Angelundercover replied:

Sorry the title should be - Family Caravans - for newbies....
Hit the wrong button :(

Teabag (Queanbeyan) replied:

Have a look at the Coromal Convair 546. This is one I'm considering in the Pioneer option which is Off-Road. Looks like a very good, well set out van with forward bunks.......

Notso replied:

Depends on how deep your pockets are, but any of the well know brands will have the configuration you are looking for.

Coromal make a good van. Jaycos are cheaper and fit and finish may not match others but they have a large share of the market and most people I know are happy with theirs

Wizard1 replied:

You wouldn't buy a house by asking what others have on a forum. The same applies to caravans as they become your home.

It is an individual issue based on your needs, layout, price, etc. Take your list with you when you go to the caravan retiailers and kick some tyres and sit in some vans.

No mount of advice on a forum can substitute the requirement to get out there and have a look at what's available.

Just because someone recommends a brand doesn't mean it is in your budget or meets your requirements.

There are so mnay brands you could get overwhelemd by the info.

Depending on when you want to buy it may be worth waiting for a caravan expo in your area to have a look at a variety in one place.

Angelundercover replied:

Thanks everyone for your info,
We will be able to buy a new van and have set aside enough in our budget for a decent size and style, our only real drama will be if we buy a brand new one and get it made to our spec's we will have to wait to have one built as there is a lead time of 4/5 months to have it completed.
However we could buy a brand new van off the lot and go with the design they have available, and yes you are right Wizard1,
i wouldn't buy a house just because someone on the forum said they had a certain type, but i do value the forums option as i asked the question and from the posts i have already learned to take note that the Jayco may or may not be to the standard we are looking for..... Something i didn't know before.
Thank You once again everyone :)

TD100 replied:

i bought a new jayco destiny a few months ago with double/front bunks,it is the largest pop top they make,for the money i think it is brilliant but agree whole heartedly that its finish leaves a lot to be desired,too many things just slapped together but on a whole it is good value,slowly but surely i will fix up things on it to my standard then i will be 100% happy with it.cheers Paul

Member -Dodger replied:

Whatever you get just do the block slowly and stay as long as you can in each place to mingle with the locals and really learn what us Grey nomads already know.
This is a great country with great people.
Best of luck.

jomah replied:

dont write off the Jayco on someone elses say so, They dont have the lions share of the market for no reason. Great value for money plus the most widespread dealer network in the country. Make your own choice but consider that every dollar saved on the van is another dollar to spend enjoying yourselves. Wifey & I have been at it (travelling) for 10 months now. Great way to live plus no lawns to mow. Hope you choose well and have fun time.

Angelundercover replied:

Definitely wont write off Jayco as i haven't seen that brand yet but i will have a closer look at the overall finish of the van when we go and have a look at a Jayco dealer next week....
We really like a Galaxy Retreat that we seen in a yard earlier this week but i wont to do my home work first before buying a van that we will be living in indefinitely.
We will be buying a 4WD too but that's hubby's department.

Newbiesb replied:

Hi Angelundercover

We also posted a thread today and are a fellow family seeking to do the block, although probably not for another year. I'd be interested in keeping in contact with you. If you are interested, reply to this post and i'll give an email adrerss to chat.

Motherhen replied:

Before taking the plunge and decide on what you will purchase, consider how you will cope in a confined space with you 'young adults'. Consider what experience you have had in towing - i you have had limited experience, a big van may take a bit of getting used to at the very least. If you haven't done so already, take a few 'trial runs' and see how everyone copes - even if you hire a few different sizes and types of vans.

As has already been pointed out, consider the towing vehicle, what weight it can pull (considering the load you will have for your family), and what the permitted gross load is (laden caravan plus laden vehicle including yourselves). Most Cruisers and Patrols are overloaded with just the family and a the camping equipment.

I thoroughly endorse the suggestion of buying second hand, and recommend this to everyone. What you buy first will most likely not be what you finally decide you need. Hire or buy, go bush for a while with the family, and while you are out and about, look at what others have - you will come back with heaps of ideas of what did and didn't work, and what are all the 'must have' features you see in other people's vans.

It can work. When my sister and i were teenagers, we travelled around the UK and Europe in a camper van - very confined conditions with no space for any privacy. For our family, this worked very well, although Dad looked more than a bit henpecked after spending some months with three hens.

Good like and may it work well for you and your family.

Motherhen

Members - Chris/Lindsay (VIC) replied:

Take a tent for the kids to have a breather in occasionally and a bit of privacy for you. Also you might wish to take short side trips with the tent where you wont take the van. We did that in 1983 and enjoyed coming back to the van like it was home. Second hand vans often have extras included and are worth a look. Also I personally wouldn't burn all my financial bridges to get the best van. We went for a year and thought it would feel like forever, but eventually real life kicks in again.[wherever you end up].
I think having a mechanically first class vehicle is more important. You also spend a lot of time outdoors. We hardly used our annexe. Only two of us though.Have a wonderful trip and keep in touch with explore oz so we can read about your travels. Cheers. Christine.

puttputt replied:

We have started caravanning, first biught a cheapy !986 Viscount, too many age related dramas. Than upgraded to 03 Jayco as a stop gap 15,5 ft, great van but a bit small.
Nice thing about caravans is you don't lose much if you buy and sell. I am now shopping for a dual axle after my friend lost a wheel and nearly his life on a single axle a few months ago.
I have decide it must be dual axle, aluminium frame (not wood), I am looking at about 18 ft Coromal or Jayco, about $30,000.
I prefer fibreglass rather then aluminium cladding to prevent dentng, but not essential.
I choose aluminiumas I think wood can get wet and can rot, I have seen it happen when I was into caravanning in the 80's.
These are my thoughts and may give you some other points to consider.