The Rig

The Rig - is caravan speak for the car (tow vehicle) and the caravan. We first started looking for our RIG about 4 years ago. We contemplated getting a permanent on site caravan in a caravan park. Although Pete would be happy to go back to the same place all the time, I like to discover new places. So we decided on a touring caravan. We considered and then discounted the following for different reasons: motorhomes , full size caravans, camper trailers. This is when we discovered the Windsor Rapid it has a pop top roof and pull out bed ends, for a caravan it is quiet roomy. As onboard toilet/showers are quiet pokey we decided to forego this feature for extra storage. This is where we got lucky and the stars where in alignment for us. While talking to chap in a Caravan salesyard about our options we told him up front that we could not afford a brand new caravan. We asked if he could keep our details and if a second hand van came in that would suit us could he contact us. Well two days later he called and then emailed us pictures of our Willow. Willow had been bought by an older couple a year earlier, they had used her once and decided she was not for them. We contacted the couple , who offered to tow "Willow" to a park of our choice so we could test her out for the weekend. We loved her! She was a beautiful van and in great condition. Pete I are not great at spending big amounts of money,so, for a week we discussed back and forth was it the right thing to do, could we afford it, would we use it, would we better of spending the money on something else. It would mean not only spending money buying the van, but re- registering in Canberra, insuring the caravan, putting in a access gate in our back fence and the biggy, selling our sedan and upgrading to a 4WD. So we then started looking at 4wd and apparently deisels are the best for long term towing and fuel consumption, it would have to be a auto as I am not co-ordinated enough to drive a manuel. So we did get Willow and we did get a Toyota Prado diesel 4WD who we have named Brindi, after the mountain ranges that surround Canberra. On our first week end away as we sat and ate our fish and chips on a water front site watching the kids roll down the grassy bank onto the beach with the moon rising over the ocean, we looked at each other clinked our wineglasses and said "Yep, we did the right thing." And we did.