Towing or reversing a caravan for the first time can be a daunting experience. Camec & Tow Ed invite you to participate in a practical hands on information session to learn the fundamentals of how to tow a caravan, or come along to brush up on your skills.

Join the party as the Bathurst 1000 celebrates 56 years of racing in October at Mount Panorama.

In what is expected to be one of Australia's largest sporting events this year, Mount Panorama will play host to racing fans from around the world coming together to celebrate the 56th running of the Bathurst 1000.

The 4 days will be marked by a bumper line-up of entertainment both on and off the track and crowds are expected in record numbers. 

If racing is in your blood, this year is one year not to miss! For those new to the sport this is a chance in a life time to celebrate one of Australia's leading Motor racing events.

Accommodation and Camping areas have always been in great demand and this year's celebrations will see both go fast. Bookings for caravan hire for Bathurst have already commenced, earlier than previous years meaning demand will quickly outstrip supply as we get closer to October.

Getting in early, not only ensures you a wider choice of campers to select from, but also that the vehicle you want is available and at a cheaper rate. 

Once you have booked your caravan the next step is to book a site in the Motor Home Park on Mount Panorama. Not all the sites have power and those that do will go quickly. There are additional charges for the powered sites. You can book your site online at the V8 Supercars Website which has everything you need to know. You do need to register before you can book your site - V8 Supercar registration. The Park is equipped with Showers and Toilets but does not have cooking facilities.

Tickets for Bathurst 1000 will be available through Ticketek.

If you have any questions or need any further caravan information please contact us.

What

• Bathurst 1000 V8 Race - Mount Panorama hosts Australia's leading Motor Racing event

When

• Thursday 5th October to Sunday 8th October 2017

Where

• Mount Panorama near Bathurst 203km West of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Getting There

• From Sydney take National Route A32, approximately 3 hour

Tips

• Book Early! - seriously, avoid disappointment, there's not an endless supply of vehicles
• There are limited power sites in the Motorhome Park - Book early they go fast
• Campers are easy to drive and superbly equipped - if you're new to caravanning you'll be pleasantly surprised what you get these days

What’s the weather like out there? To quote the late, great comedian Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam, “It’s hot. Damn hot! Real hot!” Regardless of where you live in Australia, if you hit the roads in the summertime, it doesn’t take long for the temperature to rise.
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Most of us are familiar with the original “Slip, Slop, Slap” SunSmart Campaign which was one of the most successful health campaigns in Australian history, with the mantra still uttered today. But we’d like to contribute our own sun-smart philosophy, aimed at keeping cool at camp this summer. We call it our iHEAL approach; insulation, hydration, evaporation, aeration, location.

Preparing for nature’s extremes should start before you decide what caravan or camper trailer to purchase. Think of your age, that of your kids, and how much heat (and cold) you’re prepared to tolerate when you head outdoors.

Many caravans are constructed with double fibreglass insulated bodies and pop-top roofs. Fibreglass and other insulators will do a lot to moderate temperature variations in your van.
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If you’re sleeping under canvas, consider adding a tropical roof to your camper. The additional layer of material will create an air gap, which will allow heat to be absorbed by the air underneath and escape before reaching your living space. Alternatively, suspend a high quality space blanket from the internal framework above your bed space. This lining will create a reflective barrier, deflecting the heat that is beating down on the roof of your camper.

When the weather’s hot, you start losing body fluid at a far greater rate than in cooler conditions. Children in particular don’t always respond to the early signs of thirst. If your kids are starting to get cranky, lethargic, have a headache or seem to have developed the attention span of a goldfish, you’re probably seeing signs of dehydration.

Ensuring you and your family stay cool and hydrated on the road is a lot easier these days with the advent of in-cabin fridges. Ours is a 10.5L capacity fridge that, while small, is a great back up/overflow fridge that sits on the back seat, safely seat-belted via the lap-strap. Filled with fluids and whole fruit, it’s a great way to ensure that everyone arrives at camp with a full tank.

Turn your cabin fridge onto “freezer” setting and you open up a whole new range of hydration options. Electrolyte ice blocks and jellies are the perfect way to combat dehydration and the kids will love them. The products include water, glucose and electrolytes, which are essential to rapid rehydration.
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Use the same space to freeze the “ice core” that is inbuilt into some water bottles. These types of bottles are a great way to keep your drinks cool for longer once you move away from the vehicle.

