Everything you need to know about getting set up for caravan and camping travel in Australia.
Getting a level caravan and tow vehicle set-up isn’t just purely aesthetic, it’s a matter of safety. A caravan absolutely should be level when towing because an unbalanced set-up will drastically increase the chance of losing control, jackknifing and crashing. Getting a caravan level for towing is a combination of correct tow ball weight and …
Learning about all of the different vehicle and towing weight terms can be confusing, but learning the language is essential for keeping your set-up legal and safe. Vehicle kerb weight can often be confused with vehicle tare weight because they are both the measurements of the empty vehicle. However, there is one crucial difference, which …
What is Vehicle Kerb Weight (& how do you calculate it)? Read More »
Although it’s easy to think that caravanning is as simple as throwing your stuff into the cupboards, hitching up and hitting the road, there’s a bit more to consider than that. Loading a caravan for towing requires a little strategy so that you can ensure your load is safe and well-distributed. A caravan that is …
When trying to match up the perfect car and caravan combination, it’s kind of like the chicken or the egg. Which one comes first? There’s no doubt about it, setting up a car and caravan is a costly venture, so if you’ve already got a suitable tow rig, that’s going to save you a tonne …
🚙 Can My Car Tow a Caravan? (5 things to check!) Read More »
One of the most important aspects of towing is understanding the transfer of weight from the caravan or trailer onto the back of the tow vehicle. This is called ‘tow ball weight’ or ‘tow ball download.’ It’s equally important to understand that your tow ball weight is a fluctuating figure, which will change every time …
Since 1989, all caravans that are sold on the Australia market (whether imported or homegrown), must have a caravan compliance plate (also called a VIN plate). This is to ensure that each caravan meets the national road safety standards and provides consumers with important specifications and information about the trailer. Here’s everything you need to …
In general, towing capacity is the maximum weight that a vehicle is allowed to tow. So, what’s the difference between braked and unbraked towing capacities (or “towing limits”)? Unbraked towing capacity means the that trailer doesn’t need its own brakes, while braked towing capacity means that it does, with that maximum weight allowance being set …
When it comes to setting up a vehicle for towing, touring, 4WDing or all of the above, learning all of the various weight terms becomes incredibly important. Your vehicle tare weight is one of the essential figures that you’ll need to know because it’s one piece of the payload puzzle. In other words, it will …
Vehicle Tare Weight Meaning + How to Calculate Yours Read More »
When you first decide to hitch up a caravan or camper to the back of your car, it seems rather simple right? Find out how much your vehicle can tow (towing capacity) and make sure you don’t go over it. In reality, towing weights are much more involved than that and knowing what all of …
GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) actually refers to the vehicle rather than the caravan. However, in the world of caravanning, GVM is still very much an important caravan weight term. Here we cover everything you need to know about GVM weight for your car and caravan set-up. If you’re not sure if your current car will …
When it comes to caravan towing weights, the GTM weight on a caravan is one that you will need to know and understand. While both the GTM and ATM are the weight of the fully loaded caravan, one must be measured while hitched up to the caravan, while the other is taken as the unhitched …
What is GTM Weight on a Caravan (& what does it include)? Read More »
Knowing all of the various towing weight terms and meanings can be a minefield when you’re first starting out. However, it’s one of the most important aspects of caravanning that you can educate yourself on. Keeping within your legal weight limits will keep your set-up compliant with the road authorities, which saves you from being …
What is Caravan ATM Weight (& what does it include)? Read More »
When you enter the world of caravanning, it’s paramount that you know what all of the various weight terms mean, plus how they affect your own caravan and tow vehicle. But, I get it, learning towing weights is like learning another language, especially when you’re just starting out. One of the very first terms that …
What is Caravan Tare Weight (& what does it include)? Read More »
Once you’ve got all of your other caravan towing weights sorted, you’ll be wondering how much payload you’ve actually got left for your gear. The vehicle and caravan payloads or ‘loading weights’ are the combined weights of all items that you can add or load into your vehicle and/ or caravan. Think of payload as …
🚙 Vehicle & Caravan Payload CALCULATOR Australia Read More »
Ensuring that your caravan is within its legal towing limits is crucial for the safety of yourself and others on the road. In addition, you will have peace of mind that you will be covered by insurance in the case of an accident. Use this handy caravan towing weight calculator (no spreadsheet required) to work …
🚙 FREE Caravan Towing Weight Calculator (for all trailer types) Read More »
