Jan and Garry [ JAG ] are getting ready to purchase a caravan for their first trip around Aus. and would like to know if anyone has an ADRIA and how they perform. Its great to be retired and cannot wait to get on the road........
I think most caravans perform well these days. European vans are probably the best balanced vans you can get. They have far less weight at the ends than Oz style vans (No heavy bumper bars with spare wheels at the rear. No large boots at the front that you can load with heaps of weight. Kitchens always in the middle.) Their weight distribution is such that can be safely towed with a lower ball weight percentage which is ideal for these new soft roaders with a 2,000 kg tow capacity but only a 150 kg ball load.
To me their draw back is the low clearance in relationship to their length. Also they seem to have beds that convert to day sitting areas. Alternately the larger ones have separate beds that you can not get around to make up them up easily. These limitations don't suit me but a few million Europeans don't seem to mind. If you don't then I think you will get a bigger van for a light weight tug than if you purchase an Oz style model
Despite the lower clearance you will get to most of the places around Oz with it. You will just not be able to get into a few bush camps where there is a ditch to negotiate. You will not be able to tackle a lot of the gravel roads but on the other hand there a lot of Oz vans that won't.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
Thanks for the replies people,we really appreciate your input and you have all given us stuff to consider. At least it has a toilet, but as STAN 747 points out our legs at 65 years are not as flexable as they once were.