Top 10 10 Caravan Buying Tips
Whether you're buying brand new, pre-owned or building your individual, educating yourself on the basics of caravanning will need the guess find out of acquiring the proper caravan to suit your needs.
Safety of yourself, your occupants along with other people on the road whilst travelling 's the reason to arm yourself with all the correct information before purchasing a caravan. Knowing a few simple tips can also save you 1000s of dollars worth of upgrades and even modifications down the track.
Ask Yourself:
1) What's your Tow Vehicle Capability?
It's not uncommon to your standard family car to obtain considered under rated, unsafe or even illegal to tow the new caravan you want to purchase. Knowing your tow car capacity or tow rating will allow you to decide what fully loaded weight caravan you can safely and legally tow line.
Once you know the tow vehicle rating/capacity, think very carefully against about investing in a caravan very close for a maximum allowable towing weight rating as there are many different variables that can easily overload you or also de-rate/reduce the specified tow line vehicle rating, this can unintentionally put you in to the 'illegal and unsafe' zone.
The ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) will be the total weight in kilograms of the fully loaded caravan. The perfect ATM of a caravan is defined by the caravan manufacturer and it is stamped on your own caravans recognition plate. To be safe ensure that your cars tow rating is a least rated more in comparison to ATM of your caravan.
Think of the extra possible weight (luggage, fuel, camping products, caravan accessories, bike racks and application boxes etc) thrown into or installed on your caravan whilst visiting, this could add as much as hundreds of kilos and has to be looked at to comply with all the maximum ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) of your caravan and maximum GCM (Gross Merged Mass) rating.
The GCM (Gross Combined Mass) can be found in the tow vehicles features handbook. This can be the utmost total weight of one's car and caravan combined and it is set by the automobile or truck manufacturer.
Any extra weight applied to your stock standard auto (roof racks, camping products, boot luggage, extra spare tyres and also passengers) is added towards overall GCM that could possibly decrease the tow ranking, make sure you check your automobile specifications. As an over-all general guideline, the heavier you create your tow vehicle the less you can legally tow. Exceeding the ATM or GCM might make towing unsafe and steer clear of insurance and manufacturer's warrantee.
One last little matter to create it somewhat more confusing but is likewise important. GVM is the Gross Vehicle Mass of your tow vehicle, this weight rating likewise can't be exceeded first of all and would be aware of check before even looking at your GCM for protection, insurance and warranty good reasons - check the manufacturer's features.
2) What's the Tow Ball Mass and also Tow Ball Weight Standing?
Tow Ball Mass would be the physical downward weight your caravan puts on your tow ball when hooked up. As a general general guideline for safe towing, the very least 10% of one's overall caravan weight (ATM) should be on your own tow basketball. (Unless otherwise specified by way of manufacturer)
Correctly distributing your caravan weight permits safe towing. Having significantly less than 10% of one's caravans ATM while tow ball mass would be the major cause of unmanageable caravan swaying.
Common factors behind inadequate tow ball mass are merely by loading too much gear/weight driving your caravan and mismatched elevation between car and caravan for the hitch point, both of which bring about your caravan to experience 'nose up' increasing to be able to sway uncontrollably.
Tow Ball Weight is the term for the horizontal pull rating of your tow ball. Be sure you check the tow ball weight rating of your tow ball which has already been fitted to your vehicle or truck, this is not always rated to suit your vehicles maximum towing capability. FOR INSTANCE: 2. 5 tonne rated tow balls are generally suited to 3. 5 tonne rated vehicles - make sure you check.
3) What Terrain are you taking your caravan over?
Knowing what terrain you might be driving on will decide the suspension setup. You basically contain the choice of On-Road and even Off-Road type suspension having all single axle caravans. Tandem axle caravans offer On-Road, Partial Off-Road and Off-Road type suspension.
