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Subject Topic: Total novices
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31/3/2009 at 9:13am
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: None Entered
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Hi

My partner and I are looking to buy a caravan, we have no idea where to start and no friends with them.

We are on a tight budget £100-£500 and would like it to be sturdy enough to travel for up to six months in France and further Europe.

As for size I think not too big, small really but it would have to accommodate two adults.

Any advice on manufacturer, size, age would be very welcome.

Many thanks,

Beki.


31/3/2009 at 1:03pm
 Location: LIVERPOOL
 Outfit: Conway Crusdader Deluxe 2012
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apart from looking privatley try

26

elaine



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Elainex


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31/3/2009 at 2:18pm
 Location: Shopshire
 Outfit: None Entered
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Hello and welcome to UKCS Beki. Buying second hand.



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2013.
Time to say goodbye















31/3/2009 at 2:48pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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think your buget is a bit on the small size but look here first.stick to 85% of the cars kerb weight to safe.

26



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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


31/3/2009 at 2:51pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: None Entered
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What would be a more realistic budget do you reckon?


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31/3/2009 at 2:57pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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Quote: Originally posted by Beki + Loli on 31/3/2009


What would be a more realistic budget do you reckon?

hi,about £1000,less than this there is every possibility you will be sold a damp caravan.you can still get damp ones at three year old.there are dry ones out there.how small is small? ie.two berth.



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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


31/3/2009 at 3:09pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: None Entered
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I think three would be best.


31/3/2009 at 3:14pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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Quote: Originally posted by Beki + Loli on 31/3/2009
I think three would be best.

yes it much better and more chance of a serviceable van to be had.have looked here?

26

ie.

Fleetwood Colchester 1992 2 berth -



Post last edited on 31/03/2009 15:21:51

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


31/3/2009 at 3:18pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: None Entered
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Yes looking through at the mo, and on ebay. In general what is a good make to go for that has good insulation in your experience?


31/3/2009 at 4:01pm
 Location: eaton bray beds
 Outfit: Discovery and Gobur 12 2T
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Everybody has their own preferences, personally I prefer Swift. The Swift Silhouette is a good 2 berth. Its compact and easy to tow but has all the basic mod cone (shower, toilet, etc - but no oven). Thats what we started with. There always seem to be plenty of them around. Our first one which we bought 5 yrs ago was a 1991 model but was perfectly dry and we had many good weekends in it. We paid 1500 for it and got a 1200 trade in when we changed it 3 years later

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hawk

"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone"

I have the body of a greek god - its in my freezer


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31/3/2009 at 5:39pm
 Location: Shopshire
 Outfit: None Entered
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We have had Swift and Bailey caravans, had no problems with either.



-------------
2013.
Time to say goodbye















31/3/2009 at 9:15pm
 Location: west midlands proper yam yam!
 Outfit: kia sorento xs bessacarr 625gl
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im afraid id have to agree on the budget thing and put it at a min of a grand, ur at risk of getting something a bit dodgy with anything less, whichever make u prefer just make sure u take a damp meter and check all tyres and as much of the running gear as u can, good luck!


31/3/2009 at 9:31pm
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If you want a small caravan to tow round Europe & dont want to pay too much get an Eriba, an old 70s-80s one will still be in good usable condition. Plenty on ebay at the moment, put Eriba into ebay search.

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Sell my camper? I'd rather eat school semolina!


31/3/2009 at 9:44pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB
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A very important factor here is what are you intending to tow with? Has part of your budget got to be earmarked for a towbar and electrics? There's plenty of advice on this site about getting a good match for your tow car especially if you are new to towing.

Rob



01/4/2009 at 8:51am
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: None Entered
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Thank you all for your advice, it's been great, lots to learn and a bigger budget to produce, unless we're very lucky!

Many thanks,

Beki


01/4/2009 at 11:12am
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate
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You can get nice cheap vans out there - try looking on the advertising boards in your local supermarket, or put an ad up there yourselves!  We bought our first van this way - and it was sold to us by a real enthusiast, who loved it, but was having to give up caravanning because of poor health and age, so we got everything we needed with it, including awning.   We saw an even better one which was so original it still had the fitted cups and saucers, and the original curtains - unfortunately it was too small for what we wanted.   There's one for sale in our local post office at the moment - sounds very similar - you can tell be the way it's described - and thats £300 with loads of extras, all inspections welcomed!   OK, it may well turn out to be no good, but definitely worth looking around the boards where you live.




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