What’s the Ford Focus of the caravan world
Discussion
Trouble with TLC in caravans - those advertised as such are almost always due to water ingress. A nightmare to deal with, neither cheap or simple to resolve.
In 2019, i looked at loads of 2nd hand caravans being sold privately, budget around 6-8K. EVERYONE one of them had damp and other undisclosed faults, 20 odd caravans.
Luckily i've had lots in the past and knew what to look for. The caravan forums last year were full of stories of people getting their hands burnt with s
tboxes
I bought new in the end, be wary!
In 2019, i looked at loads of 2nd hand caravans being sold privately, budget around 6-8K. EVERYONE one of them had damp and other undisclosed faults, 20 odd caravans.
Luckily i've had lots in the past and knew what to look for. The caravan forums last year were full of stories of people getting their hands burnt with s
tboxesI bought new in the end, be wary!
Spare tyre said:
What’s a good alrounder that’s sturdy enough, covers most requirements, but most importantly parts availablilty new and second hand
Looking for a cheap caravan that needs some tlc
At the budget you’ve mentioned then I’d say all the main manufacturers are about the same, though Lunar have gone bust and so have the company that took them over last year. But for an oldish caravan you’d be looking at having to find 2nd hand parts anyway. Looking for a cheap caravan that needs some tlc
Damp is their Achilles heel. Look for peeling wallpaper, mould, black spots, spongy walls or floor (crawl underneath, and a general smell of fustyness unless masked with air freshener.
LeadFarmer said:
Look for peeling wallpaper, mould, black spots, spongy walls or floor (crawl underneath, and a general smell of fustyness unless masked with air freshener.
Also, wallpaper that's different from the rest of the caravan. Saw a couple where they had tried to disguise the damp by papering some blown vinyl over it!littlebasher said:
In 2019, i looked at loads of 2nd hand caravans being sold privately, budget around 6-8K. EVERYONE one of them had damp and other undisclosed faults, 20 odd caravans.
I was in caravan sales for a little while a long time ago, it was common practise to chip a customers part exchange value at handover having had the opportunity to put the damp meter on it, everything would fail of course. Sometimes a more savvy customer would ask us to see readings in their new van too, at which point the issue would magically disappear 
21st Century Man said:
littlebasher said:
In 2019, i looked at loads of 2nd hand caravans being sold privately, budget around 6-8K. EVERYONE one of them had damp and other undisclosed faults, 20 odd caravans.
I was in caravan sales for a little while a long time ago, it was common practise to chip a customers part exchange value at handover having had the opportunity to put the damp meter on it, everything would fail of course. Sometimes a more savvy customer would ask us to see readings in their new van too, at which point the issue would magically disappear ETA I would say that the Sprite Major is the Focus of the Van world. We have one in 1982, with non-double glazed windows and no heating, under the branding of the 'Ci' group. That is now part of Swift, but the model name 'Major' s still going. I've got a mate who has a modern Sprite Major, he is very happy with it, and they seem fairly ubiquitous on the sites around the UK, so I would say very Focus-like.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Thursday 18th February 12:52
The Ford / Vauxhall / boggo VAG version in the caravan world is Swift or Bailey. Those tend to be the most common you see and aren't the worst made.
Swift have the Sprite, Sterling and Swift ranges (think they've dropped Sterling from the new ranges, but loads still in the used market). Sprite tends to be their base model.
Coachman are the premium brand but come with both the premium pricing and because there is more to them, they are generally heavier, which means you need a more capable tow vehicle. Think of Coachman vans as the BMW 7 series.
Eldis (more on them later), do the Buccaneer range too, which are well spec'd, think Lexus in relation to Toyota.
Fendt and Hobby (other European vans are also available) vans are finished to such a high standard you would want to live in one, but they're so big and heavy you'd need a light commercial like a Ford Transit pick up to pull it about. So much so many members of the travelling community do.
The result is that while they are as lovely as a top end Range Rover, they are also associated with travellers to the same degree you would associate a blinged up Range Rover with a drug dealer or football player.
While they shouldn't, you'll find that many sites have ways of avoiding having those suspected of being in the travelling community book stays with them. One large chain have hit the press in recent days for having a blacklist of surnames that couldn't book, ones associated with the travelling community. I've found a few sites ask in advance what van I'm bringing. (Its a swift 586 and I've never had an issue but have heard of Hobby's being refused).
