5 hot tips to choose the perfect caravan for you

Wondering what kind of caravan you should buy? When you’re shopping for a caravan, unless you’ve bought one previously it can be quite challenging to understand exactly which one would be the best option for you personally.

Luckily though mate, we’ve got your back. To help you make a more informed decision, here are 5 solid tips that we reckon are absolute crackers for anyone buying their first caravan.

Tip 1. Sort out a budget

Like any other multi-thousand dollar purchase, it’s absolutely vital that you have a price in mind before heading into even the research stage. Work out how much you’ll be able to afford to spend as the very first step in the process and go from there. This will determine whether it’d be better to opt for either a new or second-hand van and the quirks and features you should expect for your price range.

Hint: Give us a call now on 1300 955 600 to have a chat - you might be surprised at how much you can afford with some of the incredible caravan financing deals we have access to!

Tip 2. Determine the ideal size

If it’s just you and your Aussie cattle dog Bluey that are going to be using the van, it’s obviously not going to need to be nearly as big as if you’re a family of 5.

There are some caravans that include all the bells and whistles such as toilets, showers and reasonably-sized kitchens, but this all comes at a cost. Which is why it’s so important to have your budget sorted first.

With your budget in mind, make a list of everything your new caravan absolutely, 100% MUST have, and also a few of the ‘nice-to-have’ features. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to do some research and suss out whether you’re able to go with something new or second-hand which include your must-haves, and also the makes and models which fit your needs.

Tip 3. Review the weight

The maximum towing capacity of the vehicle you’ll be using to tow the van is also going to be a huge determiner of the size of van you can get. You can find out what it is in the car’s owner’s manual (or by doing a Google search of the make/model).

It’s important to also understand that while the van’s tare weight (without gear) might be under your vehicle’s max towing capacity, loading all the gear you need into it might tip it over the top.

And let’s not forget the GCM (Gross Combination Mass), the combined weight of your car and the van. Again, this can be found in the owner’s manual of the car.

All of this can be discussed with a caravan dealer (it’s an incredibly common topic).

Should your vehicle not have the capacity to tow the van you’re eyeing off legally, it might be time to update to something that will. Call us on 1300 955 600 to have a chat about new car financing!

Tip 4. Check and re-check a second-hand van

If you decide to go for a second-hand caravan, you need to make sure you check all of the operational levers, straps and cranks for any damage or serious signs of wear. Further, because utility connections are used frequently it’s important to properly check these - some people might have ‘doctored’ connections themselves to sell it which can cause them to be highly dangerous.

Like with a second-hand car, if anything feels off, walk away.

Tip 5. Research is key

The more you know about the makes and models you’re looking at buying, the more of an informed decision you’ll be able to make when it comes time to do so. Spend time on the countless forums and review pages online and get to know each of the caravans well including prices and features and you’ll be in the best position to make the right choice and get the van at the right price.

Speak with us today for quick and easy caravan financing

Finding the right financing package for your new caravan doesn’t have to be a headache! At Stratton FInance, we have decades of experience helping Aussies find and secure outstanding caravan financing and are here to do the same for you.

Get in touch with our friendly team today by either calling us directly on 1300 955 600 or using our online enquiry form to send us a message and we’ll make sure to get back to you ASAP.