Do you want to hit the road, or hit the many roads less travelled? Do you feel like a caravanning pro or are you worried about towing safety? Choosing the right camper for your big Aussie adventure will change the way you travel. If you’re after the van park experience and all the big-ticket tourist traps, a caravan may suit your needs. If you’re after something a little different, if you want to feel confident that you can take that track and see that view, then an off road camper is the way to go. How do you choose your big adventure?
What are Caravans? It’s not a silly question!
Sounds like a silly question, right? In Australia, caravans, campervans, campers (or camper trailers), motor homes… they’re all slightly different things (let’s not even get into international terminology like trailer homes and RVs just yet). If you’re a first-time buyer, it can be a bit of a nightmare to dig through them all! First, campervans and motor homes have an engine. You don’t need to tow them, they’re all in one. So they’re a different class of vehicle to campers, camper trailers and caravans.
Caravans Vs Campers
Caravans and campers and camper trailers don’t have an engine. They’re towed by your 4WD. The line between what’s a caravan vs what’s a camper is blurring as design technology improves. So, it IS rather confusing for first time buyers.
Caravans
Traditionally, Australian caravans are larger, heavier, and more cumbersome to tow than campers. This is because they’re designed for maximum space and comfort. In the old days of caravan and camper trailer design, caravans had all the mod cons and were designed for the grey nomad who wanted to take their time and live in luxury. However, their cumbersome design means that a caravan is unsuitable for offroad and ‘tricky’ roads – so the traveller’s activity was limited to “stop at the caravan park and take the tow car for day trips.”
These days though, caravan design is much improved, and we do off road caravans and hybrid campers that completely blur all those old lines. With the invention of the “Pop Top,” they gained better fuel efficiency and a little more headroom. Caravans generally have indoor kitchens and lots of luxurious features. This makes them more expensive than camper trailers.
What are Hybrid Caravans?
Hybrid caravans usually have a pop-top roof and are built to be lighter, for greater aerodynamics, easier manoeuvrability, and more living space. In some cases, hybrid caravans will not have an inside kitchen, but that may depend on the model of hybrid that you choose. Our hybrid caravans have different features depending on what you need.
The Low-Down 13 model features low collapse size (meaning you can fit your hybrid in a standard garage and towing is a breeze). The Solera is the offroad-ready caravan. And Infinity Escape offers an internal and external kitchen option. Our multi-award winning Sirocco series delivers all the mod cons, and none of the big dollar investment. Choosing the right model caravan or camper comes down to the life you want to live. Learn more about the differences between caravans and hybrid caravans.
Campers or Camper Trailers
Camper trailers generally have smaller exterior dimensions and are sleek, and fuel efficient. Being more compact, they are easier to tow and safer for newbies. In the early days of camper design, what they lacked in modern conveniences they made up in manoeuvrability and efficiency. With modern engineering though, campers are now feature-packed and rival caravans for interior space.
Australian designed campers are engineered for maximum use of the small space and aerodynamic design. The mark of a great camper is in the engineering, not the decoration. There are fewer camper designers and manufacturers in Australia so it’s easier to narrow down your choice based on the features that you need.
What are Off Road Campers?
Off road campers are specially made to withstand all terrain. They can go from travelling down dirt roads to rocky trails and along sandy beaches without getting damaged, ensuring you get to your destination safely. They are much smaller and easier to tow compared with a caravan. Jawa Camper Trailers have taken the time to design with space, storage, and technology in mind to give the traveller functionality within the camper, making off-road travel in the outback or on-road easy and enjoyable.
Are there Off Road Caravans?
Yes. Jawa is one of the few Australian designers that also do off road caravans. The line between caravan and camper trailer is forever blurring, so we’ve created a range of caravans that behave like campers, and that includes the capacity to hit the road less travelled.
Does it matter?
Every caravan owner has known that moment. A bucket list destination lies ahead, but you hesitate because of the van. You don’t want to risk your safety. You don’t want to risk damaging the van when you’re a very long way from the nearest parts and servicing location. So you don’t. You carry on, find a nice caravan park, pull up within inches of your neighbour and resolve to return to that elusive road in your 4WD. Taking the road less travelled means waking up in a spectacular place, not listening to the kids in the next van. It means feeling the thrill of taking the road less travelled. It means going where you want to go. That matters. If you’re one of those, then yes, it doesn’t just matter, it’s everything.
What’s next?
Choosing an off road camper van is about safety, quality, fuel efficiency (because fuel just keeps going up!) and all the lifestyle features you need. Your off road camper should also be Australian designed because Australia’s got all those challenges that overseas campervans aren’t equipped to manage. The next step is to visit a camper showroom near you, or talk to an Australian off road camper designer that delivers nationally, to learn what you need to know about your dream purchase!