Eldis are another common brand. Having spoken to an engineer about the number of vans he works on, I got the feeling Eldis should have a Renault or Citroen badge on them. Not much worse than a Swift or Bailey, but still more likely to need his services.
The same could have been said about Lunar vans, however they're out of business now so getting bits (despite many brands sharing universal parts) could become an issue quickly. Not that a Lunar was ever built as well as a Saab, but when did you last see a Saab on the road?
Regardless of brand, age, budget etc, if you haven't been around them much, you do have to be aware that caravan production is decades behind car production. There may be some gadgets appeared along the way like Swift command, but it doesn't take long to find that they're still screwed together, often badly, by hand in an assembly line that wouldn't be out of place in Birmingham in the 70's.
Entertaining games can be created when caravanning, like "where have these screws on the floor came from" at the end of a journey, or "how can I secure the van now the lock barrel has come out the door with the key still in it".
If you like to tinker, they're great, as there is usually something needed adjusted or repaired along the way, even with new ones.
Swift have the Sprite, Sterling and Swift ranges (think they've dropped Sterling from the new ranges, but loads still in the used market). Sprite tends to be their base model.
Coachman are the premium brand but come with both the premium pricing and because there is more to them, they are generally heavier, which means you need a more capable tow vehicle. Think of Coachman vans as the BMW 7 series.
Eldis (more on them later), do the Buccaneer range too, which are well spec'd, think Lexus in relation to Toyota.
Fendt and Hobby (other European vans are also available) vans are finished to such a high standard you would want to live in one, but they're so big and heavy you'd need a light commercial like a Ford Transit pick up to pull it about. So much so many members of the travelling community do.
The result is that while they are as lovely as a top end Range Rover, they are also associated with travellers to the same degree you would associate a blinged up Range Rover with a drug dealer or football player.
While they shouldn't, you'll find that many sites have ways of avoiding having those suspected of being in the travelling community book stays with them. One large chain have hit the press in recent days for having a blacklist of surnames that couldn't book, ones associated with the travelling community. I've found a few sites ask in advance what van I'm bringing. (Its a swift 586 and I've never had an issue but have heard of Hobby's being refused).
Eldis are another common brand. Having spoken to an engineer about the number of vans he works on, I got the feeling Eldis should have a Renault or Citroen badge on them. Not much worse than a Swift or Bailey, but still more likely to need his services.
The same could have been said about Lunar vans, however they're out of business now so getting bits (despite many brands sharing universal parts) could become an issue quickly. Not that a Lunar was ever built as well as a Saab, but when did you last see a Saab on the road?
Regardless of brand, age, budget etc, if you haven't been around them much, you do have to be aware that caravan production is decades behind car production. There may be some gadgets appeared along the way like Swift command, but it doesn't take long to find that they're still screwed together, often badly, by hand in an assembly line that wouldn't be out of place in Birmingham in the 70's.
Entertaining games can be created when caravanning, like "where have these screws on the floor came from" at the end of a journey, or "how can I secure the van now the lock barrel has come out the door with the key still in it".
If you like to tinker, they're great, as there is usually something needed adjusted or repaired along the way, even with new ones.
Good post ^
I think parts are a nightmare currently for most brands?
I’ve got a 2019 Adria, not had any issues with mine, but I’m aware people are waiting 6 months+ for many parts.
Some friends have a Sprite that they paid about £8k for late last year, probably worth £2k more this year, maybe a bit more.
They found it advertised locally by an old couple and it is spotless inside and out, so bargains can still be found if you’re patient.
I’m off to have a tinker with mine tomorrow once the kids have gone back.
I think parts are a nightmare currently for most brands?
I’ve got a 2019 Adria, not had any issues with mine, but I’m aware people are waiting 6 months+ for many parts.
Some friends have a Sprite that they paid about £8k for late last year, probably worth £2k more this year, maybe a bit more.
They found it advertised locally by an old couple and it is spotless inside and out, so bargains can still be found if you’re patient.
I’m off to have a tinker with mine tomorrow once the kids have gone back.
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