On-Road Suspension
Generally means non-independent and non-load sharing that's OK for a smooth ride on sealed bitumen highways. Great for touring the primary 'on the map' places of Australia where Caravan Park hopping would be the plan of attack to your trip. Probably the most economical suspension however the capabilities are limited. Usually do not make an effort to take an On-Road setup Off-Road - they're simply not designed to address the varying and typically corrugated Off-Road conditions. If your caravan has standard On-Road suspension from factory, then chances is definitely the rest of your caravan may also not be designed as well as structurally sound enough to address these conditions either. (Corrugated roads are any killer for On-Road build caravans with this particular suspension a result of the minimal resistance to vibrations and in addition uncontrollable swaying)
A widespread exemplory case of On-Road, non-independent, non-load sharing will be the traditional Beam Axle suspension.
Partial Off-Road
For tandem axles solely that generally have possibly load sharing or impartial capabilities, however, not each. It is important to spot what capabilities your Semi Off-Road suspension is designed for. Independent acting suspension will undoubtedly be what helps your caravan track behind you, minimising the particular uncontrollable swaying and vibration, in particular on corrugated roads. Load sharing suspension helps to spread the strain evenly between your tandem axles when manoeuvring over larger dips and humps which helps prevent suspension component failure due to overloading. (Common caravan park speed bumps can temporarily overload one axle throughout a period without load sharing capabilities).
Total Off-Road
Fully independent and fill sharing suspension is what on earth is classed as Off-Road suspension. Independent means your caravan will certainly track better through corrugations although minimising vibrations. Load giving enables your caravan to be able to safe and effectively manoeuvre over large dips and humps much like speed bumps without overloading the axles.
Shock absorbers can be fitted to almost all suspension types to help cushion the impact of sharp dips and bumps which also really helps to track your caravan and in addition minimise vibrations (Simplicity suspension might not need shock absorbers due to the reverse spring, independent and also load sharing design). Go here of shock absorbers can help improve the efficiency of one's suspension, but and then the conditions your suspension is capable of, or designed for to begin with. Adding new or beefing in the existing shock absorbers will certainly improve, but generally will not enable you to take your On-Road suspension Off-Road.
4) No cost Camping or Powered Caravan Playground Sites?
Knowing whether you are free camping or obtaining the capability of a centric caravan park site or even both, will determine the formulate and configuration of the caravan.
Powered Caravan Playground Sites
This option gives you one of the selection of choice with choosing a caravan as you don't necessarily have to be self-sufficient. Toilets, showers, laundry facilities, electricity, BBQ's, internet, TV reception and running water can all be provided with regards to the caravan park. The most basic of caravan setups can still provide a great holiday providing the particular daily caravan park site fees fit affordable.
Free Camping
The longer you travel the harder savings and freedom you receive with free camping because you are not spending your money on caravan park site fees. The catch is you have to be correctly setup to enjoy the same conveniences of the caravan park which might appear at a considerable preliminary expense.
More thought and consideration is required of your caravan layout to include the space for use and storage of the utilities and appliances.
Items to consider:
Electricity will require the provision for solar power systems and batteries fitted and/or possibly a generator dependent on your requirements. Toilet, shower and kitchen requires water tanks and pumping systems installed. A Satellite for TV reception in addition to a BBQ, grill or stove/oven pertaining to cooking, not to mention the applying and dryer for the entire free camping setup.
Of course many of these things can already be installed when purchasing the caravan, it's just a matter of exercising what things are considered vital that you your household and getting the correct information to make an informed choice any moment buying your caravan.
5) Size of your Caravan
There are plenty of points to consider when determining along your caravan.
? Price!
? Size/capacity of tow vehicle.
? Number of men and women to sleep.
? The desire to have space invading utilities: shower, toilet, kitchen etc.
? The desire to have space invading appliances: TV SET, washing machine, microwave for example.
? The height of caravan for storage in a home garage.
? Fuel economy normally - small, reduce and lighter your caravan, the better for your towing car fuel economy.
