Full renovated offroad caravan walkthrough / Best caravan mods for travelling Australia on a budget

[@gillybarbat2449]

Yes please to more van renovations.

[@timmiller508]

You did a fantastic job. And certainly gave it a new life. 🎉

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you mate!! We love her!

[@nzmarkb8713]

@@nowornever_ausTotally agree, you did a fantastic job on the Reno.🏆

[@nowornever_aus]

@nzmarkb8713 thank you!

[@geoffhunt6439]

I think I might have mentioned it during the reno of your van, I was never in favour of painting vans and changing them from their original finish but you have changed my mind, the way you have painted your van is 110% better then what it was when you bought her. You did an amazing job.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you so much! There will always be flaws with paint over the original trim but I think this has freshened Bertha up!

[@judithtaylor6916]

With the burner cooktop lid. When you fix it. Place a slightly larger cut square of rubber drawer liner underneath the lid. Stops any rattle and buffers it. On our dining seats, I put cot size fitted T-shirt material fitted sheet on the seat. And stays on. Glad I did. Our dog decided to help herself to a covered chicken honey soy dish cooling on the dining table. Greasy soy sauce. Saved the faux leather.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you! Such great advice! Glad your lounge didn’t get destroyed! 😂

[@MarcHawksworth]

Yes, I’m about to do a Reno on a supreme 2011 executive and it would be great to see some things like water damage repairs and I’m going to replace the ceiling. To see it been done would be great and no I’m not organised enough to do the recording of what I’m doing 😊

[@ianbailey4114]

Have watched you guys from the start. Best viewing IMO is how you as a family solve your issues and problems. The Web is now full of location uTube, I don't need more Gibb, Monkey Miah. Build series would be a winner IMO.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you! 😄

[@robertarmbruster5650]

Great episode, thanks. I love the self standing telescopic table in our new van, it's not screwed downm like the old one and does not move at all.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thanks mate!

[@lyndac7409]

Thanks for the walk through of Bertha, you guys should be proud of how well you've done with your renovation. Just an idea for keeping the kids doona's in place sewing buttons or press duds on the top corners and half way down the doona and cover will stop them from slipping around. This also helps when putting the doona in the cover.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you so much!! That’s a great idea!

[@georgewinters3191]

Great feedback on your van and all the Reno work you did and the products ideas you shared.

[@nowornever_aus]

Cheers!!

[@brianelbers4755]

Bertha looks great and held up well during your off road trip, i liked the fact that you gave feedback after a couple of months of use. i would love to see more renovation videos, im half thinking of doing a 80's / 90's van myself one day , my first research is going to be what to watch oug for during the purchase , ie water damage and handy man work from previous owners etc, also learning from other people like yourselves what works what doesnt but some of that is also prefrence etc. loved how Alex refers to Character with some minor scratches and dents and says she wont stay the same ofcourse you got to live and not drive a show room around. thanks for sharing the journey

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you so much for the awesome feedback mate!

[@treeman3663]

Yes loved your van Reno series

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you!

[@lindaarmiger217]

Post trip walk through of Bertha good value. It must feel so good knowing all your hard work created such a great van. Would be great to see a series on you renovating another van. You are all just so down to earth and genuine. Thanks for the great content.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you!! 😊 Hopefully we can do more temp content in the future!!

[@mickp10]

Caravan renovations would make a great KZbin channel. There must be a lot of good vans out there waiting to be renovated. Thanks for sharing the update on your van.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thanks mate!

[@michaelpawelski137]

Hi Guys. We met you at the lions den pub the day you arrived love your channel. We have just come back from France. I saw the composite gas bottles at a swap and go at a supermarket $18 euros each. The bottles are $65 euros each. I think we are getting touch up here.

[@nowornever_aus]

Hey!! Yeah we knew of the prices in the European market before we got them as they let us know before we got ours, we’re told it’s the cost importing them here when buying such small quantities so the more people buy the cheaper they will get to bring them in

[@paulinebrennan8836]

Would love to see more reno vids. You could flip them & fund future adventures.

[@nowornever_aus]

Cheers! Definitely a path we’d love to go down!