There are plenty of simple water evaporation techniques that will soon bring the heat down. For example, when you’re planning for a hot day, chuck a damp sheet in the fridge or freezer in the morning. Drape the sheet over yourself like a blanket when the heat gets too much. The breeze passing through the material will help keep your body temperature down and give you excellent relief from the heat. A similar idea is to pop a hot water bottle in the fridge and create a bed-friendly “cold-sac” to help keep you cool at night.
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If you want a bit more technology to help the evaporative process, you might want to think about purchasing a travel-size evaporative cooler. Ours is less than 25cm high and wide and weighs just 1.5kg, so it’s a simple fix. We took it to the Red Centre during 40°C conditions, and our then two-year old enjoyed the experience.

When you’re hot, passing air across the beads of sweat on your skin naturally cools you down. So, when you set up camp on a hot day, open the side windows of your caravan for cross ventilation.

Also consider using fans to increase aeration when the wind drops. These days, 12V electric fans are an easy and inexpensive addition to your rig. Fans will increase circulation and are most effective when they are boosting the breeze in the prevailing wind direction.
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When things get really warm, you might want to consider getting the kids off the floor/mattress and into the air. Set them up on a simple stretcher or rig up a hammock. Both techniques will increase airflow and help cool them down. In the middle of the day, string a damp hammock between trees to make a cool hangout zone – pun fully intended!

Your choice of campsite may be the simplest and most effective way of keeping everybody cool and happy on a trip away. Don’t just rely on your awning for shade. Did you know natural shade is cooler than artificial shade by up to seven degrees? That’s because living material — such as trees — absorb the sun’s heat and utilise the energy for photosynthesis, transpire and thus provide a natural cooling effect. By contrast, your awning will actually absorb the sun’s energy and radiate it as heat. Obviously, the lighter the colour of the awning, the less radiant heat the material absorbs.

So invest a bit of time in choosing the right campsite. If you set yourself up in the shade of a tree with prevailing crosswinds, you can almost guarantee you’ll have a happier holiday experience from the get-go.
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Also, consider options for “mobile shade”. We have camp chairs that come complete with shade via a simple, flip-up canopy that creates instant sun relief, wherever you are.

​Source: Without a Hitch

Caravan, motorhome or camper trailer? We look at the pros and cons of each of these RV types.​

Self-drive travel is without a doubt the best way to see Australia. Sure, you could fly to Port Douglas, Qld, or to Broome, WA. But they say the journey is the destination. And when you’re exploring a country as diverse, large, and downright beautiful as ours, ain’t that the truth.
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But the question of your accommodation while on the road remains. So what’s it going to be, caravan, motorhome, or camper trailer? There are good reasons for each… and, unfortunately, drawbacks, too. Let’s take a look at the pros, cons and considerations behind these main types of RV.

Camper trailers can be as kitted-out and innovative, or as cheap and cheerful, as you like. There are high-end hard floor trailers with hard-core offroadability, extensive 12V power, plenty of refrigeration and water storage capacity, just begging to hit the bush.

Typically light (anywhere between 1000kg and 1500kg Tare, if not less), a camper trailer is a good option if you like to keep the weight behind your vehicle light and thereby reduce your fuel bill. The lower towing profile of a camper trailer, as compared to a caravan, is said to reduce drag and therefore improve fuel efficiency, too. The inherently lighter weight of camper trailers also makes it more likely you won’t need to upgrade the tow vehicle UNLESS you're towing a lightweight caravan.

A new budget camper trailer will inevitably require a fair amount of manual setting-up, at least 15 to 30 minutes’ worth. Think canvas awnings, telescopic tensioning poles, etc. 

Camper trailers are, typically, much more manoeuvrable than caravans, and a good offroad trailer should follow your 4WD almost anywhere, even on the tight bush tracks that’d trip up an offroad caravan. However, most camper trailers aren’t known for offering the comforts of home. You’ll be cooking in the great outdoors, sleeping next to canvas walls, doing midnight toilet runs (unless you’ve stashed a portable toilet somewhere) and generally living much closer to nature.

