FAQ's

How Many Sizes and Floorplans is a Travelhome Available in?

Over the years Travelhome has been available in a range of sizes and floorplans.  However, by far the most popular size manufactured was 25ft and by far the favourite floorplan purchased was the Macquarie 25 model.  In line with customer demand, Travelhome elected to focus all attention on refining and improving its popular Macquarie 25 model so that it would lead the fifth wheel market in Australia for years to come.  These efforts have clearly been rewarded with sales of the Macquarie 25 sky rocketing in recent times.   

Is Travelhome Australian Built?

Absolutely. Incorporating over 35 years of vehicle building experience, each Travelhome is individually constructed in The Hunter Valley near Newcastle in NSW. Being Australian built means every Travelhome is manufactured to comply with The Australian Motor Vehicle Standards Act, 1989. If you are buying a fifth wheeler make sure it complies with The Australian Standards because it is an offence to import, sell or present for registration a new or imported vehicle which does not comply with The National Standards.  Travelhome is without a doubt the best quality and most modern finished fifth wheeler currently available in Australia.

How Many Years Has Travelhome Been in RV Manufacturing?

The Macquarie 25 has been available in Australia now for several years, Travelhome Fifth Wheelers have been manufactured locally for over five years.

What Tow Vehicles are Available and Legal to Tow Travelhomes in Australia?
Because Travelhome is not as high as most other fifth wheelers sold in Australia, it is not as heavy which means you have more alternatives when it comes to choosing a tow vehicle. Ford, Holden, Nissan, Mazda and Toyota, amongst others, all have suitable tow vehicles in their product ranges. You can review the Travelhome Tow Vehicle Guide under "Tow Vehicles" in this section of the website.

Is there a Formula I can use to see if my Existing Tow Vehicle is Legal to Tow a Travelhome?
Yes.  Most tow vehicle manufacturers state in their brochures a gross combination mass (or GCM).  Simply put, your loaded tow vehicle and loaded Travelhome hitched together can not exceed this figure. When there is no stated GCM you simply ad together the tow vehicles gross vehicle mass (GVM) and towing capacity, and again your loaded tow vehicle and loaded Travelhome hitched together can not exceed this figure.

Is a Travelhome Difficult to Tow?
Not at all. The position of the hitch and the low overall height makes towing a Travelhome very safe and easy, particularly when compared to towing a conventional caravan. This is simply because the hitch or connection point on a Travelhome is where it should be - placed above the rear wheels of the tow vehicle. This also reduces the combination length of both vehicles and makes turning and reversing much easier. Travelhome owners often comment on how they forget that they are even towing a trailer. The unique aerodynamic design also improves airflow and therefore fuel economy and travelling costs.

Is Travelhome Available with Slide Outs?
No. Why run the very possible risk of WATER and DUST LEAKS? Remember you will be driving on Australian roads and not overseas freeways. Besides, you will spend most of your time outside the van so it makes more sense to purchase an annexe and enclose your awning. You will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of open space inside a Travelhome, particularly at the large rear dinette and lounge which is surrounded by windows.

Where is a Travelhome Hitch Positioned?
A Travelhome hitch will be positioned so that the tow ball is mounted above the tow vehicles rear axle. In this position, some of the Travelhomes weight will be transferred directly to the rear axle of the towing vehicle which is technically correct. Travelhome also supplies and fits sliding hitches to dual cab tow vehicles where the hitch position varies slightly from tow vehicle to tow vehicle.

How Difficult is it to Unhitch the Tow Vehicle for Normal Use?
Every Travelhome is supplied standard with electric power lifting jacks and a quick release tow coupling so it takes only a couple of minutes to hitch or unhitch your tow vehicle. Although there is also a manual lifting facility on all Macquarie 25 Travelhomes, the electric lifting jacks makes for easy work, particularly when compared to a traditional caravan.

Allowing for Various Tow Vehicle Tray Types?
Travelhome has been designed to accommodate most common tow vehicle style side heights ie: Nissan Navara, Holden Rodeo, Ford Ranger and Falcon Ute, Mazda BT-50, Toyota Hilux and all tray backs ie: Ford F-Series, Chev Silverado, Nissan Patrol, Toyota Landcruiser and Dodge Ram.  However, some larger tow vehicles such as F250, Chev Silverado and Dodge Ram will require a flat top tray due to their higher travel heights.

What Drivers Licence is Required?
All Travelhomes will only require the owner to hold a standard car drivers licence. Provided the towing vehicle has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of less than 4500kg and the trailer (or travelhome in this case) has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of less than 9000kg, it is legal to tow this way anywhere in Australia holding a standard car drivers licence (provided an approved hitch is used). These licence regulations are unified so they do apply in all states of Australia. Many motor homes on the other hand require heavier licence's.

