What type of camper should i buy

Even in challenging conditions and terrains. A good way to find out about the ball weight and tow capacity of your vehicle is by checking the manufacturers handbook. It is also important to remember that part of the vehicle payload consists of the ball weight of the camper trailer.

There are three different types of camper trailer available on the market. These include:. To help you understand the differences between the three, we are going to take a closer look at them.

These lightweight campers were once a popular choice for those looking to buy a new camper trailer. However, the need for several people to set up and pack away the camper trailer has seen them fall out of favour. When it comes to touring Australia, you can spend days on the road. For many, the thought of having to spend time setting up the camper trailer at each destination is off-putting. They tend to come with more floor space and are easier to tow due to a reduced weight load.

Hard floor camper trailers feature ready made beds, pull out kitchen units and a sealed body that prevents rain and dust from entering the camper. Set up is quick and easy and is performed with the click of a button.

Hard floor camper trailers typically come with a plethora of customizable options. This makes them the perfect choice for solo travelers, couples and families. Being perfectly designed for going off road, discovering more of Australia in comfort and style becomes a reality. Aside from being sturdy and durable, hard floor campers also come with all of the mod cons you will need. With the majority of 4WD vehicles having a kg weight capacity, safety and ease of towing is improved.

Hybrid camper trailers are the kings of the camping world. A cross between and on-road caravan and an off-road trailer, they offer luxury and comfort in a single molded fiberglass shell. For those interested in a hybrid camper trailer, the Complete Campsite Exodus 16 has a ball weight of kg. Both of these are considered as lightweight vehicles. And both of them are up to the task of safely towing a hybrid camper trailer. The Exodus 14 has a ball weight of kg, a gourmet kitchen and features a fridge freezer with 82 litres storage capacity.

Each wheel has twin shock absorbers for minimal disruption when off-roading. An external pod creates an ensuite bathroom. And an inbuilt awning is easily rolled out for instant exterior shade. If you are looking for something even lighter, the Complete Campsite Exodus 11 has a total ball weight of kg. This means that cars such as the Ford Mondeo 2. Of course, a 4WD is always the better option.

With the huge amounts of storage space, a luxurious interior and maximum comfort. A hybrid camper trailer offers a home away from home experience , even in the remote wilderness of the Australian bush.

If you intend on traveling solo then you only have to consider your own comfort and requirements. However, the majority of people who purchase a camper trailer do so to travel with family. For the most part, camper trailer getaways are a family experience with many people looking for the best camper trailers for families.

If you are traveling with family, then a hybrid camper trailer offers comfort and convenience for every age group. Traveling with family over long distances can be enough to test the patience of a saint. After a long trip, everyone is tired and irritable. So a quick and easy set up is a must. There are so many different factors to consider when you first start the journey to buying a campervan. Buying one is an investment and if treated right, the best campervans can last you a lifetime.

If you just need a campervan for two, you have a wide choice of campers, but if you have a large family or a pet, the type of campervan you are looking for could change dramatically. Keep reading to find out everything there is to know about buying a campervan and join us as we explore how to find the best campervan for your own personal needs, the reasons for and against buying a VW camper and the process you should go through when finding campervans to buy.

The Essential Campervan Buyer's Guide goes into even more detail than this blog post. It has 76 pages and covers everything you need to know from insurance to storage and emissions. The first thing you should do is to set yourself a game plan. Research is key but knowing where to start is even more important. To help you decide what campervan to buy, the first thing to do is to write down these questions:. By outlining and answering the above questions you can whittle down the number of potential campervans to a much smaller number and save yourself a lot of time.

It is incredibly important to dedicate time to seeing and viewing potential campervans in person, prior to purchase, and that can be difficult if you have a long list.

Essentially the majority of people who answer the above questions will narrow them down into some of the following answers. This is an important question, because it will directly impact your other answers.

You may be looking to buy a campervan so that you can enjoy it in your retirement. It might be so that you can enjoy a weekend getaway every now and then. Finally, you might just think that campervans are pretty cool - and you would be right! Then you can work out a budget, based on the various campervans available that are able to perform strongly at what you need them for. You may even be planning to use it as a way to make a getaway with your pet.

Who are you buying a campervan for? This will help you decide how many beds you need, and how many travel seats. Many couples hope to take adult children and grandchildren on holiday with them - and all sleep in the camper. Yet how often would that happen? Quite often couples discover that the teenagers and younger adults in their family would prefer their own space at night - sleeping in the driveaway awning, or in a separate tent - next to the campervan.

That way they can enjoy your company and the warmth of the campervan lounge and cooking facilities, but still have privacy at night. Knowing your family as well as you do, how many travel seats and beds do you really need for most trips?

If you plan to use your camper regularly, then it is important that you think not just about finding a campervan that is durable, but a luxury campervan. There is nothing worse than investing in a long-term camping vehicle, only to find yourself wishing that it was just slightly nicer, or that it drove just that little bit better. Save yourself time and hassle from your spouse or family - create a tick list of all the essentials you will need in a campervan.

The following section is a quick look at some of the things that we think are campervan essentials, especially if you are going to spend long periods of time away from home touring. There are some campervans for sale out there that have such a nice range of eye-catching features that they might make you water at the mouth.

However, it is important not to get caught up with some of the luxury features. Here is a list of all the things we believe are must-have features for every campervan, whether you plan to use it alone or with a family:. If you are a great lover of outdoor expeditions, mountain climbing and adventures in rugged terrain, you should probably look at some of the most reliable vans, then find van conversions - campervans - based on those reliable vehicles.

Consider the fuel efficiency of each vehicle that you look at. The price of servicing and maintaining your campervan is another factor worth thinking about. No matter how careful you are on your adventures, touring will add some natural wear and tear to your camper. If however, you are looking at taking trips that go on for long periods of time and consist of perhaps months of travelling, then you will need something with extra space.

