buying a caravan

Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:11

ThreadID: 81601 Views:5376 Replies:7 FollowUps:8

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Where to Start

This non-biased article provides a practical outline of the major features to consider when contemplating buying a caravan (new or used) and should help you settle upon your main requirements before

kym111

I know this topic is one that is covered endlessly...

I looked at a 2nd hand caravan today, loved it, but my concern is that it's possibly too big for what we want to do.

It's a 23ft (internal) Supreme Territory, bunks, toilet/shower etc. We'd like to do some gravel work, and this van looks capable, but wondering if 23ft is asking too much. Some of the roads we travelled recently in the Murchison & Gascoyne areas are fine, but the washouts can be quite steep, and I'm thinking we'd be scraping the back end of the van on the way out!

We have been considering a new Royal Flair Family Flair, but the new layout with toilet and shower at 20ft9 looks to be now out of our price range. I wasn't originally concerned with having the toilet and shower, but don't fancy having to wash little ones outside in the cold and/or snow when we're on the big lap.

Has anyone had any experience with the bigger vans in some of the slightly more undulating areas? We don't want to be restricted to the bitumen. Also the simplicity suspension. I much prefer the Cruisemaster coils of the Royal Flair.

Regards
Kym

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Reply By: QLD Blake - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:32

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:32

Bushtracker if you have the money !!!

AnswerID: 431681

Follow Up By: kym111 - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:58

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:58

lol If I win lotto! Our upper budget is $55,000.

FollowupID: 702525

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 22:21

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 22:21

Hi Kym

You could pick up an 18' for that price - some people have got lucky - but it appears you have children so would need one with bunks and not many BTs are made for families although some are.

Motherhen

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FollowupID: 702535

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:34

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:34

You havent said what your tow vehicle is as its towing capacity my restrict you as to size

AnswerID: 431682

Follow Up By: kym111 - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:59

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:59

We've got a Nissan Patrol 4.2 turbo diesel, soon to be lpg injected... I think the tow rating is 3000kg

FollowupID: 702527

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 21:24

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 21:24

You wont have any trouble then
.
We have just finished a 13 month50,000k trip towing 2800kg van and tow in 4th gear at about 85k and havent had any problems with either van we have had.

Its all in the setup and weight distribution.

FollowupID: 702528

Reply By: Member - Joel and Michelle (WA - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:45

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 20:45

G'day Kym
My wife and I bought a 25ft Jayco sterling and are 4 months into a 2 year trip. We never intended this van for off road use and so far has only been on gravel where road repairs are being done and the occasional off road camping site, but the last couple of days driving undulating bitumen from Mount Isa to Winton, QLD we realised how hard it can be to keep a big van on the road even at 80kms. We had the suspension underslung on the axles to give a little bit more room when camping off road and this probably doesn't help handling. All up a 23ft van is a lot of weight to tow offroad and it can be very tiring. We spent 3 weeks on the Gibb in July and left the Van at Fitzroy Crossing. Nothing to tow makes the trip more enjoyable.
It's all a compromise and very personal, good luck with your choice.
Joel

AnswerID: 431685

Reply By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 22:26

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 22:26

Hi Kym

You would find a van of that size limiting, but it seems you have young children, and to accommodate a family and pack for long term travelling for all, as well as food supplies to last when you go to the out of the way places, you also need room and weight allowance. Tow vehicle would be an issue, as it is not only what the vehicle is rated to tow, but what its total load allowance is (that is fully laden van, fully laden car plus family). We upgraded from a Patrol to an F250 because if we so much as filled to water tanks, we would have been over the limit for our auto Patrol (2.5 tonne).

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AnswerID: 431691

Follow Up By: kym111 - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 22:55

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 22:55

Thanks Motherhen
our Patrol is a manual, and rated to 3000 or 3500kg (can't remember exactly but will go check the owners manual again), and I am pretty mindful of overloading - I've seen some horrifying rigs out there.

