This is Your Sign to Buy a Second Hand Caravan or Touring Vehicle (Especially for Families)

Ready to dive into family travel without blowing the budget? Here’s my honest take on why second hand caravans and vehicles are often the best decision families can make.

If you’ve been thinking of hitting the road as a family, you’ve probably noticed how expensive new caravans and motorhomes can be. It’s easy to get caught up in shiny aesthetics, new gadgets and keeping up with the jones’ but here’s your reminder: you don’t need brand new to have an unforgettable family adventure.

In fact, buying second hand might just be the smartest decision you’ll EVER make! Here’s why:

1. You’ll Save Thousands (Literally)

The second you drive a brand new caravan or vehicle out of the dealership, it loses value. Families who buy second hand skip that huge depreciation slam and get way more bang for their buck. That extra money can go towards what really matters which is a longer holiday, more ice-cream and beers at the local pub, fuel and more paid experiences.

Picture this – you’ve just re mortgaged your home and dropped $200K on a new car and caravan set up (I’m being modest here), you drove all the way across the other side of Australia to the Ningaloo and there is a once in a lifetime chance you can swim with whale sharks but its $600pp and you have a family of 4. You are on a TIGHT budget since you spent most of your money on your set up and instead go to the free museum to see the whale shark exhibit. It just doesn’t feel the same does it!

Our first caravan set up was an old 1980’s Millard caravan we towed around Aus with our 6 month old baby.

2. You Can Find Something Already Set Up for Families

Other families have done the hard work before you. Bunks installed, storage hacks figured out, maybe even safety features for travelling with kids. Instead of paying to customise a brand new rig, you get something that’s already family ready.

The family who bought our old caravan were new to caravanning themselves and bought our old 1980s Millard set up and ready to go!

3. Less Stress About Wear and Tear

Let’s be real here, travelling with kids means spills, scratches, and the dents galore. When you buy second hand, you don’t have to stress about keeping everything pristine. Your caravan or vehicle is there to be lived in, not looked at!!

The “not so off road” caravan parked on the beach – it’s lighter than the newer caravans so we could tow it easily on the beach with some momentum.

4. More Room in the Budget for Adventure

As I mentioned before, every dollar you save on your caravan is a dollar you can spend on experiences, like a cruise through the Whitsundays you’ll never forget, a zoo entry or dinner out when you just can’t be bothered cooking after a massive travel day.

We are able to spend more money on things like this because we saved on our set up costs

5. The Market is Full of Great Options

Families upgrade, downsize or are finishing their caravan/ motorhome travel chapter all the time. That means the second hand market is full of gems if you’re patient and know where to look. We filter on exactly what we are looking for on Facebook Marketplace and set our notifications on so when the right vehicle/ caravan pops up we are on to it straight away (sometimes this can take months, even years!).

6. You Can Always Resell Later

Second hand caravans and vehicles hold their value surprisingly well if looked after. If you are finishing ups your travels, downgrading or upgrading, you can resell without losing nearly as much as you would on something brand new.

This is our current set up in New Zealand we plan on selling when we have finished our travels here.

Final Thoughts

Buying second hand doesn’t mean settling, it just means being smart with your money, your time and your family’s adventures. Your kids won’t remember whether your caravan was new or used. They’ll remember the places you went, the stories you told and the memories you made along the way.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign — this is it!!

❤ Britt
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