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.
Q: Hot dipped galvanised against "Supagal" chassis?
A: Hot dip galvanising is superior to "Supagal" , especially if you are constantly in salt air environments, however it adds quite a bit to the cost of a caravan and "Supagal" will probably outlast the life of the caravan, provided any damaged areas are repaired with a rustproof paint.
Q: Why are some apparently similar caravans more expensive than others?
A: The caravan industry is very competitive and the old saying "you get what you pay for" is true. Smaller manufacturers can't compete with the big name brands which are mass produced, and they have to rely on building a top quality product. Another aspect is that the smaller manufacturers will "custom build" a caravan to a buyers specifications so that you get what you want for the same money and they hold their value better.
Q: Do I need Solar power, a generator or both?
A: If you are the type of traveller who stays in Caravan Parks you don't need any of these, except maybe for a battery and smart charger that charges the battery from your car or from a 240 volt source. This will allow you to stop at an unpowered site overnight and have lights in the caravan, if it is set up for 12 volts. Solar power is great if you want to "go bush" or into National Parks where 240 volt power if not available. This is a cheap endless source of power, however, it won't normally run your air conditioner or microwave. To do this a generator would be required, keeping in mind that some National Parks do not allow the use of these.
Q: Do I want a shower and toilet?
A: If you predominately stay in Caravan Parks you are paying quite a bit of money so you may as well use the amenities you are paying for. However it is very convenient to have a toilet, if you need to go in the middle of the night. If you don't like to share the amenities with others, then a shower of your own gives you that option. A combination shower/toilet unit will serve you, whereas an ensuite gives you more privacy, as you can close it off, but this also takes up more space in the caravan. A caravan with a shower/toilet is better for resale.
Q: What if I have never towed a caravan before?
A: This is far less daunting than you think. Caravans tow very well nowadays, provided they are loaded and hitched correctly. Several hours with the caravan behind you will soon give you the confidence, and time spent practicing reversing in a open area before you head off on the open road will take away any doubts you may have about manoeuvring in Caravan Parks. The majority of Caravan Parks usually have a person capable of putting your caravan on site or at least guiding you there. My advice would be to do a course with RACQ or similar organisations where you learn a lot more than just handling your caravan.
Thanks for the info 5 Star Caravans
These are definitely good things to consider in buying a caravan. You might as well consider asking about the availability of parts and insurance coverage.
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Thank you for posting this. I would also like to note that you can ask the people in the caravan parks for more questions and we are willing to answer any concerns related to caravans.
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