Owning a caravan is exciting for an avid traveller, so if you are a camping fanatic, love going on road trips, or you are constantly hit with wanderlust, owning a caravan can be a blessing. So, when is the right time to move on from your old-time caravan and trade it in for something new?
Your Family Has Grown
When you bought your first caravan, it might have been just you and the road. Whatever your plans were when you first purchased your caravan, chances are they’ve changed at least a little since then. Kids grow, and bigger kids mean more room is needed in your caravan.
Or perhaps you just went and adopted 5 dogs from the local shelter. Whatever way your family might have grown, your caravan needs to grow too.
Being cramped together in small spaces could put a dampener on your next holiday, so you should explore some bigger and better options for more spacious solutions to your family situation. It is important to make room for the kids in your caravan, but remember that it is just as important to downsize to a sleeker and more compact caravan for you and your partner once the kids have moved out.
You Want to Keep Up with the Latest Trends
With our world constantly improving its latest technology, it is no wonder you are feeling left behind. Wanting to upgrade your caravan to the latest model is perfectly understandable in this day and age. With new technology and the latest improvements to design and engineering, a fancy new upgrade might be what your caravan needs. If everyone stayed the same and didn’t want to move on to new and exciting things, we would all be travelling by horse and cart still.
Now, that’s not to say you have to go and buy the fanciest new caravan model out there to stay ahead. Making some small improvements to your existing caravan might be all it takes to bring it into modern times. Upgrading your caravan is essential, because as you adapt and grow and your needs change, your caravan will need to grow with you.
You Are More Confident in Your Driving
Towing a caravan might have seemed intimidating when you first started your caravan trips, so this likely affected your decision when picking which caravan you wanted to buy. Now that you can confidently tow your caravan around anywhere, your choices have broadened more. You can go for bigger, more heavier caravans if you want to. There are of course restrictions to the maximum width and mass, which any good caravan dealer will be aware of, but whilst slimmer and lighter models are easier to tow, now that you are confident at towing a caravan you don’t have to shy away from the bigger caravans if that is what you need.
You can also be less afraid to spend money on a good quality caravan; knowing that you can tow it safely and confidently, there is less risk to your caravan investment. As with cars, you should always have insurance to protect your caravan, because no matter how confident you are, there is always risk involved with driving. Your caravan needs to be insured to protect you the driver, as well as any valuables you keep in the caravan. There are lots of insurance options and plans available, so you should compare caravan insurance options and find the deal that works best for you and your caravanning needs.
You Are Concerned About Safety
Whilst your classic caravan that you’ve had for 30 years might be perfect in your eyes, there comes a time when safety is more important. Holding onto your old caravan because it is full of great memories cannot outweigh the overall safety of you and everyone else. Ensuring that your caravan meets all safety standards, is in good condition, and is fitted with the correct parts and devices is your duty as a driver. This can also affect your insurance rates too, so it is more cost-efficient in the long term.
If you have upgraded your car, then you might need to upgrade your tow bar or caravan to better suit your car. You should also look into gadgets such as Tyre Pressure Monitoring systems, Anti-Snaking Devices and ATCs (Automatic Trailer Control). It is essential that your caravan and car are fitted with the correct parts and devices to make you and your passengers, as well as other drivers on the road, as safe as possible.
You Want to Save on Costs
If you want to bring the cost of caravanning down, then you need to consider the points above. Making important upgrades and improvements to your caravan will lower the risks of towing and mean your insurance company will be much happier. The cost-effectiveness of your caravan could also come from the type of caravan you have, with things like drag and fuel consumption being affected. On the opposite end of things, you might have more cash than you used to, so if your caravan is essential to your life and something super important to you, maybe you want to buy yourself a shiny new model.
Whatever type of caravanner you are, if your caravan is important to you, then you will need to keep it up to date and adapt it to fit your lifestyle. Whilst your caravan might change and grow with you, you will always keep those wonderful memories with you.
