Buying a
Since 2020 many Australians have chosen to ditch the dream of overseas travel, and instead, invest in a good tow rig and buy a dream van. Some to escape the 9-5 grind, live the dream and travel around Australia full-time. Others escape on a short weekend camping getaway or camping holidays.
It is important to learn as much as possible about the buying process for a
What To Know Before Buying A Caravan : The Best Caravans To Buy
The best van to buy is the right van for you and your family. What type of van would best suit your needs and lifestyle?
How many trips will you take? Are there plans to use your van full-time or for holidays? For example, a smaller
Buy a
Type: On-Road Caravan or Off-Road Caravan ?
Full-size off-road brand-new caravans for sale are built especially for travelling to the most remote parts of Australia. Off-road vans have a greater clearance and stronger suspension system. They are designed to cope with corrugation, dust, water and living life off-grid.
Most off-road brand-new caravans will have a minimum of two solar panels and lithium batteries, an inverter and solar monitoring system.
On-road vans are designed to travel smaller distances and to travel only on the blacktop. Owners generally plug into 240v power and typically stay in
Know Your Weights
It’s important to know the weight of both your tow rig and
Carefully monitor what goes into your car and van to remain within the guidelines of weights for both.
Caravan Weights
Caravans come in all different sizes and therefore different weights. Buying a
Many buyers are caught out when they order their van or worse upon delivery. They realise the vans tare weight is more than they allowed for their tow vehicle. So you need to know your recreational vehicle towing weight capacity (or GVM Gross Vehicle Mass).
GVM Gross Vehicle Mass
Although this post is about buying a van, we can’t talk about
This weight is the maximum allowable towable mass of your tow rig. GVM is specified by the manufacturer and includes tare mass (base weight and mass of the recreational vehicle) plus the load. The load includes fuel, passengers, cargo any mods or accessories.
Tare Weight
Tare weight is the base weight of a
ATM Aggregate Trailer Mass
The ATM is the weight of the
Payload
Payload weight includes everything that is added to your
Payload is the ATM minus the Tare Weight.
Tow Ball Weight
Another weight you need to know is Tow Ball Weight. Tow Ball Weight is the tow ball mass or ball load. It is the load that is exerted on the tow ball of the tow vehicle in Australia. The ball weight is generally around 10% of the ATM Aggregate Trailer Mass.
GTM Gross Trailer Mass
The GTM is the weight of your
The GCM is the weight of your towing vehicle and
Buying a lightweight
Caravans usually weigh between 950- 3500 kgs, some even more! The heavier the
Weight is a huge consideration when buying a new
GCM Gross Combined Mass
The GCM is the weight of your towing vehicle and
Buying a lightweight
Select Your Ideal Tow Rig
Just like doing your research for what to look for when buying a
We went full circle when choosing our tow vehicle, we spent months of research until we decided on what 4wd would be suitable to tow the van that we already had on order.
If you are fortunate to already have a 4wd then you can easily skip this part. However, find out about your rig’s weights and towing capacity to make sure your car can handle towing your chosen van and are within the acceptable tow weights. You may have to look at a GVM upgrade of at least some stiffer springs and airbags as most 4×4 rear axles need a helping hand with the tonnes of the weight of your van.
Your Towing Experience
Have you towed a van before? What about a trailer or a jet ski?
If you have had no towing or very little towing experience, factor into your budget a towing course. Even if you have towed a van drivers who have previously towed still say they learnt a few things and how valuable the experience in the course was for them.
A simple Google search will uncover a towing course in your local area.
Setting Your Budget
Knowing your budget is really important because costs escalate quickly. The more you add to your build, the costlier the final contract will be and the heavier your van will weigh.
You also don’t want to buy something too large or small for your lifestyle. At the same time, you don’t want to leave out buying something that has the features you would like to have either.
Set a budget before you start searching for your van and stick to it. Set the lowest and highest limit within your budget. Make a list of things to consider and the inclusions you want to have. Then go back and look at your budget.
It is easy to get caught up in buying the most expensive
When you are ready to buy and own a
Cash Or Finance For Your Caravan ?
There are many different ways to fund your
Some Lappers sell up everything to hit the road full-time. Others keep their home and rent it permanently or have an Airbnb manager to look after their property.
