Camping, Caravan and Motorhome Show

Camping, Caravan and Motorhome Show

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Chrisgr31

Original Poster:

13,440 posts

254 months

Thursday 8th January 2015
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Have been pondering a new to us caravan for a year or so. As someone looking for a used caravan is it worth going to this show? Are there dealers there who one can leave details of what we are looking for who can then tell us if and when they get something potentially suitable in?

LouD86

3,278 posts

152 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Youll find some of the big dealers there, and some dealer staff working on bigger stands. I don't think they will be too proactive selling their used stock, often worth a browse elsewhere for that. They are just pushing new, heavily!

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Chrisgr31 said:
Have been pondering a new to us caravan for a year or so. As someone looking for a used caravan is it worth going to this show? Are there dealers there who one can leave details of what we are looking for who can then tell us if and when they get something potentially suitable in?
Are there really no suitable used caravans in existing stock anywhere that don't suit your needs?

Chrisgr31

Original Poster:

13,440 posts

254 months

Friday 9th January 2015
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
Are there really no suitable used caravans in existing stock anywhere that don't suit your needs?
There may well. However the problem is knowing what manufacturer, what model and what year delivers what we want and what dealer/private seller has it a price we are willing to pay!

It's not like a car where you can look at pictures to see what it is like, then invariably find a dealer 10, 20 or 30 miles away and invariably have a relatively large,selection to choose from.

with a caravan you really have to see it to appreciate it and decide if the layout suits you, and it's not helped by manufacturers using the same model name for vans have different number of axles, berth, lengths etc and changing layouts every year.

This in turn means that even if you manage to identify the layout you like you may not be able to find other examples because the advertising isn't consistent either!

What I do know is that it appears there are more caravans available anywhere but in the South East and ideally I would prefer not to have to drive around every dealer until I find what I want. If of course iit exists. Mind you the search isn't helped by my wife and I having different views of how much to spend and what we want!

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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I see. What we did was go to one of the many regional caravan shows, similar to this big one. We spent all day going round all the vans, and getting a feel for what layout of caravan suited us. For example, we wanted bunk beds separate from us for child(ren), with their own living area. We wanted to be able to close them off from us for sleeping, and for them to have as much quiet as possible so we wouldn't wake them.

That gave us layouts with bunks at one end and main dinette at the other, with a door or barrier inbetween. Further to this, we wanted the main door to be at the dinette end, rather than the bunk end, for the same reasons of quiet so we could come in and out of the van from the awning with minimum disruption to the children.

So, we went on caravanfinder, selected a layout, http://www.caravanfinder.co.uk/caravan_layouts.htm... and you get links to all vans for sale with that layout. That also gives you model names so you can also go to other sites and search by model, such as eBay.

Then you can take it from there in terms of arranging viewings, high res photos if too far away, etc

Hope this helps smile

Chrisgr31

Original Poster:

13,440 posts

254 months

Friday 9th January 2015
quotequote all
Thank you, that was the sort of route I started down last night. Makes me think there might be a market for a decent used caravan database!

As a matter of interest what model did you end up with as our thought processes are similar

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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We went a bit leftfield, as a newbie to vans I was wary of the damp problems and build quality of Brit vans. From the caravantalk forum there were numerous problems even with new Alutech vans etc leaking, so it kind of gave me the heebie jeebies about buying one.

However, the consensus seemed to be that european vans have better build quality. So we made the decision to try and find one in our layout, and were looking at vans like Geest, Dethleffs and Burstner and also Aria. We decided not to go with Hobby due to association with the travelling fraternity, rightly or wrongly, as some of them look awesome. After a while a Burstner popped up on eBay in our budget, a Belcanto 525tk. Burstner don't sell vans anymore in the UK, only motorhomes, so they are rare as hens teeth as a marque. Went to see it and bought it on the spot.

I rather suspect though that the general caravan community is quite conservative as we hardly ever see foreign vans out and about, and we've had many people come over and talk to us about ours. So, perhaps it's not the best idea if you are looking at resale. We kind of researched the arse out of it and tried to get it right first time round, and hopefully we'll be keeping this for many years and have the young 'uns grow up with it smile

nagsheadwarrior

2,779 posts

178 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Your right about the South East.

At shows you just want to get on with selling the new stuff you gave there to sell, the odd customer you do see asking about new is viewed as a bit if a pain as you're there to deal in the day as a Salesman and you never see them back at base, your colleague might but you don't.

Pack your weekend bag and take a trip to Blackpool, while there take a shirt drive and visit 3 Stewart Longton branches, Preston Caravans which is huge, Campbells Caravans, Reids Caravans then nip down the road to Glossop Caravans.

All big dealers where you will see everything on the market within 20 miles.

Whether you deal up there or then go find something similar local is debateable.

Chrisgr31

Original Poster:

13,440 posts

254 months

Friday 9th January 2015
quotequote all
Nagshead thank you very much for that information. Very useful and will head towards Blackpool, possibly at half-term.

Hornet thank you for you comments as well. Did you buy the Burstner that was being advertised in Surrey last year? We saw an advert for one and were interested but didn't have the money at the time. We currently have a Dethleff, think it is a 1980 model, and therefore are considering a continental model, but as you say they are not common. I am tempted to go shopping in Germany. Understand your comments regarding Hobby and have had the same thought. Even more in y case as I am tempted by a twin axle so even more likely to have unwanted thoughs.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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No probs. No ours was bought from the Nuneaton area. I'm so impressed with it, it's a lovely van and extremely well built. I also like being a bit different on the campsite!

I actually started researching them a bit and if I ever wanted to swap it for something newer I'd be heading to the continent to get a Burstner Averso Plus Jungle Edition.. bit pricey but check out YouTube! They have a double bed over the main dinette which can be raised via a motor into the roof when not in use, awesome.

Djtemeka

1,802 posts

191 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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West Sussex caravans. My fiancées family own this. They are honest and will sell you what you need smile
Call them smile

Djtemeka

1,802 posts

191 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Ps, they are proper petrol heads too! There might be a newish Viper there if you pop in biggrin

Chrisgr31

Original Poster:

13,440 posts

254 months

Monday 12th January 2015
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Djtemeka said:
West Sussex caravans. My fiancées family own this. They are honest and will sell you what you need smile
Call them smile
They have 2 sites don't they? Only problem is not a great deal of stock! Certainly for our stage of comparing layouts.

Djtemeka

1,802 posts

191 months

Tuesday 13th January 2015
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Chrisgr31 said:
They have 2 sites don't they? Only problem is not a great deal of stock! Certainly for our stage of comparing layouts.
I believe so. this is them
http://www.sussexcaravancentre.co.uk/contact

Chrisgr31

Original Poster:

13,440 posts

254 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Thanks nagsheadwarrior for your your help. Spent the last 2 days going round a number of dealers in the North West, return to Sussex on Thursday dragging our new to us caravan.

surveyor

17,767 posts

183 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Chrisgr31 said:
Thanks nagsheadwarrior for your your help. Spent the last 2 days going round a number of dealers in the North West, return to Sussex on Thursday dragging our new to us caravan.
Don't forget photo's smile

Rosscow

8,723 posts

162 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Ooooh.... What did you get?!

Chrisgr31

Original Poster:

13,440 posts

254 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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This one http://johncharlescars.co.uk/stock.php?page=showli... a 2006 Sterling Europa 540 6 berth.

Found the dealer whist driving past on our way to have a look at something else!




nagsheadwarrior

2,779 posts

178 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Well done Chris, sometimes fate brings you to the right van!

Rosscow

8,723 posts

162 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Good work, enjoy it!