the washing and put the clean straight back in. Restock the pantry on your next shop and make a meal or two for the freezer. Plug into power and keep the fridge running. Empty the black water cassette into the septic tank and the grey water into the garden. Then fill up the freshwater. Other than a bit of maintenance that may need doing we are ready to go.

Digital TV options for your motorhome

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:16:00 GMT

Watching TV is not high on my agenda when travelling in my motorhome. I do however like to know what is going on in the world and the local area I am in so I do like to watch the news, and local news if possible. Therefore spending money on a new TV is also not high on my priority list. Now that the analogue TV signal has started to be turned off in some areas of Australia, going digital is possibly the only option for free free-to-air viewing. Of course if you have a satellite system you can get free-to-air TV but you will not get the local channels and be able to see the local news (for example).

So you have read all the information in the media or seen the ads on TV. You know that you either need a new digital TV, or a set top box to add to your old TV. If you have a perfectly good TV fitted in a good location in your motorhome there is no point spending the money on a new one so a set top box is the way to go. It is a relatively cheap option and gives a similar result. You get a choice between standard definition and high definition so you go for the high definition to give you a better picture. Even though you may not get full true high definition picture on an old TV, you will get a much larger range of channels with high definition so it is really the only option these days.

So what about the TV in your motorhome? As far as the TV signal is concerned the options are the same as at home (as discussed above). But unlike at home you will want to consider power options as well. Do you go 240 volt or 12 volt power? For set top boxes most units are 240 volt and if you have an unlimited supply of power as you do in your home this is not an issue. In your motorhome you may want to consider a 12 volt option.

You have decided that as you have a perfectly good TV already installed in a cabinet you want to go the set top box option. You have also decided on high definition to give you the better range of channel choice. So you hit the stores or the web pages looking for a 12 volt high definition box. This is where you hit a wall. There are not any available. It therefore appears that standard definition, and therefore only a small range of stations, is the only option.

The good news is that there is another option. When in the store have a look at the box and turn it around to see the back of the box. Most 240 volt set top boxes actually run on 12 volt but use a transformer to reduce the 240 volt power to 12 volt, just like laptops and many other electrical gadgets. Many set top boxes run an internal transformer but some run an external one. So if the one you are looking at runs an external transformer (it looks like a small black box somewhere within the power cord) you can just purchase a cheap 12 volt cable and plug onto your cigarette lighter and you have a 12 volt high definition set up for your motorhome. The bonus with this option is that you can still use the 240 volt transformer when you have access to 240 volt power if you wish.

My brother recently purchased a 240 volt Teac high definition set top box from Kmart for $70. He then simply purchased a 12 volt lead from Dick Smith and wired it into his motorhome for excellent TV on the full range of channels.

An added point though. It is a good idea to run a regulator on the circuit you are using for your sensitive electronic equipment like TVs and set top boxes. This way if you are getting a high voltage output from your batteries whilst the alternator is charging (for example) or you are getting a low output late at night when you have run the batteries down, you can still get a consistent 12 volts into the set top box. This way you have less chance of damaging the equipment.

The next big thing in TV is the 3D option. Stay tuned for a motorhome version.

World's Largest Artwork

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:49:00 GMT

I was sent an email from a friend recently giving me a link to the world’s largest artwork. What does artwork have to do with motorhoming you might ask. It is a 9km wide piece of art created by a motorhome in the Nevada desert. The artist, Jim Denevan drove around the desert in circles guided by a gps.
The website features an interactive map of the whole artwork and links to view it in Google Maps or Google Earth.
Jim Denevan's artwork is all done in sand or earth and the point of it is to disappear over time with the weather.

Check it out at http://www.jimdenevan.com orhttp://www.jimdenevan.com/news.htm

How much does the motorhoming lifestyle cost?

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:47:00 GMT

This is a question asked by many people who are dreaming of a nomadic lifestyle either in a motorhome or caravan. The answer is not easy but it is possibly a lot less than you think. It is not only the more affluent members or our community out there doing it. There are pensioners, and low income earners out there loving the lifestyle. All it really needs is the will to live the dream and it will probably be achievable.

Costs will be very individual and dependant on lifestyle. If you live a champagne lifestyle at home and expect to continue that lifestyle on the road it will be a champagne budget that you need. If you live a frugal lifestyle at home you can continue that frugal lifestyle living your dream on the road.

One Australian author, Brian Sheedy writes there are 4 main costs to consider on the road – fuel, food, fees and failures. In our experience I would have to agree with him totally.

