Anyone ever rented a campervan/motorhome
13 February 2012, 05:56 PM
#1
Anyone ever rented a campervan/motorhome **NOW WITH PICTURES**
We're off to Australia soon for a 3 week holiday, starting in Perth.
Something we'd very much like to do is rent out a Campervan/motorhome (4 berth) and go travelling for around 7/8 days.
None of us have done this before and so we're unsure about a couple of things and it'd be nice to know to ease the mind.
The motorhome we'd go for will have a chemical toilet and a shower, also a sink etc. Where does all the water come from and what happens when it's all used up? Where do you refill?
Where do you empty a chemical toilet?
Anyone got any experience of this at all?
Cheers
Cliff
Something we'd very much like to do is rent out a Campervan/motorhome (4 berth) and go travelling for around 7/8 days.
None of us have done this before and so we're unsure about a couple of things and it'd be nice to know to ease the mind.
The motorhome we'd go for will have a chemical toilet and a shower, also a sink etc. Where does all the water come from and what happens when it's all used up? Where do you refill?
Where do you empty a chemical toilet?
Anyone got any experience of this at all?
Cheers
Cliff
Last edited by v5 man; 11 April 2012 at 10:32 AM.
13 February 2012, 06:03 PM
#2
the newer ones have a built in fresh water tank, usually 80 litres, just fill them up with a hose pipe, chemical toilets will be emptied on the sites you stay on over night, simple enough slide out of the side of the van, and you turn the **** on the top and try not to get any on your feet 
when you fill it, you put a cap full of the toilet blue chemical stuff in and an inch of water so it covers the bottom, plonk it back in the van and off you go... 
when you fill it, you put a cap full of the toilet blue chemical stuff in and an inch of water so it covers the bottom, plonk it back in the van and off you go...
13 February 2012, 06:05 PM
#3
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Not had one myself but a pal of mine rented one for ten days in NZ and said it was brilliant. You emtpty the waste tank on a camp site just connect a hose and press a button not a big deal.
13 February 2012, 06:17 PM
#5
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Plus on a good site you can have electric hook-up as well so still have all your mod-cons, tv fridge, freezer, Heating
13 February 2012, 06:25 PM
#6
You can just arrive and park up for the night, but do a little planning with a map first fella, i wouldnt fancy getting tired and just stopping in the middle of nowhere for the night, but plan in advance and use recommended sites and you wont have a problem.
Plus on a good site you can have electric hook-up as well so still have all your mod-cons, tv fridge, freezer, Heating
Plus on a good site you can have electric hook-up as well so still have all your mod-cons, tv fridge, freezer, Heating
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13 February 2012, 07:44 PM
#8
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Dont go, simple as that.
The snakes, spiders, sharks and other deadly critters in Australia makes your survival very risky.
Try New Zealand if you want to go that far
The snakes, spiders, sharks and other deadly critters in Australia makes your survival very risky.
Try New Zealand if you want to go that far
13 February 2012, 09:36 PM
#11
had a few motorhomes, my first was to go off to Greece for a few months over winter about 5 years ago, got as far as the otherside of the Frejus tunnel (spelling) into Italy, it decided to overheat mid way through the tunnel which had just reopend after killing loads in a fire! anyway I rented one for a week while they fixed that one
I found I didnt like just pulling up and having an overnight kip, a couple of places in Corsica (didnt get to Greece) we got some **** doing handbrake turns and gravel spraying the van - you go lol here but it felt proper wierd and some kids tried nicking the bikes off the back
also, a lot of places didnt like you filling up your water tanks and finding suitable places to empty the toilet, ours had built in toilet tank so no pull out cassette type, just park over and pull the leaver, the rental one ad the cassette type and you still needed to find where you could empty those due to the chemicals
try and plan it first, i didnt, I just fancied the drive through Italy
you need the internet which we didnt have apart from when we could get wifi so you can find suitable places
I am sure there will be loads of info
try the motorhome forum
if anyone fancies doing it in France its the best place to go, free designated areas in many villages, just follow the motorhome signs
it is strange when you first go but once into it its great, in fact I want to go now
I found I didnt like just pulling up and having an overnight kip, a couple of places in Corsica (didnt get to Greece) we got some **** doing handbrake turns and gravel spraying the van - you go lol here but it felt proper wierd and some kids tried nicking the bikes off the back
also, a lot of places didnt like you filling up your water tanks and finding suitable places to empty the toilet, ours had built in toilet tank so no pull out cassette type, just park over and pull the leaver, the rental one ad the cassette type and you still needed to find where you could empty those due to the chemicals
try and plan it first, i didnt, I just fancied the drive through Italy
you need the internet which we didnt have apart from when we could get wifi so you can find suitable places
I am sure there will be loads of info
try the motorhome forum
if anyone fancies doing it in France its the best place to go, free designated areas in many villages, just follow the motorhome signs
it is strange when you first go but once into it its great, in fact I want to go now
13 February 2012, 09:56 PM
#12
We won't have the internet but I'm adding the Australia map to my TomTom, which I'll take with me.
