Living on the edge with a family of four travelling Australia in a caravan with bunks.
This growing family of four have recently received delivery of their 2nd Great Escape Caravan!
They have certainly learned a few things from travelling Australia with kids. Having built their first Great Escape Caravan as a trial run, they have fully designed this second caravan to suit their family and their lifestyle on the road, and they are still trialling it, with some amazing inclusions and ideas.
First, let’s get to know the Harrisons!
Described by themselves as ‘FIFO worker, caravan mum & 2 tiny travellers’, you can already imagine there are loads of adventures to be had. Some, including travelling with their kids (aged 3 and 4.5), and some downtime at base camp, usually 2 weeks at a time while Isaac is away for work as a FIFO contractor.
As first-time buyers, the family chose a family caravan with an east-west bed for mum and dad, two bunks for the kids and a fresh white exterior and interior. The family caravan interior had beautiful timber accents and tan upholstery, a beautiful home away from home. But, it wasn’t built for livability the way they want to travel now.
While the kids are not yet school age, it is coming. And the family are preparing to continue living on the road for at least a few more years, way into the first few years of primary school.
Homeschooling is coming, and so is the need for comfort on the road as they work and study wherever they choose.
Why another caravan, and why Great Escape Caravans?
Isaac tells us his brief to Scott and Ashleigh at our partner Millers Caravans was “I want a caravan with the most w*nk factor”
Coming back to Miller’s Caravans, Great Escape Caravans partner in Queensland, Isaac and Jelena were already converted customers. Having appreciated the level of customer service and attention they received on their first journey to caravan ownership, they knew where to come when they were ready for an upgrade.
Many factors brought the family back to a Great Escape Caravan for the second time, including the quality and support they received when purchasing their 1st caravan, making the choice simple. What they loved from their first crack at owning a Great Escape Caravan:
- Ease of towing and set up
- Smart storage
- Durability in Australian travel conditions
- Family-friendly layout
- Ample sleeping and shared spaces
- Easy to use full ensuite
- Affordability and quality
- Flexible design options
- After-sales support
If the first caravan was so awesome, why did they want another one? We asked them the same questions, and they were only too happy to fill us in on the details!
After travelling for longer periods in the first caravan, they found that living off-grid was great, but as a family, they wanted to take their life on the road to new limits.
Their travels now take them further off-grid, meaning they need additional features, storage, and automated tools to travel comfortably as a family and to give Jelena what she needs to be present with the kids full-time each time Isaac is away for work.
New caravan features and design choices. The what and the why.
Isaac tells us his brief to Scott and Ashleigh at our partner Millers Caravans was “I want a caravan with the most w*nk factor”
Let’s be real, Isaac got a great-looking caravan that, in terms of caravan park judgability, may just meet the criteria with its eye-catching exterior design, but it definitely has the ‘wow factor’.
The @livin.On.the.edge Great Escape Caravans 23.6 Escape Family Caravan includes features and specifications:
- Built for longer off-grid stays:
- Full off-road chassis, increased solar, and larger water tanks.
- The family have now achieved 5–6 days off-grid and says confidently they would likely make one week with careful use
- A composting toilet was selected to enable extended remote stays with no cassette to empty
- They replaced the prior triple upper bunk with a double to suit the current family’s needs.
- Improved interior layout: double bunk in an L-shaped layout with a dedicated kids’ play area underneath and kid-friendly storage solutions
- The play area suits the kids ages 3 and 4.5, and keeps them contained indoors happily when necessary, giving them a safe space to play
- Automation upgrades:
- Electric awning, automatic levelling, powered steps, remote controls
- Enables solo operation during storms and speeds campsite setup (great for Jelena when Isaac is off to FIFO work
- Reduces daily packing/unpacking compared to previous manual systems
- Appliances and comfort features:
- Dishwasher, dedicated appliance spots, ducted aircon, diesel heater
- The family describes the dishwasher as a “game changer” and a must-have
- Ducted aircon frees roof space;
- The diesel heater was an addition for comfort all year, and in any location
- External design and storage:
- The rear spoiler gives room for additional solar potential
- Large rear steel storage includes drawers to store hoses, cables, jack, jerrycans, kids’ outdoor toys and bike helmets
- Having extra external steel storage allows the family to keep outdoor gear separate and easy to clean
A few months into their 2nd caravan journey, Jelena and Isaac are equally pleased with the customer service, the willingness to go the extra mile during the design phase, and the after-sales service from Millers Caravans.
Compared with other brands, the affordability of a Great Escape Caravan and comparable quality made it a no-brainer to return, and we are very pleased to welcome Jelena and Isaac to the Great Escape Caravan family – again.
