I think the phased approach is a good option. Go for a month or two at a time, then come back home for a month. Keep extending your time in Thailand as you simplify your Australian life.
A pain in the ass. A bad idea. Maybe not even possible. I bring my truck over, but I own it and it took a long while to do it the first time. Better idea would be to cross over without a vehicle, and rent one on the other side.