Top-10 off-grid caravans (2024)

FAQs

Who is the best caravan manufacturer in Australia of off-road caravans in 2022? ›

Winners of the 2022 Caravan and RV Manufacturing of the year Award in recognition of excellence and innovation. Masterpiece Caravans is proud to be awarded the winner of this prestigious and coveted category by the CTIAV in recognition of its innovation and manufacturing excellence.

An off-road caravan should have a visibly larger and stronger chassis and drawbar than its on-road counterparts, with A-frame members running the length of the van. It should be constructed from high-quality steel and hot-dip galvanised for long-term protection and durability.

Solar panels can keep your leisure battery topped up with power, so are perfect for off-grid caravanners. Photovoltaic panels create electricity from all light, not just direct sunlight, so they will generate current in winter; albeit a fraction of what they'd make on a bright summer day.

Here is what you can expect in 2022 when it comes to the cost of caravans: After many outlets predicting the fall in price of caravans this year, the experts at The Caravan Place state costs have gone "completely the other way". In particular, buyers looking for touring caravans will see an increase in price.

As part of the Caravan Owner Satisfaction Awards 2022, Coachman took the top spot with 93% satisfaction (based on the responses of 3,449 caravan owners). This was followed by another of our caravan manufacturers, Swift, in second place with 90.1%.

Snowy River SRC

Sharing a final assembly facility in Victoria with sister brand Regent, the Chinese-built Snowy River caravans have developed a loyal local following since launching in Australia in 2015.

Australia's biggest RV manufacturer, Jayco, made just over 11,000 caravans, camper trailers and motorhomes in 2016 – in a total market of 21,800 units – giving it more than half the sales cake.

Transverse Island Bed Layout

This is one of the most popular layouts for most caravan manufacturers. An obvious advantage for couples is that you don't have to make up the bed at night. Plus with the bed being an island bed it makes it easier to get in and out of bed without the need of climbing over each other.

Rigid Axle Caravan Suspension

It is still being used to day in Heavy, Medium and some light duty trucks, SUV's, vans, buses. Due to its simplicity rigid axle suspensions are also easy to manufacture and install and is usually the standard choice for most on-road caravans on the market today.

What is the best offroad brand? ›

2022 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

If rockcrawling is what you want to do with your life, then you're going to need to get yourself a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, which is arguably the most capable 4x4 off-road vehicle available on the market today. The Wrangler itself is our No. 1 choice for off-road SUVs in our Ultimate Rankings.

How long do leisure batteries last? You can expect the performance of your leisure battery to decrease over time; on average you are likely to get about five years use out of it, although some will last longer.

If you want to keep the power on when the grid is down, you'll usually just need one solar battery. If you want to go off-grid completely, you'll need far more storage capacity, more along the lines of 8-12 batteries.

How many caravan solar panels do you need? Solar panels are available in various sizes, each providing a different level of battery charging power. If you need more power, you can install multiple panels. For most caravans, however, the addition of one or two solar panels is usually enough.

How Long Can Static Caravans Last? With proper maintenance, static caravans can last decades. We've seen many mobile homes remaining functional even after 20 and 30 years of use and more. That's because you can replace all the parts anytime, whether to repair or renew them.

Resale value

In fact, a better comparison would be buying a car as static caravans actually depreciate in value over time. The rate of depreciation works out at an estimated 15% per year. This means that on reselling your caravan, you may receive significantly less than you paid for it.

$40-$60,000

You will mostly find small to medium used, single axle pop-top, or full height caravans. While buying, consider inclusions, space, and understanding the size and weight of the caravan.

Skoda Scala 1.0 TSI 110 SE

Of the three sub-1400kg cars in this year's tests, the Scala felt the most stable and composed while towing, although the Hyundai Kona ran it close. At 60mph, the Scala was reassuring and solid, and even at 70mph it kept the Adria caravan firmly under control.

WHERE ARE KOKODA CARAVANS MADE? Kokoda Caravans are Melbourne made and are about as Australian as a caravan can get. We have an Aussie owner who has sourced the best Aussie parts and component manufacturers going around.

