Used caravans - what to look out for

[crikey]

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]

Dags.

[StuartGGray]

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]

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]

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)

[pherlopolus]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Bitofbully]

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]

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]

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!

[Bitofbully]

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.

[Tunku]

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.

[GAjon]

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]

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.

[pherlopolus]

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]

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]

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]

What's a ballpark figure for insurance ?

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