The Complete Caravan Guide · Ray Whitcombe

Workshop experience, not a glossy dealer brochure

Does any of this sound familiar?

In 41 years on the tools I saw the same thing hundreds of times: good people paying four-figure bills, or a fine on the side of the highway, for something they could have checked in ten minutes.

1. You think you're under weight. The weighbridge says otherwise.

When Queensland Police weighed 12 caravans at Longreach, 9 out of 12 were overweight on at least one compliance figure. Dealer-fitted extras and 200 kg of tank water chew up your ATM payload, while 9–11 % tow ball download (280–350 kg) counts straight inside your ute's GVM and GCM — risking court fines up to A$3,454, a roadside defect notice, and a refused insurance claim.

2. A knock on the window at 10 pm — “you can't camp here, mate.”

Putting camp chairs, a table or an annex outside turns a legal fatigue stop into unlawful camping — even inside Queensland TMR's 20-hour motorist rest areas or signed 24-hour bays in WA and the NT. Highway bays in NSW, Victoria, SA, Tasmania and the ACT allow short fatigue breaks only, and pulling a van into a signed Heavy Vehicle truck bay in Queensland carries up to A$3,454 in court fines.

3. Red dust in the bedding after one dirt road.

At 60–80 km/h on dirt, low cabin pressure sucks fine bulldust straight through unsealed floor cable holes and flat door rubbers unless your front roof scupper vent builds positive pressure. Worse, touching up exterior seams with vinegar-smelling bathroom silicone instead of neutral-cure mastic lets rain rot the frame — turning a ten-minute check into A$4,500 to A$14,000 for wall delamination, or A$3,650 for a collapsed wheel bearing and tilt-tray tow at A$140–A$180/hr workshop rates.

4. The fridge gives up in the Top End heat.

Park a three-way absorption fridge past 3° side-to-side on a Dometic (or 2.5° on a Thetford) for a couple of hours and the ammonia coolant pools and bakes solid inside the boiler tubes. Add 38–42 °C Top End sun and a missing rear baffle, and a workshop will quote A$3,450 to A$4,500 for a new tropical unit and gasfitter sign-off when A$45 levelling ramps and stepping the dial back to 3 of 5 would have saved it.

That's why I wrote this guide. No fluff, no “ask your dealer” — exact numbers in kilos, psi, volts and dollars, so you can check things yourself at the campsite.

123-Page Main Guide · 29 Technical Figures, State Maps & 27 Data Tables

What's inside (with real numbers from the guide)

Came here from one of my short videos? Here are the open answers:

