CCIA Buying a caravan

Feature BUYING A CARAVAN

Need to knows when navigating a

CARAVAN SHOW CaravanWorld.com.au 15

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Feature BUYING A CARAVAN

Top tips you need to know when buying a caravan at a show

B

uying a caravan can be both a thrilling and confusing journey. It’s exciting because you’re on the cusp of a lifetime of new adventures exploring our great country, meeting new people and creating amazing memories. Yet it can also be overwhelming because there are so many things to consider, and the market is literally brimming with t antalising options.

Before you even think about opening your wallet, take some time to work out exactly what you need in a caravan. Chances are if you rush out and buy the first model you fall in love with, you’ll wake up in three months and realise you’ve paid for features you don’t use, the storage is inadequate or perhaps the layout just isn’t working for you. Some owners spend more than a year researching caravans on the market. But, as they say, knowledge is power, so with some careful planning, lots of research and a fair bit of tyre-kicking, we have no doubt you’ll find your perfect caravan. Here are out top tips for what to do before you go to a caravan show:

1

THE PASSENGER LIST

Consider how many people will use the van. Are you a family with young kids or a young couple planning on growing your brood? Perhaps you are a retired couple who might occasionally welcome guests on your ‘Big Lap’. You need to know how many to sleep, where everyone will put their stuff, and how you will use the internal and external spaces. There are many varied and wonderful layouts available for all manner of uses, but at a minimum make sure your dinette can seat everyone, there’s ample storage and everyone can see the TV when seated. Some beds are aligned along the length of the RV (north-south), others run across the width of the vehicle (east-west). This can influence storage options as well as access to and manoeuvrability within the van.

Are there tall people in your crew? If so, pay close attention to the internal height, taking into account low points such as light fittings and air-conditioners, to be sure you can walk freely inside.

Above: RV features reflect our diverse needs, so take the time to figure out what matters to you.

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2

YOUR TOURING TYPE

What kind of touring do you think you’d like to do? If you and your family are new to the caravanning lifestyle and you like the comforts of home, you may be perfectly happy touring the country hopping from one caravan park to the next and enjoying the facilities and comforts on offer.

Thus, you may want a full-sized fridge to keep your tribe fed and air-conditioning to beat the heat. Conversely, it may also mean you have no use for a large space-taking internal bathroom, which requires about 1m in length and adds up to 400kg, or heavy-duty independent trailing arm suspension since you’ll be cruising the highways.

If you are looking for something light to tow, consider a camper trailer or pop-top. They make a great start point for a life of caravanning. If you are want to get off the beaten track, you’ll need something off-road complete with larger water tanks, undercarriage protection for rougher terrain, more solar panels and a battery management system that can take you off-grid for an extended time.

3

THE EXTRA GOODIES

Make a list of what you desperately can’t live without, and put them in order of preference in case you need to cut from the bottom. This might include air-con and heating, a trick solar panel and power storage option, a four-burner stove instead of a two-burner, leather interiors, washing machine, an external slide-out barbecue or rear view cameras and a good navigation system like a Hema HX-1 Navigator, which provides a detailed road mapping system, including the ability to search for caravan parks.

WHAT WILL I GET FOR MY MONEY? The budget van

Up to $50,000 This is about the price you’ll pay for an entrylevel price range that’s a great introduction for newbies to the caravanning lifestyle or for those on a tight budget. You’ll most likely be buying a smaller, base model caravan or pop-top (a van with a retractable roof) and, although you’ll get the majority of mod cons such as a small kitchen, probably a combination bathroom and toilet and a double bed, there’ll be fewer bells and whistles.

Mid-range vans

$50,000 to $70,000 More money means more of everything – length, weight, interior space and features.

You’re likely to find so-called family vans in this category – more room for everyone at a bigger dinette, lots of bathroom space, and better finishes throughout. Items that are optional on budget units will start to become standard such as aircon, TV and capacity for carrying water and gas.

The luxury Van

$70 to $100K+ From full off-road capability to all the tech you’d see in your own home, this category is where caravanning dreams come true. Think top-of-the-line suspension, kitchens with things like soft-closing cabinetry, a washing machine, luxury upholstery, solar power and even liquor cabinets.

