By Tracey Peers.
For a woman like you, there’s nothing more fun than packing your bags, driving to your favourite camping spot, pitching your tent on the ground, and enjoying the great outdoors with your family or best mates.
But there are instances when pitching a tent is not as comfortable for you anymore. Your sleeping bag’s fantastic, but sometimes, your back’s just sick of the hard ground and craving creature comforts back home. There’s also the issue of safety as more and more people flock to campgrounds all year long.
There’s also the problem of running out of drinking water, missing hot showers, or not having enough charge on your phone to last you through the weekend. Some tents also offer dismal protection from the elements (i.e. it’s hot inside during the day and cold at night).
That’s why you finally decided to invest in a camper. But how do you choose the best camper for an Australian adventure? What features should you look for and what are the other factors to consider when buying one? Let’s find out.
The best camper is the one you can afford
There’s nothing worse than buying and getting stuck with a pricey camper that you can’t afford to pay off. A cheaper one that doesn’t have the features that would make your outing comfortable is also a bad choice.
In choosing the best camper, it is recommended that you find the right balance between what you want and what you can afford. How do you do that?
First, make a wishlist of the features you want and see which camper trailer (that is within your budget) has those features. Ask yourself if you’re fine with a more affordable standard camper trailer equipped with basic features and inclusions? Or are you looking to splurge on something that comes with more advanced features? If you’re gunning for the second option, then be prepared to spend more for these conveniences.
Quality is another factor to consider when choosing the right camper trailer for women. You may want something that is on the more affordable side but make sure to check whether it’s durable or not and whether it has the features you want. You may have scored a deal by buying cheap, but you’ll be spending thousands more if it constantly needs to be repaired.
Travelling solo or with family/mates?
If you’re a lady camping alone, then you may want to choose something with comfort, security and protection from the elements. The Canning Teardrop Camper, for example, is a good option for solo or couples travelling. It has a solid and secure shell that keeps rain and heat out as the whole unit is completely sealed. And unlike a tent, there’s no need to set it up on the campgrounds. Just park your SUV or truck on site, and you’re good to go.
As a woman, our foremost priorities when travelling solo are our safety and privacy. A camper offers more privacy than a regular tent as you can close the door whenever you need to change and do some personal stuff. It is also safer as you can lock the door at night. No need to worry about shady or drunk campground neighbours when you’re safe and sound inside your camper.
Of course, your needs and priorities change when travelling with your family or with friends. Campers that come with better water storage capacity or the capability to heat water are a great choice if you’re camping with your spouse and your children.
Or maybe you want to hang out with your friends and blast some music while enjoying the great outdoors. Then a camper trailer equipped with a long-lasting battery or a solar panel would be a great choice.
Consider the camping location
Are you the type of person who wants to go off the grid completely, or are you more comfortable in more familiar places? That’s another question you have to ask yourself when choosing the best camper for your grand Australian adventure.
There are camper trailers that are better suited for more familiar places, such as camping spots just outside the city, state forests, and national parks. The scenic Carnarvon National Park, for example, has facilities such as toilets, barbecue, and picnic tables, while the Cattai campground even has showers and a picnic area. And because your chosen camping spot already has these amenities, it’s best to choose a camper trailer with standard features.
If you’d rather go camping in remote locations, then buy the best camper you can afford. One that preferably has all the right features that will make your journey and stay as comfortable as possible. These can include a fully equipped kitchen, a power station, a bed, charging ports, and more. A camper trailer with a hard, weatherproof shell is also a good choice as it can protect you from the elements, wildlife, and even shady campers and passers-by.
The type of vehicle you own
Like it or not, the type of vehicle you own will play a large role in choosing the right camper. Sedans are perfect for driving around the city and pulling a small trailer now and then. But you have to be careful when choosing a camper as most sedans have a smaller towing capacity than other types of vehicles.
Is bigger better when it comes to vehicles towing campers? The answer is yes, bigger is definitely better.
Most SUVs and pick-up trucks are ideal for pulling a camper trailer due to their large size. And because they’re heftier, they have higher towing capacity than most sedans.
But your vehicle’s towing capacity is only one-half of the equation. Another factor you should consider when buying a camper in Australia is the vehicle’s tow ball weight. But what is tow ball weight and why does it matter as it relates to choosing the right camper for you and your companions?
The tow ball weight simply refers to the weight of your camper that is applied on your SUV or pick-up truck’s tow ball. It affects not only the condition and performance of your vehicle but also your safety while driving to and from the camping spot.
The bottom line is to check if you have the right vehicle for the camper that you have chosen. You can find your vehicle’s towing capacity in the owner’s manual or on the internet. The tow ball weight, on the other hand, can be found on the plate of the vehicle’s tow bar.
Shopping For a Camper Trailer
Now that you know how to choose the best camper for an Australian adventure, it’s time to buy yours. But before you visit a camper trailer store or dealer, start by listing and narrowing down your priorities, such as safety, features, capacity, etc.
Fire up your computer or phone, and shop the best camper online first so you’ll get an idea of their features and their prices. And when you find one, it’s time to pack your bags and enjoy Mother Nature once again.
Your thoughts on choosing the best camper for an Australian adventure?
Share your comments below…
Tracey Peers
I am a mother of 3, who have all been brought up to enjoy camping in the great outdoors. Our daughter went on her first camping trip at the age of 4 weeks. I especially enjoy outback travel and discovering the history of the people and places which usually always involves a trip to the cemetery and taking many detours off the beaten track.
When not enjoying the outdoors I enjoy reading history novels and researching my family tree.
