In touring caravan terms - how old is OLD? We are looking for a second hand modern caravan, which won't look like a museum piece in a couple of years time. All views and opinions appreciated!
I've often wondered this. It appears that on here anything older than 2000 is an old caravan. Although some pre 2000 caravans can be better than post 2000. We recently bought a 1998 rallye Compass has everything we wanted and no damp looks immaculate yet we have seen newer vans than this that look in a terrible state
Well, there's a guy on here who is asking if his 1987 model is a classic; most seem to think it is.
My 1970s Royale was a leap into modernity for us. We are not quite mainstream.
I would say that there are many bargain pre-2000 tourers that many would be satisfied with, but to look modern I guess you are talking 21st century.
It's a subjective question - what do others think?
Surely it's what you can afford that counts. As long as your pride and joy is kept in good condition that should be all that counts. I agree that you wouldn't want to be surrounded by 'tatty/dirty' caravans but old does not have to mean rubbish, and if that is all your budget allows it's better to have something rather than nothing.
We go by the looks, so you've got the old brown caravans, then they changed to more of a cream with a small drown stripe and brown writting, then cream but a upgrade to blue or similar light colour stripe and writting, then the smooth white caravan which we call new.
Its all down to opinins I think, but I have a 1992 abi and a 1992 lunar and I use to see plenty more similar vans on site when touring, not so much where we have sited mind you. Nearly all new looking vans on the field we have sited but the field behind ( touring pitch ) I see lots of 20 year old vans +.
With older caravans its all about condition not age. Some caravans have little use throughout their lives & some even get kept under cover, you just need to find a good one. As for looks, they are all just white boxes, just somewhere to sleep.
I tend to think of them in three rough categories - there's properly old vans (sometimes with the fab spine or fin along the length of the roof, creamy coloured and much rounder than now- they're classics and make me smile and want a nosy), there's middle aged vans (don't look particularly old but are recognisably not new, faded decals, slightly different shape, still with the benefit of blown air heating, cassette toilets, hot water), then there's modern vans up to about 8 years old.
They're all lovely (or plug ugly!) in their own fashion, so I wouldn't bother about year, just look at condition, comfort and equipment.
Post 2000 vans don't seem to have changed much internally or externally so if you find something of that era you should get the most bang for your buck.
That said a couple of grand will get you a late 90's van that will have everything you'll likely need. As has been said condition means more than age. My 1990 Abbey was in better condition than some early 2000 vans I looked at.
I have read so many topics on here about the problems that people have with brand new vans and the hassle that they have trying to get these repaired, that it rather puts me off buying anything new caravan wise.
Far better to buy something secondhand, where any defects will either have been put right or be apparent to the buyer.
We have just bought a 1997 van and back then, the layouts to weight ratio were better than they are today. Despite having the money to spend, we simply could not find what we wanted amongst todays newer vans.
hi. I also like the layout and light weight off the older caravan. I have looked at the new vans and haven't come across much to make me part with that sort of money.. mine is a 1997 lunar. also worth making a note of the year of newer vans that are having trouble. as they will be second hand in a few years. and you may want stay clear of them.
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A good, well cared for caravan from the 90's will have most things you will find in the latest models, all you are likely to be missing is a microwave and wet central heating.
The history and how often used is more important than age. You don't want one that has not been used as you could have issues with rusted up wheels and lack of maintenance, nor do you want one that was lived in on a daily basis. There are lots of 90's vans out there that have been well cared for and maintained, offer very good value for money and don't look that different from 2013 models.
we have a 1997 crown regent layout suits double bed each end kitchen in the middle,
i look after it keep it clean and it doesnt look like an old van some of the new 4 berth vans have onsuite bathrooms but this means if you take friends with you they have to go through your bedroom to use the loo!
so if you have an old van a bit of love and attension it will serve you well and still look good
I think of 'old' as being before 2000, they all seemed to have a facelift that year and had big rooflights fitted which made them much brighter inside and got rid of the velour upholstery.
I define old caravans as having a boat roof and a newer ones as having a flat roof but what does an older caravan do that a newer one can't? Some consider that looks are paramount but at the end of the day it's just a box on two wheels and as long as you have somewhere to sleep, cook, eat, wash, shower and a toilet then it does exactly the same as a new one does. It's how much use and pleasure you get out of it that counts.
Some Insurance companies want higher premiums,(if they cover them)for vans over twenty years old,so that is the benchmark I use when classing a caravan as old
Well, FWIW we've just bought a 30 yr old sprite musketeer so that we can try caravanning. Paid just over £600 with awning which may seem a lot for the age but it is in fantastic condition and the awning is almost like new. Just a little damp over the wheel arch and on the door but other than that, no problems...we had it serviced on Thursday and all we needed was 2 new tyres, a new more modern gas regulator and the engineer also recommended a junction box for the bodge it duct tape job on the fridge wires...
To make it even better we have taken out the old carpet and a previous owner has reboarded the floor so that is in great condition too.
I appreciate that we have been very lucky but as others have said, it's not the age but the condition that is key. Ours has a porta potti, grill, hob, fridge and not much else but it is just a place to eat and sleep when all is said and done. :)
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Topic: Touring Caravan - how old is "OLD"
