Viewing a Van - Advice Please
Discussion
Decided to get back into caravanning after a few years break.
Organised to view a van this weekend which looks ideal.
Got everything we want, fixed bed, full & porch awnings, full history, recent damp check, basically everything needed to use it straight away (apart from plates, cutlery etc.).
price is about right, will try to knock some off if decide to buy but not a deal breaker.
Checked and car is ok to tow it.
Anything I need to look for? Obviously will want to see evidence of service and damp check.
Cheers
Organised to view a van this weekend which looks ideal.
Got everything we want, fixed bed, full & porch awnings, full history, recent damp check, basically everything needed to use it straight away (apart from plates, cutlery etc.).
price is about right, will try to knock some off if decide to buy but not a deal breaker.
Checked and car is ok to tow it.
Anything I need to look for? Obviously will want to see evidence of service and damp check.
Cheers
Worth checking the age of tyres.
Anything over 5 years is "supposed" to be replaced, so could be something to consider as an unexpected cost.
Other than that, a damp meter, and a good trawl of Google for owners reviews for the model you're looking at, to see where damp might be an issue.
Anything over 5 years is "supposed" to be replaced, so could be something to consider as an unexpected cost.
Other than that, a damp meter, and a good trawl of Google for owners reviews for the model you're looking at, to see where damp might be an issue.
MattS5 said:
Worth checking the age of tyres.
Anything over 5 years is "supposed" to be replaced, so could be something to consider as an unexpected cost.
Other than that, a damp meter, and a good trawl of Google for owners reviews for the model you're looking at, to see where damp might be an issue.
Cheers Matt, forgot to mention tyres are 2 years old.Anything over 5 years is "supposed" to be replaced, so could be something to consider as an unexpected cost.
Other than that, a damp meter, and a good trawl of Google for owners reviews for the model you're looking at, to see where damp might be an issue.
Was going to take a damp meter to be sure even if it's been tested a few weeks ago (depending on how long the advert has been up).
Reviews look good. It's got the Adele wet heating system which I'd not heard of but reviewers say it is much better than the warm air system.
Means there's a heated towel rail in the bathroom, a definite win
GreatGranny said:
Cheers Matt, forgot to mention tyres are 2 years old.
Was going to take a damp meter to be sure even if it's been tested a few weeks ago (depending on how long the advert has been up).
Reviews look good. It's got the Adele wet heating system which I'd not heard of but reviewers say it is much better than the warm air system.
Means there's a heated towel rail in the bathroom, a definite win
All sounds good.Was going to take a damp meter to be sure even if it's been tested a few weeks ago (depending on how long the advert has been up).
Reviews look good. It's got the Adele wet heating system which I'd not heard of but reviewers say it is much better than the warm air system.
Means there's a heated towel rail in the bathroom, a definite win
The wet heating is deffo a step up from the blown air, will feel much more premium
Damp is the main thing to check for as well as checking things like the fridge/freezer, cooker and heating all work. Ensure all the curtains, blinds and flyscreens work and the sunroofs and windows rubbers are all good.
Not teaching you how to suck eggs but make the layout really does work for you. First recent one we bought had a French bed layout. It looked really nice but climbing over each other in the middle of the night is a chore. Also because of this layout, the seats at the front were uncomfortable. I could sit on them but not lay on them. We changed to a two berth but have recently changed again, to a transverse bed layout.
Lastly, have fun and enjoy
Not teaching you how to suck eggs but make the layout really does work for you. First recent one we bought had a French bed layout. It looked really nice but climbing over each other in the middle of the night is a chore. Also because of this layout, the seats at the front were uncomfortable. I could sit on them but not lay on them. We changed to a two berth but have recently changed again, to a transverse bed layout.
Lastly, have fun and enjoy
Just an update.
Decided to cancel the viewing as we decided to up the budget a little
Viewed an Elldis Affinity 550 last night.
Immaculate van which had been very well looked after.
Owner selling to buy a motorhome.
Had a full habitation inspection and service 2 weeks ago and all clear, absolutely dry as a bone.
Selling absolutely everything with it.
Island bed layout which gives more space than a french bed.
Air awning included.
Getting towbar fitted tomorrow, collecting van Sunday.
Wife now badgering me to book somewhere for a few days mid august
Decided to cancel the viewing as we decided to up the budget a little
Viewed an Elldis Affinity 550 last night.
Immaculate van which had been very well looked after.
Owner selling to buy a motorhome.
Had a full habitation inspection and service 2 weeks ago and all clear, absolutely dry as a bone.
Selling absolutely everything with it.
Island bed layout which gives more space than a french bed.
Air awning included.
Getting towbar fitted tomorrow, collecting van Sunday.
Wife now badgering me to book somewhere for a few days mid august
GreatGranny said:
Just an update.
Decided to cancel the viewing as we decided to up the budget a little
Viewed an Elldis Affinity 550 last night.
Immaculate van which had been very well looked after.
Owner selling to buy a motorhome.
Had a full habitation inspection and service 2 weeks ago and all clear, absolutely dry as a bone.
Selling absolutely everything with it.
Island bed layout which gives more space than a french bed.
Air awning included.
Getting towbar fitted tomorrow, collecting van Sunday.
Wife now badgering me to book somewhere for a few days mid august
Had the very same layout in a Swift Major 4 EB a few years back, I though it was excellent. EnjoyDecided to cancel the viewing as we decided to up the budget a little
Viewed an Elldis Affinity 550 last night.
Immaculate van which had been very well looked after.
Owner selling to buy a motorhome.
Had a full habitation inspection and service 2 weeks ago and all clear, absolutely dry as a bone.
Selling absolutely everything with it.
Island bed layout which gives more space than a french bed.
