Modifying a used caravan offers a unique opportunity to enhance your caravanning experience, transforming it into your personalised sanctuary. Whether optimising storage for your outdoor gear, adding an outside shower or installing solar panels for sustainable off-grid living, each modification brings you one step closer to your perfect journey. Join us as we explore the art and science of caravan customisation, turning a pre-loved caravan into our ultimate travel companion.
There are a plethora of great reasons why purchasing a used caravan makes perfect sense, especially if you’re on a tight budget or want to test the waters to see what works and what doesn’t work for you before investing in a new caravan. However, suppose there is one downside to purchasing a used caravan. In that case, you might have to compromise on what accessories and options are included with your used caravan and the location of these items in the van. But remember that what suited the previous owner might not necessarily fit your caravanning requirements.
We purchased our used Essential Exceed-V3 roughly 12 months ago and were incredibly pleased with it overall. However, we quickly discovered that a few additions and modifications would improve our camping experience.
But before I go any further, I want to point out that when making any additions, adjustments, or modifications to your caravan, these modifications must not compromise the structural integrity of the original caravan design.
External Shower
Luckily, our Essential caravan allowed us to easily install an external hot and cold shower at the van’s rear simply by removing the vent panel, replacing it with the external shower locker, and plumbing it up.

BBQ stand at the rear of the van.
Chassis-mounted BBQ Stand.
When we purchased our caravan from Lawrence RV in Burpengary, they kindly installed a rear-mounted gas bayonet in addition to the factory-fitted front-mounted one; this enabled us to use our BBQ at the rear or front of the van. Sadly, the BBQ arm table that came with the van only suited a small Weber. At the time, Weber barbeques had no flame-out protection that met the AS/NZS 5601.2 and AS/NZS 5263.1.7. Our Ziggy Nomad did! But its larger size meant it wouldn’t sit on the smaller store-bought BBQ arm table. The other issue I found with the supplied BBQ arm was that it didn’t have provision for a support leg and could only be top-mounted into the holder.
The top mounting would work fine for most campsites. But if you do the occasional off-grid camping, pristine-level campsites next to a spectacular river or seaside panoramic scene are rare. When you’re lucky enough to secure a scenic riverside campsite where the bank steeply drops away, with the top-mounted BBQ arm, the table can be well over a metre from the ground, making cooking on the BBQ rather challenging.
I decided to modify the store-bought BBQ arm; truth be told, I drew up the plans for a completely new one so I’d have the option to mount it in an underslung form. Now, when parked at a spectacular scenic riverside campsite, it conveniently allows the choice of a lower table height for more comfortable cooking where the ground at the rear of the van tappers away. Furthermore, adding the support leg stabilises the BBQ table with the larger Ziggy BBQ. My new chassis-mounted bracket is stainless steel, and the new arm and table are aluminium, which I had powder-coated black and cost $250. A quick footnote: Recently, Weber released a flame-out device for their smaller model BBQs that retails for around $200.

Making a cardboard template to check the fit.
External Diesel Heater Tank
For reasons unknown, the original diesel heater tank was located deep inside the tunnel boot. It drove me up the wall! Mainly, everything in the tunnel boot stunk of diesel. You’d set up the awning and connect the privacy screens; all you could smell was diesel when sitting under the awning. Secondly, its location took up valuable storage space in the tunnel. But most of all, it was unnecessarily time-consuming and messy to refill.
I purchased a 10-litre external tank and mounting bracket. The mounting bracket I bought was more suited to the rear bar, but the installation instructions discouraged mounting the van’s diesel tank at the rear. I briefly toyed with the idea of fixing it directly to the caravan body but wasn’t convinced this option would withstand the rigours of long-distance travel on second-rate roads. Also, I wanted it located where it was quickly accessible for filling whenever I was refuelling the tow vehicle.
Finally, after spending some time on the drawing board, I constructed a cardboard ‘mounting bracket’ template and assembled it in the tank to ensure it would fit snuggly between the gas tanks and the front of the caravan. Once I was satisfied the new bracket would suit, I sent my drawings and template off to SEBA Sheetmetal in Devonport to have it constructed out of aluminium and powder-coated black to match the front of the van.
The tank mount’s bottom support gusset allowed for the convenient relocation of the original freshwater tap mounted on the chassis.
Now, I can quickly fill the diesel heater tank; there is more storage space inside the tunnel, and nothing smells of diesel anymore. The overall cost is $550.

