Motocross competitions and free camping for a young family in a spacious caravan with bunks.
When we connect with our customers to hear how they are going with their Great Escape Caravan and to learn more about their purchase journey, our purpose is to learn for future customers.
When we spoke to Sarah and Ray for feedback and to ask about their experience purchasing a new family caravan with bunks, we were blown away by their comments.
Sarah says, “We just love it so much; it’s like a home away from home! I’ve even taken our caravan away by myself with Hunter as a newborn; it’s so quick and easy to set up”. She has already told us if they need an upgrade at any stage, they would be back straight back for their second Great Escape Caravan without another thought.
Why this young Australian family chose a Great Escape Caravan.
As keen free campers, Sarah and Ray started looking for a caravan, researching, visiting caravan yards, and seeking second-hand options.
What they found was unresponsive marketplace sellers, display models that were not up to scratch quality-wise, understandably a bit of a turn-off.
The second-hand caravan they were chasing (with no response from Marketplace) was a Great Escape Caravan, and since they couldn’t get a look in with that seller, Sarah and Ray decided to pose a question to our community via our Facebook group, and the result was well and truly enough to get them into the showroom.
After joining our private Facebook group as keen potential buyers, they told the community they were looking for a second-hand caravan and asked for feedback on the Great Escape Caravans brand, its quality and service, and any comments from current owners. The couple also mentioned they were looking for a second-hand Great Escape Caravan with bunks if anyone was selling, and they listed their budget.
Our loyal customers came through – of course, thanks, team!
The comments and messages the two received were more than glowing. With many telling them how much they loved their Great Escape Caravan, how good the quality was, and almost more importantly, that the owners and team at the brand were not pushy, very welcoming and amazing with after-sales service.
Anthony, co-owner and caravan designer at Great Escape Caravans, dropped into the conversation (as he very often does) to say “we’ve got a brand new one on the showroom floor you can have for that price, come on in!”
An affordable, quality caravan model with 2 bunks for a family of three.
Sarah and Ray decided that sounded a little too good to be true, so popped into the showroom to check it out for themselves and were blown away with the quality, especially after visiting other caravan yards that Sarah says “had new models on display that had seals missing, obvious flaws and easy-to-identify scratches and marks inside and out”.
The pristine caravans on show blew Sarah and Ray away.
Not only did they see the range and the quality for themselves, but they also got their research-savvy dad on the case. Dad gave them the confidence they needed by telling them, “Out of all the reviews they have online, they are almost at 100% five-star; everyone raves about their after-sales service and quality”.
Ray and Sarah were sold, convinced (and rightly so) that other caravan brands’ high prices are just for the sticker on the side, the name, whereas a Great Escape Caravan is the real deal: affordable quality and design, no big ticket just for the brand.
The young family were very keen on a showroom model Series 2 21.6 Limited Edition with 2 bunks, but although it was beautifully decked out with light colour interior and crisp white exterior, it wasn’t quite right for the motocross competitions and free camping off grid.
So, they decided on an exact replica of the showroom model Series 2, Limited Edition 21.6 with some changes and additions to suit the way they like to camp.
The design process of a new family caravan with bunks.
Motocross is a winter sport, often requiring free camping in remote off-grid areas, some in the beautiful red dirt of Australia. You can imagine the crisp white model on show wouldn’t fare well in those conditions!
Sarah and Ray were excited to hear that the Great Escape Caravans team could replicate the model on display, with the changes they needed, and so they moved the discussion from the indoor showroom to the design suite.
Excited by the many colour, finish, and fixture options, they chose a colour palette better suited to where they like to camp and a little more toddler-hand-friendly, with Hunter moving into that age pretty quickly.
With many camping trips to support Ray on the motocross competition circuit, the young family had to consider restrictions on how long they could run a generator on-site at comps and the repercussions for their comfort.
The couple decided that, along with plenty of solar panels, they wanted to add a diesel heater, and Sarah has only good things to say about how well it works on the colder nights!
The ability to make their caravan their own design by choosing colours and ensuring there was plenty of solar power, heating, and cooling made Sarah and Ray so happy with their decision.
With only a few minor additions to our proven design for the Series 2, Limited Edition, Ray and Sarah’s brand-new caravan came in at just over their original budget of $65,000 (for second-hand),
Their initial request in our Facebook group was:
”Looking to buy a Great Escape Caravan for our family. 2022 or newer. Must have extended drawbar, double bunk, budget under $65k, nothing over 22ft”
By working closely with Anthony, for a spend of $73,990, they got the below, ready to tow away in just under three weeks – brand new and manufactured in their own chosen colours and finishes.
Great Escape Family Caravan | Series 2 21.6 Limited Edition 21.6 | 2 bunks
Added extras:
- Diesel heater
- Sirocco fans to both bunks
- Concertina door to bathroom (instead of slider)
- Stone guard
- Dust reducing hatches
- Extended a-frame (to allow for Ray’s motocross bike rack)
- Large removable toolbox for a-frame
How choosing an existing floor plan allowed for affordable customisation.
Visiting the showroom in person was great for Sarah and Ray, with them telling us “the ability to walk around, take a good look in and out of each van, without any salespeople pressuring us was great. We were able to try the layout for ourselves and see what model would suit us. Being able to try it all out was so much better than imagining it on paper”.
Sarah and Ray tested the layout in the showroom and decided that the spacious bathroom and full-size shower were amazing; however, realistically, with a young baby (soon to be toddler), privacy is a thing of the past anyway (as any parent knows!) and bathing Hunter with the door closed was going to be a bit of a logistical nightmare.
The concertina door allows for a more roomy bathroom when they stop for the night; Sarah tells us it was such a good addition!
After working with this young family to create what is now a ‘home away from home ’, as Sarah says, the Great Escape Team is happy to be one sponsor of Ray’s team as he travels the country to win more motocross trophies, and we are equally as pleased that they chose Great Escape Caravans for their first caravan.
This young family of three is soon to be a family of four, and we can’t wait to hear more about their adventures with two little ones on the road from February 2027.
Cheer them on and keep updated with their travels by following on Instagram at @raymondcole56
“We just love it so much; it’s like a home away from home! I’ve even taken our caravan away by myself with Hunter as a newborn; it’s so quick and easy to set up”. Sarah has already told us if they need an upgrade at any stage, they would be back straight back for their second Great Escape Caravan without another thought.
