Thread: Caravanning in Australia

Mark, a lot would depend on what you want to do, where you want to go and what creature comforts you want. Water, food and your bits and peices would would also play a fair bit in that too, as to how big and heavy a van you want to tow around too.
I live in a caravan park in Melbourne, and there seem to be a lot on the road "travelling" with just single a axle, (not sure what weight these are), but dont see anywhere near as many with duel axles, but and I guess these are a lot heavier too.
And as for a "tow vehicle",,,, theres only one choice thats right,,

Hi Mark,

I don't caravan, but my mum does, and from what I have seen the weight factor is taken up by excessive "bloat".

Her caravan has a shower, a microwave, a flat screen TV, toilet, solar panels, etc etc etc. She even takes proper Royal Doulton crockery Gawd knows what the thing weighs when it's full of all their stuff.

The "grey Nomads" as they are known here like their creature comforts, because they have retired and got decent super payouts they buy the biggest and the best.

They can pull up anywhere and be quite civilised. Different to camping/caravanning in the UK where you mostly stop in organised caravan parks, which seemed pretty "high density" to me when I was there, but that was 20 years ago.

Anyway - that's my thoughts, looking in from the outside.

Cheers
David

As an observer of the annual winter migration to warmer climates that passes here heading north about March and south about October, it seems to me that the usual van is a tandem axle one, close to 10m in length and probably weighing at least two tonnes. The tow vehicle is usually a Landcruiser station wagon, or, for the larger ones possibly a Ford 250, although you see all types.

But this is not the whole caravanning scene, although its probably where the money is. As well as this you get the more adventurous types, usually with a smaller, often folding van, usually with a six cylinder sedan such as a Commodore or Falcon pulling it, although again, you get all types. And then there are the offroad ones - these will be specialist offroad caravans or camper trailers, costing an amazing amount, and often astoundingly heavy. They will invariably be pulled by a four wheel drive, most commonly Japanese, but there are Landrovers.

Compared to the UK, you have to remember that distances are much larger, and the vans have to stand up to much rougher road surfaces even when you stay on the bitumen. Caravans designed for offroad work have to be very rugged. One characteristic of Australian drivers is that unlike other drivers from other countries, most tend to travel at high speed over very rough roads instead of slowing down (because of the distances involved), and this applies even when towing.

John

if you are going to do the nomad thing and live in the van best get a dual axel and they are like a small flat because they stay were there is no facilitiues to speak of if you are just going for a week or to a single axel pop top would be ok as far as the vehicle goes you would have to look at what you are allowed to pull by that vehicle specs and i think ours are different to yours ? tap in "the trading post" on google

If you look in any caravan park on the major tourist routes you'll see all sizes and shapes of vans, camper trailers, mobile homes, 5th wheelers etc. I'm talking about the itinerant travellers here not the pemanents ( which is another story in itself).

Seems what was seen as a "luxury item" 10 years ago is now becoming almost standard fare ( like toilets, showers, aircon, satellite TV ).

We still have our little tent and it is interesting watching the antics of some of these big rigs setting up- makes for interesting evening entertainment over a beer.

Australian vans are normally built on a separate ladder chassis and have solid old-fashion spring steel suspension so are heavier than the equivalent-size Euro vans. Add to that things like a full-size fridge, shower, toilet, hot water system, solar panels and a couple of big batteries and it's not hard to go over 3 tonnes for a big, self-contained van. However, there are plenty below the 2 tonne mark. Although the common 6-cylinder Holden and Falcon passenger cars are rated to tow up to about two tonnes, you're better off with a 4WD.

The weight has lead to over-ride braked being phased out in favour of electric brakes that are operated by a brake controller in the tow vehicle that automatically senses deceleration and applies the van brakes. All vans must have a rated safety chain connecting them to the tow vehicle, and those over two tonnes must also have a breakaway braking system. The high nose weight can be relieved by using a weight distribution hitch, which consists of a couple of spring bars between the car and van that apply a constant upward force at the tow point and keep the rig level. Some vehicles with air suspension (including LR) prohibit the use of these hitches as they upset the suspension electronics.

All vans have built-in water tanks and normally have mains-pressure plumbing. Water is supplied by connecting a hose from the van to a nearby tap. No more rolling drums of water around! Sites (pitches) at caravans parks usually provide electricity, mains pressure water and a drain point for waste water.

My van is probably fairly "average", being a 17'6" tandem pop-top weighing about 1500kg, towed by a D2 TD5. It has an air-conditioner but no shower or toilet. It is about the size where dual axles tend to take over from singles. With that weight, I prefer to spread it over four wheels and (so far) have avoided tyre and wheel bearing problems.

Stephen.

If you plan to stay in caravan parks, try to avod the ones with a high percentage of permanent residents. Permanents unforunately seem to have many members of the feral human and welfare dependant communities.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

If you plan to stay in caravan parks, try to avod the ones with a high percentage of permanent residents. Permanents unforunately seem to have many members of the feral human and welfare dependant communities.

in western australia most of the permanents are age pensioners around perth the country ones the cockys have a van permanent at a park and usually just use them at christmas