If you don’t mind some campsite fettling, want to be closer to the great outdoors, and need to keep the towed weight as light as possible, why not consider a camper trailer hire? They offer a very different camping hire experience to motorhomes and caravans, but for some people, that’s the point – and there’s nothing wrong with that. Check out our 2016 JAYCO swan camper trailer page here
 
PROS

• Lightweight and easy to tow
• Easier to manage in offroad conditions (but make no assumptions here – not all camper trailers are purpose-built for offroad touring)
• They offer a more ‘authentic’ camping experience

 
CONS

• Will probably require you to carry more gear, such as a portable table and chairs              
• Significantly more setting-up is required than a caravan or motorhome (depending on the trailer)

What makes a good tow vehicle? There are a number of factors, but a high tow rating, a heavy body, long wheelbase and a relatively short distance from the rear axle to the towball are all important. Here are Without a Hitch's top five 4WD tow vehicles of 2016.

Here, we’re looking at ‘conventional’ vehicles with the maximum 3500kg tow rating (as opposed to the big US trucks that can, with appropriate towing gear, haul up to six tonnes).
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Most of the vehicles below are quite pricey – the best doesn’t necessarily come cheap. Join us as we count down to number 1.

Being on a caravan holiday with the kids can be wonderful and exhausting at the same time.

When you’re in a confined space for an extended period however, it’s sometimes hard to keep the little ones happy – and if they’re not, you won’t be.
Here are a few ideas for things to do during the holidays, plus some tips for keeping little ones entertained on the road.
Plan ahead
The secret to successful holiday activities is to be prepared.

• Record yourself reading storybooks to keep everyone amused on long drives.
• Pack glue, string, paper, colouring-in books, cardboard, pencils and scissors. They don’t take up much room and can be used to create, record, build or scrapbook.
• Plastic, stackable storage boxes are your friends: use them for storing stationery, toys, shoes, clothes and treasures.
• Carry play equipment that’s versatile, inflatable or stackable, such as ropes (for knotting, swinging, tug of war), totem tennis and a glow-stick ring toss.

Include the kids in the planning, and if you intend to ban electronic devices when camping, let them know in advance.
On the road

• Keep songbooks, audio books and CDs handy for singalongs.
• Be prepared to play endless rounds of I Spy, Road Bingo and round robin storytelling.
• Have some movies or episodes of the kids’ favourite television shows loaded onto an iPad or tablet to keep them occupied during longer journeys – this will give you a guaranteed length of time before boredom and arguments set in.

At the campground
When you first arrive at a new park, go for a walk, check out the features and make sure the kids know how to find their way around. Set up the awning or awning to work as a spare room, and throw down matting to keep sand, dirt and water at bay.

• Take time each evening to plan the next day’s activities together.
• Read Australian children’s books, such as Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, and go looking for the characters.
• Grab some bedding and sleep outdoors.
• On rainy days, take an excursion outside and have the kids collect random items of interest: shells, stones, leaves, seaweed, driftwood. These can be used in artwork, to tell a story, or as props for a play.

The easiest way to ensure everyone enjoys the confined space of the caravan is to spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors. After all, you’re on holidays! Relax, enjoy the different rhythms and routine, and don’t be afraid to try something completely different.

​view source

It’s hard to deny the advantages of lightweight caravans. It doesn’t matter what vehicle you’re towing them with, a lightweight caravan is better. You’ll get better fuel economy and a more relaxed drive with a lighter van.

Bailey Caravans have lead the industry for building lightweight caravans without compromise for years now. Their Alu-Tech construction has many advantages in terms of weight and rigidity. You get the benefits have having a lightweight caravan plus one that is stronger and with greater insulation.

Body shell panels are up to 30% thicker than those used in conventional caravans and feature a high density polystyrene core to provide the shell with superior thermal insulation properties – allowing you to holiday all year round.

Bailey have gone further than just making thicker walls though. They used thermal imaging technology to identify the cold spots and added more insulation to those areas. You get a lightweight caravan that is warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Lighter towing weight can result in its own fuel savings but Bailey have also designed an aerodynamic single span front and roof panel. With fuel prices climbing a lighter more fuel efficient caravan has obvious advantages when you’re considering your next holiday.

