18 Types of Caravans & RVs in Australia

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Caravanning is huge right now. However, with so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one is going to be the best for you.

The different types of caravans in Australia range from full-sized caravans, to pop tops and pop outs, right down to expandables, slide-outs, hybrids, teardrops and more.

Here are some things to consider when buying a caravan:

1. Decide how you will fund your purchase
2. Set your budget
3. Choose your tow vehicle
4. Create your list of ‘must haves’
5. Create your list of ‘deal breakers’
6. What sort of storage space do you have at home for the caravan?
7. What is your towing comfort level and experience?
8. How many times per year will you use the caravan?
9. What types of camps do you plan on visiting (off-grid/ caravan parks)?

For extra help with this process, check out my Ultimate Caravan Buyers Guide.

This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please see our full disclosure policy here.

Types of Caravans

Full-sized Caravan

The first type of caravan that usually springs to mind, when we’re talking about recreational vehicles in Australia, is the full-sized caravan. This is the regular type with full-height solid walls and a solid roof (not a scrap of canvas in sight… well, except for the awning).

Their length can be anywhere up to 10 metres (32.8 feet) and dependent on the caravan size, will have 1 – 3 axles.

All of the furniture is in-built and you’ll usually find a kitchen, ensuite and dinette, depending on what options have been chosen.

The caravan berth (number of beds) can be from 2 (a queen or two singles) up to 6 or more (with bunks and convertible dinettes). Check out these 100+ Caravans with Bunks for families.

Full-sized Caravan FEATURES:

• Full walls
• Solid roof
• Lockable doors & windows
• Interior is basically always set up
• Kitchen, dinette, ensuite, beds, washing machine, air conditioning, TV, microwave etc.
• Self-sufficient with power, water & amenities

Off-road Caravan

An off-road caravan is more to do with the underbody and it’s capabilities in travelling along unsealed roads. Off-road caravans are an optional extra in most types of caravans available in Australia.

In general, off-road caravans come with upgraded suspension, a higher chassis height for extra ground clearance and larger off-road tyres. In addition, the off-road models can come with a few more components to help with self-sufficiency. Things like an additional water tank, plus extra solar panels and an upgraded battery system.

It’s important to note that most caravan companies advertise their off-road models as ‘Semi Off-road,’ in order to cover themselves. While a semi off-road caravan will all have those additional upgrades, that doesn’t mean that it’s designed for 4WDing through bush tracks.

Check out the full directory of 95+ Off Road Caravans Australia.

Off-road Caravan FEATURES:

• Upgraded suspension
• More durable chassis
• Higher ground clearance
• Larger off-road tyres
• Extra water storage & solar power

Pop Top Caravan

Pop top caravans are much like a regular caravan, except that the roof pops down for storage and travel, then you simply pop it up when you get to camp.

One great advantage with the pop tops is that when the roof is opened up, they tend to give you a higher internal height than that of a normal caravan. So, for those who are over 6ft tall and are looking for extra head space, pop top caravans are a popular option.

If you’re interested in pop tops, check out my full guide to pop top caravans, which includes dimensions, pros & cons, problems, maintenance and layouts.

Pop Top Caravan FEATURES:

• Roof pops down for travel & storage
• Permanent interior storage
• Kitchen, dinette, ensuite, beds etc.
• Can be self-sufficient with power, water & amenities
• Easier to tow, manoeuvre & store

Pop Out Caravan

Pop out caravans are the types of caravans where the beds quite literally pop out of the ends. The walls on a pop out caravan are the full height of a regular caravan, with a solid roof on top.

The benefit of a pop out caravan is that the towing length can be kept a bit shorter, while still having the advantage of extra living space when you set up the van. In fact, some of the pop out caravans can become longer than a full-sized van once fully set up. This makes the pop out caravan a good choice for larger families who need the extra beds.

Pop Out Caravan FEATURES:

• Same benefits as a full-sized caravan
• Kitchen & ensuite always set up
• Lots of interior storage
• In-built kitchen, dinette, beds, ensuite (optional)

Pop Top & Pop Out Caravan

If you like both the different types of caravans that pop up and out, then combining the two might be the solution for you. The combo pop top and pop out caravan is quite literally a caravan with a pop top roof and pop out beds.

