Source: ezinearticles.com
Other parts of the English-speaking world call Recreational Vehicles, Mobile Homes and Motorhomes, "Caravans". Actually a caravan in England or Australia is closely related to the US and Canada's Trailer family and the term trailer is used for a different towed apparatus.
Armed with this knowledge, a search for some current development in another country can be performed, with the results still being relevant to RV's. For example, if you are looking for the latest in RV solar setups, replacing RV with caravan may return the very thing you were looking for. This is because contributions to technological development are made across the globe due to the fact that unique problems are encountered in different environments all the time.
Big Motorhomes include all the modern conveniences and luxuries in an all-in-one solution. You can easily cruise from coast to coast on the blacktop, checking out the tourist attractions and all in the lap of luxury. For those not so accessible spots, over more rugged terrain, smaller 4x4 RV's will get you out there. So you have the hotel on wheels Motorhome on one hand and the back to nature camping whit a tent on the other. Each situation has their own experiences of life to be enjoyed. Lifestyles like these can't really be appreciated without sampling them both. The opposite ends of the scale are both so unique.
So how do other parts of the world combine their vehicle and accommodation recreation? What requirements are there for where they go and what suits their conditions? Back to our RV search expansion. Australians have similar environments and lifestyles to the US, but their development of equipment for a caravan differs slightly from an RV, luckily, this difference only enhances the US equipment as the vehicles are so similar. It is here the small to medium trailer or "caravan" gets the most attention.
At the end of WW II, there was an increase in productivity and prosperity all over the western world resulting in a baby boom. In Australia some sixty years later, retirees are a booming market for caravans, cashed up and off to travel the vast country. Dubbed "The Gray Nomads" they will often spend a year touring around the coast lines visiting all the attractions. Later years may be spent taking shorter excursions to nearer destinations where they can spend their time getting better acquainted with the finer details the location.
Trips like months or weeks at a time are more common and the Nomads can be within a days drive of home & family. Therefore enjoying the best of both home and holiday lifestyles. With a days worth of distance to travel eg. 1000Km (600miles), and a typical speed limit of around 100Km/h the ability of unhooking and leaving the caravan (trailer) on location at the holiday haven and jumping into the car for a quick, nomad travel trailer , trip back for the grand kids birthday, is very appealing. More versatile, smaller 'vans, modern luxuries included, are quite popular and these gray nomads have been prompting new developments and solving the hurdles as they go. The demand created by the nomads in the seeking of mobile recreation has resulted in many new products being developed and becoming financially viable.
Remember, developments relating to caravans also relate to RV's, including: Eco friendly and efficient refrigeration and air conditioning. Light weight, yet stronger, more durable caravans for better fuel efficiency. Portable, safe water filtration. Advancements in towing hitches, make hitching to a car or 4x4 safe and easy. Multitudes of gismos and gadgets to make life more enjoyable. The birth of accommodation parks and attractions all over the place. Associations or Clubs for travelers including communications amongst travelers. Affiliations of entities like country clubs and other social and sporting clubs. Insurance classes targeting the gray nomad age group.
The mobility of conveniences like on-board water supply, solar panels for electricity, built in bathrooms and most kitchen appliances, has given people the freedom to go and stay where caravans previously wouldn't. When scouting about for RV products or ideas, don't forget to search on a global scale. If you are marketing equipment for an RV or motorhome, the caravan world is too good an opportunity to miss.
Written by Ray Carpenter
Article published by Ray Carpenter http://www.caravansolar.net.
