FAQs

Have you always wanted to try a caravan but not sure what exactly you want in terms of features and functionality?

This is where hiring can be really beneficial. There are so many different types of caravans, campers and motorhome styles to choose from.

With each trip you take, why not try out a different style to see what suits your needs best? It\’s the easiest way to assess if it is worth the hefty investment, maintenance and ongoing costs of purchasing your own.

Caravans are what Great Rates is all about and we think it’s the best option for most holidays. Some of the benefits of caravans include:

• Ability to detach the car for day trips whilst keeping the camp all set up
• Great for both families and individuals with the vast range of styles on the market
• Quick set-up
• Reliable and easy-to-use
• Much more luxurious than tents or swags
• Sturdy and protective in harsh weather
• Can be self-sufficient with hot water, sewerage, and kitchen facilities all included

If you need, our friendly staff at Great Rates can even deliver your van to your desired location and set it up for you ready for use leaving you free to relax and enjoy the getaway.

If you need any more persuasion, check out our travel blog to see the options that are available with caravans!

Part of our terms and conditions are to include details of your vehicle to ensure it has adequate towing capacity.

Our two heavier caravans are the Journey and the Expanda, the Swan and Eagle campers are the lighter cousins and lighter to tow.

You can find your car’s towing capacity in two places. Firstly it will be stated in the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook and secondly, there should be a ‘rating plate’ attached to your tow bar.

The weights of our vans are:
JOURNEY 1765 – 2000kg
EXPANDA 1500 – 1800kg
EAGLE/SWAN 1200 – 1500kg

Additionally to weight considerations is braking systems. We fit all of our vans with an approved ‘electronic braking system’ which works in tandem with your vehicle.

For this to be effective you must ensure your car is wired for electronic brakes or we have a bluetooth system which can be hired too. We have a number of suppliers who can help you get electric brakes fitted out if needed.

Absolutely! Just let us know where you would like then caravan delivered to and we can give you a quote to deliver to your site. Send us an enquiry or book on our booking page and add delivery & pickup as optional extras to let us know to add to the quote for you.

Caravans are large and heavy and as a result have their own braking system on their tyres but the brakes are (generally) controlled by the brakes in your car.

There are three options for caravan electric braking systems:

• Hardwired system in your car – The Redarc electric brake system is the best in market but is a permanent and most costly addition to your car. This is great for renters who plan on towing regularly.
• Bluetooth system on the caravan – This is not available on all caravans but requires no special hardware on your car and the brakes operate automatically and via a bluetooth controller we provide you. This is rented for an additional fee.
• Portable electric brake controller – we can provide a portable brake controller if your car is fitted with a 4-pin connector installed by an auto-electrician under your steering wheel. This is rented for an additional fee.

If you decide you want to book, simply choose your caravan type on our “hire caravans” page, select your dates you want to hire and our system will work out the cost and take you to checkout. We will review your order and be in touch to lock it in.

We take a 25% deposit to secure your booking. The rest can be paid at time of hire. All payments are taken online.

Additionally, at the checkout page we also have optional extras you can add to your stay. These extras include linen, games, SUP’s, kayaks and other equipment you might like on your holiday. It is important to add them into your cart early so they aren\’t booked out or unavailable for when you want them!

If bookings need to be changed, please contact us through our email and we will be happy to help you out with any modifications.

Depends on what time of year you would like to hire. We have peak and off-peak pricings, you can check the pricing for your dates on our booking page.

Hiring a caravan is a very affordable way to see Australia. You can check out our FAQ page and read “renting vs buying a caravan” and “why hire a caravan” for more information.

We have a minimum hire of 3 nights / 4 days. This is because it takes quite some time for us to get your van ready for your big getaway. We make sure we do a thorough clean and check and top up supplies as well as do any maintenance or repairs required.

Unfortunately, your furry friend will need to stay home for this trip. Our vans do not take pets as guests, sorry.

The short answer is yes, however making the caravan as level as possible will give you an enjoyable holiday.

You have the wheel at the front and stabiliser legs to help keep the van level once setup. We will give you a full handover to give you the best strategies.

Our caravans must be kept to sealed roads at all times please. They are not the off-road series so taking them off-road can cause significant damage. If you were to take the van off-road, it would result in an immediate forfeit of your bond to help cover repair costs.

Hire caravan insurance is very similar to renting a car from any of the major car rental companies.

When hiring through Great Rates, you will have a standard excess amount of $5000 for any damage to the caravan.

We offer the ability to reduce this excess down to $1500 through an additional daily fee of $12.

