The Carado T449 combines comfort and practicality. The rear bedroom features an easy to access queen island bed and plenty of storage, while a fold down double bed at the front is there for friends or family. The large separate fridge and freezer take all the essentials, while a spacious garage can store bikes, camp chairs and more.
Dimensions | L 7.40m, W 2.32, H 2.90m, internal height 2.10m |
Weight | 3500kg (gross), 3080kg (tare) |
Engine | 2021 Fiat Ducato 2.3L Multi-jet 140HP Euro 6 |
Transmission | 9-speed |
Garage internal dimensions | W 105 x H 90 cm |
Safety | Dual airbags, ABS (Anti Lock Braking System), EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, ESP (Electronic Stability Program) including traction control plus and hill holder |
Berth | 4 (4 seatbelts) |
Beds | Permanent island bed (195 x 150cm) and fold down double bed (190 x 140cm) |
Cooking | 3-burner hob with cast iron pan support, oven/grill |
Fridge/freezer | 167L Fridge/29L freezer (runs on 230V, 12V and gas) |
Heating | Combi 6E heater (runs on 230V and gas) |
Power | 240V mains, 2 x 12V house batteries, 12V to 230V inverter 1000W, Solar panel 150W |
Gas bottles | 2 x 9kg |
Water | 122L fresh water, 92L grey water, 10L hot water |
Toilet/shower | Separate toilet and shower |
Freedom camping certified | Yes |
Optional extras | Speak to our sales team to see what extras are available |
Here’s what’s included when you purchase a second-hand premium German motorhome from us:
A week touring New Zealand in our Carado T449 sold iMotorhome reviewer Richard Robertson on intelligent European design philosophy and dismantled many preconceptions he had about layout, kitchens and right-side entry doors.
The T449 is a motorhome from Carado — a value (yet still luxe) brand from the renowned Erwin Hymer Group in Germany.
Despite being in the introductory tier, Carado still benefits from the same design, engineering and manufacturing expertise as the other celebrated brands in the Hymer Group.
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There’s certainly nothing cheap or basic about Carado motorhomes, Carado might sit below Bürstner in the prestige stakes, but the T449 is a good looking motorhome that’s well built, well equipped and easily able to stand in the market on its own merits. Richard Robertson - iMotorhome |
Richard and his wife, back in New Zealand for the first time in four years, were excited about touring in an imported European motorhome for the first time.
Having never experienced an imported European model before, they had many grand expectations. But they also had some doubts which were quashed with their expectations exceeded — as we can see in Richard’s T449 touring test.
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This touring test reinforced how you can’t truly know a motorhome until you live in it — and not just overnight. It also demonstrated how you must keep an open mind, lest you do yourselves a serious disservice. Richard |
In his review, Richard writes about his experience with the Fiat Ducato cab-chassis — the Multijet 130.
Richard notes it stacks up on the safety features, and says that despite his initial skepticism as to the lower power of the engine, the performance was perfect. He’d have no hesitation about buying the Carado’s engine-transmission combination. He says it surprised on steep terrain and suited their touring needs perfectly.
Behind the wheel, Richard describes it as:
“Investigating freedom camping spots with seemingly questionable roads was a breeze with the amount of ground clearance afforded by the Fiat Ducato chassis,” he mentions. They even cleared a rise in a track that would have snagged a lower-slung vehicle.
Moving onto Richard’s experience inside the main living area, he starts by dispelling myths around the entry-exit door being on the wrong side.
“Despite the tales of danger and woe, we found living with a right-hand entry door a non-event that took about five minutes to adjust to.”
Another myth about European motorhomes was debunked — that the kitchens are too small. Richard’s wife had this concern. Yet over the course of cooking three meals a day for eight days, she found the kitchen to be comfortable and very capable of delivering what she needed.
Their verdict? Richard declared the Carado T449 to be a vehicle they would buy themselves and live in without major compromises or modifications. Over his lifetime testing motorhomes, there's only one other he can recall similarly — which sounds like a glowing endorsement.
Wilderness is the exclusive importer of several premium German motorhome brands under the renowned Erwin Hymer Group. These brands were chosen for their suitability in New Zealand conditions — so you can adventure off-the-beaten-track in absolute comfort.
A Carado motorhome means great value at an affordable price — while also offering the comfort and high quality you expect from a top European motorhome brand. The brand doesn’t compromise on design, reliability or functionality. Step inside a Carado and you’ll find quality mattresses, a practical kitchen, central heating, thorough insulation, and plenty of storage space.
If you’re looking for a premium motorhome at superb value, choose Carado.
