We have had quite a few people ask us why we chose a NextGen Caravans
Not Even a Planned Show Visit
This was the week that Cyclone Debbie was reigning destruction over the Queensland coast. Our weekend plans were with the kids at a Gliding camp on the Darling Downs, west of Toowoomba. Needless to say, nobody flies gliders during a cyclone, so the weekend was cancelled.
We woke early on Friday morning with no plans for the weekend. Let’s head up to the
Turned out to be a long morning. Over 3 hours to Brisbane as multiple train stations were closed due to the cyclone, so we were on and off buses as well. We rolled into the show just before lunch and headed straight to the manufacturer’s stand that we were interested in. We spent a whole 2 to 3 mins there.
The van was not even close to what we wanted. Looked good on the internet. Zero protection underneath, the interior of the cupboards wasn’t finished, and the gen box was full of water and square edges throughout the interior. Trusting our first impressions, we looked at one another, shook our heads and walked away.
Something Caught My Eye.
As we turned away from there, Melissa spotted the Northern Territory Tourism display and launched towards that as spending time in the Territory is a must for us. I caught a neat looking silver, black and blue off-road van out of the corner of my eye. Hey Melissa, I’m going this way. This is the beginning of our adventure with NextGen Caravans.
The Adventure Begins!
I strolled through the Green RV banners onto a dealer’s stand that I didn’t remember ever seeing before. Straight over to the van that caught my eye which happened to be a NextGen Greyline. I stopped about 3 or 4 meters away from the van and just looked. I liked what I saw so I moved a bit closer and started a circle around the van. By the time I had done a complete circle, I think I had started to smile.
Melissa arrived about 15 minutes later to find me laying under the van, checking out the bits that I knew about. I slid out and introduced her to Steve, Green RV’s first point of contact for us. I don’t think at this time that I had even poked my head inside the door of the Greyline. Melissa stepped inside to find what seemed to be a very much more open van to what we had seen before.
I Think We Have Found It.
The NextGen Greyline had all of a sudden propelled itself to the top of All Around Oz’s list of potentials and we had not seen one before today. Sitting inside the van with Steve and it was question time, and we had plenty. Buying a new caravan is a big decision.
As we have said on plenty of occasions, there are no silly questions and poor Steve copped a hammering. Whether you are at a show or in a dealer’s yard, this is your time, not theirs, stay in control and don’t be pushed into things you aren’t sure of or don’t want. The van, as it sat at the show was terrific, but it wasn’t the exact package for us.
The NextGen Advantage.
This is where the NextGen pulled away from the other brands on our list and why we chose a NextGen
Changing drawers from a bank of 3 to 4, a pot drawer instead of an oven, increase the storage under the bed for just a few. Lose the washing machine and change the cupboard size, no gen box and centre the gas bottles. We kept asking and the reply most of the time was, ok, no problem another reason why we chose a NextGen
What About Service and Warranty?
Nextgen has dealers on the Eastern side of Australia and is slowly becoming Nationwide. NextGen is the only manufacturer that we have dealt with that has an actual warranty booklet. This booklet is basically the same as you get with a new vehicle, but for your van. It has service intervals and actual checklists for the service agent to sign off against. What a great idea and again why we chose a NextGen
Green RV is our dealer and has a major dealership on the Sunshine Coast where they service all vans, carry out warranty work or fix issues in a huge service area. This was another plus for us as we have a dealer close to home with the capabilities for all repair work or issues.
Not Ready For A Van Yet!!
This looks like the van for us but we don’t want it for another 12 months till the kids finish school. This wasn’t a problem either, the option was there to push the delivery date out 12 months. They are starting to tick a lot of boxes.
We Were Sold!!
It really didn’t matter what we threw at Steve, heaps of questions, can we change this or modify that, he knew the answer. A confident salesman that knows the product that he is selling and was very easy to talk to. We learnt that the chassis is the only part of our Greyline that is not constructed at NetworkRV in Campbellfield, Victoria.
Though they do not construct the chassis, it can be upgraded or changed around to suit you and your van. The whole process is like building a house. You will spend time at your NextGen dealer discussing colours, inside and out, benchtops, floor coverings, curtains and seats. As the whole van from the chassis up is built in one location, you really can have the van of your dreams.
A Factory Tour
We had a close delivery date so the thought of seeing our van on the production line really appealed to us, so we organised to tour the factory in Melbourne where NextGen Caravans are made. We picked a date and booked flights and accommodation to check out our Greyline at some stage of production.
Well, that didn’t happen, as we thought of something else we would like to modify, so plans changed and through our own fault, we were too early for our van. Even at this late stage, the changing of plans and re-organising wasn’t an issue. After meeting the guys at NetworkRV, they even talked us into changing the plans again. They really want you to have a van you love, which makes for a great relationship between you and your dealer.
Are We Happy With Our Van?
Happy, we absolutely love it. The whole process took about 3 months longer than we thought, mostly our fault for the changes. Then the huge Vitrifrigo compressor fridge that we wanted was out of stock everywhere. It is very much our own, a very unique van, from a very professional manufacturer.
Now we all know that vans are a very personal choice and this is what makes us all so different. What one person is very happy with, there is another that thinks it’s ok and another that nearly hates it. With NextGen, YOU WILL LOVE YOUR VAN.
But don’t take our word for it, go and check them out for yourself. We think you will be mightily impressed!
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!
Hi, enjoyed your informative article. Just wondering how the Nextgen van has been going? We are currently researching to purchase an off road/semi off road van and trying to navigate thru the jungle of info. Any fors and againsts would be helpful. Thanks Brooke
Hi Brooke…..we are very happy with our NextGen so far. We did a lot of research and looked at a lot of other vans before we purchased and so far it has lived up to all our expectations. It tows beautifully and has so much room in it. We had quite a few extras added and nothing was a problem. It really helps if you have a clear idea of what you want in a van before you finalise your plans. Can’t think of any negatives at this stage.