We are looking to buy our first ever caravan soon. A little help, advise would be helpful.
Which are the best makes and model and easiest to tow etc. Only looking to spend about £2000 to see if we like it. Having been a tenter for many years and also a trailer tenter too our next stage in life awaits.
We do need it be 4 berth to accomodate our 4 year old that much i do know, but apart from that clueless!
The best make & model is a dry one with a layout you like.
Just have a good look round the dealers to find the right layout for you then make sure its within the weight limit for your car then make sure it has no damp.
Hi Jill I worry that you will not get a decent 4 berth for £2000. I agree it is a good idea to purchase a second hand van the first time so that if it turns out not to be your type of holiday you will not lose a lot of money when selling on.
I suggesta you visit a local dealer and see the dfferent vans available. Lots of different lay outs and newer vans are much lighter than older vans. So you may be restricted in what you chose depending on your tow vehicle
We purchased a 4 year old van first time after having a trailer tent for many years. Have had several greaat hols and a few more years worth of hols to come.
Hi Jill, there are some descent second hand vans out there, I have found a small private caravan business now far from my location, but some distance from your location, but it may give you some idea of the choices, this van was priced at £1950, had no damp, and was in good condition for year. A few other things to check for when looking at vans, if you are buying from a private individual,
check that seller has proof of ownership, get the VIN number (chassis number), on a plate on the A frame or next to van door,Check to see if it is CRiS registered; older vans may not be registered with CRiS but with the VIN number you can find out that the van you are going to buy is not stolen , or has any outstanding finance owed on it, think there is a£12 fee for the search. Hope this is of help. the van below is a 4/5 berth, black mark on front locker is ink from my printer, when printing photo, just to give you some idea of whats out there.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
This is a good time to buy as dealers are wanting to make sales. There are good bargains about. The main consideration when choosing a 2nd hand van is DAMP so you might like to get yourself a damp meter so you can check for yourself. They are quite cheap to buy and easy to use
------------- hawk
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone"
I have the body of a greek god - its in my freezer
Hi Jilly its a minefield out there when buying a caravan as other members have said the main thing is damp then the layout and buyer beware on ebay.Ian
Hi Jan. We have just bought a caravan after tenting and tting like yourself. We know that we like this type of holiday and the caravan will extend the season and allow us weekends away because the tt was too time consuming for a weekend. We have splashed out and bought a new van but have spent a lot of time looking at second hand ones. The main thing is to find a layout that world for you. And then the weight and towability because you have to choose carefully to match it with your car unless you have a very big/heavy car. Do be patient, it can be disheartening when private sellers mis-describe their vans. I think the caravan club website or the caravan and camping club had a checklist of questions for buyers. Happy Shopping
Just a small point. When looking at vans, I would always test the toilet (not literally) for room. Some of the central washrooms are rediculouly small, IMHO. One van we had, I couldn't sit on the loo without having to leave the door open, and then it wasn't very comfortable. Have a sit down and check there is enough room for your legs and that you have a comfortable sitting position.
Hi jill, have a look on caravan finder, it has lots of vans and shows the layouts. Should give you a good idea of whats around. We also have had tents and TTents. We love our van, hubby wasnt sure about getting a van at first but didnt take long for him to become a covert. Feels like luxury after damp canvas
We just part exed our old Elddis Wisp 5 berth. It was dry, comfy and extremely reliable. We just outgrew it. The dealer sold it on within a couple of weeks for under 2k
There are great deals out there but as other posts have said, be careful what you buy.
When I look at older vans, I use my nose first. If it smells musty - walk away. Then I walk right to the front of the van and check the floor isn't spongy as delamination is expensive to repair. After that I just look generally at how its been cared for and whether it would work for me. We haven't bought anything without making up the beds.
Most importantly choose something you like and enjoy your prde and joy.
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Topic: First timer...