[@leahaines7413]

We have a similar colour lounge. After we finished north WAit had red patches that i struggled to get clean. I ended up using a 'magic eraser' sponge and got the best results out of everything. Then just finished it off with some leather conditioner.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you! We’ll have to get one and see how it goes on ours! 🙌🏼

[@Sabumnim666]

We are changing our 21.6ft semi off road suspension to simplicity load sharing coil independent. I have read as much as I could get my hands on for van suspension and simplicity has all the credentials for being best for caring for your van. The military use them from what I have read they are used a lot by the military. I get the installation on 2 weeks so I hope I have read the right stuff.

[@nowornever_aus]

Good stuff! I think you’ve made a great choice and won’t regret it! 👍🏼

[@Sabumnim666]

We have have just had the suspension done the quality of work is totally great. Richard at Simplicity axles super helpful and a great build we had it fitted at G&S suspension in Melbourne, again another really top notch company to deal with and the work is brilliant. We had to have it done in Melbourne as the people we spoke and there were a few have declined to help as one said there was no money in it form them and another one down south of Adelaide said its just an on road van, which immediately turned me away from them as it is a semi off road van, and I now view them as unprofessional at best. The tow back to Adelaide was a big step up from the original suspension as the road between Melbourne and Bordertown is in pretty bead shape there was almost no transferred jolts on the way back. We are very happy with the choice now we need to get the ATM assessed. @@nowornever_aus

[@Foolish_Paul_Australia]

You've done a great job with Bertha. 😍 I enjoyed watching you put it all together and would love to see more reno vids in the future as well. 🙂

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you mate! Hopefully we can bring more of that kind of content!

[@tobybirtwhistle430]

I run heaps of different refrigeration at our business. If you leave a door open too long in a hot and humid environment ice will grow. Once it starts to grow it will not stop until you remove (defrost) the ice from the unit. The ice will severely affect the ability of a fridge to work effectively. I'd imagine that 12v fridges are the same. It is really hard with upright fridges to not let all the cold out! Try to not have the door open for long periods. Thanks for the content guys! Ps. How good is Jackalope Trading Co? If you ever get the chance to have a beer with Todd Hill do it. The bloke is a deadset legend.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thanks for the info!! Your right though it is hard to keep til he door closed especially with kids! 😂 Jackalope is sooo good!

[@wendyguardiani9222]

Trevor and I love watching you guys ,straight talking and down to earth. And yes ! More caravan make overs. Enjoy watching and learning from your transformation of Bertha.😊

[@nowornever_aus]

@wendyguardiani9222 thank you! 😀

[@sawyerlife1020]

Haven't even got through the whole video just yet but thought id mention. Standard gas bottle Tare Weight ranges from 7.95kg (I think i've seen one a little less but its heaps more rare) up to 13kg depending on the bottle itself and they get filled up with 10.5kg of gas regardless.. Those ones might still suit some people but just thought id throw it out there. If you need the lightest bottle possible look through the tare of the bottles when swapping.

[@debbieclements7779]

Hi guys, just love your channel and absolutely love what you have done with your van. Just watching your walkthrough episode now and have a suggestion with regard to the vent in the caravan door. We unscrewed the vent and put air-conditioner filter mat from bunnings between. Stopped heaps of dust but still allows air flow. Hope this helps. Keep up the great work. Deb.

[@nowornever_aus]

That’s a fantastic idea! Thanks Deb!

[@iancairncross5076]

i use a four wheeldrive step that fits over the tyre and supports the underside of the bag allowing me to put fire wood in it and stop it from falling down also able to use it to look in the engine bay when i need to work on the engine

[@nowornever_aus]

That’s a great idea!

[@danielpountney8259]

Great episode guys! You have done an amazing job and demonstrated you don’t need a new van! Erin, google mushroom quilt holder 😊

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you so much!! 😊

[@yusufsayed1583]

Good Morning 😊 Awesome Video 👍🏼 Thanks for sharing 👏🏼 Fantastic work 💯 Greetings and cheers 🍻Mates From South Africa 🇿🇦

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you mate!! 🙌🏼

[@wanderingglampers]

Tip with the kids doonas always falling inside, throw a few buttons on the corners, works a treat😁👌🏽

[@nowornever_aus]

Thanks! 😄

[@wanderingglampers]

@@nowornever_aus your welcome 🙏🏽 loved this ep to guys, the green looks so good 😁

[@nowornever_aus]

@wanderingglampers ☺️🙌🏼

[@dfgdre23]

Yes please, more renovation videos.