A lighter van has advantage when towing, especially if your car is a medium sized family vehicle. Bailey caravans are  fitted with the latest road safety equipment – Trailer Control Systems; Stabilisers & Shock Absorbers which all makes for a reduced yaw inertia. 

Luxury Caravan Hire is proud to introduce the new all-new Australian designed and built lightweight Bailey Rangefinder Gemini into its fleet.

We were so impressed, we actually bought three of them!

Bailey Australia is the first European manufacturer to undertake local caravan production in Australia, bringing the latest construction techniques, processes and cutting-edge design and technology to our travellers.

The process begins with an understanding of Australian caravanning needs, including feedback from current Bailey caravan owners, as well as understanding the preference of the Australian caravanning public for specific interior layouts. Space, usability, comfort and liveability are key considerations in every step of the process.

Bailey Rangefinders are built from the inside out, with local CNC-cut furniture securely fixed in place before being bonded and fastened to the caravan walls and ceiling panels to create an immensely strong overall body structure. Australian designed and sourced chassis, furniture, windows and doors, kitchen, bathroom and laundry appliances are all chosen for their suitability for our conditions and their local service and support.

What makes Rangefinder different?

• Class-leading 500kg payload
• High ground clearance
• Tough DuraGal steel chassis including 2K paint system
• Choice of AL-KO or Dexter axles
• Fibreglass impact-resistant body shell panels and undershielding
• Grade III insulation rating for touring all-year round
• 2 x 105L water tanks (210L total)
• Premium quality furniture, fittings and upholstery finishes
• Practical kitchens w/ recessed cooker as standard Thetford 185L 3-way, two door fridge w/ separate freezer
• Inner-sprung Queen sized island bed w/ under storage
• Large showers w/ separate ceramic toilet
• Washing machine as standard
• Premium quality reverse cycle A/C
• 10 year water ingress warranty ​

The components of Bailey’s patented Alu-Tech bodyshell construction system are manufactured at Bailey of Bristol and then shipped to Australia for building onto our locally-designed and manufactured DuraGal steel chassis. This process gives Rangefinder buyers access to the precision manufacturing processes of Britain’s top-selling caravan maker.

​To make a BOOKING, click here.

One of the best things about life on the road is meeting new people. It’s really easy to make friends with likeminded travellers. Here are our tips for finding caravanning buddies and becoming part of the great wandering community.


A Few Friendly Tips

You will usually find that the people you meet are friendly and happy to help out or share a cold one. If you’re that way inclined, most people will respond in the same way.

• The age-old nod and wave are traditional signs of respect when passing other travelers on the road and are always appreciated, if not expected.
• Don’t be too reserved, as people will tend to respect your distance anyway. If you want to make friends, invite your neighbours over for the widely accepted practice of ‘happy hour’.
• Join your fellow campers around a campfire. There’s something pretty special about sitting around a campfire at night, it tends to bring out some interesting, often-introspective topics of conversation, and even some darn good yarn-telling. So unless there’s a fire ban where you’re camped, light up and invite others to join you.
• Don’t drive straight past someone who’s broken down, had an accident or looks like they’re lost. Offer assistance, whether that’s a ride to town or to the nearest spot for phone reception.
• Help out if you see newly arrived campers struggling to get set up in the wind or rain, or someone who’s doing some on-the-spot caravan repairs.

Observe The Rules Of The Road

People everywhere appreciate others who are courteous and respectful, and etiquette is as important on the road as it is anywhere. You can be sure that if others consider you a ‘nuisance’ it’s not going to be easy making friends!

When camped, keep your caravan, vehicle, furniture, fishing tackle, bikes and other belongings well within your site and avoid walking through other people’s sites.

Most campers appreciate peace and quiet so keep noise to a minimum especially after dark and in the early morning.


Join A Club

A caravan enthusiasts’ club is a great way to make contact with others, gather handy tips, hear about different destinations and even find friends to go on holiday with.

• Your local club probably organises regular weekend trips away, which means you’re likely to get out more often in the caravan as well as meeting new friends.
• The larger clubs offer their members pre-negotiated discounts with caravan parks, holiday destinations, retailers or manufacturers, as well special deals on expos and industry events.
• Most participate in annual ‘musters’ and other gatherings, and advertise events being run by other clubs.
• When you’re ready to upgrade to a new caravan or you want to sell one, your club might be the first place you go. Many offer listings and classifieds, either online or on-site via noticeboards that are likely to be viewed by local enthusiasts.

