Caravanning Tips For Beginners

Caravanning offers holidaymakers thrilling experiences and endless possibilities. If you’ve always wanted to go caravanning, but don’t know where to start—you've come to the right place! In this guide, you’ll find caravan tips and tricks to help you on your journey.

Before you go on your adventure, keep these caravan tips for beginners in mind:

Choose the right type of caravan

Caravans come in all shapes, sizes, and layouts, and come with an array of amenities. To make the most out of your caravanning experience, you need to figure out the type of caravan that works best for you.

Are you a retiree looking to go on month-long camping holidays? A deluxe caravan with a suite of amenities could be best. If you’re a solo traveller up for weekend trips, something lighter and more compact like a teardrop caravan would be ideal. It’s all about knowing your situation and finding one that fits it perfectly.

Check the towing capacity of your car

Caravanning isn’t only about the caravan. Your car plays an important role in taking your caravan from place to place so make sure it’s capable of towing it properly. Just because you can take off doesn’t mean your car’s engine can endure it for the long haul.

Before buying a caravan, make sure that you have the right vehicle to tow it. Find out the weight of the caravan and what your car’s towing capacity is. If you drive an older model or are in doubt, talk to a mechanic to make sure.

Make sure your caravan fits your driveway

This is one of the most basic, yet often forgotten, caravan tips out there. Your caravan holiday starts at home. Check your driveway and garage and make sure that your caravan actually fits. You don’t want to find the perfect caravan only to bring it home and realise you can’t store it anywhere.

Also, when towing it in and out of your property, pay attention to your surroundings and what your caravan is attached to. Always check the state of your caravan if it has been camped, stored or parked for a long time.

Practice driving your caravan

Before hitting the road with your shiny new caravan, make sure you can drive it properly. The best caravan driving tip out there is practising until you get the hang of it. Like driving a car for the first time, a caravan needs some getting used to.

Take your caravan for a spin for a few blocks to get the hang of it. Learning how to properly reverse your vehicle is a caravanning essential. Caravans are typically large and bulky, making it more difficult to drive, so practising going on a trip can save you a lot of trouble along the way. If you really want to master caravan driving, you can enrol in a caravan towing for beginners course.

Know your caravan height

This might sound like a silly caravan tip, but it’s a crucial one. A lot of novice caravanners forget that their caravan is much bigger and taller than their ordinary vehicle. This leads to accidents and embarrassing situations like getting your caravan stuck under low-hanging areas.

Find out the height of your caravan, write it on a piece of paper and stick it to the inside of the windscreen so you remember. This way anytime you see a low bridge, underground car park or petrol station you can compare the displayed height (all these structures will display their height in metres) with the height of your caravan.

Don’t overpack your caravan

This is one of the most important caravan storage tips you must remember. Just because it fits does not mean it’s safe. A lot of caravan beginners get overexcited when loading up their caravan and pack too much. Not only will this make the whole trip uncomfortable, but it’s also unsafe.

When packing for a trip, keep the maximum towing capacity of your car in mind. You should also take note of the gross vehicle mass and gross combination mass of your vehicle and caravan, so you don’t go over capacity. During your caravanning trip, it’s best to pack light and use appropriate travel-style gear to save on space and ease the weight.

Tread carefully on uneven roads

Because a caravan is heavier than the average car, it gets bogged down much easier. While a caravan or motorhome may feel large and invincible, it’s not. It’s just heavy and usually not four-wheel drive, so use your common sense. Avoid particularly muddy conditions or uneven ground, and if you have to go through a body of water at least check the depth first.

Book your accommodations

Forgetting to book a campsite beforehand is a common rookie mistake for caravanners. Before you go on your trip, it’s best to research and book a campsite or caravan park. This makes the whole holiday easier as you won’t spend hours aimlessly driving around trying to find a place to stay.

The most useful caravan tips and tricks out there essentially boil down to planning. Plan your trip carefully so you can enjoy your holiday to the fullest. You don’t have to plan every inch of your holiday, but having an itinerary in place can save you a whole lot of stress.

Start your caravanning journey with the best caravan loan!

The first step to caravanning is buying your caravan, and the best way to go about that is with a low-rate caravan loan. Aussie Leisure Loans is here to help you find a caravan loan that’s tailor-fit to your financial needs. Get a free quote today or call us at 1300 889 669 to learn more.

FAQ

How do I buy a caravan?

Get your finances in order, either save up money or apply for a caravan loan. Once you’ve got your funding sorted, shop around for the ideal caravan through dealerships or private sellers and pick one that suits your needs best.

If you have a caravan loan, the lender will pay on your behalf or send the funds directly to you. After, you’ll make regular repayments until you’ve paid the loan back.

What is the best way to pay for a caravan?

It depends on your financial situation. A caravan loan may be a good idea if you don’t have enough funds and want to buy a caravan immediately. With a low-rate caravan loan, you can enjoy the benefits of a caravan while making affordable monthly, fortnightly, or weekly repayments.

Is my car powerful enough to tow a caravan?

Check the owner's manual of your car to see its towing capacity. Usually, a caravan can be towed by a vehicle with an engine size of 2000cc, at minimum. Heavier caravans would need more powerful vehicles and vice versa.

What to check before towing a caravan?

You need to check if the couplings are secured, fasten the stabilisers, and make sure that the surroundings are clear of any blocks or debris. Also, secure the inside of the caravan so no items are flying around as the caravan is towed.

How much should you spend on a caravan?

It depends entirely on what type of caravan you want to buy and the limits of your budget. Caravan pricesare based on size and features. You can find caravansthat costsomewhere between $12,500 to $60,000.If you’re looking for a caravan with lots of amenities, you may have to spend around $80,000 and above.

How long do caravans usually last?

Caravans can last up to thirty years, but this varies depending on the type of caravan and how it’s used. Some caravans that have been well-maintained and used properly can last up to 50 years.

How much deposit do I need for a caravan?

If you’re buying a caravan through a caravan loan, you don’t usually need to put down a deposit. However, for those who want to lower their repayments and save on interest, a 10% deposit or more would be ideal.