| You love the outdoors right? So you want to buy a | | | | way inclined then good for you. Personally, I like to |
| caravan or a camper. Well in this article I am going to | | | | listen to the radio or CDs. I like to watch TV or |
| deal with a camper or camper trailer, but similar | | | | DVDs. I like a fridge too. YOU have to decide what it |
| arguments are valid for caravans too. | | | | is you want out of your camping 'home'. |
| 1. First off. Why do you want to buy a camper? Is it | | | | 5. Another point to consider is whether you will stay |
| because the neighbour has one? Or maybe because | | | | in established campgrounds just off the highway, or |
| you thought it was a good idea at the time - you | | | | whether you will want to regularly get off the |
| know, that dinner party you were at where the | | | | beaten track and rough it 'off-road'. All sorts of things |
| conversation leaned towards camping. The true | | | | to consider now - chassis construction, interior |
| answer here is that you must WANT to go camping | | | | protection, battery power, water tank capacity, and |
| - with all the creepy crawlies and weather and what | | | | so on. The secret is - ask questions of your dealer |
| not. So the first thing you must do is consider and | | | | and make sure you are happy with the answer. Our |
| then decide. | | | | rig is an off-roader. It has a box chassis that is |
| 2. So, yes you want to do it, but how much can you | | | | 150mm by 50mm that extends the full length of the |
| afford? If you have unlimited funds, then go for it; | | | | camper. It has light truck tyres that lift it clear off |
| but if not you need to consider how often you will | | | | the ground and has independent suspension too. All |
| use the camper and for how long. I know someone | | | | cupboards and drawers have extra hinges and |
| up the road from us and he has a BushCamper (very | | | | securing screws. Do your homework! |
| expensive) that has been parked in the driveway for | | | | 6. Well, we have had a good trip and now are back |
| goodness knows how long. It's a little like buying a | | | | home. Where are we going to store our camper? Will |
| boat and then taking it out maybe four or five times | | | | it fit in the garage? Do we have extra space to park |
| a year. Not a good use for your money these days! | | | | it next to the house? Do we have to rent space |
| My approach has been to buy reasonably small and | | | | somewhere else? Questions you need to ask and |
| then progressively add to the functions and | | | | answer. Our camper fits very nicely in the garage |
| capabilities. | | | | thank you - and it was planned that way. But here |
| 3. How many people will use the camper? This is a bit | | | | comes another question. Yes you have the space, |
| like buying a tent. If you want to sleep two then | | | | but it happens to be off the road, up a steep |
| choose a unit that can sleep four. Only then will you | | | | driveway and around a left hand bend - so how do |
| be comfortable. If you want to get cosy then you | | | | you get it there? We faced such an issue. Up a |
| can sleep four but I personally don't recommend it. | | | | steep driveway with rock walls either side and |
| We have a five sleeper pop-top camper and it | | | | needing to rotate the camper through 180 degrees |
| comfortably sleeps two of us. If we wanted to sleep | | | | to store it in the garage. If this is your situation then |
| four we wouldn't be able to turn over during the | | | | you need to be prepared for some hard work or |
| night, and if we went to five there would be the | | | | some extra expense for a caravan mover. See some |
| drudge of knocking down the table, dragging out a | | | | movers and reviews on my website shown in my |
| mattress from goodness knows where and making | | | | resource box. |
| up the bed each night. in fact, we have ours weighed | | | | I hope this hasn't dampened your enthusiasm for |
| off now so that on longer trips where we might be | | | | buying a camper, but the point is, you have to be |
| staying one night here and two nights there, we can | | | | prepared. As far as I am concerned, in the end it is all |
| leave the beds made up. | | | | worth the effort and any expense, because camping |
| 4. Once you are out there in your new camper what | | | | life is THE life. |
| extras might you miss? Hot water? Radio? | | | | To learn much more about camping, with valuable tips |
| Television? Etc, etc. I know, the idea behind camping | | | | and hints visit my website below now. |
| is to leave those trappings behind, and if you are that | | | | |