Advice on buying £2-4k first caravan
Hi everyone. We are looking to buy our first caravan. Our budget is £2000-4000. Can we get a reasonable caravan for that price? We have looked at both private and trade and have seen some trade caravans where they are selling them as a trade sale because
they have damp. Are these worth purchasing? Is it better to know than buy privately and find damp later? I'm assuming all caravans have damp to some degree. We have also seen plenty of 1990's caravans in budget. What sort of life expectancy would these have.
We would look to get it serviced annually. Sorry for all the questions but the damp issue is our main concern as we are sorted in regards vehicle towing ability, driving licences, etc.
Thank you!
Comments
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Yes it is possible to find what you seek but they are few and far between. May be more difficult at this time of year as well. As a caution if it smells damp it's damp.
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Yes it is possible to find a lovely caravan for that budget. It will take time, and lots of mileage, and as Mitsi says, your nose is your friend. Don't be shy when viewing a van, open cupboards and use a damp meter. We looked on autotrader and eBay and in local newspaper adverts. We saw a lot of shockers, mostly at dealerships, who tried to tell us that damp was normal; it's not. Walk away from anything with damp.
(We now have a lovely 1998 Buccaneer in immaculate condition inside, with no damp, which we are using happily year round, year 3 and counting...)
We had a wishlist, which we swiftly discarded; in the end, we bought the best condition van for the money regardless of layout, roof light etc. it also had a full size awning included, which may or may not be another consideration.
Finally (I can hear you saying "thank goodness" under your breath, you know!
) look at the mass of the van. We inadvertently bought a really heavy van and were surprised that our Freelander wouldn't tow it. Even though it wasn't greatly outmatched, the van was definitely in charge downhill, so we traded up to a Disco.Good luck with your search, caravanning really is the life.
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Yes! You will find an older van without damp within your budget - I promise. The nose is king in this situation and don't be afraid to get down on all fours and really give the lockers a very close inspection. Our Bessacarr is fifteen years old and
dry as a bone. Also expect to see all the services working as they should. Happy Hunting.0 -
I would buy a decent damp meter and ask to use it on any caravan you are looking at. If the seller refuses enough said, if not check allong where the walls meet the roof, the corners and the floor to wall joints and around the windows.
Damp around the windows can be condensation so look under the rubber seal to see if that is the problem.
Check all equipment works and look carefully for damage and other problems.
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Hi.
You will get a fantastic van for that price. I'd suggest a private purchase as you are more likely to get additonal equipment. Thats always a bonus as caravan equipment is expensive. Yes most caravans will have a degree of moisture and damp but this isn't
nealry always as bad as it seems. Make sure you check the panelling in all the corners internally, Give it a good push and a chap to ensure that there is a good clear knock when you chap and it doesn't sound dull. Do the same in cupbords along the roof line.
Check under the seating area as well. Some caravans may show signs of water damage, don't confuse this with dampness as it will dry out. The area around the windows should also be checked. There are many mobile service engineers who will happily carry out
a pre inspection check for you. I'd say that trade prices are always hugely inflated and you have very little or no protection in the absence of a maufacturers warranty. Happpy Hunting. Alistair..0 -
hello we went just over your budget to £4500 and bought an old hymer (which we love) but also made same mistake as mjh thinking our transit would tow it and had to trade transit for a discovery , which defeated the whole object of economical hobby , but
eventually have got used to discovery now and enjoy it without missing van too much cheers mrs bc:) so check your towing match before buying
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Sorry forgot to mention we bought it off ebay
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I would buy a decent damp meter and ask to use it on any caravan you are looking at. If the seller refuses enough said, if not check allong where the walls meet the roof, the corners and the floor to wall joints and around the windows.
Damp around the windows can be condensation so look under the rubber seal to see if that is the problem.
Check all equipment works and look carefully for damage and other problems.
This is excellent advice. Damp is the biggest problem that you are likely to encounter but a meter will make sure you can avoid it.
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Thank you for all the advice. We are currently looking for our first caravan. We currently have a 2003 BMW 325i Touring (estate!) which should pull well. I am aware of the 85% rule so weighing this up when looking. It's really encouraging that we can find
a van in our budget that will serve us for a few years.0 -
definately invest in a damp meter - you can get a decent one for less than £20.
I bought mine off Amazon and it's proved invaluable.
When you check for damp any reading above about 20 needs checking - 30 and above shows a real problem that needs sorting.
Major rot & damage can be done by damp / leaks and can be very involved & expensive to put right so be prepared to pass on any caravan with a lot of high readings - there are plenty caravans out there to choose from at your price level.
Best off all buy from a dealer then you have real comeback if you find major problems
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Older, cheaper vans, like cars etc, inevitably carry more fault risks than new models. Damp being one of the hardest to fix. Ovens, fridges and other systems also deteriorate with time. You can easily spend a couple of hundred pounds fixing a fridge or a
heater. However, we probably lost more money in depreciation in the first year with our new van, than you will if you write yours off in four years. I think though, that good DIY skills are the greatest requirement for old caravan owners, not that new ones
don't call for field repairs too. Good luck with your search, it's a great hobby.0