Pop Top & Pop Out Caravan FEATURES:

• Very compact for towing
• Spacious once set up
• Easier to tow, manoeuvre and store
• In-built kitchen, beds, dinette

Wind Up & Out Caravan

The wind up-and-out type of caravan is a bit like a luxury camper trailer. It’s designed with small, solid walls around the bottom and a roof that winds up, with canvas walls to fill in the middle.

The benefit of having shallow, solid walls is so that the caravan can have some in-built features, such as cabinets, a small fridge, gas cooktop, sink and basic battery system.

You can open up the camper at home, pack in your food, drinks and clothing, then close it back up, nice and compact for travel.

Wind Up & Out Caravan FEATURES:

• Very easy to tow
• Don’t need such a big tow vehicle
• Very easy to store
• Opens up to be fairly spacious
• In-built cabinets, fridge, cooktop, sink & beds

Expandable Slide-out Caravan

The expandable type of caravan has a slide-out section, which can dramatically increase the interior living space. It’s usually the bedroom or dining room section that electronically ‘slides’ out along one side of the caravan when you push a button.

All of the caravan walls are still made from aluminium, therefore you don’t have to worry about canvas sections like you do with the pop tops and pop outs.

Expandable caravans are priced more at the top of the market, with couples generally being the target market, rather than families. Most (but not all) slide-out caravans only have a queen bed and no bunks.

Expandable Caravan FEATURES:

• Extra living space at the push of a button
• Not much to set up
• Heavier to tow – need a larger tow vehicle
• Less economical

Toy Hauler Caravan

Toy hauler caravans are designed with all of the outdoor adventure ‘toys’ in mind. Think dirt bikes, kayaks, jet skis, mountain bikes, boats and so on. The unique thing about a toy hauler is that it has an in-built ‘garage,’ perfectly made to store those additional items without needing another car and trailer.

Some people also like to go for a toy hauler and convert that garage section into a separate room – like an office or kids quarters. Bear in mind, that any modifications will add to your GTM and GCM.

To understand all of the weights meanings, check out the caravan towing weights explained post. For more toy haulers, here’s the full directory of toy hauler caravans in Australia.

Toy Hauler Caravan FEATURES:

• Conveniently pack your adventure toys into the caravan garage
• Option to convert the garage into another room
• Benefits of a full-sized caravan
• In-built kitchen, ensuite, beds, dinette, solar power etc.

Hybrid Caravan

A hybrid caravan is somewhere in between a caravan and camper trailer. They are built with solid walls like a caravan, but with the suspension and towing ability of a camper trailer. As they are not the full height of a regular caravan, they come with a pop up roof to give the required internal height once set up.

Some can come with ensuites and air conditioning inside, as well as the standard beds and cabinets for storage. Usually the kitchens are outside as a slide-out or behind an external door that opens up from the side of the van.

Hybrids are narrower than a normal caravan and will usually be about the width of a four wheel drive. This makes them a better option for those who like the creature comforts of home, yet still want to be able to do some off-roading.

For more info, check out my other post detailing the pros and cons of hybrid campers, plus make full use of the hybrid caravan brands directory.

Hybrid Caravan FEATURES:

• Fully lockable
• Better for off-roading
• Can be quite self-sufficient
• Outdoor kitchen & living
• Slimmer width to sit behind the 4WD

Micro Caravan

Micro caravans are at the shorter end of the spectrum, including full-height caravans that are 10ft – 13ft long. Most of them include an ensuite in the form of a combination shower and toilet washroom. You’ll often also find a little kitchen with cabinets, sink, small fridge and a cooktop for indoor cooking.

The benefit of a micro caravan versus say a teardrop (below) is that you can stand up in a micro caravan as well as having those additional amenities on board.

See the full list of Micro Caravans Australia for models under 14ft long, plus the Lightweight Caravans for all van under 1200kg.

Micro Caravan FEATURES:

Teardrop Caravan

A teardrop caravan is not much more than a handy little fully enclosed bed. The walls of a teardrop caravan are all solid, so there’s comfort in not having any canvas or set up to contend with while travelling.

The kitchen is usually a small slide-out, meaning that all cooking is done outside, which would be less than fun in awful weather. I guess it’d be sandwiches or a pub meal on those nights!

Teardrops are really designed for singles or couples who want a simple sleeping trailer without the fuss and weight of a large van. In fact, most regular cars can tow a teardrop caravan with no problems at all.

