Its done.
I’m finally living the adventure that I’ve been planning since I started surfing ay the age of 15.
I’m in Australia.
I have a tasty 9foot longboard.
…and now I have my own campervan, complete with a bed :D
STOKED!
So now the plan is the head to Melbourne, crash with some friends for a few days, catch up with all the crew who are finishing their trips their or in it for the long haul and pimp out the van ready for the epic trip that will be the East Coast of Oz.
Melbourne – Cairns via some of the best surf spots in the world :)
Buying my van (a 2.0 Automatic Mitsubishi Express, complete with a queen size bed conversion in the back) was one of the most exciting yet stressful experience of Oz so far. So I’m hoping I can pass on a few nuggets of new found knowledge to help any would be campervanners along!
Before you start:
Obviously the most important part of getting a van is the search. But don’t get carried away in the excitement, you need to approach this with a level head and avoid rushing into any crazy decisions!
Have a look around at a variety of models of van. Make a short list of the vans you think would suit you…it’ll save you ALOT of time later on!
What do you need from a van?
how many people are you driving around?
just a shell to pimp out yourself?
or a full bed and kitchen conversion ready to roll?
…..and most importantly what’s your budget?
All the above need to be thought through and answered before you start looking. They will help you narrow your search quite considerably.
When it comes to budget you need to bear a few extra things in mind. A campervan is an investment, it can save you quite a bit of money but it can equally drain your funds VERY quickly if you make a bad decision. I’d push your budget to the max – think of the amount you’ll be saving on hostel fees (which are around $200 a week…thats $800 per month….thats $8000 on a 10month stay!), but equally you need to know what you can afford and make sure you stick to it.
The Search:
I dedicated a few days of solid searching before I even started viewing campers. There are 2 main options; the internet and notice boards. Both are equally helpful. Most hostels have a notice board where you can view posts….the great thing about this is the instant attraction, your gut instinct is something you should trust.
The internet on the other hand has scale on its side. Sites like gumtree.com.au and seek.com.au have literally thousands of vans for sale at any one time.
Use both!
Take notes on all the vans you like…contact numbers, mileage, van type/make etc
Compile a massive list of people to phone and arrange viewings.
Now one thing I would pass on would be to pay ALOT of attention to mileage. This is probably the biggest factor in how well your van will run, but will also sway the price too.
Aim for the lowest mileage possible (when I was buying 190.000 was about the lowest I could find….350,000 was the highest!). You need to bear in mind that the 4 biggest price brackets are under 200.000, 200.000 – 250.000, 250.000 – 300.000 and 300.000 +
I know it may be a long way off but you need to think about the mileage you will be adding to the van whilst you have it and how much this may affect the price when you go to sell later on.
I’d also be wary of engine rebuilds. My friend at home is a mechanic and it’s something he told me to avoid….yes the engine may have a warranty….but it will be limited. You never know how much of that rebuild is old parts and how bodged it is. Unless you a mechanic or really struggling for a van I’d stay clear.
2 other things to put on your checklist for van ads is the rego (our MOT), try and get a long rego. And a pink slip – which is a safety certificate, stating that the van is in good nick and safe to drive.
It’s also good to note that due to the way the tourist trap works Cairns is considered the buyers market and Sydney a sellers market. So bear that in mind when buying and where you’re thinking of selling. The price of a cheap internal flight could save you alot!
Seasons can also affect price dramatically….with the start of summer commanding the highest prices, especially just after Xmas.
Viewing:
Ok so you have your shortlist. Now comes the really fun part – start viewing!
Take your time with this. Go in with an open mind but at the same time be wary! My Dads advice was to go in thinking the sellers were there to screw you out of your hard earned cash…scope them out as much as you do the van…and again trust your gut feelings.
But enjoy looking round these vans, take notes about things you like and don’t (even if you build the positives into a different van you end up buying!). Do the usual tyre kicking, rust checking, general noseying around. Ask for a test drive – if its automatic get the revs up so it changes through the gears, if its manual give the clutch a good test and make sure the gear box is smooth.
Talk to the sellers about what they’ve done on their travels, any repairs to the van, what they’ve bought to put in it ect.
