For the disabled traveller, it is great to know that many of our best places to visit have disability access and our Conservation Department have introduced a tool to help, find out more here.
Best methods/providers for internet and best technology for those on the move.
A couple of questions often asked by those living on the road or travelling frequently in their mobile home, are who provides the best internet and what device works best.
These two questions have multiple answers and after running my own computer business for many years and now living full time in our motorhome for four years, I feel that I have examined these questions quite deeply.
Internet Providers
There are plenty to choose from but most offer the same plans/deals. So who is best?
For fast and reliable internet, the providers mainly use the Vodafone Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) network, apart from Spark who have a very similar system. There are a number of providers that buy services from Vodafone and resell them, like Wireless Nation, Netspeed and Clever Technology to name a few. Of course I have named my own company in this mix for obvious reasons.
There are usually 3 plans on offer, 30gb, 120gb, or 200gb, but as these change often it pays to checkout deals/plans currently available. My company will match any plan and price, just ask.
You will need to purchase a modem, usually around $350, which becomes your property. Most offer “open plan” deals which mean that you are only locked in for 30 day terms rather than 12 or 24 month terms. As you move around the country, the modem will automatically locate and connect to the nearest cell tower appropriate to the telco you are signed with. Both Vodafone and Spark have literally hundreds of towers spread all around New Zealand, however there are still plenty of places where there is no coverage, but these are usually in very remote places.
The RBI network is mostly 4g with a few still on 3g, so speeds are fast enough to watch movies and handle your email, social media and other applications quite comfortably. To understand the “g” just click on either the 4g or 3g link.
Mobile phones and data plans
Mobile phone plans are evolving and changing rapidly and again there are a number of providers to choose from. Many people have a combined phone and home broadband package, but for those who don’t have a fixed line connection, they choose a mobile plan. There are simply far too many to list here so I will restrict this to what I consider to be the best current provider and the one I use.
My wife and I are on the Skinny network which is a division of Spark the second largest telco in New Zealand behind Vodafone. Our plan costs us $16 each four weeks and gives us “rollover” minutes and data which far exceeds what we use as we both have thousands of minutes call time and currently around 10gb accumulated data. Call’s between any other Skinny mobile are free and calls cover all New Zealand and Australian numbers.
The advantage of Skinny being owned by Spark is that they use the extensive Spark cellphone network and towers giving heaps of coverage.
Many people buy an unlimited data plan from their cell phone provider and thus don’t need an RBI plan. Unlimited plans slow connection speeds down at 40gb which may be a problem for some. RBI plans that offer unlimited plans are restricted to 3g speeds, but as from late 2020 they are being withdrawn.
A cellphone allows for “hotspotting” to enable the connection of computers and chromecast to the internet.
Computers and Phones
So now I come to what computer works best for those “on the road”.
For many years I sold and repaired all makes and models of computers and I know that many people have their favourite and strongly support them. This article for those who simply don’t know what to get.
The first question I ask is “what do you intend to do” on your computer? This will determine what will be the best option for you. Most people just want to access email, facebook, tradme, banking and news feeds. A few have photo and video editing programs they like on their Apple or Windows based computer.
For those who stick to the basics I recommend a “Chromebook“. If you use the “Chrome Browser” on your PC or Ipad, you will quickly become familiar with a Chromebook. Chrome can do almost everything an Apple or PC can. Programs run inside the browser and you can view facebook, trademe, maps, banking, spreadsheets, word documents and pdf’s all easily with a Chromebook.
Just today my Windows PC (March 2020) has taken over two hours to update. Chrome updates in seconds! You don’t need to buy any software, update to the latest version and try to keep up with a Chromebook. Battery life is very good and the price to buy is much cheaper than PC’s or Apple’s.
Yes, you can: connect a wireless keyboard and mouse, USB pen drive, external hard drive, I’ve even connected an endoscope and inspected the inside of my onboard tanks. Charging my Chromebook via an inverter has no major drain on my batteries.
So, what about a good mobile phone.
Again, many have their favourite like Samsung or Iphone, but again I go left field and my wife and I use Oppo. These have proven to be very reliable with all the apps and functions we need along with great battery life, awesome camera’s and ton’s of internal storage.
My phone can have 2 SIM cards and I have a Skinny SIM and a 2degrees one. I can simply choose what one I make calls and texts from.
You can find a phone case to fit Oppo phones, but that requires a bit of online searching.
When it comes to choosing between a caravan or motorhome, there is plenty to consider and much debate. Here is a link to an English site that talks about the pro’s and cons.
Pre Purchase Checklist
So what do you check over before handing over your money? Take your time to inspect every inch, inside, outside, roof and underfloor.
The following are our tips and ideas, but here’s a link to a website dedicated to what to look for. Checklist
Here’s our list of things to check: Take with you the following.
Torch, camera, pen and paper, tape measure, moisture meter.
Size of tanks (important for those wanting to freedom camp relative to number of people living in the mobile home and length of time between dump stations)
Check for tank leaks
Run the water pump at every outlet, including the shower. When was the water filters last replaced?
Check the hot water heats on gas and power.
Check all the lights work.
Feel for soft spots on the floor which could indicate rotting timber
Look for leaks, swollen interior and exterior panels. Look along the sides of the exterior walls as swelling may not be seen looking straight on.
Check the fuse box to ensure an RCD has been installed.
Check under sinks around pipes for obvious signs of leaks
Are the WOF/COF current? A WOF is required for caravans and motor vehicles under 3500kg’s. A COF is required for motorhomes over 3500 kg’s and is renewed six monthly.
Check tyres, wear and tear, age, bulges and general conditions.
