I've been skulking around in the shadows for a while, reading the forums and doing some research. I'm working up to buying a 2nd hand lightweight caravan for my 5 year old daughter and I to pootle about in during the summer holidays. As it'll really just be me and her (my other half isn't interested and doesn't get much time off work) I have been looking at 2 berth, end kitchen models with Mass in Running Order (is that right?) of less than 1000kgs (my car is a 1.6 2004 Vauxhall Meriva). I am planning on doing the towing course as most of the time it'll just be me and a 5 year old arriving at sites, so I know I have to learn to do it right with no help! I've seen a 1990 caravans for less than £1000 (Compass, ABI etc) which look like just what we are looking for.
So my questions are:
1. Apart from water ingress/damp what should I be looking out for in these older vans? What other models should I be considering? Where should I be looking to maximise my chances of not getting ripped off?!
2. If my partner or mum does come away with us, can my daughter sleep on a ready-bed/blow up mattress between the beds? Or is it really just too small and I should be thinking of a 4 berth?
3. I have a decent sized 4 man tent (the kind with a central 'living room'- is it possible to get attachments so the tent could be used as an awning (attached to caravan)? Or do I have to buy a separate awning.
4. Storage - Is it possible to store on a pitch during the spring/autumn months so we could go and stay in it at weekends, then take her away during summer and then store away all winter (not staying in it but doing maintenance jobs). We live in Central Belt of Scotland - any recommendations of sites I could do that at (or even what that kind of storage is called) please.
You need MTPLM of well under 1000kg, thats max loaded weight. MIRO is almost empty weight but its only a term used in modern caravans. Older 'vans just use empty & max gross weights which for you needs to be under a tonne.
Best place for what you want is a private sale off ebay or anywhere else. A dealer will charge more & won't give any guarantee on a caravan that age. If you want one for this season then this is most expensive time to buy. The bargains are all in Oct/Nov.
Go for something like ABI Maruader or similar ABI I would. I've got an '85 ABI thats sound enough but I've done a fair bit of exterior resealing. If you want an awning then you need a proper one unless you want to erect tent separately but you can get cheap nylon porch awning that will do the job. If you are lucky caravan you buy may well come with a useable awning & other gear as well.
Look for one that has been used until recently & seller is 'selling up' ie c/w with all equipment. Your car ain't got much go if its petrol so aim for lightweight around 750kg if you can.
If you can find a Marauder with large front dinette you should sleep 3 across that. Other layouts can make a double at rear & a single at front. Obviously you need to check carefully for damp & check floor corners are not rotten. A careful examination of floor/wall/ceiling joints is needed, check for obvious damp & damp meters are cheap from B&Q.
Try and find a ABI Sprinter 400 range, light vans which were well made and many dry ones around made 1997 to 2001. Most are 4 berth but Max weight only 890 kg. I bought a 1999 2 years ago for £1500 and its great, been all over UK in it with family of 4. As mentioned above many of the ABI vans in the 90's were light weight.
1800 dave - will a tow course not teach me the basics of towing, reversing, manoeuvring onto pitches no matter how light I am? I've never towed anything and won't have anyone to help me (other than my 5 year old) to help me reverse/manoevre onto a pitch ... and I so don't want become a spectacle!
Billy x - was wondering about buying at the end of the season. Thanks for that tip. We have a busy summer planned already with family/friends/holidays so might spend summer saving and research/viewing before buying at end of season for next year. Then spend winter sewing and sealing ready for next season. Assume I can just peel back rubber bits and apply sealant and clean off excess - like round a bath? Hopefully someone will pitch in with winter storage ideas locally.
buying at the end of season does have its downside.. less vans to choose from because less get put up for sale.. sellers know the score as well as buyers.. :)
but one option for part time guests is to buy a small lightweight porch awning.. i carry one for such purposes.. its still brand new in its bag but its there if i need it..
i have an avandale 2 birth.. not the smallest of the small but no way would i try and sleep three in it.. not unless they are liked sharing the same double bed.. he he
We have a Compass Lynx 340/2 year 2000 weighs 724 kg empty and 900 loaded and tow with Hyundai 1400 i20 diesel with no probs its a bit small but does the job we use two different porch awnings one for weekends and bigger one for longer breaks which can take a bedroom tent in it if needed but there is only the two of us and the dog
One thing no ones mentioned yet is check the shower tray for cracks
Personally, l would go for a 4berth, although you say that your OH doesnt want to come with you, you may find that other members of your friends and family circle may want to join you, and its nice to have that option and not have to rely on an awning for your extra sleeping arrangements, or to have to pay for another pitch to erect your tent on, as well as your caravan pitch, especially with a suprisingly fast growing child, who may soon start and request that their mate comes along too!
A good site to match up any potential unit is www.whattowcar.com just tap in your cars details and it will tell you if the caravan you are considering is a possible safe match or not.
I think that 1800 Dave is getting a little confused by the type of tow course you are planning to do, theres a DVLA towing course for those wishing to have the B+E group on tgeir drivers license for those who passed their test after 1997, and wish to use a combined car and caravan unit weighing over 3500kg. For those who passed their test before this date, those rights should be preserved, although for those renewing their driving license after the age of 70, those rights do have to be applied for when you send off the renewal form. With the outfit that you are proposing to own, non of this should affect you.
The other type of towing course are those that l believe you are refering to, basic manoverability courses and general caravan tips, run by either the Caravan club, or the Caravanning and Camping club, they last for a full day, and cost around £100, and are a very useful and informative start to any newbies towing career.
Julia
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Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Aw great thanks Julia. Yes I was talking about the caravan club course - basics, advice and towing. I was wondering about the 4 berths (or at least 3 berths) ABI Marauder style. As long as I can tow them I think that wee extra area would come in handy - not least bec sometimes I might not want to go to bed at the same time as my daughter! And yes, people are starting to say they'd love to come with us! And hey you never know maybe OH might be convinced when we actually start going away without him!
I you still wanted to hook up with your tent, you could get a sun canopy to cover the gap, using it like a tarp (many threads on here - use search button). Obelisk do a cheap one by mail order:
Yeh sorry about the confusion there, if your not confident towing then that would be best.
It's a shame your restricted with the meriva but being a 1.6 it should have enough poke for a lightweight. With an older van it's just damp damp damp to look out for really, other things can be sorted easier
first van I towed was an early 4 berth sprite,but with the bubble windows I towed with a Golf GTI convertible and didn't know it was there, believe it was 12 ft long, central b/room with porta potty, but could be converted I think,dry as a bone and good underneath,don't think it was particularly heavy but I'm sure someone on here will know,cheap as chips now I would think, kind regards
My parents have an 89 Abi Globetrotter. You would have to double check, but I know it is lightweight and it feels quite a nice spacious van inside.
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Topic: Newbie - 2nd hand lightweight 2 berths
