Useful Info USEFUL DOWNLOADS: Useful Information for caravanners, motorhomers and anyone planning to take to the open road! CHOOSING A CARAVAN Need some help to get you started? We hear all the problems so perhaps we can set you on the right track. If you're considering taking time to explore what Australia has to offer, then buying your own caravan is a great option. But when you look at the size and extent of the range, it’s easy to get a bit confused. But fear not! We have put together a comprehensive list of questions and answers to help guide your decision making. Question 1: What do you intend to do with it? Don't just think about the first trip, plan forward a couple of years: will your caravan be mainly used for weekend escapes to a favourite getaway destination? Is it for family holidays with the kids? Is it for the fulfillment of a lifelong dream – the trip around Australia that may take months or even years to complete? Or have you perhaps decided to adopt an itinerant lifestyle and make the caravan your only home? The purpose will determine your caravan’s size and configuration, its layout and the extent of its fittings. The amount of travel will determine how important features such as independent rear suspension and off-road capability will be to your new van. Question 2: How are you going to tow the caravan? Unless you are in the enviable position of purchasing the caravan first and the vehicle to suit it, you need check the tow capacity of your current vehicle as this will set a ‘maximum’ weight for your dream van. Question 3: Big or small? (Yes, size matters) If you want complete independence and you’re comfortable towing a long wheel base caravan, then a large, luxury caravan with separate bedroom, shower and toilet are a delight. Alternatively, if you prefer the idea of travelling light, the convenience of towing a short wheel base caravan - a small caravan is a good, cheaper option. The trade off is simply the share of facilities at local caravan and holiday parks – don't forget that bumping into like minded travellers at the local holiday park can be a highlight of the trip! Question 4: What about Pop-Tops and Camper Trailers? The ‘pop-top’ caravan, with its fold-down roof section, is proving to be one of the most innovative small to medium size caravan styles. Pop-ups are ideal if you want to store your caravan under a carport or in your garage when not in use – no need to construct special high roofline carports! The low profile of the pop-top and camper trailer when closed also offers the advantage of less wind resistance and better fuel economy when towing. Question 5: Buy New or Used? In simple terms, new caravans offer all the benefits, safety features and comforts of recent design advancements, including independent rear suspension and durable, lightweight construction material. Buying new also gives you the choice to ‘custom-build’ the layout of your caravan to your needs and desires! If you choose to buy a used caravan always buy from a licenced dealer. This is the only way to guarantee clear title on the unit you are buying. Licenced dealers do many exhaustive checks to ensure that the units they are selling are in fact not stolen (and often re-identified) or encumbered (ie. they don't have any money owing on them). YOU WISH & YOU NEED: PREPARING TO BUY THE RIGHT CARAVAN: Before you set off to the showrooms take time to answer these questions and take them along to a dealer:
The most popular size for today's vans range between 11ft and 24ft (note the use of imperial measurements - the caravan industry continues to cater for those who have a built-in resistance to metric). Anything smaller is not particularly comfortable for more than one person, and anything larger becomes a towing challenge that will take much of the fun out of caravanning. Generally, the smaller the van the easier the towing. Of course the shape, height and weight of the van will also influence towing performance. Today's slimline, lightweight and low profile models are a complete contrast to the lumbering wheeled pagodas of bygone years. If you can afford the right type of towing vehicle and have no qualms about towing a larger van, it's a delight to own a luxury home on wheels complete with its own en-suite, flushing toilet, hot and cold running water, separate bedroom and full sized kitchen. On the other hand there are very many people enjoying long-distance touring in small caravans - it's just a matter of how few personal possessions you need to take along on the trip. Travelling light has its own rewards. The development and subsequent improvements to the ‘pop-top' caravan, with its fold-down reef section, have solved several problems which might once have discouraged people from buying a van. If you prefer - or are obliged - to store your van under a carport or in a low roofed garage when not in use, the pop-top with a height of less than 7ft when closed is the type you need. It should be remembered that pop-tops are only available in small and medium sizes. A pop-top of 17ft or over is a rarity, since the larger the roof is the more unwieldy it is to raise and lower. The task of raising and lowering however, is very much easier in modern pop-tops, usually aided by gas-filled struts and often the addition of retractable ‘easy-lift' handles inside to provide grip and leverage. Pop-top owners who spend much time in the tropics praise the superior ventilation afforded by the canvas upper wall section with its zippered flaps that open to let in cooling breezes. The low profile of the pop-top when closed also offers the advantage of less wind resistance when towing, giving marginally greater economy as well as a better performance. The choice of a camper trailer, with a wind-up canvas upper section and extendable sleeping accommodation on each side, is often made for the wrong reasons. Older couples may buy a trailer for its easy towing characteristics, but forget that one of the greatest pleasures of the touring caravanner - the ability to pull up at any time of the day for a cup of tea and a cap nap - will be denied them unless they're prepared to go through the process every time. For families with young children however, the camper trailer is one of the world's greatest inventions. The ability to fit numerous beds into a small towing package, the relatively low cost of the unit compared with that of a full sized caravan, and the trailer's economy all appeal to the younger buyers who make up a large percentage of the market for this product. The old argument about whether a wooden frame is better than an aluminium one still persists in some areas. The fact is that it doesn't really matter. But the signs are already clear that aluminium is likely to be the material of the future as softwoods become scarcer and costlier and more responsible ecological practices prevail. Prospective buyers can often be confused about the number of axles that it's best to have. This is not really a matter of choice. The provision of two axles instead of one applies when vans reach a certain size and it becomes imperative, for safety reasons, to share the weight between four wheels instead of two. You won't often find many tandem axles fitted to vans of less than 16ft, and only rarely will you come across a single axle model of 17ft or more. Whether you choose a van with independent suspension or a basic solid axle and leaf spring, once