Food – You have to eat whether you are at home or on the road so the cost of this should be no different to being on the road. If you eat out often at home and you continue to do so on the road the budget will be the same. If you do not eat out at home and you go on the road and start to eat out because you are in holiday mode you will blow your budget very quickly. Stick with what you are used to you will not be surprised.

Fuel – this is a large expense that you will not normally have at home and can be a major component of your on road budget depending on how far you drive over a given period of time. If you take your 3 months long service leave and go “around the block” you will chew up your budget very quickly. Even Sydney to Cairns in 2 months is a lot of fuel. If you spend 12 months doing the same trip around the block you fuel expenses will be ¼ of the costs as you are travelling the same distance 4 times slower.

The cost of this fuel is offset though by other costs you no longer have. If you live in Canberra or Melbourne and regularly spend several hundred dollars a month on central heating you will avoid these costs on the road. You will also avoid electricity and all the other normal expenses that maintaining a home incurs

Fuel costs can at least be planned and budgeted in advance. If you have a general idea of where you are heading and how long you plan to travel it is a quite simple formula of kilometres planned multiplied by fuel consumption (litres for the km planned) multiplied by dollars per litre. If the planned cost is too much reduce the number of kilometres planned or lengthen the time planned. If you are not on a time limit you can simply stay put a little longer.

Fees – Both site fees and tourist fees. If you frequent caravan parks this can be a large part of your budget, but if you free camp often these costs can be considerably cheaper. Other options for reducing these costs are parking with family and friends on the front lawn, motorhome friendly towns, taking a job that includes space to park your motorhome or many of the other low cost sites available in the Camps Australia Wide books. Our own experience for long term travel around the block (although 10 years ago now) showed that 4 of us were able to travel for 10 months with an average camp fees of $4.77 per night ($1.20 per person per night) with 22% of our nights in a caravan park and 64% in free camps. Our investment in a solar system was very worthwhile when you consider the savings made on camp costs. The other huge advantage is the freedom of choice – we can choose to stay out in the bush if we wish which is often a much better alternative.

Tourist fees include costs to cover any tourist activities like sightseeing boat trips or fees to enter other tourist parks or attractions. Some people on the road restrict this type of spending completely. I am of the view that you may not get the chance again in the future so I do spend some of my budget on these types of attractions. It is all OK in moderation.

Failures – this is the one indeterminable cost that needs to be taken into consideration and can have a large impact on your budget. Even brand new motorhomes can have failures and need money spent on them. Some of this expense can be covered by warranty. The best advice is to have a well maintained motorhome and keep up this maintenance whilst on the road. This way you can minimise failures and the costs. If you do need repairs shop around, we have come across stories of businesses that prey on travelers.

In our own experience our spending per week for four people for a 27,000km 10 month trip was

Food (including eating out and alcohol) $233.12

Fuel $149.85

Failures $109.64

Fees Tourist $39.79
Fees Camp $33.53

Note: Fuel averaged 83c per litre, with a lowest cost of 62c per litre and a highest cost of $1.04 per litre

Although this is old data now as our trip was some years ago it still gives some indication. Every traveller will be different. Food is dependent on lifestyle – how much alcohol you drink and how often you eat out. Fuel is dependent on how far you travel over a given period. Failures are largely indeterminable but can be reduced with a sensible maintenance routine. Camp fees will be largely determined by the systems in your motorhome (solar and electrical systems, water capacity etc) and how self contained it is. The more independent your vehicle the less you need to spend on camp fees.

Great Motorhome Electrics Articles

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:43:00 GMT

Before we had out current GMC motorhome we travelled Australia in a Bedford bus called Hobohome. The current owners of Hobohome remain our good friends Gavin and Tracey. They have set up the website hobohome.com in which they keep family, friends and fellow motorhomers up to date with their travels.

Since owning the bus Gavin has upgraded the electrical systems to be able to use the bus for long term travel away from the grid. In doing so he has become a bit of an expert on the subject and has recently published several articles that are easy to read and understand. He had recently installed, and had reasonable success with a wind generator as well as the power generated from his large bank of solar panels.

If you ever wanted to know anything about motorhome electrics, wind power, why your batteries are going flat, how many panels you need, what panels or batteries to consider this is one site to check out

Eastern Downs Storage and Stopover

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:40:00 GMT

I recently met Vaughan from Eastern Downs Storage and Stopover. He has a great facility for motorhome owners and travelers in the Darling Downs in South East Queensland. Having access to a DIY workshop can be invaluable for travellers who would normally do all their own repairs and maintenance but are away from home. I thought I would let him tell you all about what he and his wife Karen have to offer.

