What is the RV Lifestyle?
The answers to this question is quite simple - many things! Sometimes it's the great feeling of freedom, the ability to travel where and whenever you want. Perhaps just being able to lie in bed early in the morning and listen as nature wakes up around your campsite is special. For some, relaxing around the campfire late at night and listening to fellow travellers' most recent experiences is a high priority. Then, of course, there is always being parked by that secret little lake where the fish are always biting and the sunsets are always spectacular for the photography buffs.
Travelling with like minded friends is also part of the enjoyment too, sharing those special experiences and enjoying the on-road camaraderie. It should also be pointed out that for most RV's there is no such thing as 'roughing it' these days! If you like meeting people from all walks of life, then there can be no better place than a caravan park or a back-of-beyond campsite. A quick study of any caravan park late afternoon will reveal plenty of people sitting in their deck chairs, watching the world go by and enjoying a 'sundowner'.
What's really special about the RV lifestyle though is that it can be enjoyed by everybody - families, 'dinks', single people, 'empty nesters' and retirees. One of the great things about RV travel is that it can be accomplished on just about any budget - anything from about $10,000 to $500,000. That price range covers everything from simple camper trailers to very sophisticated 'A' class
motorhomes. Indeed, price does not always determine the lifestyle - some RV'ers choose a camper trailer because that is the way they like to travel or it's simply easiest to store when they are not travelling.
Which RV for You?
Each particular style of RV, whether it be a caravan, camper trailer, motorhome or 5th Wheeler, has its own characteristics and which one you choose is entirely up to you. All have their advantages and disadvantages and each type of RV has a 'travel and lifestyle mode' that will suit different people, so there's really is no 'right RV' for everybody.
Towed
Towed RV's include full caravans,
pop-top caravans, several varieties of camper trailers and 5th Wheelers. The latter being slightly different from the rest because the tow hitch is set above the axle in the tray of a truck rather than on a tow bar at the rear of the vehicle.
Caravans and Camper Trailers
Another sector of the RV market, particularly with caravans and camper trailers, that has grown in recent years, is off-road units. Naturally, a well built off-road unit is going to be much more expensive than a conventional van but it does offer much greater exploration freedom. A slightly different way that some people do their off-road travel is to have a 4WD towing a conventional on-road van and in addition, have a roof top tent fitted to the 4WD. So that when the rough road work starts, the van gets left behind and lightweight
camping is done instead.
Bunk Bed Vans
However, there are some manufacturers who are trying to make some inroads back into the family market with bunk bed vans and there are many styles of camper trailers available. These are ideal for a family. With their wind up roof, all round windows and slide-out ends, they offer plenty of room inside and out - if you have an awning and sides - but are still light enough to be towed by the family sedan.
Motorised
Motorised RV's, for want of a better term, include high top campervans, pop-top campervans, slide-on units for utes and tray backs,
motorhomes built on a cab chassis ('B' and 'C' class),
motorhomes built on a chassis ('A' class) and converted buses or coaches. "To tow or not to tow, that is the question". It's worth thinking about but in many cases is often determined by circumstances like budget. Caravans are generally cheaper than campervans and
motorhomes, but with larger and more luxurious caravans that require a big tow vehicle, the cost differential is reduced. When parked for the night, it's possible to leave the caravan and drive away in the tow vehicle, which of course you cannot do in a motorhome. However, many small to mid sized
motorhomes take a very short time to pack up so doing some local touring is not really a problem. Whether you have a caravan or motorhome (assuming you can afford either) is often a matter of how you personally, not your friends or the salesperson, prefer to travel.
Up until the mid 70's
caravanning was very much a family holiday and during the summer holidays especially, there were thousands of vans
on the road, mostly up and down the east coast of
Australia. That has changed now, with much of the RV market being aimed at 'empty nesters' and retirees. Caravans have become much more sophisticated in their fitting out and consequently more expensive.
RV Clubs Around Australia
If you like being a club member, then there are certainly plenty of caravan clubs around
Australia. On the motorhome side there are a couple of smaller clubs but the biggest, with a
membership of over 25,000 is the Campervan and Motorhome Club of
Australia (CMCA). All clubs offer plenty of like minded people and much helpful, friendly advice. It's often the latter which is most helpful for newcomers to the RV lifestyle.
For an easy way to find clubs
Australia-wide, see the Clubs
Directory.
RV Related Searches
Finally, if you have never tried the RV lifestyle, then do some research before buying anything. Websites like this one offer good advice and enable you to
search for, and make contact, with manufacturers and retailers.
