Hi
As the title says I am considering buying a caravan as health issues are making tent camping difficult.
OH likes caravans,me,I'm just not sure,anyway don't want to spend too much in case I don't take to it.
Budget is around 1000,bit more for something really nice,hubby likes L shaped living area,I like end washroom,only need 2 berth oh and would like an awning,am I asking the impossible lol.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
no not at all ,this is ours cost us £800 last year ,it had laid unused for 3 years under a tree ,took a lot of work to clean it up and tidy up ,lots of extras we didn't need 40 kgs worth in fact ,and after selling the bits we already had the van stands us between £550-to-£600 ,the awning was bought from a ad on here and cost £120 in as new condition .i might add that when we bought it it had a brand new aqua roll and waste master ,a unused microwave a sanyo home hi-fi system ,the bearings are brand new and it already had the alko hitch fitted.not our first van by any means but got to be the deal of the century it belonged to a friend who it turned out was to nervous to actually tow it .
there are other good deals out there especially on 2 berth vans you just need to look grey nomads tour vehicle by blackfox wildlife & nature imaging, on Flickr
Wow
That looks a lovely set up,so there is hope for me lol.
Problem is the ones I like the lok of are just so far away and I daren't bid without looking first.
If I can get something as nice as yours I will be very pleased
It is absolutely essential that you inspect the van thoroughly before you buy,If possible take some one with you who has a caravan.Damp is the enemy,don't believe the seller if he says there is no damp.If you find one you really like ask a local caravan service person to check it over for you.. to see if fridge,heater ,water,brakes etc are working and especially testing for damp.You will read horror stories on here about people buying damp caravans despite the caravan being advertised as damp free.
Keep asking questions on here , people are only too willing to help.
You could try a Caravan Wanted ad in your local press,this sometimes tempts people who may want to sell but don't want the fuss of advertising etc. or may be thinking of a sale instead of a part ex.
Also if you see one advertised by a dealer don't be afraid to make a daft offer well below the asking price,but within your budget.
Thanks for that will keep all that in mind,I do have a damp meter so will take that with me if I view but what sort of reading should I be watching for?
P.S sorry for the delay in replying am scouring the internet lol.
Quote: Originally posted by beagles on 19/5/2013
Hi
As the title says I am considering buying a caravan as health issues are making tent camping difficult.
OH likes caravans,me,I'm just not sure,anyway don't want to spend too much in case I don't take to it.
Budget is around 1000,bit more for something really nice,hubby likes L shaped living area,I like end washroom,only need 2 berth oh and would like an awning,am I asking the impossible lol.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
I would do you a very good deal on my abi daystar if south wales isn't too far for you,
whatever you buy to save tears later check every tiny corner you can find with a damp meter,even under the beds at the front and rear.for some reason bathroom walls suffer a damp problem.ie.leaking outside locker doors or toilet tanks.check under each and every window without touching the rubbers because this will give a faulse reading.at the roof area wher you know the awning rail is on the other side all the way along.if they say no walk away with your pounds safe.thetre are lots of dry vans out there.look also in the free adds at the top of the page.a goos site is............
Thankyou all so much for your replies,they are very helpful.
Lunarvenus that is a very kind offer but it's just too far for us,good luck with your sale.
We are hopefully viewing one on sat,seller said we can view anytime but if we wait for the weekend they will set everything up and we can take our time to check it out,its an elddis hurricane gt with lots of extras,any thoughts?
Michael thankyou will check everything you have mentioned.
Black fox - if that is an NR Awning, Balmoral, then we have an extension piece that would fit your awning, if you are interested let me know.
Beagles - you can find little gems, take a damp meter with you. Our old Monza was a great find and when we traded her in for a new van, got as much as we had paid for her, plus we kept all the wastemasters, battery etc. If you do find a a little van then we have an NR awning (Like Black Foxes) that might fit. It's the wrong size for our new van.
dollydabbler thanks but mine is a dorema sirroco awning ,we are after a annexe ,but it has to have a upside down L zip configuration ,with opti zip ,and the caravan side slides up the awning channel .
Black fox - ours is designed so that you take the whole side off the awning and substitute the extension pod. One side definitely has to go up into the awning rail. As this is an NR pod, made for an NR awning we would have to measure the zip length. We can't work out how to let you have our email address without it appearing in public to send you a piccie so tomorrow DH will have a go at posting a piccie of it on the van.
If you find one you like it's worth getting it checked by a service engineer. 40 to 50 quid can save you a fortune in the long term.
Or take an experienced caravanner with you, but don't go without a damp meter. Good look and hope you get what your looking for
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Topic: Help,new to caravans !
