While we were in Narrow Neck, across the car park was a Blue Truck with an amazing Dragon artwork along one side.
Love the stairsLooking back to the Galley
I wandered over when the owners turned up to meet Garrith and his partner Summer.
The Bunks
Takapuna based Garrith has had the 1996 Ford Trader for 6 months, and in that time has set it up so he can live in it. It looks comfortable but with only 6 months, I get the feeling it will be quite different in another 12 months time.
The living area looking forward
There is an amazing amount of room in it and they’re really enjoying being on the road and check out Garrith’s Mural on the side.
Shortly after we arrived at Kaupokonui, there was a knock at the door with two smiley chaps wanting to have a quick look at Rafe’s interior.
Click on the Images for Hi Res
Aimee and Brenton outside the Awning
It turned out that one of them was Brenton who was a long way through the restoration of a Caravan. Brenton with his wife Aimee and two kids were from Wanganui and were staying right next door.
Comfy BedLooking across to the Galley
I later wandered over to have a look see. It was a 1974 Chevron lightweight which Brenton and Aimee started on about a year ago. When they first got it it was full of dark stained cupboards, the roof leaked in several places and it was generally a bit of a mess.
The new Awning
This is not what I saw when I went over.. Its looking great and doing the work themselves, has kept the lid on the cost. The biggest job was reroofing with a bitumen roll on product and then completely repainting the exterior and then redoing the interior.
A Bed at the other end too.
Along with a new Awning, its was great to see them away with other friends and family with their own two kids, enjoying their Caravan.
After 3 years or so off full time Motorhoming, Gary and Chris are back in their Ruakaka bach after having it rented out while they were away. They’re still in their Motorhome outside though while they do a virtual rebuild along with huge changes and additions for their retirement.
Click on the images for Hi Res
Outside
Gary and Chris were old boatie mates and we used to spend most weekends and Christmas holidays in the Hauraki Gulf when we had our old Whalechaser Rorqual. They had a lovely old classic sedan called Nau Mai. There were many happy moments and we had a lot of fun.
After selling up in Devonport and spending 5 years or so in Ranfurly, for a change of scene and direction running a B&B, they then bought their first Motorhome, an ex CI Munro renter on a Mitzi Canter base. They later upgraded this to a newer Mitzi Fuso which is what they have now and now they’ve finished their Ruakaka rebuild, it is on the market!
Click on the Gallery below for a slideshow of the House
The Kitchen
Lounge area
Outside
New cladding and some paint.. looking good.
Their two homes
Gary on the nailgun
Chris with the plans of the Kitchen
Looking back to the Mitzi
The house is looking fantastic and is very different to how it was.
And from now…
So .. the Mitzi Motorhome.. here’s some facts and figures that Gary has sent me.
The kitchen area
Its a 2008 Mitsi Fuso Canter with a 3.9 Litre Turbo with a Manual 5 speed box.
It has Rego till December and a New COF and its never failed a COF
There are 3000 RUC remaining.
The Speedo has 95088 km on it, and the Hubometer has 91220.
It is officially a CI MUNRO ULTIMA 4 berth. Gary put 6.5 metres on it but I’ve parked next to it and its at least 7 metres long.
Rear wheel drive on duals. Stove / oven / Dometic 3 way fridge freezer and a Diesel Heater. It has also had Netspeed installed and the Aerials are on the roof.
Here’s some piccies when he first bought it….
Click on the Gallery for Slideshow
Chris and Gary with their Motorhome
The kitchen area
The Lounge
Our park at Pelorus Bridge
At Evans Bay
Thats about all I can add or remember so call Gary for more info on 027 778 8557.
All I can add is that Gary being an engineer, he has looked after it and it is in really good Nick.. Someone is going to be buying a really nice Motorhome.
Wayne and Serena have been living in their 1976 Volvo bus for more than 6 years now and a couple of years ago, they decided that as their Red Bus was looking a bit scruffy, it needed a lick of paint! Their daughter Lisa, who works with teenagers, arranged for a group of spray bomb artists to repaint their story onto the bus.
Click on any Image to see Hi Res
They parked their bus on one side of a Mt Maunganui carpark and watched it all happen !
Their bedroom
The result is spectacular with bits of life in colour all around the bus.
Lisa is represented by Lisa Simpson with a background of Hahei beach, one of their favourite places in the background. The Pink Panther represents the loss of a close family member.
Wayne with Lisa behind!
On the back is Wayne respresented by the fishing bear as he is known as Poppa Bear !
Poppa bear with Fishing gear.
The front has two Kiwis on each side which is Wayne and Serena. A fantastic effort.
