Buying a caravan is a huge deal! The only thing we can think of that is bigger is possibly buying your house. There is a lot you should consider before you take the plunge and invest a good portion of your savings into a caravan. As with any big investment, you need to take your time to ensure that it is worth the money you spend and that you buy a caravan worth what you spend.
We at RV Central are not just caravan dealers, we have been providing exceptional products and services to our customers for over a decade now. In line with our motto of customers first, now and always, we are looking at making your RV purchase easier by curating tips from our experience on what are the things you need to do or should avoid doing! Here we discuss what to do when you are looking to buy a caravan in sydney!
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Our First Piece Of Advice? “Do The Homework!”:
The best caravan to buy is the caravan that fits your and your family’s needs as best as possible.
- How many people will be travelling in it regularly?
- How often will you be travelling?
- Will you be using the caravan to travel on-road or off-road?
- What are the features you are looking for?
Buy a caravan that fits your needs and has all the features you want based on your budget. A family travelling needs a lot of space and storage; they would need around 22 to 23 feet, while a couple could probably use a van that is 15 to 20 feet. Off-road caravans are designed to handle anything that the terrain can throw at them, plus they tend to come with off-grid features like solar panels etc. An on-road caravan, on the other hand, is meant to be used on good roads, for shorter travel and meant to be parked in a caravan park at the end of the day plugged into 240v power.
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Check Your Car’s Towing Capacity:
Caravans come in various sizes and weights. Buying one without knowing the towing limit of your car can be disastrous if the weights don’t match. A caravan sales consultant will have a good idea of which models of caravan suit your car. Ensure all your doubts are cleared before you shortlist any caravan. You will also need to factor in the payload before deciding on the final list.
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Set Your Budget: Avoid Caravans That Are Priced Out Of Your Budget Limit:
While setting your budget, we suggest aiming for mid-range models because of the wider choices. You can get better selections because they are in good demand and more are being produced each year. Getting parts and reselling is also easier with a mid-range caravan! Do not buy a caravan by stretching your budget beyond what you have fixed as an upper limit.
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Identify The Must-haves:
It is easy to go overboard on what we want instead of sticking to what we need! Research, create your list of must-haves and essentials and proceed from there to keep within the budget. Some of them can be the number and type of beds, separate showers and washrooms, air conditioning etc.
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Deal Breakers:
While practicality may be the norm, there are bound to be some things that you cannot abide. List them out with the list of must-haves. They can be something like no washing machine, fold-out beds, or pop tops. Having a list ensures that you do not settle on a whim.
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Look At The Reviews:
Always shortlist a list of the caravans that meet your requirements and check them out online. There will be a lot of reviews, especially if your model is popular. Use the reviews to get to know common issues that can exist and may be expensive to rectify. Selling or trading in during the first two years is going to cost you a lot of money due to the huge depreciation.
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When To Buy:
The best time to purchase a caravan is during off seasons like the winter because your chances of getting good deals are higher in this period.
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What Is The Warranty:
Not researching your warranty adequately can be a disaster. You also need to understand the difference between warranty. maintenance, and service. Before you finalize on a caravan, make sure that you get a good idea about the service network, the overall warranty period, the options for an extended warranty if you travel a lot, etc.
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Check Out The Caravan Before Making A Payment:
Have a good look at the amenities. Check out the bathrooms, toilets and fixtures. Ensure there is sufficient room and everything works fine before you make the payment. It is best to have the people who will also be using the caravan check it out before you commit to the purchase.
Buying a caravan is a long and drawn-out process, and mistakes are possible. Having a list of things that you need to look at during the process ensures that you do not miss out on critical things and minimizes the chances of you winding up with a caravan you are not able to enjoy after you spend a lot of money buying it.
At RV Central, we have a team of professionals who take pride in ensuring that our customers are given the best care possible. If you are a new customer or a return customer, you can be assured that you will get the RV you want! We will guide you through the purchase process and ensure that you are set up with the RV of your dreams. From finance to service, all that is required for your next adventure is available at RV Central! Come and check out the caravans for sale by visiting our website.
