In the market for caravan - overwhelming

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

This might get a tad embarrassing.

https://www.ecoflo.com.au/cms/images/homepage-content/home-content-03.png

[callmejoe]

^^^^^^^^
For who ? 

Older i get the less i seem to care about such things. I look at it more like.
You want to watch me shower or sit on throne with a veiw. Well that'll be the problem they'll need to live with lol.

[Rumpig]

Problem with a non ensuited  caravan is resale...inlaws just sold one recently, not only did it sell for about 4K less then they hoped to get but took ages to sell also. The majority of buyers seriously looking at getting a van, want one with an ensuite.

[GeoffA]

Problem with a non unsuited  caravan is resale...

Agree with that ^, but it's a buyers market if you can live without....

[Rumpig]

Agree with that ^, but it's a buyers market if you can live without....

yep...hence the inlaws got 4K less then they originally wanted

[cyberess]

I know this forum is probably more suited for camper trailers, but hoping someone can help with caravans.

We are in the market for a caravan and are finding it very overwhelming with all the different brands/models out there.

<snip>

4. Must include washing machine, ensuite and aircon

5. This will be for caravan parks only with 240v only. We will keep our camper trailer for national parks and any off-road stuff

Thats probably our list for now that we are using as a starting point. Does anyone have any feedback on above brands (or another brands)? Any to stay away from or any highly recommonded?!

4 years ago I purchased a ex rental dual axle 6 berth Swift Quattro FB Caravan --  it's a large light weight family van with a en-suite 
not quite what you are looking for as no washing machine, but it does shows it's possible to get luxury and size without weight, as I reckon quite a lot of vans are just far too heavy.

The specs of the  Swift Quattro FB Caravan is quite amazing
Berths 6
En-suite with shower and Toilet
length 26ft or 7.94 meters
Overall height 2.6m
tare 1361 kg
Towball weight approx 75kg

I have towed the across the Barkley Hwy twice Darwin to Port Macquarie, been around the East coast Brisbane to Adelaide and back to Darwin -- being ex rental goodness knows how many Kms before I owned the van

Not a bad looking van




There is a number of manufactures that do lightweight van such as
Adria http://www.apollorvsales.com.au/adria.aspx
Bailey http://www.baileyaustralia.com.au/

Happy hunting since I have just thrown in a couple of other brands.

[Agent009]

Thanks cyberess, ill check those out.

And we will be using toilet for number 1s only (no number 2s lol).

[callmejoe]

Thanks cyberess, ill check those out.

And we will be using toilet for number 1s only (no number 2s lol).

And it'll smell worse. The checimals, eco friendly or not will work best with both "waste" products together. If you have the right checimals in the tank when you empty it it'll  just pour out in a liquid form ...

[Wunderlust]

In my experience to date, keep away from late 2015 onwards Coromals. Something has seriously gone downhill on the quality font. If in doubt ask on the Coromal Owners Page, that's if they don't deem your post too negative!

[trinityalyce]

I'm another one supporting the ensuite, purely from the "flexibility in travel" angle. We free camp when and where we can. Ensuites are a bonus for that reason. Sometimes you might be doing a very long walk with a shovel looking for some privacy if you don't have your own facilities. Honestly, I'm kind of over that...

Resale is also a good consideration. We're buying second-hand because from the research we've done new vans seem to depreciate a little quicker than we'd like. Slows down after a while, though. We're also handy enough to do some cosmetic refurbishments if necessary, so that goes in our favour. From watching the market it appears vans with weird layouts and lacking ensuites do not sell well - some "good" vans (at least manufacturer-wise) with odd layouts have been sitting for months. If you intend to sell your van down the track, it IS worth considering.

Also re: the smell, in theory a well functioning caravan ensuite shouldn't really smell much at all, if anything.

I know my comments won't change the minds of those who detest the idea of an ensuite or find them totally unnecessary, but they are the reasons why we wouldn't buy a van without one.

[Bird]

I'm another one supporting the ensuite, purely from the "flexibility in travel" angle. We free camp when and where we can. Ensuites are a bonus for that reason. Sometimes you might be doing a very long walk with a shovel looking for some privacy if you don't have your own facilities. Honestly, I'm kind of over that...

or you just put up a Shitter tent behind the van, and use a portable Shitter Same as nearly all camper trailers have to do. No need for shovel either.

[edz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OzEcY4Qg-Q 

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

or you just put up a Shitter tent behind the van, and use a portable Shitter Same as nearly all camper trailers have to do. No need for shovel either.

Gotta have a shovel so you can muck with the fire, c'mon I'm not the only one, I've seen others as well.