Prior to 2015, Webasto and Eberspächer were the only two diesel heater brands available, which meant that the market was monopolised by just two companies. Since then, the industry has opened up to all manufacturers, resulting in a flooding of new brands hitting the shelves. When it rains, it pours. This poses the question, are there any Australian …
🇦🇺 Are there any Australian Made Diesel Heaters for Caravans? Read More »
A caravan diesel heater installation is one of the best DIY mods you can make for your caravan, RV, motorhome, camper or bus! These guys go for less than $200 on eBay these days and with this step-by-step process, anyone who’s handy on the tools can have it in before happy hour. Here we’ll go …
🔥 Caravan Diesel Heater Installation (12 Steps + Photos) Read More »
When it comes to hitching up and towing something behind your vehicle, you’re going to need some towing mirrors. Legally speaking you must have towing mirrors in Australia, especially if you find yourself in an accident and want to be covered by insurance. But, more importantly, having a full view around your vehicle and caravan …
So, you’ve just bought yourself a new caravan, but you’re wondering what caravanning essentials you should pack into it? Look no further! This guide will help you with everything that you need to get going on your next caravan adventure. Bear in mind that you don’t need to rush out and fill your caravan with …
I absolutely love Free Camping. In fact, Free Camps provided over 90% of our accommodation when we were living on the road. But not having the conveniences of power, water and amenities on hand for much of the time means that you need to be organised and prepared. Before we hit the road, I didn’t …
How to Set Your Caravan Up for Free Camping Australia Read More »
Outlaying the money for a caravan is a huge investment and not one that you’d like stolen or broken into in a hurry. Knowing how to protect your caravan from theft with a range of caravan security devices and tips, is something that every caravanner should know. Whether you’re storing your caravan away between trips, …
Travelling with a UHF Radio while exploring Australia is an important topic that often comes up when people are getting set up for a big trip. For short range communication between other vehicles, a UHF radio for outback and caravan travel in Australia is an essential tool to have with you. It’s the main system …
🎙 Best UHF Radios for Outback & Caravan Travel Australia Read More »
Entering the caravan market can be extremely stressful, time consuming and overwhelming if you’ve never owned one before. Being armed with this guide to buying a caravan is going to save you a lot of time and pressure throughout the process. Whether you’re buying a new caravan or going for a second hand one, the …
💵 Ultimate Guide to Buying a Caravan (16 Tips + PDF Planner) Read More »
If you’re going to be travelling around with a caravan it’s absolutely essential that you know your caravan towing weights. With caravan towing weights, you need to know what your car can legally tow, as well as how much payload (accessories, gear and “stuff”) you can add to your car and caravan. The most important …
⚖️ Caravan Towing Weights Explained… in simple terms! Read More »
Measuring your caravan tow ball weight is a very important piece of the puzzle for calculating all of your caravan towing weights. There are various terms to describe Tow Ball Weight, such as Tow Ball Download, Ball Load and Hitch Weight. But it doesn’t matter which term you use, they all amount to the same …
Caravan Tow Ball Weight Calculator + 3 Ways to Measure Read More »
You’re getting set to head off on a road trip across Australia and need to know all of the right information. Here we tackle the big one: can you carry diesel or fuel on the back of your caravan, trailer, camper, RV, van or 4WD? I’ve been in that same situation, wondering the same thing …
⛽️ Can You Carry Diesel/ Fuel on the Back of a Caravan? Read More »
If you’re thinking about hitching up and taking off on an awesome Aussie adventure, there are quite a few things to consider for your set-up before you even leave the driveway. Upgrading your tow vehicle’s suspension so that it’s up to the task is one of those key areas. Airbag suspension for towing a caravan …
A good set of caravan clothes storage ideas for the wardrobe and drawers is something many caravanners seek out when trying to maximise their internal storage space. Every inch of storage space in a caravan is prime real estate! If you’re here, it’s because you want to be smart about how you pack, while still …
When you’re on the road for more than a few days, having to get on top of the laundry that’s piling up is inevitable. Today Here we explore the many caravan washing machines available in Australia so that you can figure out which one is best suited to your set-up. Caravan washing machines include fully …
👚 15 BEST Caravan Washing Machines Australia (+ Using Off-grid) Read More »
Get your caravan organised in no time with these 52 caravan hacks, storage ideas and mods. We’re talking storage solutions, containers, towels, hooks, holders, nooks, make-up, jewellery, crockery, laundry, linen, clothing, cleaning, boxes, mats, dust proofing, DIY, BBQ ideas and more! After living in a caravan for four years, I think I’ve finally got everything …