Video 1 (Turn on every light in your caravan tonight and look underneath): How the 10-minute dark-yard pinhole check spots unsealed floor cable entries, why neutral-cure mastic beats acetic silicone, and opening the front roof scupper vent for positive pressure against bulldust without blocking AS/NZS 5601.2 LPG safety vents p. 6 & p. 95–97
Video 2 (Weigh your caravan exactly the way you travel — three numbers your dealer never gave you): Why 9 out of 12 caravans weighed at Longreach failed, how ATM, GTM and 9–11 % tow ball download eat your ute's GVM and GCM long before “3,500 kg towing”, and the 15-minute, 3-pass public weighbridge routine (A$35–A$55) p. 6 & p. 11–23
Video 3 (Let your tyres down to 25 psi before the corrugations): Dropping cold LT tyres on both ute and caravan to 20–25 psi (140–170 kPa), holding ~60 km/h on Gibb River Road or Oodnadatta washboard, stopping every ~10 km so shock oil stays below 150 °C, and re-inflating at the bitumen edge p. 7 & p. 87–92
Video 4 (Put your phone inside your caravan fridge tonight): The 10-second Spirit Level test on the middle shelf, why Dometic (3° side-to-side) and Thetford (2.5°) cook an A$3,450–A$4,500 cooling unit off-level, and keeping cold in 38–42 °C Top End heat at dial setting 3 of 5 with twin 12 V exhaust fans p. 7 & p. 75–80
Video 5 (Drain your water tanks before the highway — 200 kg gone): Why twin 100 L underfloor poly tanks add 200 kg straight onto your axles and towbar (1 L = 1 kg), draining before long bitumen runs, carrying 20 L low in the ute, and filling at the last verified town tap before bush camp p. 7 & p. 72–75
Video 6 (Leave the camp chairs in the van at a Queensland rest area): How Queensland TMR's 20-hour motorist rest rule works (unless signed 4 or 8 hours), why camp chairs, awnings or generators trigger move-on powers, and why entering a Heavy Vehicle truck bay risks up to A$3,454 in court fines p. 8, p. 35–36 & p. 45
Video 7 (If water's dripping under your caravan on a hot arvo, leave it): Why thermal expansion makes a Suburban (22.6 L) or Truma pressure-temperature relief valve weep once its internal air pocket dissolves, the 4-step cold tap-and-lever reset that saves an A$140–A$220 call-out, and when cold dripping points to a faulty 350 kPa limiter p. 8 & p. 81–84
Video 8 (Never buy a new regulator when your stove gives a tiny flame after a bottle swap): How cracking a 9 kg LPG cylinder open too fast slams the excess-flow safety valve shut inside the LCC27 or POL pigtail, and the 5-minute disconnect reset that restores full 2.75 kPa burner flow without an A$150–A$260 service call p. 9 & p. 52–57
Video 9 (Swapped to lithium? Check the orange wire on your Redarc tonight): Why leaving the thin orange wire floating keeps a Redarc BCDC1225D or BCDC1240D stuck on the 14.6 V AGM profile, joining orange to green for the 14.5 V LiFePO4 profile, and trimming 35–40 kg off your drawbar and axles p. 9 & p. 63–70

Weights & towing

p. 10–31

All 8 compliance numbers (Tare, ATM, GTM, 9–11 % tow ball download, Kerb, GVM, GCM and BTC), worked kilo tables for 6 popular dual-cab utes and 4WD wagons (D-MAX, Ranger V6, HiLux, LandCruiser 300, Triton and MU-X), and the 3-pass public weighbridge check. Covers VSB1 electric brakes and 15-minute breakaway above 2,000 kg GTM, DO35 and 50 mm couplings, Redarc Tow-Pro tuning, and the 3-step sway recovery drill.

The rules in all 8 states & territories (+ Spirit of Tasmania, quarantine)

p. 32–50

One-page reference cards for NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT and the ACT: towing speed caps (100 km/h in WA and heavy NSW rigs), roadworthy and gas certificates on sale, rest-area hour limits, national park dog bans and phone camera fines (A$426 to A$1,295). Plus Eucla, Yamba (up to A$423 fruit-fly fine) and Ceduna quarantine borders, Spirit of Tasmania 9 kg LPG tag rules, and mixing A$15–A$35 showgrounds with free camps to save ~A$740 a fortnight.

Gas, 240 V & 12 V

p. 51–70

AS/NZS 5601.2 LPG checks you can run yourself (10-year cylinder collar stamps, LCC27 valves, soapy-water leak tests and the 5-minute tiny-flame reset) and what legally requires a licensed gasfitter. Explains AS/NZS 3001.2 15-amp caravan inlets, why illegal filed-down 10-amp leads cause fires and void insurance, 30 mA Type A RCD checks, Redarc BCDC lithium profiles, 6 B&S Anderson cabling, and stopping 30–150 mA storage drain.

Water, fridge, hot water

p. 71–85

Managing twin 100 L water tanks (200 kg on the Bruce or Stuart Highway), 350 kPa brass tap limiters, AS/NZS 4020 drinking hoses and separating bore water from drinking water out bush. Compares three-way absorption vs 12 V compressor fridges in 40 °C Top End heat, Suburban 27 mm magnesium anodes (A$28–A$35 DIY vs A$160–A$260 workshop) and 10-second 240 V dry-fire traps, plus Dump-Ezy points and green enzyme cassette care.

