Iveco, tell me about it

What is an RV? Driving is a car, parking is home.

We have been traveling in an Australian RV since March 20th, 20 19. In the meantime, apart from camping in New Zealand and visiting relatives in China, we have basically never stayed in a hotel.

Let's start with the size of our car.

It is a large C-type RV with Iveco chassis, which is single-extended, 7.9 meters long, 2.4 meters wide and 3.4 meters high.

The power system of the whole vehicle adopts a 3.0 diesel engine, with a fixed speed cruise system and an automatic gearbox.

Secondly, look at the structure of this car:

On the wall above the door is the button of the vehicle control system.

Through layout, central kitchen and booth, rear bathroom and shower room, sink and wardrobe.

There is a horizontal double bed at the front and rear of the car.

The booth is designed in the development area. When the RV arrives at the campsite, it can be expanded and the kitchen can be operated by two people at the same time.

The cockpit is equipped with a seat that can accommodate six passengers. The driver's seat and the co-pilot can rotate, echoing the four-person seat.

Corresponding to the booth is the whole kitchen, with complete equipment such as oven, refrigerator, microwave oven and cooker.

Solar panels and satellite TV are installed on the roof.

This size plus a single piece of information, plus these equipment, it is reasonable to say that two people are enough to travel. In fact, it is not enough to live comfortably.

Why do you say that?

Because the finished RV has everything you need, such as wardrobe, refrigerator, air conditioner, storage space and so on. But when you actually use it, it doesn't agree with you. If you have lived on the road for more than half a year, customizing or modifying your car is the best solution.

1, RV electricity. Our RV carries a 2600-watt generator, four batteries and a 1000-watt solar panel on the roof. In addition, it does not need an external power supply. However, solar energy is very common in Australia. In addition to their own use, many families can also sell surplus solar energy to the government and companies that enjoy battery cars and scooters. So we also have many opportunities to use external power supply for free. For example, during this time, our RV was parked on a friend's farm and directly used external solar energy to generate electricity.

2. RV water. Our RV comes with 100 liter clean water tank, and we added a 65 liter water tank ourselves.

Let's talk about rainwater collectors in Australia. Large water tanks are basically installed in farms and villages to collect natural rainwater. After being filtered, rainwater can be directly drunk. So in Australia, it is not difficult to find a place to add water for free. Whether you can drink or not, there are also hints.

After these modifications, our RV has a strong off-line ability. This means more freedom and less money.

3, air conditioning modification. The overhead air conditioner that comes with the RV can also be used, but it is noisy and lacks power. So we installed a home air conditioner above the bed, which was quieter and cooled faster.

The shower room is also equipped with a two-way ventilator. There is also a fan on the RV.

4, the overall kitchen modification. 4-eye gas stove, oven, microwave oven, toaster, steamer, rice cooker, refrigerator and range hood sink are all available, which can handle Chinese food and western food.

(1), the oven that comes with the RV can only be baked on one side, and the capacity is small. We installed a home oven to bake on both sides. Most importantly, this is a gas cooker.

(2) The small refrigerator that comes with the RV was replaced by a Samsung household refrigerator, the 300-liter one. I bought a bolt in Yi Bei and drilled a hole with an electric drill. After installation, just like the refrigerator itself, the car will not run off when it starts.

(3) The sink that comes with the RV is only the size of the palm of your hand, so we changed a big sink, which makes it very easy to wash vegetables and dishes. A water purification system is installed above the sink, and the purified cold water can be directly drunk.

(4) The lockers under the sink have also been replaced by round cabinets, and the space has doubled.

(5) In addition to the indoor kitchen, there is also a set of top outdoor brand cookers.

Simply put, a household refrigerator, a gas stove and an oversized sink, and there is storage space under the sink. This kind of kitchen equipment is very convenient to use, enough for two people to travel in an RV.

(6) qi. The RV carries 2 cans of natural gas, 9kg/ can. Three ovens and four-eye gas stoves use gas. Natural gas in Australia is convenient and cheap.

5. Renovation of RV safety system.

Our RV has a four-tier security system.

One is a gas detector, which automatically detects gas leakage.

The second is the carbon dioxide detector, which comes with RV.

The third type is multifunctional ventilator. We modified it ourselves. It used to be a small skylight, so we converted it into a ventilator, (1) to automatically adjust the indoor temperature, humidity and sensory effect, (2) to exhaust harmful gases such as excessive carbon dioxide generated by cooking in time, and (3) to have screen windows and sunshade functions inside, which can block or let in light. In rainy days, we can also use arc baffles, which can also prevent insects and other foreign objects from entering.

Fourth, the gas stove and the automatic closing function when the gas stove is closed.

6. RV lighting system

Indoor lighting system

Outdoor lighting system

7, bathroom renovation.

The bathroom sink is only the size of a palm, so we changed it into a square sink according to local conditions.

For the hanging cabinet above the sink, the cabinet door is pulled to the right and changed to upward. This way, even if you forget to close the door, you won't hit your head. Door inspiration from Tesla.

External shower head, one at the rear of the car, one at the door, the one at the rear of the car comes with the RV, and we added one next to the entrance door. You can take a bath outdoors in summer. Bathe the dog. When you come back from the beach, you can wash the sand off your feet.

6. Storage space

Hanging cabinets above the kitchen and above the bedside;

The deck sofa is actually an oversized sitting box that can be stuffed into two 28-inch suitcases.

The forehead bed is where we store large luggage, such as tents, sleeping bags and other camping equipment. Yes, although the RV has two double beds, if you sleep four people, you will definitely not sleep well and have no private space. So we have other sleeping bags, tents, camping pillows for family and friends who occasionally travel together, or we accidentally abandoned the RV and slept in the tent.

Under the bed board of the back bed is a complete storage compartment, which can also be opened from the outside of the car for convenient use.

Outdoor toolbox

7. awning

The electric awning replaces the manual awning.

Other modifications, all kinds of small details

1, integrated screen door, which can prevent mosquito bites and freshen the air when camping.

There is an LCD TV above the back bed, and the satellite TV signal is installed on the roof.

3. A number of USB interfaces have been added to the bedside, booth area and kitchen area.

After these modifications and upgrades, our RV is very convenient and comfortable, just like a small mobile apartment.

For people who like to play RV, the pursuit of RV is endless. We bought a BMW R 1 100GS off-road motorcycle, weighing 250kg. If you want to bring a motorcycle, you can either reduce the weight of the RV, but it is not easy to reduce the weight of 250 kilograms, or change to a powerful station, which will cost more money, and then it will be a long modification process.

So, buying a car is into the pit. But it was fun. I hope more people will join the RV family and experience this free and comfortable way of traveling.