Having owned camper vans (VWs) since 1999, I'm thinking of moving to a caravan. I've no idea about them really so I'm after some advice. I've decided I want something small, easy to tow, manoeuvre and store (at home).
The budget is modest and I've looked at fairly aged units and some folding campers / trailer tents. I really like late model Adria Optima (400B) and Conway hard top campers like the Cardinal (clubman ideally). I also like more modern units like the Elddis Xplore 304, but generally small (definitely under 20ft long), the Elddis is way over budget BTW. My tow car is quite adequate (2004 Honda CR-V 2L Petrol) but don't want the maximum size it can necessarily tow.
So, my question is what else should I be looking at like the stuff I mentioned?
It has to be 4 berth, heating and hot water would be nice. Small but perfectly formed!
Budget is up to £2000 (hence the Xplores being out of budget).
We could recommend a lot of caravans to look at but then you may never actually see one for sale. Unlike cars the numbers of each particular model sold are fairly low.
At the £2000 mark i would be spreading the word around family and friends to see if they know of anyone thats selling a caravan.
Heating and hot water covers virtually all caravans from the late 80's onwards.
Under 1200 or 1300kg to keep it under 85% which is not a legal figure just a recommended one.
I think you've hit the nail on the head. When we find an outfit we like the look of, there's generally only a handful available, scatter across the country and I'm fed up of travelling to be disappointed.
I know £2000 is not a great deal, but it's all I'm willing to commit until I know this caravan lark is for us.
I was hoping to get a van around 1000-1100 MIRO. The length is more imortant, it's very tight where I live and won't get it around the corners to my house when everyone's off work.
I was just after some veteran's ideas of what a good little van to look out for would be.
Quote: Originally posted by Vdub Dan on 24/3/2016
I know £2000 is not a great deal, but it's all I'm willing to commit until I know this caravan lark is for us.
Thanks for the response.
I feel your budget is going to prove your biggest obstacle in getting something you are likely to be happy with. Even if caravanning is not and you need to sell, then sound vans in a somewhat higher price range will not depreciate by much, the more so if placed on the market at the right time of the year.
The Eribas can be very low depreciating but are at a premium price, so whilst the investment is going to be high the loss is likely to be small and a resale readily achieved. IMO there is a lot lower market for £2k vans, many buyers, right or wrong, seeing this as potentially buying trouble.
As pointed out, for a £1000, it's just about the caravan, not the make or even the layout. Loads of cheapies on ebay with sellers claiming they are damp free, but who knows? Only you when you go & see the caravan, inspect very carefully inside for damp & rot with the aid of a damp meter if you like.
Older caravans tend not to get serviced so the damp can just build up over the yrs & the whole thing is scrap despite looking ok from the outside. However, the next £1k caravan you see could be the damp free little gem you seek.
For that price you are looking at 1990s built & all conventional caravans of that era shared same build, ie wood frame, polystyrene insulation & alloy outside with only the sealant to keep the wet out.
Not trying to discourage you, there are good cheap 'vans out there that can form the basis of an ongoing project for anybody with a bit of diy skill & is a cheap way to go caravanning but it's about the individual caravan being good, not the make or layout, you need to be prepared to compromise or you will never find anything any good.
Hi vdub i have a really nice van for sale although looking for £3ooo which is probably what you will pay for anything decent and damp free, i am unfortunatly in a position where i have to sell your only an hour away and could use this van this week end.
Cheers
Thanks for the replies folks, I may have to raise my budget, I think some fair points have been raised. I'm thinking that £2K may be £2K of trouble.
Quote: Originally posted by redphil55 on 24/3/2016
Hi vdub i have a really nice van for sale although looking for £3ooo which is probably what you will pay for anything decent and damp free, i am unfortunatly in a position where i have to sell your only an hour away and could use this van this week end.
Cheers
I've had a quick look at your profile and I'm assuming you're selling the Abi Brightstar, Thanks for the offer, but I need a 4 berth really.
I will eventually move to a caravan. However the thing that puts me off IS DAMP.
I am pathologically averse to it,
I once lived in a damp house and built up my hate from there.
Loads of people on here regail the community with stories that make me put it off for another year.
Budget may be some defence against it but it is no guarantee.
Ask the many Bailey owners on here.
So is the advice that Baileys are prone to damp? Because damp is the concern for the most part, I can repair and upgrade most things. Damp seems to invisibly kill the framework without much outward visible signs.
Don't rule out a folding camper. We have a Pennine Sterling and yes there are drawbacks but for your £2k budget it's a sensible compromise. We use our camper a lot and it sleeps 2 adults and 2 teenagers comfortably.
We haven't ruled out a folding camper. Mainly due to the small size of the trailer. I have a lot of worry about getting up my street with anything due to bad parking.
I really like the winch-up topped Conways, but the last of them is old now and even scruffy ones are a lot of cash. If you find 4 for sale, they're inevitably in the 4 corners of the UK and you travel hundreds of miles to be disappointed.
Like I said in my opening post, I'm knowledgeable on VW campers, but I know nothing on small or folding vans. You have to already know some models you'd like to search as putting some search criteria, like under 18ft long, into eBay, gumtree, et al, doesn't yield any results.
Caravan finder is okay if you've got a better budget.
My camper van sold yesterday, so I'm now needing my alternative for this season.
I don't think it was advice as such, more pointing you in the direction of many of the posts on here re damp.
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Topic: Moving from a camper to a caravan
