There are more of us on the road every month, and even if you’re just starting out, it’s odds on that you will have heard that things are changing – for better or for worse. So what are the current issues facing today’s RVers?
We all know that we share the roads, the forests, the campgrounds and caravan parks with others who might not necessarily endorse our views. There are so many issues to contend with when RVing, and there is no one solution that is going to suit everyone. But the best we can hope for is that even if we can’t come to a consensus about what is desirable, what is fair, and how we can work towards achieving it, then we can at least give everyone a say.
One of the major issues that immediately comes to mind is the demand by travellers for a safe place to stay the night without having to pay for services and facilities that they don’t need. This is an issue that gets a lot of air time on radio, in caravan parks, on forums and on social media! But that’s only one of the many concerns that RVers have, including what “Leave no Trace” really means and how it should be implemented; the rising cost of travel, finding pet-friendly parks, and the possibility of regulation for older drivers. Let’s take a look at some of the concerns and some of the solutions.
Caravan Park Affordability
If you regularly visit the forums and Facebook pages frequented by RVers, you might come away with the impression that all caravan park owners are money-hungry and all RV owners are saints. We of course know that neither is true.
The cost of powered and unpowered sites in parks has risen, and in some cases travellers simply can’t afford an expensive powered site in a popular tourist park. There are more and more RVers who want more parks that offer a patch of ground, a basic-but-clean amenities block, and a 240volt power point for a reasonable price. And it has to be said that unless we have children with us, we probably won’t use the jumping pillow! But let’s look at the other side:
There are still plenty of RVers who look for parks with plenty of facilities, and who will happily pay park fees to enjoy those benefits.
Caravan park owners are running a business. Like any business owner, they look for the best return on their investment. Dollar for dollar, cabins in resort-style parks give a better return than simple powered sites.
In some areas caravan parks have a limited season during which they make most of their money for the year. They employ and pay the wages of seasonal personnel. Their “high season” charges reflect this reality.
Many RVers don’t want or need all the bells and whistles of a resort-style park, but there are increasingly fewer ‘basics only’ parks. A lot of these are found in country areas. Parks in popular tourist areas are likely to cater for all tourists, including families that want comfortable cabins and an all-in-one resort for the kids.
What is the answer? It would appear to be ‘more basics-only parks’, but if they are not likely (or less likely) to be profitable, who’s going to take them on? A few caravan parks with large unused areas of ground are experimenting with opening up those areas to self-contained RVs for a minimal cost, so we’ll keep an eye on that initiative and see how things develop. In a number of towns, little-used showgrounds are being used for RVs to stay overnight at a lower cost, with fees going towards the council. The other option is for local councils to establish or upgrade ‘freedom camping’ areas. That solution brings its own problems.
FREEDOM CAMPING AND REST AREAS
What a hot potato this issue has become! Looking at it from the viewpoint of the RV community, we would like:
More rest stops along roads at regular intervals, equipped with basic clean facilities
More rest areas that permit overnight stops
More camping grounds (“freedom camps”) that provide basic amenities (toilets and dump points) near or within city limits: either free or low-cost
Those are just the most basic ‘wants’. In a nutshell, RVers want to be free to travel around Australia without being forced to stay in a caravan park simply because there’s nowhere else in town that they’re permitted to stop for a night.
Let’s switch hats and look at it from the viewpoint of local councils. From reports in the media, it’s clear that many councils are faced with a dilemma. Grey nomads and other visitors travelling around Australian in RVs spend a lot of money in their towns, and it’s in the best interests of local businesses to make them welcome. It’s clear that, as baby boomers retire, this influx of visitors is likely to increase. But now, thanks to today’s well-equipped RVs making it possible to camp for weeks at a time without access to 240v power, more and more of those visitors are looking for camping areas rather than caravan parks. They would rather spend their money on tours and local attractions than site fees.
Caravan park owners (the small minority, it must be said) have been known to lobby the local council and protest that they’re being forced out of business, and that the cost of running their parks means that they have no choice but to charge what they do. Many have requested that councils set a ‘buffer zone’ around the town – sometimes as much as 50km – disallowing freedom camping within that zone. In some places, councils have tried this and then later removed the restriction, when it became clear that the town was being bypassed by travellers seeking destinations that were more RV-friendly.
There are other issues related to councils setting up freedom camping areas. Once established, those with basic facilities need to be serviced: amenities cleaned, dump points maintained and the area kept clean. In some towns, local service groups such as Lions and Apex help to establish and maintain campgrounds, and install a donation box to assist in keeping the campground viable. While most RVers are responsible and clean up after themselves, the same cannot be said about all travellers. There are increasing problems with roadside rest areas: these were intended for all travellers to rest for a few hours or overnight, but in some areas travellers have set up camp and stayed for a week or more, and then left the rest area littered with rubbish. This certainly doesn’t help the cause of RVers who try to do the right thing.
