What a fraud!

In 2003 I was camped next to a retired industrial design teacher and his wife who had built their own caravan. As I talked to them I realised they had taken this van everywhere - the Gibson desert, the Tanami track, the Gibb River Road, the Gulf, the High Country and the Tasmanian west coast. Their home built caravan body was 4.3 meters (14') long with standard beam axle, leaf springs and standard Holden sedan wheels. It was extremely well crafted, all glued and screwed with the majority of the body made from quality ply wood. (see photos).

Unfortunately when potential caravan buyers draw up their shopping list to purchase a new caravan, it includes a shower, toilet, air conditioning, flat screen telly with DVD, large two door fridge, microwave, easy roll out awning and YES! the off road pack. All this plus the many extras available for full operation away from mains power including a generator, lead acid batteries, solar panels and spare wheels usually add up to a van with a body length over 5 meters long weighing in excess of 2.5 tons. Not to mention boat and outboard motor. Then the sales staff tell you that you need the largest Japanese 4x4 to pull your new van , or better still an "Effy" (F250).

The reality is that most so-called, off road caravans when they do go off the tar see nothing more than well formed, well bedded gravel roads of corrugations and dust.

Beefing up the main chassis rails, adding bigger wheels and tires, a bit of checker plate and an "Off Road" sticker doesn't make a 4x4 caravan. You are just perpetuating the myth!

Off road means different things to different people. Does it mean that soft sandy track that leads down to your favourite fishing spot? Does it mean a narrow rocky fire trail with tight corners in the high country? Or does it mean corrugations and dust in outback country. The majority of off road caravans are sold to people wanting to see and experience so-called outback Australia. Most of the time this means dust and extreme vibration. Is this off road, four wheel drive or off tar?

The notion that you can have a 5 meter plus luxury hotel on wheels, drag it anywhere and it will be the same when you open the door at the other end is just not realistic. If your van's body is over 5 meters and weighs in excess of 2 (even 3!) tons, the first soft surface, deep spoon drain or culvert will stop you. It doesn't matter what you are pulling it with, you just won't get through.

The quality of the overall build, the weight, size and entry and departure angles of an off road caravan are all critical but should directly relate to your intended application.

A quick look at the number of late model used, off road caravans available for sale in the trader magazines will provide some indication of how many people spend close to $100,000 on their dream, only to put it on the market twelve months later, without fulfilling their expectations.

Off the tar caravanning is a series of compromises. Assess what you "will" and not what you "would like" to do with your new caravan and choose one designed and built for the purpose.

© Chris Meadham June 2007