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thanks for all your replies, you have given us plenty to think about , we will probably go for a new one and grab a bargain in the new year sales. We can't wait to go caravanning , we should have done it years ago !

thanks

craig

Yes it`s our first Briarose.I`m counting the days until we use it again. I keep saying to Steve i can`t wait for the summer. We are going to be using it before then though.

The first morning we got up after spending the night in it the water was frozen. We only just had enough to make a cuppa so off i went out in minus conditions to try and get some more water. All the taps at the water point were also frozen but luckily i managed to get some from our spare water bottle. I obviously couldn`t have a shower so i trundled all over the site to find the shower block lol. After doing all that and still loving it i knew we`d made the right decision

LOL we love it at all times, but it is nice when the Evenings are a touch lighter, mind you I noticed for the first time today that it was light until 4.30pm.

We had some damage to ours last Year (don't ask) but after  waiting nearly 6 Months for the panel to arrive (although we have been able to use it) it is finally as new again Today so hopefully we will be on the road and out soon, and I can't wait to be off.

I know ours wasn't brand new but it was as new, as was the one we had before this and had hardly been used so it always felt new I call mine my Hotel room on wheels and much prefer it to any Hotel I have ever stayed in.

We bought our first caravan in the late Summer, it was second hand and cost us just under £1000, my husband who is very handy undertook what repairs / improvements were required, not many and nothing too big. The van is an Elddis Whirlwind and is 15 years old. I cannot wait to get out and about in it once the nights are lighter. I was just wondering, being new to caravanning.....older caravans how are they received on sites, I mean do people look down thier noses at them? Any pics of sites / rallies seem to only show nice new vans?!

Quote: Originally posted by Debbieha on 11/1/2006

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We bought our first caravan in the late Summer, it was second hand and cost us just under £1000, my husband who is very handy undertook what repairs / improvements were required, not many and nothing too big. The van is an Elddis Whirlwind and is 15 years old. I cannot wait to get out and about in it once the nights are lighter. I was just wondering, being new to caravanning.....older caravans how are they received on sites, I mean do people look down thier noses at them? Any pics of sites / rallies seem to only show nice new vans?!

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Have a look at the UKCS meet pictures in the galleries here and you'll see vans of all ages. Got my Ulysses in August 2005, he's 8 years old and one of the newest caravans I've ever had (and the most expensive). There's a pic of him in my gallery if you can't spot him in the snow at the Orchards New Year meet. We love him.

I don't think the style of vans has really changed that much in the last 15 years, so it is really difficult to tell the age of a  ( well looked after ) van from the outside.  Anyway, what does age matter?  You buy what you can afford and what suits you, after all it will only be new for the first day!!!

We got our first van in 1972 ( a Cavalier ) and before that used my parents' Abbey.  We had the Cavalier until 1983 and had many memorable holidays with our son.  Then our daughter was on the way ( after another 14 years of trying) so we sold the van. 

 Then after another 3 years we decided to move and build our own house here, so we could not afford holidays.  It was 9 years till we finished the house and could afford holidays again and we considered a motorhome, but the enormous cost persuaded us a caravan was the better option.

  As I grew up in a camping/caravanning family, caravanning is second nature, and OH and daughter also love the relaxed way of holidaying.But if you are not 100% sure then 2nd hand is def. the way to go.  I'm sure you will love it whatever you decide!!

Had looked at caravans for months and debated  new/2nd hand and finally opted for 2nd hand caravan advertised locally, a 1998 Bailey Pageant, (6 years old when bought for £5k), as the person selling was giving up caravaning it was equiped with absolutely everything needed, including awning. Condition of everything was as new.  There was even a brand new microwave oven stored away under the seat.   

Whatever you decide, hope you will have as good a buy and get as much pleasure from caravaning as we do. 

Hi Craig,

Border Caz has the best advice, buy a secondhand van until you are certain you like the life style, this avoids the expensive mistake of losing huge amounts of cash in depreciation on a new van if you have to sell it . I have caravaned for 25 years and owned five secondhand vans! I have now decided I like the life style and have finally ordered a new one which I hope to collect in March.

Hi,

   We bought our first van in August and love it. It's an old one, we payed £1500 for it and plan to sell in in Novemberish and get something newer. We'll not get much less than we payed when we bought it so it's been a good buy.

   We learned quite quickly that a four birth is perfect for us but next time we need a fixed bed. builing a double and bunk beds every night is back braking. I think a second hand one is definatley the way to go at first and see how much use you will get out of it first

We have seen advertised locally an advert for the  hire of  a caravan for a weekend to see if you like it. We are going to try this first before we take the plunge and buy. I have had loads of advice from people from work , friends and this forum, but until we actually do it we won't know for sure. i still can't see the sense in buying a 3 - 5 year old van whereupon you can buy a brand new one ( albeit lower spec ) for the same money.

  I've read the reviews on this forum about various campsites etc. do you really need to book well in advance for sites or is that just certain popular sites?.I had in my mind that with caravanning you can decide to nip away for the weekend on a wednesday , book the site thursday and turn up on a friday. Is this generally the case or do you have to plan it like a military operation ?!!

cheers

craig

I agree with just about everyone on this forum.  I think you would have much more pleasure out of choosing a brand new van once you have some caravanning experience under your belt.

I would therefore go for a 'pre-owned' one to start with.  If you buy privately, you can find one still under transferable warranty if you want a recent van with peace of mind and it allows you to get a feel for what you do and don't like about the layout and features.

You can also buy a higher spec used van for the same money as a new basic van - and this might mean a very important difference - such as the comfort of the beds for example.

Then in a year or so, when (for sure) you will have realised that caravanning is the best thing EVER!  - then you can savour the experience of choosing one that suits you in every detail -  if you are fortunate enough to afford such a thing!

Either way - your gonna love it!!