Caravans - What to look for when buying a caravan
So it's summer, you're looking to get your first caravan but you have no idea what's good, what's bad and what is going to collapse in a mound of caravan panels the moment you leave the second hand dealers forecourt.
Buying a caravan is for many people a very large investment towards their leisure time. What you don't want to happen is for that leisure time to be taken up fixing hitches, doors, chemical toilets and windows. Unless you know what you're looking for, and can afford it, buy a new caravan or at least one with a good second hand warranty. Whilst caravans have been getting much better over the years, because it's a house on wheels there is a lot more to go wrong than a car.
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The major things to do when buying a second hand caravan are:
- Check for rust, especially around the chassis area, and underneath the van. If there is fresh paint there then it could be the sign of a quick cover-up. Rust is a big problem with caravans and is very expensive to fix.
- Check everything, from the cooker to the fridge, beds and windows, If you don't you're bound to find something that bites you later on. Even if there is nothing major to be found, minor hitches can be a good way to bargain down price.
- Water leaks and damp. Check for leaks from any pipes in the van, also look around windows and the roof for signs of water damage and thus signs of leakage. If there is a smell of damp in the air then there could also be a problem. A leaking caravan is a miserable place to be.
- Check the tow hitch, make sure it moves easily and that the handbrake holds the van when on. You don't want to be slithering down the hill into the lake now do we!
- Is the van the right size for you, can it fit the kids and yourselves without getting cramped? Also check to make sure the van is not too big for your car. Causing stress to you car pulling a large van is a quick route to expensive engine problems.
- If you're new to caravanning then make sure you take a test pulling the van before you go on your holiday. Towing a caravan calls for a very different more cautious approach to driving.
- As with most second hand items, always view a good number before making a decision, chances are the first one isn't going to be the best deal. Don't get goaded in by the seller trying to force a quick sale by suggesting there are hoards of other buyers just waiting to snap up their shoddy caravan.
- Haggle if possible, and don't start at the price you want to pay, always start well below and bargain up. If you feel difficult with this, practice in the mirror or with a friend before, failing that take a trip to Bali to see how the experts operate ;-)
- If you're not sure whether a caravan is for you, rent one for a few weeks to see if the life-style suits you.
Most of the above applies to buying second hand caravans but some factors apply to all purchases. Buying a caravan is a big expensive decision, don't get one if it's going to sit on the drive-way for the next 5 years, you'll do a lot better renting one for the few weeks use it might get.
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