Buying guide · 4 min read
Your first caravan shortlist
A practical checklist for comparing layouts, inclusions and the questions to take to a dealer.
Start with the trips you actually take
Write down your likely travelling party, usual trip length and what a normal day away looks like. A floorplan that photographs well can still make your morning routine awkward. Use your own list of essentials to narrow the options before comparing equipment packages.
Separate what must work from what would be nice. Give each shortlisted model the same questions so a long options list does not drown out a poor fit.
- Who needs a permanent bed, and who is happy to convert one each night?
- Where will wet shoes, bedding and everyday bags go?
- Can everyone sit comfortably when the weather keeps you inside?
- Which kitchen and bathroom tasks do you want to do indoors?
Try the layout, step by step
At an inspection, ask to see the caravan in its travelling position and fully set up. Open the storage, walk around the bed and try the seating. If there are bunks, record the actual mattress dimensions and access arrangement rather than relying on a sleeping-capacity label.
- Time and effort involved in setting up and packing away.
- Access to the fridge, bathroom and essentials during a roadside stop.
- Space around open doors, drawers and slide-out equipment.
- A place for each person's usual travel belongings.
Compare the same configuration
Ask for an itemised, dated quote naming the model year and variant. Record standard equipment, selected options, delivery charges and any other costs beside the total. Keep the brochure and written answers with that quote so you can revisit exactly what was discussed.
The ACCC has highlighted misleading caravan price and weight representations, including cases where estimated weights were presented as precise figures. Ask which details describe the exact unit you are considering and which are indicative.
- What is included in this specific quote?
- What can change between order and delivery?
- Which claims are supported in writing?
- What is the process for handover and raising a problem?
Leave with useful next steps
Give every model three notes: what works, what does not and what still needs an answer. Leave unconfirmed values blank instead of guessing. Your shortlist should make the next conversation easier, even if that means removing a model you initially liked.