Frequently Asked Questions
Caravan Compare is free for buyers.
We do not sell caravans.
Partners can pay us.
Yes, free for buyers. There is no fee, no signup and no paywall on any tool or comparison on the site. Partners can pay us, which is what funds the work, and we set out every way that can happen on our how we make money page.
We only say where a van is built when its maker states it publicly, and we do not guess otherwise. Our focus is Australian-built caravans. If origin matters to you, ask the dealer and the maker. The compliance plate on the van shows its make, VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass), GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) and tare. It is worth asking the dealer to show it to you before you sign anything.
It compares the manufacturer's published figures for your car against the manufacturer's published figures for the caravan, and shows you the ones that fit. Check your owner's manual and weigh your loaded car and van before you tow. Accessories such as bull bars and winches add weight, and only a certified upgrade changes what your car is rated to do.
No. We do not sell caravans. We are a comparison and research site. We help you compare vans, then point you to the maker or its dealers so you deal with them directly.
Ball weight is the downward force the caravan puts on your car's tow ball when it is hitched. Your car has a maximum ball weight in its own specifications and the van has a published ball weight of its own, and the second has to sit under the first. Too much weight on the ball makes the steering feel light, and it is one of the figures an insurer can look at after an accident.
The weights come off the manufacturers' own published material, and we record where each figure came from. Tare weight is the one to treat carefully: it is the van as the maker specifies it, and options fitted at the dealer such as extra batteries, water tanks or a different suspension change it. The plate shows the van's ratings. Your loaded weights must stay inside them.
Nick, the founder. We are an independent Australian site, we are not owned by a manufacturer or a dealer group, and we do not sell caravans.
Our how we make money page explains in full how the site is paid for.
Our about us page tells you who runs the site.