The CMCA has a list of RV Friendly Towns on its website. Go to www.cmca.net.au, click on ‘Services’ then ‘RV Friendly’.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP THE CAUSE?
Spend money in RV-friendly towns that provide freedom camping areas with facilities and dump points
Write a letter of appreciation to councils that encourage RVers to stay in their towns
Write a letter to councils that enforce a large buffer zone around the town for freedom camps, and point out that you’re not likely to drive 20-50km into their town to spend money on eating out and other attractions
Join organisations like the Australian Caravan Club (ACC) or the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) and keep track of their initiatives in this regard. Be prepared to lend your support where possible. The CMCA was (and is) instrumental in encouraging towns to become ‘RV Friendly’ and in making dump points available.
THE ‘LEAVE NO TRACE’ SCHEME
Essentially, ‘leave no trace’ means exactly what it sounds like: as you travel around Australia, you should make every effort to leave no trace that you’ve been there. Take your rubbish with you or put it in provided rubbish bins; take your black water and grey water with you until you can get to a dump point, and don’t pollute the environment with products that are not environmentally friendly.
The original Leave No Trace program, designed to educate people about making minimal environmental impact, originated in the United States. Further LNT organisations were set up in in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland. You can visit www.lnt.org.au to read more about the 7 principles of Leave No Trace, and in the information box on this page you can find links to further information about the schemes initiated by the CMCA (LNT) and the ACC (ACCESS) on their websites.
The LNT Australia site points out that LNT “depends more on attitude and awareness than on rules and regulations”, and many sensible campers and RVers agree with them wholeheartedly, not keen on the idea of having to sign up to any kind of scheme.
However, a number of RVers have pointed out that simply paying to join a scheme and getting a sticker doesn’t mean that the person concerned is guaranteed to do the right thing. Others are annoyed by any scheme that places restrictions on the length of a stay in a campground based upon the number of litres that their grey and black water tanks can hold, rightly pointing out that they don’t <<<ITALICS>>have<<<END ITALICS>>> to use the prescribed amount of water – and that there is no guarantee that anyone with large holding tanks won’t use more water anyway.
The counter-argument to this is that government departments and councils appear to be more willing to establish camping areas for self-contained RVers if they have signed up to a code of conduct, and perhaps those who go to the effort of signing up are, in the long run, more likely to be the responsible ones.
As you can see, the jury is out on this one. RVers can do a lot to help themselves by being responsible, by doing their bit to keep campgrounds clean and litter-free, and not polluting the environment with rubbish and toxic substances.
Affordability of Travel
Apart from the rising cost of staying in tourist parks, RVers are faced with other escalating costs. This includes the high cost of fuel, increased costs of buying and maintaining a tow vehicle, and the rising cost of living generally. There’s not a lot RVers can do about any of these things, other than getting the best value possible when they buy a new or second-hand rig, so they compensate in other ways. A large number of travellers are on a fixed income (whether this is a pension or an income derived from interest on investments, for self-funded retirees) and it’s necessary for them to carefully manage their finite resources.
A developing trend these days is for RVers to travel shorter distances and stay at destinations for longer, thus saving fuel costs and wear and tear on the RV. Often, savings can be made when staying in one place: stay six nights and get the seventh free, or one-off deals that come up on sites like www.travelauctions.com.au (click on ‘Powered Sites’). Travellers can also stretch their income by volunteering to help out on an outback station or a farm in return for accommodation; breaking up their trip with some house-sitting or looking for ways to earn money while they travel.
More older drivers on the road
We need to face facts: no matter how spotless our driving record might be, our reflexes, hearing and vision gradually deteriorate with age. With more and more focus on baby boomers and the needs of an ageing population, from time to time the issue arises of whether older drivers should be re-tested.
Requirements for testing older drivers vary from state to state. Victoria does not have age-based testing, and South Australia abolished age-based testing in 2013. In NSW, drivers aged 85 and older have to sit a practical driving test every two years, and in Western Australia drivers aged 85 and older have to sit a practical test if it is recommended by their medical practitioner.
At the moment, drivers towing large caravans or fifth-wheelers do not have to pass a towing test. New caravanners learn through experience, or take a short course in towing. It remains to be seen whether this continues to be the case as more and more RVs start showing up on our roads.
Apart from the issue of drivers’ licences, older travellers need to be aware of other issues related to ageing and health. Take care, before heading for remote areas, that you know how to obtain medical help if necessary. Keep notes on blood group, any chronic conditions, and the name of all medication – and ensure that medical prescriptions are up to date and will cover as much as possible of the period of travel.
