AFTER 11 MONTHS FULL-TIME ON THE ROAD IN OUR 23FT CARAVAN , AND A RECENT

OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THREE WEEKS IN AN APOLLO MOTORHOME RENTAL , WE

WANTED TO SHARE OUR THOUGHTS ON THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH VEHICLE TYPE .

If you are currently in the market for an RV , not sure which vehicle is for you , or ready to change your existing rig , this article will give you food for thought when choosing between a motorhome or caravan .

We would recommend asking yourself these four questions as a starting point :

1 . Budget : How much are you going to spend initially and for ongoing costs ?

2 . How will you use your vehicle ? Only in holiday seasons , as a weekend warrior , or are you planning a full-time lap of Oz ?

3 . Where will you store it when not in use ?

4 . What type of traveller are you ? Are you more about the journey or the destination , are you single , a couple , pet owner or family ?

We ’ ve broken it down into six main categories for consideration when choosing an RV to suit your needs :

1 . SET-UP AND PACK DOWN

From hitching up and unhitching , to levelling the vehicle for a good night ’ s sleep , there is a lot to do . We found the motorhome much easier and quicker to set-up , and if you have any physical concerns a motorhome is a great trouble-free set-up as it ’ s a little less taxing on your body .

2 . EASE OF DRIVING

Towing in general can be a nervous challenge when you consider larger vehicles and trucks passing by , wet weather and windy conditions , and reversing the rig into a site .

The motorhome , with its power steering and modern seating comforts , was like driving a large SUV , although there was a lot more cabin noise in the motorhome from the sounds of the cupboards and their contents vibrating while driving .

It is , however , easier to manage the kids ( especially little ones ) while travelling in the tow vehicle because they are seated so much closer to the front passenger .

3 . ACCESSIBILITY AND MOBILITY

If you are more adventurous and like the idea of exploring off the beaten track , then the van with a 4WD tow vehicle is for you . Accessing shops for supplies is easier with a tow vehicle after you have unhitched the van and set-up camp .

Otherwise , you are best to get supplies on route if you are travelling in a motorhome to avoid having to pack everything down to run back into town .

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