Many use cash reserves, savings, and equity in their property. Or in some cases choose to finance their
Should You Take Out A Loan For A Caravan ?
Only you can really answer this question, as only you know what your assets, income and outgoings are for your lifestyle. There are a few things to consider though before you head off to the bank manager.
Pros:
- Instant Access to Funds: Taking out a loan can give you instant access to the funds you need to purchase a
caravan . This means you can start planning your travels right away. - Spread the Cost: Loans allow you to spread the cost of your
caravan over a longer period of time, making it more affordable. - Flexibility: There are many different types of loans available, including secured and unsecured loans, which offer you flexibility in terms of repayment periods and interest rates.
- Improve Credit Score: Making regular loan payments can help to improve your credit score, which can be beneficial in the future if you need to borrow money again.
Cons:
- Interest Rates: Loans typically come with interest rates, which means you will end up paying more for your
caravan overall. It is important to compare interest rates before committing to a loan. Especially with interest rates on the rise as they are currently (at the time of writing). - Debt: Taking out a loan means effectively going into debt, which can be stressful for some people.
- Equity: If you use your property as collateral for a loan, you could risk losing your home if you are unable to make the loan payments.
- Affordability: Taking out a loan may allow you to afford a more expensive
caravan , but it is important to consider whether the repayments will be affordable for your income and outgoings.
Overall, taking out a loan for a
Buying Second-hand Caravan vs Buying New Caravan
Buying A New Caravan
Here are some things to consider when you are looking at new caravans. You’ll be able to work out what you like and dislike and what you have to have and what you don’t need.
Size of the Caravan
Caravans come in different sizes and shapes with varying materials that can be used to manufacture them depending on the price range.
The standard size of a
Funnily enough, although our measuring system is in metric the measurement or sizes of caravans are mainly referred to in feet. In feet, the average
Caravan Construction Materials
Caravans are built with different materials. There are caravans on the market made of the lightweight construction material aluminium and fibreglass, and timber frames and fibreglass.
The most common material used is aluminium which makes for a lightweight option. However, they can be very expensive compared to buying a
The materials used in our caravan build were one of the most important features for us. We wanted a strong but lightweight frame so ruled out any
Instead of timber, we have a
The flooring is a one-piece polypropylene honeycomb flooring. It is used for superior long-term performance, strength, is 40% lighter than plywood, has no risk of rotting from water spills and has a high-impact resistance.
Caravan Axels
Axles are an essential component of the
Dual axles are definitely necessary if you are considering getting off the blacktop and venturing off-road.
Is your tow rig capable of towing a big twin-axle
Furthermore, there are a number of additional elements to consider when towing a twin-axle
Caravan Suspension
The
Suspension systems are designed to absorb road shocks and noise while also being sturdy enough to keep your
The spring and dampener, or shock absorber, are the two main components of the suspension.
The suspension system’s spring is elastic, and it may be used for compression when a wheel hits a pothole in the road or for an extension when a wheel encounters a bump in the road.
Dampers serve the purpose of converting the shock they take into thermal energy. They need to be able to handle enormous quantities of heat, especially if you plan on travelling for a long stretch of time.
There are several types of suspension systems for a
Live Axel
A live axle suspension system is a single axle with one wheel on each end that is typically known as a solid or beam axle. Leaf springs are often paired with spring bars, which are ideal for on-road caravans. Make regular inspections because they do droop and flatten out.
Independent Suspension
An independent suspension system has two shorter axles that are not linked together, unlike the live axle suspension design. This can be a beneficial method since whatever affects one wheel does not have as much of an impact on the other.
The independent suspension system has better ground clearance and assists in toe and camber alignment changes, among other things. When the wheel is out of proportion with the trailer and when the wheel leans inwards somewhat, it’s known as camber.
Because they can offer many advantages, off-road caravans are typically independent systems. This technology coupled with coils and airbags is excellent for off-road caravans as they provide improved shock absorption.
