FAQs

You’ve got questions. We’ve got the answers.

Booking

Where do I pick up my caravan?

All caravans are picked up and returned to our Braeside depot, 856 Springvale Road, Braeside, Victoria 3195.

We are open:
Mon-Thurs 9am- 4pm
Fri 9am - 3pm
Sat 8am - 12pm

How does pricing work?

Vans are charged out on a per day basis. Caravans are available to pick up from 9am and drop off up till 4pm. (Arrangements can be made outside these times.) Pick up and Drop off days are included in the calculation of Hire Charges – not nightly hire.

How much is the bond?

The Bond on all hires is $800. As detailed in the Caravan Hire Agreement, the Excess on each Insurance Claims is $1,500.

Your bond will be returned to you at the end of your trip - on the condition that the van is returned in the same condition. Your Bond return usually takes 7 days to process. For more details, please refer to the Caravan Hire Agreement.

Please note: The cost of repairs to Awnings is not covered by Insurance and is the liability of the Hirer.

Can I bring my pet?

Small pets will be considered. Please discuss this with prior to making a booking.

Additional Cleaning Fees may apply.

Do you offer delivery?

We offer a Delivery & Setup, and Pack Up & Pickup Service. Conditions and additional charges apply. Please contact us if you are interested in this service.

Is my caravan insured?

All Victorian Caravan Hire caravans are insured with comprehensive insurance. A breach of the Terms and Conditions of the Caravan Hire Agreement will void this Cover. It is important to read and understand these Terms & Conditions. As detailed in the Caravan Hire Agreement the excess on all insurance claims is $1500.

Accidents resulting in unroadworthy or unsafe damage (as deemed by Victorian Caravan Hire), will result in forfeiture of remaining hire fees.

Please note: The cost of repairs to Awnings is not covered by Insurance and is the liability of the Hirer.

Will my valuables be covered by insurance?

Victorian Caravan Hire can take no responsibility for valuables left in or stolen from the caravan. Insurance on personal property is the hirer’s responsibility.

What damage am I liable for?

The hirer is liable for the cost of repairs related to the following events, including but not limited to:

The vehicle is totally or partially immersed in water (regardless of the cause. Subject to Insurance Policy Definitions.)
The interior of the vehicle is damaged (regardless of the cause.)
The vehicle is damaged by driving it under or into an object lower than the height of the vehicle.
All damages up to the value of the excess (including damage to tyres & rims, punctures)
All awning repair costs are the responsibility of the hirer, regardless of cost.

Towing

How do I know if my vehicle can tow a particular caravan weight?

Before you hire one of our caravans, you will need to make sure that your towing vehicle has the capacity to tow the caravan. You can find this information in your vehicle handbook or the rating plate on your towbar.

Vehicle Handbook: In the towing section you will find your vehicle’s ‘Gross Vehicle Mass’ rating. Compare this with the weight of the caravan you wish to hire. You then need to consider how much weight (i.e your personal belongings) you add to your hire van, so as to ensure that the total loaded weight complies with your vehicle’s specifications.

Rating Plate: attached to your car’s towbar is the rating plate. The information on this plate will tell you the rated ‘Maximum Towing Capacity’, in kgs, of your towbar. We will confirm this when you pickup your hire caravan.

It is the hirer's responsibility to ensure that the vehicle's compatibility and load weights are maintained at all times. We will not accept any responsibility for breaches of load capacity.

Do I need electric brakes?

All Victorian Caravan Hire vans are fitted with a ElecBrake ‘electric braking system’ which works in tandem with the towing vehicle (i.e your car). Your car will not need to be wired for electric brakes.

If you do not have electric brakes on your tow vehicle, we can quickly and easily set up the ElecBrake system for you (a minimal fee applies).

Can I drive on unsealed roads?

Travel with our caravans is restricted to sealed / bitumen roads. The exception is travelling a few kms from a sealed road into a campsite. Check with us first since the unsealed road needs to be in good condition so there is no risk of damage to the caravan or tyres.

Unfortunately travel along the many famous unsealed tracks of Central Australia is prohibited. This includes the Oodnadatta Track, The Birdsville Track, the Tanami Track, The Gibb River Road, The Larapinta Drive north of Kings Canyon and Ernest Giles Road, plus many others.

Your caravan

What is included in my caravan?

All caravans contain shower, toilet, heating and cooling, outdoor awning, and solar setup for free camping.

