Off-grid and room for their toys: The caravan features Aussies want the most
From $65,000 pop-outs to $125,000 luxury models, manufacturers are racing to meet surging demand for off-grid-capable and budget-friendly options.
When it comes to caravanning in Australia, the east coast reigns supreme with the bulk of registrations – but the key to a great getaway is choosing the right one, experts say.
More than two thirds of all 900,000 caravans registered across our nation can be found along the eastern states, according to Tourism Research Australia.
Queensland is the capital for caravan registrations, with 228,000 registered as of this year, while Victoria has 200,000 registered vans and NSW is home to 186,000.
But choosing the right set of wheels is the key to getting the most out of each getaway, according to Crusader Caravans boss Michael Paidoussis, who said would-be buyers should consider “three primary things”.
“First and foremost to consider is what size caravan you want. Can you do a nifty, compact caravan which is lighter, easier to tow and less expensive, or do you have a family and need a larger model to fit you and your children in,” Mr Paidoussis said.
“Next is what sort of caravanner are you? Are you road travelling only, do you need semi-off-road or do you want something which can go completely off-grid, with the technology which can allow you to spend a long time off-grid with your own water, electricity supplies and still be in comfort rather than staying in a caravan park.
“The third thing to consider is how comfortable you are with towing and understanding the nuances of caravanning, like whether your car can handle it and how experienced you are, which often determines the kind of caravan you’ll buy.”
Mr Paidoussis said the Aussie manufacturer’s most popular model was its 22-foot Musketeer Palace, a semi-off-road “fully customisable” caravan big enough to fit a young family.
But with family vans like the Musketeer and more sophisticated off-road models ranging “from $90,000 all the way up to over $125,000”, he said Crusader was also working to cater their products to tighter budgets through the new Dreamhaven range.
“Customer demand really is there for (cost of living-friendly vans), certainly people are conscious of purchasing something that’s great value and affordable but still looks fantastic,” Mr Paidoussis said.
“You can still get pop-out, really basic models for around $65,000 or so… but these Dreamhaven caravans still have all the hallmarks of a high-quality, composite caravan, with on-road and off-road models and a limited pool of customisations which mean we can keep the price between $70-80,000, customisation in models is what makes them expensive.”
Jayco national sales manager Scott Jones said the brand’s “growth” among younger travellers meant add-ons to carry bikes, boats and other equipment were popular, as were upgrades to transform caravans into off-grid hubs.
“They love getting out into the great outdoors and disconnecting, so we’ve adapted our range to cater to this, whether it’s got the ability to add a toy holder for boats, motorbikes and other sports in a big rear garage, or is something small modular and compact but can still carry fishing gear or a bike,” Mr Jones said.
“More recently, the most popular features are anything that allows you to stay off-grid for longer, with greater solar and battery power.
“We’re seeing it across the board but it comes back to that younger demographic where most people want the capacity to travel off-grid and need the right suspension and setup to do it.”
And cost of living pressures are also driving strong growth in the second-hand market.
“It’s very popular, there’s high demand amongst dealers for late-model, good-quality units… customers are looking for value,” Mr Jones said.
But if you’re not ready to commit to a big-ticket purchase, van travellers can also find a home on wheels to borrow.
Data from van rental platform Camplify revealed the average cost per night of hiring a mobile home was $135, with the platform offering caravanners “flexibility”, according to CEO Justin Hales.
“It gives them the ability to find out what it is they want to experience and use, it might be they want a caravan for a three-week adventure, or a camper-trailer for an off-road experience, or a motorhome to go and explore Tasmania,” Mr Hales said.
“Having the flexibility to not be locked in to one model is important for people, there’s a lot of different options available and a chance to experience different parts of the local market.”
Camplify caravan owners earnt on average $4900 a year by leasing out their vans.
“There’s a long-term opportunity in making use of your caravan when your family isn’t in need of it … some of our top earners make up to $30,000 a year through rentals,” Mr Hales said.
“The unique, customised products are the ones that really do well.”
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Originally published as Off-grid and room for their toys: The caravan features Aussies want the most
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