Wayne tells me it was a scream watching onlookers reaction when the bus was painted 🙂
Click on the Gallery below to see a Slideshow
Lots of Colour
At the sharp end
Looking through the galley
Where they’ve been
Toys
Their bedroom
Serena and Wayne
Inside, its very comfortable and they have been collecting toys for sick children which are stored all around their bedroom!
After 3 years or so off full time Motorhoming, Gary and Chris are back in their Ruakaka bach after having it rented out while they were away. They’re still in their Motorhome outside though while they do a virtual rebuild along with huge changes and additions for their retirement.
Click on the images for Hi Res
Outside
Gary and Chris were old boatie mates and we used to spend most weekends and Christmas holidays in the Hauraki Gulf when we had our old Whalechaser Rorqual. They had a lovely old classic sedan called Nau Mai. There were many happy moments and we had a lot of fun.
Gary on the nailgun
After selling up in Devonport and spending 5 years or so in Ranfurly, for a change of scene and direction running a B&B, they then bought their first Motorhome, an ex CI Munro renter on a Mitzi Canter base. They later upgraded this to a newer 6 berth on a Mitzi Fuso which is what they have now.
Click on the Gallery below for a slideshow
Gary
Looking back to the Mitzi
Lounge area
New cladding and some paint.. looking good.
Down the road at the beach
The house is looking fantastic and is very different to how it was.
We popped up a week or so ago to see how theyre going and theyre nearly up to gibbing after huge changes and the place looks fantastic. New Aluminium Joinery and newly cladded and with a very different layout, its looking very sharp. We’re going up to help them do some painting soon.
Chris with the plans of the Kitchen
Looking Good Guys and looking forward to catching up soon with brushes..!
They had a huge home at Waihi Beach. Over 260 square metres! It has been sold and in its place, their new Home, an 8.2 metre Morelo from Germany.
Click on an Image for Hi Res
These are seriously nice Motorhomes. They’re well appointed and they have everything that opens and shuts.
A real treat.
The Helm station
Underneath is a 3 litre turbo charged Iveco connected to the rear wheels via an 8 speed gearbox.
The Bedroom
I first bumped into them a few weeks ago when I first stopped in at the NZMCA park at Waipu beach and they had been staying here for a few nights being their old home turf.
The Galley
They’re really enjoying it and have lots of ideas for making it “theirs”.
The Living Space
The amazing thing that Robin volunteered later is that this is their first Motorhome.. What a way to go!
And soon one might be on its way to NZ! This will be the first of this make/model of this size in the country..!
This is the last in the series of images of flash Motorhomes from Jonas in Dusseldorf and its of the new Morelo Palace. Thanks to Jonas for making them available.
Click on the Gallery below to see a slideshow of the interior
In the Uk, these are sold from 186 K Euros. The UK ones are fitted out as follows
IVECO 6.5T Chassis
Meier Chassis
Double Floor
43mm Insulation
Alde Heating
3.0Ton Tow.
SLIDE OUT
CAR GARAGE
These images are hot off the press from Jonas Ng who is at the big Motorhome and Caravan show in Dusseldorf in Germany.
Jonas’s comment on this “Impressive” as well :-)..
Click on the Gallery below for a slideshow of the Interior
The new Niesmann and Bischoff is based on the Fiat Ducato and in NZ are 180HP with a 6 speed comformatic gearbox. These start at NZ$280K in NZ.
We met up with our friends Dianne and Gary in the UK when they first laid eyes on their Arto 88F, a slightly different model than this one. They were over the moon and have been since with it being one of the first of its kind in NZ. Check this out for another look at their thing of beauty.
A happy Dianne in the living area while Fiona inspects Gary and Dianne’s unit in the UK 🙂
These images are hot off the press from Jonas Ng who is at the big Motorhome and Caravan show in Dusseldorf in Germany.
Jonas is Managing Director and with his wife Irene, they own Zion Motorhomes in Pokeno who also import Frankia, Neismann Bischoff and Dethleffs Motorhomes.
This new vehicle is based on the Mercedes Benz Atego 1530L… Jonas’s comment “Impressive”!
Click on the Gallery below for a slideshow of the interior
This model starts at 450K Euros and is on either a Mercedes or Eurocargo base chassis depending on the customers needs. Jonas has some other smaller models made exclusively for the NZ market but if you want an Empire, I’m sure he could be persuaded to get you one 🙂
Fiona & Chris, two empty nesters put their dreams of doing something different into reality… Now back in a house, they were living in their Motorhome, come along for the ride.
Bugger It, we are off - www.buggeritweareoff.com 
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