Caravan Toilet
With composting toilets now being the latest upgrades to
We upgraded our
The comparison table below is based on a couple using the toilet.
| Natures Head | Dometic Cassette Toilet | ||
| Weight | 13kg | 12.5kg | |
| Tank Capacity | 8L/20-40L | 19L | |
| Litres per Flush | 0 | 0.4L | |
| Coconut Coir | $4 every 2 months | Chemicals | $50 every 3 months |
| Cassette Emptied | 1-2 months | After 47 flushes | 4-5 days | |
| Liquid Disposal | 1-2 days – in nature/toilet | At dump points only | |
| Cost | $1590 | $900 |
Caravan Battery System
We ditched the AGM batteries in our
- They weigh less
- Depth of discharge
- Performance and longevity
- Better value for money
We upgraded to 2 x 200ah lithium batteries which seems a small amount of storage now. We recommend you have as much solar on your roof and the largest storage (batteries) you can carry and that your budget allows if you want to stay off-grid longer.
Water Tanks
The length of your van will determine how many water tanks you can have in your van. Like the roof for solar panels, there is only a certain amount of real estate available to fix the tanks.
We have a designated 90L drinking water tank. 2 x 90L general water tanks and one 90L grey water tank. We aim for staying off-grid for 7-10 days. We carry a water bladder in the car to extend the time off-grid.
Before you sign off on your build, determine whether you are happy hooking up to power and water in
3-Way Fridge Vs Compressor Fridge
Most progressive
We decided to ditch our microwave oven in favour of a larger fridge. We gathered that space was better used for cold storage than cupboard space.
Read our comprehensive guide to caravan fridges here.
Caravan Safety And Theft Prevention
Research shows that
We installed a WiTi anti-theft system and GPS tracker in our
Read about the WiTi Anti Theft System here.
Things to Consider Before You Buy A Second-Hand Caravan
If you are considering buying a second-hand caravan then take the new
Buying an older van may not be worth what you paid for it when you decide to sell. That said, currently, (at the time of writing) the price of second-hand caravans are often selling for more than the current new prices.
This is due to waiting times for newly built caravans. Personally, we were given a 12 months wait time when ordering our van. However, that blew out to 19 months.
Buying a used
If available, it’s always a good idea to check the service records for the service history. This will show you how much work the van has already done.
When we started looking into buying a
When a pre-loved van was available, it often had a higher price than a new van. So, we ordered a new van to suit our needs instead.
Dealership vs Private Seller?
If buying a used
Some private sellers will provide more negotiation space depending on their circumstances. However, in a hot market, negotiations might not be as generous from the seller.
Dealerships guarantee quality and are easily reachable if there are warranty issues.
You should go to various dealerships to shop for your new or used
That said,, I’ve read that a few people have bought a new
Brand Research For A Caravan
It is also important to research different types of caravans before buying as each has its own unique features.
We looked at several brands before we made a final decision.
We based our decision on;
- Value for money
- Quality of the build
- Range of off-road vans
- Price in comparison to the well-known brands
- The flexibility of the build, e.g. could we add what we wanted to the build and what changes could we make?
- The extras and differences in the brand we ordered
We had two brands competing for our business and finally, we chose the first, lesser-known brand of the
Although we had no intention of ordering at the time, all our research paid off, and we ordered at the following
You can read our full review of the caravan we bought here.
Visit Pre-Loved Caravans In Caravan Sales Yards
To carry out your research properly, it’s wise to visit as many
It used to be that your car was the second most important purchase you’d make in your life after your home. Now, caravans can easily take the number two spot, depending on your tow rig’s price, of course.
You will also start to understand what absolute musts you can’t live without in a
When visiting
Features Inside and Outside A Caravan
Know which features you want before buying a new
Things to check Before buying a caravan
- do you need an inverter?
- is there enough storage?
- do you want a washing machine?
- is airbag suspension a must for you?
- how much sleeping space do you need?
- will you carry bikes and need a bike rack?
- club lounge, recliners L-shape or dinette seating?
- are there enough water tanks on board?
- what length of
caravan will you be comfortable towing? - does it have enough solar panels on the roof?
- how heavy is the van with all the additions and inclusions be?
- does the van have any form of heating and will you need it?
Hire A Caravan
With
You will get a definite feel for the van, what you like, what you don’t, and what you would change or add depending on your likes, dislikes, and experiences.
Caravan Warranty
Another consideration when buying a
How many years of warranty does the van have? Is the warranty transferable? What warranty issues do current owners have with their vans? Join the brand’s owners’ Facebook groups and read owners’ problems and issues.