[@nowornever_aus]

🙌🏼

[@markedwards8788]

I loved the renovation series - would love to see more!

[@nowornever_aus]

Glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully we can do more!

[@GregSharkey]

I can recommend the Blackjack trailer jack. Makes hitching and unhitching easy. To put the weight into context, an Ark 750 jockey wheel weighs clise to 20 kg while the blackjack is around 15kg.

[@nowornever_aus]

That’s good to know!! Thank you!

[@thelotusdancer1]

Awesome RV you guys did an amazing job 🎉

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@diannehavelberg5875]

Well guys you done really good with the Reno's many a new van would have lots more damage than you have don't need expensive vans to have a good time

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@kathrynyates8811]

Hey try sewing a button in each corner of the doona and a tab in each corner of the cover (or vice versa) to keep the doona in place 🙂

[@nowornever_aus]

Great idea! Thanks!

[@Sunshinecoasthypnotherapy]

Sounds like the birth a great business at the end there guys…you could be the ASPW of the van world! 👍

[@nowornever_aus]

That sounds awesome! But what does ASPW stand for?! 😂

[@travelling_kelpies]

Stitch in little ties to the corners of the quilts and the inside corners of the quilt covers, then tie them in and they don't move around 👍

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you! Great tip!

[@GrabLifeByTheGourlays]

You’ve done a bang up job on it 🤙🏽 looks great🙌🏾

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you!! 🙌🏼 🍻

[@michaelf5292]

Go the Black Jack! 🙂

[@nowornever_aus]

We want to but they are pricey! $$

[@paultabone2010]

Great renovations on the Van you both did a great job.👍👏🍹🍹 I was just wondering about the weight of the van now , do you think it would be around the same weight, safe travels 🍹🍹👍😎

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you! She’s a little heavier now because of the battery system but also shed a bit of weight here and there so very close to the 2400 tare!

[@paulhardie9450]

When you get that Ram truck Simplicity do a 4 1/2 ton version of that suspension so there’s always that upgrade option 🤪🤪 maybe just a simple spring pack swap 🤔 & $60 grand from upwards of $150 thou is you guessed it $90 Grand plus still in ya pockets 😃😃😃😃 👍 Keep on DreamDreamin lol

[@nowornever_aus]

Would love a Ram and a big payload!

[@Carpo74]

Erin - use safety pins to fix the kids doonas into the covers 👍

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you!

[@raelenekay4565]

Regarding donations moving.... sew buttons on either the doona or inside quilt cover on each corner, then sew a loop of elastic or other type of cord to the opposite of the buttons

[@nowornever_aus]

Great idea! Thank you!

[@stephenhorton1225]

I think the cowfish antenna has provision on its wall plate for the radio aerial to be incorporated.

[@nowornever_aus]

I think your right, only problem is that it’s a fair way down the wall from the stereo antenna so would be a mission to run it down for us

[@mindyedwards7576]

Thank you for sharing.

[@nowornever_aus]

Cheers!

[@craigtomkinson2837]

Cool Ep

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you!

[@BDavis.]

Hi guys Enjoyed this video! Saved a few tips and codes from you 😊 How has the paint smell been? Did you buy non-voc paint? What did you say about your awning? What brand did you have on your jb and love on this one? I didn't quite catch the name of the company for the wall stickers? Have they left any residue or ruined your caravan when you've taken them off? I love anything reno series. Yes to another caravan 😁

[@nowornever_aus]

No smell from the paint at all! Not sure what non-voc is sorry! We had an awnlux awning but now have Dometic which is great! Stickers are from wondermade decals, we haven’t taken them off yet so not sure of how it will be underneath!

[@biglap.australia]

Did you sell your JB purely for a bigger van or did you have reservations about the brand? We had a trailer mate on our caravan and wanted to upgrade to a BlackJack. While in a caravan store I picked one up and couldn’t believe how heavy it was. So I waited and recently bought a Boss370 3 rib. So far I’m really impressed. So much lighter. Love your posts. My wife keeps saying “what? A woman on KZbin travelling Australia and not wearing makeup? No way!”

[@nowornever_aus]

Quite a few reasons, we wanted to free up some money, bigger van as we knew the dogs would be with us from then on and we were never the happiest with the JB for what we paid 👍🏼

[@biglap.australia]

@@nowornever_aus interesting because I’ve noticed quite a number of people on social media part with their JB after 12 months and get something else. Then you guys did it. I had a look at JB at a caravan show but wasn’t impressed with the build at all. I’ve been very impressed with the Traveller caravan. It’s a keeper.