again there's no reason for anyone to challenge your decision. Smooth riding independent suspension (any of the numerous designs available) is great to have on most Australian roads, kind to your van, and these days problems with it are rare indeed. Those who go for a van with the traditional leaf spring design will probably pay a little less and can enjoy the reassuring thought that there isn't much that can go wrong. When do you need an Off-Road Caravan? There are vans designed and built to cope with the varying degrees of rough road to be found in this country. The most rugged of these could perhaps be described as ‘off-road'. More common are the models which can appropriately be described as ‘out back' caravans. These are fairly conventional in design and are usually beefed up versions of a manufacturers normal range, with added strengthening to the chassis and items such as under van protection for water tanks, bumper bars that extend underneath for protection when emerging from washways, special dust-proofing and perhaps externally mounted jerry cans or other sensible additions. There are many makes that carry a warranty covering towing with a 4WD vehicle. This may not seem as important as it was a few years ago when 4WD suspension was rough enough to traumatize a van's chassis. Today's 4WDs are greatly improved in this regard, but you can be sure that the caravan with such a warranty can take a moderate amount of punishment if necessary. An entirely stock standard caravan can usually travel on rough corrugated roads for short distances without suffering damage, providing care is exercised. Outback travel with a caravan is really a matter of using commonsense. Read the condition of the road, watch the van and if things appear to be getting too rough for it, go back. Check weather conditions before you go to ensure that you don't get stranded, and if you want to disappear into the real wilderness for a few days, leave your van on site in the nearest town and take a tent. We'd also like to point out that Australia today is well served with bitumen roads and these are supplemented by many unsealed roads of reasonable standard in most weather conditions. Almost anywhere you are likely to want to visit on your own, the first time around at least, is accessible without the need to risk life, limb or property. Where layout is concerned the most popular caravan today, as we are constantly told by retailers, is a 15-16ft pop-top with front kitchen, island double bed at the rear and an L-shaped dinette at one side with a small lounge seat opposite. Consequently this is the size and layout that is offered without fail at every caravan retail outlet around the country. Don't be rushed into buying this floorplan though if you think you would prefer a model with a side kitchen and a big club lounge under the front window. Custom-building is the norm these days, and it's usually worth waiting a month or two for the van you've set your heart on if it isn't available ‘off the peg'. The question of double or single beds makes many couples smile, but it's really a serious point to consider. Smaller than home-sized double beds (often only 4ft wide) may look cosy and appealing in a salesyard, but on-site in tropical Cairns they can turn cuddly couples into hostile insomniacs. Unless you are both sound sleepers and accustomed to tropical climes, it may be more practical to opt for a single bed layout. One consolation is that this will give you more usable living space in your van, including seats for visitors. The standard of a caravan's finish is usually easy to determine by glancing inside cupboards and under seats. Most manufacturers have abandoned the heavy and less durable chipboard and returned to genuine timber for cupboard shelves and doors. Ill-fitting joints and rough splintery surfaces, too, are mostly things of the past, but vigilance is still recommended. You'll be faced with an alluring array of internal features when you start to shop around the caravan retail outlets. Having decided on the size and style of van that's right for you, the huge variety of choices that remain mean that the final decision is still by no means easy. Space restrictions make it difficult for us to advise you but we can tell you that most modern features have been suggested by real caravaners and are genuinely worthwhile additions. New buyers are sometimes astonished by what they consider to be the high price of today's caravans, but they have always kept in step with inflation. When you look carefully at the improvements in design and the excellent modern materials and accessories used in today's models you'll see that most of them represent real value for money. Prices do vary, of course. There are budget models and makes that traditionally cater for the lower end of the market, and there are also some makes that are rather superior and might be regarded as status symbols in the same way as certain motor vehicles are more desirable than others. On the whole what you get is what you pay for, but the caravan industry today is competitive enough for a little shopping around to be worthwhile if you have the time and inclination. Serious bargain hunters generally wait for the annual state caravan and camping shows when manufacturers and dealers become very generous, offering impressive discounts and well priced ‘show specials'. Refer to Events on this site for show dates and locations. Whatever you pay, if the caravan brings you a pleasurable lifestyle it's money well spent. Reproduced courtesy of Caravan World Magazine. Available at Newsagents monthly. Camping is a relaxing and affordable way to enjoy a holiday. The type of tent you choose - hiking, touring or cabin - will depend upon your needs and your budget. However, the following hints are applicable to any tent type:
Your recreational vehicle needs to be insured, but choose your policy wisely. When shopping around for an insurer, consider the following:
Before leaving home, or prior to travelling to your next destination, run through this checklist to help ensure a safe and pleasant journey.
Dario Caravan’s Checklist (154kb) Caravan and RV Travel Checklist - Here you'll find a travel checklist to help you pack the "right stuff". Keep your Caravan/RV stocked and you'll be ready to go anytime, anywhere. But before you leave home, be sure to balance your load - and don't over pack. (Consult the weight label on your Caravan/RV for more information.) Here's a list of some stock items to keep on board.
Towing a Caravan will alter the way the car performs, it will decrease its acceleration and braking ability, and can affect a vehicle’s general control. It's wise to practice with short trips before you attempt a long journey. To improve your safety and that of fellow road users when towing a caravan:
Before You Go - Considerations
Are We Having Fun Yet? When everything is organized, planned, packed, and checked you can start having fun. When you have planned a few successful camping trips you will find it gets easier and easier. Park policy on allowing pets is constantly changing. If you find a park in your destination area that will accept pets, please telephone the park first to:
Before you leave home, be sure to pack up everything you will need
With proper planning, your pet will enjoy their holiday as much as the rest of the family. |
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