I hadn't thought of a motorhome forum, that's a superb idea which I'll check out now.
I'm sure when we get there we'll meet people who know more than us and can give us some pointers, I just feel nervous heading into the unknown
I hadn't thought of a motorhome forum, that's a superb idea which I'll check out now.
I'm sure when we get there we'll meet people who know more than us and can give us some pointers, I just feel nervous heading into the unknown
14 February 2012, 09:15 AM
#13
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Spent a month in a campervan touring New Zealand. Best holiday I've ever had and got engaged at the end of it
To to echo all that has been said above, places like Oz and NZ thrive on tourism so everywhere is well set up for stuff. All campsites will have facilites for chemical toilet emptying, getting rid of your grey water, and filling up with fresh water. The van we had in NZ had on board shower/toilet so we could stop pretty much anywhere, some of the campsites are very remote and have little of no facilities so it meant we could stop at these as well as the more commercial sites. Also found a few nice picnic spots / laybys etc where free camping was tolerated provided you didn't leave any rubbish etc.
Even if you never stayed on a commercial site where you could empty / fill the van most towns had a municipal campervan service area where you could do all this for free anyway. Like I say they're not stupid over there and know they make a lot of profit from the tourist $ so they bend over backwards to help.
To to echo all that has been said above, places like Oz and NZ thrive on tourism so everywhere is well set up for stuff. All campsites will have facilites for chemical toilet emptying, getting rid of your grey water, and filling up with fresh water. The van we had in NZ had on board shower/toilet so we could stop pretty much anywhere, some of the campsites are very remote and have little of no facilities so it meant we could stop at these as well as the more commercial sites. Also found a few nice picnic spots / laybys etc where free camping was tolerated provided you didn't leave any rubbish etc.
Even if you never stayed on a commercial site where you could empty / fill the van most towns had a municipal campervan service area where you could do all this for free anyway. Like I say they're not stupid over there and know they make a lot of profit from the tourist $ so they bend over backwards to help.
14 February 2012, 03:16 PM
#15
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I've done the east coast of Oz (Sydney to Cairns) by campervan. I noticed that it was possible to hire caravans at campsites. This could have some advantages. (I've also done Sydney to Adelaide via Melbourne by car).
The van I had was a Toyota HiAce so had the aerodynamics of a breezeblock with performance and fuel consumption to match. It was comfortable enough as I was travelling on my own, however if there are four of you travelling together something like a Holden Commodore would be more comfortable, faster and more economical on fuel (as well as cheaper to hire). You could then hire on-site caravans or stay in motels as you travel.
The van I had was a Toyota HiAce so had the aerodynamics of a breezeblock with performance and fuel consumption to match. It was comfortable enough as I was travelling on my own, however if there are four of you travelling together something like a Holden Commodore would be more comfortable, faster and more economical on fuel (as well as cheaper to hire). You could then hire on-site caravans or stay in motels as you travel.
14 February 2012, 04:13 PM
#16
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If you plan stops at sites there is no real need to fill up the water tanks before you set off by the way. It weighs a lot so you'll be a lot slower and use a lot more fuel. Carry what you need. Best to keep it fresh anyway than keep older stuff swilling about in there (or just wastign a tankful).
Parents did Canada in a motorhome (they have a big campervan anyway) and really enjoyed it. Rented a fairly big one with expanding sides and still looked poor. At one site a camper turned up towing a hummer as "a runabout"
5t.
Parents did Canada in a motorhome (they have a big campervan anyway) and really enjoyed it. Rented a fairly big one with expanding sides and still looked poor. At one site a camper turned up towing a hummer as "a runabout"
5t.
07 April 2012, 03:33 AM
#18
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Have u left yet v5 man to oz, if not are you going north or south from perth to have a drive.
Dont forget to visit caversham wildlife park on outskirts of perth, fantastic zoo if ya wanna hold a wombat in ya arms, and feed the kanagaroos.
Dont travel at night in the camper, even if you think you may get to the next campsite, the sun sets quick, damm quick, dont have a wee on the side of the road at night, you may stand in a nest of brownsnakes, or be close to a waterhole with crocs around, dont try passing a road train as there about 32000 lengths long
Oh if ya go north then try and make it to coral bay
If ya go south then dont forgot wave rock, Bunbury, Margaret River.
