Whether it’s your first or fifth time, buying a caravan is super exciting, promising a world of adventure and freedom on the open road. However, given the cost involved, it’s important to do your research before committing to a particular brand and model.
So, how do you know what to think about when you start researching caravans to buy? Well, that’s where we come in with this easy guide on what to consider. Let’s jump right into it, shall we?
Budget
I’m not going to beat around the bush. You know what your caravan buying budget is, and there’s no point crying about it. If your budget is $50,000 maximum, there’s really no point looking at that $275,000 expedition caravan with a toilet seat warmer.
However, that MDC XT10E looks mighty comfortable for $44,990 or a more affordable teardrop caravan might be right up your alley. Luckily, Australia has plenty of caravan manufacturers to choose from, ranging from affordable models to luxurious to downright over the top.
Caravan types
There are so many different types of caravans to buy on the market that it’s hard to know where to start looking. There are full-size caravans, pop-tops, slide-outs, slide-out pop-tops, hybrids, teardrops, pods, fifth wheelers, toy haulers, off-road and more. This topic deserves its own article, which fortunately, we’ve already written. Check it out below:
Bear in mind that anything with a pop-top or slide-out will not usually be ready to go as soon as you pull up. This can be a bit annoying if you roll into camp late at night in bad weather and need to stuff around a bit, popping it up and sliding it out before you can crawl into bed.
Intended use
Now is the time to reflect on your travel aspirations. Are you planning on living in your caravan full-time or for extended periods? Or will you simply be using it for weekends away? If you’ll be using it for weeks at a time, you’ll probably want to ensure you buy a caravan with a toilet and plenty of storage space.
Do you usually drive to a destination and stay in one spot? Or are you constantly on the move? If you’re constantly on the move, you’ll probably want to consider something more compact with minimal set-up. Do you plan to stay at caravan parks only, or do you want to take it off-road and off-grid?
Your caravan’s purpose will influence its size, features and amenities so it’s important to take into consideration wen buying a caravan.
Bedding
This one is a no-brainer. If you only need to sleep one or two adults, you’ll have no problems when it comes to buying a caravan. If you’ve got kids, this will limit your options a little bit, but there are still plenty of caravans on the market that cater to families.
Obviously, the more beds you need, the larger your caravan will be. Extra beds can be found as bunk beds within the caravan itself, a lounge that converts, or you can even set up a swag under an external awning or put a roof-top tent on a pod caravan.
Another thing to consider when buying a caravan is how much privacy you need if you’re travelling with kids. Some larger caravans, like the New Age Road Owl 21ft bunk ensuite, have bunk beds up the other end of the caravan with a closable curtain, giving parents and older kids more privacy. Smaller caravans will have you all sleeping in close quarters.
When it comes to the main bed, it’s really up to personal preference. Some couples will prefer two singles, and others will want to cuddle up on a Queen bed. One thing to consider when buying is whether the bed layout is north south or east west in your caravan.
A north south layout puts the bedhead up the end of the caravan and allows you to walk around the front of the bed. An east west configuration is usually used in smaller vans, with the downside being that the person against the caravan wall has to climb over the other person to get out of bed.
Off-road capability
The appeal of heading off-road to a remote campsite is strong. In the past, off-roading was limited to camper trailers and a select few caravans, but these days, most caravan manufacturers offer the option to upgrade to off-road capabilities when buying. And with the introduction of hybrid caravans in recent years, there are some amazing off-road caravans featuring all the comforts of home.
Consider whether you’re happy staying on the tarmac at caravan parks or whether you’d like to hit the tracks and go further afield. If you’d like to head off road onto dirt tracks but aren’t keen on serious 4WDing, a semi-off-road caravan may be right up your buying alley.
In general, an on-road only caravan is often cheaper than its off-road counterpart.
Caravan weight and tow vehicle
Considering a caravan’s weight is essential for not only safe towing, but also to ensure you aren’t going to cop a fine. This, of course, leads into your tow vehicle. Can it handle the weight of your caravan legally? If it can’t, then you will need to look at only caravans under a certain weight or upgrade your tow vehicle. There’s no point buying a caravan if you can’t legally or safely tow it, right?
