Message Forums

Our van is 10 months old & I can honestly say it is our pride & joy!  Apart from the clock stopping & the tap in the kitchen sink coming a bit loose we've had no problems at all.  It'll be having it's 1st service early next year but we'd have it serviced no matter how old it was so that's no extra hassle.

It took me a while to feel at home in it - at 1st it just felt 'beige' & like every other caravan out there.  Now we've added some of our own touches (extra cushions/throws etc...) & already had some great holidays with happy memories it feels more like 'ours' & after wandering around all the new vans at the NEC show we came away feeling happy that we already have the best van for us.

How long we keep it will depend on how long DS (nearly 15) keeps coming with us.  At least another 2-3 years tho before we'd be happy to leave him behind with his bog brother.  Maybe then we'll think about whether a different layout or would suit us better.  But until then, we'll enjoy our baby.

I personally could never justify buying new, they lose way too much in the first few years, yes I know you get warranty but odds are you either wont need it or the niggles you have will be things you could fix fairly cheaply.

The cost of depreciation is easily 3-4k in the first 2 years whereas the value of the warranty is probably less than £500 or often nil. I know you'll always get the odd turkey that needs a huge repair but they are the minority, most dealers give you a 3 month warranty anyway so even if you buy 2nd hand you can get any problems sorted for free.

I always find it odd how us caravanners say we have "cheap" holidays but conveniently only think about us paying £15 a night on a site and forget about the insurance, storage, extra diesel & depreciation on our vans.

Athough ive never really been in the situation to buy a new caravan I just couldnt do it even if i wanted..

the main use of my van is accomadation while working away generaly at steam shows where big chunks of black smog and hot ashes land on the roofs,We also tend to be in muddy feilds and i dont think i could relax with £10k+ being dragged in to some of the feilds we have to,

hence the limit of |£1k being spent on my 5/6 berth its clean dry and serves its purpuse i had no worries about fitting a tv bracket or driling a hole to fit the airiel plug when i find a leak i dont panic i just reseal it with what i can lay my hands on

my last caravan i had for a few years it cost me very little and owed me £0 so thats what i sold it for yes £0. so infact i actualy gave it away with a list of faults i knew about and the reasons it was being given away

Car, caravan or anything for that matter is bought to use, so whittling about dings dents and breakdowns or spllages, mud etc is not something we do.  If we can afford it and justify the expense to ourselves we tend to have it.  Major things are always covered insuranceif necessary. 

A caravan has always been a way of having extended holidays to us - being fortunate enough to take 5-6 weeks holidays in summer plus the odd weekends in the UK.  We hve always bought nw vans and hve neer been disapoined ina major way

Easiest way to park next to a footpath network, a fell, peak or mountain, on a whim, without having to book months and months in advance, as you do for a cottage, and just get out and enjoy retirement  

Phil

Always had new and have never had any problem that has had to go back to the dealer for. Only wash it when we go away and make sure it is clean inside.

Thousand of vans are sold and most people don't have any real trouble. It is only people on forums that publisize their woes!

It isn't a cheap holiday and why should it be? It is an alternative holiday and beats cruising and package tours into a cocked hat IMO.

We have neighbours who go cruising and can't understand why we like being in our caravan. Each to his own I say. I am sure they spend just as much as us and probably more!!!!

We too drag our caravan onto some very poor fields, often muddy with poor access, all to do with our ECWS hobby, as our caravan is our first, it is our pride and definately joy, we have had great breaks/holidays in the yr and half of owning her.

I would feel rather apprehensive of having a new van to do our hobby with and the worry that would go with it would ruin the time away. Toilet/shower, kitchen, bed and heating thats all we need out of our van for a great time as It's only a base.