topic Re: Caravan Advice in Community Spirit

Caravan Advice

givemeaspell — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 22:25:59 GMT

We are looking at purchasing a caravan in the next few months. Our car is a mazda cx7 and can only tow around 1400. So obviously cant get anything too big otherwise we will need to swap cars which we don't really want to do. Wonder if anyone has any advice on brands etc. Any other advice re caravans would be appreciated! We are looking at a second hand van, so also any good sites to purchase?

Re: Caravan Advice

bully6084 — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 00:53:24 GMT

it depends on what you want in your van. a lot of older vans are lighter than the newer ones. some have way too much fruit on them these days and it makes them far too heavy.

You can get pop up vans which are really light, but if you are wanting to do some serious travelling they can get really cold. We have a full height van and I like being able to pull up to a stop and being able to get into the van without having to put the top up, but we travelled around Australia with 2 young kids and I needed it to be easy, and when you are only stopping for one night it would became annoying, if you are planning on staying for a few nights setting up would not be much of a problem.

There are many great brands out there Coromal, Jayco, Windsor just to name a few and you can get a lot of good advice from some caravan clubs.

Just remember you only have to take the basics with you, there will always be shops where you can buy supplies and laundomats along the way. You don't need to take a washing machine, or have lots of off road gear attached to your van. There is a lot of look at me, we have more things than you out there with van owners, you just get what suits your needs.

Re: Caravan Advice

givemeaspell — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 06:41:59 GMT

thanks Bully! We have been told that the pop up tops are better on fuel? We also thought they were lighter but went to the caravan show on the weekend and were told that the full height vans are actually lighter. When we travel we intend to stop a few days in each place so a pop top wouldn't be an issue for us. There were quite a few brands at the show and some I had never heard of, doesn't mean anything as we are new at this caper, just thought people might be able to steer us away from some that don't seem so good! We will be taking not much at all with us, I'm happy to go laundromat and shop where we stop. Will keep looking and hopefully pick something up soon!

Re: Caravan Advice

bramblehedge — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:06:39 GMT

It took us eight months to buy a second hand caravan, we looked everywhere - online, newspapers and caravan sale yards.

We ended up buying a Jayco pop top, hubby says it's light to tow and good on fuel. When we stop along the way for a break we don't need to put up the top for me to make a cuppa as I'm five foot nothing and can stand up inside without banging my head.

The pop top takes less than a minute to put up - flip four clips on the outside and push up two end bars on the inside - that's it.

We have reverse cycle air which keeps us comfortable all year round and I think that's important if you have a pop top.

We stay in caravan parks so washing isn't an issue. If you free camp and want some comfort then you'll be up for more gear.

Some of the best advice we received with anything to do with caravaning was looking at the online caravan and camping forums.

A lot of the members are expert caravaners, they know all the tips and tricks and best places to stay - we joined a few and asked plenty of questions.

We love our caravan (known as mouse house) and it's certainly paid for itself - it's our second home.

Michelle

Re: Caravan Advice

i-need-a-martini — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:25:05 GMT

We travel in an old restored 50's caravan that we love but will retire it in about 5 years time. We will get a new caravan then.

But we have used lots of family and friends caravans as well and now that we have 'road tested' quite a few, we would only get a full caravan rather than a poptop.In fact we both HATE the poptops! Perhaps because we are both tall they just feel too claustraphobic.Plus we want a toilet and shower and the poptops don't do toilets/showers well.

Of all the brands we think we will get an Olympic. It just feels better quality that the others in terms of all the things you use all the time - door knobs, shelves, fittings etc.

Re: Caravan Advice

i-need-a-martini — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:27:05 GMT

I meant to say also that if you get a poptop, you MUST get airconditioning. They are feezing cold at night and sweltering during the day...

Re: Caravan Advice

bully6084 — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 13:57:37 GMT

you're welcome givemeaspell, We spent a long time researching and it gets very overwhelming.

Re: Caravan Advice

viewmont1071 — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 19:14:36 GMT

some good caravan info here

http://thegreynomads.com.au/

including warnings about "Swino" the pilfering pig

Swino, the partying pig, has had his last beer

The drunken feral pig that caused mayhem at a Western Australian camping area last month has finally run out of luck.

