Choosing a Caravan that is right for You

Before you start choosing a caravan, you need to take a number
of things into consideration including your towing vehicle and
towing equipment.

It is essential that you not only find the caravan that is right
for you, but the combination of the caravan, towing vehicle and
towing equipment must all be suitable. After all you do not want
to spend a lot of money on a big caravan when you only require a
small caravan. You equally, do not want to buy a big caravan and
then try to tow it with a small car not suitable to tow that
weight. Equipping your van and towing vehicle properly is just
as important as choosing a caravan. This will take time,
research and legwork. However, by getting things right initially
is the best guarantee for a stress-free holiday.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT UNIT

There are many options when it comes to choosing a caravan,
camper-trailer or motor-home. Ultimately it is a matter of
finding the unit that suits you, your travel plans, your budget
and the kind of lifestyle you wish to enjoy while travelling.

TYPES OF UNITS

"Normal" Full-height Caravans

Caravans come in all shapes and sizes. Most people touring
Australia travel in caravans less that 7m in length. Caravans
provide a good level of comfort and many are well appointed with
appliances just like home. In a caravan beds can remain made,
fridges can be stocked, everyday utensils are readily available
and clothing can be stored in wardrobes and drawers. Many
caravans are air-conditioned and most are fitted with annexes or
awnings to provide outdoor living areas. There are numerous
options in terms of axles (single, double and even triple), door
position and sleeping capacity. There is also a choice between
on and off-road models.

Folding Caravans and Campers.

These units are constructed of lightweight materials. The
internal appointments are similar to those of a regular caravan.
The roof section is usually raised mechanically to expose canvas
walls, and the ends normally slide out to accommodate the beds.
Some manufacturers call these camper-trailers. On and off-road
models are available.

Pop-Top Caravans

Pop-top caravans are just like normal caravans, except the top
section folds up and down. This makes them easier to tow: the
lower profile means far less drag therefore using less fuel.
They do lack overhead cupboard space though and require slightly
more maintenance. Again, on and off-road models are available.

Camper-Trailers

These units come in a variety of models, Accommodation ranges
from couple-only units through to big family set-ups. When
collapsed, each model fits into a small, easily towed unit. Two
and four-wheel drive configurations are available. Some units
include a built-in bed and many include a camping kitchen.

Campervans

These vehicles are designed specifically as delivery vans that
you see driving around town all day, before undergoing extensive
fit-outs that convert them to a camping van. Sizes range from
small models suitable for couples through to larger units with
good facilities including, in some cases, a shower and toilet.
They are easy to drive and often double as the family car.

Motorhomes

These all-in-one vehicles are nearly always constructed on a
truck base. They range in size from 5 m to 12 m. The smaller
units, which have many of the attributes of a caravan, can be
driven on a normal car licence. The larger units, some of which
are spectacularly appointed with luxury fittings, require a
truck licence. People buy motorhomes for the convenience of not
having to tow, and for the high degree of self-sufficiency they
allow. On the downside, they are difficult to park (particularly
the larger vehicles), and they restrict mobility: every time you
want to use your vehicle, you have to dismantle your campsite.
This can be quite annoying if you want to go shopping or fishing
and your partner wants to remain in camp. Many owners of larger
motorhomes overcome this problem by towing a trailer loaded with
a small vehicle (often 4 wheel drive); others carry bicycles.

Slide-on or Tray-top Campers

These units are great for people who own a utility: they can be
simply attached to the vehicle as needed. They are popular with
off-road enthusiasts, and with travellers who want to be able to
tow a boat or other kind of trailer.

This is the second page of 23 with related information about
making the most of your caravan holiday. Have a look at our
website href="http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html"
>www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html for all
pages.

About the author:
Ian Molloy is the owner of Crikey Adventure Tours. Visit his
website href="http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com"target="blank">www.cr
ikey-adventure-tours.com for more information about this
article and other related topics. His site is full of very
helpful travel information including tips on motorcycle travel,
driving cross-country, travelling with a caravan and other
camping and travel information.

Having the Right Towing Vehicle for Your Caravan

Ensure that your towing vehicle is capable of towing your
caravan. Check the manufacturer's book on the maximum weight
that is recommended and ensure you stay within this limit. It is
an essential part of planning a caravan holiday to make sure
your towing vehicle is safe, well maintained and well equipped.

Size and Towing Capacity

The majority of travellers do not have the luxury of choosing a
special towing vehicle to suit their new van; in most cases it
is a matter of finding a van that will suit your existing
vehicle.

