Caravan Hire Sydney | NSW Caravan Hire | Caravan Hiring Sydney

To guarantee that you enjoy your Great Escape please take the time to read and understand the following terms and conditions. If you have any questions please discuss these with the friendly Great Escape staff before you pick up your caravan.

PLEASE BEAR IN MIND, THE HIRER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER THEY ARE THE DRIVER OR NOT.

TERMS OF PAYMENT
A deposit of 25% is payable upon booking your Great Escape caravan and payment for the full hire period is required upon picking up your Great Escape caravan. This deposit is non-refundable if you change your mind, cancel or don’t show up. However, if an alternate date is agreed upon then Great Escape may transfer the deposit.

Great Escape Caravan Hire will not be able to confirm bookings of less than 1 week hire until 21 days prior to the actual booking.

Early returns are not refundable.

Final Payment is due at Pick-up, EFTPOS facilities are available. If paying by “Direct Deposit” payment must be received one week prior to collection.

Sorry we do not accept cheques.

Please refer to our "Rates" page for the current prices.

BOND
A security bond of $1000 is payable upon picking up the Great Escape caravan. This bond will be refunded within 2 weeks upon return of the Great Escape caravan subject to the terms and conditions of the hire. The $1000 will cover the insurance excess should Great Escape need to make a claim on their insurance. The $1000 or part thereof will be withheld to cover any cleaning or repair costs that are deemed to exceed fair use or fair wear and tear.

DRIVER REQUIREMENTS
Only the driver/s nominated upon picking up the Great Escape caravan may drive the vehicle towing the caravan or operate any components of the caravan.
The driver/s must be at least 25 years of age.
The driver must hold an active, unrestricted, full driver’s licence issued within Australia. A copy of the driver’s licence will be taken by Great Escape prior to departure.
The nominated driver/s undertake to abide by all laws, rules, ordinances and regulations during the hire period. Great Escape caravans accepts no responsibility if you break the law.

HOUSE KEEPING
The Great Escape caravan is to be returned to the Great Escape Caravan depot in the same condition in which it left. The Great Escape caravan is to be returned clean and any excess cleaning will incur a charge against the bond. Cleaning will be charged at $50/hour plus cost of cleaning products. If the Great Escape caravan requires professional detailing this will incur a charge against the bond.
The water proof bedding fitted to the mattress must not be removed. Any cleaning required as a result of the removal of the water proof bedding will incur a charge against the bond.
The use of aerosol cans within the Great Escape caravan is not permitted.

ENSUITE CARAVANS
Great Escape Caravan’s with a toilet and/or shower must be returned in a clean state. All waste material must be removed from the toilet cassette and the cassette must be washed out. Failure to do so will incur a charge against your bond of up to $250

SMOKING
Smoking is not permitted inside the Great Escape caravan or within the vicinity of the annexe area. Any cleaning required as a result of cigarette smoke will incur a charge against the bond.

PETS
Pets are not permitted inside the Great Escape caravan or within the vicinity of the annexure area. Any cleaning required as a result of pets will incur a charge against the bond.

RESTRICTED AREAS
Great Escape caravans are designed for sealed, bitumen roads only. Great Escape caravans are to be used on sealed, bitumen roads only.
Great Escape caravans are not to be taken through any cyclone prone region during cyclone season.
Great Escape caravans are not to be taken through water deeper than 150mm.
Great Escape caravans accepts no responsibility if weather conditions contribute to damage to the caravan. It is the Hirer’s responsibility to assess the weather conditions and determine whether or not they are suitable for towing a caravan. The Hirer is to be especially mindful of high winds.

DAMAGE
The Hirer is responsible for any damage sustained by the Great Escape caravan during the hire period. The bond or part thereof will be retained by Great Escape Caravan Hire to cover the cost of repair of the damage or the cost of the insurance excess.
Annexes and awnings are not covered by Great Escape Caravan Hire’s insurance and the hirer is liable to pay the total cost of repair for any damage to annexes and awnings.
Any damage or excessive wear to the tyres is the responsibility of the hirer. The destruction and subsequent replacement of any tyres is the responsibility of the hirer.
Receipts for any repairs organised by the hirer during the hire period must be provided.
Great Escape caravans are not to be altered, modified or tampered with in any way.
Nothing is to be attached by any means to any part of the Great Escape caravan.
Items which are likely to mark or tear the floor or damage any part of the inside of the caravan are not to be stored inside the caravan. Eg bikes, gas bottles etc
Do not leave awning set up in windy or wet conditions.