The great thing is that they can be stored easily at home in the garage, carport or backyard because they’re so compact.

Check out the full list of teardrop caravan manufacturers Australia.

Teardrop Caravan FEATURES:

• Compact to tow & store
• The bed is always made
• Full solid walls
• Limited storage
• Small, basic, outdoor kitchen
• No amenities

Fifth Wheeler

Fifth wheelers are the largest types of caravans available in Australia. In fact, they’re a lot more popular in North America than they are here, largely because the standard sized trucks and utes over there are much bigger than what we drive in Australia.

A fifth wheeler requires a special hitch (fifth wheel) to be installed onto the back of a 4WD ute or small truck, so that the RV can hitch up much like a semi-trailer attaches its trailer to the cabin. However, you can’t just use any old ute. It must be correctly load rated to tow the weight of the fifth wheeler caravan.

Let’s be honest, fifth wheelers look like an awesome way to travel. They’re nothing less than a mansion on wheels. However, with that size comes a few inconveniences.

Not all campgrounds will have the space for fifth wheelers, so you’ll need to book in advance. In addition, many fifth wheelers have slide-outs, which will further increase the size campsite that you’d require. Plus, parking in towns can be a bit tricker with such a long vehicle.

Fifth Wheeler FEATURES:

• Massive living space
• Loads of storage
• Plenty of water & power capacity
• Need a specialised set-up to tow the fifth wheeler

The ULTIMATE Caravan Buyers Guide

Streamline buying a caravan with this interactive planner. From budget, towing weights, PPSR checks & more, we guide you through the process, step-by-step!

15-page Digital & Printable Planner

• CHECKLISTS to tick off
• DECISION PROMPTS to fill out
• Questions to ask, handover, hitching up & more…

CARAVAN BUYERS GUIDE →

Additional Camper/ RV Types in Australia

Camper Trailer

Camper trailers can come in many forms. Here are some of the most common styles.

• Soft Floor Camper Trailer – canvas tent that folds out, with an in-built bed on top of the trailer
• Hard Floor Camper Trailer – canvas tent where the hard top of the camper folds down to be the floor, sitting slightly off the ground
• Forward Fold Camper Trailer – bed folds over the draw bar & gives living space in the trailer

For a great entry level RV, camper trailers offer a lot at a much cheaper price. With slide-out kitchens, an in-built bed, plus storage space in the trailer, they are great for family holidays.

The set up time with a camper trailer is much more lengthy than any of the types of caravans, which is why people who are constantly setting up and packing down usually steer away from them.

If you’re interested in camper trailers, I’ve put together a full list of Australian made camper trailer brands.

Camper Trailer FEATURES:

• In-built bed
• Storage space inside the trailer
• Good sized living space once opened up
• Some come with slide-out kitchens
• Cheaper to purchase
• Can be towed by any car that’s able to tow a trailer

Pod Camper

A pod camper is kind of like the modern take on the classic teardrop caravan. With a tiny cabin housing a queen sized bed and just enough head room to sit up in, all of the living is done outside. The kitchen is generally externally at the rear, but can sometimes be a slide-out. There are no amenities (toilet or shower) in a pod camper, but some can be set-up with an outdoor shower and portable loo, you just need to add a pop-up tent for privacy.

For the full list, check out the pod campers Australia directory.

Pod Camper FEATURES:

• Lightweight (often under 1,000kg)
• Can be towed with a standard car
• Bed on wheels
• External kitchen and living
• No bathroom

Slide-on Camper

A slide-on camper is designed to mount onto the flat tray of a ute, which you can easily detach at any time. This gives you the freedom of setting up a base camp, while still having a vehicle for exploring the region.

The benefits of going for a slide-on as opposed to a caravan is that you can enjoy the full functionalities of a camper without the hassle of having to tow a separate trailer. Even better are the reduction of on-road costs and being able to easily store the camper at home when not in use.

A camper of this style can be fully self-sufficient with a shower, toilet, bed, power and a kitchen for cooking.

Slide-on Camper FEATURES:

• Attaches to the flat tray of a ute
• Can separate ‘base camp’ from the vehicle as needed
• No towing
• Reduced on-road costs
• Can include ensuite, bed, off-grid power and kitchen
• Easy to store at home

Campervan

A campervan is essentially a normal-sized van that has been turned into a mini motorhome. Generally the roof pops up to allow for additional head room.

