FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

G'day Everyone

My wife Bec and I are currently in Townsville QLD, three months into a two year Holden Heaven tour around Australia with two little boys (a two year old and five month old). We are travelling in an old 24 foot Winnebago and we want to upgrade to a 31 foot Winnebago to better fit two small kids, two cots, two prams, two bags of nappies, two tired parents etc and give our baby space to learn to crawl. We also need something bigger to tow one of our FC Holdens to the FE-FC Holden Nationals in Perth next Easter.

Dealers in two different states have told us that we could ‘buy their Winnebago, then get my licence down the road, within a week, using their vehicle on dealer plates’. Based on this advice, we went and got finance, my QLD drivers licence and my heavy vehicle learners permit. Unfortunately, both state transport authorities have since confirmed that it would actually take another 6-7 weeks to book my practical test, let alone any private heavy vehicle driver training lessons. Main Roads QLD also confirmed that you can’t do your practical test in a dealer or rented vehicle, it has to be your own vehicle, someone else's privately owned vehicle or an instructors vehicle. (At least there’s no minimum waiting period between passing your written test and doing your practical test.)

Of course, the obvious solution suggested by the Dealerships is that we buy today and do the test in an 8+ tonne motorhome registered in my name. Sensibly, Bec won’t let me take a risk that huge as she reckons that (should I fail the test) we’ll end up with the world’s most expensive paper-weight. So we are apparently stuck in a massive Catch-22 situation that must affect all motorhome (or light truck) owners wishing to upgrade their vehicle and licence during their travels (who don’t have two months to wait around): You can’t drive away in your new 8+ tonne vehicle until you have your MR licence; and you can’t get your MR licence until you’ve bought your 8+ tonne vehicle.

After extensive phone-calling, we’ve managed to secure two miracles: a professional lesson for next Monday (12th); and a practical test for next Tuesday (13th). Now we need a third miracle: someone to loan me their MR motorhome (or light truck) for me to perform my practical test in. Are there any forum members in the Townsville area, with an MR category vehicle that would be willing to let me use it during my practical licence test on Tuesday 13 September 2011? We can offer to cover all of your travelling expenses (plus a case of beer/wine) and supply contact numbers for character and driver references as we’ve been on many FE-FC Nationals across most states in Australia.

Thanks for taking the time to read our sob story!  Please contact Tim on 0437 465 336 or Bec on 0408 463 464 if you think you can give us a lead.

Geez Tim, Sorry can't help with the truck  It's a pity you couldn't fly down to have done it in NSW.

Go to an RTA outlet get the book of rules for MR, read it over lunch, do a knowlege test on their computer at the RTA, then you take the log book they give you to a private driver training place.

It takes 1 day, they supply the truck, the training and also the test, the only thing I was told was that an RTA inspector might drop in on the test route somewhere but this never happened

They were very good with prompting etc if you had a blank, when finished, just take the paperwork to the RTA and they give you your upgraded license...too easy and the truck was only a tiddler as well!

Let me know if you want the name of the people we used, cost was $750 or so

Good luck with it, Gary

Thanks Gary,

I really appreciate the advice re NSW test. I've made a booking for a one day lesson/test in Newcastle in case I fail the QLD option. Thankfully, one of my fellow Winnebago owners here in Townsville has come good with a four day loan of his motorhome. Fingers crossed I pass and can tow an FC to the Nats (and then go the long way home via the Kimberley and Kakadu).

Cheers, Tim.

Just a quick update to let everyone know that I passed my MR licence test today. I was a bit nervous about driving someone else's motorhome, in an unfamiliar town with only a couple of hours practice. A special mention has to go to FreddyC who generously rang around his fellow Townsville Early Holden Club members (and family) to see if any of them could loan me their truck. FE-FC Nats here we come!

Cheers, Tim.

Congrats Tim

Enjoy your trip.

Cheers

Craig D

Good to hear.
Nice work freddyc.
Congrats.
Regards
Alex