Finally, think ahead to what you will do if the driver becomes ill or has an accident and the other half has to do the driving. Has he/she driven enough to have the necessary experience in towing and backing? Will it be possible for the other party to set up/ hitch up the RV? If the van has to be towed back home, do you know where to get help to do this? One RV relocation service hands out a card and recommends that RVers keep it in the glove box of the car in case of emergency. You can find out further information here: www.caravanrelocationservices.com.au
Travelling with Pets
Finding enough parks that take pets There are plenty of parks that do take pets, so it’s just a matter of locating them in or near your intended destination. It can be difficult on the west coast – for example in Karratha and Broome. You have to travel 40km further on from Karratha to Roebourne to be welcomed with pets, and in Broome, the local shire provides an ‘overflow park’ in peak season, just for travellers with pets.
The simplest method to find pet friendly park accommodation is to simply Google “pet friendly caravan park [town]” and they’ll come up. Calling a park by phone to check if they are pet friendly is good, but dropping into a park office in person is better, because sometimes management will allow you to stay after meeting you.
Travellers who plan to do a lot of freedom camping will find it much easier – just look up Camps Australia Wide or Wikicamps to find plenty of places to stay.
What to do with pets if you want to visit national parks. National parks are a huge part of Australia’s heritage and attractions, but national parks and pets don’t go together – so what are you to do? There are various ways around this problem. Some National Parks have caravan parks nearby that will offer babysitting. The Bungle Bungle Caravan Park, for example, will look after pets so you can explore Purnululu National Park. In other places, you can stay at nearby freedom camps and swap dog-sitting services with other travellers who face the same problem.
Your responsibilities as a pet owner The law on the road is no different from the law back home. Pet owners must ensure that their charges are safe, have access to shelter and fresh water, and be free from the risk of injury. Don’t leave your pets shut up inside or underneath your rig as there is a risk of them overheating. Make other plans, such as booking them into a boarding kennel or a cattery for a few days.
Pets can get sick on the road just as they do at home, so think ahead. When you plan the next leg of your trip, find out where you can obtain the services of a vet, if you need one. Write down the contact details and office hours, or bookmark them on your computer. Not all areas will have all-night service.
Finally, if your pet tends to be aggressive or badly behaved, think twice and then think again before taking it with you. You might be able to handle your pet, but you don’t want it to terrorize anyone else – visitors, owners or pets.
THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF LEAVE NO TRACE AUSTRALIA
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimise Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Your Hosts and Other Visitors
Potable Water
The problem of finding enough potable water can present a problem for freedom campers. Some campgrounds supply fresh water taps or tank water, but in other places you’ll need to bring your own. If there is no fresh water available, the length of your stay will be dictated by the amount you take with you, or whether a potable water source is within an easy drive.
Sometimes lightweight vans don’t have any water tanks, which means you’ll need to carry water in containers. Some caravans and motorhomes have dual water tanks. At the time of ordering an RV, a buyer can often negotiate the size and number of fresh water tanks. Sometimes there is a choice between having one fresh water tank and one grey water tank, or two fresh water tanks.
Freedom campers sometimes take with them a water purifying product like Aquatabs to ensure they have safe drinking water. Others use water filtration devices or simply boil water for drinking.
As a rule of thumb, always check to see if there is potable water at your destination. If not, carefully calculate the amount you’ll need to take in with you.
ROAD CONDITIONS
If there was ever a double-edged sword for RVers, it would have to be roadworks! On one hand we’re delighted to see them because it ultimately means a better ride and safer travel. On the other hand, when we strike a stretch of roadworks that extends for many kilometres, the trip can seem twice as long.
Given that you can’t control the government’s purse strings and dictate where and how quickly they should fix bad sections of road, all you can do is drive to the conditions and be prepared for emergencies.
Some tips on being prepared:
Carry hi-vis vests, reflective triangles and a flashing lantern with you in case of breakdown on a bad stretch of road. Murphy’s law being what it is, you’re sure to get a flat tyre or have something break on the worst section of road for kilometres.
Make sure your roadside service and insurance is up-to-date and consider premium roadside service – if you have a breakdown or an accident in a remote area, it can get expensive. Ensure that you take out the level of cover to suit the size of your RV – for example, NRMA Premium Plus covers a range of vehicles with a GVM of up to 10 tonnes.
Don’t ask more of your RV than it can give. If you plan to do a lot of freecamping in bushland areas, make sure that your RV (and tow vehicle) is suited to the task.
If you’re planning on travelling along roads with heavy corrugations and/or river crossings, educate yourself beforehand about the safest way to do it. Always check road conditions and weather reports before you head out. Take two spare tyres if going across a road like the Gibb.
Reduce speed if you’re going across a bad patch of road or if weather conditions worsen.
If you need to cover long distances on inferior roads, shorten the length of each leg to avoid wear and tear on the driver!