[@theadmiral7726]

Hi guyslove the video..has anyone or are you aware of the legislation re number plate height 1.32cm from top of number plate to the ground. It's very expensive fine if you are evey checked by police. Enjoy your break looking forward to when you are back on the road

[@nowornever_aus]

Hi! No we weren’t aware! It’s in the original position from factory but will now definitely look at making sure it’s legal! Thanks!

[@leannechurches5227]

Thanks for sharing

[@nowornever_aus]

Cheers!

[@BDavis.]

Did you install a diesel heater, and if yes, what brand? Thoughts? The price can vary significantly 😕

[@nowornever_aus]

No as it already had one in it, from everything I hear the cheap ones are as good as the expensive ones!

[@BDavis.]

@@nowornever_aus thank you. The reviews look outback equipment

[@treeman3663]

Would you consider a compost toilet??

[@nowornever_aus]

Originally we would have said no but recently spoke to family with one who gave their honest opinion and I would definitely consider it now!

[@cynnie60]

It might be obvious but do you leave the lid up on your stove otherwise the oven won't stay on.

[@nowornever_aus]

Yeah we do but ours is also an older Swift that doesn’t have that safety switch, all of ours elements work with the lid down 👍🏼

[@kerrietimms7668]

Don’t throw your diesel heater if it is a decent brand. Just put a service kit through it. About $100 admittedly for a few bits and pieces. But super easy to nut out and to do. The average handy person could do it in an afternoon. (Mark)

[@nowornever_aus]

Thanks mate! Will definitely look into doing this!

[@richardtimms6645]

Whats the plan guys, when you hitting the road again?

[@nowornever_aus]

We are in the road now!! Stay tuned for this content very soon!

[@peterforrest3038]

Why don’t you run draws or top bunk sides just a thought 👍🏻

[@nowornever_aus]

Doing pretty well with the amount of storage we have! I think if we had more we’d just take more stuff we don’t need 😂

[@stuartkcalvin]

0:05 is that hook up sloping back? Perhaps it should be sloping forward, a bit? Just askin'.

[@nowornever_aus]

Just the lay of the land, site very nicely when towing 👍🏼

[@coraleewatkins7356]

Great video, I loved following you for the last 2 months. My question is, did you leave your TV on the wall mount whilst you travelled or did you take it down? Thanks

[@mindyedwards7576]

I think I saw on a previous video they put it on the bed.

[@judithtaylor6916]

Our Van builder said to always take off the TV and place up between the pillows. As too much rattle to destroy the TV.

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you! We take it off the mount and lay it screen down on the bed 👍🏼

[@coraleewatkins7356]

@@nowornever_aus thank you😊

[@alisonphilp7497]

Like ur channel guys new subscriber

[@nowornever_aus]

Thank you!

[@sawyerlife1020]

Doona fix = Conforters!!! (I personally hate doonas)

[@nowornever_aus]

Thanks!

[@rj.vir.singh.]

I'm sure that you don't have a lot of free time and I want to help you with that I'm a video editor and I want to ask you if you need any video editing for your videos. Let me know to have my portfolio or your edited sample video. Cheers, Rajvir Singh

[@nowornever_aus]

Thanks

[@rj.vir.singh.]

Are you interested??

[@nowornever_aus]

@rj.vir.singh. Thanks but we are fine doing it ourselves! 👍🏼

[@rj.vir.singh.]

@@nowornever_aus No worries.... All the best for your future endeavours 👍🏻

[@mitchellharrison5492]

So basically you recommend everything you get sponsored by like most other channels 😂😂

[@nowornever_aus]

Haha I spose it does look like that, but we research the products as much as we can before we accept them and knock quite a few back 👍🏼

[@ashpurcell3340]

How much does she weigh

[@nowornever_aus]

2400 empty and sitting around 3T loaded 👍🏼

[@ashpurcell3340]

@@nowornever_aus and does she tow ok with the Ranger

[@nowornever_aus]

@ashpurcell3340 she tows so well! 100 times better than the last single axle we had!

[@iansharpe5306]

Do what you can afford .if it works why change it

[@nowornever_aus]

So true!!