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Subject Topic: Old cheap private or newer guaranteed dea
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30/3/2015 at 6:35am
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Swift Classic Corvette 1998
View Frannyvan's Profile View Profile   Reply to Frannyvan Reply   Quote Frannyvan Quote  
Joined: 08/7/2013

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After we bought our van and had it serviced and the damp was found, the workshop that serviced it, said they offered a call-out service for £50, where they would come out and check a van over for you. I would definitely use that service if buying private and maybe even trade.
Maybe you could ring your local caravan repair shops to see if they offer an similar service. Worth the money for peace of mind.

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xxxx


30/3/2015 at 9:46am
 Location: essex
 Outfit: Bailey Pegasus 534 Kuga 2.0 3x tents
View freckles63's Profile View Profile   Reply to freckles63 Reply   Quote freckles63 Quote  
Joined: 01/3/2007

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I would go for a cheaper 2 berth with awning and annexes(for the boys to sleep in)you then have the caravan to yourself, you would get something for around £1600 and if genuine seller you will get lots of extras.

We did this to see if OH liked towing. Again the couple we bought from were giving up due to health so even got the towing mirrors.

Although our daughter was older than your children, she loved the annexe pod in the awning as it meant she had her own space but could easily pop in and out for the loo etc, plus you have the extra room that you will need with a 2 berth for dining.

After 5 years and when the daughter wanted her own tent we decided to get a newer, bigger van, we only lost £275 on the 94 Elddis it had been looked after so well originally and by us.

Good luck in your search, you may find it cheaper and easier to buy at the end of the season BTW, always had luck in August.

 



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30/3/2015 at 2:10pm
 Location: West Yorks
 Outfit: Gobur Carousel
View Bridgelayer's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bridgelayer Reply   Quote Bridgelayer Quote  
Joined: 24/5/2012

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Come and have a look at mine.

It's up on the classified on here.

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Some days you are the dog,
some days you are the tree.

Goodbye tension, hello Pension!


       


30/3/2015 at 5:01pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View Boston600's Profile View Profile   Reply to Boston600 Reply   Quote Boston600 Quote  
Joined: 31/8/2011

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I wouldn't buy from a dealer unless buying new. At any price I don't think buying a used van has any real benefit from a dealer. Spend some of the money you save by going private on a professional damp test from a mobile engineer, they cost about £40 and well worth it. With that done you can buy with confidence and save some cash too.


04/4/2015 at 3:47pm
 Location: Greater Manchester
 Outfit: Vango Juno 800
View BrandNewDay's Profile View Profile   Reply to BrandNewDay Reply   Quote BrandNewDay Quote  
Joined: 29/7/2010

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I'm going to agree with your wife: buy something cheap that you know is - for now - waterproof and has working electrics, etc.

I paid £300 for a five-berth (well, four but front bed will hold three kids easily) and I'm happy I did. Yes, it looks every day of its 25 years. But my little boys will have a lot of fun in it and if we decide to upgrade in a couple of years, we'll know exactly what we want.


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04/4/2015 at 6:13pm
 Location: Huddersfield
 Outfit: swift conqueror 645+jeep commander
View geoff+emmy's Profile View Profile   Reply to geoff+emmy Reply   Quote geoff+emmy Quote  
Joined: 10/10/2009

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I would go for the two grander but not before looking at the adverts on this site It seems there are quite a few around that price most with extras and buy a damp meter
Good luck..and let us know what you decide


04/4/2015 at 7:48pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: Ford Galaxy 1.9tdi Compass Amazon 505
View Tracyhf1's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tracyhf1 Reply   Quote Tracyhf1 Quote  
Joined: 14/9/2013

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Freckles, the boys the OP has are only 2 and 4 so they probably need a 4 berth with side dinette or rear dinette.
I would be inclined to go for the cheaper option with little kiddies, they WILL fiddle and break bits. Its the way of the world. lol!


09/4/2015 at 8:15pm
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Bailey Orion 440-4
View Caroelle's Profile View Profile   Reply to Caroelle Reply   Quote Caroelle Quote  
Joined: 10/6/2002

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I agree, buy an older cheaper van with small children. My daughter was 5 when we bought ours, and it seemed that everything she touched she broke, and it was quite a robust top of the range Abbey, although nearly 20 years old.
And as the kids get older, you can always sleep in the awning with a good quality air bed, it will probably be easier on your back and you won't have the hassle of making the bed up at night.


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Caroelle


09/4/2015 at 8:37pm
 Location: norfolk
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant Burgundy 6 volvo V70
View billyboggins's Profile View Profile   Reply to billyboggins Reply   Quote billyboggins Quote  
Joined: 23/2/2010

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Just chuck my two pennyworth in ,when you find one you like why not ask a mobile caravan man to check it over for you,there are some good guys out there and won't charge a fortune....wish i had taken my own advice with my recent purchase...lol

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billyboggins


09/4/2015 at 9:20pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: combat shorts and flip flops
View aandy's Profile View Profile   Reply to aandy Reply   Quote aandy Quote  
Joined: 09/3/2014

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You can tow 1300kg with the 1.6hdi picasso by the book. Have done so and probably nearer 1500kg. It tows well but under pressure on steep hills with these weights. I prefer a double dinette layout giving one end for the kids sleeping and playing and one end for yourselves. Have fun


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09/4/2015 at 10:35pm
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Avondale Perle Orestes
View Argente4's Profile View Profile   Reply to Argente4 Reply   Quote Argente4 Quote  
Joined: 27/4/2010

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Forum Posts:   657

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We bought our first van privately through Ebay when our two boys were nearly 2 and minus 3 weeks! It was a tiny 13ft ABI with a double dinette. As the kids got bigger we bought an awning with an annexe which we slept in until we changed it after about five years. It was really cheap because it had some damp, which we knew about. My husband did some research and replaced the damp panels and dried the van out. Since then we never had any further problems with damp, unlike the van we're currently looking at changing that we paid considerably more for and bought from a dealer!


13/4/2015 at 9:03pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: 
View cavalierman's Profile View Profile   Reply to cavalierman Reply   Quote cavalierman Quote  
Joined: 08/10/2010

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I wouldnt buy anything new as they seem to suffer more from damp than the older ones plus they are harder to fix.


14/4/2015 at 6:17pm
 Location: flint north wales
 Outfit: swift challenger 480se 2002
View the black fox's Profile View Profile   Reply to the black fox Reply   Quote the black fox Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2011

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i have a 1999 eldiss whirlwind vogue ,its got everything in it hot water ,blown air ,cooker full sized awning ,and everything needed for holidays tows a dream ,cost me sub £1000 and having towed it with the same car picasso 1.6 td 110bhp it towed well but knew it was there i got 34mpg on a 200 mile trip .
   i in all honesty got better mpg from my mondeo 2.0 petrol estate .i have now switched to a mooned 2.0 lire tdci that should be better



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