So what are we doing reviewing a motorhome book on these pages? Simple
really. The next logical progression from a camper is either into a
full size van or a motorhome with a few more built in luxuries than
those available in our campers. This is a self published book by Collyn
Rivers up in Broome WA, and it is the best publication available that
we know of, to help you make the right decision when you eventually
think about a motorhome. Self publishing is wonderful for books of this
nature as you can easily update it and even add extra chapters as required.
Of course the ultimate set up is to put your updates up on the web.
That way everybody wins!
You know you are ready to move up to motorhoming
when your back protests every time you wind up the stays, you make excuses
not to tow, there's nowhere left to put anything, you feel the need for
better security when free camping, you hate making camp in the rain and
you need the "security" of a toilet right behind the drivers
seat etc. Along these lines the book starts off on how to choose the right
vehicle, as motorhomes are just as bigger minefield area as picking a
caravan/camper and of course they are generally much more expensive. Very
good sensible advice here on travelling lightly with a huge emphasis of
the number one enemy weight. There are excellent lists of the estimated
weights for everything you are likely to carry - a real eye opener! In
our case we were over to blazes with books!
Collyn suggests that you buy the smallest
vehicle that will suit your needs. He discusses the choice of fuel in
great detail even to the point of explaining graphically just how a diesel
works. There is even a chapter on building your own vehicle such as converting
an old bus etc. This is an excellent section and covers the weight of
various materials etc. Electrics/solar/batteries is covered in excellent
easy to read and understand detail and enough info provided to allow you
to easily assess your own wattage. The solar section even gives maps of
expected sun hours all over Australia for both winter and summer. Lighting
types and inverters are well covered as Collyn is very heavily into self
sufficient off road camping so he really knows this subject. A'vans are
spot on as they use Halogen globes in the reading lights - but not the
main and the outside light! We liked the fridge section as it is not at
all vague and at last the actual brands are mentioned. Fitting a 12 volt
compressor to a small domestic fridge is also covered. Now this is true
DIY!
Of particular interest to those about to
retire on just the pension is an enlightening section on budgeting on
the road listing all expected costs. According to Collyn, with the right
setup your costs can actually be lower than living at home. We only have
one criticism of the book - it desperately needs an index! An example
- we read the book for this review and remembered seeing a reference to
a company who guarantee to get medical help to you anywhere in Australia.
An A'vanner emailed about medical problems on the road and we could not
find the reference again!
The book is A4, plastic cover, sturdily
wire bound and runs to 85 pages. Our son publishes music books and we
have found this to be the most robust type of binding presently available.
You can buy the book directly from Collyn at PO Box 3634, Broome, WA,
3634 or on email collyn@caravanandmotorhomebooks.com
- whether you can buy with credit cards is not mentioned. Collyn does
not have a website at present. CMCA
members can order from the bookshop online. This book can DEFINITELY
benefit camper and caravan owners not even thinking about moving up to
motorhoming just yet. Cost is $37.00 which includes postage anywhere in
Australia. Absolutely recommended.
Bob
Eustace
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