Eastern Downs Storage and Stopover (EDS) is a newly established business at Clifton, approximately half way between Toowoomba and Warwick, on the Darling Downs.

EDS provides short to long term, undercover or open air storage for caravans, motor homes, trailers, boats etc allowing customers to free up space in their own yard and know that their unit is stored safely and their asset is protected. The facility is also a great option for the many retirees downsizing to units or smaller house yards.

EDS great features include: undercover and lock-up storage; or outside and secure lock-up; managers live on adjacent block; managers are the only key holders; security fenced; flexible storage time frames; competitive rates; plenty of room; big rigs welcome; and no salt air.

EDS can also order spare parts for your motor home or caravan. They have a DIY workshop for hire or the experienced owners can carry out repairs and maintenance for you.

On-site laundry and bathroom facilities have almost been completed and these will add to the stopover area provided to travelers. There is also a very accessible dump-ezy facility – large rigs can drive through from either side.

So if you need to store or stopover call Vaughan or Karen on 07 4612 3377 or after hours on 041 777 3624 or email info@edstorage.com.au . Their website is here
Located at 3 Opportunity Court, Clifton, Qld 4361

Gas systems in your motorhome

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:25:00 GMT

I have had an email from a subscriber asking about what is required when fitting a gas stove in a motorhome. David is building a new bus conversion in Perth, Western Australia and finds information confusing.

All gas installations are required to be fitted in compliance with AS 5601 – 2004. This standard requires that the system be fitter by a licensed gas fitter. Whilst your local registration authority may or may not check on your system it is also a good idea to have your entire system checked on a regular basis at least once per year.

A well maintained system will give you trouble free gas usage without the fear of leaks or other problems. It is also a good idea to have a gas leak detector and smoke alarms fitted to your motorhome. Your gas fridge should always be turned off when you are refilling with fuel. There are no laws against driving with the gas turned on and many people do this. You can read about our interesting experience see a vehicle explode whilst driving with the gas fridge in the Motorhoming Lifestyle articles page

Collyn Rivers has a great article on his Caravan and Motorhome Books website on the subject of Propane Safety, or you can find information in his books found at the Motorhoming Lifestyle Bookshop

Nomads Notes Website Update

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:24:00 GMT

I get some great feedback from Nomads Notes customers about what a great program it is for recording their trip, and how it is easy to use. I also get a small percentage of customers who have some troubles with the program and contact me to ask me questions. Most are easily answered with one simple email giving more detailed instruction on the particular aspect they are having trouble with. I have noticed there are some trends in these questions, so I have updated the Getting Started page on the Nomad Notes website with more information and screen shots. I have also put up new Troubleshooting page with some of the more common sticking points for first time users.

So if you have already purchased Nomads Notes Comprehensive Travel Diary Software and are having some trouble check out these new help guides. If you are still having problems please do not hesitate to email me. I am happy to provide all after sales support. If you have not yet purchased your copy of the best software package around written specifically for the Motorhome or caravan traveller get you copy here

Solar Panels and Hail

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:11:00 GMT

I have had an email from a subscriber this month worried about his solar panels during a hail storm. With hail storms appearing to becoming more frequent and large stones falling from the sky onto glass panels this is a valid concern.

A bit of research though find there is no need to worry. If the solar module bears UL1703 mark, it has been tested for an impact effect like following.

“A module or panel is to be subjected to a 5 ft-lb (6.78 J) impact normal to the surface resulting from a 2-in (51-mm) diameter smooth steel sphere weighing 1.18 lb (535 g) falling through a distance of 51 in (1.295 m). The module or panel is to be struck at any point considered most vulnerable.

The pass criteria is that there shall be no accessible live parts, and breakage of the front material is acceptable provided there are no particles larger than 1 square in (6.5 cm2) released from their normal mounting position.” Most Australian made panels bear this mark.

BP Solar test their panel to the following specifications
Temperature cycling range -40°C to +85°C (-40°F to 185°F)
Humidity freeze, damp heat 85% RH
Static load front and back (e.g. wind) 2,400 pa (50psf)
Front loading (e.g. snow) 5,400 pa (113psf)
Hailstone impact 25mm Ø (1 inch) at 23 m/s (52mph)

This information shows that you should be well protected in a hail storm and there is certainly no need to try and find shelter, especially under a tree that may be more of a risk from limbs falling on the motorhome than hail damaging the solar panels.

