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 Topic: Buying second hand. Any tips?
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26/2/2025 at 9:48am
Location: Liverpool
Outfit: Swift Challenger 560
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Swift make a number of dealer specials which are based on their standard range but with a few added extras. Most dealer specials are based on either the Sprite or Challenger range. You need to find out which dealer the special was made for and check what basic model it is. The one you mention is based on the Sprite model which is the entry level Swift model with some added extras.
We have had Bailey and Swift caravans. We have had more problems with the Swift than the Bailey but we know people who have experienced the exact opposite. I think in all makes, you can get problems.
We would not be without ATC after being involved in a horrible accident many years ago with a caravan that didn’t have ATC and went into a snake and turned over in very windy weather. Others will say it is not necessary and it is very much personal choice, but we would always get it.
Our 2018 Swift Challenger doesn’t have any wood in the walls but still has wood in the floor, I think you had to go up to the Elegance range to get one made without any wood back then but I don’t know if that is still the same today.
If you are buying second hand, the most important thing will be to check very thoroughly for damp and if you are completely new to caravanning, then I would recommend getting a pre purchase check from someone who knows what they are talking about such as a mobile caravan engineer. We have seen so many people come onto this forum over the years, looking for help after they have bought what appeared to be a pristine caravan, only to find it was riddled with damp.
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Pixie
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26/2/2025 at 10:59am
Location:
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White Arches dealer special model based on Swift Sprite Alpine 4.
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XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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26/2/2025 at 1:25pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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As said, that particular model is a 'dealer special'. To explain, 'dealer specials' are standard vans with a bunch of often optional extras, and/or features from higher spec models added to improve their spec over and above the base van. They are often a very good choices, as their prices are often similar to base model, but giving you a lot of the features of a more expensive higher spec model. Many of the larger dealerships did/do their own 'specials', and give them different model names to the base van.
As to Swift being better than other brands, or for that matter any brand being the 'best', is both entirely subjective and variable! ALL manufacturers seem to go through phases where they get designs wrong and produce some pretty mediocre, even troublesome vans, and have a period of poor quality builds! So you really need to take a different approach, is the MODEL you are interested in good! It also becomes far more a case with s/h vans of is the example you are looking at in front of you a good purchase, or Pandoras box of pain and expense!
I'm afraid looking to avoid damp problems by avoiding timber frame construction is slightly misguided. Water ingress IS A PROBLEM regardless of construction methods, and sadly NONE of the manufacturers have a perfect product! Whilst frames may not be timber, wall panels, floors, furniture etc. will usually be wood based and at risk of damp damage. There is also a hidden health risk from damp, in that mould can form, and the spores can be very damaging to health if breathed in!
ATC is very worth having! It may be a bit like a back up parachute in as much as you may never (and never want to) use it, your good driving and proper loading of the caravan should keep you safe, BUT if something does go wrong and you get a snake going (and that can start with a freak cross wind or bad road camber variations etc.) then it can be the difference between a bit of a fright and catastrophic disaster! If you are a novice caravan tower, then perhaps even more important, experience will often warn you in very good time things are going wrong and let you recover correctly and safely, but inexperience may let things get too far before compensating and incorrect actions may compound things until disaster strikes - the ATC can do it's thing and hugely reduce that risk! With perhaps the one exception of a vary rare system failure where it needs to be disconnected physically from the caravan braking system to be able to tow, it just sits there minding its own business and has no consequences to normal towing. There are a LOT of ATCs fitted, as virtually standard these days, not common to hear of any problems. It just acts if it needs to, then resets to standby automatically, no need for any driver intervention (other than driving style!) if it does kick in.
You can write chapter and verse on buying a caravan, and to some extent it's been done, both caravanning clubs have advice, worth reading:
https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/advice/equipment/choosing-a-used-caravan/
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/guide-to-buying-hiring-vehicles/........
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28/2/2025 at 9:10am
Location: Wigan
Outfit: VWSharan. Sport 442.
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My advice would be to buy from a reputable dealer, who should provide a damp check, and offer a guarantee. Ours was for 12 months.
If you put in your location, (just the town), someone on here may be able to adise you of a dealer.
Get it checked out by an independent caravan engineer well before the guarantee runs out, and if there are any problems the dealer should sort the problem out.
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28/2/2025 at 9:10pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Reading the comments on this site over the years I actually wonder whether newer caravans are as well built as old ones like mine. Some people with caravans as recent as 5 years old seem to have more and worse problems with them than we have had, and ours is now 33 years old! I sometimes wonder if newer methods of construction are more to do with ease of construction or cheapness of construction than with better construction. I could be wrong of course.
As for ATC, I've never had it so I have no idea whether it is a brilliant idea or just a gimmick. Having towed all sorts of trailers for many years, and various caravans since the 1970s, I think the last time I used any kind of stabiliser was in the early 1980s. I stopped using one when I took my caravan from Norfolk down to Cornwall having forgotten to fit it, and I didn't notice until I went to unhitch. I never came across a single commercial trailer that was fitted with any kind of stabiliser either. They seemed to be confined to caravans. This is of course only my own personal opinion, others will think completely the opposite and never go anywhere without one.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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06/3/2025 at 7:29pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo
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It would be useful to know what budget you have in mind thgen advise can be better targeted.
