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crikey
Original Poster
1,528 posts
81 months
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If someone was to be looking at caravans with a view to maybe buying one, what would be the sort of things, errr, my friend should look out for ?
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Magic919
7,726 posts
71 months
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StuartGGray
6,370 posts
98 months
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nagsheadwarrior
995 posts
49 months
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Defo damp,by far the biggest hidden killer of caravans,buy one from a dealer if poss and make sure you get a damp check cert.
Secondly,anoraks and hiking socks,a nice matching set for you and the wife,these are a dangerous side effect of looking at caravans.
Thirdly,man up n buy a motorhome instead!
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R TOY
1,522 posts
98 months
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From my latest experience, (with a more manly motorhome tho  ) Water pump (if built in), very vunerable to frost and not easy to drain. Crack and then leak. (cheap fix but created a large puddle, Mrs toy not amused !). Would think the whole water system best tested ? Check fridge operation on gas is ok, Seller told me that the fridge wouldnt work on gas, i didnt think this was a big problem as only 4yrs old...cost me 200 f'in quid to get fixed  Leisure battery operation. Chances are it will be shagged so turn 240v off and check, good knock down point ££ . Cost about £80-100 iirc. Gas bottles inc ? Mine came with only one and it seems the rental is high on the small ones, (found an old one to swap tho) Some older caravans had problems with the window seals glueing themselves to the windows, check that they all open ok. When we sold our caravan earlier this year the buyer had a damp tester with him, he couldnt get it to work but bought the van anyway  Maybe worth getting one ? (and some batteries)
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pherlopolus
412 posts
28 months
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Damp, upholstery condition (specifically the condition of the bits you sleep on), any DIY additions....
Tyres correct weighting for van (budget for new 8 ply anyway unless receipt within the last couple of years)
If you buy private check when they last had it serviced...
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GAjon
1,448 posts
83 months
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As well as all the practical stuff already mentioned, you, I mean your friend, really need to have an idea of what interior layout is best for your needs.
Check out dealers who let you take a good look around and sit in, or go to one of the shows like the NEC show in October.
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volks al
4,001 posts
84 months
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If it has grey window rubber like mine did they glued themselves to the frames, two day job and £200 later I have edpm or what ever its called rubber seals.
And all the other good things above, also check tires and thier DOT year, mine looked fine but was 11 years old and perished, they aint the cheapest to replace.
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crikey
Original Poster
1,528 posts
81 months
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Cheers all. You've somewhat scared my friend off buying private as he's no real idea so would rather get something with a warrantee. He does know the kind of layout he's looking for though 
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Bitofbully
394 posts
9 months
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You can book a Premier Inn or similar for around 75 quid a night.
Divide that into the cost of a caravan and work out how many nights you can spend in relative luxury for the same money as your friend is looking at spending on a 'van.
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Watchman
2,037 posts
115 months
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Bitofbully said: You can book a Premier Inn or similar for around 75 quid a night.
Divide that into the cost of a caravan and work out how many nights you can spend in relative luxury for the same money as your friend is looking at spending on a 'van. You appear to be in the wrong forum.
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Tunku
6,370 posts
98 months
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Bitofbully said: You can book a Premier Inn or similar for around 75 quid a night.
Divide that into the cost of a caravan and work out how many nights you can spend in relative luxury for the same money as your friend is looking at spending on a 'van. When I can drag a Premier Inn every weekend to a view I love to see out of my window as I fall asleep and wake up to, and drag it elsewhere at the drop of a hat, I will. Until then, I will use a caravan, thanks! 
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Bitofbully
394 posts
9 months
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Tunku said: Bitofbully said: You can book a Premier Inn or similar for around 75 quid a night.
Divide that into the cost of a caravan and work out how many nights you can spend in relative luxury for the same money as your friend is looking at spending on a 'van. When I can drag a Premier Inn every weekend to a view I love to see out of my window as I fall asleep and wake up to, and drag it elsewhere at the drop of a hat, I will. Until then, I will use a caravan, thanks! That was just an example with a fairly fixed and known cost. A couple of months ago I booked a lovely country house hotel for not much more than £100 for both of us, including dinner, breakfast and use of a stunning health club with hit tub overlooking the North Devon countryside. Beats crapping in a chemical filled bucket.
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Tunku
6,370 posts
98 months
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Bitofbully said: Tunku said: Bitofbully said: You can book a Premier Inn or similar for around 75 quid a night.
Divide that into the cost of a caravan and work out how many nights you can spend in relative luxury for the same money as your friend is looking at spending on a 'van. When I can drag a Premier Inn every weekend to a view I love to see out of my window as I fall asleep and wake up to, and drag it elsewhere at the drop of a hat, I will. Until then, I will use a caravan, thanks! That was just an example with a fairly fixed and known cost. A couple of months ago I booked a lovely country house hotel for not much more than £100 for both of us, including dinner, breakfast and use of a stunning health club with hit tub overlooking the North Devon countryside. Beats crapping in a chemical filled bucket. I would imagine a nice meal is better than crapping in a chemical filled bucket. I tend to drive to a nice restaurant to eat. You can keep your bucket.
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GAjon
1,448 posts
83 months
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Yes, OP this is a very valid point your friend needs to be aware of. The minute you step into a caravan or motorhome you are overcome with the desire to take a s  t in a plastic bucket. I went to the NEC show 2 years ago and lost 6 stones, however my shares in plastic bucket manufacturing went through the roof. Just be careful.
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crikey
Original Poster
1,528 posts
81 months
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GAjon said: Yes, OP this is a very valid point your friend needs to be aware of. The minute you step into a caravan or motorhome you are overcome with the desire to take a s t in a plastic bucket. I went to the NEC show 2 years ago and lost 6 stones, however my shares in plastic bucket manufacturing went through the roof. Just be careful. 
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pherlopolus
412 posts
28 months
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we sold ours as it was costing a minimum of £25 a night for a decent site (where you dont need to crap in a bucket) on top of the double fuel costs of getting there, and the storage/servicing/insuring but we had 4 good years ownership, then 1 very wet one, it was the wet one that finished us.
Much easier to just stay in a Holiday Inn Express... but we dont go as much as with the caravan.
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nagsheadwarrior
995 posts
49 months
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GAjon said: Yes, OP this is a very valid point your friend needs to be aware of. The minute you step into a caravan or motorhome you are overcome with the desire to take a s t in a plastic bucket. I went to the NEC show 2 years ago and lost 6 stones, however my shares in plastic bucket manufacturing went through the roof. Just be careful. Aha it was you!? I was working on the adria stand at the nec 2 years ago and someone took an adult sized s t in the toilet of one of the vans on the stand the dirty f ks!
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GAjon
1,448 posts
83 months
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nagsheadwarrior said: Aha it was you!? I was working on the adria stand at the nec 2 years ago and someone took an adult sized s t in the toilet of one of the vans on the stand the dirty f ks! Now, I had that, or a very similar story ,told to me by one of Hayes leisures salesmen. I assumed it was an urban myth type story. You had first hand experience then?
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crikey
Original Poster
1,528 posts
81 months
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What's a ballpark figure for insurance ?
Say a 2005 model, value £8k, stored on a CaSSOA gold site.
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