Have you noticed an increase in caravans on our roads recently? Well, you would be spot on, because the Caravan Industry Association of Australia has revealed that the number of caravan registrations has increased nationally by 30% since 2011.
The biggest growth in registrations has been for the larger caravans with all of the mod-cons, suggesting that Aussies want to hit the road in comfort and style. Exploring Australia is one of our favourite national past times, with many of us venturing forth into a world of tents and hard floors, only later upgrading to camper trailers when we realise that they come with real beds!
The next logical step for living in comfort on the road is to take the plunge and invest in a brand new, modern caravan with all the bells and whistles. So in preparation for your next big holiday, here are a few tips to help you select and finance a new caravan on a limited budget.
Do you really want an off-road caravan?
Some of us are happy to spend our time driving along sealed roads and booking into popular holiday parks along the way. Others are happy to venture off the beaten track now and again but don’t want to take the leap into 4WD territory.
If you really want 4WD capability, you will need a caravan that is built for the rugged country. More often than not, however, we are happy with caravans that are not quite 4WD capable but have better suspension, stronger chassis, off-road tyres, and additional protection under the van for rough surfaces.
These ‘outback’ caravans will be kinder on your budget and are a huge step up from camper trailers, making exploring Australia a sheer pleasure.
Modern conveniences for extra comfort
The larger, modern caravans offer much more space and comfort on the road. Finding the right set up for you and your family can be time-consuming. So in preparation for buying a caravan, it is a good idea to make a list of both your ‘must-have’ features and those you would like to have if they fit into your budget.
After all, the whole point in purchasing a caravan is because you still want your creature comforts while exploring Australia. As an example, the top-of-the-line caravans have a shower and toilet, as well as a laundry with washing machine and a dryer. However, a different model might offer higher quality furnishings and a larger shower cubicle, but no laundry.
It might take a bit of juggling to find the right combination of necessities, little luxuries, and practicality to align with your budget, but in the end it will be worth all the time and effort.
Financing your new caravan
One of the easiest ways to fast-track owning your new caravan is to take out a caravan loan. This saves you using your hard earned cash, leaving your money in the bank for emergencies and unexpected expenses.
For Australians who don’t have enough cash saved yet to purchase a top-of-the-line caravan, but who still love exploring our wonderful country, this is an ideal solution to give you the best of both worlds!
However, one of the problems with taking out a loan is finding the best deal… At National Finance Solutions we do all the legwork for you. As reputable brokers with a database of established lenders, we have access to several lenders – all who have a caravan leisure product focus. We compare all loans on the market for you, helping you select the one that is perfect for your family.
Our loans process is easy and fast, so call us today on 1300 13 50 50 and you can look forward to exploring Australia whilst still staying within your caravan budget.
Image Credit: Kokoda Caravans, Facebook, 6 April 2016.
