Free wheelin
14 Sep 2018
You can travel Australia on the smell of an oily rag – if you’re willing to relocate vehicles for a hire company.
Now, the above description may not conjure up particularly appealing imagery, but bear with me. We’ve all heard that old saying and know what it means, but let me add a whole new twist to that tired metaphor.
Road trips are something we all remember with great fondness. Today’s smartphone-obsessed young folks don’t seem to possess that same derring-do when it comes to vehicular adventures – or maybe it’s just because we’ve made it too easy for them?
Today’s interstate highways are four lanes, dual carriageway and paved like billiard tables with roadhouses serving soy lattes and gluten-free croissants. Nothing like in our day, right?
Well, here’s an idea that might just have you reliving those carefree, hippy days in that old Kombi you used to have to park nose downhill because you couldn’t afford a new battery.
All the hire car companies, including the ones with campervans and SUVs, need their vehicles regularly relocated between major city depots. To do this, they offer last-minute deals for flexible travellers at rates from $1 to $5 per day. Canny renters are given a few days at that rate to relocate, often with an option to add extra days at a discount on the rack rate. What’s more, you may also get a fuel allowance that further reduces your travelling costs.
If you travel light, keep flexible and don’t have a rigid schedule, you could – in theory at least – travel right around the country “on the smell of an oily rag.”
Sound too good to be true? Well, there are some pros and cons about travelling this way, so let’s weigh them up.
My personal preference is for campervans as they give you the option to stop pretty much wherever you like. Plus, more and more rural towns are billing themselves as “RV friendly” and offering dedicated rest areas and somewhere to dump your waste water. Although, I avoid using onboard toilets and rarely use the cooking facilities – but that’s up to you.
If you’re hoping for a campervan, you’re most likely going to get anything from a two- to six-berth unit that’s diesel with automatic transmission. While you don’t need a special licence, the bigger ones take a bit of getting used to, so go easy to begin with. Everything seems to happen in slow motion, so give yourself plenty of room for turns and braking and avoid sudden actions, lest your kit goes flying around inside the cabin.
The ideal safe speed for the bigger vans is 85-90km/h, so you’ll need to be wary of the faster traffic, which is pretty much everything else. Going at 100-110kmh is just too nerve-racking, and your fuel disappears at a ferocious rate. In my experience, the B and C roads provide the most relaxing experience with the least traffic, so plot your route to avoid the major highways where possible. There’s nothing worse than driving with one eye on the rear-view mirror watching out for speeding semi-trailers. Of course if you’re driving to or from Perth or Darwin, for example, there isn’t a lot of choice unless you’re properly prepared (and allowed) to go off-road.
LINING UP YOUR WHEELS
Okay, so just how do you pull off this stunt? While some of the brands will allow you enquire directly, most use an intermediary agency who benefit from the small fee. You can log on every morning to see what gets listed, or you can sign up for the watchlists and get emailed or texted when a vehicle matches your preferred route.
You only get notified when the route matches, and you usually only have 24-48hrs from time of booking to grab your wheels and get under way. If you were hoping for a particular type of vehicle (e.g. six-berth mobile home) on a specific route, you might be waiting some time.
This type of travel is best suited to couples rather than groups because the vehicle you get may not suit more than two sleeping on board. Remember too, that all the usual rental car stuff still applies, such as insurance excesses and security bonds. Your travel insurance (which you never leave home without, right?) should cover any nasty damage to your vehicle. Read the fine print and make sure.
Oh, and psst – you can also do this in the USA and New Zealand. So what are you waiting for? Hit the road, Jack.
PROS
• Massively discounted rental rates, often with fuel allowance
• Reasonable time allowances (e.g., ADL > SYD, four days)
• Campervans allow you to save further on accommodation costs
• Enjoy the fun of RV travel without the expense of ownership
• Rediscover the joys of spontaneity
CONS
• Offers arrive on short notice and you need to be quick on the click for some of the in-demand routes
• Must travel light if you intend to join several routes in your journey
• Be prepared to wait for several days at least in some locations for your onward relocation; pitching a tent or using AirBNB between drives may be an option
• Your desired onward leg may not be available, so be prepared to modify your plans as you go
• RVs are generally not permitted on unsealed roads, or to be driven after sundown
GET STARTED
Apollo Motorhomes
apollocamper.com/reloc
TransferCar (good for cars,
SUVs and 4WDs)
transfercar.com.au
Imoova (Good for campervans)
imoova.com
DriveNow (Good for campervans)
drivenow.com.au
CoSeats (also offers ride sharing)
coseats.com
Alternatively, simply Google “hire vehicle relocations”
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