When you are ready to hit the open road in style and comfort, your main choice is between a caravan and a motorhome. Essentially this means that you will be either towing a caravan or driving an RV, and if you have never towed a caravan before, you might initially prefer to drive an RV.
There are, however, pros and cons to both of these choices, so let’s take a look at some of the good and not so good features of caravans and motorhomes to help you make the right decision for your next trip.
Should you buy a caravan?
If you are more inclined towards a caravan than a motorhome, you will need to have a 4WD that is big enough to actually tow the caravan at speed. This might mean that you will have to upgrade your current vehicle or buy a smaller caravan that can be easily towed by your current vehicle.
If you haven’t towed a caravan before, then it is also sensible to sign up for a driving course that is run by the RACQ. These courses teach you how to couple and uncouple your caravan and how to safely tow your caravan on the road, as well as your legal obligations and other safety factors you need to know on the road.
The beauty of a caravan is that they are usually cheaper to tow than a motorhome is to drive, but they aren’t as robust as a motorhome and can’t carry as much weight. So you can’t take as much gear with you in a caravan and you won’t be able to go off-road as often as you could with a motorhome, simply because a caravan can’t handle the rough roads as well as an RV.
The big benefit of a caravan over a motorhome, however, is that you can leave the caravan at the campsite and take off exploring in your 4WD, something you can’t do with an RV.
Should you buy a motorhome?
If you want a hassle-free trip, then a motorhome might be your idea of heaven. It’s just like driving a car because you can stop wherever you want (at the supermarket, local shops, beach or tourist lookout for example), lock the vehicle and walk away!
With a caravan you have to find a camping site where you can leave your caravan, then unhitch the caravan before you can walk or drive away. If you change your mind and decide to move on or you just want to stop frequently along the way, you have to couple and uncouple the caravan multiple times.
Another great benefit of a motorhome is that you can make a cup of tea or lunch as you are driving along the road without having to stop, park and get into the caravan. The big disadvantage with a motorhome, however, is that it’s usually too big to navigate small tracks and you don’t have a 4WD to explore the countryside. On the other hand, you can actually tow a small car behind the motorhome and even take a small tinny, kayak or pushbike strapped to the roof as well.
Another problem could arise if your motorhome needs to go in for repairs at an auto shop on your trip because you will have lost your accommodation and will need to book into a motel for as long as it takes to complete the repairs. Some people, however, feel more secure sleeping in a motorhome compared to a caravan, but this doesn’t always apply to everyone.
So when you realise that you can tow a car behind an RV (giving you increased mobility), then your main question is whether you prefer to tow a caravan or drive a motorhome. Don’t forget that a caravan is usually cheaper to purchase than a motorhome, even when comparing prices for new models, so it might come down to price over convenience.
For competitive rates on caravan and motorhome loans, call National Finance Solutions on 1300 13 50 50 or get an online quote today.