All manufacturers have warranty claims and issues; however, it’s how they approach the claims, after-care, and customer service that matters.
This ensures you are buying something that has been made well and can last many years.
For example, the van we bought has an outstanding 5-year warranty. The warranty is also transferrable to the next owner should we wish to sell our van within the 5-year time frame.
A warranty such as our vans is a great selling point and adds to its resale value.
Caravan Resale Value
It is also helpful to buy a
Currently, (at the time of writing) and as previously mentioned above, the
We aren’t too sure about this and we certainly don’t have a crystal ball. However, if you look at the market pre-2020, there was an upward trend for caravans and re-sale values were strong.
Visit Caravan and Camping Shows
Visit them often but don’t buy a
We were given this advice and we are happy we waited to buy it after attending the first show. This enabled us to have a good look at brands and decide what we wanted.
Caravan and camping shows are excellent for window shopping and comparisons. They are also great for buying all the other caravan essentials you will need.
Before you go to a show, consider a few brands you’d like to see. Walk through the different layouts and get a feel for the van and brand. Can you see yourself travelling around Australia or holidaying in a
Talk to salespeople about the brand, vans and prices. Don’t be swayed though by “show deals” “good deals” and “show prices.”
Will the price rise from the time you look to the time you buy? Probably. However, it’s likely it will be (if it does) only a few thousand. That could be, spending a few extra thousand later, rather than a costly mistake now that could cost you more.
Have A Caravan Buying Plan
Organise your buying plan. Decide when you need the new
Do not rush into buying a new
Remember, don’t buy on a whim! A neighbour of my parents once went down the street to buy a loaf of bread and came back with a
Caravan Insurance
Before you take delivery of your
Some of the
We compared quite a few
Maintenance and Other Costs
Other items to factor into your budget are the ongoing costs of caravanning.
You will have repairs and maintenance to consider. When buying new, you wouldn’t expect many repair costs that aren’t covered under warranty. However, there are servicing, rego, insurance and maintenance costs, i.e. tyres, wheel bearings, etc. Add these to your budget to include them in the future, especially if you are planning a big lap of Australia.
Must-Ask Questions When Buying A Caravan
Here are some questions and answers that you can ask yourself and the
Before you commit to handing over thousands of dollars and signing on the dotted line, here are some of the questions we believe you must ask for complete peace of mind.
They will also bring you clarity and self-assurance that you are doing the right thing for yourself and your family.
How Much Is The Total Cost Of The Caravan?
An obvious question I know. However, if you have looked at many caravans (and you will) added and subtracted to the build of your new van you will want to know the total cost. The ‘drive away’ price includes on-road costs.
What Does The Caravan Weigh?
As discussed above the weight of your caravan matters so it’s important that you know the Tare weight of your caravan. That’s the weight of the caravan when it’s totally empty.
You can read the caravan’s Tare weight on the compliance plate on the drawbar.
What Is the ATM Of The Caravan?
You might remember that the ATM is the maximum weight allowed for your caravan once fully loaded. You will want to know this as the difference between the Tare weight and ATM is the payload of the caravan.
Payload is the maximum weight you can carry in your empty caravan including water, gas, clothes, food and anything else added to or into the caravan once you take delivery.
How Long Has The Caravan Manufacturer Been In Business?
The caravan brand that we bought had only been in business for around 18-24 months when we stumbled across them. However, through our questions, we learnt that the owner’s family had been manufacturing caravans for decades and that they also had their own upholstery business.
We could also see the quality of the workmanship throughout the various builds of our caravan brands range so we knew that we were about to buy a quality caravan.
How Often Do You Go Caravanning and Camping?
Is the person in front of you ‘just a salesperson’ or like you, do they have a passion for caravanning and camping?
How Long Have You Been With This Company?
Sometimes, and especially at camping Supershows, extra salespeople can be hired for the duration of the show only. It could be a person that ‘can sell ice to Eskimos’ but do you really want to deal with a person that doesn’t know the make and model of the caravan thoroughly?
What Is The Warranty For The Caravan?
As discussed above this can be extremely beneficial later when you are selling your caravan. Plus, most importantly you will know how long you are covered for warranty issues (if any) with the build of the caravan.
How Often Will The Caravan Need To Be Serviced And What Are The Costs?
