What you need to know before you go!
So You’re Buying Your First Caravan?
Here’s What You Need to Know! Are you in love with the peacefulness and simplicity of the outdoors, but sick and tired of packing and unpacking camping equipment? If so, it’s time to trade your tent for a caravan! Believe it or not, when starting out, most people know very little about what is involved in owning a caravan. This is all the more surprising when you consider that people see caravans on the roads almost every day! This is one major reason why it often takes a family anywhere from weeks to a year to make the decision to purchase a caravan. Because there are many questions surrounding the purchase of a caravan, we have prepared this little eBook to help you and your family make an informed decision about buying the right caravan. At Brisbane Camperland, we want to help you determine which caravan will provide the right solution for your family and lifestyle. We’ve answered thousands of questions from over 25,000 customers since we opened in 1981. Our experienced team are here to share our caravanning knowledge with you.
Key Considerations When Purchasing a Caravan
The best way to determine which caravan is right for your family is to answer a series of targeted questions. Once you have the answers to these questions in hand, you’ll have a much better idea on which caravan is the right fit for your lifestyle.
What size caravan will you need to suit your family? In other words, how big is your family? A J-Pod is fine for one person or a couple, but it’s going to be a little cramped for a family with three or four kids! A good rule of thumb is to provide a bed for every family member. An important point that many families forget to factor is – will your pets be travelling with you? If they will be, it would be a smart idea to make space for them too.
Will you take the caravan off road? Chances are - you are probably going to take your caravan off the bitumen at some stage. If you want to explore the endless outback, spend time in a peaceful National Park or camp near a lovely undiscovered coastal area, you will need a caravan with larger off-road 15” or 16” wheels and a stronger chassis. Your caravan may also need upgraded suspension such as the J-Tech Independent Suspension. We can equip most of our caravans with Jayco’s Outback package, which lets you take the caravan far off the highway.
Does the caravan have everything your family needs? Will you need a full kitchen with a refrigerator and a stove, an ensuite, or a washing machine? Maybe you’ll need room to haul a dirt bike, a jet ski, mountain bikes, a surfboard, or an ATV; or maybe your kids will want a TV and a satellite dish. The good news is - we have models available with all of these features.
Can we do laundry on the road? Yes you can, we even sell washing machines made specifically for caravans. Many of our Jayco models feature a built-in washing machine as standard, and some as an optional extra.
What will you use the caravan for? You should carefully consider how you plan to use your caravan before making an investment. Will it be used for family holidays, quick weekend getaways, trips to the beach, extended touring around Australia, fishing or fossicking trips or a place for dad to sleep while he’s working out of town? Will you be cooking meals and showering in it? Do you need a model with a toilet installed? Your answer to these questions will help determine which model would best suit your requirements.
Can we tow a caravan with our family car? Car manufacturers specify the towing capacity for each and every model of their range. No matter what vehicle you own, you’ll need to check the towing capacity and ball weight capacity to see whether or not it’s going to be suitable to tow the caravan that you’ve dreamt of. You may need to consider buying a larger vehicle such as a 4WD in order to tow the caravan you desire. If you’re having trouble locating the towing capacities of your vehicle, our experienced sales team will be able to assist in locating these ratings.
Where will the caravan be stored? Australia offers some of the best locations in the world for caravanning. You can find undiscovered gems to spend your time off, a slice of paradise that you would never get close to by staying in a hotel. But where do you store your caravan when you’re not using it? Smaller caravans, like J-Pods, Camper Trailers and Pop tops, can be stored easily in your garage or parked in your backyard.
However for larger caravans or tight yards, commercial storage facilities are available in all capital cities and many larger towns.
Where can we buy accessories if we need them in the future? We have a full range of Caravan accessories right here at our Brisbane Store. You can also shop online at our website and we will ship most of our products Australia-wide. You will be pleasantly surprised at the range of accessories that are available for today’s caravan adventurers. If you don’t see what you need, send us an email or contact our Accessories department on (07) 3917 5555. We have lots of contacts in the industry so we might be able to source it for you.
Budgeting In a perfect world, we would purchase a caravan or motorhome that perfectly complements our lifestyle. However, the reality is that most of us are operating on a budget and certain sacrifices have to be made. Ask yourself these questions to get a clearer image on how much you can afford to spend on a caravan:
How much can we afford? As mentioned previously, prices vary widely between differing models of caravans. However, we find that some families prefer to choose one of our Pre-Owned Caravans as they often save thousands over a new caravan purchase and pick up all of the bonus accessories that the previous owner has added. We are fussy with our trade-ins. Almost all of our trade-ins also include our Camperland Care package, which means they have been serviced, safety checked, cleaned and detailed and are ready to use. If you’re in the market for a new caravan, we have options available to suit most budgets.
Is there financing available? Yes, many banks and credit unions finance caravans and motorhomes. We will work with your bank or credit union to help you secure a loan by providing the relevant sales paperwork they require.
We can also arrange financing through our partners at 360 Finance if you wish. Our handy finance calculator even offers a guide on caravan repayments. Simply the enter the amount that you wish to finance.
Where can I get my caravan serviced? At Brisbane Camperland, we offer a fully equipped caravan service facility for the exclusive use of our Brisbane Camperland customers. The purpose built complex is located at 38 Millennium Place in Tingalpa. All new Jayco Caravans also include Jayco Roadside Assistance. That’s professional assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for 3 years from the first date of registration.
