just retired, plan to travel this great country and just getting the basics sorted at the moment. We got the tow vehicle but now we have hit utter confusion on the right caravan for us. We have a couple of brands in mind that we think our budget is able to accommodate.
we wondered, if the brains trust here could help?
we want to go off the black stuff occasionally and onto dirt, perhaps a little easier grade off road from time to time. We want the ability to stay a few nights independently of external water and power.
we have a medium well behaved dog ( Wheaten Terrier, Elvis).
we like zone RV and Millard. We like the idea of composite, non wood frame and something robust enough. Are these good vans? Other brands that may be better for us?
any constructive advise would be warmly received.
thanks in advance
M & I
Possum3 said
08:30 AM Mar 11, 2021
Welcome to GN's Smudgers, Buying caravans is fraught with danger, more so now than in the past as manufacturers are flooded with orders and parts suppliers put to the pump to supply parts and accessories sourced from overseas.
Download free technical information and purchasing check lists at www.caravancouncil.com.au/. Check out caravan club comments on facebook - beware of Dealer/Manufacturer reviews where reports of faults and bad service are filtered out by their Marketing personnel.
Check out the Lemon and Buyer Beware sites that will point you into the right direction to ascertain what the specific problems may be with your brand/dealer selections.
There are rogues out there that will promise the World and deliver very costly Lemons.
When you have decided on your brand and get on the road - have a ball out there.
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:06 AM Mar 11, 2021
It is a mistake to buy a caravan AFTER buying the tow vehicle. You need to do it the other way around.
Better still, sell the tow vehicle and buy a motorhome.
Cheers,
Peter
Dougwe said
10:23 AM Mar 11, 2021
Welcome to the gang Mark and Ivone. OH! and your mate Elvis.
I am definitely not a member of the "brains trust" here on the forum so won't recommend one or the other etc.
I will say though that when I started out I had a bit of an idea what I wanted so researched both the tug and den at the same time. I'll regret this but, I also studied the allowable weights etc of both during the research process. Then I decided I wanted a twin cab Ute with canopy so test drove all in the range. That decided on I set about looking at suitable size and weights vans.
In the end I got what is in my signature below. The only thing I did wrong was put a genuine manufacturer canopy on back. I now know now I should have put a aluminium box on the back, I call them the 'shed'. It's too expensive and waist of money to change over now.
Research, research, research, is the best way to go first up. You're already halfway there as you have the tug. Yes. will might now be limited in the den but they are out there so, did I say to research?
Have fun and enjoy.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Smudgers said
01:33 PM Mar 11, 2021
thank you for the advise chaps. Ill continue the research
-- Edited by Smudgers on Thursday 11th of March 2021 01:36:39 PM
Hi folks
mark and ivone smith here, new to this world.
just retired, plan to travel this great country and just getting the basics sorted at the moment.
We got the tow vehicle but now we have hit utter confusion on the right caravan for us. We have a couple of brands in mind that we think our budget is able to accommodate.
we wondered, if the brains trust here could help?
we want to go off the black stuff occasionally and onto dirt, perhaps a little easier grade off road from time to time. We want the ability to stay a few nights independently of external water and power.
we have a medium well behaved dog ( Wheaten Terrier, Elvis).
we like zone RV and Millard. We like the idea of composite, non wood frame and something robust enough. Are these good vans? Other brands that may be better for us?
any constructive advise would be warmly received.
thanks in advance
M & I
Download free technical information and purchasing check lists at www.caravancouncil.com.au/. Check out caravan club comments on facebook - beware of Dealer/Manufacturer reviews where reports of faults and bad service are filtered out by their Marketing personnel.
Check out the Lemon and Buyer Beware sites that will point you into the right direction to ascertain what the specific problems may be with your brand/dealer selections.
There are rogues out there that will promise the World and deliver very costly Lemons.
When you have decided on your brand and get on the road - have a ball out there.
Better still, sell the tow vehicle and buy a motorhome.
Cheers,
Peter
I am definitely not a member of the "brains trust" here on the forum so won't recommend one or the other etc.
I will say though that when I started out I had a bit of an idea what I wanted so researched both the tug and den at the same time. I'll regret this but, I also studied the allowable weights etc of both during the research process. Then I decided I wanted a twin cab Ute with canopy so test drove all in the range. That decided on I set about looking at suitable size and weights vans.
In the end I got what is in my signature below. The only thing I did wrong was put a genuine manufacturer canopy on back. I now know now I should have put a aluminium box on the back, I call them the 'shed'. It's too expensive and waist of money to change over now.
Research, research, research, is the best way to go first up. You're already halfway there as you have the tug. Yes. will might now be limited in the den but they are out there so, did I say to research?
Have fun and enjoy.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
thank you for the advise chaps. Ill continue the research
-- Edited by Smudgers on Thursday 11th of March 2021 01:36:39 PM