Hi Mr Grifterman and I have finally decided to make the move to a caravan but finding one is proving to be controversial and frankly quite fraught! I guess I'm after some reassurance that there is a caravan out there with our names on it. We can't afford a brand new one. We would like one with the separate bedroom at the back for our children. So we are looking at nearly new ones. Went to see a private sale. Seller described caravan as immaculate. It had a dent either side and a smash to one of the front corners! Although it was nice inside. The seller did not have his CRIS certification and could not prove he actually owned the caravan which was not kept at his house. Nor could he prove that he had had it service within the required time limits for us to get the remaining warranty transferred. Whilst these document issues could perhaps have been resolved altogether it was too much for Mr Grifterman so we walked away. It was very draining because you do get your hopes up. Would we be better off trying to get one from a dealer?
Well us dealers seem to get a hard time on here ;)
Obviously if you buy privately you have absolutely no comeback should any problems surface. A lot of people seem to think you can smell damp (you can't) and that if everything looks nice and there are no nasty smells all is fine. Damp can already be rotting your potential purchase and trust me, you won't notice until it's too late and you are facing several thousand pounds worth of damage. If you're going to buy privately make sure you buy/borrow a damp meter and check all the walls.
Back to your point if you do by from a dealer (well, a decent one anyway) any used van will have been damp checked before it is taken in. Without naming who I work for this is the first thing we do before we take any used van in as we don't want to buy a damp unit any more than you do. The van will also come fully serviced, cleaned and with some sort of after sales warranty. OK you may pay a bit more from a dealer (due to the cost of servicing, warranty, aftersales etc) but it's the same as buying a used car, buy cheaper privately you take a chance.
Most dealers will give you a comprehensive hand over and show you exactly what everything does. We also CRIS check all our vans so you know you're not getting anything dodgy.
Keep trying. There will be some Immaculate ones out there. When we sold our last van it was truly immaculate. Probably better looked after than my house. It was an old van so we didnt ask much for it but it got snapped up at first viewing. No harm in looking at dealerships as well though as our old van was purchased from a dealership at a reasonable price. Mind you I think that van led a charmed life as when we bought it it had just come into the dealership. The guy apologised that it hadnt been cleaned yet. When we went in it looked cleaner than any of the other vans they were trying to sell. We said we would have it there and then as we new it was a gem. When we eventually got a tow bar fitted to the car and brought it home it turned out that under the front seats was a full size awning. Don't think they even knew that was in there.
Have you checked out the ads on here to see if anything is available?
Got a tee shirt that says..I saw a 1,000,000 caravans before i bought this one,and its true.You will see a lot of caravans before you buy one.At least with reading your post you know what you are looking for..good hunting.
Quote: Originally posted by jeff juke on 03/9/2011
Got a tee shirt that says..I saw a 1,000,000 caravans before i bought this one,and its true.You will see a lot of caravans before you buy one.At least with reading your post you know what you are looking for..good hunting.
Yep I've got the same tee as Jeff too, only mines in pink lol
They say you have to kiss alot of frogs until you find the prince, my lips are sore, but with a bit of savvy and a damp meter you will find the right one , and as Jeff says at least you know what layout you are after :)
------------- "I'm a fool for my dogs"
Adopt a rescue, rescue dogs make great pets, don't support puppy farms.
The road can be tough and rough,but what you put in you get back 10 x more.
Well us dealers seem to get a hard time on here ;)
Obviously if you buy privately you have absolutely no comeback should any problems surface. A lot of people seem to think you can smell damp (you can't) and that if everything looks nice and there are no nasty smells all is fine. Damp can already be rotting your potential purchase and trust me, you won't notice until it's too late and you are facing several thousand pounds worth of damage. If you're going to buy privately make sure you buy/borrow a damp meter and check all the walls.
Are there any particular areas of the walls more prone (upper/lower) etc.?
Thanks.
OP we're moving back to a van. Our last van was bought when the new models were bought out, it was brand new and as cheap/cheaper than any of the used vans of similar spec.
Won't be spending tha much this time but it might be worth bearing in mind?
------------- Are you sure you've read the instructions?
Yes check around the front and rear areas where the side wallboards join (ie where the front panel joins onto the sides, water gets in through the seal behind the awning rail) Also if the van has an upper and lower panel on the outside check all along the wallboard around the height of the join.
We have finally bought our 2nd hand caravan after 3 years of looking . I knew that I didn't want a toilet where I had to sit with my feet in the shower or shower with the toilet at the side of me so this narrowed our search down considerably. We picked ours up this morning but I knew as soon as I walked in it at the dealers that it was the one for us. It hadn't been valeted but never would have known.
Keep looking because you will find the one you want.
You have to get into the mind set of looking at caravans as a family day out. Go off, pic nic in the back of the car, decide where the pic nic will be after you have seen a van and just don't expect to buy. Its just easier that way. Eventually...there it is...
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
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Buying first caravan woes
. I knew that I didn't want a toilet where I had to sit with my feet in the shower or shower with the toilet at the side of me so this narrowed our search down considerably. We picked ours up this morning but I knew as soon as I walked in it at the dealers that it was the one for us. It hadn't been valeted but never would have known.
