RVs have been a long established means of touring or vacationing in Australia. The size of the country, plus the comparitively small population, has made it a requirement to plan well for an extended trip.

Many visitors from North America or Europe are surprised by the scale of the country, roughly equivalent to each of these continents.

I have driven by car many times between Sydney and Perth, from the East (Pacific Ocean) coast to the West (Indian Ocean) coast. This is a distance of 4000 Kilometers or 2500 miles, driving 10-14 hours a day takes 4 days. (the Indian Pacific train trip takes 2 1/2 days, by air it’s 4 hours)

Now consider that one third of the area of the country is the state of Western Australia. WA has a population of 1.5 million, of whom 1.3 million live in Perth. This compares with the total Australian population of 20 million. So there is not much in the rest of the State. Crossing the Nullabor plain there is a gap between service stations and motels, for fuel and rest, of 100 miles or 160 Km.

The dream of many an Aussie on retirement, is to travel around the country in some form of RV. So there is a growing, and continually refreshing market for all types. Motor homes, class A, B, or C, conventional trailers, or caravans, fifth wheelers, and camper vans. Along with conversions, professional or home grown, these vehicles are increasingly seen on the highways throughout the country.

Another factor affecting the design requirements of an RV for use in Australia, is the climate variances. The Northern areas are tropical, the Southern areas are temperate, and get snow in the high country.

Throughout the country, but especially in the centre and on the West coast, there is a high proportion of sunshine, and ultra-violet exposure of people and materials can be a problem. Temperatures can range from 40-45C in Summer, to -10-15 in the Winter. Of course this is the “wrong way round”, and you can escape a freezing Europe or North America for a Hot Christmas vacation.

RV rentals are readily available in all areas of the country, and you can pick up and drop off at different points. You can find your own beach, with no-one around, or visit a camel farm, or gold, or diamond mine.

If you would like to be a little more adventurous, you can rent a 4×4 RV and experience the outback. There are also guided tours in 4×4s so you can go and see the bush, and the wildlife - crocodiles, anyone?

You may not know this but the RV has a lot of history that you will want to consider when it comes to camping. They now come in many sizes, but back in the day, they were like driving a bus. You will find that there are a lot of RVS that range from small to large to oversized. You will want to keep in mind that when it comes to classes, you have Class A, B, and C. Class B is a little bit smaller than Class B, however, Class A is the larges type of RV and is considered to be an oversized bus. You will want to make sure that you pick an RV that you will feel comfortable driving and safely.

When it comes to camping with the RV you will find that there are a lot of advantages. You will be able to find plenty of room for the whole family, no matter how big, and you will be able to have a home away from home. You will find that many of the newer RVs have the TV with a DVD player. You will have a wires computer hookup abilities, and you may even be able to get satellite so that you can get the net anywhere you go. If you are thinking about getting an RV, you will need to think about the different classes and their advantages.

When it comes to the Class A RV, you will want to keep in mind that it is not just for anyone. Even though there is plenty of room, it is the largest size and can be very difficult to drive. You will need to learn how to take wide turns and even back up correctly. You will find that it may take some skills to drive this type of RV, especially when it comes to winding and awful mountain roads.

As for Class B, you will find that this type of RV is really just the normal sized RV. Even though it is smaller, you will be able to find the basics and some sleeping quarters. You will find that this size of RV is perfect when it comes to going away for a short amount of time, like for the weekend. You will also find that you will end up getting better gas mileage when it comes to the Class B vehicles rather than the Class A. However, you may not like the RV if it is for more than the two of you. The space is very limited and you will need to make sure that you go somewhere with the power options and other connections, because this RV doesn’t have all the desirable options. You will find that the features of this class are pretty basic. You will want to consider that the size of Class C.

The Class C is the mid-sized version. You will find that it is about the size of an armored vehicle. You will be able to drive this one better than the Class A, and you’ll be able to enjoy more space and luxuries than you would if you went with the Class B.