Off-roading..sport of Kings?
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 05:15
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Member - Ray ( (VIC)
Hi guys,
From the outset, let me assure everyone that I think this website is great, I love the read! However, the more I DO read the various posts, the more I wonder at the costs you enthusiasts incur to enjoy what you do! I am just a travelling camper, certainly not a died-in-the-wool off-roader, and I travel the country for two reasons..one, it suppliments my profession ( artist/illustrator), and two, to enjoy relaxing out there in the environment. I don't think I could afford becoming an off-roader,it seems that you guys put yourselves in situations that always require special equipment, be it special recovery gear, or sophisticated communications gear, and the like, not to mention all the mods you seem to add to your vehicles! Don't get me wrong, folks, I am not knocking it, just that I often wonder the costs to enjoy what you do!
With the priralling cost of fuel, vehicles, equipment and so on, it certainly is an expensive pastime,,,but what the hell, good on ya! Someone once said it is made round to go 'round! Just wish I had more of it!!
Think I'll stick to the bitumen, and just enjoy reading about all those other exciting
places that apparently, can only be reached by those who can afford to get there!
Like I said at the onset,I love reading the posts here, just wonder if I will ever be able to afford to do what you guys do! Happy motoring, troops!
Bronco
Reply By: Willem - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:12
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:12
Hmmmmm.....Ray
If you are looking at the monetary value of things then there are many comparisons that can be made.
It all depends on what you aspire to.
My complete set-up costs less than my mates swimming
pool at his house and like him, I get continuous enjoyment out of it.
You are always spending money as this is the commodity we have to trade with. Even you will spend extra money on whatever you need when travelling, being an artists and doing what you do. No, you don't need what we "offroaders" may want. But then again do we NEED all that stuff?
I saw an ad on TV last week for a $600,000 Winnebago Luxury Touring Bus. I can't even afford to buy one wheel of that vehicle but there is someone out there who has that sort of money and they will enjoy driving around in it.
Affordability of a pursuit is in the eye of the beholder.
After saying all of the above I must go and top up my diesel tank at $1.45 a litre.
Them's the breaks. Do or die!
Cheers
AnswerID:
167991
Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:06
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:06
I think Willem has the right angle on this. It is not a sport, so cost comparisons with sport probably don't mean much. It is more a leisure pursuit; even a way of life.
The swimming
pool comparison is a good one. Also, people spend a fortune on overseas holidays. Others think nothing of spending $30,00 to $50,000 on the 'family car'.
Well our 'family car' just happens to be a 4B.
For an initial set up, a $10,000 GQ and about $2,000 on mods and accessories is enough for a vehicle. Another grand or two on a reasonable tent and camping gear and you can hit the road for under $15K. And a good slice of that is recoverable if you decide to sell.
Sure, some of us have expensive set ups, but you don't need it to get into the lifestyle and see this great country.
AnswerID:
168006
Follow Up By: Member - Ray ( (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:20
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:20
Hi there!
I agree, it really is a lifestyle!.. I love the freedom it gives me, and, yes, you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy it! My rig has taken me all over, bought secondhand ( except for the camper/trailer) for a reasonable price, and has not given me any real trouble over the last couple of years. Like I said earlier in the post, my preference now is my caravan (also bought secondhand), but I do it the easy way,sealed roads and comfortable caravan sites! Was camped the other day at Eildon, and a guy pulled in alongside and set up his van. We got talking (nice bloke..also a Vietnam vet, so we had a lot in common!) he showed me his van, very nice too, but I nearly fell over when he told me the price! Nearly $50,000 for the setup, not to mention the other $70,000 for his truck! It was an off-road van, with all the mod cons, admittedly, but way, way out of my price range!
But then, he and his wife were living in it full time, and touring Aussie, and he sold his house to get it. It's what I will do eventuially (tour fulltime, that is) but I certainly can't afford that kinda price. Guess my rig will have to do!
Regards
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Footloose - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:55
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:55
Ray, I'm not wealthy by any means. But I am lucky enough to have done some 4wd touring over the years. The rigs I've met range from the full on 100k+ through to the locals in their 2wd cars, sleeping in a swag etc.
When I was a teenager I hitched around a bit (it seemed a bit safer in those days, no doubt it wasn't but I was
young and stupid.) I was camped in my tiny tent in
Ballina, next to a guy in a 4wd and huge van. We started chatting and he told me that he envied me. As a 16yo I was blown away. Yes, says he. You are up and gone in 5mts. I'll be here for another hour and a half before I can go.
The point being that there's a price for everything. More is not necessarily better :))
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Melissa - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 15:41
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 15:41
Hi Ray,
No matter how little or how much all of us here spend on our rigs and camping set-up, it all comes back to being a lifestyle decision. The great thing about 4WD touring (as opposed to hard core 4WDriving as a sport) is that you can enjoy the benefits close to
home or across the other side of the country, tackle a hard trek or an easy one and therefore you can really spend as little or as much as you like to enjoy the great outdoors. Most of the gear (such as recovery equipment, radios etc) is transferable from one vehicle to the next, as is camping gear so a lot of the $$$ spent are on essentially one-time only purchases that will deliver ongoing benefits for years to come. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to ones priorities. We spend the $$$ on our set-up knowing that the entire family enjoys the benefits of the travel, exploration and wonders of this great country. Our CT set us back heaps but with a
young family we know that we'll propably get a minimum of 15 years of family holidays and trips out of it. So spread the outlay out over that time, it is actually a pretty cheap deal - certainly a lot cheaper than spending 2 weeks a year in a holiday apartment/cabin etc. We have a nice but affordable
home to keep our mortgage at a reasonable level so we can afford to travel and have at least one good family holiday each year. Many of our friends have more expensive homes and family holidays are few and far between and usually only for a week or two at a time. I'm not judging their decisions, merely emphasising the point that what one spends on 4wdriving is a reflection of their priorities.
:o) Melissa
AnswerID:
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