What actually changes when a caravan is built for dirt
There is no standard behind the badge. The honest way to compare caravans is by the six systems that change when a van is specified for unsealed roads.
4 min readUpdated 2026-09-11
Why the badge tells you nothing
No Australian standard, regulation or certification sits behind off-road, semi off-road or full off-road. The words describe intent, not a measurement. The component list is comparable.
1 · The chassis
Ask for rail size, material and finish, plus A-frame size and extension. Network RV uses a 150mm Permagal chassis painted black, with the 150mm A-frame extended by 350mm, the same in both ranges.
2 · The suspension
Ask for make, model and rating. Single-axle ratings are lower than tandem. A 50mm riser gains clearance on the on-road leaf-style system; independent Enduro X uses arm geometry instead.
On-road build
Off-road build
System
Roller Rocker
AL-KO Enduro X
Tandem rating
3,500kg
3,500kg
Single-axle rating
2,500kg
2,800kg
Riser at axle
50mm
None
3 · The coupling, and what a DO35 actually is
A standard ball coupling suits sealed roads and formed gravel. A DO35 pivots on three axes, letting the van roll and pitch independently on rutted tracks. Ask whether the matching tongue is included and accepted by your tow bar.
Network RV fits a standard coupling on-road and a DO35 off-road.
4 · Tyres and rims
Ask for rim size, tyre size and load rating. Network RV runs 15-inch rims with a 235 all-terrain on-road and 16-inch rims with a 265 mud-terrain at high load rating off-road.
Mud-terrain rubber trades highway noise, wear and fuel for loose-surface grip. Read Caravan tyres and pressures.
5 · The wall and roof system
Both ranges are timber-free. On-road uses a PVC frame with composite cladding and a one-piece fibreglass roof. Off-road uses composite sandwich panels across front, rear, sides and roof. Neither is the upgrade; each is specified for a different load.
6 · Water, and the recovery hardware
Water: 110L fresh plus greywater on-road; 220L fresh plus greywater off-road. Each litre is roughly one kilogram of payload.
Exterior hardware: the off-road build adds a four-arm bumper, chequer-plate boot door, a second power hatch, a third annexe light and an external shower.
What does not change
Both ranges share the 150mm chassis and 12-inch brakes, 315Ah lithium and 2 × 200W solar, 200L compressor fridge, 3.5kW inverter air conditioner, cooking, bathroom, 16-foot awning and 2,265mm internal width.
Heavier running gear, construction, water and hardware add mass. The compliance plate is the authority; a licensed weighbridge measures the loaded combination. Check towing capacity, ball download, GVM and GCM with the vehicle manufacturer.