On the road: tyres, bearings, corrugations, road trains

p. 86–102

Cold LT tyre inflation tables by weighed axle load (35–58 psi), the 5–6 year DOT age limit, and the outback corrugations routine (20–25 psi, ~60 km/h, 10 km shock-cooling stops). Includes 10,000 km AL-KO and Cruisemaster bearing repacks (carrying an A$65 spare kit vs an A$3,650 collapsed hub and tilt-tray), the night pinhole dust test, 53.5 m road trains on UHF Channel 40 across the Nullarbor, floodways, and 3:30 pm kangaroo cut-offs.

The 15 most expensive caravan mistakes + printable sheets

p. 103–119

Real Australian workshop quotes (A$140–A$180/hr incl. GST) across the 15 costliest mistakes — from busted ute GCM and A$4,500–A$14,000 wall delamination to A$2,800–A$3,500 wind-wrecked awnings — plus the inverted northern winter calendar (June–August dry season) and 8 safe driveway jobs saving A$1,200+ a year. Finishes with 4 printable A5 glovebox logs (weighbridge, hitch-up, 10,000 km service, cold tyre psi) and a 1-page pocket card.

Real pages from the Australian edition

Look inside the guide: Judge the print size and workshop detail for yourself

Here are 6 unedited pages straight from the 123-page main guide. Tap any page to open it full-size and read a sample:

Original Page 12 + Tap to enlarge

Original Page 12: Ute and Caravan on a Split Weighbridge diagram explaining Tare, ATM, GTM, 9 to 11 percent tow ball download, GVM, GCM and BTC

Ute + Caravan on a Split Weighbridge

How all 6 compliance numbers connect: why 9–11 % tow ball download (commonly capped at 350 kg) counts inside your ute's GVM while the hitched rig must stay under GCM.

Original Page 45 + Tap to enlarge

State Profile: Queensland (1 of 8)

Every rule on one page: TMR 20-hour motorist rest areas (chairs stowed), A$3,454 Heavy Vehicle bay maximum fine, A$1,295 phone fines, safety & gas certificates above 750 kg ATM, and QPWS bookings.

Original Page 77 + Tap to enlarge

Original Page 77: Two-panel caravan levelling diagram comparing 3.4-degree tilted slope where coolant pools against 0.3-degree levelled wheel ramp

3-Way Fridge Shelf Test & Levelling

Lay your phone on the middle shelf for 10 seconds before unhitching: why a 3.4° slope stalls a Dometic cooling unit (max 3.0°) and how a stepped wheel ramp brings it to 0.3° for Top End cooling.

Original Page 97 + Tap to enlarge

Original Page 97: Caravan Bulldust and Water-Ingress Points diagram showing front roof scupper P, floor pinholes, wheel arches, and AS/NZS 5601.2 vents

Bulldust & Water-Ingress Checkpoints

Where red dust and water enter a caravan: opening front roof scupper P on dirt for positive cabin pressure, checking floor pinholes and wheel arches, and never taping over AS/NZS 5601.2 LPG safety vents.

Original Page 88 + Tap to enlarge

Original Page 88: Cold Light Truck tyre inflation table from 1,400 kg to 2,100 kg weighed axle load in psi and kPa plus 115 to 140 Nm wheel-nut torque rule

Cold LT Tyre Pressure Table by Axle Load

Set cold bitumen pressures from your split-weighbridge printout instead of guessing: 35 to 54 psi (240 to 370 kPa) across 1,400 kg to 2,100 kg axle loads, plus the 100 km wheel-nut torque check (115–140 Nm).

Original Page 116 + Tap to enlarge

Original Page 116: Printable Ute Glovebox Sheet 2 of 4 Hitch-Up and Pre-Departure Checklist with 10 checkboxes and compliance number box

Printable Ute Glovebox Hitch-Up Sheet

Ten large checkboxes in anti-clockwise walk-around order: coupling lift-test, crossed chains, breakaway lanyard, 12-pin & Anderson plugs, WDH off on dirt, and space for your rig's height and weights.