In-built will be a bed (usually a double), a kitchenette, a small amount of storage and maybe some seating. It would be rare to find a campervan with any type of amenities, such as a toilet or shower.

Campervan FEATURES:

• Little to no set up
• Kitchen is always accessible, particularly on travel days
• No need to tow anything
• Includes bed, kitchenette & basic storage
• Your travel ‘home’ is always with you
• Easy to park, manoeuvre & store

Motorhome

Motorhomes can come in many shapes and sizes, but the one thing they all have in common is that they are your vehicle and home on wheels all wrapped up into one.

The great thing about opting for a motorhome is that you don’t have to worry about towing anything or unhitching and hitching back up. In addition, if you’re at a dodgy-feeling camp and you want to move on pronto, you can easily crawl into the drivers seat and be gone.

However, there are some down sides to having your camp and your car combined in the one vehicle. What happens when you want to go exploring? You either need to jump onto a push bike or pack up camp (and risk losing your camp spot), so that you can drive around.

To combat this issue, many motorhome folk have a motorbike or tow a small vehicle behind the motorhome so that they’ve got an additional vehicle.

Check out the full list of motorhome and campervan manufacturers in Australia.

Motorhome FEATURES:

• No setting up
• No towing
• In-built kitchen, dinette, bed/s, ensuite
• Water tanks and solar power
• Reduced on-road expenses
• May need another mode of transport (push bike, motorbike, electric scooter or small car)

Bus

There are more bus RVs on the road than you might think. If you want a mansion on wheels and never want to have to worry about finicky weight allowances again – a bus could be the way to go.

Much like a motorhome, with a bus you will be rolling your travelling home and vehicle into the one entity. Ducking down to the shops or local attraction is a much larger task with such a big vehicle. Parking will be an issue in some places along the way, plus you’ll need to be licensed to drive a big rig.

Speaking of big rigs, some caravan parks either don’t have the space for big rigs, or they may charge you extra for the space that you’ll be taking up. Even getting into some free and low cost bush camps may be a bit tricky with a big bus, as opposed to a 4WD with a caravan or trailer.

You can definitely have decent bedroom quarters, kitchen, amenities, water storage and battery power capacity with a bus, which is great for self-sufficiency.

Bus FEATURES:

• No setting up
• Huge storage capacity
• Huge water & power capacity
• Generous space for beds, amenities, kitchen & dining
• Need an MR or HR license (dependent on size of bus)

Things to Consider when Buying a Caravan

Selecting the types of caravans that appeal to you the most is really only one part of the caravan buying process. From there, you need to determine a few other things before nailing down your perfect style.

Tow Vehicle & Towing Weights

You’ll need to determine if your existing car is suitable for towing your preferred style of caravan, otherwise a tow vehicle upgrade will need to be factored into the budget.

Here are some things to check:

• Your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity
• Your vehicle’s GVM (max allowable weight of the vehicle)
• The potential caravan’s Tare Weight (weight of caravan before being loaded)
• The potential caravan’s ATM (max allowable weight of caravan once loaded)
• Your vehicle’s GCM (max allowable weight of car + caravan combined)

Getting your head around the various towing weights sounds highly confusing, but once you start to understand it in layman’s terms, it will begin to make sense. Check out my simple guide to caravan towing weights.

Budget & Financing

Setting yourself an affordable budget is imperative when you first embark on the adventure of caravan shopping. It’s extremely easy to get swept up in all of the latest mods and accessories, or having a Taj Mahal on wheels, however it’s rarely necessary.

Figure out how you can reasonably pay for the set up, especially if you need to factor in a new vehicle for towing the thing. Savings and selling existing items are a great way to remain debt-free if that’s possible for you.

If you’re looking into a loan, here’s a handy guide to caravan finance, which may help answer some of your questions.

‘Must Haves’ & ‘Deal Breakers’

Finally, I highly recommend creating your own lists of ‘must haves’ and ‘deal breakers’ as you begin to research the different caravan types.

• Must Haves – the features that your ideal caravan must have for you to even consider it (e.g. island queen bed or off-road capabilities)
• Deal Breakers – the features that you absolutely do not want to have in a caravan (e.g. canvas or be over 18ft long)

Now it’s over to you. Good luck with your caravan research and future adventures. If you need some extra guidance, check out my ultimate guide to buying a caravan.

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