Car manufactures stipulate a safe towing weight for each vehicle
and Australia's national regulations are built around these
specifications. As a general rule, the most suitable towing
vehicle is one that is heavier than the caravan it is towing.
This will then allow for the fully loaded weight of the caravan
that is to be towed. Small cars are usually limited to towing
camper-trailers, folding caravans, and small caravans or
pop-tops. Bigger cars can manage caravans and pop-tops at the
larger end of the market. In addition to weight, it is important
to take into account the overall measurements of the unit you
intend to tow. If your caravan is very high or wide then extra
power is needed to overcome wind resistance.

Off Road Vehicles

Four-wheel drives have become very popular towing vehicles and
are extremely capable. They are able to tow large vans, and
manage the boat and a few other items as well. Many travellers
use off-road vehicles without ever venturing off the main road.
Others travel extensively in the outback, unhitching the van
when the terrain gets too rough and either taking a tent or swag
with them, or sleeping in the back of the car.

Transmission

The choice between manual and automatic transmission is one of
personal preference. In the past, manual transmission was always
the preferred option by travellers, however modern improvements
in automatic transmission has meant they perform equally as well
now. In fact automatic four-wheel drives perform quite well
off-road.

Tools and Spares

When setting out on an extended touring holiday it is important
to carry a tool kit in order to undertake minor repairs to your
vehicle and to carry out those household repair jobs around the
caravan. A tool kit should include the following items:

• Blade screwdrivers
• Phillips head screwdrivers
• Set
  of spanners to suit your car and van
• Hammer
• Pliers
  
• Small adjustable shifter
• Larger shifter for gas
  bottles
• Scissors
• Wheel spanner
• Set of
  spike-resistant jumper leads
• Tyre-pressure gauge
• Tow
  rope or tow strap

Make sure that the jack and handle are fitted in the vehicle and
that the jack is in good working order. Make sure that the same
jack will fit both your vehicle and caravan. Before you leave
home, make sure you know how to change your tyres and where the
jacking points are for both your towing vehicle and your caravan.

Carry a jacking board, about 250 sq. mm, to place beneath the
jack when the ground is soft, uneven or wet. A piece of
checker-plate aluminium is okay.

The wheel brace that suits your car may not necessarily fit the
wheel studs on your caravan. Check before leaving home.

Carry a good spare tyre for your vehicle and one for your
caravan. If you plan to travel off the beaten track, you will
need two spares for each unit. On some camper-trailers, the
wheels are interchangeable with those of the towing vehicle. If
this is the case, a total of two spares will be adequate in most
circumstance.

TOWING EQUIPMENT AND MODIFICATIONS

Fitting towing equipment and modifying towing vehicles are
specialist activities and should only be done by professionals.
Dealers will often fit tow bars to new vehicles if requested.
You will have to specify that you need one to match the
vehicle's maximum towing capacity so that you do not end
up with something only suitable for towing a small household
trailer. If you already have a vehicle, contact a specialist
tow-bar retailer and mechanic; check the Yellow Pages under
"towing" or find one via the internet.

Towing Equipment

All commercially manufactured tow bars in Australia are built to
a stand and should perform well. Different makes and models will
have different features and different prices.

Most lightweight bars are suitable for towing trailers and vans
with a gross mass of 1,000 kg or even less. Heavy-duty bars,
such as those fitted to large four-wheel drives, have the
capacity to tow a mass of up to 3,500 kg. Each tow bar has a
specified maximum trailer mass and a maximum static ball weight.
The latter, which is the difference in weight between the
caravan on and off the vehicle, should be around 10 per cent of
the total trailer weight. So, if the loaded trailer weight is
1,000kg, the ball weight should be around 100 kg. All tow bars
are restricted to the maximum recommended capacity of the
vehicle. To make absolutely sure you are not towing more that
you should be, get your caravan weighed fully loaded. Exceeding
towing weight limits can result in accidents, fines and
non-payment of insurance claims.

Tow bars are fitted with a choice of towing hitches. Most
standard caravans and trailers get by with a 50 mm ball, while
off-road models may require a more complex off-road hitch.

Caravans and trailers must be fitted with safety chains; these
must be securely attached to the towing vehicle.

Towing Limits

In 1999 the National Road Transport Commission (NRTC) introduced
a set of recommended towing limits, which were adopted by all
States and Territories. Until that point up to five different
towing limits applied across Australia, which meant a lot of
confusion for caravanners crossing State and Territory borders.

The national regulations, as laid out by the NRTC, state that
the weight of the loaded caravan must not exceed the recommended
limit as prescribed by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle,
or the stated capacity of the towing apparatus fitted to the
vehicle. If the manufacturer has not specified limits, which,
surprisingly, is not that unusual, the weight of the loaded
caravan should be no more than one and a half times the unloaded
weight of the towing vehicle, provided the caravan is fitted
with brakes. If the caravan is not fitted with brakes, then the
loaded caravan should equal the weight of the unloaded car. If
you have any difficulty establishing the parameters of these
requirements, seek the advice of your dealer or an independent
tow-bar manufacturer.

