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Topic: Glad I own an older caravan

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veema

29/7/2014 at 9:27am
Location: Blackburn
Outfit: VWT6 campervan

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I love our new adria caravan and to date Venture have been absolutely fantastic...it's coming up for its first service September time, so we'll see how it fares, but there's nothing stands out that might be wrong with it.

We looked at some second hand ones (we didn't want a really old one) and they weren't that much cheaper than what we paid new...we have the money, so we spend it. I've just bought a new car too...again, looked at some nearly new ones and they weren't much cheaper.

I'm not saying my new caravan or new car are any better than older ones, but I am able to buy new, so why shouldn't I?

There are some quite judgmental comments on this thread...I don't look down my nose at people with older caravans, so don't see why people consider it snobby or unnecessary to own a brand new van...it makes me wonder why we can't all see the common goal...we love caravanning and we buy what we can to make us happy.

LobeyDosser

29/7/2014 at 10:43am
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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<<< ...it makes me wonder why we can't all see the common goal...we love caravanning and we buy what we can to make us happy. >>>

I fully agree Veema, but for some, happiness will only come from what we can, and sometimes cannot, afford.

Having had my fingers burnt once with losing a great deal of money on the resale value of a new caravan, this time around I want to just enjoy my van without any worries about how much it may be worth when I come to resell it.

Mine has cost me nothing, owes me nothing and when I do get shot of it, it can go to the cowp or to someone else and continue giving them the pleasure that it is giving us.

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Lobey.

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brianconwy

29/7/2014 at 10:54am
Location: north wales
Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB

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Quote: Originally posted by old chap on 29/7/2014
I have read this thread with great interest, I have camped, caravanned & motor homed all my life, Now 70 well retired & fortunately not skint. Both my caravans bought nearly new, have cost on average £5-800 a year in damp repairs ,& the motorhome a fixed bed unit was unfortunately no good for my disabled wife. having sold & now without, there is NO way would I risk my money on a caravan again until they have become as reliable as say a car & I will add that money is not a problem Just bad manufacturing & customer relations from dealers & manufactures alike

One of the advantages of buying new is that there is a six year damp warranty. During this period any damp issues should have been treated and fixed.

Swift now make some ranges that use no wood in their construction. This means that there is nothing to rot.

babycake

29/7/2014 at 12:44pm
Location: Manchesterish
Outfit: Kampa Hayling 6 1997 abi marauder

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It doesn't matter if it's old or new as long as you, the user, is happy. I love our Matilda (1997 abi marauder). I'm slowly but surely converting OH. Decorating her as I go along. My latest bit was to add patchwork quilts, next step curtains to match.

She has her name on her bum (if you see us wave) and is perfect for our boys. Brand new for us would be stressful, constantly on edge that something would get broken. Matilda just goes with the flow and because we are constantly doing bits on her together she has brought us closer as a family.

freeatlast

29/7/2014 at 1:45pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Mitsubishi ASX4

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There are some very odd comments on here about the latest caravan construction methods. The old style of a wooden frame screwed together has been used for half a century now, and has always been prone to damp. I remember my neighbour building his own caravan in his front garden 50 years ago using exactly the same techniques. Worse still has been the use of untreated timber to exacerbate the problem.

However newer vans are made quite differently. My Bailey has a plastic equivalent in the framing so no rot there. Both outside and inside are of laminated construction which are more robust than the old aluminium skin and thin plywood. Only the floor has any wood in it.

The whole lot is joined in such a way as to minimise external screws which is usually where damp enters.

Bailey started this 6 years ago, so is now well tried and tested. Others are having to follow suit.

Frankly I would not have bought another new British caravan has they simply continued with the poor construction methods.

brianconwy

29/7/2014 at 4:51pm
Location: north wales
Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB

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Swift have gone a stage further and use no wood in the floor either. So no worries at all about wood rotting and no need to have bolts tightened at services.

veema

29/7/2014 at 6:17pm
Location: Blackburn
Outfit: VWT6 campervan

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Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 29/7/2014
<<< ...it makes me wonder why we can't all see the common goal...we love caravanning and we buy what we can to make us happy. >>>

I fully agree Veema, but for some, happiness will only come from what we can, and sometimes cannot, afford.

Not for us, we could have afforded a more expensive, bigger van, but we got what suited our needs...I wouldn't spend money just for the sake of it, although I agree, some people do.

freeatlast

29/7/2014 at 7:44pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Mitsubishi ASX4

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Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 29/7/2014
Swift have gone a stage further and use no wood in the floor either. So no worries at all about wood rotting and no need to have bolts tightened at services.

