Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by Rumple on 10/7/2006

---

if your thinking of spending that much LTT, it would be an idea to invest in a moisture meter out of Homebase or some such for £10/15 or so. Damp is the biggest killer of a caravan.

So let's try to make a start in preparation to buy....

Weight is important...you don't want the van too heavy for the car you have unless your planning to upgrade the car too.

Budget....your sorted on that score and stick to it...it's too easy to get into hock that you don't want just cos "it was so nice and looked a real bargain".

Layout....yes we know it has to be a 4-berth but there are many variations which is why it's another good reason to buy a cheapie first. You'll have a better understanding of what layout you really like, which can only be gained by experience I'm afraid.

Buy a caravan mag or three as they have all the various layouts there are then have a weekend or three roaming various dealers throughout the area looking at caravans. Some folk really enjoy this even though they might already be sorted van wise. We often have a peep inside the vans on display whenever we have cause to change gas or buy some accessories etc.

If you shout as to whereabouts in Essex you are I or someone can point you in the direction of a few dealerships. You don't have to buy but it'll give you a basic idea of layouts.

---

Boy do you like asking some stiff questions.......it's not for me to fix your budget LTT, only you can do that.

Ok, 1st ask yourself what are the realistic odds that you'll take to vanning? If necessary set yourself a maximum figure, you might come upon a little gem of a deal.

One thing about a cheapie is that you can realise a lot more than you paid for it if and as when you come to chop it in for something newer. I paid £2k for our first and got £3.5k for it 6 months later in part-ex.

Something that's just occurred to me...if you make a "poor" decision and pick a wrong'un it could put you off vanning for a number of years. That's where the meter comes in. It can tell you things you might not see with your eyes.

I think the nearest dealer to you is possibly the one in South Ockendon although I have had no dealings with him or even as to his eggs hat whereabouts.Then there's Cranham Caravans on the A127. From you come off the M25 going into town and it's just a few hundreds from the junction. Five Bells down Corringham way I suppose is fairly close too.

If you pop into any of these dealers don't be afraid to ask for any to suit your budget, as many of them take in "budget" vans in part-ex and then out them to smaller dealers. They may have one or two around. Whatever you do though don't be bullied by the salesman and as I said don't take the first thing offered and certainly don't pay the first price asked for. They will deal if they're on commission. If you do have to pay the asking price then get some "goodies" slung-in as part of the deal or walk away.

if you buy a damp meter make sure the 2 probes are sharp to penetrate into wall boards.We bought a cheapie from a private seller £250 had to do a couple of repairs and replaced the tyres added a new battery bought a second hand awning and got given a porch awning used the van 5 times in the last couple of months love it now saving to up grade to a newer van

David and Jenny

Quote: Originally posted by darthillcat on 10/7/2006

---

if you buy a damp meter make sure the 2 probes are sharp to penetrate into wall boards.We bought a cheapie from a private seller £250 had to do a couple of repairs and replaced the tyres added a new battery bought a second hand awning and got given a porch awning used the van 5 times in the last couple of months love it now saving to up grade to a newer van

David and Jenny

---

Well I'm off up the wooden hill myself now LTT as I have to be up before 5.

In relation to your budget all I can say is that providing you don't get yourself a real rotbox then you should be able to at least get your money back on it or even better if and when you upgrade it.

....anyway, nite nite LTT don't dream of too many caravans!!

We bought a van last June that the damp meter showed was bone dry. 9 months down the road and the back wall is soaking wet, as we found out when we had it serviced. The bloke who serviced it told us that damp meter are not much use unless they actually pierce the ply-and not many sellers are going to want that. We also found lots of things that were niggly- oven doesn't always work, micro switch is a bit dodgy, the sink had been painted and the paint is now coming off......

Other than that its a good van, and we intend to strip it down and sort out the damp. It cost £1800 and was in better condition than some we saw for £30000.Basically you get what you pay for.

Quote: Originally posted by HappyCamper2004 on 10/7/2006

---

how many people who buy off ebay,,,take the sellers word...no damp!! my arse!!  .... go and look at the van first!! dont buy what u can't see or inspect...

and don't get carried away with bidding for something in john o groats when your in lands end! you got to see it!

---

you can still bid on a van that the seller says has no damp, win it then take a damp meter with you.if you find damp, walk away, simple as.the van is not sold as described and you are within your rights to reject it.

our van was in glasgow.i got someone off here to view it and take pics for me which they emailed to me. still took a damp meter with me when we went to collect it and checked it out, fine. you can get a good bargain off ebay if you use your noggin a bit.

Quote: Originally posted by bev+jon on 11/7/2006

---

Quote: Originally posted by HappyCamper2004 on 10/7/2006

---

how many people who buy off ebay,,,take the sellers word...no damp!! my arse!! .... go and look at the van first!! dont buy what u can't see or inspect...

and don't get carried away with bidding for something in john o groats when your in lands end! you got to see it!

---

you can still bid on a van that the seller says has no damp, win it then take a damp meter with you.if you find damp, walk away, simple as.the van is not sold as described and you are within your rights to reject it.

our van was in glasgow.i got someone off here to view it and take pics for me which they emailed to me. still took a damp meter with me when we went to collect it and checked it out, fine. you can get a good bargain off ebay if you use your noggin a bit.

---

---

If I were in your boots LTT, I'd go & have a look round a few dealers yards, look thorugh the vans & find a layout you like. Go & see the senior salesman at each place you visit & put your cards on the table. Tell them you're new to the game, ask them if they have anything in your budget & consider you might have to go up a bit from you £1500 to buy from them.If you decide he has one you like, ask him to carry out a damp check in front of you, he'll know where to check the van. If you buy, get him to put on the invoice that he checked the van & the results of his check. 

Buying from a dealer has the advantage of a warranty. We were talking to our dealer a few weeks back, he pointed out a couple of cheapies, as he put it, in the corner of his yard. He told me they were nice vans & only there because they were "Clean & Dry" he wouldn't be selling them otherwise because he has to put a warranty on them.

A good, tidy, well looked after older van will always sell, you'll enjoy some lovely holidays in it & when you come to trade up you'll not lose a lot on it.

I'd be very wary of buying private, you could buy a pig in a bag & not know it easier than thinking about it.

You'll love caravanning & I wish you well with the search for your first one.

BB