“There is no universally held definition of what is and what is not camping. Fundamentally, it reflects a combination of intent and the nature of activities involved” - Wikipedia
Every time I read that, I get a giggle out of the contradiction within the text. It’s the words “intent” & “nature” If we separate the first word to “in tent”, and add “nature”, we then find the universal definition of “what is camping”
Western Australia has a rich history of camping. When Edmund Locker arrived from NSW at Albany in 1826 and established the first settlement, when Paddy Hannan rode back to Southern Cross in 1893 to register their reward-claim for a new find of gold and in 1898 when O’Connor’s men forged a path to Kalgoorlie for his Pipeline, each night was spent under the stars, Camping.
The philosophy of Camping hasn’t changed since our beginnings, but the level of comfort has and our chosen means of Camping is the humble Caravans.
In Western Australia, a large group of like minded souls, have taken Locker’s spirit of adventure, purchased their dream Caravan and called it a “Home away from Home”.
Caravans today, from a Pop Top to a Fifth - Wheeler, offer a whole new level of creature comforts to our Cultural Camping experience.
My name is Tony and I hope to share with you, my experiences in keeping our Caravans maintained, so as to be free to “Hook Up and Go” when our spontaneous natures choose.
My first memories of Camping are of a “Cowboy” tent in the back yard on a hot summer’s day. The actual tent I struggle to visualise, but the smell inside! Even now, each time I enter a tent on a hot day, the smell brings a thousand memories back. I’m sure you to know that smell. Better than “New Car” or “Fresh Bread”. It’s the smell of freedom and adventure.
Our Family holidays always consisted of Camping. From Tents to a Caravan, a Mobile Home then back to Tents, my whole life has been spent exploring new ways to enjoy Camping. I grew up in a time much different from now. I can still remember the excitement of my Dad & Nan helping me pack my push bike bags for a Camping fishing trip with a friend, a good day’s ride from home. I was 11.
Wind the clock forward, I studied and became a Marine Engineer, when my Son was born I came ashore and worked with the RAC for a short while. Over the past 2 years I have been building Caravans for a Manufacturer in Perth. This is when I realised that in combining all my life’s experiences, I could help others, with Caravans, enjoy trouble free Camping & Travelling.
In October of 2016, I loaded my tools in the back of my old Ute, put a lifetime of experience behind the wheel and launched our families new Mobile repair business, Westcoast Trailer and Caravan Services.
I hope to build this Blog, with helpful insights into the practical workings of Caravans and share with you common problems I find, as I Service and Repair the many varieties of Caravans we see on the road today.
Welcome to Westcoast Caravan Owners Guide