Caravan moving with a smile

Touring around in a motorhome or caravan is usually one of life’s great pleasures, but what happens when for some reason you need to move your RV from A to B but can’t do it yourself?

Up until now, one of few options was to use the services of a transport or trucking company and cop a big bill.

But now there’s another alternative, with Queenslander Anthony Thomas offering a more personalized – and potentially much cheaper – door-to-door service for RV owners.

After close to 50 years in the transport industry, driving everything from taxis to trucks, Thomas saw an opportunity in the market to offer a specialist RV relocation service, especially to the growing band of grey nomads.

"I realized there was a need for people to be rescued when travelling around Australia in a caravan or motorhome, and they needed to get home as a result of the main driver, usually the husband becoming incapacitated," he explained.

"For instance, a heart attack, stroke, falling out of the van and breaking a leg… The wife doesn’t drive and they need to get the car and caravan home."

But since starting Caravan Relocation Services in mid-2013, he's seen demand from other types of RV owners, including those who buy a van in one state and want it delivered to their home in another.

He’s also seen demand from time poor, double income families wanting a "caravan holiday relocation service". For example, he towed a caravan for a Melbourne family up to Darwin so they could fly in and make the most of three weeks' annual leave.

He’ll even take your caravan to be repaired or serviced, but only in his local Brisbane area.

Thomas will fly or drive anywhere in Australia, and will provide via the Caravan Relocation Services website a free, all-inclusive quote that includes a minimum daily rate, as well as any flights or fuel expenses for his Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series tow vehicle if required.

"I work on very low overheads,  being a one man band, basically," he said.

His biggest job so far was for a woman who bought a caravan in Sydney and wanted it towed 3600km to Katherine in the Northern Territory. The 8000km round trip ended up taking 12 days, and he said cost her $3100 less than the cheapest transport truck quote she received.

Although clients must cover Thomas under their own RV insurance policy (he can only afford cover for his LandCruiser), he reckons he’s a safe bet.

"I’ve been driving for 48 years, never had an accident, never had a speeding fine, my record speaks for itself… I’ve driven in excess of probably three and a half million kilometres, that’s not a bad record."

Thomas also believes he’s unique in offering a 'door-to-door' service, unlike some transport companies which only drop off in main towns or depots. He’ll even wash your van and set it up as part of the deal.

"It’s a quick service, it's a personal service, it's door to door, and I do it with a smile," he said.