Exploring the Different Types of RVs and Their Features

 Caravanning is a big part of Australian culture. The Land Down Under is blessed with thousands of miles worth of spectacular coastlines, tropical rainforests, and islands that are perfect for traversing with a recreational vehicle (RV). If you’re interested in giving caravanning a try, you must first acquaint yourself with the various types of RVs available to you. RVs are motorised vehicles that have all of the creature comforts you need to live on Australia’s great outdoors. Once known for being slow and cumbersome, RVs have come a long way thanks to the advent of modern technology and have evolved into portable homes out on the road.

RVs come in many shapes and sizes, with each having their own unique set of features to make your next road trip as comfortable as possible. Let’s explore the different types of RVs and find out which one best suits your needs.

1. Caravan

A caravan is the standard RV of choice for those who want a spacious and luxurious living experience while out on the road. If you plan on staying at an exotic location for long periods, you can’t go wrong with a caravan. With a full-sized kitchen, shower, and other amenities at your disposal, you can bask in the great outdoors for as long as you like. Caravans are often heavy and require a vehicle with plenty of horsepower to tow them. A caravan will serve as your base of operations while your 4WD vehicle will serve as your workhorse for going to the beach, grabbing a cup of coffee, and going into town to stock up on supplies.

2. Camper trailer

Camper trailers (also known as campers) are very popular across Australia due to their lightweight characteristics and affordable price. These RVs feature a pop-top roof that has extendable tent berths at both ends. Think of it as a modern take between a tent and a trailer that has enough space and headroom for a comfortable time while camping. The great thing about campers is that you don’t need a 4WD vehicle to take your home outdoors! While camper trailers are usually smaller than their RV counterparts, they are very maneuverable which helps inspire confidence from first-time caravanners.

3. Expanda

The expanda is the camper trailer’s older cousin and is perfect for caravanners who want a compact, collapsible package. True to its name, the expanda transforms to provide you with more living space once you’re parked up at a campsite. It offers the same space as a traditional caravan and it’s much lighter, meaning you get to save money on fuel and splurge it on some tasty BBQ instead. Expandas maximize every available space they have to ensure high levels of comfort for you and your family.

4. Pop-top

A pop-top is fairly similar to an expanda, with one noticeable difference being that it lacks tent extensions. As the name suggests, the roof pops up to give you more headroom when you’re parked up. Pop-tops allows for an awning to be erected for additional protection from the sun or during a heavy downpour. Basically, pop-tops combine the comforts of a traditional caravan and the sleek profile of a camper or expanda.

5. Toy hauler

RVs do more than just bring essential creature comforts outdoors as they can carry the toys of the big boys as well. Toy haulers are for the free-spirited adventurers who want to take their bikes and even their jet skis along for a ride. An upgraded caravan with a portable garage on the rear, toy haulers are designed for luxurious living up-front. You can even customise it and add external hoses to give your bikes a good cleaning after a long day on the trails. Toy haulers are big and will require all the horsepower you can get out of a 4WD vehicle.

6. Motorhomes

Let’s say you don’t have a 4WD with you but you’re still eager to hit the back roads of Australia. Does this mean you’re out of luck? Of course not! You can confidently rely on a motorhome to pull double duty and provide you with a convenient (and comfortable) caravanning experience. Motorhomes come with a vehicle engine and a rather large living space that can accommodate plenty of troops inside. These hefty beasts focus on providing the most comfort by including all the essential amenities like a transformable dining area, a kitchen, and multiple sleeping areas. Motorhomes are great for exploring Australia’s outdoors if you don’t feel like towing an RV or you just don’t have the vehicle to tow one.

Choosing the right RV for you

Buying an RV is a huge investment and for this reason, you want to choose the right RV that will make your road trips exciting and memorable. To simplify things, we recommend weighing in these factors to help you with your purchase decision:

• Take note of the specific features you want in an RV and tick off each box when looking for them.
• Establish a reasonable budget and pick the best RV you can afford.
• Factor in your driving abilities as a larger RV will be more difficult to tow.
• Make sure the RV has enough room to accommodate all of your passengers comfortably.
• Pick an RV that best matches your camping style. You can ask fellow RVers for their recommendations and advice regarding this matter.

Armed with information, you can now start your caravanning journey by picking the right RV for your needs.