We`ve been looking for ages for a caravan but not found one yet.
Everyone we look at there seems to be something wrong with it or just missed out on a bargain.
Are we to expect a bit of damp in every caravan thats more than 10 year old or are there dry ones out there, if we do buy one with a bit of damp are we going to get our use out of it or will it be unuseable in a couple of years time.
Sorry so many questions but I am now getting fed up winter is fast appoaching and the thought of waiting till next year to camp fills me with dread.
I have a budget of up to £4000 but at this rate I will have to up my budget.
There are plenty of dry vans out there. It's just a question of sourcing one. Do you have any particular layout in mind. How many birth? Do you have weight/size restrictions? etc
Keep looking i know it does not seem like it now but there will be one out there for you. We found a an excellent 1999 Abbey bone dry and very well looked after, it was everything we wanted. On our 1st trip out we were involved in an accident and the caravan was written off!! The insurance have paid out so we are now back on the hunt and feeling frustrated as we are comparing everything we see to what we had and nothing measures up by a mile!! I am trying not make do and impulse buy as i know there will be one for us eventually and i am sure there will be one there for you guys too!!
We had same problem,bid and won one on eBay which was supposed to have one slight damp area,when I went to pick up it was rotten,looked like Swiss cheese by the time I had poked and prodded the front end inner wall.
Returned home via a campsite a mate stays at regularly for a look and found a van for sale which was in A1 condition which we bought and are enjoying.
Keep looking and you will find one sooner or later
Went to see one last night, dealer said there was a bit of damp at the rear. More like the whole back end was gone wouldn`t have dared jump up and down in it for fear of falling through the floor. (not that I make an habit of jumping up and down)
Quote: Originally posted by Travel Bug on 30/9/2011
Went to see one last night, dealer said there was a bit of damp at the rear. More like the whole back end was gone wouldn`t have dared jump up and down in it for fear of falling through the floor. (not that I make an habit of jumping up and down)
Were looking for a 4 berth, end bathroom. Modern interior. Single axle but could have a twin axle. Will tow with a Disco so I think we can consider most things. Budget up to £4000 at the mo but might have to raise our budget. Prefer to not travel too far say a 70 mile radius of Leeds.
I am getting quite fustrated now folk are either telling porkies about the age of their van or hidding whats wrong with it.
We have owned 2 folding campers now and they were the only ones we have viewed and we bought them within 5 mins of seeing them. Wish the same would happen with a caravan.
Quote: Originally posted by Rob2011 on 29/9/2011
Keep looking i know it does not seem like it now but there will be one out there for you. We found a an excellent 1999 Abbey bone dry and very well looked after, it was everything we wanted. On our 1st trip out we were involved in an accident and the caravan was written off!! The insurance have paid out so we are now back on the hunt and feeling frustrated as we are comparing everything we see to what we had and nothing measures up by a mile!! I am trying not make do and impulse buy as i know there will be one for us eventually and i am sure there will be one there for you guys too!!
So sorry to hear about your caravan, I bet your gutted. I hope you find what your looking for . Do you mind me asking what you paid for your Abbey?
Hi Travel Bug, we paid £3200, it was advertised as £3600. It was the limited edition safari so had all the extra's which is why we were so pleased, it had been loved from new by couple with no kids so it was immaculate. The insurance company paid out the list price which they said was £3800 so that has eased the disappointment slightly and given us a little more money to play with in the hunt for the next one!
I have a great Swift Rapide 5 berth for sale, 1994 model with loads of extras and no damp! see www.fyldecaravancleaning.blogspot.com/ for pics and more information,
Our search is over we went to look at a 1999 Abbey Vogue yesterday and we have bought it!!! we paid £200 more than we did for the original abbey but worth it as a 5 berth this time, the extra's they have included are amazing , full awning, porch awning, aqua roll, waste master, all pots and pans, satalite system, TV, DVD, wheel clamp, electric hook up, deck chairs.
The couple were very nice and giving up caravanning due to ill health so said we could have everything that went with it.
Looks like you had a good deal Rob. I liked the Vogues but they were too heavy for us but they are lovely vans. I tend to like Abbey's generally though
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Congratulations Rob really pleased for you. I have just been to see another caravan, I was hoping I would be celebrating with you but it had too many things wrong with it, so still on the hunt.
Elaine when are you selling and can you tell me more about your caravan please?
Don't give up we have been looking all season, albeit not really knowing which compromises to make. Having said that we have just commited to a van and are delighted, not what we expected at all. Keep looking its out there.
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