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hi welcome to tin tent land ,if buying for the first time make sure the total weight of your caravan loaded MTPLM or gross. is at 85 % of your cars kerb weight to be safe.we use a bailey 500/5 as we can shut off the rear beds at night.has a full size double bed and a bunk at the rear.......... look at

www.caravanfinder.co.uk  gives layouts and prices and weights on some.

Quote: Originally posted by Ktd1977 on 27/2/2013

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Hi all I'm a caravaning newbie looking to buy a decent van for myself hubby and two kids 4&6
I did have my eye on hobbys but been put off by some sites not letting you on and the high theft rate, so I'm back to square one I would like to know what is a must, and anything else to make life easier please bear in mind I havnt a clue!
I would like at least 5 birth for the space and ideally u shaped seating with seperate dining area and bedroom don't mind it being a fixed bedroom unless you guys think fixed is not necessary? Ay help would be great.

 

You ideally want a caravan that when fully loaded weighs 85% of your towing cars kerbweight ( empty weight ) for a safe towing match.

What is your towing vehicle

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5 plus usually means a 5 berth

Essential Equipment

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/

500/5

Also what is cassette toilet?

cassette the part of the toilet that pulls out to be empted

Caravan finder is a good place to start for models/prices etc.  If you use the search function you can narrow it down to the size/type of van you are looking for and there should be a range of ages/prices so you can narrow it down in terms of budget and what you are likely to get for your money.

Personally I don't like fixed double beds (our van has 2 full sized fixed singles) as they take up a lot of precious space in the van and can't be folded away during the daytime and the space utilised for other stuff.   When our kids were little we had a standard layout 5 berth, which was a seating area at the front, removable table, kitchen and bathroom in the middle and another seating area at the rear which converts to a double bed and a single bunk over that.   We found this was ideal with a young family as it's very flexible and still leaves 2 seating areas during the day - one for you and one for the little uns.  There is usually a sliding door/screen as well to close off the rear bed from the rest of the van - handy for getting changed as well.

As to what model to choose, it's all down to personal preference.   Some people swear by fixed double beds, others hate em.   The main plus would seem to be not having to make up beds every night and taking them down again in the morning...which can be a drag. 

If you buy private sale you will pay less than from a dealer but you will really need to know what to look for and will perhaps need some professional help (i.e. paying for a proper inspection before you buy).   The dreaded damp is the biggest /most common problem and is also the most costly to repair - to be avoided if at all possible.  The other benefit with buying privately is that often the "extras" will be included, such as awnings, water hogs, waste masters etc.   This kind of kit is rarely included when buying from a dealer, unless you buy brand new and negotiate it as part of the deal.

Sorry, forgot to mention, CRIS registration is almost like having a "log book" for a caravan.  The number of the CRIS certificate should match the numbers etched onto the van windows and ownership details should match with the person and address you are buying from.   There is a fee to pay to CRIS by the new owner and then a new Certificate is issued with the new keepers name.

Most newish vans are CRIS registered,not everyone bothers to register new ownership - foolish but some people just are - and you can also check with CRIS to see if there is any outstanding finance on the van or if it has been stolen.  There is a fee for this too.