Used caravans - what to look out for

Used caravans - what to look out for

Author
Discussion

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

210 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
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 ?

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Dags.

StuartGGray

7,703 posts

227 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
Damp - take a damp detector.

A quick look at this site may help http://www.caravanbuyersguide.co.uk/

Edited by StuartGGray on Tuesday 9th October 21:24

nagsheadwarrior

2,779 posts

178 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
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!


R TOY

1,703 posts

227 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
From my latest experience, (with a more manly motorhome tho wink )
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 frown
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 hehe Maybe worth getting one ? (and some batteries)




pherlopolus

2,087 posts

157 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
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...

GAjon

3,721 posts

212 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
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.

volks al

4,107 posts

213 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
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.


crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

210 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
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 smile

Bitofbully

394 posts

138 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
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.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
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.

Tunku

7,703 posts

227 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
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! biggrin

Bitofbully

394 posts

138 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
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! biggrin
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.

Tunku

7,703 posts

227 months

Wednesday 10th October 2012
quotequote all
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! biggrin
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.

GAjon

3,721 posts

212 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
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 st 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.

crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

210 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
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 st 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.
laugh

pherlopolus

2,087 posts

157 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
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.

nagsheadwarrior

2,779 posts

178 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
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 st 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 st in the toilet of one of the vans on the stand the dirty fks!

GAjon

3,721 posts

212 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
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 st in the toilet of one of the vans on the stand the dirty fks!
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?


crikey

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

210 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
What's a ballpark figure for insurance ?

Say a 2005 model, value £8k, stored on a CaSSOA gold site.