MISFORTUNE
In the event of an accident the hirer is responsible for obtaining all necessary information from any other parties and reporting the accident to the police. An accident form is located in the Great Escape caravan folder.
In the event that a breakdown occurs the hirer must contact Great Escape Caravan Hire as soon as practicable. The hirer must ensure the Great Escape caravan is safe at all times.

THEFT/MALICIOUS DAMAGE
The hirer must report to the police any theft or malicious damage incidents involving the Great Escape caravan and provide Great Escape Caravan Hire with the police report number.

SUB-LETTING
The hirer is not permitted to sub-lease, lend or provide any form of proprietary or equitable rights in the caravan to any other person. The caravan remains the property of Great Escape Caravan Hire at all times. Only the driver/s nominated may drive the towing vehicle.

LATE RETURNS
The caravan must be returned no later than 3pm on the last day of the hire period. Any returns after 3pm will incur a half-day charge against the bond. A late return may be negotiated prior to picking up the Great Escape caravan.

TOW VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS

Only the vehicle/s nominated upon picking up the Great Escape caravan may tow the caravan.
The tow vehicle must have full comprehensive insurance for the entire hire period. A copy of the policy will be taken by Great Escape prior to departure.

The national regulations for vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of less than 4,500kg, states, the maximum towing mass (Fully loaded caravan) must not exceed the maximum towing apparatus (IE tow bar) or the vehicle recommendation on maximum towings mass, which ever is the lesser.

The only exception is when the vehicles manufacturer has not specified a maximum towing mass. In these circumstances the limited is stated to be 1.5 times the unladen mass of the tow vehicle. The hirer understands this, undertakes the tow vehicle complies and agrees that Great Escape Caravan Hire accepts no responsibility should this be breached. Customers must have a 50mm tow ball with a flat 7 pin flat plug (With a “hot wire”). Please check your vehicles towing specifications for confirmation and cross check with the caravan specification located on our intranet site under fleet.

Pick-up

Included in the hire price is a 1.5hrs demonstration on setting up the caravan, including:

How to connect and disconnect the Caravan to your vehicle
How to connect the brake controller unit to your vehicle.
How to erect the Caravan.
Instructions on how to set up the awning.
How to connect/disconnect power, water and gas.
How to engage the battery power override.
How to set up internal table & additional beds
Operation of both the stove and fridge.
Where all items supplied are located.
How to pack up the caravan.

Each caravan has a detail folder explaining each of these steps in details for future referencing if needed.

At the conclusion of the demonstration the hirer undertakes all responsibility in relation to these matters.

LIABILITY
Great Escape Caravan Hire excludes all liability, to the greatest extent allowed by the law. Great Escape Caravan Hire accepts only the minimal liability prescribed by the law under statutes including but not limited to the Trade Practices Act, Fair Trading Act, Civil Liability Act and all traffic law. Great Escape Caravan Hire accepts no liability under any common law. Great Escape caravan Hire accepts no responsibility for personal belongings of the hirer. Caravans are hired at the exclusive risk of the hirer. The hirer must not use the caravan for any other purpose than reasonable holiday use.

VERSION CONTROL. 1.1 (July 2011)

