Thread: Caravanning in Australia

Here's ours Karakampa - Home
14'6", shower, toilet, hot water, aircon, weighs around 1280kg, double bed, lcd tv, dvd, etc...

There is a good information HERE about weight and size of caravans and vehicles to tow them

Originally Posted by Crackerjack

I have also noticed that on some random photos and web sites that some vans have the wheels nearer the rear of the van and not in the centre, surely this must put a hell of a strain on the tow vehicle.

Supreme Eclipse Caravans - Gallery#

This is only an example but I have seen the wheels furthur back than this.

Yes, I've noticed this with some modern designs. But they are still balanced with a sensible download on the towbar, achieved by putting the heavy items (Fridge, stove, aircon, batteries, water tank etc) behind or over the wheels. The advantage is better handling and less dragging of the tail on uneven ground, driveways etc.

John

Two of the important considerations are:
Try to have the weight of the loaded van less than the tow vehicle,
AND
Match the weight of the total rig (loaded van plus loaded vehicle plus occupants), against the power of the towing vehicle.
This is for:
1 Stability on bumpy surfaces;
2 Stability against cross winds and drafts from road trains;
3 Ability to travel at a reasonable speed (up to the posted limit) on the flat, and
4 Somewhere near that up hills.
The bigger trucks maintain the limit whatever the terrain.

Nothing worse than getting caught behind a van travelling well under the speed limit and not being able to pass. Not so bad if the speed is just under the limit. But no good either being over the limit - you'll get booked.

I don't think any real vanner in Aust. would use a non-turbo oiler under three litres or a turbo under 2.4 litres, or a petrol engine under a 3.6 litre-six cylinder these days. A camper-trailer maybe, but a van -no.
Most would go for four litres at least, with a tandem.


I think that the nomads and others that are doing the stupid things are not doing their homework as to routes and alternatives. Possibly not looking at proper maps, just relying on tourist maps and guesswork.
But it would not hurt to have a voluntary theory refresher course for study set up at caravan parks. Most would wander along to have a look. Peer pressure around the campfire/happy hour would get the rest in.

Rovers4

Crackerjack,

Sorry for the late response, but my wife and I have just returned from a caravanning trip through 4 states.

We would probably come under the designation of grey nomads, as I have retired, and we travel a bit with a caravan. Forget the rather silly descriptions of how stupid we all are. Yes we have observed some fellow grey nomads doing silly things, but also many, many youngsters and other age groups doing equally stupid things. In our experience, grey nomads are at least as competent and responsible as any other age group, and in many cases, probably more so.

You asked for a summary of the vanning scene in Oz, so I will ignore motorhomes and campervans.

There are two main types of 'van' in use in Oz: camper trailers and full size vans. Camper trailers range from trailer tents to what are in effect soft sided caravans with wind up hard roofs, with or without pull out beds at each end. The former are most often used by those wanting more comfort than a tent, but less restrictions than a caravan. The latter are most often used by young families as they give lots of room, are relatively low cost, and are generally easily towed by a family sedan.

'Proper' vans are usually either full height or 'pop top'. There are large numbers of both types in use today. The pop tops allegedly are more economical to tow, and can be easier to stow under cover because of the reduced height. They also tend to be heavier due to the need for additional strengtheners in the roof, and much less well insulated. Everything is a compromise.

If there is such a thing as a typical van, it is changing, but is currently somewhere in the range 17 to 20 foot internal length. Anything over around 16 to 17 foot internal needs two axles to carry the weight. An increasing number of vans now have either a combined shower/toilet or a full en suite. A 20 foot van with en suite will weigh somewhere around 2300 to 2600 kg fully loaded, depending on whether it is a black top van or a dirt road van. Dedicated off road vans can by 500 kg heavier. Our 20 foot dirt road van (actually 18'6 foot internal) is 2550 kg fully loaded, and we pull it with a 4.6 litre auto V8 Disco 2, which has proven to be a more than adequate tug.

Nissan Patrols and Land Cruisers are the most common tow vehicles for the larger (over 2500 kg) vans, with the Toyota Prado and Ford Territory for the smaller vans, but there is a huge range of vehicles being used.

Australian vans appear to be much more strongly built than the typical European van, due to the nature of most of our roads and the long distances involved in travelling here. Consequently they tend to be very much heavier. Most vans now have aluminium frames and fibreglass exteriors, but a large number of the smaller manufacturers still use timber frames and aluminium cladding.

Probably most vanners in Oz tend to stay mostly in caravan parks, the quality of which varies greatly, but there is a growing movement towards 'free camping', in rest areas or secluded spots off main roads, particularly when in transit. Consequently most modern vans are relatively self contained with batteries and water tanks. Many have casette toilets or 'portapotties', and showers. An increasing number are being fitted with solar panels to keep batteries charged away from mains power, and many people carry 240v generators, generally around 2 kva.

There is a shortage of dump points (for emptying toilets) in Oz, although the situation is improving. Traditional toilet chemicals have a deleterious effect on the septic tank sewage systems to be found in many regional areas, and so emptying casettes in toilets is prohibited in many parks. Consequently many vanners now use Napisan or Biomagic which are reportedly ok for disposing of in park toilets anywhere.

Parking is often difficult in towns, and even when long vehicle parks are provided, such as at McDonalds cafes, they are normally clogged with sedans whose owners apparently can't read. However we have found that parking is usually available off the main streets of towns we pass through.

We have found vanning to be a very comfortable way of travelling, albeit fuel costs are very high while actually travelling (our Disco uses around 24-26 litres of 95 octane fuel - currently around $1.40 per litre - per 100 km with van in tow). On the other hand, accommodation once stationary is typically in the order of $20 to $30 per night.

A 'typical' 20 foot van will cost from $50,000 upwards new, with some paying well over double that for some brands. The good news is that reasonable on road vans can be hired in most major cities.

Hope this has been what you are after. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.