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Feature BUYING A CARAVAN

4

TIME TO TALK TOWING

Obviously if your budget is wide open and you can afford a new tow vehicle, the sky’s the limit. But if you already have a tow-tug and don’t want to upgrade then you’ll need to find a van to suit. Generally speaking (and assuming the vehicle and towbar ratings are acceptable) four-cylinder cars with 2L engines or more are generally suited for towing caravans around 1000kg to 1200kg.

Some six-cylinder or V8 sedans and wagons can comfortably tow lighter single-axle caravans and campers up to 1600kg to 1700kg. The many medium to large 4WDs are generally suited for caravans up to 2500kg before they begin to feel the strain. There are fewer vehicles around for the heavyweights of around three tonnes and more – Ford F250s and LandCruisers come into their own here.

When matching a car’s towing capacity, make sure it exceeds the caravan’s Aggregate Trailer Mass, which for tandem models is usually around 400kg more than the unladen (Tare) weight of the van. More powerful 4WD models can pull 3500kg, which obviously gives you more options. Check your vehicle’s manual to be sure. The weight of the van alone is one thing, but you need to add on everything you’ll carry too. The vehicle manufacturer

“If you are looking for something light to tow, consider a camper trailer or pop-top. They make a great start for a life of caravanning.”

may also recommend using weight distribution hitches.

This may influence your caravan choice because a prospective van with a heavy towball download may require one. And check the owner’s handbook for the rear axle load for your vehicle. If you have a heavy trailer and load up the cargo area of your vehicle with heavy items, you may overload the rear axle. This is illegal.

5

Above: There are a lot of vans at a show, so know your needs before you go.

KNOW YOUR BUDGET

This one’s a biggie. Not only do you need to know, and stick to a budget, but think about the other costs associated with owning your own caravan. As mentioned above, you may end up needing an entire tow vehicle and then there are those extra goodies to consider. Your budget should also take into consideration maintenance expenses. Also, the bigger the van and the more features it has, the heavier it is - and that costs more to tow. Also consider your travel costs and the fees associated with staying in a caravan park.

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6

Below: The off-grid Sunliner Habitat on show.

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FIXING UP YOUR FINANCES

The best thing to do before you go to a caravan show is to have pre-approval on your finance. This provides you with piece of mind, and it means you’ll get on the road much faster. Specialist caravan finance brokers can arrange quick approval with a wide range of lenders, and usually cheaper rates than personal loans. Brokers such as Credit One offer no-obligation pre-approval, calculating your budget based on all your living expenses, so you can negotiate with a private seller, knowing that you have a pre-approved limit and you’re more likely to stick to your price range. Make sure you compare all available options on loan term, interest rate, pre approval and any early termination fees. Caravanspecific loans can offer flexible repayment structures

over two to seven years so you know upfront how long it will take to pay off.

7

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Read reviews in magazines such as Caravan World, check out as many layouts as you can online. Research the manufacturer, there are both imported and Australianmade models available across the country, and there’s much online about a manufacturers quality, design and any industry awards they may have won or accreditations they hold. Also, ask other users for their feedback. There are multitude caravan clubs all across Australia and a plethora of Facebook groups that are bottomless pits of great, practical advice from the people who actually use the vans.

Feature BUYING A CARAVAN

UPCOMING CARAVAN AND LIFESTYLE SHOWS

2017

November 3-6 Sydney Caravan Camping Lifestyle Expo Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW www.caravan-camping.com.au November 24 – 26 Bendigo Leisurefest www.leisurefest.com.au

2018

February 8-11 Newcastle Caravan, Camping & Holiday Expo Newcastle Entertainment

Centre and Showground, Newcastle, NSW www.caravan-camping.com. au/shows-expos/newcastlecaravan-camping-holiday-expo February 21-25 Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, Vic https://caravanshow.com.au/ Home

WA http://caravanandcampingshow. com.au/

Above: Read reviews and reach out to owners online for honest feedback.

Inset: Knowing your budget will save you angst at the negotiating table.

April 24-29 NSW Caravan, Camping & Holiday Supershow Rosehill Racecourse, Rosehill, Sydney, NSW www.caravan-camping.com. au/shows-expos/nsw-caravancamping-rv-holiday-expo

March 21-25 RAC Perth Caravan & Camping Show Claremont Showground, Perth,

CaravanWorld.com.au 21

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