Caravan shows over the next year or so

herbie · Guru

Caravan shows over the next year or so

woodylad · Member

Hi Nomads!

We are hoping to buy a new caravan for the big lap early next year. unfortunately we are still working in NZ and will not retire until February/march time next Grear. We a have been advised to take a look at caravan shows to get a good deal so we intend popping over to Australia to attend a show or two. Sydney, Melbourne etc would be good for us, travelling from Auckland.

Our question is, which are the best shows for caravan purchase? We intend to buy a Jayco Stirling caravan.

Thanks for any replies that are sent!!

Richard and Helen Wood

Grams · Guru

Here in SA, we have our Caravan Show in March, but some Caravan places have specials on at the same time, which are not at the show. So it might pay to look around as well. We got ours this way, it had lots of extras added.

Good Luck.

woodylad · Member

Thanks for your reply! Where a bouts do they have the show please?

Richard and Helen

kandagal · Guru

I think the Brisbane show is on in early June

brickies · Guru

I have heard you can buy direct from Jayco may be worth emailing jayco

jimricho · Guru

Try googling caravan shows. Should provide you much of the info you're seeking

woodylad · Member

That's an interesting comment. Has anyone experienced buying direct from Jayco? I will email them if it's a possibility.

woodylad · Member

I will google caravan shows. Wondered which shows have the best feed back from the public?

herbie · Guru

Hello and welcome, Jaco have a new and used caravan yard at 182 Bellarine Hwy Geelong victoria.This show room/ yard would be the closest to Melbourne victoria.

You could also " GOOGLE " Prestige Jayco Caravans.

jetj · Guru

The Sydney Caravan Camping show is a big one but was in late April. It really takes 2 days to see it all. Good luck with your research and purchase.

Grams · Guru

The Show in SA is at the Wayville Showgrounds in Adelaide. It's huge. We went there, but as I can't walk very long without back pain we only spent about 2 hours there. Next time I'm taking a cane or wheelchair.

Poppy sore eye · Senior Member

Hi Woodylad.

welcome to the forum. we are in a very similar position to yourself except that we have been looking this year to start early next. We went to the Melbourne show, very big and very crowded and lots of different manufacturers. Sounds great but the issue was that because of the expeced crowds most of the manufacturers had brought in casuals...friends..office staff to help man the displays, on average only one person on each stand who really new the product and they were rushed off their feet with tyre kickers.

also each of the manufactures brought a couple the their most popular modela, we only found one in the entire show which was remotely close to what we want. They all said "I am sure we have something that will suit" but nobody had the time to discuss the options.

my suggestion would be to invest the time, firstly on the phone, contact ALL the suppliers, tell them what you want and ask them to send you detailed layouts and pricing options. When you have narrowed it down to two or thre go and visit them.

long and involved I know but worth the effort.

reglynn · Guru

Hi woodylads.

We purchased our van from the brisbane caravan show last june.

We settled on a Roma Elegance, and could not be happier with it,the service we have had has been amazing!

If we could recommend Trail-a-van in towoomba or directly Roma caravans in melbourne its worth looking at.

golivers travels · Guru

I would suggest going through a Jayco dealer rather than a caravan show. When we have been to shows have noticed that Jayco deals are more expensive than through the dealer. We have purchased 4 Jayco's and looking at a 5th.

There is a large Dealer in Melbourne, Bayswater Jayco.

http://www.bayswaterjayco.com.au/

And be prepared to haggle, you can usually bring them down. When they give you a price also ring around other Jayco dealers to get their best price. I would suggest Ballarat Jayco and Prestige Jayco.

Best of luck. The new Sterlings are great.

-- Edited by golivers travels on Tuesday 14th of May 2013 11:23:11 AM

justcruisin01 · Guru

Brisbane show is on early June, shows are good to veiw many vans at the same location, however if you know what you want try direct.

I personaly would not by a van from a show, hundreds of people tramping through it , opening/closing every thing.

I recently looked at vans at a dealer & they said they can do better deals from the yard, no site fees for the show, towing vans to & from the venue etc.

JC

brickies · Guru

JC that was the same for me , To many people at caravan shows and not enough time to have a good look at the product , And went and look at caravan yards sat in a lot of caravan and pretend to living in them , And when we kept going back to the same dealer to look at the same caravan we order the one we liked and received a better deal than we could get at the caravan show without the pressure of the caravan show , The saleman at the dealership told me that they have a stand at the caravan show and most of the saleman are not from the dealership they just follow this shows has casual saleman and they will never have to front the people ever again once the show over

buffy61 · Senior Member

Hi Woody
We are kiwis living in Oz... been here for 2yrs. Love it so we too decided to go see more of it.
We probably spent around 8 months looking at vans and trying to decide what things were important for US.
We personally wanted a lounge area that was comfortable to recline in as we felt we may spend a bit of time there if this is to be our home.
We settled on the club dinette...as in a U shape. We are adapting the table to drop down so we get another decent size bed... not for visitors... for one of us if we get restless in the double and just want to sleep stretched out alone!!
We bought our Jayco Sterling 21.66-3 directly from the Jayco dealers in Wynnum, Brisbane. They had a special on at the time and it came with a few extras e.g. aerial, gas bayonet, awning. I think they probably would have degotiated these into the price but that was their 'sale' deal at the time!
Unfortunately, we have not been able to head off yet - partner just finishing chemo, but we have had some sleep overs and it seems everything works...so far!!
If you want any more info feel free to message me.
Buffy
Oh yes... we head off in August, after another trip back to NZ for birthdays!! Cant wait!!

neilnruth · Guru

The Sydney Show is at Rosehill Racecourse near Parramatta.

herbie · Guru

There is a lot of caravan brands in Oz, If you have the time i would be looking at all sorts of brands ,not just the one brand. As doing that will open up more options for you.In most big cities in Oz the caravan yards are all in a fairly close range of each other , just waiting to get your purchase.