To want to buy an old used cheap caravan?

[Fabulassie]

I have done a lot of tent camping. I recently met someone with a small four berth caravan they got for a song. It had no shower or toilet (just a cupboard where one could put in a potty) and the kitchen was rudimentary (don't remember the sink situation).

It occurred to me that this would be so much better than a tent. Like, we could still use the on site toilets, showers, and washing up, but enjoy sleeping off the ground, have a reasonable place to sit if it rained, and enjoy the option of cooking on a hob and keeping milk in the fridge if we wanted to pitch up to an electric outlet.

My husband swears that he will never, ever be one of those annoying people towing a caravan and he says they're very expensive things to keep.

I think I'm capable of towing the thing and other than the initial investment in the towing apparatus, a few bits and bobs, and then the only expense would be to find a place to park it, which I doubt has to be prohibitively expensive.

We can't afford to travel to resorts. Even holiday parks seem too expensive. I think a modest caravan would open up lots of possibilities.

What do you think?

I do think trailer tents are pricey, although they must be cheaper than a tent. I think they're nice for a tent but if I'm going to go this route, then I want proper walls and everything.

With a trailer tent, you still have to pack a lot of stuff in the car e.g clothes etc,whereas with a caravan most of the stuff stays in the caravan.When we go away our caravan is ready to go-even hang the clothes in the wardrobe and put the duvet covers on!!So when we get to our destination theres hardly anything to do!

At 1300kg you should be looking towards an older Lunar. They are very lightweight.

Depending how brave you are you can buy written off caravans. These are damaged repaired vans often sold very cheaply. The risk? Well, without going through an extortionately priced check a bit like an MOT you can't insure it so if it's stolen or crashed you lose the money.

We took the risk many years ago and bought a lovely little Lunar Sunbeam. It's previous owner had tried to tow it under a barrier that was too small for it. It had been repaired well and we had a check done on it by a local mobile caravan guy who confirmed it was sound. We've used it a few times and it's been great. Hope to get away in it again this year.
At this point it has paid for itself so if it does get stolen or smashed up we've not really lost anything.

Ours costs nothing though as we have land to store on.

I agree, hard sided is the way to go. Tent trailers just don't offer the protection from the elements and they just aren't as warm on chilly nights. We have friends who have what we call an 'ultralight' trailer. That's a solid body with two canvas pop-out beds at either end. It takes them much longer to set up than our 'regular' trailer with one slide out. Plus it's pretty much like sleeping in a tent since your bed is surrounded by canvas.

If you do find any leaks around the windows, or other bits, there is stuff called tiger seal.
You put it on rather like silicone sealant around the bath. Needs warmed up first to produce best results. Oh and its the devils own job to get it off your hands so maybe best to wear gloves

You can personalise the'van with decals, i got some lovely bits for the campervan from Amazon and Hippy Motors on ebay.

Buy cheap duvets and covers so its not so bad if they get covered in mud

Of course having a ready stocked and equipped van of any sort is essential in case of zombie attack

I'm really getting excited about this!

Bailey used to do a range of lightweight vans, not so much these days but look out for their Ranger er um Range ones ten years plus should be the weight your looking for.

Not to mention less protection from bears Across

We upgraded from a tent trailer to a travel trailer (caravan) last year and it's just the best thing. I agree with everything you said across....it's a lot less work to setup.

Not to mention less protection from bears Across wink

You aren't wrong!! We've opened our door in the morning to a moose mama and baby in Grand Teton NP (had to grab our dog real fast!) and elk 3 feet away munching on bushes in Yellowstone. Have heard bears 'snuffling' around the trailer and wolves howling in the distance at night in Yellowstone, too.

I'm sure the caravanning in the UK will have its own excitements, but not quite like that!

haha I've stayed in campsites for soft sided campers that had an electric fence all the way round it

I've only seen deer in campgrounds up to now....but we've got years ahead of us yet.....

Get one with an awning, it doubles the space of a small caravan, we had one and used to sleep in a tent and have everythinhg elase in the caravan and then on stormy nights all creep into the caravan

I would love to have an awning - that is the next step!

Re awning ask around on facebook or keep an eye on gumtree or ebay.
DD1 got her awning cheap from a friend who was scrapping their van.

Caravan acquired!

Well, mostly. We have two weeks to get the car sorted for towing and then go pick it up. Paying £300. I got it from someone on here who read this thread. :)

It's exactly what I wanted. In fact, I was bracing myself for something either more expensive or that smells bad. It's very old, but I think it will do what I want it to do.

I have hopes of being able to go somewhere at Easter!

ok I know this is 2 years old but I would love it if Fabulassie let me know how it went, we are in exactly the same position of thinking of buying one at the moment (with a very reluctant DH)

Hi queenofallbiscuits did you find a caravan. I have a 23ft one for sale . my 22yr old purchased it as a project but then moved out and is now expecting his first child so cant continue with this. It was stripped litterally to the bare shell. He had painted in and started laying carpet and had also my husband constructed some wood to make a bed come sofa. No facilities in it but it has had new elctrics fitted right through. One window needs repair otherwise ok.