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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Original poster

Looking at caravans this weekend - tips?

22 replies

gregssausageroll · 21/03/2012 07:34

We don't have a lot of cash. Going to buy something cheap and cheerful for a couple of years and then upgrade if we enjoy.

What do we need to look out for? Going to look at a dealer to get an idea but then buy second hand.

I know to check our car can tow
Damp
Service
HPI

What else?

OP posts:

Furball · 22/03/2012 06:22

there are quite a few different layouts - I'm always amazed at when you go to a caravan site - how everyone is different.

anyway....

how many births do you need? cos that is the overall question.

Don't worry to much about the shower - (some have just a wet room) - use the facilities on site and if you join the caravan club - its abit like macdonalds, you know what you are getting, ie most sites are the same/similar standard facility wise.

You will know the one when you see it. We went in literally millions when we were looking 2 years ago but like I say the one we bought we knew instantly.

If you do buy from a dealer - you will be ensured it doesn't suffer from damp, it will be serviced etc etc - but also they quite often chuck in extras for first time buyers like aqua rolls for fresh water, waste warriors for waste water and electric hook up cables, which are not cheap.

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 22/03/2012 08:51

Thanks for your help.

We need minimum of 3 berths.

Been looking at gumtree and there are lots on there. At this time we just can't afford to go through a dealer I don't think but our plan is on Saturday to go to the local big dealer and have a good look round and ask lots of questions. Get an idea about layout and see what they have second hand.

We only have £1500 max to spend this year on everything and the sellers on gumtree tend to sell everything they have which is good but I need to be 100% sure of what I am buying. Will only buy from someone who has service history etc.

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Jins · 22/03/2012 08:55

You'd be surprised. You may get a good deal through a dealer. I've seen a couple of sound but old 4 berths recently for less than 1000.

At least with a dealer you have some comeback if it's been stolen and you'll get a three month warranty which is enough to find any problems.

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 22/03/2012 09:17

Thanks for your help. Will see what the dealer has on Saturday. Is it wrong that I am excited!?

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Jins · 22/03/2012 09:59

Not at all. I was impossibly excited about our first van and have been incredibly upset that the one we were just about to buy fell through.

You won't regret it. It's so nice to be able to unhitch and get the kettle on within 10 minutes. It was hours before the first cuppa in the tent. Caravans are so warm and comfortable as well.

As a starter van you do do a lot worse than the Bailer Ranger 470. They are light enough for a car but they were very popular and often turn up as a second hand buy. You'll usually be able to move it on quickly if you decide to upgrade in a few years

Jins · 22/03/2012 10:03

here's one just over your price range

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 22/03/2012 15:50

Thanks. Will look at those. My neighbour has just given me a load of his caravaning magazines!

OP posts:

Taken · 22/03/2012 16:30

We did the same and now going to up grade this week because we love caravanning. We bought private but I would strongly recommend a dealer. With your price range you are looking at an older caravan and they come with so many problems. We spent loads on ours over last three years. Electric faults, old pipes being renewed, damp ( that age chances of it not having damp are slim). A caravan dealer will have a more reliable one in stock!
Also we got a two berth but our child was young and just slept beside us. Plenty of room in two berth for three. May give you more of a choice when looking around. Also we got an awning for ours as this gives us more storage and room for the dog! Good luck

Furball · 22/03/2012 16:48

Have a look on autotrader - there is a caravan section if you look at the very top right - second row of writing down.

you can than select what birth, price and distance etc.

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 22/03/2012 19:03

Lovely. Thanks.

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Taken · 22/03/2012 19:35

Omg - ppi thread just came up there and Gregsausageroll you started it!! Because of your advice we went straight to bank, didn't go through one of those 20% companies (which we had phoned previous day) and got ALL our money back - So thank you this is what we are using to up-grade our caravan.

algor · 22/03/2012 19:41

My advice, get an awning for boots, shoes and stuff and try to get one with electric heating which has a vent in the shower room, fantastic for drying wet coats on rainy hols.

Mrsjay · 23/03/2012 09:19

Oh good luck for saturday our first caravan was a little 2 berth , dh renovated it though, make sure the awning rubber bit ( not very technical that ) hasnt perished if you are going to use an awning , I think everybody has covered everything ,

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 23/03/2012 16:51

Thanks for the tip. Good point so will keep it in mind!

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LeeCoakley · 23/03/2012 17:51

I would recommend a minimum of 4-berths. Have your main 'lounge' up one end and use the dinette at the other end as a bed that stays up all the time.

Don't be tempted by a caravan that has an entrance where you have to walk past the kitchen to get to the main seating area. Getting barged by toddlers coming in to eat when you are trying to serve hot food in a tiny area is a recipe for disaster!

QOD · 23/03/2012 18:01

Make sure the floor isn't bouncy, sniff hard! Sniff curtains for damp etc

End kitchens are great

Jins · 23/03/2012 18:09

Yes bouncy floors or soft spots in the walls are not good news.

I think end washrooms are great :) I love being able to get dressed in privacy.

There's so many layouts it's really hard to decide what will work best.

Mrsjay · 23/03/2012 20:14

Oh yes sniff and sniff some more do your best kim n aggie

QOD · 23/03/2012 20:15

Make sure you have at least a cupboards worth of work top

speaks from bitter experience

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 23/03/2012 20:29

We have seen one we like on gumtree and have asked to see it tomorrow but how do I know that it is a good deal and the seller hasn't plucked a price out of thin air?

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serin · 24/03/2012 20:45

It is buyer beware out there!

The caravan club often carries adverts in its magazine (as do some of the others 'Practical caravan'?) and they are often from enthusiasts who have loved their van and looked after it well.

Check out that the water pump works ok
Try and get the awning included in the price.
Also the water butt and waste water carrier.

As with a house, the structure and lack of damp are much more important than the colour of the carpets and soft furnishings (which you can easily change).

Original poster

gregssausageroll · 25/03/2012 14:43

We had quite a good day yesterday. Didn't buy anything but we now know we'd prefer a back bedroom with our layout but if the right van with a back bathroom came along we'd probably be happy with that.

We saw a lovely van for £3k but it came with everything right down to salt and pepper pots. Everything all serviced and working but it was too long at 22ft to keep at home and at the moment we don't want the added expense of storage but it was very worth while looking.

We even saw a few at £25K which were staggeringly gorgeous!

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