The Bailey Discovery was a range they introduced at the bottom of their range so had very little goodies. At the time there was the Ranger (starter) then Pageant (mid range and best seller) then Senator top of the range.
Each Range was made in several berths and sizes. As an example this is the 2008 range:
Bailey Discovery Series 5 Mars 2008 ( 6 berth )
Bailey Discovery Series 5 Mercury 2008 ( 2 berth )
Bailey Discovery Series 5 Neptune 2008 ( 5 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Bordeaux 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Bretagne 2008 ( 6 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Burgundy 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Champagne 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Loire 2008 ( 6 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Magenta 2008 ( 2 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Monarch 2008 ( 2 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Provence 2008 ( 5 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 6 Vendee 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 7 Bordeaux 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 7 Bretagne 2008 ( 6 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 7 Burgundy 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 7 Champagne 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 7 Limousin 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 7 Loire 2008 ( 6 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 7 Monarch 2008 ( 2 berth )
Bailey Pageant Series 7 Provence 2008 ( 5 berth )
Bailey Ranger 460-4 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Ranger 520-4 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Ranger Series 5 460-2 2008 ( 2 berth )
Bailey Ranger Series 5 460-4 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Ranger Series 5 470-4 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Ranger Series 5 500-5 2008 ( 5 berth )
Bailey Ranger Series 5 510-4 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Ranger Series 5 540-6 2008 ( 6 berth )
Bailey Ranger Series 5 550-6 2008 ( 6 berth )
Bailey Ranger Series 5 620-6 2008 ( 6 berth )
Bailey Senator Series 6 Arizona 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Senator Series 6 Carolina 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Senator Series 6 Indiana 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Senator Series 6 Louisiana 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Senator Series 6 Vermont 2008 ( 2 berth )
Bailey Senator Series 6 Virginia 2008 ( 4 berth )
Bailey Senator Series 6 Wyoming 2008 ( 4 berth )
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10/3/2025 at 11:43am
Location: North Somerset
Outfit: Freedom Microlite
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As someone else has already advised; if you decide to buy from a dealer. take along an independent fitter, trained to AWS/NCC standards. I bought a caravan from a dealer last year and when I came to have it serviced last week, ready for the new season, the service engineer identified a whole raft of problems, most invisible to the untrained eye. The repairs have cost me an arm and a leg and put me off buying from a dealer in future, without the benefit of an independent inspection.
Good luck with your search, and I hope you find a unit suitable for your use, and fit for purpose!
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Life without dogs? I don't think so!
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10/3/2025 at 11:56am
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Always good advice to take someone experienced along with you wherever you are buying from. I would say especially if you are buying privately though, as at least with a dealer you have some come-back if things don't turn out as they should be. With a private sale it is very much a case of buyer beware, as there are very few safeguards unless you can prove to a court that the goods were deliberately mis-represented.
Hope you find what you are looking for.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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10/3/2025 at 12:29pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Got to agree, don't assume dealer will fix everything that needs doing without you SPECIFICALLY pointing out faults and insisting they are rectified as part of the purchase deal. They often rely on you not noticing, or later claiming under any warranty which means they don't pay the cost of repair themselves!
Bought my van from a franchised dealer, at just under 2 years old, nothing major amiss, but a list of minor repairs needed, broken fridge icebox door, broken external locker door, broken BBQ outlet cover, ATC light not working, all pointed out and to be fixed before I took delivery. At my expense that would have been over £120 of parts plus labour to fix, so probably £250 or more saved by due diligence on pre-purchase checks, and/or a 60 mile round trip back to dealer for warranty work!
Caravan dealers can be as dodgy as any s/h car dealer! If you don't know the ins and outs of caravans yourself to be able to do a competent inspection, paying a reputable specialist engineer is money well spent! Some caravans REALLY are best walked away from! - there will be more worthwhile ones to be found.
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 via mobile 10/3/2025 at 10:05pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered
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Thanks for everyone's help. We have took the plunge on a coachman pastiche private sale. The layout is what the Mrs was after. Bought from An elderly couple who are giving up caravanning as it's too much for them these days. Came with everything, gas bottles, power touch motor movers, alde heating, solar panels, Isabella awning, water/waste bottles, car mirrors, clothes drying rack, front cover, alko lock,
Full service history.
I looked as much as I could, all underneath seems solid, only thing is the fancy tape seems on the internal walls are curling up at the edges on some.
Fingers crossed all is ok.
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11/3/2025 at 7:22am
Location: North Somerset
Outfit: Freedom Microlite
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Good luck with your Coachman Sprite1275! Reassuring having a FSH, I hope they were done by a workshop within the Approved Workshop Scheme. I'm sure Mrs will soon grow to love your new acquisition!
One of the advantages of buying privately is the amount of goodies you get with the caravan.
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Life without dogs? I don't think so!
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