Q: Do I need an off road caravan?
A: Most of Australia can be covered in your family car, including most National Parks. A standard leaf spring suspension will handle corrugations, however an independent suspension will do the job much better and is easier on the caravan. A Simplicity suspension is an excellent all round set up and is a load sharing suspension that handles all road conditions well. Clearance under the caravan is probably more important than choice of suspension.
A: Most of Australia can be covered in your family car, including most National Parks. A standard leaf spring suspension will handle corrugations, however an independent suspension will do the job much better and is easier on the caravan. A Simplicity suspension is an excellent all round set up and is a load sharing suspension that handles all road conditions well. Clearance under the caravan is probably more important than choice of suspension.
A: All vehicle manufacturers have a specified maximum allowable weight that your vehicle can tow. This is given as an "ATM" (Aggregate Trailer Mass) which is the weight of the caravan plus, usually, 400Kgs on a tandem axle and 300Kgs on a single axle of additional load. Many vehicles such as turbo diesels will comfortably tow the recommended ATM but we recommend that you try to keep your load at 85% of the ATM for economy and ease of towing.
Q: Which is best, aluminium or timber (usually Merante) frame?
A: This has always been a contentious issue and every one has their own opinion. Modern methods of construction have overcome the old short comings of aluminium frames and there is little difference between the two although aluminium is lighter. It becomes a question of personal preference.
Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a full caravan against Pop Tops?
A: Weight, rather than shape, is the decisive factor in how much fuel you will use. Modern caravans are reasonably well designed aerodynamically, so you won't notice a big difference in fuel consumption between the two. Pop Tops are great if you want to store them in a garage or carport, but a full caravan is more convenient as you can stop and open the door and you are set up. A caravan also has full insulation and much more storage compared to the Pop Top that has vinyl, which eliminates quite a bit of overhead cupboard storage space. Again it is a matter of personal preference.
