What Australian caravans come with
As standard.
Makers most often fit solar, air conditioning and an ensuite as standard.
Below are the full feature list and the typical solar, water and battery sizes.
Updated . 8 min read • Buying Guide
The features most often fitted as standard across Australian caravan models on our site are solar, air conditioning and an ensuite.
Sizes vary far more than inclusions do, so the typical solar, water and battery figures below matter as much as the list.
- Solar - around 600W is typical (on models with a published solar figure)
- Fresh water - around 190L is typical (on models with a published tank figure)
- Battery - around 300Ah is typical (on models with a published battery figure)
Features most often fitted as standard
Each number below counts the models on our site that have the feature fitted as standard, going by the maker's own published material.
Fitted as standard means part of the base build. Pre-wiring, options packs and items available on request do not count. Check the options list for the exact layout you are pricing.
Solar
Panels fitted as standard, feeding the battery wherever the van is parked.
Air conditioning
Usually a roof-mounted reverse-cycle unit, so it heats as well as cools.
Ensuite
A shower and toilet inside the van, so nobody is walking to an amenities block at night.
Outdoor kitchen
A slide-out cooktop and bench that puts dinner under the awning.
Off-grid setup
Equipped by the maker for camping away from power and water.
Washing machine
A compact top or front loader, most useful on long stints away from town.
Large water tanks
More fresh water capacity than the usual pair of tanks carries.
Diesel heater
Ducted heating that runs from its own fuel supply rather than a powered site.
Bunks
Fixed bunk beds, the marker of a family layout.
Island bed
A bed you can walk around on both sides, so nobody climbs over anybody.
Club lounge
A wraparound lounge and table built for sitting rather than sleeping.
Slide-out
A wall section that extends outward when parked, adding floor space.
Features near the top of the list are common defaults. Further down, a feature is more often a deliberate layout choice.
The typical power setup
Solar wattage varies widely between models. On models with a published solar figure, a typical roof array is around 600W. A typical battery bank on models that publish one is around 300Ah.
Read the two together. The battery sets how much power the van can store, and the solar sets how quickly it recharges. An inverter is what lets either run a 240V appliance.
Sizing it for your own trips
To turn the appliances you run into a solar and battery figure, read how much solar does a caravan need. The AGM-versus-lithium choice is in caravan battery types compared.
The typical water setup
Fresh water usually travels in a pair of tanks under the floor. On models with a published figure, typical total fresh capacity is around 190L. Grey water tanks are usually smaller, typically around 80L, so the grey tank often fills before the fresh runs out.
Water is the heaviest thing most vans carry. Every litre weighs one kilogram, so full tanks use payload before a bag is packed. A bigger tank only helps on a van with the payload to fill it. The sum is set out in caravan payload explained.
What standard means, and what options add
Standard describes the base build of a model: what every van of it leaves the factory with before options. Published starting prices and published tare weights usually describe that same base build, which is what makes them comparable between models.
Each option adds cost, and most add weight. Added weight increases the van's tare and reduces its payload. A heavily optioned van can weigh more than its brochure suggests, so trust the build sheet and the compliance plate for the van you are buying.
ATM, tare and the other weight terms are covered in caravan weights explained.
Common questions about standard features
Do Australian caravans come with solar?
Solar fitted as standard is one of the most common features across Australian caravan models, and panel size varies a great deal between models. On a spec sheet, solar-ready means pre-wiring only. Look for a wattage figure and confirm what the layout you are pricing includes.
Is air conditioning standard on Australian caravans?
Air conditioning is among the more common features fitted as standard, usually as a roof-mounted reverse-cycle unit that heats as well as cools. On some smaller and lighter layouts it is an option, so confirm it against the exact layout. Running it away from a powered site takes a large battery and inverter setup.
How much water does a caravan usually carry?
Most commonly a pair of fresh water tanks, with a smaller grey water tank. Every litre weighs one kilogram, so read tank capacity and payload together. A bigger tank only helps if the van has the payload to fill it. Our payload guide covers that sum.
Do caravans come with a washing machine?
Some models fit one as standard and many others offer one as an option. It suits travellers away for months at a time. Like everything aboard, it uses payload and water, so weigh it against how often a caravan park laundry would do the job.
What does standard mean on a caravan spec sheet?
Standard describes the base build of that model: what every van of that model leaves the factory with before options. Options add capability, cost and weight. The published tare usually describes the base build too, so a heavily optioned van weighs more and carries less than the brochure suggests. The build sheet and the compliance plate for the van you are buying settle it.
See which vans carry the features you want
Filter vans by feature, or read how payload works.