Six questions to ask before buying your first caravan

Caravan & Camping

Six questions to ask before buying your first caravan

October 4, 2018by lisaw

There’s nothing better than a caravan road trip. Having the freedom to travel wherever you want to, with no time constraints and only yourselves to please can be the ideal family holiday. But where do you begin when looking to purchase your first caravan? Well, before you even start thinking about makes and models, you should ask yourself the following important questions!

There’s nothing better than a caravan road trip. Having the freedom to travel wherever you want to, with no time constraints and only yourselves to please can be the ideal family holiday.

But where do you begin when looking to purchase your first caravan? Well, before you even start thinking about makes and models, you should ask yourself the following important questions!

Q. Should we hire a caravan first for a short trip, buy a second-hand model or leap straight into the new van market?

A. Unless you are made of money, hiring is always a good first option. An even better one is to borrow a friend’s van and take that away for a couple of weeks. You’ll soon learn what features you need and use every day, and what features you can do without. Equally important is whether there is enough room in the van to fit the whole family comfortably, both for sleeping and dining.

Q. What size caravan can I safely tow with my vehicle?

A. This is one of the most important considerations when buying a van. Unless you are driving a large 4WD such as a Toyota Landcruiser or Nissan Patrol that can comfortably tow 2.5 to 3 tonne, you will need to be looking at vans under 17 feet in length as a general rule. There are some models that are built lighter, but be careful that you don’t sacrifice chassis strength and general build quality just to save a bit of weight.

Six questions to ask before buying your first caravan

Q. What safety features are important in a caravan that would be a deal breaker if not included?

A. As a minimum you should be looking for electric brakes that can be controlled through an in-car electronic brake controller. You will usually need to purchase this brake controller separately and have it installed in your vehicle by a licensed auto electrician. Also look for a break-away cable, an isolation switch for your power and remember it is now a legal requirement to have a smoke detector installed in caravans in some states including New South Wales.

Q. What are some of the necessary features we would need on a caravan that as a family we would struggle without?

A. This is a difficult question to answer as one family’s base level of comfort can differ remarkably to the next. For example, if you have young kids, they may be OK sleeping on a cushion bed that folds down from a dining settee, while teenagers may need the comfort and length of a full-sized single bed and innerspring mattress. The same goes for a pull out awning or a full annex; some people use them every trip, others who only stop overnight and are gone the next morning won’t use them at all. The bare essentials should include 12V and 240V power, gas for cooking, a good size water tank and a place for everyone to sleep comfortably.

Q. Pop Tops v full height caravans v wind-up campers. What are the advantages of one over the other?

A. They each have their advantages. Wind-up campers and pop tops can save you both in weight when towing as well as storage convenience, as most will fit under a standard carport or inside your garage. Full height caravans are usually sturdier and better insulated, so can be more comfortable in both extreme cold and extreme heat. As far as general features and accessories go, most manufacturers will be able to fit just about everything across all three designs.

Q. I have never towed a caravan before! How difficult is it?

A. While not particularly difficult, it will certainly require more concentration on the road, especially when going around corners as your turning circle will widen considerably. Also be aware of the strong effect wind can have on a wide surface area such as a caravan, especially at speed. It is not uncommon to find your vehicle and van drifting across road lanes if you don’t slow down and drive to the conditions.

An area where a lot of people struggle is reversing their caravan. The secret here is to take it slow and use a spotter if you don’t have a reverse camera; you never know when a small child may walk behind the vehicle and is completely out of the driver’s vision. Finally, there are specialised caravan towing courses, usually run in a day or over a weekend, that are an invaluable tool in learning all the expert tips and tricks for handling a caravan on the road. Do yourself a favour and book in for one before you buy.

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Six questions to ask before buying your first caravan