Buyer's guide
Everything worth knowing before you buy
Plain-language answers to the questions we get asked most, written for people buying their first caravan. No jargon, no sales pitch.
There is a lot to take in when you are new to caravans, and most of the information out there is written by people who already know it all. These pages are our attempt to explain the things that actually matter, in the order they usually come up.
The same words we use here are the words we use on our listings, so when you see a tag like twin axle, self-contained or motor mover on a caravan, you can come back here and find out exactly what it means.
Start here
2 topics
Choosing a van
2 topics
Living in it
3 topics
- 05Heating and staying warmDiesel, gas and electric heating compared, plus insulation, condensation and what actually matters for a New Zealand winter.
- 06Electrical basics12V and 240V explained, batteries, solar, inverters and powered sites, and what you can actually run off each.
- 07Toilets and showersCassette toilets, wet rooms, how much water you really use, and what servicing a caravan bathroom involves.
8 topics later, you are ready
That is the whole road covered. You now know the words on the listings and the questions worth asking, so the only thing left is to go and stand in a few caravans.
Browse the caravansWant to talk it through?
Nothing here beats standing in a van and asking. Give us a call or send a message and we will talk it through, whether or not you buy from us.