Were going to look at a caravan tomorrow,
it's old, late 80''s
3 owner's from new, the owner at present, bought it back in the summer and used it for 4 weeks while they were looking at property to move into, it's a Elddis Tornado XL, with full awning. We have been told it;s in good condition with no damp. How much should we be looking at paying?
Advise please, as this will be our first caravan. If there was to be damp in there, where would we expect to find it, where's the most common place for a van to get damp?
All under neath is sound, no corrosion or rust.
------------- KIM.
2013 Season.
Upgraded from a TT to a caravan.
Loving it!
Roll on summer :-)
You`re asking the right questions. Can you detect mustiness when you first go in? Open the front locker doors, feel below the windows, and the sides where the sealing strip is joined to the wood (probably covered with something but you`ll still see evidence with a light. If it`s really dry in there, that`s a good start. Inside the caravan, front windows push between them,. If it`s spongy, there`s damp. Spongy floors are also a dead giveaway and can entail a lot of work. Does the floor appear to slope downhill as you go towards the back, beyond the axle? Check underneath; state of the tyres, brakes (have they been maintained?) Does the `van sit too low on it`s wheels? The owner or previous owners may well have done remedial work on her so you could get a really good one for under £500 . . but don`t expect perfection on a `van of that age.
Others will give you more advice, I`m sure. Hope it goes well; it has for me.
Good luck!
------------- Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer
Bottom corners are a favorite for damp as well as below the windows or shower cubical.At the door could be an other spot.If you can take a damp meter.
One of the problems with older van is spares and getting tyres as the are usually 13inch which are becoming harder to find.
Price wise...i would look on Gumtree ebay,on here or dealer fore courts to see what their selling for.
I would not take anybody at their word how good a van is its your money spend it wisely.
I bought a 1969 Fisher Holivan caravan about 2 years ago.
It had had a patch of damp under the kitchen window due to the rubber seal failing but it had been fixed and was dry when I bought it. It came with an old but useable porch awning, brand new spare wheel, brand new Thetford porta potti, brand new set of pots and pans, beer can shaped cooler, leg winder, hitchlock and 2 battery lanterns.
It was advertised at £595 but we paid £450. I spent the winter doing her up and have had an amazing 18 months going away in her. Off later on today to a CC Halloween rally. Best £450 I've spent in a long time!
Don't fall into the trap of it looks good so it must be good. Here are a few pointers on things to check out from an earlier post of mine
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Thank-you for your replies.
Were going to look inside tomorrow at the moment we have only looked at the outside, as it's in a local car park.
All the parts underneath are all greased and looks like it's been looked after,looking through the windows all the seals inside look clean, no green like some of the older vans we have looked at. Hubby opened up a compartment, that had pipes in it and they were all clean and tidy, so were hoping it will be the same when we get to look inside!!
------------- KIM.
2013 Season.
Upgraded from a TT to a caravan.
Loving it!
Roll on summer :-)
???????????? Why would an owner of a caravan keep it in a car park? Just a thought, but check that he does actually own it.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Buying a caravan in a pub car park, unless it is owned by the pub landlord, is a bit of a classic caravan joke. Seriously, check out the CRiS documentation. Click on the cautionary link and scroll down to the bottom of the page
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Fell in love with the van, inside and out is immaculate, toilet spotless hob/grill /fridge spotless. Hubby crawled in under and had a good look and prod of the underneath all solid, cupboards all clean, no sign of any damp, no musky smells, awning isn't very old and in great condition, furniture cushions all clean.
ONLY thing were not keen on is the price.
------------- KIM.
2013 Season.
Upgraded from a TT to a caravan.
Loving it!
Roll on summer :-)
Just curious...did he evidence ownership. Its just that you hear stories about selling vans in pub car parks
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
He is using the car park to store it,
he was very forthcoming with any info we asked him, his children attend the school i work at, all the original paper work was there, he has recently bought a few items and he is providing the receipts and the extra insurances he has taken out on them. I think if it wasn't his van he would of done a runner once i said where i worked, but he never even flinched, he is a very genuine man.
------------- KIM.
2013 Season.
Upgraded from a TT to a caravan.
Loving it!
Roll on summer :-)
some con men can be very convincing .take care with it .it might be worth popping in the pub to confirm his story ,surely the landlord will know mr jones ,or fred or pete who is paying him rent to store a caravan there .
anyway the one thing you havent told us is the price of the van ,for an example i bought a eldiss whirlwind vogue 1999 model for less than £800 this year.that might give you an idea .and that was in july peak season
£900.The price is the only thing putting us off. If it was £750 - £800 don't think we would hesitate.
mind, saying that we went to Stowford and they had vans there 1999, 1998,1995, and they were £999, £1495 and they were filthy in a right old state!
------------- KIM.
2013 Season.
Upgraded from a TT to a caravan.
Loving it!
Roll on summer :-)
If someone else buys it now, will you regret it? £150 difference between the asking price and what you want to pay is insignificant if the 'van is sound. Different story if it isn't - professional repairs to a damp 'van often run into thousands!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Buying old van, advice please.
Why would an owner of a caravan keep it in a car park? Just a thought, but check that he does actually own it.
