You’ve decided that you would like to hook up a caravan and take a trip around Australia, but now you’re stumped – there are so many vans to choose from! And just what is this ‘ATM’ popping up everywhere?
Hopefully this article will help you out a little.
There are a few things to consider when buying a caravan. How many people will it need to fit? Are bathroom and kitchen facilities required? Will you be taking the van off-road? And even the car you will use to tow the van needs to be taken into consideration.
First, let’s talk about caravan weights!
You may know this already, but different vehicles have different maximum towing capacities.
First of all, you’ll see mention of a ‘tare’. The tare is how much the caravan weighs unladen. There’s no gas in the bottles, no water in the tanks, and nothing stored in the cupboards!
Okay – now we get to the ‘ATM’. The legal maximum loaded weight of your caravan is called the Aggregate Trailer Mass – or ATM – and is a weight that is dictated by the manufacturer. This ATM is the combination of the tare weight and its payload (the maximum weight of equipment, food, water, gas, etc stored in the van).
So, if a van’s tare is 2150kg and its ATM is 2500kg – you can carry 350kg of goods!
The van’s ATM must be less than the vehicle’s maximum towing capacity to be considered legal and safe. Knowing how much your car can tow will be important so you can research caravans a little easier.
Next up, it’s important to consider where you’ll be taking the van.
Will you be going on off-road adventures? Perhaps you’d like to set up deep in the bush, or out on the beach. In that case, it’s important to know that only some caravans are suitable for off-roading.
Off-road-specific caravans have tougher suspension, a stronger chassis, larger all-terrain tyres, and the van will be raised higher to prevent scrapes when driving on uneven surfaces.
Many caravans explicitly state that they are for off-roading, so keep your eye out!
Perhaps most importantly – how many people will your future van need to fit?
Caravans come in all different sizes. Some will have queen beds or doubles, others may have single bunk beds, and there may be a few that include several options.
Seating is also something to be considered. A lot of caravans come with lounge suites and dining arrangements, or perhaps you’d rather grab out a few foldable chairs and sit outside with nature, fresh air, friends and family!
Finally – facilities.
Kitchens! A lot of caravans come with kitchens installed. Is that something you would like in your van, or would you prefer to lug out the portable BBQ, or set up a campfire and ‘rough it’?
Perhaps one of the most important considerations you will need to decide upon: do you want bathroom facilities in your van? Many come equipped with showers, vanity units and toilets, others can come equipped with washing machines.
All of these are things that should be taken into consideration when choosing to purchase a used caravan – or a new one, for that matter – and will affect the price.
When buying a used van privately, it’s recommended that you make sure the running gear is in good condition, check if there are any dents and cracks in the chassis, if there’s possible water damage, how worn the tyres are, if there is any rust, etc.
If purchasing through Wide Bay Caravans you can be rest assured that all of our vans are fully checked and serviced before you take it off our hands, and
you can fully inspect our vehicles to your satisfaction. Also, on handover of your new van, one of our technicians will completely demonstrate the full workings of the vehicle.
