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 Topic: Buying an old caravan
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Message posted by frederico23/4/2013 at 11:09am
Outfit: Bailey Pageant Monarch two berth Location: Blyth Northumberland
Joined: 30/8/2010
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frederico
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You will be lucky to buy an old caravan without any damp at all. I had a cheap caravan years ago with soft patches in a wall. I knew nothing about caravans then. We had some good holidays in it and sold it for a similar price I paid for it.
Check list.
Can your car pull it? Check the caravan gross weight against your car handbook.
Does it look ok on the outside? Are the walls flat? Look along them from the back or front for any bulges. open front locker, battery locker and toilet compartment door. If door falls off walk away. Pull out the toilet cassette and check it's clean. How old are the tyres? 7 year maximum change recommended even with good tread.
Does it smell ok when you walk into the caravan? Watch out for fresh air spray covering damp smells.
Is the floor bouncy? You have to expect some bounce in old caravans as long as it is not too excessive it can easily be fixed.
Tap the walls and feel for soft spots, particularly low down in seat lockers, around windows and doors. Odd little bits of soft will still give you a couple of years or more if the caravan is cheap.
Does it have any service reports?
Does everything work? Road lights. interior lights. fridge, water pump to taps. Water heater if fitted. Gas hob, gas fire? Blinds, fly screens, toilet flap and flush. Do the pull outs to make up beds work?
Check for broken lats under seat cushions.
Is there an awning? Open it up to check the quality.
Are there any extras? Step, gas bottle, water pump, water containers. leisure battery etc.
If you can put up with some faults and get one cheap, some of the above points mentioned could bring the price down.
Hope this helps,
Best of luck,
Fred.
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