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Have a look on www.caravanfinder.co.uk to get an idea of layouts & vans within your budget (mostly dealerships).

If you buy through a dealer make sure you get a warranty thrown in & a starter pack.  Also get them to confirm on the invoice that the van has been serviced & damp checked & what the damp readings were.

You'll probably get more for your money if you buy privately (cheaper price & more thrown in) but you'll have no warranty & no comeback if anything is wrong so I'd recommend you pay a mobile engineer to check the van out for you before buying.

You haven't said what you'll be towing with but be careful the laden weight of the van doesn't exceed 85% of the car's kerbweight - especially if you're inexperienced at towing.  And if you haven't already got one, don't forget to include the price of having a towbar fitted in your budget.

We've recently bought a 2007 6 berth Compass that was within your price range (pics in my gallery).  We have the end bunks with side dinette & bathroom & I agree the space under the bunk when the bottome one is lfted is brilliant for storing stuff (as long as it's not too heavy).  Our bathroom is only just about big enough to get changed in but that's fine for us as we always use site facilities anyway.

Most of all, enjoy browsing & the whole buying experience - it's a very addictive 'hobby'

Ah Vanessa yes that is same lay out as ours yet we are a sprite lol. I think Ace do one too but they have doors below the seating so you can access storage without lifting the seats, (just another thing I may have noted since my purchase lol)

Yes deffo need a proper damp check etc especially being new to it you have the comfort of knowing you got comeback.

Thanks v much Vanessa - useful advice - didn't even know mobile caravan engineers existed! Will certainly try to track one down. By the way your cocker spaniel is absolutely beautiful - we have a tan old boy and a middle aged blue roan girlie - both prefer calippos to cornets!

Sam

Hi samc40, And Welcome to the forum, If you are buying from dealer or any where else, IF you can, would recomend you to, Take some one that has caravan experiance, that way, they can help for things to look out for,and their guidance could get you good deal,(as they will have knowledge of all the do's and do'nts) things you may not think of at time of viewing,and what questions to ask the seller, When looking make list of all questions you want to ask dealer/seller, no matter how daft the question may seam, Warranty,CRiS registered, what comes with van, (Aqua roll, waste master, battery,awning,spare wheel ),(what else will they through in)  Weight of van, Can your car legally tow it,

Look your car hand book for Kerbside weight, and its max towing capacity, This will determine the size of van you can tow.

Hope this is of help, ther will be others along shortly with more good advice, meantime start your search Good Luck.

Quote: Originally posted by samc40 on 03/4/2011

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Thanks v much Vanessa - useful advice - didn't even know mobile caravan engineers existed! Will certainly try to track one down. By the way your cocker spaniel is absolutely beautiful - we have a tan old boy and a middle aged blue roan girlie - both prefer calippos to cornets!

Sam

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Di  you pass your driving test before 1997? If not this will affect the weight you can tow as well. This http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022521

gives you all the info you need.