General recommendations are:

• Correctly set down the caravan before driving off
• Triple check all doors are locked
• Ensure the awnings are locked in place
• Lock the fridge before taking off
• Check lights and brakes work before driving off
• Follow our tutorials to quickly brush up on appliance operation before using

Should an accident or breakdown occur, the Hirer must notify Great Rates Australia as soon as possible.

If any damage happens (it does at times) it is the Hirer’s responsibility to get the caravan/camper trailer/vehicle to a safe place whilst repairs are carried out on the caravan/camper trailer/vehicle.

We strongly advise all Hirers to take out ‘RAA Premium’ motoring insurance cover (or similar) to minimize unforeseen out-of-pocket expenses. eg, towing, alternative accommodation, or transport

You have your heart set on the dream caravan life but not sure if to hire or take the plunge into buying?

Concerns about storage, insurance or maintenance? Interest rates on the hefty loan looks a bit scary? Are you going to feel disappointed with it sitting in the shed whilst you are unable to holiday? Maybe you want to mix it up with a cruise or overseas trip to Europe or some exotic island and the guilt rolls in for getting the full value out of your van?

We have done the number crunching for you. Take a look at the data comparing the costs of hire vs buy to help you make the best informed decision. You might be quite surprised, by renting you might be able to afford extra luxuries or add-ons that you otherwise wouldn’t.

Jayco Expanda Pop-top $68,000

Jayco Swan Camper Trailer $32,00

To summarise, over 5 years you would have spent over $100,000 on the Pop Top vs only $31,000 by hiring.

Hiring gives you the benefit of choosing a van to best suit your holiday needs, while not having to wear the time and financial cost of an asset that you may only use a few times per year and can take months to sell second-hand.

Not convinced? To see even more benefits of hiring a caravan see (link to why hire a caravan page) or take a look at our vans to see the options (link to vans hire page).

You can now go live that caravan life stress free and save the extra money to put to more holidays!

It’s a WIN-WIN, how good!

Sometimes accidents happen and that’s okay. We have developed some redundancies to help you out whilst protecting our valuable vans. Depending on what damage it is, the price varies.

There is a $650 bond taken on hire to cover damage to the contents in the van against theft and breakages.

You will be covered under our insurance policy for when on the road. If you were in the unfortunate event of a crash there is an excess of $5,000.

Great Rates offers an additional payment of $12 per day to reduce your excess to $1,500. We suggest you opt for the reduced excess if you are inexperienced at towing or have any hesitations.

If any damage happens (it does at times) it is the Hirer’s responsibility to get the caravan/camper trailer/vehicle to a safe place whilst repairs are carried out on the caravan/camper trailer/vehicle.

We strongly advise all Hirers to take out ‘RAA Premium’ motoring insurance cover (or similar) to minimize unforeseen out of pocket expenses. eg, towing, alternative accommodation or transport

Better to be safe than sorry!

Our rental caravans connect to a standard power cable via an adaptor. In a perfect world you want to connect caravans to a 15A connection (common in caravan parks) as this allows more appliances to be used at once. Connection to a standard home power supply will work but fewer appliances will be able to be used at once.

Our hire caravans all connect to standard water hoses for water supply and to fill up their tanks.

You’ll start with a fully-equipped caravan, including all of the below

• Plates
• Bowls
• Cups
• Drinking tumblers
• Cutlery
• Assorted cooking knives and utensils
• Can opener
• Tongs
• 2 saucepans and a frypan
• Food storage containers
• Cutting board
• Casserole dish/lid (microwave-safe)
• Electric kettle
• Toaster
• Dustpan and brush
• Floor broom
• Bucket
• Tea towel
• Oven mitt
• Floor mat
• Clothes pegs
• Electric brake controller (if required)
• Fire extinguisher
• Kitchen tidy bin & spare bags
• 15 amp electrical extension cord
• Grey water and drinking water hoses

And…some consumables to get you started:

• Fly spray
• Dishwashing liquid
• Spray and wipe
• Hand soap
• Oil
• Tea
• Coffee
• Salt and pepper

We also offer the for hire:

• Towing Mirrors
• Pillows, doonas, blankets, bed linen and towel set $10 per day
• Inflatable SUP, paddle, life jacket + pump $50 off-peak/$70 peak per day ($40/60 child) per board set
• Snorkel, goggles, fins $15 off-peak/$25 peak per day per set
• Kayak, life jackets, dry bag, paddle $50 off-peak/$70 peak per day per kayak set
• Board game set