We have not long moved to Tassie and are considering making it an annual return to the Mainland to escape the winter and catch up with family and friends. Anyone done this by hiring rather than buying a caravan?
It all depends on each situation, time frame and caravan useage....I realise that you are enquiring about a 1 off trip, and that as already said should be financially costed and assessed together with the easier and best experience for your general needs. However, there are other considerations for longer term and period use.
For example I hired a caravan before I purchased for my very 1st trip to see if my wife would like and enjoy it as much as I used to as a youngster. I hired it for a full trip of 16 weeks to get a total all round perspective on what I wanted, as I said previously, to see if the wife would love it and just as importantly, to test the type of caravan out for size suitability and tow handling...it turned out to be a great idea and judge of what I wanted and what was best suited to us. I hired a second hand 21' Jayco and it was quite good, there were a few minor problems along the way but nothing that couldn't be overcome but we realised that we would like a different layout and a touch more room plus a more semi off-road type van. We ended up purchasing for $105,000 and had 6 years of 6 monthly annual trips, unfortunately my wife had early onset dementia when I bought the van and in the end, it just got too hard to caravan anymore so I don't use it anymore and I have now put it for sale for around half the purchase price. If I compare the cost of the purchase with the hire, the hire over that period would have been less, but for me personally, I loved the caravan and the experiences during those travels, if I was ever to do it again, I would buy again, financially, it would definitely be a loss for the length of use that I have left to use it, so it is a case of doing what is best for you.
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Tuesday 9th of June 2020 07:58:09 AM
G'day Gravy73,
We got into camper trailers, + in the late 90s by hiring one for a weekend. We didn't go far but I was able to buy the trailer & tent after that trip & put it all together with our touch on it.
In your situation, it depends on how long you're going away for & where, how often you would use it back home (everyone climatizes to their area eventually). I would suggest hiring to seek out the pros & cons of that van & what you would expect in a caravan. Also don't be shy in asking others that you will meet in parks, both free & paid about their RVs. That way you reduce the chance of an expensive mistake.
After purchase, could you leave a van with your family on the mainland reducing the cost of carrying it over on the ferry?
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
I recently spent 5-6 weeks in Tassie with my van and tug. I checked out the cost of flying to Tassie and hiring a motorhome. With the deal that I got with the Spirit of Tasmania It worked out that taking my own van and tug to Tassie and return after 3 weeks I was in front cost wise. The benefit of having your own tug and van is that you are not tied down to a schedule plus you have the van and tug for when you want to travel and you can set the time frame.