Weight Distribution

We have all seen the car and caravan combination with the hitch
almost dragging on the road. Weight-distribution bars, widely
available at caravan accessory shops, can be used to maintain a
more level profile of the car and van. These tend to be standard
equipment for larger vans, but should really be considered for
all but the lightest of vans. The issue can also be addressed by
correct loading. If the movable load within the caravan is all
packed forward of the axle, this will greatly increase the ball
weight. If the load is more evenly distributed throughout the
van, then the ball weight is less likely to be adversely
affected. Never load a caravan or trailer with more weight
behind the axle than forward of the axle. (It is wise to secure
items to prevent movement).

This is the fourth page of 23 with related information about
making the most of your caravan holiday. Have a look here for
the other pages href="http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html"
target="blank">www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.htm
l

About the author:
Ian Molloy is the owner of Crikey Adventure Tours. Visit his
website href="http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com"target="blank">www.cr
ikey-adventure-tours.com for more information about this
article and other related topics. His site is full of very
helpful travel information including tips on motorcycle travel,
driving cross-country, travelling with a caravan and other
camping and travel information.

Understanding Your Caravan and Equipping Your Caravan

Caravans and camper-trailers have to be registered separately to
your vehicle, and serviced regularly. Before you set off on your
trip, it is worthwhile spending some time understanding your
caravan workings and all its components. Although many features
are now standard, particularly in new vans, there will still be
some equipping of your caravan to do.

SERVICING

Similarly to your car, caravans need regular servicing also. The
wheel bearings and brakes need to be checked every 20,000 km or
annually. Your normal mechanic that services your car will be
able to service your caravan as well. By understanding your
caravan you will be able to take a spare set of wheel bearings
with you and replace them yourself. If you are unsure of how to
do this, just ask your local mechanic and he will gladly explain
how to change them.

Brakes are a little more complex. Again your normal mechanic
should be able to check them for wear etc, but sometimes you may
have to visit a brake specialist.

Most other areas on your caravan are just routing checking like
the battery and lights etc. You can either do this yourself with
a little bit of knowledge, or wherever you are travelling the
garage mechanic will be able to check them for you.

Power Supply

Caravans are usually wired to operate on both 12 volt and 240
volt. The 240 volt supply will be a plug-in supply from your
powered campsite or from a home power point if you are staying
with friends. They require 15 amp plugs, which are not normally
fitted in homes so make sure your extension lead caters for 15
amp plugs.

Most caravans have a 12 volt battery to operate the electrics in
your caravan and this must be charged regularly by either a
battery charger or via an Anderson Plug connected to your car
when it is running. Some caravans and motorhomes are also fitted
with a switch which charges your caravan battery while the
vehicle is plugged into 240 volt power. It is strongly
recommended you have this switch connected.

If you have an Anderson plug fitted that uses your vehicle's
alternator to charge your caravan battery, make sure you have an
isolation devise fitted so the batteries can be separated when
the vehicle is not running. The last thing you want is for the
caravan to drain your vehicle's battery and not be able to start
your car.

If you are going bush you may consider carrying a generator with
you as well. If you are going to stay in caravan parks you will
not need a generator. If you think you just might want one, they
are heavy, take up a fair bit of storage room and are noisy to
operate.

Another popular source of power these days is solar power.
Similarly, to the generator this would only be useful if you are
not staying in caravan parks and do not have an Anderson plug
fitted to your vehicle to charge your caravan's battery.

Refrigeration

What sort of a fridge should you have? For many years the three
way fridge has been the preferred choice for caravan owners.
These operate on 12 volt (battery), 240 volt (power point) or
gas. These fridges work quite well on 240 volt and gas, but
struggle a bit when on 12 volt despite using quite a lot of
power - some of the newer models perform a bit better.
Performance can be slightly improved by installing a ventilator
fan behind the fridge to improve airflow. These are available at
caravan accessory shops.

Gas Supply

Most caravans, campervans and motorhomes have gas-operated
stoves, ovens and hot-water services. Gas is efficient, clean
and quite safe. Use a two gas bottle system so you can use one
gas bottle until it is completely empty and then switch to the
other bottle. This will save you trying to guess how much gas is
left in a bottle and how long it will last and also enables you
to use all the gas and not refill it with gas still left. Always
stand gas bottles in a vertical position and make sure a
regulator is fitted so it will turn the gas off if a major leak
occurs

Check that your gas bottles are not out of date. The date is
stamped on the collar of the bottle, and it should indicate that
the bottle has been checked within the last 10 years. It is
against the law for a reseller to fill out-of-date gas bottles.
Most service stations now have exchange gas bottles. This
enables you to take your empty gas bottle and just pay exchange
it for a full bottle. Check the out of date on the new gas
bottle as well, to ensure it will not expire shortly.