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You also get these 2 Bonus Guides FREE today

When you pick up The Complete Caravan Guide during the 24-hour viewer offer, both full-length Australian field guides are included at no extra cost (A$0.00):

BONUS GUIDE 1 · 70 PAGES FREE (A$0.00) Normally A$19.90 — FREE today

Buying a Used Caravan Without Getting Burned

Hidden wall delamination or Meranti timber rot on a second-hand caravan can cost A$8,000 to A$20,000+ to rebuild. You get my 60-point inspection in 12 viewing-order blocks: pinless moisture scanning (<15 % dry vs >20 % damp halo) and the 20-cent coin tap test, chassis and A-frame crack checks, cold wheel hubs, electric brakes and breakaway, real payload left below ATM, 10-year LPG bottle dates, 30 mA RCD test, and testing the three-way fridge cold on gas, 240 V and 12 V.

Paperwork, RedBook pricing & 3 printable clipboard sheets: How to run the official A$2.00 government PPSR search (ppsr.gov.au) on the day you pay so previous-owner finance, hail write-offs or stolen VINs never catch you out, statutory dealer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law vs private sales, state roadworthy and gas certificates, spotting ACCC Scamwatch deposit scams, and turning aged tyres or tired seals into A$6,000 of fair price deductions.

BONUS GUIDE 2 · 43 PAGES FREE (A$0.00) Normally A$19.90 — FREE today

The Outback Emergency Handbook

When a wheel bearing seizes 300 km from the nearest servo, trailer sway starts on a descent, or a bushfire warning drops across your highway, the first ten minutes decide everything. Covers Triple Zero (000) and 112 mobile camp-on, offline GPS coordinates in the Emergency+ app, free AMSA 406 MHz PLB registration, UHF CB Channels 5/35 and 40, motoring-club caravan weight caps vs A$2,500–A$6,000+ remote dual-tilt-tray recovery, kangaroo strikes, and staying with your vehicle (4–6 L of water per person per day).

Outback health, bushfire, flood & 2 printable emergency cards: Calling the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), why Medicare covers public hospitals and PBS eScripts nationwide (A$25.00 / A$7.70 concession) while cross-border ambulances cost A$1,180 to A$7,927+ without cover, the official ANZCOR pressure immobilisation bandage for snakebite, Be Crocwise rules up north, all 8 state fire and road apps (Fires Near Me, VicEmergency, Emergency WA, QFES), and floodway depth limits.

Your Author

Who I am — and why I wrote this guide

Ray Whitcombe standing outside his white off-road caravan

Ray Whitcombe (69), Retired Caravan Technician · Campbellfield, Melbourne

My name is Ray Whitcombe. I'm 69, from Campbellfield in Melbourne's north — where a huge share of Australia's caravans are built. I spent 41 years on the tools in caravan workshops: repacking bearings, tuning electric brakes, welding cracked A-frames, wiring 12-volt setups and carrying out licensed gas work. Now I'm retired. My wife and I have done three Big Laps in our 6.7-metre white off-road caravan behind our 4WD ute, and every winter from June to August we head north to Queensland, the Top End or Exmouth on WA's Coral Coast.

On my workshop hoist and in caravan parks from Longreach to Broome, I kept seeing the same thing: careful couples handed an A$3,500 quote for a “cooked” three-way fridge that was only parked 3.4 degrees off-level, paying A$200 because an LCC27 excess-flow valve tripped during a 9 kg bottle swap, or towing a “3.5-tonne” dual-cab ute that was already 125 kg over its legal GCM before they filled the water tanks.

So I put 41 years of bench and highway notes into plain Australian English and large, clear print you can read comfortably at the camp table. I don't sell caravans and I don't get paid by anyone in this book. I just don't like watching good people pay for the same mistakes.

Ray Whitcombe Ray Whitcombe · Caravan Know-How · 41 years on the tools in Campbellfield

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If it's not for you, one email and you get every cent back. No questions, no hard feelings.