What about insurance? We have been working with CIL Insurance, the caravan insurance leaders since 1981, so we can help you pre-arrange a quote so you’ll have coverage as soon as you pick up your caravan. We can also work with your existing insurance company if that’s your preference, by providing all of the relevant vehicle details.
Do you take trade-ins? Yes, we’re always on the lookout for good pre-owned caravans, so bring the old one down and we’ll see what we can do for you. The great news is – caravans generally offer great re-sale value! It’s a good idea to ask as many questions as possible before you go caravan shopping. If you are still confused come on down to Brisbane Camperland, we can answer all of your questions and we are here six days a week.
Why We Love Jayco At Brisbane Camperland we exclusively sell the quality Jayco range of caravans. Jayco is an Australian, family owned business that started on a farm in country Victoria in 1976. Today it is the largest caravan manufacturer in Australia building a full range of Caravans & Motorhomes and employing over 1,000 Aussies. Jayco Australia founder Gerry Ryan set out to build a better caravan, and we think he has succeeded beyond all expectations. We are always impressed by the craftsmanship, durability, design and appeal of Jayco caravans, and we think you will be too! Jayco offers a range of products that fit the Australian lifestyle perfectly. These include J-Pods, Camper Trailers, Pop tops, Expandas, Toy haulers, Caravans and Motorhomes. This means we can almost certainly find a product to match your family’s lifestyle. More importantly, we love Jayco products ourselves; many of our employees own and use them. Jayco now produce over 11,000 new RV’s every year.
Meet Our Caravans J-Pods Enjoy your holidays, your way. Featuring a fibreglass mono shell, the J-Pod is lightweight and easy to tow. With a spacious innerspring mattress, ample storage and an optional tent, the J-Pod is ideal for couples to take on a quick getaway and can be towed by many models of small vehicles.
Camper Trailers Camper Trailers are an economical and practical way to go caravanning. They’re also extremely comfortable and convenient. Many people choose a camper trailer because it is a compact unit which tows smoothly, is easy to handle, set up and doesn’t take much space to store. Children love camper trailers because there’s a bit of magic about them. Within minutes they are transformed from a small unit on wheels to roomy holiday accommodation. There’s surprisingly lots of room in a camper trailer, which is fully equipped with gas cooker, refrigerator, table and sink.
Pop-Tops Pop-Tops have all the features of a normal caravan and offer improved fuel economy as their roof lowers by around 600mm for travel. Their low profile can make them easier to tow and can reduce wind-drag; they are also easy to store in a garage or carport. When on-site, the top section is raised to provide full head-room.
Expandas Expandas are available in Pop Top and Caravan models and feature the benefit of being compact to tow, yet folding out the Expanda bed ends will extend these products to some of the largest layouts available on the market. Ideally suited to larger families who wish to invest in their family holidays, Expandas are equally as suited to extended touring as they are to overnight stays.
Caravans Caravans are ideally suited to couples or families who take their caravanning seriously and enjoy the Caravanning lifestyle at any given chance. Ranging in size from 16’ through to 25’ full Caravans often include Ensuite or Shower/ Toilets, take minimal time to set up and offer large storage and living areas. Available in models to suit couples or families, many of our Jayco models also include slideout sections, such as the lounge or bed, which maximise the interior floor space.
Toy Haulers Toy Haulers are the ultimate solution for active families or tradesman living on the road. They combine the comforts of a full height caravan, including an Expanda style front bed and rear bunks, with a shower and toilet, kitchen area, storage space and an oversized rear storage garage, large enough to house Tools, Motorbikes, a Quad bike or even the Harley.
Motorhomes Motorhomes are built on small and larger truck chassis and have the same features as caravans. Like caravans, they are made for year-round holidaying and have such facilities as toilets and showers and air conditioners, making them self-contained and extremely comfortable. Motorhomes are easy to drive and one of their appealing features is that there is no need to leave the cabin, when the vehicle is stopped, to enter the living area. This is a real bonus when the weather is not ideal.
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.
The Brisbane Camperland Difference At Brisbane Camperland, our job is to put your family in the right caravan. We think caravan shopping should be fun and stressfree for everybody, and that we should have options to suit every family. With this in mind we offer both New and Pre-loved Caravans as we think every family should be able to afford the caravan lifestyle. Our range of Caravans and Motorhomes include up to 200 available products at any given time. We offer a relaxed purchase experience, and believe in allowing our customers the time to browse our range at your own pace, while being there for you when questions arise. More importantly, we stand by our products with a fully equipped caravan service centre and Spare Parts and Accessories store. We’ll be here to support you for years after your initial purchase. Our goal at Brisbane Camperland is to delight you with a high level of service that you will keep coming back to us for years. Whether you need a new caravan, an accessory, or want to trade in or sell your old caravan, we can help. At hand-over we offer a comprehensive run through of your new home away from home, ensuring that you’re familiar with your product before hitting the road. If you have questions about the caravan lifestyle or about any of our products, drop by our dealership at 1459 Wynnum Road in Tingalpa or give us a call at (07) 3917 5555. You can also visit our website or send us an email. We want to answer all your questions and put your family on the road to fun!