Sturdy External Diesel Tank mount.
Remote Fresh Water Tank Drain
We’re always mindful of our weight, and adding a bike rack and two bikes to the drawbar quickly added 54kgs to the ball weight. Consequently, I must drain water from our freshwater tanks to reduce the ball weight. It’s an easy enough task in theory. But in practice, it was painful. I’d have to lie under the van to turn on the two drain taps, a simple exercise, but once the first tap was open, water would flow out rapidly while I’d open the second tap, and inevitably, I’d get wet. It’s not the sort of thing you want early in the morning before heading off on the next leg of your trip.
My solution was to rig a hose to a remote tap that I could open easily without getting wet. The most expensive component of this addition was the brass vandal-proof tap from Bunnings ($28.50). The rest of the fittings totalled $35.00, including the P-clamps, brackets and protective spiral wrap. I chose the vandal-proof tap to avoid someone accidentally draining our water supply. Including a standard 12mm push-on hose connector enables me to connect up a hose to route the water away from the van or conveniently fill water bottles without starting up the van’s pump. It is a terrific investment because, best of all, now I can quickly drain the tanks without getting soaked.

Remote fresh water tank drain.
Bike Rack
My wife and I spoke to many other seasoned caravaners about their experiences and reasons why they mounted their bike rack at the front of the van or rear. We quickly discovered there was no right or wrong. Nevertheless, we deliberated on this topic for a considerable period before heading down the draw-mounted option. As mentioned earlier, the biggest downside of this approach is the additional ball weight. We opted for the Victorian-built Wild Boar bike rack because of its alloy construction. Fortunately, it also has a tow bar mount option; it wasn’t the cheapest bike rack, but it did include many features. (Cost $1950 with towbar option). It’s straightforward to install and tips forward to facilitate changing gas bottles. To satisfy my curiosity, I tried mounting it on the van’s rear bar to reduce ball weight, but the rear bar didn’t appear up to the task of supporting 54kgs for any length of time.

Twin water filter mounted on the rear bar.
Water Filters
Because water quality varies immensely from one location to another location, we decided to install a dual filtration system on our rear bar, which connects to the standard hose fittings. Numerous brands of these products are available on the market; we picked up the Stefani CRV2 from Bunnings on a $50 promo deal. I probably wouldn’t have purchased the Stefani model if it wasn’t that cheap, mainly because the plastic 12mm-1/4BSP housing connectors are prone to snapping easily. To minimise disappointment on our trips, I quickly purchased a pair of brass fittings. When travelling, we remove the dual filter from the rear bar and store it in a plastic-sealed container to keep it clean.

Installed a bright reverse light.
Reverse Light
Like most caravans, our Essential Exceed-V3 came without a reverse light. But truth be told, most days, our van is parked up well before dark, so you’d be quite right in asking if one is necessary. I think so! If I stop and need to reverse during the day, the reverse lights will light up on my ute to indicate to others the vehicle is about to go backwards, but there is nothing on the caravan to indicate the van is about to come backwards. Also, occasionally, like catching the Spirit of Tasmania for an evening sailing, reversing the caravan at night is necessary. A bright reverse light illuminates the area behind the van, making it easier to see what is happening with the rearward-facing camera. The Stedi Micro-V2 costs $55.00, and the hardware (wires, connectors, relay, etc.) costs $50.00.
By incorporating your individual tastes and practical needs, you can create a space that reflects your personality and enhances your travel experiences. From aesthetic touches like paint and decor to functional upgrades such as improved storage, practical BBQ support, and safety features like LPG detector, CO alarm and reversing lights, each customisation can significantly enhance the comfort of your caravan. Yet, ultimately, the process not only breathes new life into a used caravan but also deepens your connection to your caravan or camper, making every journey more enjoyable and uniquely yours. Whether embarking on weekend getaways or long-term adventures, a customised caravan is a testament to your creativity and resourcefulness, ensuring your travels are as comfortable and memorable as possible.