Caravan Advice

[givemeaspell]

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? 

[bully6084]

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.

[givemeaspell]

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!

[bramblehedge]

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

[i-need-a-martini]

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. 

[i-need-a-martini]

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...

[bully6084]

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

[viewmont1071]

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

[viewmont1071]

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

[givemeaspell]

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!