Yakima Tips on Packing the Car

www.yakima.com.au

Road train driver has his say

Hey Guys,

I am a roadtrain driver (and 4WD enthusiast) and I travel around 11,000km every fortnight in a triple roadtrain transporting food and other essential supplies from Perth to towns and mines in the north-west of WA. This means I get to witness the annual migration and sometimes the debris left on the side of the road by those unfortunate enough to come to grief along the way.

The problem I have been encountering lately, of which I hope this feedback will raise awareness, is the practice of caravan and campervans setting up for the night right in the middle of the parking bay - equal distance from the entrance and exit and effectively rendering the parking bay useless to a vehicle the size of mine, especially if the parking bay was already on the small side as many in the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Murchison are.

If you observe the parking habits of most long distance truck drivers you will find they will try to park as far forward as they can in the parking bay and as far to the left as possible. This leaves the maximum amount of room free for additional vehicles ( be they roadtrains or caravans ) to pull in behind and get some sleep and it also leaves an unobstructed exit free in the "right lane" so if any vehicle wishes to leave before the one(s) in front it is not blocked in. It is a simple system that has worked for many years.

There is another issue related to a much smaller subsection of the transport industry, it is my specialty - refrigerated trailers. Refrigerated trailers run 24/7 while loaded with all the frozen peas, ice cream, milk, lettuce, apples, etc that people expect to be able to buy anywhere in Australia. If I park my noisy trailers next to you at night it's not because I'm an inconsiderate and aggressive truck driver hellbent on ruining your nights sleep.

Consider this: truck drivers hours are regulated by law - when our hours have run out for the day we must pull over or face prosecution (some think it's closer to persecution but I won't go into that). I'm sorry if it happens to be your parking bay I take my mandated rest break in. Everyone will be a lot sorrier if I continued driving and fell asleep at the wheel.

Also, triple roadtrains are bloody big! There are limited places we can safely pull off the road for our rest breaks. Parking bays just happen to be ideal for the task, especially after significant rainfall - no driver in their right mind would pull off the road into anything less than a bitumen or heavily compacted gravel area (parking bay). To do otherwise usually results in immediately becoming bogged with, considering the size and weight involved, limited means of recovery.

So please keep these points in mind next time you are looking to pull up for the night or even just stopping to make a sandwich. If you are the sole occupant of a parking bay the chances are somebody will pull in behind pretty soon - are you positioned to give them easy access? I am happy to share parking bays with all road users but everyone has to apply a bit of common sense and consideration. I will always try to minimise the impact running fridge motors may have on anyone I'm sharing a parking bay with. Parking nose to tail with other vehicles instead of side by side is an effective way of do this - park in front of me and you are a minimum of 20ft from my lead fridge motor, park behind me and you are at least 45ft from my third fridge motor. Park beside me or force me to park beside you and you might be as little as 5ft from it. I've gotten used to the noise, in fact, I find the constantly running fridge actually masks other irregular noises which would normally wake me. Such as irate campers yelling at me to shut it off ;)

I know there are people out there who are just not right in the head and certain concepts never seem to take hold. On behalf of all the sensible truck drivers I apologise in advance for the actions of the, thankfully, few truly stupid individuals that may at some point in their life write "Truck Driver" on their tax return.

Five Easy Tips to Arranging a Loan for a Caravan

Caravan ownership allows people to take affordable road trips and enjoy nature outings more thoroughly since they can bring the comforts of home with them to the open road. However, this type of recreational vehicle can be expensive, and many people may not be able to afford one easily. To help you obtain your own caravan, financing companies and caravan dealerships have loans available.

Five tips that can help you arrange a favourable caravan loan, include:

1.       Assessing your ability to repay the loan

2.       Investigating lenders

3.       Saving up a down payment

4.       Reviewing a loan’s repayment terms

5.       Knowing your credit rating

Loan Repayment

Before applying for a caravan loan, be sure to assess your overall finances to determine your ability to repay the amount that you need to borrow. Another option is to establish the amount that you can comfortably pay each month, and then, look for caravans that fall into this price point. By requesting a loan that you can repay easily, the financial institution will be more likely to approve the funds. In addition, you can speak with your bank, which will be able to give you the maximum amount you can borrow in a short amount of time.

Lender Investigation

To locate the best caravan loan for you, be sure to assess the terms of each financial arrangement. You can complete research online to compare the different loans that are available. In particular, review a loan’s repayment requirements, down payment conditions and interest rates. Does the interest rate remain fixed for the term? Are there any penalties for paying out the loan early?

The four most common financing methods include a hire purchase, personal, secured or credit card loan. A hire purchase loan is secured against your recreational vehicle while a personal loan is unsecured. If you select a traditional secured loan, then the lender will likely secure it against the value of your personal residence. A credit card loan is usually funds that a creditor has already approved for you, but the interest rates are often higher than other loan types. It’s probably best not to finance a caravan through your credit card.

Down Payment

Consider saving up a sizeable down payment prior to making a caravan purchase. When you put money down, your repayment amount will be lower, and it will decrease your monthly payments. It also means less risk to the finance companies as you are putting your own money into the caravan. Many loan providers require you to make a down payment of at least 10 percent. Most financiers will want to use the caravan as security, meaning the can repossess it in the event of non-payment and when you have put your own money into it, statistically, this event is much less likely to occur.

Evaluate a Loan’s Repayment Terms

Be sure to assess the repayment requirements of a financial arrangement before you agree to a loan. Keep in mind that a lengthy repayment term may decrease your monthly payments, but if you extend the loan, then you will pay more in interest charges. By paying your caravan loan in full as quickly as possible, you can decrease the total amount that you’ll wind up paying for your recreational vehicle however this may not always be possible.

Credit Ratings

When you have a good credit rating, lenders are more likely to give you favourable repayment terms. Consider checking your credit rating before you apply for a loan to ensure accuracy and to verify your likelihood of being approved. Essentially a financier is looking for a stable, reliable person. You’ll be given a better opportunity for a lower rate if you have been in your job for more than two years as well as being an home owner.

Final Thoughts

Caravan ownership is rewarding as the recreational vehicle gives you the freedom to discover the country affordably and explore isolated areas. When you take the time to arrange the best caravan loan for your personal finances, you will gain peace of mind since a thorough evaluation will give you a comprehensive understanding of the financial arrangement’s terms.

Authors Bio: 

James O’Brian is a Caravan loans specialist. He has been working for www.caravanloans.com.au for three years. They are one of Australia's largest caravan and motorhome finance companies. In his spare time James enjoys camping and travelling around Australia.