Lifestyle Extras

By understanding your caravan and equipping your caravan, you
will want a few necessary extras. Television, video recorders
and DVD's are increasingly popular items to travel with. Most
Australian towns have some kind of television reception but for
those who want reliable reception, there is the option of
installing a satellite dish to your caravan, offering access to
a selection of free-to-air and cable channels. If you are off
the beaten track, don't forget you DVD's. Television and videos
come in 12 volt and 240 volt.

A full annexe, complete with floor, can add thousands of dollars
to the cost of a new van. It may seem like a desirable item but,
if you are moving around a lot, you may find that it gets used
rarely. Awnings tend to be more useful as they are much easier
to set up.

You will spend nearly as much time outside under your awning as
you will inside your caravan. As such an outdoor table setting
is an important addition to your camping equipment. Also
desirable are a couple of comfortable chairs to relax in. With
these kinds of purchases, you tend to get what you pay for in
terms of quality.

Another fairly indispensable item is an outdoor stove or
barbecue. Cooking outdoors while caravanning is sociable and
pleasurable, and it means not having to live and sleep with the
smell of cooked meat or fish. Most parks have barbecue areas,
but these can be in high demand.

Portable chemical toilets are used by those travelling in
smaller campervans or with caravans that do not have a built-in
facility. They require regular emptying and the chemicals have
to be replenished. They are popular with older travellers who do
not relish the idea of navigating a course to the amenity block
during the small hours.

Blocks and Chocks

You will rarely find your camp site perfectly flat, so you will
need to carry levelling blocks to rectify the situation. These
come in the form of shaped wedges (or you can use a thick, flat
board). They are placed on the ground and your caravan is driven
onto them. Some motorhomes have built-in self-levelling
supports. (see arrive at campsite).

A pair of shaped wheel-chocks is very handy for stabilising your
van. Chocks can be bought commercially or easily made at home.
They should be placed on the downhill side of the caravan's
wheels to prevent the unit rolling.

This is the seventh page of 23 with related information about
making the most of your caravan holiday. Check our website at target="_new"
href="http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html"
>www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html for the
other articles.

About the author:
Ian Molloy is the owner of Crikey Adventure Tours. Visit his
website href="http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com"target="blank">www.cr
ikey-adventure-tours.com for more information about this
article and other related topics. His site is full of very
helpful travel information including tips on motorcycle travel,
driving cross-country, travelling with a caravan and other
camping and travel information.

Buying A Caravan For Your Holiday

You probably have some idea of what you are going to use your
caravan for. Is it for two people; a family; to be used for a
couple of weeks every few years; are you going to spend the next
twelve months of your life living in it travelling around
Australia (or your country)?

Now that you know what it is going to be used for do some
homework. Some of the places to look before you start buying a
caravan include the internet. You must already have access to
the internet to find this site, so continue using the internet
in your privacy without any pressure. Have a look through the
classified ads in newspapers, trader publications, leisure
magazines etc.

If it is that time of the year in your area, caravan and leisure
shows are a good way to have a look at various vans at one
convenient location. You can make comparisons without getting
"trapped" by pushy sales people. If (and only if) you have
already researched your potential purchase and decided that a
new unit is what you want, think about buying one on the spot:
show-only discounts often represent good value.

If it is time to do some leg work go a visit some dealers, draw
up a list of "must haves" and take it with you as you shop. Have
a look at a number of different kinds of units (caravan,
motorhome, campers) in both the new and second-hand markets in
order to establish what you can get for your money. The leisure
market is large these days and there is no need to rush in -
take your time and get it right.

When you do go shopping for buying a caravan take a tape measure
with you to see what fits in where.

New caravans, campervans, camper-trailers and motorhomes are all
available through dealers and in some cases, direct from the
manufacture. Used units are available through dealers, or
privately through the classified ads in newspapers, trader
publications, leisure magazines and of course on the internet.

This is the third page of 23 with related information about
making the most of your caravan holiday. Visit our website target="_new"
href="http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html"
>www.crikey-adventure-tours.com/caravan-holiday.html for all
23 pages, or I will be submitting them to this site if you wish
to check them out here as well.

About the author:
Ian Molloy is the owner of Crikey Adventure Tours. Visit his
website href="http://www.crikey-adventure-tours.com"target="blank">www.cr
ikey-adventure-tours.com for more information about this
article and other related topics. His site is full of very
helpful travel information including tips on motorcycle travel,
driving cross-country, travelling with a caravan and other
camping and travel information.