Aussie Looking for RV Purchase Advice!

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AussieGrant

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Hi... I need some 'USA' advice on two points re buying a van for my US trip.

1. I think I'm getting bad advice (in Australia) re your US Van Classes.

I'm looking to buy a 'converted van' RV, not what I would call a cab/chassis conversion (a little larger).

I guess I want a Class B, and not a Class C ?

2. I'm having 'Google' problems identifying your popular used 'RV For Sale' websites from here. Despite adding US States, etc..... Not understanding your 'Models/Manufacturer/Classes' names doesn't help :)

I found http://www.rvtrader.com from a post on this Forum and it's helped a lot.

I'd appreciate any suggestions re either of these points.

Thanks & Cheers

Grant
 
Try Craigslist in the area you will be arriving. Class B's are not as plentiful as the larger C's and A's, may take a while to locate one that fits your needs and budget.

When will you be coming over? Just curious, spent a time in Australia and had hoped to return.

Any questions there are plenty of folks here that will try and help.

Bob J.

Class B is the Van conversion.
 
And a Class C has a van cab, but the van body behind the cab has been replaced with something bigger.
 
Many times "b" vans are not listed in that way in ads.

Try the brand name... Roadtrek maybe? Can't think of other makes!
 
bobj said:
When will you be coming over? Just curious, spent a time in Australia and had hoped to return.
Hi bobj.... I hope to get over around mid/late March and stay until late 2015.

Doing my trip with no rush or set plans!

Let me know if I can give you any help with your trip over here! I know the top half of Australia very well, including all places 'Remote', but I can easily get southern info from my RV/fishing mates!

Happy to assist anyone heading this way.

Thanks to everyone for their advice and assistance!
 
I found Kijiji and Craigslist both mostly had the conversion vans mixed in with cargo vans and mini-vans. Very seldom did I find them mixed in with the RV's.

It's tedious work plowing through a bazillion mini-vans while looking for a full size van but there was no sort mechanism that I could find that would eliminate them.

With each of them I had to select my location, a distance zone and after looking through pages and pages I had to literally move myself to somewhere else. For example I was willing to shop the entire province looking for what I wanted....there was no way to have the entire province on a single search.

Don't be afraid to keep going back several pages - when I finally found my new baby, it had been posted on Friday and by Saturday when I found the listing it was already way back on page 7. Apparently many of the dealers in that area posted new listings every Friday afternoon for the weekend shoppers and it had pushed the listing that far down.
 
Grant, Thanks for the offer of guidance in your country. I doubt I will make a return, health issues and such. My time in your country was Waaaaaaaay back in 1968 and again in 1969 in a lifetime far, far away. I was on R + R from Vietnam, came over there with the intention having my way with the women there and drinking the place dry. Succeeded at neither. Met a lovely woman who I am still in contact with, she lives in Redcliffe,Queensland. Had a great time with some wonderful people and drank a lot of remarkably strong ale. Only issue I had was when I tried to buy a round at a local pub. I wasn't allowed to.

As your time for coming over here nears keep the folks on this forum up to date, I am sure there will be many offers of help.

There is also rvnet another site that has a forum for class b's

Travel safe,, Bob J.
 
Some other brands are OkanaganRV, PleasureWay, and Intervec (no longer in business).
I sometimes see Class B's listed as campervans.
 
bobj said:
Grant, Thanks for the offer of guidance in your country. I doubt I will make a return, health issues and such. My time in your country was Waaaaaaaay back in 1968 and again in 1969 in a lifetime far, far away. I was on R + R from Vietnam, came over there with the intention having my way with the women there and drinking the place dry. Succeeded at neither. Met a lovely woman who I am still in contact with, she lives in Redcliffe,Queensland. Had a great time with some wonderful people and drank a lot of remarkably strong ale. Only issue I had was when I tried to buy a round at a local pub. I wasn't allowed to.

As your time for coming over here nears keep the folks on this forum up to date, I am sure there will be many offers of help.

There is also rvnet another site that has a forum for class b's

Travel safe,, Bob J.

Seems we have a lot in common.

I personally missed the Vietnam war by months and now my company is based in Vietnam. Funny how things work out!

It's based in Da Nang and the lady who cooks my meals, cooked at the Da Nang US base!

Redcliffe is just 'down the road'..... I'm in currently in Cairns, Queensland... about 1400 kms from Redcliffe!

I also find it hard to repay a beer in ANY US bar I visit :).

Thanks, Mate!


bobj said:
Grant, Thanks for the offer of guidance in your country. I doubt I will make a return, health issues and such. My time in your country was Waaaaaaaay back in 1968 and again in 1969 in a lifetime far, far away. I was on R + R from Vietnam, came over there with the intention having my way with the women there and drinking the place dry. Succeeded at neither. Met a lovely woman who I am still in contact with, she lives in Redcliffe,Queensland. Had a great time with some wonderful people and drank a lot of remarkably strong ale. Only issue I had was when I tried to buy a round at a local pub. I wasn't allowed to.

As your time for coming over here nears keep the folks on this forum up to date, I am sure there will be many offers of help.

There is also rvnet another site that has a forum for class b's

Travel safe,, Bob J.

Seems we have a lot in common.

I personally missed the Vietnam war by months and now my company is based in Vietnam. Funny how things work out!

It's based in Da Nang and the lady who cooks my meals, cooked at the Da Nang US base!

Redcliffe is just 'down the road'..... I'm currently in Cairns, Queensland... about 1400 kms from Redcliffe!

I also find it hard to repay a beer in ANY US bar I visit :).

Thanks, Mate!
 
I know it's off topic but I find that interesting. 1st Marine Division was based out of Danang. Been there many times. My regiment (5th Marines) was based out of a ******** about 20 miles from Danang called An Hoa. A very scenic area under different circumstances. Had a huge French Plantation near our rear area, blown to bits but you could tell it was very fancy at one time.

If you get in Dallas-Ft Worth area I'll pay back at least a beer or three.

Hope you have great success finding the type of vehicle you want


Bob J.
 
bobj said:
I know it's off topic but I find that interesting. 1st Marine Division was based out of Danang.

If you get in Dallas-Ft Worth area I'll pay back at least a beer or three.

Bob J.

Sorry, Admin... VERY Off-Topic with this post

Da Nang has turned into one of the nicest cities in Asia & I've attached links to some recent photos. The new Dragon Bridge spews huge 'Smoke & Fire' every evening.... get's interesting when it happens, just as your approaching :)

The Dallas area is on my list... so we'll catch up for a few Beers, for sure!! I'll contact you, closer to the time..... I'm sure I'll need some "local" advice.

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb357/grantnielsen/ScreenShot2014-11-27at73937AM_zps0378a896.png
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb357/grantnielsen/ScreenShot2014-11-27at74059AM_zpsa0fd8dca.png
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb357/grantnielsen/ScreenShot2014-11-27at74029AM_zpsdfeccbfb.png
 
Wow is the only word I can think of that wouldn't get censored. Thanks for taking the time to post those. Not exactly as I remember it and that's a good thing.

If you need some legwork done when you decide on an RV let me know or post to the forum, I would be happy to help if able.

Thanks again.. Bob J.
 
class bs are pricey, especially for just roadtripping for a year. id go with a reg passenger van and convert myself.
of course if money is no object i suggest sportsmobile :D
 

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