looking at purchasing our first caravan, and after general peoples opinions, after something around 20 ft, for 2 people, double or queen bed. Spend around 30 k secondhand, ensuite or no ensuite ?? Pop top or full size ?? What to look for ie good and bad brands ?? Extras which are worth having etc..Mainly small trips to start with. Cheers Wayne
Daryl620 said
02:16 PM May 8, 2018
What is your tow vehicle?
Decide on what weight and length your comfortable with,
Will you be doing alot of low cost camping?
Do you require off-road suspension?
Before you start looking decide on how will use the van....then go for it.....
Dougwe said
02:47 PM May 8, 2018
Welcome to the gang Wayne, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Caravans as well as tugs are a personal choice really and I usually keep out of recommendations however, My thoughts would be if you are only going to use the van for short periods of time and using CVP then solar panels and more than one battery and a ensuite would IMO be a waist of money and time.
That all said, if you were going to be out in the playground a lot and enjoy the great life of freedom camping and 'off grid' then solar and a couple of good size batteries etc including a ensuite with separate shower and toilet would be a must, again, IMO.
The most important thing is and as touched on by Daryl, weights are probably the number one most important thing to get right NOW as very very expensive to get right later.
Do your homework. You have made a good start so keep on keeping on.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
fwdoz said
03:05 PM May 8, 2018
Welcome Wayne.
Are these short trips going to be stays in a caravan park? If so, you may not need an ensuite. What is it you are intending to do in the future, or are you just dipping your toes in the water to see what caravanning is all about? As a couple who have had a double bed in the past, we will never have anything other than a queen size bed. If you have a bad back or trouble lifting, you may not like a pop top van.
As far as brands are concerned, you will have fans/detractors of all brands. Layouts you like will go a long way to pushing you towards particular brands, as will tare & ATM weights which are extremely important that you understand when you start shopping around.
Your tow vehicle & its towing capacity may have a factor on what you purchase also. There are so many things the Nomads need to know so that they can help with the correct advice, so the more information you can provide, the better.
Wayne - Narelle said
04:08 PM May 8, 2018
Thanks for the info, tow vechicle is new Colorado LTZ dual cab, will do a fair bit of free camping, and a trip up the east coast later in the year. Would love to do a trip around Australia one day, but maybe not with our first van. Not sure on off road van or not, most people that I speak to say itās not necessary for the extra money ?
fwdoz said
04:27 PM May 8, 2018
Wayne - Narelle wrote:
Thanks for the info, tow vechicle is new Colorado LTZ dual cab, will do a fair bit of free camping, and a trip up the east coast later in the year. Would love to do a trip around Australia one day, but maybe not with our first van. Not sure on off road van or not, most people that I speak to say itās not necessary for the extra money ?
Good tow vehicle which gets good reviews towing in the 2500-3000kg capacity in both power & fuel economy:
Given you will change at a later date, if the van you purchase does not have solar, then perhaps go for a portable panel that you can utilise to allow you to free camp & then also use on your next van.If free camping will you stay at free camps with toilets? If not, get a van with an ensuite as it will open up far more spots to visit.
As far as off road, that is a personal choice but that will be for you to decide on the next van you buy. In your trips chat to the caravanners you come across & ask them about their purchases & why they chose them. The experience you pick up as you go will help you be much clearer about what you want in your next van as you will have spent some time on the road learning your likes & dislikes, as well as a wishlist for purchasing in your 2nd van later on. Everybody is different in what they want, so use your first van as a valuable learning experience.
Meredith said
06:27 PM May 8, 2018
If you intend to free camp then buy a van with a toilet and shower. It could be a combination one, or a full ensuite, but a toilet is a must and a shower gives you more flexibility. You don't really need an off road van for most places, a well built on road van with reasonable clearance should do. I would say a comfortable bed is a must. Also comfortable seating, try sitting in it both together imagining the different things you will be doing such as eating, watching tv, using the computer etc, you will sit in a lot so take time to make sure it suits you. Carefully watch the weight and the load allowance, many vans are in truth heavier than their plates state, particularly if they have had any modifications, I would suggest asking for a weighbridge ticket. You want to be sure that once the water tanks are full you can pack more than a toothbrush!
Desert Dweller said
07:32 PM May 8, 2018
Do your own research on the internet via various caravanning/travel forums. As others have said, meeting legal weight requirements is a major priority.
Stay clear of caravans with plumbing/wiring going nowhere, the result of a previous DIY owner removing their gadgets before trading in their van.
We saw lots of them & decided to buy a new unit. God knows what some of these ''handymen'' have been up to in their spare time?
Wayne - Narelle said
07:50 PM May 8, 2018
Thanks Meredith and Desert Dueler, I have been researching for a while now, and I canāt believe the amount of secondhand vans around. One thing Iāve really noticed is the ATM and Tare weights are very close, legally some of them once you add water to the tanks you are nearly over weight already.