What you need to know!!
Everyone who intends to tow a caravan needs to be aware that various tow vehicles and caravan combinations can behave in slightly different ways and certainly differ from just driving the tow vehicle itself.Modern Vehicles (Both four wheel drive and two wheel drive) make excellent towing vehicles. To ensure a safe journey, it is necessary to have a tow vehicle and caravan that are compatible.
Towing Regulation The national regulations for vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of less than 4,500kg, states, the maximum towing mass (Fully loaded caravan) must not exceed the maximum towing apparatus (IE tow bar) or the vehicle recommendation on maximum towings mass, which ever is the lesser. The only exception is when the vehicles manufacturer has not specified a maximum towing mass. In these circumstances the limited is stated to be 1.5 times the unladen mass of the tow vehicle. (Please take the time to read the attached link to the RTA web site)
Towbars and Hitch Receiver There are two types of towbars generally available for towing vehicles. A light duty towbar is made for towing box trailers and boat trailers, whilst a heavier version, normally called a hitch receiver, is made for towing trailers and caravans up to the limit of the tow vehicle's capabilities. Whatever their capacity, all towbars/hitches should have a readily visible nameplate showing their towing capability.
Towbars are characterized by a ballmount of 20mm flat steel that is attached by two bolts to the towbar. Whereas, hitch receivers have a 50mm square steel tube ballmount that inserts into a similar sized socket and is fixed by a 19mm pin and circlip. This does have the distinct advantage of being easily removed when not required!
Weight Distribution Equipment When a caravan is coupled up, the rear of the tow vehicle usually drops and the front rises thus reducing stability and vehicle control. One of the most desirable features of towing is to get the tow vehicle and caravan back as level as possible. The most efficient (and safest) way to do this is to fit a weight distribution system. Weight distribution bars have the effect of transferring weight from the rear wheels to the front of the tow vehicle, thus ensuring efficient steering and braking. The bars are fitted between the towbar/hitch and the drawbar of the caravan. Great Escape Caravan Hire can loan you a weight distribution bars at no extra cost.
Electrics The tow vehicle must have a 7 pin flat connection with a working hot wire. The hot wire, is an active wire that will run the fridge (Fridge selector must be on 12V) whilst travelling. Please note, You must remember the change the fridge selector from 12 volt when stopping for any period of time.
Braking System All Great Escape caravans are fitted with electric braking system, which consists of drum brakes operated by electro magnets. The electro magnets in the caravan brakes are activated by an electric brake controller fitted to the tow vehicle. It's necessary to have this otherwise the brakes cannot be activated and the tow vehicle manufacturer's maximum towing weight recommendation for an unbraked caravan is usually about 750kg!. If you do not have a brake controller fitted to your car, Great Escape Caravan Hire can loan you a portable control unit at no extra cost. You will need a working 12volt lighter in the front of the vehicle rated at 25A. A wavier liability for will also need to be completed.
Towing Mirrors Extension mirrors should not be ignored. A driver should have a clear unobstructed rear vision. There are various types of towing mirrors. If you do not have towing mirrors, Great Escape Caravan Hire can loan you a portable control unit at no extra cost.
Techniques for Towing a Caravan If you have never towed before, then it is worth hitching the caravan up and spending a few hours driving around slowly and getting used to the feel or towing. An ideal location is an empty carpark where you can also practice reversing. Towing a caravan will impact on turning pivot point. Be sure to allow extra turning room for the caravans wheel tracking. Be mindful of entrance and exit points, particularly service station and private driveways. The rear over hang is vulnerable in steep exit/entrance points and can be damaged easily if care is not taken. Be mindful of the caravans height, Whilst your vehicle may fit under the low branch, the caravan may not! Great Escape Caravan all have information folders supplied at the time of hire, which provides all the specifications for the caravan being hired. Moving Off With a trailer in tow the acceleration rate of a vehicle is drastically reduced. If the tow vehicle has a manual transmission it is usually necessary to stay a little longer in each gear before changing up. With vehicles that have an automatic transmission it is a good idea to use the selector lever manually to control the gear changes particularly when going uphill. Cruising Because of the extra length and weight, fast speeds are not recommended. In some states the speed limits are lower when a caravan is in tow. Never drive too close behind other vehicles as it will take longer to stop than when the car is by itself. When approaching a hill and provided it is safe to do so, increase the vehicle speed slightly so as to make it easier to get up the hill. Always select a lower gear if the vehicle speed drops off noticeably. Once engine speed is lost it is difficult to pick up again. As a result the engine will struggle to pull the outfit up the hill. Overtaking Overtaking other vehicles, especially long trucks or other caravans, must be done with extreme caution. Not only is the acceleration considerably reduced but due to the extra length a greater distance has to be covered before it is possible to move back into the left hand lane. Remember to check the mirrors before pulling out. Being Overtaken By constantly monitoring the rear vision mirrors a faster travelling vehicle can be readily spotted. If road and traffic conditions permit, move as far to the left as possible without kicking up dust and without increasing speed. There is less chance of sway occurring if the trailer is being pulled rather than it pushing on to the car so do not brake or allow the rig to overrun. When traffic builds up behind you periodically move off the road to allow other motorists to pass safely. Keep in mind, any dust your wheels kick up my affect the passing motorists vision. Going Down Hill On steep hills you can limit heavy braking by backing off the accelerator before reaching the downhill section and changing to a lower gear to use engine braking. Due to the heavy duty construction of diesel engines they are particularly good in this situation.

Great Escape Caravan Hire

Terms and Conditions