Servicing, like a car service, is a necessity and it is important to know when you are doing your budget for ongoing and future costs of caravanning. Especially when you are hitting the road to do the big lap of Australia.
What Happens If Something Needs Fixing When I Am Far From Home?
If you purchase a caravan from a dealership in W.A. and something goes wrong in Far North Queensland with your caravan, are you covered and how will it be repaired?
How Long Have You Owned This Caravan?
This question and the following questions you can ask the seller if you are buying privately.
Knowing how long they have owned the caravan will help you estimate how old the van is and if they bought the van new or secondhand.
Do You Have A Log Book?
If you are lucky enough the caravan that you are inspecting will have a log book. Just like a car log books the log book will tell you how many kilometres the van has travelled. Plus, where and when it has been serviced.
Is The Van Under Finance?
This is handy to know for the handover. You don’t want to pay for a caravan to have any outstanding debt over the caravan. If the debt isn’t cleared then an encumbered van could be repossessed and you could lose your dough.
Why Are You Selling Your Caravan?
Maybe they have done a lap and no longer need the van. Maybe there is an issue with the van. Maybe they have outgrown it and need a larger van. It always pays to ask before you hand over your cash.
What Are The Weights Of The Van?
To make an educated decision about buying the van you have to know the ATM and the Tare weights. This is to know whether your tow vehicle can legally tow the van. Check and take a pic of the caravan plate (known as the VIN plate) on the drawbar of the van.
Where Have You Been In The Caravan?
Has the van been on the beach or the bush? If it is an off-road van you might assume it has been off-road but maybe it hasn’t. Thoroughly inspect under the van for damage or rust. You may also find out how many K’s the van has done if there are no log books.
Important Due Diligence For Secondhand Caravans
PPSR Check
When you take a pic of the VIN plate you can use the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) to carry out a PPSR (formerly Revs Check) check (Register of Encumbered Vehicles). A PPSR (Personal Properties Securities Register) will tell you important information, such as:
- Is the van under finance?
- Is the van listed as stolen?
- Has the van previously been written off?
- Does the van have any known damage?
- Rego plate number
- Rego due date
- Make and model of the van
Proof Of Ownership
You are within your rights to ask for proof of ownership when buying a preloved
Service invoices and any repair invoices would be handy too. Just think about if you were selling this van wouldn’t you provide as much information to the seller as possible? If the seller doesn’t have the paperwork you request or your gut is telling you something isn’t quite right then move on to the next van to inspect. It’s not worth handing your money over if all your boxes aren’t ticked.
Do A Thorough Inspection
Inspect everything! Both inside and outside the
Inspect Inside
Work your way from one end of the van to the other (both in and outside).
Check for
- Water damage
- Cracks or fatigue in the joins of the van
- Wear and tear on flooring
- Turn on all the light switches
- Test the inverter (if there is one)
- Plug into 240v and test everything again
- Turn on the taps in the kitchen and bathroom
Outside Inspection
Check the following outside:
- The tyres, how old are they?
- The drawbar for wear and tear
- The electrical plugs
- The safety chains
- The tow hitch
- The chassis
- The suspension
- All the water pipes
- The water tanks
- All the connections
- Fill the water tanks
- Is there a grey water tank?
Get A Pre-Purchase Inspection From a Professional
If you haven’t owned a
The peace of mind you will have from hiring an inspector will be worth it!
Delivery Day
Taking ownership of your new or secondhand
All the new tech available in the van and how to use it will undoubtedly take up a few brain cells. Learning about your van takes time and we have spoken to other
On the day of your handover, take a notebook and pen to write down any serial numbers and other snippets of information you can. I videoed our whole handover and then cut it up into sections for easy access for future use.
We wore out some of the videos, but we find them invaluable for confirming which switches are which and even which way is on or off. Certain
Ask lots of questions! Who cares how many times you have to ask? Find out how all the screens operate. How to monitor your power and water usage especially.
Wrap Up
We hope our top tips for buying a
You may find the following
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With years of experience travelling Australia in a caravan, I’m passionate about helping others embark on their own unforgettable adventures. From off-grid camping tips to expert advice on planning the ultimate big lap of Australia, I share stories, practical hacks, and inspiration to make your journey stress-free and exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just starting out, join me as I explore the beauty of Australia, one road at a time!
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