The caravanning boom has seen a surge in the number of people investigating what vehicle might best suit their future travels.
One local manufacturer, Crusader Caravans, says it has seen a doubling in its website traffic over the Christmas holiday break, with thousands researching caravan purchasing.
And, it says, its ‘Buyer’s Guide and Checklist’ is one of its most popular pages, with buyers seeking guidance on which features to prioritise as they seek their dream rig.
The company believes that, given the bewildering range of van sizes, styles, layouts and construction materials on the market, it’s understandable that first-time buyers are seeking expert advice for deciding which type and model is suitable for their specific needs, including the terrain where they intend to travel.
There has been a surge in interest in buying new caravans. PIC: Crusader Caravans
Crusader Caravans CEO, Serge Valentino, said people wanted to make sure they were getting the best long-term value.
“Buying a caravan is a significant investment so it’s not a decision people take lightly,” he said.
“There’s a lot to consider – budget, size needs, features, their car’s towing capacity and whether they’re planning on going off-road … many buyers worry about making the wrong choice and want to ensure they’re getting real value and a product that will last.”
Of course, many other caravan manufacturers also offer their own ‘buyer’s guide’, and motoring organisations like Victoria’s RACV do the same.
It says that the first thing to consider when looking to buy a new or used caravan is to assess the size you need. And it is important also to know exactly who will be using the van as that will determine what size, layout and features you need.
“Make a list of your wants and needs, and be prepared to cut from the bottom should it blow out your budget,” the RACV says. “Think toilet and shower, air-conditioning, leather interiors, slide-out barbecue, coffee maker, washing machine, or rear-view cameras.”
And it’s not just about size, it’s about choosing the right type of caravan, as well.
The RACV says newcomers who prefer to hop from one caravan park to the next, enjoying on-site power, and communal facilities will have different needs to those more adventurous travellers.
“For those wanting to venture off the beaten track, an off-road-style van offers self-reliance with bigger water tanks, solar panels and a souped-up battery management system for off-grid power,” it says. “They also offer greater protection for the front and undercarriage – usually in the form of checker-plate aluminium cladding – and a heavy-duty suspension system for rough tracks.”
The RACV also says that understanding towing weights and capacity, and knowing how much a car can legally tow is critical.
“One of the most confusing things about buying a caravan are the myriad towing weights involved, which are designed with safety in mind,” it says. “Basically, you must ensure your vehicle can legally tow your van.”
The RACV urges buyers to check with their dealers or manufacturer about weights (it’s a complex topic) and to check how heavy their combination is at a public weighbridge to be certain.
And perhaps the most important piece of advice is also the most obvious.
“Do your research carefully when purchasing a new or used caravan,” says the RACV.
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We bought our one & only caravan 15 years ago & it’ll be the only one that we’ll ever own.
To us caravans are really only boxes on wheels with a bed in them
People don’t even cook in them these days.
We’ve had ours 12 years. Now OBE’s, so the only one
Are u kidding we cook and do the dishes in our caravan otherwise why buh one with all the mod cons if u arent goinv to use them
Our gas stove died 18 months ago. After sealing it off (legally) we have survived with the Weber Baby Q and a propane gas stove. No plans to replace the stove anytime soon.
The number of folk buying super heavy vans that are built for traversing creekbeds and ravines amazes me. These vans are built for much more than an occasional gravel road or national park access. The price for such extreme HD is obvious: weight, height, balance, fuel use, access and storage needs, not to mention initial cost. Most won’t do a Cape York trip and hauling two massive spare wheels swung off the rear becomes much less impressive when one sees the tow vehicle only has one. The salemen probably asked “what do you want to do in your new van”. If you answered “everything”, that’s what you get I guess.
The biggest mistake I made was trading in my11 year On The Move and upgrading to a new caravan
Hi I’m thinking of doing the same thing,what did you buy.
Mainly bush camp in remote locations.
I use everything available in the Van.
I enjoy the few comforts especially if it’s raining and a bit cold.
Spent a good part of my working life in a swag on the ground.
Still carry a swag in the ute but hardly use it unless I’m out somewhere without the Van after had a couple of beers, and prop there for the night.
When we decided to get a van the one thing we decided on was that we didn’t want to have one of those stupid boofhead large vans with all the bells and whistles just because they can afford it.
Our European built van has a lower center of gravity and all the creatures comforts you need.
We definitely cook in the van otherwise why bother to buy a van with the ability to cook in.
We have a policy that if it hasn’t been used for 3 trips then it’s not needed and take it out.
I’m always amazed when I see huge vans with so much stuff hanging of it and on the tow vehicle and doing 110k/h just because the speed limit is 110k/h we have set our speed limit to a maximum of 90k/h when tow.
We chose our first and only caravan after several years of research in preparation for retirement. We selected a smallish off-road van, added grey water and an extra fresh water tank, increased the load carrying rating (ATM), added a gas space heater and had a rear camera installed. All these addition built-in items have proven to be a wise choice for the kind of remote and not-so-remote travelling that we do. The van also has toilet, shower, washing machine and indoor cooking. We wouldn’t be without any of these items. After ordering the manufacture of the van, we then researched and bought a suitable tow vehicle. The vehicle must be heavier than the van and have sufficient towing capacity, i.e. GCM, GVM and maximum rear axle loading must not be exceeded. We are immensely happy with our rig and plan to go on many more trips away in the coming years.