Test drive. If it’s a caravan take it for a decent drive, especially up to the 90 klm/hr speed limit. Does it sway, brakes work, is it dragging, is your vehicle suitable to tow it? Does it have electric brakes and will you need a controller? If it’s a motorhome, how comfortable does it feel to drive, are the gear changes smooth, seats comfortable, rear cameras working? Listen for strange creaks and groans.
Warranties. What guarantees are there, what’s the reputation of the service centres, where are the service centres? What are the availability of parts, especially on imported units. If the motorhome has been privately imported, what warranties are available in New Zealand. When was the vehicle last serviced and is there a service history? Check the reputation of the seller, look on google reviews and checkout the face book forums/groups. Most models of caravans and motor homes have a face book group, like Jayco Owners, Swift Owners, etc.
Curtains, drapes, seat coverings. Are they still in good condition?
Air conditioners and heaters. Are they all still working well, filters cleaned?
Hot water. If the system has a steel tank, when was it last cleaned? When was the anode rod replaced?
Ovens and Fridges. How do they work? What powers them, Mains power, Gas or 12 volt? Do all the elements light on the oven,? Is the fridge automatically switched between power sources, or manual. When were they last serviced?
Check inside every cupboard, look for signs of rodents, rot, mould.
What accessories come with it. Some are sold with crockery, cutlery, linen, towels, pillows, levellers, jacks, spare wheels, gas cylinders (check age is under 10 years)
Door locks and keys. These can be a pain to get extra keys or locks fixed, so check they work, there are plenty of working spare keys and that all outside lockers have working keys and locks. Check inside the lockers for damage or wear and tear. Check all windows, vents and doors for damage, problems with opening or closing and delaminating on double glazed windows.
Automatic entry steps if fitted. Check they open and close as they’re supposed to. They should close when ever the key is turned on (Motorhomes). Are there a manual set of steps available?
TV’s, stereos and satellite receivers. How do they work? For manual dishes how do they find the signal, and for automatic dishes, are they working 100%? Some vans may only have UHF antennas, so will only work close to major towns and cities so if there is no satellite dish you will have no TV reception in remote areas. What is UHF and Satellite?
What camping or permanent living equipment will you need?
Most caravans and motorhomes, converted vans and buses will have the basics, like; gas cooker (either LPG with a bottle or small gas cans), sink, taps, water tanks, showers and toilets. But let’s look at these separately for safety and practicality, along with what we consider “essential items”.
Gas cookers. If these are permanently installed the vehicle will require a current gas certificate as if there is an insurance claim and there no certificate from an authorised gas certifier, your claim may be denied. Gas bottles for these come mainly in 4.5kg’s or 9 kg’s and these can be refilled at service stations or as we prefer Rockgas or Genesis Gas centres because they are much cheaper. Some vans just use the small gas cookers that run of cans about the size of a flyspray can. These don’t need to be certified. Always cook in well ventilated areas and never use a gas cooker to heat your van!!
Sinks, Tanks and Taps These can come in all shapes and sizes, from bowls to ceramic master pieces. Along with tanks and taps there are some rules required if you want your van to be “certified self contained”. Some people will argue that you don’t need to be “certified” but many councils and freedom parking sites stipulated you must be “CSC”. So what does that mean. Well, here is a link to the Standards NZ website which is the bible on the subject. To avoid arguments and fines, get certified and then you will also know that everything will work too. A certified self contained vehicle will display the following sign. As many people just buy this sticker and pretend they are officially certified there is paperwork and another card provided that must be displayed and/or shown on request by an authorised person, like a security guard or council worker and custodians at an NZMCA park.
This sticker is usually placed on the rear of your vehicle.
This is the card that is placed on the inside of your windscreen on the passenger side
Showers and Toilets Showers are optional under the CSC rules, but toilets are not. They must be capable of being used in the vehicle whilst the bed is setup. It can be a portable unit that tucks away when not in use or a full blown house type system. Both must be capable of holding the waste for the number of people the vehicle is certified to sleep for three (3) days. There are “dump stations” scattered around the county to allow you to empty the tanks appropriately. You will see signs like the following pointing you to locations and you can use “travel apps” to direct you to your nearest.
Dump Station Direction Sign
There is no charge to use these provided they are not provided privately like in camp grounds. There may be a charge or you may even be refused access to private dump stations.
Other equipment “must haves”
Bedding, cutlery, crockery, refrigeration, towels, dish-washing liquid, toilet chemicals (there are myriads of options here), torch, batteries, repair kit, first aid kit, phone, rubbish bags, cooking pots/pans, outdoor chairs and table, outdoor mats, pot scrubber, dishcloth, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, hats, sunscreen, warm clothing, togs and towels, buckets, small spade, and probably a hundred other tiny items you’ll discover as you travel. Thank goodness for two dollar shops!
When it comes to keeping your food fresh there are many options. Full 3 way fridge, chilly bin with ice, 12v chilly bin etc. Technology is moving very quickly in this area and it will again come down to how you are going to be doing your camping, for how many people, how far away you are from supplies and your budget. Here is a guide that will help you.
Don’t ever over pack and always keep your vehicles weight in mind with full tanks and passengers added into your weight calculations. If your vehicle exceeds it’s weight certification you could be fined and uninsured, so know your vehicles allowed maximum weight. Here is a link to the authorised webpage on the subject.
When it comes to time to start looking at a caravan, bus, van, motorhome etc start by considering what sort of travelling you have in mind and how many people you need to cater for. Then determine your budget, including all the bits mentioned above if they don’t come with the vehicle. Here’s a link to information on different types and styles of recreational sleeping vehicles.
If you plan to self import a van, makes sure of some basic things. Will it be allowed on NZ roads? What happens if something breaks and how to get it fixed or replaced in New Zealand? Is there an existing one already here that is available to purchase?