Forget planes, trains and automobiles, the only way to get away from it all is with a caravan, campervan or motorhome. If you’re a first-timer and not sure where to start, Isaac Bober gives you some handy hints. The kids have finally left home and now, with a bit of time on your hands, you’re probably thinking you wouldn’t mind getting out and exploring your own backyard. No timetables, no bags and no hotels – just the freedom of the open road.

Well, there’s no better way to go than with an RV. You decide when and where to stop and even how far you travel each day. That is, however, if you can drag yourself away from some magical spot you’ve discovered.

RV is short for Recreational Vehicle and is a term that has crept into the Australian vernacular. RV encompasses camper trailers, caravans, campervans and motorhomes, and is generally used as an umbrella term.

The beauty of an RV is that no matter how near or far you decide to travel, you’re never actually very far from home. And all your creature comforts are always within reach.

Read on to find out how to take the sting out of those first-time RV travel jitters – and how to turn your RV holiday from a dream to reality.

Try before you buy

There’s probably a good number of you who have owned an RV, and maybe you still do. There’s also a good many who haven’t but would like to.

For first-timers it’s a good idea to actually head out and hire an RV before going to a dealer with a fistful of dollars but little idea of what you actually want or need.

By trying before you buy, you’ll be able to check out the RV lifestyle and see if it suits you, and you’ll be able to work out what you would like in your own RV and what you wouldn’t. It makes buying one a whole lot easier.

Not everyone, however, wants to sell the family home and hit the road for good, so hiring an RV, says Simone MacDonald, sales and marketing manager at Tourism Holdings Limited (Britz/Maui) is sometimes more about saving money than it is about fact finding. You get all the benefits of the lifestyle, she says, but there are no storage or monthly repayments hanging over your head.  “So, unless you plan to sell the family home or will be travelling for extensive periods each year, it might make more fiscal sense to hire an RV rather than buy one,” says Simone.

As to the actual hiring of an RV, make sure the hire company takes you through every nook and cranny and demonstrates how everything works: how it opens and closes, and how to empty the porta-potty, etc. It’s also worth asking for a guide, just in case something stumps you when you’re a million miles from anywhere.

And don’t forget to ask the hire company to explain the insurance details to you before you set off. For instance, driving a rental vehicle on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island at night voids your insurance cover. So check the fine print.

Most high-end caravans, campervans and motorhomes offer excellent aircon and heating systems. To that end, some makers, like Winnebago, have started to make use of ducted diesel-powered heating units, which, even when running all day and night, will only consume a cup of diesel. Perfect for when you’re travelling around Victoria or Tasmania in winter.

All RVs are incredibly well insulated, and because they’re only small compared to, say, a house, keeping them warm or cool is a cinch.

If you’d like to hire a campervan, Britz offers special Member discounts, while Maui offers special Member discounts on motorhome hire. For more information call 13 11 22 or visit MyNRMA Travel.

While caravan hire is not as widespread, most caravan dealers can give you details of a caravan hire firm.

Caravanning holiday

Caravans are experiencing a comeback. And forget the belief that they’re all cheap and nasty. The lace curtains and gaudy fabrics still persist, but they’re the exception rather than the norm. On the whole, caravans are slicker than ever thanks to an influx of European caravans, materials and design ideas. The main appeal of a caravan is that, unlike a campervan or motorhome, it can be unhitched and set-up at a seaside caravan park, leaving you free to go exploring in your car. The trade off, however, is that towing a caravan requires a different set of skills – it’s almost like driving two vehicles at once. But with a bit of practice and plenty of commonsense, you won’t have a problem. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Match your caravan to your tow vehicle. Know what the maximum braked towing capacity is and whether you can legally tow the caravan you own or intend to buy. (Maximum braked towing capacity refers to the fact that your caravan has brakes. Should you be towing a trailer without brakes, you would consider its maximum unbraked towing capacity.)
• Ensure your tow car is in top condition. Check oil, water and transmission fluid levels, indicators, brake lights and mirrors.
• Remember to take corners wider than you would if you weren’t towing – your caravan’s wheels don’t follow the same path as your tow vehicle’s wheels.
• An ordinary, well maintained car takes about 80 metres to come to a halt from 100km/h; add a trailer and it could take more than half that distance again.
• Keep the weight low and over the axle, and make sure weight is spread evenly from side to side.
• Make sure you allow plenty of room when overtaking. If you’re too close to the vehicle in front when you overtake there’s a chance you could clip it with the caravan or cause a nasty crash.
• Keep an eye on traffic building up behind you, and make sure you pull off the road, when and where it’s safe, to let faster moving traffic past.

Before setting off

Follow this handy checklist before you set off for peace of mind.

• Check the radiator is full of water,  the oil has been topped up and the transmission is full of fluid. 
• Give the windscreen a good clean, inside and out. And if you’re using towing mirrors, make sure they’re securely connected.
• Take a stroll around the rig and check the tyres on the car and caravan are inflated to the right temperature. A partially deflated tyre can heat up and tear apart; it can also increase fuel consumption. While you’re walking around, stop and check that the chains are securely fastened to the towbar, the caravan’s handbrake has been taken off and the jockey wheel has been removed.
• Check the door and the awning are locked, and that all the corner jacks have been wound up.
• Disconnect any mains pressure hoses and unplug from mains power.
• Jump into the driver’s seat, get comfy, then check the mirrors – vision is vital when towing a caravan. With the mirrors and your seat sorted, turn the ignition to accessories and check the lights and indicators – you’ll need someone to help with this.

Campervans and motorhomes

Campervans and most motorhomes are easier to handle than a caravan because of their packaging. What’s more, stopping for a cuppa to break up a journey is easy. Just pull over and park, step into the back of your campervan or motorhome from the driver’s seat, and you’re cooking. Literally. But, as mentioned earlier, one of the disadvantages of having a campervan or motorhome is that once it’s parked and set up it needs to be packed away before you can go exploring. To be honest, that’s not really a problem. Most campervans and motorhomes are more than capable of towing a small car or even a small scooter.

Things to watch out for when you’re driving a campervan or motorhome:

• With no rear windscreen, learn to use your mirrors, especially when reversing.
• Depth perception is difficult when reversing. If possible, use a reversing camera (these can be purchased and retrofitted, if not already standard) or a guide.
• Remember the rear overhang when pulling away from the kerb, driving over speed humps and entering or leaving driveways. Watch your height. Look out for low bridges, branches and awnings, especially on steeply cambered roads.
• Think ahead. It’s not a sports car, so leave room for braking, turning and other road users.

If you’ve caught the RV bug, subscribe now to Australian Caravan + RV and save using the coupon below. 

NRMA Premium Care

If you own a caravan, 4WD or trailer, there’s now even more reason to have NRMA Premium Care*, our most comprehensive package. We have increased our towing limit for vehicles from 2.5 tonne to 3.5 tonne and we will now tow caravans of any length. Premium Care gives you peace of mind, whether you’re on a driving holiday or driving day-to-day. To find out more about the benefits of Premium Care, call 13 11 22 or visit MyNRMA Premium Care. *Subject to NRMA Premium Care Membership terms and conditions available at MyNRMA or call 13 11 22.

 

NRMA’s Caravan Safari Trails If you’re new to caravanning, or like the idea of travelling with other people, take advantage of NRMA’s Caravan Safari Trails. Click here for more details.