Some clubs are specifically aimed at a particular brand of caravan or interest group such as the Grey Nomads. These will often have an active online forum through which you can communicate with other members.

There are plenty of national, state and local clubs for caravan enthusiasts; these state-based directories will get you started.

• National Association of Caravan Clubs
• NSW
• Victoria, Tasmania
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• ACT

You might be travelling solo, but that doesn’t mean you can’t join up with others to share a leg of the journey, or perhaps arrange to meet up somewhere further along the way.  With the internet and mobile phones, it’s easier than ever to keep in touch with others.
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Planning on chatting on the CB radio with your travelling buddies? Here’s a guide to the channels you should use.

The Sunshine Coast Council has a proposed plan for Mooloolaba that involves removing the Ocean Beach Caravan park for a walkway and parklands.

We strongly oppose this plan for the following reasons:

1) The Ocean Beach caravan park is one of only a handful of true beachfront caravan parks left in S.E Qld. The park is iconic and renowned Australia wide. The caravanning industry is one of the highest booming industries in Australia and this park is on the must visit list for many people, each bringing their tourism dollars to Mooloolaba.

2) Mooloolaba is much loved because of its relaxed coastal vibe. Destroying this park is contradictory to that. The caravan park offers the community an opportunity to enjoy a holiday whilst also providing a community based social aspect, children and adults making new friends alike,

3) The caravan park offers families an affordable beach Mooloolaba holiday. Many families cannot afford the unit prices in Mooloolaba and removing this park would impact greatly. Amalgamating the 34 sites into other parks would be inadequate as they are already at overflowing during peak times and they do not offer the same quality, safety or location.

4) There are already ample parkland areas in and around Mooloolaba that could be upgraded and improved without having to sacrifice the caravan park. Greater use could be made of the parkland between the esplanade and the main beach (where Steve Irwin statue is), and a multi storey car park near Brisbane rd and removing the beach front car parks would provide ample space for any requirements. Improvements could be made to the exisiting walkway width etc between Mooloolaba and Alex Heads.

PLEASE SAVE OUR OCEAN BEACH FRONT CARAVAN PARK & SIGN A PETITION

​Thanks

Sudden gusts of wind may arise at any time during caravan travel, but more so when you are being overtaken by large vehicles.

Let's have a look at what occurs when you're struck by wind, how to deal with it when it happens, and what you can do to make your caravan travel as safe as possible.

When a wind gust causes the moving caravan to sway (technically known as 'yaw'), that yawing force is usually counteracted by the tow vehicles inertia, plus the grip of the van’s tyres on the road.

Quite often during caravan travel, you will experience nothing more than one or two lurches in your van. In some cases, especially when adding other factors, such as slippery roads, it increases the chance that the caravan can over-correct, thus yawing in the opposite direction. This leads to amplified swaying which, if not corrected, could possibly cause the van to roll. 

HOW TO DEAL WITH YAWING

It might not always be possible, but the best way to react when the caravan starts to sway or snake is to drive slowly and stay in control.

• Remain calm
  
• Avoid applying the brakes of the tow vehicle. If your van is fitted with an electric brake system, use the manual control in the towing vehicle to slow it down, or if fitted with AL-KO ESC, BPW IDC or DEXTER DSC like in most of our hire vans, let this system do it for you automatically.
  
• Avoid trying to steer out of the sway.
  
• Maintain a constant speed until the swaying stops and the caravan straightens out again.
  
• After it has stabilised, pull over and check that the load in the caravan has not shifted.
  

AVOIDANCE MEASURES

A good electronic stability control system, such as AL-KO ESC, BPW IDC or DEXTER DSC will monitor for critical driving situations, such as a build up of swings or one large sudden lateral movement. When needed it activates and applies the caravan brakes immediately without driver intervention, preventing further oscillation.

You can lessen the potential for disaster by ensuring you have the best sway control system and being aware of the conditions that you are driving in at all times.

All of our hire caravans excluding Jayco are fitted with AL-KO ESC, BPW IDC or DEXTER DSC systems thereby enhancing your safety.