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I have found a elddis cyclone gt 2001 model in immaculate condition inside(although i have not done a damp check yet), the only fault i can find on it is on the front exterior where the gas bottles are stored. What appears to have happened is the lid has been pushed up too far therefore cracking around the hinges.

 I'm new to caravaning and am concerned as to what sort of effect this will have on the caravan..please can u help me?

 The caravan is offered at a very good price £6,000, does this sound too cheap or is it just a good deal?

The dealer that is selling the van said he would not allow a damp check on the van as it leaves holes in the walls and stated that this is standard practice!!

Thank you custer for your advice,but does the price seem too low to you?... i have looked on the net at a elddis cyclone the same year and they are selling for £2,000 more

I wouldnt like to say. But some-one should be along soon(hopefully) to give you more info on the price.

I would be very concerned if a dealer either won't show you his damp test report or let you do one especially if the van is considerably cheaper than elsewhere it could be in all innocence but equally he could well be hiding something which he doesn't want you to know about.

Ask him to prove that he has done a damp test as he would/should have done a damp test before he took it in to sell on & ask to see the report & if he still isn't being helpful I would walk away as £6k is still a lot of money and there will be plenty of other dealers about who will happily show you damp reports on their vans.

When we sold our van in part ex on our new one earlier this year  the dealer did a damp test on our van in front of us before he would even talk about trade in value as he won't buy or sell vans that he knows are damp.

Good luck!

Thank you for your help, the more i think about it the more i think there MUST be damp in it. I will get my uncle to go have a look at it who's been caravaning for 30 years.

  once again thank you for your help.

Hi Kiz+don,

For used caravan prices try here:- http://www.caravanpriceguide.com/id19.html

The £6000 looks good, if in tip top condition and no damp.......as for the locker door, You might get one from a breakers, If it is like the firestorm, it could be this one!

Click the link below to check it out.

http://www.lycoseshop.co.uk/epages/luk.storefront/?ViewAction=View&ObjectID=14775&Page=3

As for the dealer not letting you do a damp check.......sounds about standard, it can leave holes if a cheap damp meter is used.  If the dealer can certify the 'van damp free, and you can include this on the bill of sale as a condition of the purchase, then he would'nt have a leg to stand on if you bought it and it turned out to be damp (within a reasonable time of course).  Taking into account the locker door and the price.....there is some reason why it is being offered so cheap. It may well be damp, hence the £2000 reduction from the book price.

I would try to get the damp test done independantly for peace of mind, if they refuse, then walk away, there are plenty more caravans out there.

Damp testing is part of servicing. Our van has just been in for its first service, and was damp tested.  The dealer would insist on doing a damp test before buying in, so what is his problem?  A 2001 Elddis Cyclone in immaculate condition would probably fetch £6,000 at a dealers.  For rough comparison, our 2001 Elddis Whilwind GT fetched £6,600 in part exchange, after a bit of haggling.  The dealer, who also originally sold it to us, said he had given above "book price" because it was in exceptional condition.  Even so, I would imagine it still sold above the part ex. figure.

Therefore, subject to the dealer putting the locker door right, and agreeing to a damp check, it is probably a fair price.

One thing though, do not buy without a warranty that its roadworthiness has been checked and found satisfactory.

Bertie. 

Conceded, rabb_uk.  I should have included electrical, gas and water.  Then, providing a damp test gives it the allclear, the fitness for use can be established by personal inspection. After all, when you look around some secondhand vans, their poor condition was still someones idea of being fit for purpose, before they diposed of them.

Bertie.

   hi kiz+don dealers always damp check with meters costing several hundred pounds like bryfer1 says. the £10 ones you get show damp but nowhere near as theirs as thay have to protect theirselves from comeback, i know this from a dealer who told me, when i bought mine i got mine £1000 cheaper when i poked my finger in spongy wood by front window it cost me £60 to put it right and two days work if you decide to buy haggle with the price he may even bring it down a bit more try it               bob & chris