You don't need to tighten bolts on the Baileys now, that was only the early models.

Personally, after my last venture with Swift and their terrible build quality and dreadful after sales service, I would not go near one of their vans ever again.

brianconwy

29/7/2014 at 7:57pm
Location: north wales
Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB

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There are a lot of people who have complained about the build qualities of baileys. There are always going to be a few rogue vans of any make. I believe they are in the small minority and the vast majority of people are very happy with their new purchases.

At least Swift have their own forum where the directors answer questions. Bailey have no such thing.

freeatlast

30/7/2014 at 6:47pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Mitsubishi ASX4

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Our Stirling van had a major damp repair within the first 12 months, and the treatment then and thereafter from Swift was somewhere between dreadful, appalling, disgraceful, disgusting .... sorry can't express on here how bad they were. A further 3 years later it went to the scrap heap.

In contrast when I had a rogue car, Vauxhall eventually were brilliant and I got everything sorted quickly to my satisfaction.

Nothing would ever persuade me to go near a Swift again. Again there have been several long running threads on here that would suggest they have not improved much since then.

LobeyDosser

31/7/2014 at 1:06am
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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I guess one of the major points I have against buying a new van is the warranty on it. Our nearest dealer is 60 miles away and the next nearest is 100 miles away.
The very idea of having to tow a van to the dealer and leave it for a service under warranty, then drive all that way to collect it again is just not on.

So, if ever we do decide to go for a new van, added to the initial cost would have to be the costs for getting it serviced and the inconvenience involved in those services.

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Lobey.

brianconwy

31/7/2014 at 8:16am
Location: north wales
Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB

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You do not have to use the dealer the van was bought from for servicing. We bought ours at the NEC show and the dealer is over 100 miles away. It has never been back to them and we have it serviced at the NCC registered workshop a couple of miles away. You can even use mobile mechanics if they are NCC registered.

bobsbabes

31/7/2014 at 9:45am
Location: Shropshire
Outfit: Sterling Eccles SR 636 Nissan Navara

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We have had swift group vans since we started . Our first van(second hand but new ish) was damp our dealer and swift were fantastic and had it sorted very quickly most issues seem to be with the dealers rather than swift.
Our present van was new why new ?
my husband works away a lot and would have no time for any repairs.
IMO they look nicer .
As we use ours all year we need good heating
The size of the van most older vans are smaller ( esp 20 year old ones)
I love the fact that my bed has never been slept in my anybody else
I like the design and layout
I like the fact that we have been able to upgrade the user payload
mostly we bought it cos we could our money was not making much in the bank so we bought something that brings us great joy
I dont dis or belittle people that buy old (which it seems to me trog is )I love old vans but they are not for me end of .
Every one for their own :)

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hello

trog100

31/7/2014 at 11:28am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

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i would entirely agree with money not doing much good in the bank comment so it might be as well be spent on something useful.. he he

in that we are the same in an each to our own kind of way.. but i have pretty much always said it comes down to having the money to spare.. or in your case lending money to a bank for bugger all..

i still havnt heard many other good reasons for buying new over old though.. :)

me.. if i wanted to spent 20 grand.. i would want more than a single caravan for it.. i would expect a good used towing vehicle.. a caravan and one or two other things for it.. that is my main reason for buying used as opposed to new.. i get to own more toys.. he he

given the choice of one new toy or several used toys for the same money my thoughts can only go one way.. :)

trog

ps.. my son had a lesson in a microlight aircraft last weekend.. i have a strong feeling about where any spare dosh i might have is destined to go.. he he

Post last edited on 31/07/2014 11:38:24

brianconwy

31/7/2014 at 12:16pm
Location: north wales
Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB

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We didn't need a new towcar as we already had one for the horse trailer and didn't need many other toys.

There is a pure joy of picking up a brand new van that is sitting there sparkling on the forecourt, that no other people have used. Its peoples choice what they buy as they have worked hard for their money. The fact that the money to pay for it has been earned is where the true satisfaction comes from whether new or old. A reward for ones labours.

LobeyDosser

31/7/2014 at 12:24pm
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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We tow our new to us (now 17 year old) caravan with a brand new car (well now a year old).

Really the only thing a new van would give us that we haven't got with our old van, is a heater that sits under the bench seat instead of the one we have that runs off the gas/electric fire.

I just cannot see the point of spending another ten thousand quid for an upgrade to our heater.

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Lobey.

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