Surfing the Net whilst on the road

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:04:00 GMT

At the Brisbane Caravan and Motorhome show recently I collected email address of those people who purchased Nomads Notes so that I can notify them when the program is updated. I found that well over 80% used Telstra Bigpond as their internet service provider (ISP). When I commented about this to some people they stated that as they are travelling there is no other realistic option than the Telstra wireless USB modem.

Whilst I agree Telstra is the best option for your phone service, due to its unrivalled Next G coverage away from the big cities, it is not the only option whe it come to internet access. When I travel I use the internet though my Telstra Next G mobile phone connected to my laptop. I have a data plan attached to my phone plan that is cheaper that the wireless USB modem plans, and can be turned on and off when I want. As I am not full time on the road this is a great option. I simply connect my phone to my laptop via a cable provided with the phone, or Bluetooth, and connect to the internet. The software comes with my data enabled phone and is easy to install.

I find the 150mb for $10 plenty for a few days to week on the road each month for email and maintaining my websites. A similar USB Modem plan is $20/month as well at the $149.00 up front for the modem. If you wanted to just keep up with emails to the family for full time travel this would be more than enough. Plans with higher downloads are also cheaper than the mobile USB option with $29.00 for 300mb with the data pack compared to $40.00 for the USB option, and $60.00 will give you 1GB with the data pack on your mobile phone and only 750 MB with the USB option. You can even get a 5MG plan for infrequent users for only $5.00 per month.

If you have not purchased your mobile phone yet, or you are considering a new one ensure you check out the data enabled phones and then just add data to your phone plan

Mindahome

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:47:00 GMT

The great people at Mindahome have offered Motorhoming Lifestyle subscribers a great deal this month.
Here are the details

How many of us look forward to taking a break, getting away from it all and going on holiday? How we wish we were like those people that can just pack up their bags and go whenever the mood takes them. Then, when we are able to make the time to get away, two of our biggest concerns; the security of our home and the wellbeing of our pets, can still prevent it from happening.

Engaging a house sitter is the answer. House sitting is where people that are planning a holiday or are going away for a period of time arrange for a house sitter to look after their home and pets in return for free accommodation. Some of the duties of the house sitter could include maintenance of gardens and lawns, keeping the house clean and tidy, collecting and readdressing mail. The two biggest advantages are:

The security provided by just having someone in the house
The knowledge that family pets are in the familiar stress free environment of their own home.

An added bonus is that there are no kennel or cattery fees

For those who are in the position of being able to travel and see the country, one of the most expensive parts of your trip is the cost of accommodation. Even motorhome owners need to pay for sites at caravan parks. For some, after a long session on the road, the comforts a house has to offer can be very appealing. So why not seek out house sitting positions in various locations during your journey? Besides using the house you are minding as a base to explore the area and meet the locals, you can use the amenities to relax and recharge your batteries, soak in a bath, catch up with the washing and prepare yourself for the next leg of you trip.

Mindahome is a House Sitting, Pet Sitting and Home Exchange website. Everyone has different requirements and matching them is easy on the Mindahome site. Home Owners and House Sitters can easily search and communicate with each other using our private messaging system.

For travelling home owners in need of someone to mind their home, our service is free. For a limited time Mindahome is also giving Motorhoming Lifestyle members a free 12 month membership as a House Sitter, a saving of $49.00! All you need to do to take advantage of this special offer is go to www.mindahome.com.au and join* using the ‘Special Offers’ certificate number MH200915. Instructions on how to use the number and bypass the payment process is available on the website. Please feel free to call us on (03) 8711 8489 if you need further assistance.

*this offer is valid until June 30th 2009.

Now that you have purchased your new motorhome

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:43:00 GMT

Ok, so you have bought your new motorhome, RV or caravan (either new or second hand). You go to pick it up, hand over the funds (if you have not already) and excitedly drive away. You get home and sit in wonder at your new investment. Then the questions start. What does this switch do? What does that button do? How does the solar controller work? How do the water tank gauges work and what do they tell me? How does the inverter and/or generator work and which power points does it service?

These are just some of the many questions you may ask. Friends of my parents recently bought a second hand motorhome. Once they got it home they asked these and many more questions. Luckily, they had some help in that my husband offered his experience and expertise of the motorhome world to help them answer all their questions. What if though, you do not know anyone with experience or expertise? One of the best ways to answer all of these questions is to plan to spend as much time as possible with the previous owner either before, or at the time of handover so that you can check every switch, button, and have time to ask many questions. You should plan for the handover to take hours and not minutes. Make sure you have pen and paper with you also. You may not remember the minefield of information you will receive.