We'll go and have a look in Perth in November at the 4wd and camping show, and see what deal we can get then. In the mean time, if something comes up 2nd hand, we'll check it out. In this instance, bigger definitely ISN'T necessarily better!

Thanks to everyone for their advice, I'll keep looking!

FollowupID: 702538

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 23:15

Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 at 23:15

But what is the gross combined mass Kym allowed - including the vehicle and everything? This is where Patrols and Cruisers often come unstuck.

I believe second hand is better than purchasing new.

How many children? With children i think a bathroom somewhat essential for longterm travel these days.

Mh

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Reply By: John and Lynne - Wednesday, Sep 29, 2010 at 07:24

Wednesday, Sep 29, 2010 at 07:24

With young children, in reality you probably won't do a lot of really rough travelling. A well built 'dirt road van' should meet your needs. Supreme seems to have a good reputation for sturdiness as do some others like Traveller (our Traveller handled poor gravel roads with ease). For your family, something like a BT would be beyond your budget and more extra weight than you need. With children. it will be important to be comfortable and be able to carry enough clothes, food, toys etc! A smaller van may cause more problems for you even if it can go through steep creeks easier! Also the weather won't always be good and sometimes you will all have to be inside together - an annex might be helpful in providing children with some space.
I suggest you buy a sturdy van that suits your family and leave the rough stuff for day trips by car. When the children are older you could do more real off road travel with a BT or similar and they can sleep in a tent - they may even have left home like ours! (We have ordered a Sunland Patriot offroad van which will be fine for two!)

AnswerID: 431700

Reply By: Member - Carl- Wednesday, Sep 29, 2010 at 09:21

Wednesday, Sep 29, 2010 at 09:21

Kym, we have just finsihed a lap with a 22.5 ft van.

You vehicle is 3000 kg rated by the way. You will not be able to tow a 23 ft Territory with a 2800 Nissan patrol on LPG. It will not have the guts and diesel will have some trouble. 85 kph is one thing but remember that everything else is doing 100. Up and down the Hume is fine but in the outback trucks want to keep going and are not happy campers with 85 kph caravans.

Short gravel trips are one thing but long trips, GRR kill the underside of the van. PVC plumming just gets bleep tered with stones and a non hot gal dipped chassis will loose it gal paint totally.

You certainly WILL need shower and toilet on a around the lap trip. Territory is a great van and so is a Traveller someone mentioned.

Everyone raised some good points but keep up the research. Go and look at other caravans and check out carsales.com as well. This is all part of the fun of the trip.

AnswerID: 431705

Follow Up By: G.T. - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 13:01

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 13:01

Carl, they have got a 4.2 Nissan. G.T.

FollowupID: 702891

Follow Up By: David Jje - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 18:38

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 18:38

carl,
We did our lap without toilet and shower with two kids 7 and 9. Infact, when we had van built we took toilet and shower out and opted for more space in van. No regrets. Both my wife and I have been caravanning since little kids and now in our forties so knew what to expect. cheers.

FollowupID: 702925

Reply By: David Jje - Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 19:11

Monday, Oct 04, 2010 at 19:11

Hi Kym,

We travelled in a 21'6" internal semi offroad van with simplicity. We took it through the flinders ranges, gammon ranges, oodnadatta track, nathan river road including lorella springs, butterfly springs, town river ( alittle tight but managed), gunlom falls kakadu, gibb river road but only to el questro. never had any problems with van. (except for some unwelcome dust on one a couple of occasions). The worst road we encountered was actually black top. that was from Barkley Homestead to Cape Crawford. We took our tent incase of any real offroad adventures.
THe 23' external Supreme will do all the places i mentioned. when we we at lorella springs a 23' van was in the campgrounds.
We did our trip with two young kids, 7 and 9 without a toilet and shower. Not because of price but for space. Dont believe for a second that you NEED a toilet and shower. They are nice to have but the amount of times you will be inconvenienced it wont matter. A couple of times we went a few days without a shower and we survived.
Enjoy, getting ready for the big trip is exciting too.

AnswerID: 432110