By using our Caravans
Directory you will find websites and contact details for businesses
Australia-wide.
RV Related Books
We also recommend you read the following
caravanning books available from the ExplorOz Adventure
Shop. Just click on the yellow add to basket icon (as shown below) to place any of the following books into your shopping cart. When you're ready to buy, simply follow the prompts to complete your secure online order, including the selection of your preferred payment method.
Caravan Survival Guide
Travelling by caravan is a fantastic way to experience Australia's diverse landscapes and whether you are planning a short trip or a long journey Gregory's Caravan Survival Guide will provide all the knowledge you need to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Don't leave home without this book!
Caravan & Camping Guide
Need to escape the daily grind? Explore the great outdoors with Gregory’s Caravan & Camping guide.
Caravan Parks Australia Wide - Spiral Bound
A comprehensive guidebook to caravan and tourist parks across Australia. Caravan Parks Australia Wide is a valuable resource for the caravanner and motorhomer as well as travellers requiring cabin style accommodation.
Australia Calling - The RV Travel Handbook
This book covers all types of RV Travel from the preparation to the travelling.
Caravanning with Confidence DVD
This 1½ hour DVD contains fun and educational information on how to learn basic caravanning and towing skills. It condenses highly successful towing and training courses adapted by Global Gypsies along with lots of other valuable information.
RV Final Thoughts
More practically, if you can, try before you buy.
Here's a few suggestions for doing that:
- Borrow a van or motorhome for a few days from a good friend, or travel with them if they are really good friends
- Rent a caravan from a caravan hire company, although there are not many around and it does mean having a fully fitted out tow vehicle
- Stay in an on-site caravan or cabin for a week - this will certainly give you a taste of the lifestyle but not really any towing experience
- Rent a campervan or motorhome from one of the prolific rental companies around. Again this will not give you any towing experience but will certainly give a good feel for the RV lifestyle. Indeed this is the way that some people, who really cannot afford to have an expensive motorhome parked for much of the year, enjoy their RV holidays all the time
Happy travelling!
Buying a Caravan
If you're considering taking your time exploring what Australia has to offer, then taking a caravan with you is great option. Travelling with a caravan will provide you with many of the creature comforts of your own home. It’s a lifestyle that’s rapidly gaining popularity and there is much support with the abundance of caravan parks and related amenities.
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Caravanning
This page gives you access to all the relevant site pages about caravans, motorhomes and RVs.
Topics Index
Each Topic contains a range of detailed and useful articles on products, services and issues. This section is full of practical tips, ideas, photos and factual information. Each topic has links to relevant Manufacturers, Retailers and Operators that can be found in our Directory; plus links to relevant Posts in our Forum; and links to related Trader listings.
Caravan Interior
The interior of a caravan can provide a feeling of comfort and satisfaction as long as this space is utilised wisely. Manufacturers know this and that’s why they carefully design interior layouts with this in mind. A caravan interior will include all the furniture, appliances and amenities you need to live comfortably whilst travelling.
Pop-Top Caravans
Take a look at the types of caravans being towed and you will soon notice how popular the pop-top caravan really is. These unique caravans with a height similar to the tow vehicle, gives the owner more flexibility and towing confidence. The pop-tops these days are designed with innovative features such as ‘easy lift’ bars and nylon keepers for the skirting.
Preparing a Vehicle for Towing
Everyone who intends to tow a caravan, or indeed any sort of trailer, needs to be aware that various tow vehicle and trailer combinations can behave in slightly different ways and certainly different from just driving the tow vehicle itself.
Fifth Wheel Caravans
The concept for using a fifth wheel hitch for a road-based semi trailer has been around for nearly a century. The original idea arose to allow one person to couple a vehicle and trailer together. After learning about the stability benefits the fifth wheel hitch provides when towing, the RV industry in the US began using it for caravans in the late 1960s.
Caravan Antenna
As all antenna designs are a compromise at some frequency, the trick is to work out what will give you the least compromise. To help get a broader understanding and hopefully clear up this confusion, Richard covers the basic types of antennas and their strong and weak points.
Compact Caravans
Caravans come in many styles, shapes and sizes but have you ever wondered how compact a caravan can get? The small caravan market is intended for those wanting a caravan that’s light, has a short towing length and can be towed by soft-road vehicles and even 2WD sedans.
Off Road Caravans
This article discusses the features and advantages for off road caravans and in what circumstances you should consider the additional expense of a specialised off-road van.
