How to limit the risk when buying salvage caravans
Hi. I wondered if anybody had any advice on this one. I have seen a caravan for sale that has been classed as a right-off. Apparently it has suffered smoke damage and has been thoroughly valeted. The only damage declared is that the cooker glass lid shattered due to the heat. It's a great price and the caravan size and model I have been looking for. If I pursue it how can I guard against buying something that brings me a world of trouble? What are the pitfalls I should consider. Many thanks.
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I don't think you can guard against it at all. You've been told it's a write off and you know the state it's in (or do you?). Expect the worst and hope for the best.
I think the biggest consideration is whether, in a worst case scenario, you can afford to lose the money you pay for it.
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Thanks Tinwheeler.
I've checked it again and it doesn't actually say write-off it says "damaged, repairable". {quote} "a damaged caravan from the insurance companies that will invariably require money spending on them to complete repairs and make them roadworthy" {unquote}
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What about having it independently inspected as you may a caravan before you buy? I assume the club can put you in touch with someone appropriate. An outlay but potentially not as much as never being able to make the van use able.
Unlike a write off car there isn't an MOT to ensure its roadworthy. But we all know write off is generally economically not viable to repair as far as business is concerned. From the wording you quote it doesn't appear to be unroadworthy.
Do let us know what you decide.
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My son bought a damp caravan for a couple of hundred pounds....used it for a year or two...gave it to me so I covered the panel with a new panel and used it for another year or so.
It was bought with knowledge of the damp for £200...so I gave my son his money back!
If the chassis and running gear are OK...and it's services are safe....no problem!
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Can be a good buy. I had a 10 year old (about) Nissan Bluebird hatchback written off about 14 years ago. It was excellent condition with no rust or obvious blemish. It needed the existing nearside wing replacing and a headlight. Nothing more. The wing was a simple bolt on job and there were no doubt plenty of donors in local scrapyards. The insurance assessor could not understand why I would not want the car back to repair myself ( a job that I had done in the past). He phoned me several times to ask if I was sure. The fact was my life at that time was too busy. I was running a singles group and gadding about all over.
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Vivien's caravan suffered smoke damage and she was delighted with the repairs her insurance paid for. I wonder why the original owners didn't want theirs repaired. If they were insured new for old perhaps but getting someone to inspect sounds a great idea. I nearly got burnt a few months ago buying a caravan at auction that had belonged to a friend who had defaulted on the loan a few months after buying it from a Leicester dealer. It turned out to be damp - luckily I hadn't been able to buy it direct from her so I didn't suffer! Damp check essential I would say! Good luck
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An independent inspection sounds a good idea and should reveal damp or structural damage. Everything else is visible and you can decide whether it can be fixed. Appliances and soft furnishings can be replaced.
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My father had a small fire in his living room. The soot was appalling. However once the carpet and some scorched wooden furniture were replaced, all the other wooden furniture treated with a cleaning cream, curtains replaced, 3 piece suite cleaned etc, all ceilings and woodwork cleaned and the wall paper removed followed by complete redecoration it was fine.
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