After working our way through gazillions of tents, a VW and a TT over the last 10 years, we are finally looking to try a caravan. We really only want to spend less than 1k so we can trial it for this summer to see if it works for us (and then upgrade next year if necessary).
Obviously the van's in this price range are generally 20 years old, well worn (neither of these bothers us) and damp - how worried do we need to be about this. If we're prepared to write it off after one years use (not that we want to), do we need to worry too much? What's the worst that can happen - could it fall apart when we tow?
We are pretty good at "make do and mend", so do we need to be looking for any other showstoppers?
Hi you will find there are quite a few good units out there for 1k or around that. many needing very little to bring upto spec.
the way you are approaching it is the right way. all too often we hear from folk who are offered very little for their pride and joy. and get carried away with the ohh and Arrr of flashy new units and then find, Moving it about, Towing it, setting it up, and of course Storage, are greater problems than they thought.
List what you desire or seek and then we can assist further. and as you say if after two year its not for you you can sell it for half what you paid and walk away. a classic example is my unit bought with Awning, waste master, water roll, awning carpet, and lots more for around £600 last winter. although as I often say they dont come up often although one did this week for £300 BIN sold within an Hour. needed a little work though.
also what are going to tow it with as some are quite heavy and tow like bricks.
You should be able to find one in your price range that is not damp without too much trouble.
If you do buy a damp one it is unlikely to fall apart on the road but it will smell, clothes & soft furnishings will feel damp and it will generally detract from the experience.
It would obviously be much harder to sell a damp van but even an apparent scrapper will makea trailer for someone.
Thanks for replies so far.
Our ideal is 4 birth - 2 dinnette style, so we can leave one bed madeup semi permanently, in my youth they all seemed to be like this, but now there's so many bunkbeds! Other than that, kitchen can be minimal (no oven needed) would love room for a loo, but not bothered about a full shower room etc.... and thats about it!
Would be nice if we found something light enough that we could tow with our 1.7tdi (isuzu engine) astra, but we do also have a 2.8L Beamer which should manage anything we find I hope!
You may wish to keep an eye on the width of the beds when made up in some older twin dinette layouts, a double was considered anything over 3ft8ins wide, which is fine for a pair of stick insects lol, but not very good for a comfortable nights sleep for an average sized pair of adults!
Probably best to make the bed up, and try before you buy, any genuine seller wont mind you doing this one bit.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Spend a lot of time looking around and don't just go for the first van you see. At the price you are thinking of you can a really bad one...but with patience you can get a good one.
If its unroadworthy you cannot take it on the road, so take care selecting...and then just enjoy
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Why dont you try e-bay. I know a lot on this forum would speak against it but I bought mine last year off e-bay and I think I got a really good deal. My daughter bought one off it last month also a good caravan. Both our vans where under £1k with awnings and accessories. So dont be put off going on there and having a look. List them in nearest first then if there's any that takes your fancy you can arrange to veiw without travelling miles.
a classic example of choosing a model and type and searching, then one will soon come up. it should sell quick being priced right to sell. although many are put off by a little work needed. also many cant carryout the required repairs,
go on gumtree, preloved, trade it site like that, out first van was £250,had a huge crack in the front window but it didnt leak and someone had fixed the leak which caused small amount of damp, that was a 1983 abi, and started us off on the road to loving the caravan holidays .
davidmbell - we do love our TT, an inesca (like a camplet) so easyily have basic shelter in 5 mins &can be fully set up within an hour....BUT shortly after buying we got up the duff and for type of camping we do think a caravan will be best for us for a year or two!
We are aleady looking on ebay (had my vw and TT via it) - that sprite looks great, but unfortunately just too far away to view/collect while we have a 12wk old babe. Something like that between bristol & brum would be fab!
Suggest you click on the seller's name and see if they contribute to the forums - ususally a guide to being genuine but not necessarily of course.
Also many genuine sellers but not regular members advertise here. I bought a goodun on here last year. Take care and look very carefully and you should be ok.
We did exactly what you're doing sixteen years ago. But we started our search on supermarket notice boards. We found that all the vans on offer were genuine caravanners selling up completely or moving up a model. We looked at about six before finding 'the right one' and paid £400 for it. It was an Elddis Shamal, four berth, with bunks at the rear. OH added an extra electric socket, we 'redecorated' the bathroom, and I made new covers and curtains from fabric which cost £1 a metre. I think the total overhall cost us less than £35.00. It came complete with aquaroll, waste container, awning and pegs, groundsheet, portable fridge, crockery, cutlery, sweeping brushes, carpet sweeper, a full set of pans, some plastic glasses, and various other bits and pieces - some of which we're still using sixteen years later!
We used it for a few weekends in England and Wales, and then three weeks touring France, and decided we liked caravanning and wanted a newer one. We'd just received a small 'nest egg' and so we bought a new van with just the same layout as the old one. We sold the other one via a dealer for £450! It was on a 'sale or return' basis and he put it on his forecourt for £600 - but we were quite happy with the £450 that he gave us when it was sold.
Go for it - look in your local supermarkets at all the postcards and see what's available. Even visit a couple of nearby places where they might have advertising postcards. If it's anything like when we were looking, we found some little gems - and it was only the layout of our 'Shammy' which made that one stand out as 'ours'.
Hi, we brought ours off the ads on here. We got an Avondale Pearle Custom 1991 with awning, groundsheet, water barrels, snake bar, security locks, electric hook up cable etc foor £750. The van is very light and out 1.8 zafira tows it well! It is the same as what you are looking for with twin dinette. There is a bunk aswell if needed.
We tested ours out this w/end and was very pleased with it, we were worried about the size of the beds. But my hubby is 15st and 6ft tall, im average build, 2 dogs and even our 2 year old daughter ended up in with us!! Best nights sleep ive had in ages :).
We are new members and we fell very lucky with our Abbey Chorus 1995 2 Berth, one owner since new, purchased 2&1/2 weeks ago..
We looked for companies / people who did house clearances in our area and sure enough some one had left our little Abbey in the drive....
Awning and Alko Hitch and Accessories we got from Preloved / e bay and by talking caravans with everyone for a week, you will be amazed at the number of new or nearly new awnings available coz people have unfortunatley mismeasured.
Would strongly recommend proper service and gas electric checks etc though by authorized dealer before first venture..
Our answers are not too techical as we are new like you new members, just thought we would share our experiences thus far..
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Topic: buying a very cheap `van as a trial?