[Bird]

Gotta have a shovel so you can muck with the fire, c'mon I'm not the only one, I've seen others as well.

na.. just add more wood

[trinityalyce]

or you just put up a Shitter tent behind the van, and use a portable Shitter Same as nearly all camper trailers have to do. No need for shovel either.

Definitely an option. We didn't like the idea of carrying around a giant bucket of poo that could potentially leak/get knocked over/etc. in transit, so we never did it. Slightly less of a concern for the caravan... at least we hope so. LOL

[Swannie]

My hard walled camper has an ensuite. Never used it myself or my
Boys but the wife and daughter use it for 1's. Great in the night for them and I prefer it than if I'm at a dodgy CP
Swannie

[Bird]

and I prefer it than if I'm at a dodgy CP

... and how often do you stay at a dodgey van park  

[Bird]

Need an idea for your kitchen....


Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you installed a fully functioning kitchen on the back of the caravan? Yes, of course you have.

Well, one bloke who rolled into Karratha last week has actually done it.

We spotted this gem taking up two car bays — and a bit extra — at the Karratha shops last week.
Complete with storage cabinets, cooktop, double-basin sink and meal prep area, this bumper kitchen latched onto the back of the caravan answers all your culinary needs.

It is for the discerning grey nomad who feels the need for a five course meal while on the road, and, judging by the size of the satellite dish, you will be able to get food inspo from My Kitchen Rules in every corner of Australia.

http://www.pilbaranews.com.au/?news%2Fpilbara-news%2Fcheck-out-this-wa-nomads-caravan-kitchen-ng-b88704276z

[cyberess]

Wow that's a lot of weight at the back of the van, just the thing for the van to pick up the death wobbles, on over taking.

[Bird]

Wow that's a lot of weight at the back of the van, just the thing for the van to pick up the death wobbles, on over taking.

LOL.. I was thinking spot the defects... There'd have to be lots of illegal in that, apart from obscured # plate LOL

but looks like its been there a long time... Wonder if they are parked, or setup for the night in the carpark

[glenm64]

Need an idea for your kitchen....


Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you installed a fully functioning kitchen on the back of the caravan? Yes, of course you have.

Well, one bloke who rolled into Karratha last week has actually done it.

We spotted this gem taking up two car bays — and a bit extra — at the Karratha shops last week.
Complete with storage cabinets, cooktop, double-basin sink and meal prep area, this bumper kitchen latched onto the back of the caravan answers all your culinary needs.

It is for the discerning grey nomad who feels the need for a five course meal while on the road, and, judging by the size of the satellite dish, you will be able to get food inspo from My Kitchen Rules in every corner of Australia.

http://www.pilbaranews.com.au/?news%2Fpilbara-news%2Fcheck-out-this-wa-nomads-caravan-kitchen-ng-b88704276z

That is funny as but also inspiring. Must really love their bbq.

Cheers Glen

[Bird]

That is funny as but also inspiring. Must really love their bbq.

Cheers Glen

imagine being behind it, and watching the flex in it over a bumpy road - there'd be move movement in that than dolly parton doing star jumps... You'd be Shitting hot coals thinking your going to run it over eventually!

[trinityalyce]

Never ceases to amaze me what people do to their vans. The old "just because you can doesn't mean you should" comment seems to ring true here...

[macca]

Need an idea for your kitchen....


Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you installed a fully functioning kitchen on the back of the caravan? Yes, of course you have.

Well, one bloke who rolled into Karratha last week has actually done it.

We spotted this gem taking up two car bays — and a bit extra — at the Karratha shops last week.
Complete with storage cabinets, cooktop, double-basin sink and meal prep area, this bumper kitchen latched onto the back of the caravan answers all your culinary needs.

It is for the discerning grey nomad who feels the need for a five course meal while on the road, and, judging by the size of the satellite dish, you will be able to get food inspo from My Kitchen Rules in every corner of Australia.

http://www.pilbaranews.com.au/?news%2Fpilbara-news%2Fcheck-out-this-wa-nomads-caravan-kitchen-ng-b88704276z

What a fantasic idea, imagine how  much that has reduced the ball weight, now all i got to do is work out what i can put on the drawbar to get back to the industry standard six million kilogram tow ball weight

Sent from my SM-T815Y using Tapatalk

[MadMarv]

Not sure if you mentioned kids or not but depending on ages off them maybee a small say 3 person tent for them to sleep in takes bugger all to setup and packs away small , that way you could go with a smaller van . Inside toilets can be quite clean ... we had a casset toilet in a motorhome in Tassie and no smells at all , just need to use correct chemical stuff.