? Ease of towing.
? General living advantage.
? Storage requirements.
? Quality of construction as well as weight.
Generally when choosing the length of a caravan, there is actually always a compromise. You should work out what you can't change or manage (just like the minimum level of beds or the maximum height to match in garage) as it'll quickly form a system to base your judgements.
By recording your 'necessities' as well as your 'nice to haves' you might be surprised how narrow the option of caravans becomes the particular further down the list you receive.
6) Materials & Construction of Caravan
Depending together with your needs and budget, the materials and construction of one's caravan may differ significantly in quality and value. There is always going learning to be a caravan that is greater and better, however the trick is to uncover the caravan that is built and created to an acceptable standard with the objective you intend.
Once you have exercised where you intend to take your caravan, you can confidently match the engineering requirements geared to. There are always new products and technology being introduced from the manufacturing of caravans (especially wall structure, ceiling and floor materials) which often all have their positives and negatives. It is a good intend to familiarise yourself with what has been thoroughly tested over the years to help equate to new technology that may be considered suitable for your needs.
Several simple ideas
? Wood frame vs aluminum frame - Wood framework caravans are popular when they are generally cheaper to generate and repair, but commonly lack strength, are in risk from wood rot and are slightly heavier compared to aluminium framed caravans.
? Composite screen, fiberglass, sandwich board, foam infill and also other similar type wall development - These wall development techniques definitely all have their unique advantages, generally (but not really always) strength, reliability, padding and weather proof features. The disadvantage is it is generally more costly to get and repair these materials and can be heavier than the cheaper more frequent alternatives.
? Aluminium cladding - Is used together with wood or aluminium framework caravans and is the commonest type of cladding because of availability, ease of establishing and repair, and the relatively low priced of material, but tend to dents and scratches.
? Chassis construction - An excellent solid engineered chassis can be a critical component for any caravan, but with a compelling construction comes added weight. Hot Dip Galvanising can help preserve the structural integrity from the longer term by avoiding rust.
? Suspension - Match the terrain you would like to travel (Bitumen, corrugated dirt or full Off-Road) with the capacity for the suspension, easy as that.
7) Study reviews of similar auto and caravan setups
It pays to read any comments or opinions by caravan owners having similar setups. You can find generally always both positive and also negative reviews, tips and tricks that may give you that extra inside information which could persuade you to obtain confidently or sometimes moreover not to buy, helping you save time and money.
8) Condition of Caravan
If you don't are buying brand new, it is a good idea to get a in depth pre purchase inspection from a local caravan service/repair centre. This will offer you advisable of the condition from the caravan and perhaps save you thousands down the track. Ceremony get professional hitching, towing and in addition combined car and caravan suggestions.
There are a plenty of pit falls to help keep clear of, here is a listing of common what to check:
? Make sure it is not stolen - View this registration papers, validate the dog owner and compare the (VIN) variety matches documentation.
? Any signs of standard water leaks or damage should be professionally inspected for wood rot.
? Rust along with other structural damage can be quite a definite red flag.
? Inspect the overall condition from the caravan because of its age to be a guide to how it is treated. If it's very nice condition for the age group or price, inspect the chance of the caravan staying superficially repaired and exclude any further structural injury.
9) Insurance
You shouldn't be left crimson faced (or worse) if something was to check wrong whilst towing the newly acquired caravan. Get insurance once you tow the caravan away to shield yourself from those inevitable outcomes we call 'accidents'.
Understand that the insurance insurance plan won't be worth the particular paper it's written on when the legal requirements regarding caravan hitching and towing are not honored - check the manufacturer's specifications with your car and caravan before towing.
Read your insurance plan, 'full comprehensive accident cover' and also 'manufacturing fault cover' are generally 2 various things - ensure you are covered for each, especially when water damage due to improper sealing is anxious.
10) Regular Maintenance