This is one of those topics that deserves its own article, which you can read below:
Size matters
You probably already know that caravans come in various sizes, from compact trailers to spacious fifth-wheelers. And while a big caravan is nice because of the space it affords, they’re not suitable for many tow vehicles, can be challenging to maneuver and park, and may not fit anywhere when it comes time to store it.
On the other hand, the smallest caravan may be too small for your needs and comfort level. If you’re not comfortable, then you definitely won’t enjoy yourself, which defeats the whole purpose of buying a caravan to start with.
You’ll need to walk through several caravans to get an idea of what you’re comfortable with and weigh this up with your budget, tow vehicle requirements and where you intend to take it.
The kitchen
Many hybrid caravan use an outside kitchen as a selling point, however this is not so fun in poor weather. Make sure you’re comfortable with your kitchen layout before you buy a caravan as this is hard to change later. You can add appliances easily enough later but you cant really add a whole interior kitchen if there isn’t one already.
Is the fridge space large enough for your needs? Is there enough cupboard space to store your food and cooking utensils? Does the sink have an electric water pump or a manual pump? Do you prefer to cook on gas or induction? All of these things will wear thin very quickly if they’re not quite what you wanted.
The bathroom
The bathroom can be a deal breaker when it comes to buying a caravan. If you plan to stay in caravan parks and don’t mind using the park’s amenities, or are happy to forego a toilet because you want a small caravan, that’s fine. However, if you can’t go without a bathroom in your caravan, that’s fine also. There are plenty of caravans on the market with bathrooms.
One thing to consider is the size of the bathroom and whether the toilet and shower are separate. While it’s always much nicer to have a separate toilet and shower, it’s just not possible in a small caravan.
When it comes to the toilet, most caravans you buy come with a cassette toilet, which you’ll need to empty every few days at a dump point. However, gaining in popularity is the compost toilet, which doesn’t need to be emptied anywhere near as often. Read all about that below:
Single or double-axle caravan
Although this isn’t always the case, many caravans over 2,000kg or over 5.8 metres (19ft) have a second axle (four wheels). There are pros and cons to each, with the pros of a double axle caravan being that it can handle the weight and braking requirements of a larger van better.
Many argue that buying a double-axle caravan is safer as if you have a blowout, as you still have three more wheels on the road for stability. The downside is those extra axles, brakes, and tyres cost more when it comes to maintenance. If you’re in the market for a large van, you may not have a choice but to go with a double-axle caravan.
Warranty and dealer network
If the caravan manufacturer doesn’t offer a decent warranty when you buy, this should trigger warning bells. After all, shouldn’t they trust their own product to last longer than 12 months? Likewise, do they have a good dealer network Australia-wide for when you require servicing or repairs?
Coromal Caravans offer a 3-year structural warranty. This is much better than 12 months!
Something that is often overlooked is whether the manufacturer has a dedicated customer service support team. The reason this is important is that manufacturers and dealerships are known to pass customer warranty issues back and forth like a hot potato. A reputable manufacturer will have an aftersales division that you can connect with directly.
Reviews and recommendations.
When you have a few caravan models in mind to buy, jump online and read user reviews. People tend not to hold back online, so if there’s a model with ongoing issues, you’ll soon read about it. If you’re at a caravan park and see one you like the look of, feel free to ask the owner about it. Caravan owners love showing off their homes on wheels!
New vs second-hand
Ultimately, this tends to boil down to budget. We’ll be writing about what to look for when buying a secondhand caravan soon as this topic is worthy of its own article. Stay tuned!
Try before you buy
If you’re a little on the fence as to whether you will like a particular model, ask the dealer if they have a hire scheme. Some manufacturers have partnered with van hire companies such as Camplify, allowing potential customers to hire a caravan and try it out before buying.
At the end of the day, buying a caravan is an individual choice, and what works for your neighbour may not work for you. Taking into account your sleeping preferences, level of comfort requirement, caravan type, your existing tow vehicle, your budget, and everything else we’ve mentioned above will help you get it right the first time.
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