| The wide range of caravan designs, plus the large | | | | trip. |
| number of manufacturers provides a bewildering array | | | | There are three distinct types of caravans, each |
| of options for the prospective purchaser. Fortunately | | | | having its own benefits and drawbacks. The types |
| many of those options can be ignored when the | | | | are:- Pop-up or pop-top vans: Conventional full height |
| choice is whittled down to the few units that could | | | | vans or Camper-trailers. I have operated a |
| meet your requirements. An example:- perhaps you | | | | conventional caravan and a pop-top van. My |
| are looking for a van with twin beds rather than a | | | | impressions of the camper-trailer are gained by |
| double bed; or you want a full height van rather than a | | | | reading caravan magazines, and from my own |
| pop-top; maybe you want a front kitchen rather than a | | | | observations of them along the way. |
| side kitchen, etc. etc. My advice is directed towards | | | | When preparing for our first long van trip in 1983 I rang |
| selecting a caravan suitable for accommodating two | | | | the local caravan hire company to see if I could rent a |
| people in modest comfort during a trip around Australia. | | | | pop-top van. The proprietor asked why I wanted a |
| During the past ten years caravan design and | | | | pop-top van. "Because they have less wind |
| manufacturing techniques have greatly improved, such | | | | resistance" I replied. "Fair enough" he said, "But if you |
| that if you buy a ten year old secondhand caravan, it | | | | reduce your towing speed from 80 kph down to 75 |
| will be of modern design and be fitted out with the | | | | kph, the full size van will give you the same fuel |
| latest equipment. | | | | economy. This is because the drag caused by the van |
| Having been registered as roadworthy over the years | | | | increases by the square of your speed." |
| it will pass all state design rules. The critical aspects for | | | | That caught me on the hop, and as I couldn't see any |
| roadworthiness are the condition of wheel bearings, | | | | flaw in his argument, I agreed that a full size van would |
| springs, brakes, exterior lights and turn signals, and the | | | | do us. He then added that he had an aging 16ft |
| LP gas installation. These features will be examined by | | | | Viscount that would get us to Darwin and back |
| the inspector prior to registration in your name. | | | | without trouble. "I don't want to have you ringing me |
| Comprehensive insurance is adviseable together with | | | | from Mt Isa or someplace at 3am on a Sunday |
| coverage by the state automobile organization for | | | | morning, saying the van has broken down. I'll overhaul |
| roadside service. The caravan will no doubt have | | | | the old Viscount and I know it will handle the trip OK". |
| electric brakes and your car will have to be fitted with | | | | A year later we rented the same van for our trip |
| a suitable towbar and an electric brake controller. Both | | | | down the Darling river system, and the old girl served |
| of these items can be removed on completion of the | | | | us proud, dirt roads and all. |