Before or on the day your inspections check out the advertised details. Some sellers can get a bit eager and slightly exaggerate the specifications. For example are the water tanks the size that were advertised, is the battery bank capacity and solar panel capacity as advertised. Does the vehicle have the inverter and battery charger that are advertised actually installed and functioning and are they the advertised size and specifications.

Many of the motorhomes appliances will have been purchased with operating instructions. Ask for the instruction booklets for all appliances – microwave, solar controller or regulator, fridge, solar panels, etc. If you can not get then from the owner you may have luck on the world wide web. The motorhome that my husband recently consulted on had a Plasmatronics regulator and he was able to download an instruction manual quite easily.

An important thing to ask for is a wiring diagram. Motorhomes can get very complex in their wiring and with subsequent owners doing additional electrical work in adding appliances a wiring diagram can come in very handy if you want to add anything else or indeed have something go wrong. In many instances, this will not be available but if it is, ensure you get access to it.

Check out the safety items. Are the appliances fused and if so where are the fuses? Is all the wiring properly cabled and tied out of the way. Are the battery terminals adequately guarded so that nothing can drop onto then and cause damage?

Some of the questions you may want to ask.

Can the fitted microwave run on the existing power system (or can I run a microwave)? What size is the inverter to be able to run a microwave? What is the wattage of the microwave. Check the compliance plate on the rear or inside the door for the real power consumption, not merely the cooking wattage, to make sure it does not "cook" your inverter? Is the battery bank capacity big enough for the amount of time you intend to run the microwave? If the answer to these questions is negative, you will need to plan to use your microwave only when plugged into power.

How does the Solar Controller (Regulator) work? Make sure you get the operating manual if you can. Many regulators you need to scroll through the menus to get to the relevant information – find out how to get to these menus. What do the lights mean? What do you do if the lights are red? You can also go to the manufacturers website. Another option is searching RV websites forums with information about how to use them, and the pros and cons of different brands

Water tanks. How big are the water tanks and how do the gauges (if installed) work? How are they plumbed? If the gauge reads half full what does this really mean in relation to usage? Some motorhomes have two or three tanks that are plumbed separately and some are interlinked so that the pump will empty all tanks. Others have valves that you switch between tanks. Are the fillers locked and do you have the keys? Is the hot water tank separate or does the water come from the main tank? Does it have a grey water tank and how much does it hold? How do you empty it? The answer to all these questions will help you on your first trip out in the new vehicle.

Electrics. Is the system a 24-volt or 12-volt system or a mixture of both? Some vehicles run a 24-volt system to run the motor and running gear side of things and then have a 12-volt house system. Make sure you know what systems your new vehicle runs so that you do not damage any appliances by using the wrong power source. If you do not know what each outlet supplies, you can attach a multimeter to each one to see what the output is.

House Batteries. How do you check them? How often? (Usually every 2-4 weeks with a large solar system).

Inverter. What size is the inverter and what appliance does it run? What power points are connected to the inverter? Ensure you do not plug the air conditioner into a 300w inverter power point. Which of the power points are directly connected to the 240-volt shore power? Or is it a fully automatic system which runs all outlets, with automatic switchover from mains to inverter?

Generator. Similar questions to above. Ensure you know which power points utilise generator power and which ones are shore or inverter power only.

Battery Charger. How does it work? Is it automatic that comes on every time you plug in? Is it big enough to run the appliances and charge batteries? is it 3 stage?

How much power can I draw? What amperage is the circuit breaker and does it have an Earth Leakage Breaker. New motorhomes will have a 15 am system but many older caravan parks and home outlets will only supply 10 amp power.

Insulation and awnings. Find out what quality the curtains/blind are and if they provide any insulation properties. At night turn the lights on and walk around outside. Do you have privacy? What quality is the window tinting if any? Is there any thermal barrier on the roof (like Thermshield paint). The answers to these questions will help you make decisions on any extra insulation required when travelling in the tropics. Also, make sure the seller demonstrates how the awning is erected or unrolled and practice a few times before your drive away. A roll out awning is great but can take a bit of practice if you have not used one before

Fridge. Is the fridge a 3 way or 2 way. Is it electric only or gas electric and does it run on 12 or 24 volt whilst driving? What are the tricks to starting it on gas?

Asking these and many more questions will make your first few trips out on the road a bit easier until you work it all out for yourself