Hi, we're Chris and Bec from Salt and Charcoal. We've been travelling Australia since 2020, since then our 4wd setup has transformed from a Nissan Patrol to a 4wd Toyota Coaster Bus! Our two setups for travelling Australia include:
- • A Nissan Patrol with a rooftop tent. We lived 9 months in it and fell in love with van life.
- • A 1993 4wd Toyota Coaster called Bunji, where we've lived since then (We still live in the bus). It has our DREAM setup and was a necessary upgrade to live on the road more comfortably.
We share the ups and downs of the van life lifestyle in our Instagram, while teaching others how to use online work to leave their 9-to-5s (in a smart and safe way), to become full-time travellers like us!
Back in 2020, purchasing the Nissan Patrol was a snap decision! At that time, our online business was generating enough income to plan for travelling the world with no end in sight. We sold everything, booked flights to Bali, and prepped everything for our new lifestyle. But you know what happened in 2020! So we pulled the emergency break on our plans. After panicking over the realisation we sold EVERYTHING for a life that was no longer possible, we found a silver lining:
We're incredibly lucky to live in one of the MOST beautiful countries in the world. Why not travel to every corner of Aussie instead?
Enter the snap purchase of our first 4WD, the Nissan Patrol with a rooftop tent. We genuinely had no idea what we were doing back then. It was our home for the 9 months that followed, taking us from much of the Top End (through the humid build up season I might add), all the way down into chilly Tassie! We loved the lifestyle so much we wanted to make it permanent, but that meant we had to upgrade to a bigger vehicle.
Having lived on the road all that time gave us LOTS of clarity on what we needed (and didn't need) for a fulfilling van life, we just needed the right space! For example, we wanted a home which could accommodate us working online, we needed a comfortable workspace. That's when we found our 4WD 1993 Toyota Coaster on Gumtree. Another snap decision! It had the perfect space but needed lots of renovations (which we wanted to do ourselves).
It took around 9 months to have it road-ready, with the help of a few extra hands. Chriso's dad and brother helped with the demolition and rebuild. You know how they say “it takes a village to raise a child”. We say it takes a village to raise a bus! All jokes aside, building a bus together definitely has its challenges, but it's so incredibly rewarding. You're literally building your own home with your hands!
Our best purchase is hands down the Truma Combi D6 diesel (a hot water and heater system), for a few reasons.
First, our bus runs on diesel and has huge tanks to store it. Having a system that could run on diesel too was very important for us, as we love going off-grid and it’s challenging to find fuel/gas in remote locations.
Second, the system also doubles as an excellent heater. Trust us - there’s nothing better than travelling around in a cold climate with a toasty warm bus!
Third, it doesn’t take up much space. When living in a caravan, space is always at a premium, so having a system that can do multiple things at once while being lightweight is key.
Lastly, the control panel is so easy to use, showing temperatures and even fuel consumption. We just set our bus at the temperature we want and it does it itself thanks to this product and the Truma Underbunk Aircon (they work in unison).
Plus, you can turn the system on through an app! You can have a warm bus waiting for you, after a long day of exploring. Can’t beat that.
What sets Caravan RV Camping apart from everyone else is the customer support. They have helped us more times than we can count. For example, when we purchased the Truma Combi D6, we chose the wrong length of ducting. But the team helped us right away and sent the right one in the post with no delays. We could’ve avoided this entirely just by messaging them through their live chat, asking which size would be best for our vehicle.
We also had queries when installing the product, but we reached out and they got back to us almost immediately (during work hours) telling us what to do.They are knowledgeable and attentive, which is rare in online customer service. They truly understand how overwhelming it is to build a caravan on your own, and it shows.
With Caravan RV Camping it feels like they genuinely want to help you. That feeling is unmatched! We appreciate it. They know there are ENDLESS ways to design your build, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it, which ironically makes everything harder. It all depends on your personal preferences and which things can help you enjoy your travels the most. This means that different products work for different situations.
Caravan RV Camping also has a massive amount of products at competitive prices, with excellent warranties. This is awesome because of the variety and budget-friendliness, but it can also add another layer of overwhelm - which product to pick? Will it be right for you? Should you just pick the cheapest and get it over with?
Well, just reach out to the customer support! They can give you product recommendations according to your specific needs. You can instantly live chat with a support person and get your questions answered straight away.
This question is hard to answer. There are so many amazing places in Australia!
One that really stands out is the Gibb River Road. It’s a 660 km road between Derby and Kununurra, in the Kimberleys, Western Australia. It is so underrated. It has the most amazing outback camping, surrounded by incredible gorges, and plenty of freshwater swimming. You do need a 4WD drive to travel it, which is another adventure in itself.
Another favourite is Wharton Beach, in Esperance, Western Australia. This is our favourite beach in ALL of Australia. It has crystal clear blue water, white sands, and you can 4WD onto the beach. The surfing is superb and there are dolphins, too! It’s absolutely stunning.
Our biggest learning is that it takes three times longer than you think it will. And it is a transformative experience of mind, body and soul! No exaggeration.
Working in a small space means you really need to think things through. You need to communicate well with your other half and all trades. Every centimetre is valuable, so putting one thing in means leaving one thing out.
Planning is essential, as everything has to serve a purpose. But you also have to be flexible, because plans often change when they’re being executed. It won’t be perfect so stop thinking it should be! Our recommendation? Don’t rush. Enjoy the present moment. Do your research and figure out what you truly need in your build. Also, don’t hesitate to reach out to experts for advice. We made plenty of mistakes but that is all part of it.
Building our first bus has been a huge learning experience. One thing we’ve realised is that you don’t need as many windows as you think! If we were to do it again, we’d block off a few windows within the bedroom area, behind the kitchen, and in the shower area. The windows look great, but they let ALL the Aussie sunlight in, and it also means you have no walls in your house. No matter how good your aircon is, if you get caught in a 40+ heatwave you will feel it coming through the windows in your tin can home!
So, design the space carefully. Consider blocking off some windows to make the bus cooler under the Aussie sun - you’ll have to use the aircon a lot less. Also our white fancy sink stains!