Air awning included.
Getting towbar fitted tomorrow, collecting van Sunday.
Wife now badgering me to book somewhere for a few days mid august
I recently sold our Elddis caravan that we owned from new so hopefully I can add some additional advice.
As said definitely do your own damp check. The first caravan we bought from a dealer had an up-to-date damp report and six month warranty. we had bought the caravan from a dealer 200 miles from home so just before the warranty expired we had it independently checked and they discovered that it required thousands of pounds worth of repairs to fix the damp. The dealer we purchased it from was so far away we didn’t return it to them as we felt they couldn’t be trusted.
The one above was replaced with the Elddis caravan. First thing I would check after checking the damp is around the front windows. The rail at the top of the window that runs the width is often not secured or sealed correctly and is prone to allowing water in. Check the sealing strips on the walls as the quality of the adhesive used is poor and these are prone to curling. In fairness this is an easy fix. Check the exterior bodywork for cracks Elddis caravans don’t have the best quality control and the best build quality compared to say Adria so do I do it thoroughly.
We enjoyed our six years of ownership and it was used every month but given our experience I personally would look at other brands rather than Elddis.
As said definitely do your own damp check. The first caravan we bought from a dealer had an up-to-date damp report and six month warranty. we had bought the caravan from a dealer 200 miles from home so just before the warranty expired we had it independently checked and they discovered that it required thousands of pounds worth of repairs to fix the damp. The dealer we purchased it from was so far away we didn’t return it to them as we felt they couldn’t be trusted.
The one above was replaced with the Elddis caravan. First thing I would check after checking the damp is around the front windows. The rail at the top of the window that runs the width is often not secured or sealed correctly and is prone to allowing water in. Check the sealing strips on the walls as the quality of the adhesive used is poor and these are prone to curling. In fairness this is an easy fix. Check the exterior bodywork for cracks Elddis caravans don’t have the best quality control and the best build quality compared to say Adria so do I do it thoroughly.
We enjoyed our six years of ownership and it was used every month but given our experience I personally would look at other brands rather than Elddis.
I don’t know if I was just fleeced, but when I lived in New Zealand I brought a caravan from the uk and paid a company to inspect it. They reported no damp. When it arrived in New Zealand the roof was rotten. I raised it with the inspector who said they only test damp from the inside- i.e. on the lino floor! Amazingly the damp didn’t show up!
Done a few jobs which I knew were needed:
New handle on the loo that operates the trap door
Former owner had bought the new part and knocked a bit off.
Pig of a job but go it done.
Flushed out and tested water system.
It's got an Alde wet system which I've heard good things about and started to get to grips with it.
Gas system all works (former owner did demonstrate it).
All lighting ok.
Motor mover huge bonus when storing as it's a little tight.
Booked our first trip this weekend to Sutton on Sea club site.
Been there lots of times and wanted a familiar one for our first trip in the new van.
Will put up air awning (large porch) which will hopefully be a lot easier than the conventional full awning we had in our previous van.
Van tows well behind my wife's X1 18d S drive. I can imagine traction may be an issue in some circumstances so will keep to hard standing pitches
Been looking at late XC70s as an alternative tow car but wrong time at the moment, will have a revisit next year after I retire early next year.
Like the idea of another Volvo with the D5 engine mated to the newer (?) auto gearbox.
New handle on the loo that operates the trap door
Former owner had bought the new part and knocked a bit off.
Pig of a job but go it done.
Flushed out and tested water system.
It's got an Alde wet system which I've heard good things about and started to get to grips with it.
Gas system all works (former owner did demonstrate it).
All lighting ok.
Motor mover huge bonus when storing as it's a little tight.
Booked our first trip this weekend to Sutton on Sea club site.
Been there lots of times and wanted a familiar one for our first trip in the new van.
Will put up air awning (large porch) which will hopefully be a lot easier than the conventional full awning we had in our previous van.
Van tows well behind my wife's X1 18d S drive. I can imagine traction may be an issue in some circumstances so will keep to hard standing pitches
Been looking at late XC70s as an alternative tow car but wrong time at the moment, will have a revisit next year after I retire early next year.
Like the idea of another Volvo with the D5 engine mated to the newer (?) auto gearbox.
GreatGranny said:
Been looking at late XC70s as an alternative tow car but wrong time at the moment, will have a revisit next year after I retire early next year.
Like the idea of another Volvo with the D5 engine mated to the newer (?) auto gearbox.
Gen1 XC60 D5s good value atm and great cars. I ran one for 110k with only routine servicing … beautiful torquey engine which should easily average high 30s mpg. You can tow a planet with it! Like the idea of another Volvo with the D5 engine mated to the newer (?) auto gearbox.
We have had two brand new Elddis motorhomes both with damp issues after only two years.
Now gone for the Elddis CV range based on a Ducato metal panel van, no issues after five years.
As with ANY caravan or motorhome check and check again for the dreaded damp/water ingress, even if it is a year old.
Now gone for the Elddis CV range based on a Ducato metal panel van, no issues after five years.
As with ANY caravan or motorhome check and check again for the dreaded damp/water ingress, even if it is a year old.
Zedboy said:
Gen1 XC60 D5s good value atm and great cars. I ran one for 110k with only routine servicing … beautiful torquey engine which should easily average high 30s mpg. You can tow a planet with it!
Had the 185 engine in 2 XC90s over the years and they were very good at towing our previous 1500kgs van.Gearbox was very slow but they all were.
Don't know if the later 200 bhp engines have a better gearbox.
Used to get 32 solo and low 20s towing.
Remember using a whole tank towing it from Lincolnshire to Cardigan Bay years back.
Wasn't hanging about but it was still a wallet shock!
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