Professional caravan servicing preferred

Aussie RV owners generally prefer to pay for a professional to do maintenance and repairs rather than attempt the job themselves, a new online survey has revealed.

According to a CIL Buyer Survey conducted by caravancampingsales in early-2023, more than two thirds (67 per cent) of respondents indicated they they go to a local dealer or specialist repair centre to fix a problem, compared to 32% that conduct their own servicing.

According to the survey, 52% said they own a caravan or other type of RV, with Baby Boomers (born from 1946 to 1964) significantly more likely to own a caravan or RV (57%) than Gen X (born 1965-80) respondents (41%)?.

Fifty nine per cent said they hit the road at least five weeks every year, with NSW and Queensland the most popular destinations.

Free camps and commercial caravan/holiday parks are the most preferred places to stop for the night, with 74% preferring to free camp and 62% opting for a commercial caravan or holiday park.

Interesting, 2% said they prefer to stay in hotels or motels – perhaps full-time grey nomads experiencing ‘cabin fever’!

More than half (55%) said they were looking to buy a caravan, followed by a motorhome (25%), pop-top (17%) and campervan (14%). However, Gen X are significantly more likely to be looking to buy a caravan (64%) compared to Baby Boomers, who are more likely to be seeking a motorhome.

Brand loyalty isn’t strong with 80% of respondents considering three or more brands before making a purchase, and the most important feature when buying are, in order of priority, overall condition, comfort/liveability, quality and reliability, off-grid capability, size and age.

Durability and quality is significantly more important to experienced campers (47%) compared to caravan newbies (32%).

When it comes to buying a new or used RV that’s advertised online, the most important considerations are fair pricing (82%) and detailed comments (73%), with the majority of buyers (60%) willing to travel interstate to purchase the van.

Fifty per cent are planning to spend up to $50,000 on their next new or used RV, while 32% said their budget extends to $60,000-$100,000. Just 18% said they plan to spend $100,000 or more on their next RV purchase.

Most respondents (83%) rely on cash or hard-earned savings to finance their next RV, with 22% using funds from the sale of another caravan.

As far as camping and RV accessories go, the most popular items on the wish-list are solar panels and batteries, followed by internet-related equipment, air-conditioners, satellite dishes, generators and awnings.

Around a third (34%) said they spend close to $5000 annually on RV accessories.