Our First Caravan: The Mods, Mistakes, and Must-Haves!

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Happy New Year Legends! Hope you guys enjoyed some of the insights into things we have learnt on the road so far. Looking forward to sharing all of our adventures in 2025. Who is heading away soon and where are you heading?

[@NielsSorensen-sh8tm]

Keyring door fix Hosing down the kids. Moving Weiner to set up table. You guys crack me up. Top job😂

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Haha cannot beat the keyring door fix 😂 thanks so much for watching!!

[@belindamartin1941]

That was so interesting to watch. I love the "maybe another baby" drop in there, very subtle 😂

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Haha good pick up 😂 thanks so much for watching Bel, really appreciated!!!

[@RobandKel92]

Great episode full of hints and tips. Thanks for sharing

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment guys. Glad you enjoyed. Happy new year!

[@snakeo99]

One of the best videos i have seen on this topic! Well done guys

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Huge, thanks so much legend. Really appreciate that. It’s hard to work out how to talk about this stuff and make it interesting, so we are glad you liked it

[@ThisVagabondLife]

That was a good run-through of the useful mods you've made. They would make a huge difference. You've done a great job in making your van fit for purpose. Future mods - composting toilet would definitely enhance your type of off-grid travel. They are brilliant. If you're heading for less sunny climes, having a separate small inverter to run Starlink eliminates the base level draw of the big inverters. You don't think twice about leaving it on. All the best for your travels this year! Always look forward to your episodes.

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks heaps mate! Compositing toilet would be a dream. Just need to work out if we are going to keep this van longer term before committing to something like that. I’ve definitely thought about the smaller inverter and was even considering doing it through the troopy instead. Those minis look the goods, literally came out 4 weeks after we purchased this one haha

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks heaps legend! Compositing toilet would be a dream. Just need to work out if we are going to keep this van longer term before committing to something like that. I’ve definitely thought about the smaller inverter and was even considering doing it through the troopy instead. Those minis look the goods, literally came out 4 weeks after we purchased this one haha

[@ThisVagabondLife]

@@RoamingCoastlines Darn - the mini would be cool! As per one of the previous comments - reckon there is a new Zone with your name on it! Ticks virtually all the boxes you went through 😃

[@RoamingCoastlines]

@ haha we wish! That is one of our friends who have just ordered one. It’s nice to dream

[@susanboden5018]

Thanks guys, very informative, I’m gunna look into the invertor capability with ac off grid process.

[@RoamingCoastlines]

@@susanboden5018 thanks for watching Susan, really appreciate it. How nice would it be to have some aircon off grid when needed 😍

[@stewierun9940]

Mats wise you can’t beat the Cgear mats 💵 , only went a 3x3 ourselves fantastic for sand & dirt , wish I had bought a bit bigger now but still great for short stays Inside kitchens is the big difference between the northern and southern states , aleast a grill hotplate or oven in VIC vans at caravan shows compared to QLD seem to be having all outdoor cooking in a lot more vans Safe travels 👨🏻‍🌾🤙🏻

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks for watching mate and taking the time to comment, massively appreciated! Thanks for the recommendation with Cgear, they look really good. Great to hear your opinion with size too!

[@snakeo99]

Santa brought me a cgear mat for Xmas. I like it a lot. Seems to be a lot better than the old shade cloth style one I had

[@michaelzarb6480]

Another Great Episode .Looking forward to seeing your family's travels this year stay safe and enjoy

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks so much mate, really appreciate that! Looking forward to sharing some new adventures soon 🤙🏻

[@Booma69]

A great video and some very good information. For the AC on the Inverter I have a 3000 watt inverter and had it wired into the van so every powerpoint is powered so is the AC. You have more than enough battery capacity however something I was told by the electrician who wired up the inverter was to have double amount of solar to the battery, ie 400amp battery 800w solar. You are doing very well so keep it up. We have a 22ft 6" van and I installed a 2kw diesel heater and it heats the van very fast and on the mid settings. Love the video.

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Mate thanks so much for watching and the great advice! Really appreciate it!

[@tomcencic6260]

Love this! Thanks so much for sharing

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Mate thanks so much for watching and the nice words, it’s really appreciated!

