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Quote: Originally posted by birdysbird on 26/4/2019

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Hi all,

This is my first post! My husband and I have decided that we would like to purchase our 1st tourer. We have been looking for about 3 mths and decided we like the layout with the end bathroom and side dinette. Been to a few 2nd hand dealers, seen a few we like but none that we really really like. We have seen a tourer that we really really like on facebook marketplace and have arranged to go view it on Sunday. Now i am in panic mode as we are not sure on how to inspect them. Has anybody bought their first caravan this way or would we be better keep.looking at a dealers. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 26/4/2019

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Many people advise to check for damp which is absolutely right because it's your greatest enemy but there's a lot more to check besides that. For instance, the fridge plays an important role when living in the caravan so you need to check that it's working off the mains, on gas and also works on 12 volts when connected to the towing vehicle. It's a 3 way fridge so you need to check that all 3 ways are functioning. If they're not then it's a hefty bill to replace it as even second hand you can expect to pay £500 and quite often obsolete if the caravan is over 10 years of age. Also you need a voltmeter to check that the 12 volt charge is functioning when hooked up to the towcar and also the onboard battery charger is functioning efficiently when connected up to the mains. Again, if it's duff, expect to pay out £100 or more for a new one plus the cost of the installation. Tyres should also be checked for age, any signs of cracking and if they are near 5 years old or more they will need replacing. The water pump needs to be connected up and ensure that all taps are working including the shower and that water flows as normal. If the toilet is a 12 volt electric type you need to make sure that it is flushing and that the pump hasn't siezed. Make sure that all roof vents open and close including the big Heki skylight and that all the windows open okay. If they haven't been opened for a long time then you need to check each window for delamination because a replacement can not only be hard to source but also very expensive. The list goes on but having said all that, even though you can pre-test for damp, buying second hand can be a huge gamble only to find out on site that something doesn't work as you are unlikely to get a full refund. On the other hand, buying from a dealer, the customer usually gets a warranty period which gives you time to try everything out and if anything is found to be faulty can be reported back and rectified respectively.
However, when I purchased my first caravan 14 years ago I got caught out merely because I was a novice and knew very little with a lot of unanswered questions so I visited a local caravan accessory shop and bought the 'Caravan Handbook' by John Wickersham which was the best decision I ever made. Having all the literature at hand from buying a caravan, awnings, water, gas and just about everything else you need to know about caravanning it's the best thing a novice can have and the cost of a book can save a lot of pounds in the future if you know what to look for when buying a used caravan.
I'm also a Coachman fan as we're now on our third one.   





Post last edited on 26/04/2019 23:58:33

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Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 28/4/2019

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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 26/4/2019

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Many people advise to check for damp which is absolutely right because it's your greatest enemy but there's a lot more to check besides that. For instance, the fridge plays an important role when living in the caravan so you need to check that it's working off the mains, on gas and also works on 12 volts when connected to the towing vehicle. It's a 3 way fridge so you need to check that all 3 ways are functioning. If they're not then it's a hefty bill to replace it as even second hand you can expect to pay £500 and quite often obsolete if the caravan is over 10 years of age. Also you need a voltmeter to check that the 12 volt charge is functioning when hooked up to the towcar and also the onboard battery charger is functioning efficiently when connected up to the mains. Again, if it's duff, expect to pay out £100 or more for a new one plus the cost of the installation. Tyres should also be checked for age, any signs of cracking and if they are near 5 years old or more they will need replacing. The water pump needs to be connected up and ensure that all taps are working including the shower and that water flows as normal. If the toilet is a 12 volt electric type you need to make sure that it is flushing and that the pump hasn't siezed. Make sure that all roof vents open and close including the big Heki skylight and that all the windows open okay. If they haven't been opened for a long time then you need to check each window for delamination because a replacement can not only be hard to source but also very expensive. The list goes on but having said all that, even though you can pre-test for damp, buying second hand can be a huge gamble only to find out on site that something doesn't work as you are unlikely to get a full refund. On the other hand, buying from a dealer, the customer usually gets a warranty period which gives you time to try everything out and if anything is found to be faulty can be reported back and rectified respectively.
However, when I purchased my first caravan 14 years ago I got caught out merely because I was a novice and knew very little with a lot of unanswered questions so I visited a local caravan accessory shop and bought the 'Caravan Handbook' by John Wickersham which was the best decision I ever made. Having all the literature at hand from buying a caravan, awnings, water, gas and just about everything else you need to know about caravanning it's the best thing a novice can have and the cost of a book can save a lot of pounds in the future if you know what to look for when buying a used caravan.
I'm also a Coachman fan as we're now on our third one.   





Post last edited on 26/04/2019 23:58:33

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Sorry I just can't.

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