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Topic: older caravan when to stop spending?

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mikim

15/3/2014 at 4:57pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Not enough space !

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Lot's of people have or had an older van and spent some money on it's upkeep.
My question is , when does it become time to stop?
Our van is a 1996 ABI rallyman jubilee supreme. Lovely 2 berth with all the extras that made this van the top of the range in it's day.
We have treated ourselves thanks to Wizzard, a huge problem of damp in bathroom,it's been stripped out and all damp removed (now dry as a bone) , we have also had all rails removed and redone by a professional. He is also sorting out the floor and doing a gas check ready for this year. Both roof vents replaced and Alko tow hitch fitted (our fault as we had removable swan necked tow bar fitted to new CRV) bought Off Ebay for £112 .. bargain
Van cost £1200 , we have already had one years holiday but I think we have easily spent at least another £1000 - £1500 getting her up to scratch including the awning being cleaned and reproofed.
Hopefully our van will now give us at least 5 years of holidays in return?
Anyone else done this rather than buy a newer van?
Am I being stupid spending this on a nearly 20 year old caravan?
xx

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focus61063

15/3/2014 at 5:11pm
Location: Rhyl North Wales
Outfit: TBC

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In my opinion you've done the right thing, how many times do you read on here about owners with far newer vans having problems with damp. electrical issues etc.

At least this way you know that long term you have a very much usable van with no further issues.

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old chap

15/3/2014 at 5:19pm
Location: Sitingbourne
Outfit: baily champaign

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IF you are happy with the van & it is dry then keep it,do not risk, spending several thousand on another van that will probably develop damp even if its dry at the moment & then you will be n the same position as you are in now only several thousand pounds worse off

speaking from experience

mikim

15/3/2014 at 5:35pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Not enough space !

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Thanks for replying focus .. TBH this is our first van and we knew of the damp issue in the bathroom when we bought her so knocked down the price.
I understand that we won't get the money back we have spent if we sell her in the future, but if I discount the future years use before we do sell , she will still have paid us back and some..
We also have a very small problem of aluminium corrosion , this is only in a tiny area and around one rail on one side that was leaking before the rails were redone.
We have tested and it is now dry behind.
So we are going to rub down , fill and retouch the paintwork .
Will this be OK?
Thanks Old Chap .. we were really hard up when we bought her but I spent hours on here reading advice before we bought

Post last edited on 15/03/2014 17:43:03

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janus

15/3/2014 at 5:43pm
Location: Rochdale
Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc

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In 1996 the top of the ABI range were the Award models, the Jubilee range was one stop down, nice but not as nice as the awards. IMO as long as you can keep on top of it you are doing the right thing, I swapped my Award for my Hymer and have not regretted it, but the inside of the Award was better put together than the Hymer.

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Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci

mikim

15/3/2014 at 6:10pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Not enough space !

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Thanks janus .. in my mind these vans were made to last.
There is something I love about the older caravans now ..
We had an old CI motor caravan 1970s bought in the 1990s, with fantastic holidays when the boys were growing up for over 4 years.
We looked after it and it never let us down (except for Porlock Hill one year!)went up OK but then universal joint gave up the ghost!

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michell8

15/3/2014 at 11:48pm
Location:
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Nothing wrong with spending on an old 'van. I have an 80s ABI & this yr I have bought a cartridge of PU sealant for it, £7.

Boston600

15/3/2014 at 11:49pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

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I have a dry 1999 abi sprinter in good condition. Bought it last year for £1500. It was the first dry van I could find for under £3k.

Since then bought a new awning £400 a full service £165 a and 3 new tyres £150. It now needs a new kitchen tap. I think with older vans things are bound to go wrong but as long as mine is dry I will keep spending.

LobeyDosser

16/3/2014 at 12:22am
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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We bought our 1997 Bailey last year for £3000. We didn't buy it for the price but because it gave us the layout we wanted and it was towable by our car.

I have since bought new tyres (3) to replace the 10 year old tyres that were on it.
Also a new 120Ah battery and we have ordered a top of the range motor mover for it.

I expect it to last at least another 3 years, longer if we can.

However both the Battery and the Motor Mover can be removed and put onto another van if we decide to go down that route.

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Lobey.

Jax365

16/3/2014 at 9:21am
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi

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Mine leaked like a sieve when I bought it... since got it dry, spent more money on a new front window, more on a motormover, and roughly ended up spending approximately £1,100, and it cost £900 to buy ( I was robbed!) £650 of that is the motormover though, which as LD points out, can be moved to a newer caravan if required, or sold on....

I reckon my van is worth every penny spent. And it will soon be time to replace the tyres!

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HEJC72

16/3/2014 at 11:11am
Location: North Yorkshire
Outfit: Holi * Perran 4 * Airedale 5

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You have spent the money to get the van right for your needs so now it is time to enjoy it.
If the van suits you and you have done the work that you felt was necessary, then I would say it has been money well spent.

I have a 1969 Fisher Holivan which cost me £450.
We then spent about £600 putting in new foam seats and covers, fitting mains hook up, changing the 12v lights to LEDs, fitting mains lighting, fitting Venetian blinds and making new curtains and decorating inside and out. This season I am replacing her jockey wheel at a cost of £39.
Personally I think what I have spent was worth it as Holi is now entering her 4th full season and she has not cost me anything since all her 'jobs' were done.

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Helen xx
Mini Mad Mum

LobeyDosser

16/3/2014 at 4:10pm
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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If you work out how many nights you spend away in the van and then work out what it would cost you in B&B, you will get a rough idea of whether any money you spend on your van is a good return.

Personally we simply could not afford to have the number of holidays we do have, if we had to go B&B.

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Lobey.

peterws

16/3/2014 at 9:46pm
Location: Morecambe
Outfit: Daystar `91 + Berlingo

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You`ll get your money back through the holidays you get. The van shouldn`t need a lot more spending on it other than normal maintenance . . we have a`91 ABI Daystar Award without gas fire or gas oven. It just goes on and on . .gets patched up rather than renovated. We`re off tomorrow. Prestatyn . .that`s when the North Wales Heatwave is due to start . .

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Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer

tag 18

16/3/2014 at 9:48pm
Location: Glasgow
Outfit: Avondale Eagle

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I think that as long as you are happy with what you are doing and the caravan then it is fine. I had a 30 year old caravan, paid £500 for it, probably spent about £150 - £200 on bits and pieces. I did all the work, like recovering seats, new curtains and some damp work. I really enjoyed doing all the work and I learned to tow with it. The only reason I replaced it was my growing boys. I sold it to a relation for £400, so I made a loss but had to sell it quickly and I'd had 2 years holidays in it. I'm honestly thinking of buying it back if they decide to sell and use it as a spare bedroom/hobby room in the garden, much cheaper than an extension.

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T

LobeyDosser

16/3/2014 at 10:13pm
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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Hi Tag18, I see you have the same porch awning as I have.
How do you find it?

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Lobey.

janus

16/3/2014 at 11:32pm
Location: Rochdale
Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc

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Quote: Originally posted by peterws on 16/3/2014
You`ll get your money back through the holidays you get. The van shouldn`t need a lot more spending on it other than normal maintenance . . we have a`91 ABI Daystar Award without gas fire or gas oven. It just goes on and on . .gets patched up rather than renovated. We`re off tomorrow. Prestatyn . .that`s when the North Wales Heatwave is due to start . .

Did somebody take the fire and the oven out, they were basic fitment in the 91 Awards.

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Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci

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