We are off to view a used Adria Optima 400B 1991 this week and are complete first timers. What would be the top 5 things we should look for, so we don't look like the complete and utter novices that we actually are! Any advice?
Beg, borrow, buy, or hire a damp meter and check everywhere for damp. Then check it again high and low walls ceiling floor, below windows and rails. Nothing else is as important, bar a cracked or bent chassis.
If the floor feels spongy it has delaminated. That can be fixed. Damp is the real problem.
If you purchase the 'Caravan Handbook' by John Wickersham it tells you everything you need to check when buying second hand caravans and it's worth a fiver even if you are only spending a few hundred on a caravan. It is also hand to keep for future reference too as there is just about everything you need to know about caravanning equipment of every description.
Quote: Originally posted by wheresmytent? on 27/5/2012
Thanks, thats a really good tip. We will definitely find a meter and take it with us.
No prob.
The meter is the most important thing. Before we bought our present 'van, we looked at another one that was immaculate inside and out, with full service history, new tyres, excellent - till we got the meter out. 100% soaking wet, all the way down the front and rear offside corners.
Couldn't see it, smell it or feel it. But the meter could.
Check hitch damper. Push hitch in & compress bellows, hitch should slide in & out smoothly but with a lot of resistance, if its slack thats £100 off price. If there is no evidence of recent service & tyres are many yrs old even if they have plenty of tread then budget for new tyres & chassis service at least before you use it.
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Topic: 5 things to look for in a used caravan