Service history is always a good thing to nosey through too…it’s a good insight into what may go wrong, what has gone wrong and even what price they intially paid for it. Couple this with how long the sellers have left in the country or what their future travel pans are and you could have a good bargaining tool (quick sell = lower offer!).
Go view other campers. Dont jump straight in.
….a god old fashioned pro and con list for them all is a great way to short list it even more!
Arrange a second viewing for the few you really like. Be really anal this time, check lights, start the engine a few times….fine tooth comb it!
Buying:
Ok so now you may be in a position where you want to actually buy one or more of the campers you’ve seen :) but unless you’re really flush for cash price will now be a big decider for you.
Decide on your MAXIMUM price. And stick to it!
Put in a offer.
Make it WELL below what they’re asking! Judge this on how well you got on with the seller and how quickly they need to sell. At the end of the day if you don’t get the van at the price you think is resonable and you can afford at least you still have your money in the bank. Wise words from Daddy Stevens!
The aim here is to start bargaining. Your first offer (unless you’re uber lucky) will be rejected flat out. But in theory this then gives you leverage for the buyer to produce a counter offer.
Eventually (depending on the feedback you’re getting) you should meet somewhere that suits you both – the seller has a price they’re willing to part with the van for and you feel that you’ve got a good deal and have saved yourself some money!
The Paperwork:
So you have your van – stoked? You should be!
After you’ve exchanged monies you now need to transfer the rego over. Thankfully Oz has taken some hassle out of it by making the process rather simple….in theory! All car rego (their version of an MOT and registration) includes third party fire and theft insurance…which is automatically transferred over to you as the new owner….sweeeeeet!
(you can obviously upgrade this to fully comp if you wish through an insurance company).
Now to transfer everything. Now in NSW (where I bought my van) you will need the following: a signed certification of sale (the seller should proved that), a passport, a second proof of identity (bank statement ect) and a letter showing your address in NSW. Now its the final piece that proved the most difficult. I (probably like you) am a traveller, I bought the van to travel in and have no fixed address in Oz. But the RTA hasn’t really geared itself up for that!
Now there are a few ways around it…get someone you know living in the state to write a letter providing their address and stating you’re staying there, or speak really nicely to the hostel you’re living in and get them to print a letter stating your currently staying their…but make sure it has your FULL name and TODAYS date printed on it. The RTA will have you jumping through hoops otherwise!
Once you have that sorted there’s only one more thing to do and thats paying the stamp duty on the transfer (around 3%). This can be made a nicer experience through the slight loop hole of it being based upon the sale value of the van. A value the seller must write in. Speak nicely to the seller and most are willing to put a lower value in to save you stamp duty! :)
Now go pimp your van, give it some love, treat it with respect and let it take you through the vastness that is Australia.
Enjoy!
And just for my own records here’s my word blurb account of my campervan buying experience:
searching, viewing, falling in love with the purple one, negociating prices, standing my ground, not getting it, days of seraching, endless phone calls, the french girls and their roof box, bondi junction van, test drives, loving it, debating alot over coffee, ringing dad, emailing dad, the german guys at kings cross, quick viewing, victoria road seraches, stealing ideas, realising the bondi van is the one, drinking, 8.30am starts for a second viewing, being really anal, knowing i’d found my van, putting down a deposit, being stoked, more advice from dad, spending the weekend trying to contain my excitement so i wouldnt jynx it, trains on monday morning, bank transfers at bondi junction, RTA waiting, not having all the paperwork, hand over of the keys, nikki getting a lift, photos with darren, last minute advice, filling up, calling darren to find fuel release, coffee with the girls at wakeup, loading all our gear, RTA in central sydney with wakeup docs, not being accepted and needing a bank statement, trudging around sydney in the heat, new wakep doc not right due to chris, being angry and stressed, phone calls to wakeup, faxes being sent, finally getting everything in order, $90 fee, being stoked, thanking the lovely staff at wakeup for their immense help, itrip purchasing, map reading, sydney street lostness, toll bridge avoiding…..the roadtrip begins!
So after a morning of saying goodbyes to all my newfound friends me, Kerri and Kat loaded all our kit into our new home and headed (rather chaotically!) to Bondi. However after a short break we decided that Melbourne was calling….so the roadtrip down the Hume Highway began….
…eeeeeeeepppppp! :D
aliceedwards
curiouscheese
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