If you can make Albany make sure to see Dog Rock, also go along to Esperance and see the blue arctic waters of the ocean.
Dont forget to visit caversham wildlife park on outskirts of perth, fantastic zoo if ya wanna hold a wombat in ya arms, and feed the kanagaroos.
Dont travel at night in the camper, even if you think you may get to the next campsite, the sun sets quick, damm quick, dont have a wee on the side of the road at night, you may stand in a nest of brownsnakes, or be close to a waterhole with crocs around, dont try passing a road train as there about 32000 lengths long
Oh if ya go north then try and make it to coral bay
If ya go south then dont forgot wave rock, Bunbury, Margaret River.
If you can make Albany make sure to see Dog Rock, also go along to Esperance and see the blue arctic waters of the ocean.
07 April 2012, 12:08 PM
#22
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Hired a 4 berth one to go from sydney to brisbane taking a week, only slept in the Van for one night as the campsites had bungalows with 3 beds tv,showers and outside barbecue for 25 bucks a night. much better value.
hire a V8 commodore est and just stop at the campsites. probably cheaper to do as well.
Campervan turned out to be an expensive hire car.!!!
hire a V8 commodore est and just stop at the campsites. probably cheaper to do as well.
Campervan turned out to be an expensive hire car.!!!
10 April 2012, 11:27 PM
#23
We went and now we're back 
It was without doubt the best holiday I've ever been on and I loved every single minute of the 3 weeks we were there
We hired our Motorhome through Cheapa campa ( http://www.cheapacampa.com.au/ ) and in truth it was far too big for what we needed (6 berth), so next time we'll know better.
We visited: Yanchep, Cottesloe, Hillarys, Whitford, Coogee, Joondana, Sorrento, Perth, Toodyay, York, Scarborough, Fremantle, Bunbury, Bussleton, Yallingup, possibly more, I forget them all
On our travels we found this.........
and this.........
these....
and of course....these...
It was without doubt the best holiday I've ever been on and I loved every single minute of the 3 weeks we were there
We hired our Motorhome through Cheapa campa ( http://www.cheapacampa.com.au/ ) and in truth it was far too big for what we needed (6 berth), so next time we'll know better.
We visited: Yanchep, Cottesloe, Hillarys, Whitford, Coogee, Joondana, Sorrento, Perth, Toodyay, York, Scarborough, Fremantle, Bunbury, Bussleton, Yallingup, possibly more, I forget them all
On our travels we found this.........
and this.........
these....
and of course....these...
Last edited by v5 man; 10 April 2012 at 11:34 PM.
10 April 2012, 11:54 PM
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Wow fantastic
Brings back fond memories for me v5 man.
The camper looks great, better big than small i say.
Im dribbling looking at the pics
If anyone ever asks me what part of oz to go to i always say the west coast,
the diversity is just awesome compared to the east coast.
Glad you enjoyed it, more pics please.
Catch ya
Brings back fond memories for me v5 man.
The camper looks great, better big than small i say.
Im dribbling looking at the pics
If anyone ever asks me what part of oz to go to i always say the west coast,
the diversity is just awesome compared to the east coast.
Glad you enjoyed it, more pics please.
Catch ya
11 April 2012, 12:05 AM
#27
I've not gone into too much detail about the holiday, but diverse it was
The 1st three days we stayed in appartments at Sorrento beach near Hillarys,
then onto a friends B&B in the Toodyay outback for 3 days (spiders/Scorpions/Kangaroos/birds galore)
Here....
and my wifes God father lives there too, here at this house....
The white Toyota Camry was our hire car
Then onto the motorhome and to many places, then finally we stayed in this hotel in Scarborough for the last 4 days....
I loved Australia and it's people, we'll go back when we can afford to and we'll be better equipped next time
The 1st three days we stayed in appartments at Sorrento beach near Hillarys,
then onto a friends B&B in the Toodyay outback for 3 days (spiders/Scorpions/Kangaroos/birds galore)
Here....
and my wifes God father lives there too, here at this house....
The white Toyota Camry was our hire car
Then onto the motorhome and to many places, then finally we stayed in this hotel in Scarborough for the last 4 days....
I loved Australia and it's people, we'll go back when we can afford to and we'll be better equipped next time
11 April 2012, 12:13 AM
#29
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v5 man the hotel in scarborough in the last pic, did it have a outside tennis court on the right hand side looking from the beach.
If it did its the one where i stayed, the friend i was staying with over in kewdale, just near the burswood casino in perth, his brother was the assistant manager there.
If it did its the one where i stayed, the friend i was staying with over in kewdale, just near the burswood casino in perth, his brother was the assistant manager there.