What is the Standard Travelhome Warranty?
Every original new Travelhome owner receives a five year construction warranty (subject to non abuse and excluding items supplied by outside manufacturers which carry their own warranty). Travelhome has been designed and built in Australia to withstand Australian road and weather conditions and this exclusive new vehicle warranty signifies the high level of confidence in the build quality of every new unit sold. Travelhomes will handle the occasional corrigated dirt road if driven to meet the conditions, however it must be stated here that Travelhome is not a 4x4 caravan and has not been designed as such. Please refer to the warranty section of this site for further warranty details.

Will I get any After Sales Service if I Purchase a Travelhome?
Make sure when you part with your hard earned dollars you are not buying either a lemon or from a backyard establishment or importer who may not be around when you need help. Put a lot of thought into who you are buying from and what help you are likely to obtain if something does go wrong with your fifth wheeler down the track. When you purchase a Travelhome you do so knowing the supplier is a reputable RV dealer and the manufacturer is the largest fifth wheel producer in our country. So, if you do have a problem anywhere in Australia Travelhome will use its network of dealers and repairers to help get you back on the road quickly and safely!

Do Travelhome Dealers also Supply the Tow Vehicle and Fit the Hitch?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, in many cases Travelhome dealers supply a new or used tow vehicle as part of the delivery package. They will even help you choose the right tow vehicle for your needs, or if you already have a suitable tow vehicle they will arrange to supply and fit the hitch.

Is Registration and Insurance a Problem?
No. Registration costs vary from state to state but you will be able to register a Travelhome anywhere in Australia. The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) welcomes Travelhome owners as members of the club and they will comprehensively insure both your Travelhome and tow vehicle.

Is Travelhome Available with Single Beds?
Yes. The standard bedroom offers a unique single bed floorplan where the single beds can be pulled together and zipped up to also form a double bed, this means you get the best of both worlds in one fifth wheeler.  Customers can also choose to have a permanent double bed if they wish, and all mattresses supplied are a comfortable innerspring.

What are the Main Advantages of a Travelhome When Compared to a Conventional Caravan?

EASIER TO HITCH & UNHITCH
The owner only has to raise the Travelhome to the correct height with the push of a button, and then reverse the tow vehicle under the nose of the Travelhome.

SAFER & EASIER TO TOW
Having the location of the hitch above the rear axle of the towing vehicle results in the load being positioned more correctly, this means no pitching or snaking. The location of the hitch also allows for sharper turns of up to 90 degrees. This means easier reversing and maneuvering, particularly in space restricted areas such as caravan parks, and because the nose of the Travelhome is over the tray of the towing vehicle the combination length of both vehicles is shorter than an equivalent caravan hitched to its tow vehicle ie: a 25ft Travelhome is the same overall combination length as towing a 17ft caravan. Travelhomes are not as wide as conventional caravans either which makes for safer towing, in fact in most cases you do not even require mirror extensions on your tow vehicle.

IMPROVED BUILD QUALITY

Simply put, Travelhomes have been designed, built and tested in Australia to last for a lifetime and to cater for Australian road conditions.  Be very careful parting with your hard earned dollars on imported fifth wheel products which often have not been designed for Australian road conditions or do not comply with Australian standards. Such products may also prove to be very difficult to repair when something goes wrong because the manufacturer is not based in Australia and parts and or help is not readily available.

MORE ROOM

Because a 25ft Travelhome is equivalent to towing a 17ft caravan you have a lot more room in your home.  All of this extra space is very noticeable when you step inside a Travelhome, and most of this extra space is living room space which is where you spend most of your time.

What are the Main Advantages of a Travelhome When Compared to a Motor Home?

A SEPARATE DRIVE VEHICLE
Having arrived at a holiday destination you can quickly unhitch your Travelhome and utilise the towing vehicle as a means of every day transport for those short trips into town or long trips away from the camp site. Furthermore, your Travelhome tow vehicle can also act as the everyday drive vehicle back at home when not away on holidays.

LESS EXPENSIVE

In most cases you can purchase a new Travelhome and tow vehicle package for less than an equivalent sized new motor home ie: a new Travelhome Macquarie 25 packaged with a new Nissan Navara Dual Cab is around the same price as a new 23ft motor home.

STANDARD CAR LICENCE
As stated above all Travelhomes only require a standard car drivers licence where many motor homes will require a heavier licence.

STRONGER RESALE VALUE
Travelhomes do not have a speedo like a motor home, so when the time comes to sell generally speaking Travelhomes hold their value very well.  Also, because you have two vehicles (tow vehicle & Travelhome) you have more options available when the time comes to update or sell, some people simply change tow vehicles and keep their Travelhome while others keep the tow vehicle and sell their Travelhome.