Take a full week to go through The Complete Caravan Guide and both bonus guides at home or at camp. Check your own compliance plate against the weighbridge tables, look up your state's towing and rest-area rules, and print the ute glovebox sheets. If it doesn't earn its keep within 7 days, send one email via your order receipt and your full A$29.90 comes straight back.

Straight answers before you order

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is this for a caravan or a motorhome?

Written from page one for Australians who tow a caravan behind a ute or 4WD wagon — full-height tourers, off-road and semi off-road vans, pop-tops and camper trailers included. Every chapter on Tare, ATM, GTM, tow ball download, GVM, GCM, couplings, electric brakes, sway, reversing and hitch-up is pure towed-van territory. Motorhome owners will still use the 8 state profiles, LPG, 240 V/15 A, 12 V lithium, water and three-way fridge sections, though engine driveline servicing is not covered.

2. Does it cover my state?

Yes — all 8 Australian states and territories get their own dedicated full-page reference card: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT (verified as of November 2026), plus Spirit of Tasmania 9 kg LPG tag and biosecurity rules and major domestic fruit-fly and quarantine borders. Each card also gives the official state transport and national parks websites so you can check local signage before rolling out.

3. I'm new to caravanning — is it too technical?

Not at all. Everything is written in plain workshop English for couples who have never visited a public weighbridge or held a multimeter. Every check uses everyday gear — a torch, chalk, soapy water, a tyre gauge or your phone's level app. Where Australian law requires a licensed gasfitter (AS/NZS 5601.2) or a licensed electrician (AS/NZS 3001.2 for 240 V circuits), the guide tells you plainly where the legal line sits — while giving you the facts so nobody overcharges you.

4. Can I print it?

Yes. All three guides are laid out in clean A5 pages with large 11.5-point serif print, dark ink on warm paper and wide, uncluttered tables so you never squint through reading glasses. You can print just the 9 single-page glovebox checklists, weighbridge logs and emergency cards on home A4 paper, or print an entire guide for the caravan drawer.

5. How do I get it?

Pay securely by card or PayPal — shown in Australian dollars, charged as US$19.90 (about A$30; your bank converts — single one-time payment, no subscription, handled by Hotmart). Right after checkout, an email arrives with your direct access link: open and read all three guides straight away on your phone, tablet or computer, and save them onto your device so every table and outback emergency page works offline without mobile reception.

6. What if it's not for me?

You're covered by my 7-day money-back guarantee. If it's not for you, one email and you get every cent back. No questions, no hard feelings.

Heading north or out bush

Two kinds of caravanners on the road this winter — which one are you?

1. Guessing & hoping for the best

Trusts the dealer's “3.5-tonne towing” talk, leaves 200 kg of water in the tanks on the highway, puts camp chairs out in a highway bay, hits Gibb River Road corrugations at 50 psi, and cops an A$1,500 to A$4,500 bill when the fridge, bearings or scalies catch up.

2. Checking the numbers in ten minutes

Knows all 6 weighbridge figures to the kilo, drops cold LT tyres to 20–25 psi on dirt, levels the fridge below 1.0° before unhitching, resets a tripped LCC27 gas valve in five minutes for A$0, knows every state's rest-area rules, and keeps four-figure workshop bills in their own pocket.

Complete Australian Caravan Bundle · 236 Pages

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The Complete Caravan Guide (123 pages): Weights & towing, all 8 state & territory cards, Spirit of Tasmania & quarantine, LPG/240 V/12 V, water & Top End fridges, tyres/bearings/corrugations, the 15 most expensive mistakes & 4 printable ute glovebox sheets
+ FREE: Buying a Used Caravan Without Getting Burned (70 pages · A$0.00): Normally A$19.90 — FREE today · 60-point inspection, moisture & delamination checks, A$2.00 PPSR check, RedBook deductions & 3 printable clipboard sheets
+ FREE: The Outback Emergency Handbook (43 pages · A$0.00): Normally A$19.90 — FREE today · 000/112, Emergency+ & AMSA PLBs, sway & roo strikes, RFDS, snakebite bandage, 8 state fire apps & 2 printable emergency cards
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