Extended holidays or journeys require a lot of additional equipment, therefore make sure you consider the amount of storage space your campervan will need. Finally, you need to consider your budget. By speaking directly to an expert or working with a professional team, you can discuss having a camper built specifically for your needs.

However, if you have a low budget, it might be difficult to find something within your price range that covers all the things you want. If you need a campervan immediately, that narrows down your options to whatever stock vehicles happen to be sitting on forecourts near you.

Typically, people start shopping for a campervan in October, ready for the following summer. Planning ahead means you can take your time, view plenty of campervans for sale and get to know the van converters and dealerships in your area. You want to buy from someone you can trust - and someone offering a warranty and good after-sales service. The only issue is that a great many of these campervans have not been looked after properly and have the potential to come with some big underlying problems.

Companies like eBay, Gumtree and Auto Trader will do their best to protect you but cannot guarantee the quality of the product being sold. At Sussex Campervans we would recommend buying directly from a dealership or van conversion company, so that you are covered by The Consumer Rights Act and have a higher level of safety. If, however, you decide that there is an unmissable bargain online, at the very least take someone with you who knows about vehicles and the industry to view the campervan with you.

Our workshops are dedicated to not just fixing but upgrading and improving any second-hand campervans that pass through our doors. Our in-depth knowledge and aftercare service also means that any previously owned campers that enter our premises are already of the highest quality and have been well maintained.

Campervans typically hold their value very well, in a number of cases it is even possible to sell it on for more than you bought it for. Hiring a campervan should be seen in the same way as buying or renting a home. Even if you buy a campervan and only use it to go camping a handful of times, when it comes to selling it on, it will most likely have cost you less than if you had decided to rent.

If you only plan to use your campervan on a handful occasions throughout each calendar year then running a buy-to-let scheme is one way you can minimise your costs and even potentially make some extra cash on the side.

Planning to buy a campervan with the purpose of renting it out will have an implication on the type of campervan you should buy. There are a number of campers that will you will be able to rent out for a higher price that others, even if they are of a similar value when purchasing one brand new. Make sure you do your market research and look at the potential profits margins you could be making.

While buying the best campervan for your own personal needs is normally the best approach, it might not work if you plan to hire it out to potential holidaymakers. Sadly, this does mean that you might have to sacrifice buying your ideal campervan in order to make it more cost-efficient. It all depends on where your priorities lie. Just as some rental campervans go for higher prices, some campervans for sale tend to hold their value better than others. The more expensive VW camper might be a better buy if you want to invest in something that holds its value for longer.

Obviously, the make and model will play a big role in the extent to which a campervan holds its value, however due to the nostalgia and history of the Volkswagen campervan, it is one of the best long-term buys. It is worth taking into consideration, though, that all campervans that are looked after will hold a steady price and, in many cases, last a lifetime.

Therefore, this should not be your primary focus when purchasing. Soft floor camper trailers are better suited to families and larger groups of people who have the time and physical capabilities to set up and pack down their trailer frequently.

A hard floor camper trailer operates similarly to a pop top caravan , where the roof raises up and front and rear sections expand out to create a suitable living space. This type of camper trailer is very quick and simple to set up — often taking less than a few minutes to be fully set up, handles inclement weather better due to being more structurally sound and generally features better internal amenities as standard.

However, hard floor camper trailers are far heavier, typically feature less internal storage and have a smaller sleeping capacity. This type of camper trailer is often used by couples or small families who want a few more features and a fast setup time without having to physically exert themselves.

These offer the flexibility of a camper trailer, while still providing the hard shell and additional amenities found in a typical caravan. That being said, hybrid camper trailers are priced a fair bit higher and weigh more than a standard soft or hard floor camper trailer.

First things first, you need to decide on your budget. Many would think that most camper trailers on the market are similar in price, but that is far from the mark. But whatever you have available to spend, I am sure that you will find your own piece of camping heaven. Often the price is reflective of the features, amenities, and style of camper trailer you can buy.

For example, a larger seven-foot hard floor camper trailer fully kitted out with dual deep cycle batteries, 12V fridge freezer and kayak carrying racks will likely be more expensive than a basic soft floor model that has fewer features. That weight will determine what camper trailers you can or cannot safely tow. Larger vehicles, such as 4WDs will typically be able to tow a heavier trailer, while you may find your options limited if your tow vehicle is a family sedan.

You will also not be able to tow your camper trailer without the right equipment. You will need a rear bar with a tow ball at a minimum. Some camper trailers off-road models in particular use an articulating hitch which will require further modification to your rear bar. Essentially, the lighter the camper trailer, the lower the towing capacity your vehicle needs.

Smaller vehicles such as family sedans like the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon have a towing capacity between kg and kg. If you are looking to tow a seriously heavy camper trailer, a dual cab ute or 4WD with a very powerful engine and upgraded suspension would be ideal. Deciding if you want one fresh off the showroom floor, or are willing to save a bit of cash by purchasing pre-loved trailer will likely come down to your budget.

However, if your budget is fairly flexible, it is worth considering the benefits to each type of sale. You know that this camper trailer has never touched the outside world before and should be in perfect mechanical condition.

Alongside this, dealers will often provide longer warranties and further after sale support to owners who buy new. If you are looking at buying new, heading over to one of the major caravan and camping expos is a great idea. Buying used means having to either purchase a camper trailer through a dealer or private seller.

Although sometimes a risk, buying second hand can save you a bucket-load of money that can be spent on your next adventure instead. You may find many previous owners have already modified and upgraded particular aspects to a camper trailer, which may save you money if you had planned on adding those accessories yourself.