New Caravan - Storage

HI Begphotographer,
Congratulations on owning your first van. You wil have many enjoyable trips with it.
In regards storage for vans etc there is a company in Landsborough in Queensland that makes a very economical shade shed that many people use for vans.
Go to: www.shadesheds.com
They use a patented swaged tubing system that allows them to be sold in kit form and easily erected by homehandyman and uneven ground is not even a problem. They also invented a special way to bend box steel so that the roof curves neatly over the side- so no guttering and eaves etc. A 6m by 3m one was less than $3000 in kit form at Ekka this year.
We are going to get 2 to use as stables on our new farm but many people use them for covers for trucks and vans etc.
They are made from colourbond steel so you can choose a colour to match your house.
I have no association with company but just pass this on as I think they are good value for what they are and are very suitable for caravan storage.
Cheers,
GPM

Have a look at BigW or Super Cheap Autos, you'll find genric van covers, or heavy duty silver tarps at a relatively low price around the $100 mark from memory. I use a big silver tarp to cover my trailer sailer. Yes they UV to death after 2 or 3 years years, so it works out at less than $50 a year. Pretty cheap protection really.

Gooday, suugest you go with a proper cover, they are made from Material that breathes so no sweating like a tarp. also with a tarp you are likely to lose paint at corners etc from flapping in the windy times.
Cheers,
Boroma604.

Hey Laurie

The problem is not urgent. If you are going away in four or five months, do nothing.

Spend your spare time getting to know the caravan, buying the light weight cooking and eating gear you need, where to store the stuff you need to take, figure out what towing equipment you need, how to load it properly, make sure all the electrics work etc. You need to do a trial run - at least a long weekend to find out what else you need to know and do. Thoroughly read all the articles on caravaning and long trips on this web site at least.

Have a mechanic check the van thoroughly, repack the bearings and check and adjust the brakes.

In that time, it won't die for want of a cover or shelter, and you have too much to do that is really important. Crikey, you have a lovely clean environment at Bega, if you are in the town you are 10 km or more from the sea and if it gets a bit dirty give it a wash with a soft broom and a bucket of wash up detergent in warm water.

When you get back from the two month trip, if you are sure you are a caravaner for the long haul, think about whether you need any shelter then. I can show you hundreds of vans stored where I store mine, 90% of them in the open with no cover, includingmine. And that's Sydney's dirty environment.

You are embarking on a great life style - plan for the trip and forget putting a raincoat on the van.

All the best
Max

Hi Laurie - Don't store it - use it. Get out on the road with it and enjoy. You won't use a cover when travelling, so shouldn't need one at home.

Motherhen