8 things to think about before buying the perfect caravan

25 Aug 2016

Caravanning is not just a holiday - it’s a wonderful lifestyle. If you’re in the market to buy your very first caravan, here are a few tips to help you get started.

1. Consider how you’d like to use your vehicle

Are you looking for a caravan to take with you a few times a year on holiday? Or are you considering finding one that you can permanently put in a caravan park? Maybe you’d like to spend a year or two travelling on the road around Australia (in which case, a motor home would be better for you). 

According to the Caravan and Camping website, “Your 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.” 

Different caravan styles suit different kinds of holidays, so think about how you’d like to use your caravan before diving in headfirst.

2. Talk to caravan owners

“The best people to talk to in the industry are the people that actually own caravans. A salesperson is well-trained and qualified, but if they’ve never owned a caravan, that’s different to talking to someone who lives the lifestyle - they’d be far more educated than the person who’s there simply to sell,” suggests Shayne Culverhouse from Apollo RV Sales.

Online forums are gold too, so make sure you do lots of research and find out what other caravan owners are saying about their vehicles.

3. How many people will be using the caravan?

Maybe it’s just you and your partner who will be hitting the road, or maybe you’d like to invite your family along with you, in which case, you’d need a four to five berth caravan.

4. Make sure your tow vehicle can carry the caravan’s weight

Shayne suggests buying a caravan where there’s a buffer between its weight and the weight of your towing vehicle. He recommends a buffer between four and 500 kilos.

“You might have a vehicle that will tow 2.5 tonnes, so you’ll buy a caravan that weighs that amount. But then you’ll put a lot of extra gear on top of the tow vehicle and you won’t have any room for error,” he warns.

5. Look for a caravan with new technology

“Look into some of the new materials and technology available prior to purchasing your caravan, like fibre glass walls because of their improved insulation and solar lithium batteris and invertors,” suggests Shayne. “The caravan should be hail-resistant, too.”

6. Take a test tow

Before you ride off into the sunset, ask the salesperson if it’s possible for you to take the caravan for a test tow. Make sure you or your partner are able to hitch the vehicle up and that you are comfortable with how it tows. 

7. Ask about after-sale service

Before you hand over your cash, ask about your warranty and whether the manufacturer or brand has a national after-sales service support system, suggests Shayne. If you’re travelling far away from home and interstate, it’s always reassuring to know that there’s help nearby, should any accidents occur.

8. Consider the re-sale value

You might not think that they’re necessary for your own purposes, but caravans that have a shower and toilet always have the best re-sale value, advises Shayne. At some point, you may want to upgrade or sell your caravan, so it’s just something to keep in mind.