Tony Bev said
01:27 PM May 10, 2018
Also a warm welcome from me, Wayne - Narelle
It is very hard to advise others on the type of caravan to purchase, as we are all different
We looked around for about six months, before we purchased a second hand caravan, suitable for our needs
As others have already said, make sure that the caravan will match the towing vehicle
As far as yes/no to the ensuite goes, I have yet to meet anyone who had gone from having one, back to not having one
They are very handy, as they allow you the freedom to go anywhere
Hope that you find something which will tick most of your boxes
Col Rennie said
05:28 PM May 11, 2018
Welcome Wayne,
These forums really help you find your way through the maze of questions and information.
My wife Toni and I are newbies ,we have been on the road for just over three months from Syd to the top end heading towards the West Coast and back across the middle ,plan 15 to 18 months on the road.
Our learning for what it is worth :
Know all about Weights ,Tare ,ATM ,CVM,tow ball weights.Do not count on any manufacture or distributor.
Depending on your age the on board toilet is a excellent option.
What you are going to tow with is a great place to start.
Keep the overall length and total weigh to a min ( cost to tow ,and the parks don't all take big rigs.)
If I had it over I would not exchange money on a van until I seen it over a weight bridge full of water and gas and ensured it came in as sold.
Dont wright off the used vans I have seen some great units with the bugs knoxed out and the real needed extras fitted.
looking at purchasing our first caravan, and after general peoples opinions, after something around 20 ft, for 2 people, double or queen bed. Spend around 30 k secondhand, ensuite or no ensuite ?? Pop top or full size ?? What to look for ie good and bad brands ?? Extras which are worth having etc..Mainly small trips to start with. Cheers Wayne
What is your tow vehicle?
Decide on what weight and length your comfortable with,
Will you be doing alot of low cost camping?
Do you require off-road suspension?
Before you start looking decide on how will use the van....then go for it.....
Caravans as well as tugs are a personal choice really and I usually keep out of recommendations however, My thoughts would be if you are only going to use the van for short periods of time and using CVP then solar panels and more than one battery and a ensuite would IMO be a waist of money and time.
That all said, if you were going to be out in the playground a lot and enjoy the great life of freedom camping and 'off grid' then solar and a couple of good size batteries etc including a ensuite with separate shower and toilet would be a must, again, IMO.
The most important thing is and as touched on by Daryl, weights are probably the number one most important thing to get right NOW as very very expensive to get right later.
Do your homework. You have made a good start so keep on keeping on.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Welcome Wayne.
Are these short trips going to be stays in a caravan park? If so, you may not need an ensuite. What is it you are intending to do in the future, or are you just dipping your toes in the water to see what caravanning is all about? As a couple who have had a double bed in the past, we will never have anything other than a queen size bed. If you have a bad back or trouble lifting, you may not like a pop top van.
As far as brands are concerned, you will have fans/detractors of all brands. Layouts you like will go a long way to pushing you towards particular brands, as will tare & ATM weights which are extremely important that you understand when you start shopping around.
Your tow vehicle & its towing capacity may have a factor on what you purchase also. There are so many things the Nomads need to know so that they can help with the correct advice, so the more information you can provide, the better.
Good tow vehicle which gets good reviews towing in the 2500-3000kg capacity in both power & fuel economy:
https://australiancaravans.com.au/library/04/2017/tow-vehicle-review-2017-holden-colorado/
Given you will change at a later date, if the van you purchase does not have solar, then perhaps go for a portable panel that you can utilise to allow you to free camp & then also use on your next van.If free camping will you stay at free camps with toilets? If not, get a van with an ensuite as it will open up far more spots to visit.
As far as off road, that is a personal choice but that will be for you to decide on the next van you buy. In your trips chat to the caravanners you come across & ask them about their purchases & why they chose them. The experience you pick up as you go will help you be much clearer about what you want in your next van as you will have spent some time on the road learning your likes & dislikes, as well as a wishlist for purchasing in your 2nd van later on. Everybody is different in what they want, so use your first van as a valuable learning experience.
Stay clear of caravans with plumbing/wiring going nowhere, the result of a previous DIY owner removing their gadgets before trading in their van.
We saw lots of them & decided to buy a new unit. God knows what some of these ''handymen'' have been up to in their spare time?
It is very hard to advise others on the type of caravan to purchase, as we are all different
We looked around for about six months, before we purchased a second hand caravan, suitable for our needs
As others have already said, make sure that the caravan will match the towing vehicle
As far as yes/no to the ensuite goes, I have yet to meet anyone who had gone from having one, back to not having one
They are very handy, as they allow you the freedom to go anywhere
Hope that you find something which will tick most of your boxes
Welcome Wayne,
These forums really help you find your way through the maze of questions and information.
My wife Toni and I are newbies ,we have been on the road for just over three months from Syd to the top end heading towards the West Coast and back across the middle ,plan 15 to 18 months on the road.
Our learning for what it is worth :
Know all about Weights ,Tare ,ATM ,CVM,tow ball weights.Do not count on any manufacture or distributor.
Depending on your age the on board toilet is a excellent option.
What you are going to tow with is a great place to start.
Keep the overall length and total weigh to a min ( cost to tow ,and the parks don't all take big rigs.)
If I had it over I would not exchange money on a van until I seen it over a weight bridge full of water and gas and ensured it came in as sold.
Dont wright off the used vans I have seen some great units with the bugs knoxed out and the real needed extras fitted.
Have fun and get on the road ,its amazing.
Welcome again