[@SueLee-f4p]

Great episode guys, really enjoyed your rundown of the van, and necessities etc. well Well done 👍

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks so much, really appreciate you watching 😊

[@TaylorsOnTour067]

Great info guys ! We didnt want an inside shower n decided to use as storage WRONG ! now use it for shower 😂 didnt want a microwave WRONG again 😂 no cooking inside WRONG we have 2 induction portables and cook inside for the reasons you have said . Have the webber too. We have 1 induction in car as its set up for living away from van too . Its funny what you get used to until your travel changes from casual to fulltime ! Happy travels stay safe 🎉

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks for watching legends! Appreciate it. It’s so hard to know what really works for you for full time travel until you are actually doing it hey. Makes you realised why you see so many people changing setups half way through their travels, always thought it was weird haha! How good are induction cookers. Such much better than cooking with gas

[@raybourne5781]

Agree with your 5

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Awesome! Thanks so much for watching mate, it’s really appreciated!

[@chrisshapland5472]

Enjoyed the video Ben and Ash. Nothing prepares you for being full time on the like being full time on the road. We were discussing with some vanners next to us last night how many clothes we don’t need. 😂

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks for watching mate! And you are 100% correct, nothing really does! Haha and you are spot on with the clothes! Way too many in our van 😂

[@DamianCollisson]

Thx , awesome video guys 😊

[@RoamingCoastlines]

@@DamianCollisson thanks legend, appreciate you taking the time!

[@sea.nest.]

Really enjoyable episode. Last year we upgraded out outdoor mat to a c-gear mat. It's great quality but the shape isn't as practical (bit too square rather than long rectangle). I believe Navigator do a similar mat and their sizes are better. Maybe a smidge cheaper or a similar price. But to be honest, the c-gear mat not soft and probably not great for kids to play on. If we were to get one now after having this one we'd go for another rubbery one from BCF/Anaconda that is nicer underfoot and softer to sit on.

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Really appreciate that mate, thanks for watching! Awesome bit of info about the mats, we were eyeing anaconda ones off the other day and didn’t end up getting one

[@dotwillcoxson5352]

Happy New Year and safe travels in 2025. Another interesting video. You are both so articulate and chatty. Good information too.

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Happy New Year! Thanks for checking out the video. Glad you enjoy listening to us ramble on haha. Appreciate you always watching 😊

[@shirleylamb3545]

Great information & advice

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks Shirley, appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment!

[@vishanveerahoo4396]

Use talcum powder to get sand off feet. Works a treat.

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks for the tip, we will definitely give that a go!

[@JohnMiddleton-sv4hf]

Happy to see you guys enjoying life, the general consensus is 2 watts of solar to 1 amp of battery and to be frank we have that and when we were in Vic with all the cloud cover we struggled at times with 600A/H of lithium and 1200w of solar.

[@RoamingCoastlines]

@@JohnMiddleton-sv4hf thanks for watching mate, very appreciated! Yeah I’ve heard that one before and makes sense. If we were to go from scratch I would definitely look to do something like that. Thought it was worth pointing out to people that even though we aren’t following that rule, our setup has been working great so far on the road. We have had cloud the past 3 days here and currently sitting at 90% first thing in the morning.

[@JohnMiddleton-sv4hf]

@@RoamingCoastlines We live in Perth and we have no problems with solar here also when we were in Qld last year solar was great there too

[@RoamingCoastlines]

@ yeah that makes sense. Will be interesting to see how we go with Tassie in winter haha

[@BordertotheShore]

Great video 🇦🇺

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks so much, we really appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment legends!

[@arsal7942]

great informative episoode keep it up and you guys have tv as well in the caravan?

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment mate! Glad you enjoyed it 🤙🏻

[@mlcs179]

Can you tell mine where you got the toggle from?

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Sorry mate, toggle? If you mean the thing on the front window, it’s called shock cord and you can buy from Bunnings

[@mlcs179]

@ yes that its, the thingmy jig. Awesome video, safe travels.

[@RoamingCoastlines]

@ awesome mate, thanks for watching!

[@sallydommett3451]

Sounds like you need a Zone

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Hahaha now you’re rubbing in 😂 maybe you guys should make them sponsoring us a condition of sale

[@mlcs179]

They will need to win some cash for that

[@RoamingCoastlines]

@ 100% 😂 it’s nice to dream but

[@MegaHilly13]

i hate walk arounds and q&a

[@RoamingCoastlines]

Thanks for watching!