Really good read. Until recently I was a tent camper and we bought a RV this summer. I did a Tent VS RV review on my blog – https://supercampingtips.com/tips-advice/tent-camping-vs-rv-camping/ that I felt its a great add on
As a woman, our top priority when traveling alone is our safety and privacy. Campers offer more privacy than a regular tent because you can close the door when you need to change and do something personal.
It is definitely a priority for women to feel safe and have privacy whilst travelling.
Some great ideas here especially for women who are solo traveling. With this in mind would it be best to choose your vehicle based on the SUV you want?
Hi, one of the main things you need to consider when choosing a vehicle and the type of camper/caravan that you are going to purchase is what your vehicle is rated to tow. It is very common for people to actually be towing more than their vehicle is capable of because they don’t check.
Pinning this! I love to camp alone!
It is all about getting out and enjoying life.
Australia is definitely on our bucket list.. as is New Zealand.. However, traveling in a camper/RV has also been on our to – do here in the US.. so maybe first we will rent it out for a short trip and see what works best.. Love the info and tips that will help make our decision easier
There are many fantastic places to explore. It is all about getting out there and seeing what type of camper works for you.
great tips! I agree, each place, each country has it’s special moments and all the time we can use fit it all approach
I am so glad you agree. Life is an adventure.
I think it’s right about time to try going on a camper! Looks like a lot of fun!
It certainly is fun camping, whether it is in a camper or not.
These are great tips if you are going to purchase a camper for all your travels.
Thanks Laura. I appreciate your positive feedback.
I can’t wait to visit – saving this for our future adventure!
I hope you get to experience your future adventures real soon.
This had such great info! We have been looking into doing a road trip in Australia and I have been reading about camper vans and campers. We just toured around Estonia with a camper and it was such a fun and practical option for traveling. A true adventure. I really hope we can pull this off and loved all the tips you had here.
Sounds like a great plan. Estonia sounds amazing. I hope you had a great time.
We’re going on a camping trip tomorrow, I am so so excited about it…Camping is my fav outdoor activity ever… to do this in a camper would be even better!
I hope you have a fantastic camping trip. Getting outdoors is simply the best.
Safety should always be your number one concern if camping alone, even when in a camper.
I agree safety should always be the number one priority when you are camping anywhere.
I’ve always wanted a teardrop camper. It’s perfect for my solo trips, and definitely at this time in my life, my days of sleeping on the ground have lost their charm. I do still like to spend as much time as possible traveling, and a teardrop camper would be so much fun! Not a fan of going too far off the beaten path when I’m alone, so I think a teardrop camper would give me the privacy and safety I’m looking for, while still being small enough to tow. Thanks for walking me through this decision!
I agree Teardrop campers are great and they make a perfect option for the solo traveller.
Camping enthusiasts will find this post very helpful. An adventure in Australia would be a fantastic experience if you choose the best camper for your needs. I’m grateful that you shared these suggestions with us; I’ll keep them in mind anytime I decide to spend some time outside in the future.
Thank you for your positive feedback and I hope that you get the opportunity to get out and about real soon.
My husband and I have a Teardrop and we love it! I agree that when we shopped for a camper we must understand our needs first, although sometimes it changed after looking at the websites. lol. I would like to rent a camper when we travel to Australia, and I hope there are a lot of camper rentals in the country.
Everything is always a compromise. There are many different options for camper trailer hire in Australia and I hope you get the opportunity to come and explore here one day.
I’ve always thought that renting a camper would be a fun way to exploring the more natural areas around the country and saving on time, hotel and food. Just the convenience of stopping and going where you please sounds like the ideal way to travel in this big country.
I can highly recommend it, if you ever get the chance.
We plan to return to Australia one day and had not thought about travelling in a camper. So it was interesting to read this post and look at things we need to consider. We would be looking to rent something that we could drive so we did not need to rent both a vehicle and a camper. I am sure that locals would find your thoughts on shopping for a camper trailer helpful with their own cars.
I am glad you enjoyed it. I certainly hope you get to return to Australia one day and there are certainly many options available for rent.
Very informative, Finding the camping location and the type of camper can be a lot of hassle and make a difference in the camping experience. You make the decision much easier.
Thank you. I’m glad that you enjoyed it and I certainly hope it helped.
Definitely traveling with family if I’m in Australia. I’d want to share that adventure in a camper.
I certainly hope you and your family get the opportunity.
I certainly hope you and your family get to visit Australia.
I never thought so objectively before buying a camper. The points you put forth not only apply to women but also to any camping enthusiast. I am rooting for a camper with water heating facilities, that’s such a difficulty when traveling with family.
I am glad you liked it. Happy adventuring.
Hhhhhmmm….alright then. I will keep all these tips in close consideration. Thanks for sharing about them.
I hope they will come in handy to someone.
This is awesome, I would love to try this type of Australian adventure. It sounds amazing and these tips will help.
I can definitely recommend an Australian adventure. I’m glad you think the tips will help.
I’m glad you like it and I hope you get the chance to visit Australia and have an adventure.
Getting the right one is so important! We waited and thought about it for so long, and we just got a campervan, which is perfect for the two of us. Taking a road trip and camping as you explore can be so fun!
Getting the right camper is definitely important as it is a significant investment. Happy adventures!
I think I’d rent. I’d love to take a trip to Australia with the family and then rent a camper for a solid two weeks. That would be amazing.
There are many options in Australia to rent campers/caravans etc. I hope you get to experience Australia with your family very soon.
Such a great article to read. So good to know about the camper. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for your positive feedback.