The pilfering porker who reportedly drunk 18 cans of beer in one night of debauchery at the DeGrey River campsite....continues

Re: Caravan Advice

viewmont1071 — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 19:20:15 GMT

If you include Aerolite or Aero lite in your search parameters they are generally the lightest frames and the top frame is usually

Aluminium rather than Steel. The Aerolite Viscount "half' poptops are very popular

Re: Caravan Advice

givemeaspell — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 20:10:14 GMT

thanks everyone! great advice. They seem to hold their price don't they? I was nearly tempted to buy a new one at the show on the weekend but I figure that being first timers probably best to go the 2nd hand. Hubby would have jumped at a new one (he's like a kid in a lolly shop) but I have to put the brakes on!

Re: Caravan Advice

purplecarrot-top — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 21:10:59 GMT

Poor Swino was hit by a car and killed.

We are travelling. But we have a camper trailer and house sit. Lots of caravans out there with all the bells and whistles.

Re: Caravan Advice

the_hawk* — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 23:18:29 GMT

How far and how fast you want to travel will determin what you need and as with every thing in life its a compromise.

Our first one was a an old popup with pull out ends, it towed fantastic, I had to keep checking the mirrors to make sure it was still there. It towed at freeway speeds and we could over take trafic with ease and got a great fuel return.

The down side was the setting up and packing up every morning which was an extra pain if it had rained.

We then bought a Jayco starcraft pop top, its great for setting as there is really nothing to do, the down side is it uses far more fuel and the wind drag sucks all the cars power when over 100kph 110kph not from the weight but the wind drag which makes over taking a pain, it also makes buffering from on coming trucks quite bad, then the suction effect you get passing the B doubles that drag you in towards them.

The bigger vans IMO are more suited for long slow trips were you travel only short distances at greatly reduced speeds only traveling at 80 90kph and then you get all the trucks passing you, many a van gets pushed into the gravel edge because they get so annoyed with slow moving traffic that holds them up.

Re: Caravan Advice

twinkles**stars — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 00:52:29 GMT

I found with our second pop top the storage was much better as the fronts of the seats came down rather than having to lift off the cushions and then lift the lid.

We never has any issues with cold or heat as the entire sides virtually zipped down allowing the breeze to flow through. In winter we had a small heater or sat around a fire outside.....it's part of the fun of camping.

Make sure you attach rails on the side for haning wet towels etc. 9inch PVC pipe with screw on ends fixed either at the front or rear are great to hold any poles, fishing rods etc.

Re: Caravan Advice

green.fields — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 02:52:16 GMT

I agree with Hawk, it all depends on what you want to do and where you go.

We have a Jayco pop top (not too old), very happy with it, plenty of storage. We chew through fuel (lpg mainly) with this one as we did with the other vans we've had. It's a fact of life the bigger and heavier the unit the more fuel you use. As for hot and cold in a poptop compared to a normal caravan as far as I am concerned hot is hot and cold is cold in either of them, we have reverse cycle aircond and just a small blower heater. I do not caravan on hot weather.

Neighbours have a newer Jayco poptop with shower and toilet and are extremely happy with it. My brother has a full sized semi off road van with shower and toilet that weighs a real lot and he has spent lots since getting it changing vehicles and last year found the manufacturer miscalculated the weight and for insurance purposes had to renew the axle, manufacturer wasn't that fussed, wish I could remember who they were.

Why not hire a couple different types for a weekend or so and decide what might suit you best.

Re: Caravan Advice

the_hawk* — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:37:42 GMT

roserobin12 wrote: and last year found the manufacturer miscalculated the weight and for insurance purposes had to renew the axle, manufacturer wasn't that fussed, wish I could remember who they were.
Why not hire a couple different types for a weekend or so and decide what might suit you best.

There are a lot of people beaking the law because manufacturers under declare the weight of their vans, many are over loaded, some are in excess of the tow vehicle towing limits and some are over weight for the Axles, wheels, tires and even brakes.

If paying a reasonable amount or buying one close to your cars limit I would suggest you ask for it to be weighed on a licenced weigh bridge and get the certificate stating its weights.

Hiring will give you an idea on what you want or more importanly what you dont want.

We only travel in Autum and Spring and carry a fan heater for those cold nights