Your caravan is equipped with the following:

Kitchen: knives, forks, spoons, teaspoons, steak knives, dessert bowls, dinner plates, bread and butter plates, drinking, glasses, melamine cups, coffee mugs, chopping board, grater, vegetable peeler, assorted various sized plastic containers with lids, 1 x staysharp utility knife, 1 x bread knife, can opener /bottle opener, egg flip, tongs, scissors, colander, fry pan, 3 x saucepans, dishcloth/dishbrush, 2 x Tea Towels

Other: mattress protectors, torch, power leads, broom, brush & shovel, interior floor mat, multipurpose outdoor matting, rubbish bin, fire extinguisher,

Appliances: electric kettle, electric toaster, electric fan heater, gas operated kettle, gas toaster

External Accessories: T level (set up level ), quality food grade drinking water hose, waste/sullage hose, quickfit towing mirrors, electrical POD, basic tool kit, cleaning pack, coupling lock, levelling wedges

What do I need to bring?

You need to bring:

Bedding – Sheets/ Doonas/ Pillows
Towels – Bath & Beach. A bath mat for when you get out of the shower is a good idea
Food /Drinks
Clothing
Games

How does the TV work?

The TV /DVD players run on 240v or 12v. The aerial can be factory fitted wind up style, or an aerial fitted to the van exterior. Please take note reception may not be available in some areas due to signal strength.

How does the fridge work?

Most Victorian Caravan Hire caravans are fitted with 3 way fridges.

They can run from 3 different power sources.

240v; connected through caravan power supply;
12v Battery; a fully functional 12 pin trailer socket, wired accordingly, will be required to run the fridge. Please discuss prior to pick up.
Gas mode; runs off a gas cylinder stored on the caravan.

These fridges require a level surface and a minimum 5-6 hours to cool down. They operate best out of direct sun.

What appliances can I run when free camping?

All of our caravans have the following features that enable free or unpowered camping sites to be used.

12v LED Lighting
Battery Systems
12v TV / DVD player -optional
Battery Systems
12v CD / Radio
Gas Cooktop / Rangehood
Gas Hot Water Service / Water Pumps /Exhaust
3 Way Fridges
Solar Panel
Diesel Heater - where fitted*

The following appliances will not run off battery power. They require 240 volt power:

Air Conditioner/Heater
Power Points
Microwave

*Using the Off Grid Diesel Heater will place a large drain on the power supply on start up. The diesel heater will fail to ignite without adequate battery power, however all other appliances will continue to operate long after this. No Sun = no solar input.

How do I clean my caravan at the end of the hire?

Keeping our caravans clean and in great condition is one of our top priorities.
We make sure your caravan is handed to you in a clean condition. As per the Hire Agreement, it is required to be returned clean.

To avoid incurring a cleaning fee on return, please see the list below for what is required.
On submitting your booking you were offered cleaning as an optional extra.
A full clean starts at $150 per hire.
It’s not too late to add this option to your hire. Please notify Scott should you wish to add this now.

Cleaning checklist:

Check cupboards for your personal belongings. (This will also save you P&H costs)
Wash and dry the dishes.
Clean the stove top, griller and oven (as applicable)
Wipe down all benches and tables.
Empty the fridge and freezer.
Turn the fridge off and place a tea towel in the freezer compartment.
Wipe out the fridge (including door shelves and crispers). Please leave the other tea towel in the bottom of the fridge.
Wipe out the microwave.
Clean the shower cubicle.
Clean the toilet and vanity basin. Wipe the mirrors.
Clean around the washing machine. Check the washing machine cupboard for any clothing items. Empty the lint filters. (As applicable)
Empty and rinse the toilet cassette, and clean and dry the cavity areas.
Empty the rubbish bin.
Sweep the floor.
Rinse the waste hose – run some clean water through it.
Wash exterior, including awning.

To assist you in the above, we have provided;

Broom, dustpan and brush
Microfibre cloths
Cleaning products
Dishwashing detergent
Sponge & dish brush
Tea towels

Help

What if I need help during my trip?

We have a 24 Hour Message Service which will be checked regularly. Call Scott 0493 499 588.

If I want to stay longer, can I extend my hire?

Please Call Scott 0493 499 588. If the van you have is not booked – we will be happy to extend your stay. Payment arrangements will need to be made.