Bürstner motorhomes are well known for their innovative designs and top quality. They’re created with Bürstner’s guiding design principle in mind — Wohnfühlen meaning comfortable living in German. The global popularity of Bürstner motorhomes — and their high resale value — speak volumes for the brand’s outstanding reputation.
Built to maximise comfort any season you feel like travelling, Bürstner are genuine premium motorhomes.
HYMER sets the global standard for stylish luxury motorhomes. Since 1957, they've led the market in innovation and quality. Their unique HYMER PUAL body shell — designed in 1978 — formed a benchmark for motorhome durability and stability. These days, HYMER is well renowned for building smart motorhomes with timeless designs.
Why not begin your search by taking a close look at a truly elegant and luxurious motorhome — HYMER.
Motorhoming is the ideal way to explore New Zealand in comfort. You can get off-the-beaten-track, spend nights under the stars, and wake up to the sound of water lapping on the sand — all from the comfort of your own vehicle.
To find out whether motorhome ownership is worth it, you’ll need to think about your own unique situation. You should consider the initial purchase price as well as ongoing ownership costs.
Motorhome ownership is best suited to those who like to take multiple trips a year and enjoy the flexibility of being able to head off anytime. If this doesn’t sound like you, renting a motorhome may be your best option.
Motorhomes vary in price depending on age, size, make and model, base vehicle, and specifications. You can buy a motorhome in New Zealand for anything from $70,000 to $700,000.
For more details on what motorhome you might get in each price bracket, check out our buyer's guide to working out a budget.
The resale value of a motorhome depends on its condition, what brand it is, any aftermarket additions, and the market. Premium German motorhomes in NZ tend to depreciate less than budget motorhomes because of their reputation for providing many years of trouble-free touring.
Owning a motorhome comes with various ongoing costs. These include registration, CoF or WoF compliance, insurance, road user charges, annual servicing, water tightness tests, replacement parts such as tyres, depreciation and storage.
You can calculate the cost of ownership of your preferred new motorhome by using our motorhome cost of ownership calculator.
The most reliable motorhome is one that will give you many years of trouble-free touring. This means that the base vehicle needs to perform, and the interior fit needs to withstand years of use.
Most premium RVs built on a European base vehicle, such as Mercedes Benz or Fiat Ducato motorhomes, will still perform well after plenty of years and many miles. Unlike a lot of cars, these truck bases are designed to go the distance — even with several hundred thousand kilometres on the clock.
The reliability of the motorhome fitout depends on the quality of the build. This includes materials, construction methods, and quality assurance processes.
German motorhome brands in NZ have built their reputations on quality. For example, Carado motorhomes have a high price-to-value ratio, meaning that quality is not sacrificed even though they're designed for a price-conscious market.
Many locally manufactured motorhomes that are hand-built to high quality standards will also stand the test of time. The best way to get a quick indication of reliability is to check the warranties that a manufacturer offers. Longer warranties indicate that the manufacturer has a high degree of confidence in the reliability of its products.
Motorhoming is so popular in New Zealand that there are plenty to choose from. No one brand suits all, so it’s best to think about your needs and wishes.
If you’re new to the market, it’s worth trying before you buy and renting a few different types of RVs to work out what you like. Most motorhomes are for sale in Auckland or Christchurch, making these cities the most likely places where you'll be able to try a model out.
Before you settle on any particular brand or motorhome model, carefully consider your needs and what your perfect motorhome looks like.
The best used motorhome to purchase is the one that suits your requirements and budget — as well as being resalable. Purchasing from a reputable licensed dealer can be a great option as the motorhome will have a service history, detailed specification information and a warranty.
Always do your due diligence and check that the motorhome is sound and compliant before purchasing — no matter where you're buying from.
You don't need a special licence to drive most motorhomes in New Zealand. Your standard Class 1 car licence allows you to drive a motorhome with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of up to 6000kg.
When buying a luxury motorhome in NZ, you’ll want to insure it against any accidental damage. Many car insurers do not cover motorhomes. Most owners choose to insure their motorhomes with specialists who focus solely on motorhome owner's insurance.
The two motorhome specialist insurers in New Zealand are Covi and Star Insurance. When choosing an insurance company, be sure to shop around and read insurance policies carefully to see if they cover what you require.
Visit our sales centres in the North and South Islands to see for yourself why our brands are in a class of their own. Both our locations are handy to the airport and close to motorway access.
Our Auckland sales centre is located at 11 Pavilion Drive, Airport Oaks. This is just ten minutes from Auckland Airport, a short drive from State Highway 1, and 25km from the CBD.
Our Christchurch sales centre is conveniently located at 3 Export Ave, Harewood. This is less than ten minutes from Christchurch Airport, a quick drive from State Highway 1, and just 12km from the CBD.