Having sold our Bailey we are looking for a foreign van which is what we've hankered for all along. I've been looking on ebay,preloved etc and have seen a nice Caravalair but dont know anything about the brand. I like the build quality, looks and interior of the foreign vans. We arent bothered about an oven, never used it yet in the two vans we've owned.
Has anyone bought a van from a dealer abroad and brought it back to the UK?
Where are the best places to look for these vans in the UK?
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
Dont know anything about importing vans, but I have been inside a couple of Caravalaires on dealer forecourts. I think they are french made and feel very different from the Adria/Hymer type vans, which have that solid build quality feel inside. The ones I have been in were very basic, for instance the kitchen setup was more like a campervan really. I would try to look at a couple before going the ebay route. Maybe have a look on Caravanfinder to find one on a forecourt near you?
Happy hunting.
------------- Im no cactus expert, but I know a prick when I see one!
Caravelairs are excellent if you just want a basic 'van, they do have a UK distributor here. Sterkcemans are similar here. If you want to buy abroad & you will save a packet with the € low against the £ at moment. Decuyper only an hour from Calais are used to selling to UK customers.
If you do buy in Europe, realistically you will need to make 2 trips. One to view & perhaps leave a deposit by credit card, then pay by bank transfer & return to collect 'van, just take a numberplate & tow home. Warranty will only apply in country of purchase of course. If you want to do a day trip Dover/Calais & return with caravan, cost is not excessive, book it by phone, cost about £80return.
nothing wrong with the Bailey, just not for us. We miss the fixed bed we got used to borrowing thr in laws MH and that our first van had. Having used the inlaws Burstner MH alot we like the build quality etc.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
Are you sure about the warranty only applying in the country of purchase? most warranties are pan european, so if my Mercedes breaks in Portugal the local dealer fixes it under warranty, so if you buy a Hymer in Germany, then a Dutch dealer will honour the warranty
EU law requires car warranties to be honoured all over EU for 2yrs. No such law exists for caravans so it would be only at manufacturer's discretion. Often UK distributors of foreign caravans refuse even to service 'grey imports' let alone do warranty work. This was certainly the case with the now defunct Eriba UK at Letchlade.
Oh good luck in your search savanne, I like the look of the burstner vans myself, did you miss your FB ? We've just got a FB and have to say they are great.
Hope you find one soon :)
------------- "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.
yes Murano, missed the fb. Looked at the Lunar Venus 500/4 today with two single beds. Loved the beds as can be used as seating in daytime but van too basic and very ugly looking.
We have been spoilt with the inlaws MH which is a Burstner.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
I've seen the Venus range I agree not my cup of tea either.
------------- "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.
Having sold our Bailey we are looking for a foreign van which is what we've hankered for all along. I've been looking on ebay,preloved etc and have seen a nice Caravalair but dont know anything about the brand. I like the build quality, looks and interior of the foreign vans. We arent bothered about an oven, never used it yet in the two vans we've owned.
Has anyone bought a van from a dealer abroad and brought it back to the UK?
Where are the best places to look for these vans in the UK?
I seem to remember you had a fixed bed van before and it didn't work for you .
What has changed
Why not have a look at TEC fantastic build quality and numerous layouts, we have had ours 2 years now and have never looked back and reasonably priced.
neil and lena, yes things have changed. Our son is nearly and no longer comes away with us. Our daughter will be 14 next Feb and on holiday quite often dosent go to bed til we do and lastly after sleeping on made up beds we are prepared to compromise on the lack of seating we did find if daugher wanted to go to bed early (which she dosent!)
So with only three of us the fixed bed layout will work. \we would still prefer two singles.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
There are three of us, my son is 15. More often than not he prefers his own little tent, but if the weather is bad we like to have sleeping space for him inside the van. He too is at the age when bedtimes are similar to ours on holiday!
We have a 4 berth side dinette. We used to make up the double bed at the front every night but now find we prefer to use the two long front seats as two singles, mainly because I dont disturb anyone going to the loo in the night, and I can get up early and leave OH sleeping because I'm not climbing over him! Quicker to make up too - we use a double duvet each but like an open sided sleeping bag, and I have a memory foam topper due to back problems but OH doesnt bother with one.
Son has the single side dinette when he wants it, we took the top bunk bit out which makes the bed wider for him and has the added bonus of taking some weight out of the van - those things are blummin heavy! I covered some foam pieces to put at the side of the seat cushions so they dont slip about. A curtain pulls round it for 'privacy' if required.
Also means we have a spacious living area during the day, a full end bathroom/changing room and wardrobe in there, and the kitchen area is pretty big, without having a huge van. Plenty of room for 3, but works just as well when it's just me and OH.
Just something else to think about if you like the idea of single beds.
------------- Im no cactus expert, but I know a prick when I see one!
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 a foreign van
