The Grey Nomad goal.

[sprintcyclist]

Have new ideas.

Either :
1/ 4WD Toyota Coaster, fitted out for long term camping/travelling in a desert. Has shower, solar power, W/C, bed. Say about $120,000.
Great for touring Australia. Not good for normal uses.


2/ SUV with AWD/4WD, 6 speed+ auto, 2.5 petrol, can sleep in it if necessary, can tow up to about 1 ton.
Put 'light' camping gear in the lockable box trailer. Picnic set, Camping shower tent, porti-potti, small gas bbq, Esky, solar panel with a few small batteries, spare petrol, water.
Great for normal uses, not ideal for touring Australia

[Texan]

Once my kid gets into his career as a diesel mechanic, I'd really like to convert a school bus into an RV. It can rival a $100k+ RV and can be built for $20-30k. You can add fresh, gray, and black water tanks, shower, kitchen, fridge, solar panels on roof. You'll only need to stop once a month to dump the waste tanks and fill up the fresh water tanks. With a park pass in Texas, you can park for $20/night with full electric and water hookups and usually a dumping station. Otherwise, you can park it where you like off grid. And school buses are built extra sturdy. You'll need to develop mechanic, construction, plumbing, and electrical skills and have room to park it while you build it. You might be able to buy a used one, but it's hard to judge the skills of the previous owner without spending some time with it.

[sprintcyclist]

Once my kid gets into his career as a diesel mechanic, I'd really like to convert a school bus into an RV. It can rival a $100k+ RV and can be built for $20-30k. You can add fresh, gray, and black water tanks, shower, kitchen, fridge, solar panels on roof. You'll only need to stop once a month to dump the waste tanks and fill up the fresh water tanks. With a park pass in Texas, you can park for $20/night with full electric and water hookups and usually a dumping station. Otherwise, you can park it where you like off grid. And school buses are built extra sturdy. You'll need to develop mechanic, construction, plumbing, and electrical skills and have room to park it while you build it. You might be able to buy a used one, but it's hard to judge the skills of the previous owner without spending some time with it.

Yes, the Toyota Coasters are often used to do that.
I think things are quite more expensive here.
I am a reasonably competent person but think that a company that specialises in bus conversions will always do a better job than me.
Quicker, probably cheaper if I take my time into account. Definitely better.

We got a deck built here, 5 M X 5M with a roof on it. I did not contemplate for a second of 'doing it myself'.
Got a local construction company to do it. I spent my weekends cycling and going to the beach.
I had enough to do with the finishing touches, - oiling, landscaping.

[sprintcyclist]

https://www.mazdas247.com/forum/index.p ... ng.222337/

https://www.mazdas247.com/forum/index.p ... ng.222337/

Mazda 2.5T power torque curve

[sprintcyclist]

This months car desire is Mazda CX-9.

2.5 petrol diesel, 6 speed auto. Torque similar to a diesel.

Can tow a small trailer, can sleep in it at a pinch, quite ok round town or usual day trips.

[sprintcyclist]

Reasons to consider a petrol over a diesel for towing.

1/ Petrols are cheaper to buy.

2/ A Petrol uses more fuel when towing. Take into consideration how often you tow. If it is for limited times, a diesel loses it's advantage even more.
If you tow sensibly a petrol does not use that much more.

3/ Diesels are much more complex engines.
If you have to add that blue stuff, that is just another cost and complexity.

4/ Diesels cost a lot more to service. More often.

5/ A diesel repair can be horrendously expensive. Every part in a diesel is dearer.

6/ Diesel mechanics are dearer.

7/ Diesels are noisier and vibrate more.

8/ Diesel is smellier.

9/ Diesels can be hard to start in the cold

10/ Diesel emissions are carcanogenic and bad for the environment.

[sprintcyclist]

This months car desire is Mazda CX-9.

2.5 petrol diesel, 6 speed auto. Torque similar to a diesel.

Can tow a small trailer, can sleep in it at a pinch, quite ok round town or usual day trips.

Diesel Hyundai Santa Fe or diesel Kia Sorento?
Yes, same sort of car.
Can tow 2 ton, about $25K used. Good reputation, awd