Message Forums

If you can manage to find a Lunar Zenith 5 berth, pre-2006, then that would probably be in your weight and price range, and the newer ones around that year have a very good specification level of equipment and are excellent value for money.

I do know that there have been a couple of Zeniths for sale on here recently, from memory a 5 and a 6 berth, but im unsure how much they were priced at, but you could always put in a slightly lower offer anyway.

Older caravans can be prone to dampness, so if buying privately, or in deed with some dealers, it then pays to take a damp test meter with you and check the walls, as a damp caravan can sometimes conceal further rotten framework which is not apparent to the naked eye. You can buy damp meters on e-bay for around £16, i bought one to keep an eye on our caravan, although so far its fine.

I can fully understand why you no longer want to stay in Haven caravans as we have had a few scruffy and dirty ones from them in the past when we have taken our grandchildren away with us, and like you, we decided that a van of our own was the best way forward, but when you look at ownership, its not exactly cheap, and to make it cost effective you have really got to have the time to be able to use it for at least 6 full weeks a year to justify its costs, even more with the depreciation taken in to consideration on new vans. if its just a few weekends a year away you are looking for, then you might be better to look for a nice little B&B or hotel for your get aways.

For people with very busy lifestyles, you then have to ask yourself if you can find the time to mainain your pride and joy, its a bit like cleaning a second home and washing a second car at the end of every trip, and sometimes you can get very wet and cold doing the hitching up and outdoor setting up/packing away part of the hobby, would your husband mind doing this?  we have owned caravans over many years since the late 70s, but at some point for a period of ten years we were forced to give it all up, the reason being lack of any real privacy. Our daughters as they grew up no longer wanted to share a room with their Dad, stating their mates were teasing them saying it was 'uncool' to do so lol, despite having the sliding wooden door in our Coachman, and in turn they were giving us a difficult time as we darent even turn over in bed before they would take it that we were 'upto no good' if you get the jist lol, and it was no fun then trying to get a good holiday under those conditions.

Im not trying to put you off caravanning in anyway, but its best that you know the full facts before you take on the loan to pay for something that turns out to have been a mistake, and also to consider if then paying off said loan would leave you short of funds for your weekedns away anyway?

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do,

Julia