Caravan vs Campertrailer

gid'ay the slims
i reckon the caravan if you've got a 4x4 the tent is a good idea,park the van up take the 4x4 &tent to get to the places the van can't go,thats what my wife &i do.
12 months is a long time in a camper trailer,wind,rain etc. with 2 billy lids.
regards toohey.

Skinny People,

Much as we love our camper, the thought of spending 12 months in it is horrifying. For our normal trips we get to where we are going and set up, stay a few days. It's tremendously comfortable but takes 30 -45 min to set up properly and the same again to put away in the morning.

I wouldn't like to do this for a year every day or three.

With two little rug rats a caravan would be the go for us. Stop, open the van door and instant accommodation. We don't have littlies anymore so for us a hard floor camper could be an option if we chose to do a "biggie".

Just my thoughts,

Jim.

hi Slims,

We've just finished 9 week of touring in our Camprite and if I didn't have to go back to work I could have quite happily kept going.

Fortunately we didn't have too much rain to contend with, but I could imagine that persistent rain over a few days could make life a bit difficult with the external kitchen and packing up wet canvas.

Life in a campertrailer looks quite spartan to what some have in their caravans, but I found we had more options for where to camp (and park) given the smaller footprint.

The other consideration is that you would need to double on some things, like bedding, when switching between the van and the tent.

Good luck!

Having solid walls for security is also handy, specially when you are stopped in a roadside area for an overnighter or when it's blowing a gale. We took our 2 kids around the block and we never regretted the extra costs involved of having a van,

Andrew

G'ay the Slims,

2 yrs ago we were holed up in Alice Springs in a c'van, the site next door had been on a tour in a campertrailer( suppose its the same as a camrite) they had a couple of ankle biters with them and swore, never again.
Best of luck.
p.s. I love my kids dearly, but geeze lifes great when they grow up!!

I also think you should get a van with 2 children.
Take air beds and a tent for when you want to go where the van will not. It's easier to rough it for a couple of days and when you come back to the van you will appreciate it .
Before I got my off road van We did this and even now when the going is too hard to tow we still do it. EG Simpson and Canning.

We are going to do the 1 year trip starting in Feb next year with our 5 year old twins and 3 year old. We currently have a Jayco camper trailer (Hawk) which is great for weekends or a couple of weeks at a time, but we are definately going to upgrade to a full caravan for the big trip. The setup time and pack up time every few days would just get on top of me.

I would suggest you pack the camping gear for those places you can't take the van. Depending on what your budget is, maybe you could think about a Bushtracker van - I know people have taken these up Cape York without any problems - but they are pricey - $50K plus for a 16' second hand one and up!!

IMO , a CT for 12 months would be a PITA , especially with small kids.

What to take may depend largerly on where it is you want to go.

My parents went around the block with a normal onroad Jayco , and immediately after returning home , sold it , and bought a proper offroad van , Phoenix.

You may be able to get "close" to most things , but , to actually get to the good stuff , requires a bit more then a bitumen Cvan.

There's just shock apart on anything with corrugations.

A Cvan that will hold up to most things , aren't cheap. Brand new $40-$50k , 2nd Hand , around that $30 mark.

You alternative (depending on budget), may be to get a Jayco style , Camper.

Provides a decent level of comfort, has a decent amount of offroad ability , and aren't too big to take most places.

Also brand new under $30k , and seen them 2nd hand fully kitted , for around $20k.

IMO , these would be more functional , then trying to tow an onroad Cvan , around Oz.

Hi the Slims,

The minimum would be a poptop with bunks. You need to leave beds made up and you need some lounge area for seating. See Jayco, Windsor and Coromal. There may be others. Make sure the bunks protect from falls.

Even with a poptop you could soon tire of putting it up and down at rest stops.

Personally I would get a smaller full size van with double bed and two bunks. Put an airconditioner in as well. Worth it to settle yourself and the children. Some stays at parks with private bathroom facilities can also help to restore one's dignity when tired.

Practically speaking, there is ltlle chance you'd tent while you're away and you could buy a cheaper synthetic tent if desired while on the road.

Vans are easy to sell on return although I think you'd be inclined to keep anything with bunks.

Hope this helps.
EV700

G'day

Good on you for doing the trip. We also are taking the plunge. Have quite the job and head off in December with the three kids. We agonised (like you probably are doing now) about all the options.

We figured the 4WD camper trailers fold out canvas were not the way to go for 12 mths.

We figured 12 months just in a tent was too long.

We figured Good 4WD camper trailers were beyong our budget.

Non Pop top vans too large (wind resistance = fule $).

We like the idea of having something we could have some 'comfort' and a place to do the home schooling etc in mostly all conditions.

Lots of compromises in all the options. We were after low budget options which limited us even more. In the end we made a decsion to go for tent and pop -top camper trailer. We will leave it somewhere for the main 4WD adventures and go solo. We also plan to leave it for some months while we do the top end and centre - but we will have to come back and pick it up - this suits our plans -but would not suit everyone.

Evn though the decsion is made I am sure there will be many times we will be a bit frustrated that we can't tow the van everywhere.

Good luck!