The definition of the term “Recreational Vehicle” is not that clear cut. Particularly in Australia where it is often loosely used to describe any vehicle used for fun. Let’s talk about what a Recreational Vehicle is in Australia and the different types.
The term Recreational Vehicle (RV) causes a lot of confusion as it’s a term commonly used to describe motorhomes and fifth-wheelers in the USA. However, in Australia, we tend to think of the term much more broadly to include caravans and other vehicles designed for fun (hence the recreation part of the name).
Wikipedia describes a Recreational Vehicle (RV) as a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters. On the other hand, Dictionary.com has a slightly different definition, “a van or utility vehicle used for recreational purposes, such as camping…”.
The Queensland Government takes it a step further and in addition to caravans and motorhomes, includes off-road motorbikes, quad bikes, golf buggies and even wheeled armoured vehicles.
You see why it’s confusing? So what is a Recreational Vehicle?
Well, there is no clear definition. But here at RVDaily, we like to be inclusive of all vehicles that provide recreation. And although the term ‘recreation’ is defined in many different ways depending on which dictionary you own, they all seem to agree that recreation is an activity you do for enjoyment when you’re not working.
So… Recreational Vehicle basically means ‘fun vehicle’, right?
Right. Now that we’ve got that sorted, let’s look at the different types of recreational vehicles in Australia. Now the first four are very clear, no argument needed, recreational vehicles because they have living quarters. After that, it could go either way depending on whether you’re going with the ‘fun vehicle’ definition or the less fun Wikipedia definition.
A caravan is a trailer equipped with living quarters thats designed for travel and is towed by a vehicle. Caravans have no engine or motor and without a vehicle to pull them, are not going anywhere. They all have a sleeping area and most also have a kitchenette and a bathroom. However, small caravans may or may not have a bathroom.
Caravans range in size and features. There are so many different types of caravans on the market in Australia, it is seriously not funny. To learn more about caravans and decide if this is the Recreational Vehicle for you, read our article below:
A camper trailer (or camper) is also a towable trailer that includes living quarters and most likely a kitchen. However, there is where the similarities end to a caravan. Camper trailers are more often than not, designed to go where caravans can not (even if they say they can) – off road.
They pack down small for towing and must be set up when you reach camp. Older style camper trailers are more like a heavy-duty canvas tent on a box trailer, but these days, they’re a lot more sophisticated and just to be confusing, the lines have well and truly blurred between camper trailers and caravans with the introduction of hybrid campers. Read more about camper trailers in our beginner’s guide below.
A motorhome is different to a caravan and camper trailer in that it’s basically a home that you can drive like a car and it is not designed to be towed. The living quarters are built on a truck or bus chassis and more often than not, feature sleeping quarters, a kitchen, a dining area and an ensuite. There are different classes of motorhomes so it can get a bit confusing.
Read more about motorhomes in our guide below:
You can think of a campervan like a small motorhome. Like a motorhome, it’s a home that you drive yourself but its more compact, and usually built on a van chassis. It offers basic amenities like a sleeping area and a small kitchen but may not feature a bathroom and/or living area. They’re more suited for shorter trips and weekends away.
Read more about campervans in our guide below:
Okay, this is where we start to push the boundaries as to what is considered a Recreational Vehicle. But remember, here at RVDaily, we don’t consider living quarters to be the deciding factor and consider any ‘fun vehicle’ on wheels and water a Recreational Vehicle.
Here are a few other Recreational ‘fun’ Vehicles we like to talk about, look at, and basically, waste hard-earned money on.
Dirt bikes, quad bikes and even electric off-road bikes – we love them. They’re a ton of fun for all ages, and we don’t talk about them anywhere near as much as we should. Stay tuned!
ATVs, UTVs, side-by-sides – we’ll be having a conversation about these soon too. But again, we love them just as much as caravans, motorhomes, campervans and motorbikes. Why? Because they’re a ‘fun vehicle’ on wheels.
This one’s a no-brainer. It’s a fun vehicle that goes puh-puh-puh on the water. Unless you’ve got an electric one, then you make like a water ninja – silent. Either way, a boat allows you to do even more fun recreational activities like fishing, getting to cool camping spots, snorkelling and jumping off it. Stay tuned for more incoming boat content.
Recreational Vehicles open up a world of possibilities for exploring Australia. Whether you’re going solo, a seasoned travelling couple or a family on an adventure, you can’t really call yourself Australian if you don’t have (or aspire to have) a Recreational Vehicle of some sort.
Let us know if we’ve missed any and what you’d like to see more of!
