Campervans for Sale in Australia

Campervan or motorhome?

On Caravan Domain a campervan is a van with its living fit-out inside the original body. When the builder adds a separate living box behind the cab, we file it with the motorhomes for sale. If you would rather keep your own ute or four-wheel drive and add a camper to the tray, look at the slide-on campers for sale as well.

Campervan ranges in our make index come from RV builders such as Trakka, Windsor, Sunliner and Avida ⁵. Jayco and Snowy River have campervan models too ⁵. Our page of Trakka campervans for sale lists that maker's ads. The seller can also name the base vehicle, the van the campervan was built on, so you can compare models built on the same base.

Do you need more than a car licence?

The licence goes by the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), the most it may weigh fully loaded. NSW's licence classes page says a class C licence covers vans and other light vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes GVM that seat up to 12 adults, including the driver ¹. A rigid vehicle over 4.5 tonnes and up to 8 tonnes GVM needs a class LR licence ¹.

Do not assume a campervan is within the car licence limit. Read the GVM on the compliance plate or registration papers, and compare it with the licence class the seller gives on the ad. Each campervan ad on Caravan Domain has a licence class field (car, LR, MR or HR) for the seller to complete.

What the GVM means for your load

The GVM is a limit on the loaded van, not a description of the empty one. The Western Australian Department of Transport's Safe Towing Guide defines it as the maximum a vehicle can weigh when fully laden ⁴. In a campervan the water and food count toward it, and so do the people on board. A heavy fit-out leaves less room for them. Weigh the van with your usual load before a long trip.

Roofs and layouts

Pop top, high top or standard roof

Campervans are sold with different roof styles. A pop top lifts at camp for standing room and lowers to keep the van short for car parks. A high top roof gives standing room all the time at the cost of extra height. A standard roof keeps the van as it left the factory, with less headroom inside. Check the travel height on the ad against any car park or garage you will use.

Beds, kitchens and bathrooms

Look at how the bed is made up. Some campervans have a fixed bed, while others turn the seats into a bed each night. Kitchens range from a sink and a cooktop to a full galley. If you want a shower and toilet, use the ensuite filter, and expect a longer or taller van to fit one in.

Four-wheel drive campervans

Some builders offer campervans on four-wheel drive bases for dirt roads, such as Avida's Explorer LX 4x4 ⁵. The terrain you plan to cover matters more than the badge, so ask about ground clearance and tyres.

Buying a converted campervan

Some campervans are fitted out after the van leaves the factory, either by a business or by an owner. A professional fit-out and a home build can look alike in photos, so ask who did the work and when.

For vehicles over 4.5 tonnes GVM, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's guide VSG5, Converting a vehicle into a motorhome sets out the heavy vehicle safety requirements for the conversion ². For a light vehicle under 4.5 tonnes GVM, the same page points to Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14, Section LH, code LH11 ². VSG5 says registration requirements differ slightly between the states and territories ². Ask the seller for any modification certificate, and check with the transport authority in your state if the paperwork is missing.

Ask these questions about any conversion:

• who fitted it out, and is there a certificate or invoice
• were the seats or seatbelts changed, moved or added
• who installed the LPG system and is there a compliance certificate for it
• who did any mains-voltage wiring

Towing behind a campervan

A campervan can tow a small trailer or a boat within its ratings. Under the Transport for NSW towing rules, a trailer up to 750 kg GTM needs no brakes, and the loaded trailer must not exceed the lowest of the ratings that apply, including the tow bar's and the vehicle's towing capacity ³. P1 drivers in NSW may tow only small trailers with up to 250 kg of unloaded weight ³. The WA guide adds that the trailer's tow hitch download counts toward the vehicle's GVM ⁴.

Checking a used campervan

A campervan is a working vehicle first. Check it as you would any used van, then check the camping gear.

Engine, body and history

Each campervan ad on Caravan Domain shows the odometer reading. Ask for the service history and compare it with the base vehicle maker's schedule. Look for rust around the wheel arches and sills. Check the edges of any hole cut into the body for a window or roof. Drive it on the highway and in traffic.

The fit-out

Test the fridge and lights on the house battery, and ask how the battery is charged on the road and at camp. Run the water pump and look under the sink and around the tanks for leaks. If there is a pop top, raise it and check the canvas and its seals.

Paperwork

Match the VIN to the registration papers and run a PPSR search before you pay. Read the GVM on the plate, and keep any conversion certificates with the van.

Selling a campervan on Caravan Domain

Private ads cost $23 a month for Basic or $35 a month for Premium, and you can cancel at any time. You can upgrade a Basic ad to Premium at any time and pay only the difference for the rest of the month.

Campervan buyers want the base vehicle and the fit-out described in one place. Name the base vehicle and the builder, and give the GVM and licence class. Photograph the bed made up and the kitchen ready to use. Sell your campervan with the service history to hand.