Hi,
I'm looking to buy an older 4 beth van. I have to come clean and say that initialy it will be used as guest accomodation and an office/craft workshop for my wife. However I'm hoping that once we get a bigger car it could be used for family holidays. So I'm not looking for a "shed". I'm looking for something dry, clean, airy and roadworthy. Preferrably with double bed and two bunks (ideal for visiting friends), sleeping 4. Ideally I'd like an awning thown in.
My budget is £750 up to £1,800. Looking around it seems I'm looking at 17-20yr old vans. I haven't a clue though which makes are good and which are the ones to avoid. I've seen ABI, Eldis, Sprite, Monza mentioned a lot. I'm planning to buy privately 'cos dealers have nothing under £7k. I'd travel withing 70 miles of Glasgow for the right van. Does anyone have advice about obvious things to avoid? Any help welcome.
Thanks for the wealth of useful information folks. I realise now I should have done a search, rather than ask what is clearly a very common question. I'll have a good read and come back with any more specific questions.
The Caravan Finder site is great, so much more choice than Gumtree, which is where I've been looking.
Thanks again.
Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 14/1/2012
Ebay will be a good bet for what you want.
I would have to agree there, ebay do seem to have a slight monopoly on the cheaper end of the used caravan market. Just be aware there is a lot of old dogs on there as well.
Hi wwwullie, Welcome to the forum, as in all the posts and links above, also get a damp meter for when you view a van, just a bit of info you may find helpful, there is a small business in Cambusnethan Street on the A722 between Wishaw and Newmains ( about 25mls from Glasgow), it’s a small business at the rear of a bungalow on the main street, worth a visit, dose not have many vans, between 6 and 10 at any one time, prices range from around £1200 to about £4000, to give you an idea of his vans, here is picture of a van he had 6 month ago it is a 4/5 berth.hope this is of help to you.
PS the black mark is ink from printer.
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Hi my advice to anyone is buy or borrow the Haynes Manual for caravans before buying an older van. We brought ours after our purchase but the information and phtographs in the manual are so helpful it would have been extremely useful before.
Re Dealers prices you do sometimes get a good dealon an older part exchange but they go fairly quickly. Ours was from a dealer and although we paid a bit more than we would have done privately the full service and little extras more than made up the difference.
I had a look at a Swift Challenger 520SE 1997 today and paid a deposit. We agreed on £2500, with awning and water barrel. It seems in good nick. No damp that I could detect and no high readings on my damp meter.
Chap assures me he paid £3500 for it last spring, he bought it from a member of his family and has never had time to use it.. Only thing that worried me was a kind of "bubble" feeling on the floor between the couches. It was not a soft spot as such, more like the floor here was slightly raised but could be squashed down by standing on it. It felt solid underneath the bubble and I could not see anything dodgy from under the 'van. The guy assured me that his uncle told him it had been like that from new. If I knew what the floor was constructed of I would have a better idea what could cause that. It felt like something laminated has been fitted too tightly and is buckling upwards.
I visited the place in Newmains and the guy and his 'vans seemed genuine. I was a bit dissapointed how tired looking the vans in my price range are though. However, its always going to be more expensive from a dealer and you do get comeback and serviced vans.
Sounds like the floor is becoming de-laminated. There is ways to fix this if it's not too bad. Do a search for
Delaminated Floor repair on here in caravan repairs, servicing and maintenance and you will find the remedy.
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Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
Thanks for the pointers. Stevo ,thanks for the link. Yes it feels like delamination. It's good to know there is a repair possible.
I'm going to get a pre-purchase inspection done by Scottish Caravan Services. I can't risk my kids sleeping in a 'van that has not had the appliances and electrics checked. Hopefully he can advise about the seriousness of the floor problem.
Thanks again for the advice.
I have a 2004 with a delaminating floor so its not just the older vans that have a problem. Its not as major a thing as it sounds. I have a guy coming to do mine in a few weeks.
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Topic: First time buy of cheap 4 berth `van
