Uncover the essential questions you need to ask before buying your dream caravan. We’ll guide you through matching the perfect rig to your travel style, companions, and tow vehicle for unforgettable adventures.

So, you have decided that you would like to give this caravanning thing a go. Great! But before you rush off to buy the first van you see, you need to ask yourself a few basic questions. Why? Because there are many different caravans with many different features.

It’s pretty safe to say that you will probably not find the “perfect” van, but if you can tick most of the boxes, you will enjoy your caravanning as much as possible.

I’ve been caravanning since I was a kid; my Mum and Dad have always owned a caravan, and now I’m caravanning with my family. Below are answers to questions I normally get asked from those starting their caravanning journey.

Where do you want to go with your caravan?

If you are looking to travel from caravan park to caravan park, travelling within the urban area, then a caravan with standard suspension, low ground clearance, small batteries, few solar panels (if any) or small water tanks, may be what you are looking for. Caravan parks have power, water and many amenities to make your stay comfortable, so you don’t need to take all that much with you.

If you want to travel to more remote areas (think hundreds of kilometers from any town) or get away from the crowd, then an “off grid” caravan could be your solution. These vans will usually have large battery systems to power fridges, lights, microwaves and even coffee machines. Yes, coffee machines. Just because you are going remote doesn’t mean you have to do without your coffee. They usually also have large quantities of solar panels (to replenish your power from all of your lattes), large fridge/freezer, large water tanks, shower and toilet. With these vans, you can be self-sufficient for many days, even weeks, before you need to travel back into town to replenish supplies.

Now, if you really want to go bush, a full off-road/off-grid caravan will be the ticket. These vans will have all of the features of an off-grid van, but with the added benefits of extra heavy-duty suspension, high ground clearance and stronger frame/chassis. If you intend to travel over harsh terrain, you want to be assured that your van can handle it.

Who will be coming with you?

Now that you have decided on what type of caravan will suit you, how many people/pets will be joining you? Once again, there are many different sizes and layouts of caravans to suit couples, small families and large families.

Depending on your needs, you can choose from queen/king beds, single beds, double bunks, triple bunks and lounges which convert to beds. Some caravans have an annex which can be put up to increase your living area.

Another thing to consider, the more people you have on board, the more storage, a larger fridge, more water and generally more space you will need. But if your van is too big, you may not be able to get it through the tight tracks to get to your favourite campsite. Also, the larger the caravan, the heavier it will be. Which brings us to the next question.

How much can your vehicle tow?

If you are intending to use your vehicle as the tow vehicle (not making a vehicle upgrade), make sure you check what weight it can legally tow. It’s a good idea to keep the total weight of the caravan (fully loaded with everything you will be taking with you) well under the maximum tow weight of your vehicle.

Don’t underestimate how much things can weigh when you consider food, clothes, kitchen utensils, bedding, water, kids' toys and the coffee machine. Plus, if you are going on a holiday, you may want to bring back a few souvenirs. Keep a bit up your sleeve.

All caravans have a compliance plate on them, which will state the empty weight, maximum weight allowed (loaded), tow ball weight and load capacity. Use these figures to help you decide on what is right for your vehicle. We go through these figures properly, plus how to get your tow vehicle ready, in How to Get Your Car Ready to Tow a Caravan.

Now to go shopping.

As I previously mentioned, you will probably not find the “perfect” van, but aim to tick as many boxes as possible. Research as many brands as possible, visit as many dealerships as you can and go to trade shows.

Talk to others who have been caravanning for years (not just the grey nomads), as you will get some sound advice. But above all, once you have made your purchase, get out and enjoy your caravan and experience all this great country has to offer.