Features to Consider When Choosing a Campervan
How seats, beds, air-conditioning, fridge size, child-seat anchor points and vehicle age differ between 2-, 4- and 6-berth campervans and motorhomes.
6-berth motorhome
A 6-berth motorhome can carry up to 6 travellers. Each 6-berth vehicle has 6 seat belts and bedding for 6 people. It has 3 double beds: 2 in the main cabin area on the ground floor, and the 3rd in the loft above the driver's cabin.
6-berth motorhomes have a toilet and shower, reverse-cycle central cabin air-conditioning and heating, and hot and cold water. Most also have an entertainment screen or TV, and some have a DVD player. Fridge/freezer sizes range from 130 to 190 litres.
Your motorhome comes fully equipped with living equipment (sheets, duvets or blankets, pillows, pillowcases, towels) and kitchen equipment (cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils, cooking equipment). Some brands may also include outdoor chairs and a picnic table.
When you're plugged in at a 240V powered site, you can run the climate-control air-conditioning in the main cabin area. Without a powered site, you have air-conditioning only in the driver's cab, and only while the engine is running. Our power management guide explains what runs on the house battery, including the fridge.
All 6-berth motorhomes in Australia come with automatic transmission. Most 6-berth motorhomes have 2 anchor points for child seats or booster seats. Anchor points, fridge size and other fittings differ between rental companies, so compare 6-berth campervans side by side to find the best match.
4-berth motorhome
Your 4-berth motorhome can sleep 4 travellers and usually has 4 seat belts, though a few 4-berth vans have a 5th. If you're travelling as 4 adults, keep in mind that the 2nd bed is up high. In most 4-berth motorhomes it's in the loft above the driver's cabin, and in a few it's a drop-down bed above the living area. Guests need to climb a ladder to get into bed, which may not suit elderly guests.
4-berth motorhomes have a toilet and shower, reverse-cycle central cabin air-conditioning and heating, and hot and cold water. Many also have an entertainment screen or TV, and some have a DVD player. Fridge/freezer sizes range from 80 to 190 litres.
Your motorhome comes fully equipped with living equipment (sheets, duvets or blankets, pillows, pillowcases, towels) and kitchen equipment (cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils, cooking equipment). Some brands may also include outdoor chairs and a picnic table.
4-berth motorhomes are very popular with couples travelling together, because they offer a larger cabin, more headroom throughout the vehicle and plenty of storage for luggage and other belongings.
All 4-berth motorhomes in Australia come with automatic transmission. Look for the ‘A’ automatic icon in the vehicle description. 4-berth motorhomes take 2 child seats or 2 booster seats. 4-berth options vary between rental companies, so it's worth comparing layouts.
Booking a powered site at a holiday park or camping ground is important for 4-berth motorhomes. Without mains power, you can't use:
- Living-area air-conditioning
- Microwave
- 240V power sockets
Plugging in also recharges the house battery that runs the fridge, lights and water pump.
2-berth campervan
A 2-berth campervan can sleep 2 people. Most have 2 seat belts, so they can carry only 2 travellers, but a few have extra seats that you can travel in but not sleep in. 2-berth campervans have a double bed that converts into the dining table and seating area.
2+1 berth campervans have a double bed and a single bed. The 3rd seat, behind the driver’s seat, makes up into the single bed. Because it's shorter, the single bed suits a child or teenager.
A 2-berth campervan with a toilet and shower also has central cabin air-conditioning, which you can run when you're plugged in at a powered site. Running the heating or cooling throughout the day or overnight can make the van more comfortable on hot summer days or cold winter nights.
Campervans without central cabin air-conditioning have air-conditioning only from the driver's dashboard, and only while the engine is running.
Most campervans come with automatic transmission, but some older models may have manual transmission. Look for the ‘A’ automatic icon and the ‘M’ manual icon in the vehicle description.
Fridge sizes in 2-berth campervans range from 70 to 130 litres, depending on the model. 2-berth campervans differ quite a bit between rental companies in fridge capacity and other fittings.
Vehicle age
Vehicle age can matter when you choose a campervan, because Australian conditions can be demanding. Rental campervans are almost constantly on the road, so they cover far more kilometres than privately owned vans. Rental companies maintain their vehicles throughout their time in the fleet, but older vehicles have a higher risk of utility failures and need regular maintenance. Newer vehicles with fewer kilometres should be more reliable and more economical.
Many rental companies sell their vehicles once they reach a particular age. Vehicle ages vary between companies and models. Use the Vehicle Age filter in the search results, and open the vehicle details to see the age range for the van you're considering. Our guide to DriveNow's comparison tools shows how.
Next steps
- Types of campervans available: campervans, motorhomes and 4WD campers explained
- Heating and cooling: living-area climate control and powered sites
- Travelling with children: seats and child restraints for families
Part of Before You Book in the Campervan Hire Handbook.