Are JB caravans Chinese owned? ›

JB Caravans | Luxury Caravan Manufacturer. 100% Australian Made.

Jayco is a great success story of Australian manufacturing

The company is located at a 50-acre state of the art facility at 1 Jayco Drive, Dandenong South, Victoria, with a purpose-built 60,000sqm undercover manufacturing complex. This is where all Jayco RVs are made.

Blue Sky Caravans was founded in 2007, and all of our products are proudly Australian made. Our caravans are entirely custom built and manufactured to the highest standards, which provides you with the very best in quality and value.

Sunseeker vans are constructed with a robust interlocking aluminium frame which results in superior strength, resistance to potential water damage and substantial weight reductions.

The best time to buy a brand-new caravan is in the winter. This is when dealerships secure fewer sales and may be willing to do a better deal. Spring is the time least recommended to buy new. Normally in the summer months, there are more second-hand caravans available.

People seem to have the most luck selling their touring caravans between the months of January and April. The New Year tends to spark an interest in sunnier times and holiday dreams so you'd expect demand to be higher in the periods running up to school holidays so they can prepare for their family trips.

Caravan and motorhome prices have surged in 2022 as a result of increased demand and a shortage of stock, experts say.

The land can be used for not more than 28 days in any calendar year and allows for the siting of moveable structures in connection with the use (porta-loos, stalls etc). The period of temporary use is reduced to 14 days per year for the purposes of markets (car boots) and motor car/cycle racing.

8) Pull the curtains (to stop the sun from fading the upholstery), note: it is best to leave the blinds up as if left down for an extended period of time the spring in the cassette may stretch.

How high should a caravan be off the ground? ›

It is recommended that the caravan be towed as level as practical or hitch at approx. 50mm below level to help maintain a relatively level caravan and tow vehicle under heavy braking. This will also help maintain maximum suspension travel on both the caravan and tow vehicles.

A softer suspension will offer more mechanical grip as it will do a better job of keeping the tires on the ground vs a stiff suspension when it comes to depressions, bumps, and surface irregularities in the road.

In general, a dual axle van will be more stable to tow than a single axle. This might not always be the case, especially if they are poorly loaded, but dual axle vans are inherently more stable.

Rigid Axle Suspension

A rigid axle is very durable and can bear a lot of load. Unlike most modern suspensions, the rigid axle suspension has a very simple setup, making it easy to repair and replace.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

While every Wrangler can go off-roading, the Rubicon is the most capable. With front and rear Dana 44 axles, 33-inch all-terrain tires, rock rails, steel bumpers, a 4:1 gear ratio, and electronic locking differentials, the Rubicon is the Wrangler to get for serious off-roading.

Steel wheels offer greater strength because they feature large amounts of iron mixed with carbon and other elements. The added strength of steel wheels will cost you more in terms of mileage and wear and tear, but they are more practical in off-road conditions.

Prominent local caravan brand Kokoda, along with its stablemates Dreamseeker and Grand Salute sold under the Aussie Adventure Caravans umbrella, has gone into voluntary administration.

Over the past 20 years Avan has revolutionised the caravan & RV industry. From humble beginnings within a garage in Hallam Victoria, Avan has grown to becoming a major Australian based manufacturer of Campers, Caravans and Motorhomes.

About Coromal

When it comes to caravans, Coromal have been industry leaders since 1977. An Australian icon, Coromal is 100% Australian manufactured by Majestic Caravans in Melbourne, Victoria.

Which is the best caravan to buy? ›

Resale value. We won't lie to you, buying a caravan is not a financial investment in the same way that say, purchasing a house on the standard property market is. In fact, a better comparison would be buying a car as static caravans actually depreciate in value over time.

Kokoda Caravans are premium quality and unbeatable value. Compare the range to other similar vans that competitors offer and you'll see that you'll be saving thousands.

The coronavirus pandemic and an increased interest in staycations has led to a huge surge in demand for motorhomes and caravans. Coupled with supply chain issues, this means getting your hands on a leisure vehicle has become more difficult, let alone finding one at a reasonable price.