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Hi all

I have used this website to check campsites before as we have a continental tent that we normally take to Cornwall once a year, however hubby has talked me into a caravan (I was brought up with caravanning, my mum and dad have owned caravans since they were 21 and hubby has been bitten by the bug ).

I was a bit dubious at first as being 26 and hubby is 32 I felt that we were a little too young (no offence meant at all with that) to start caravanning. However I am going to give it a shot and see how it goes.

We have started to look at 2 berth caravans in the region of £2-3k and that budget seems to be up to 1995 vans privately. However we have seen about 5 private vans now and they all seem to have some kind of damp issues or be in really bad condition. Are we setting our sights too high. I am used to how my parents look afetr theirs, constantly washing. polishing it etc, they have a 2001 Fleetwood and its really is like new. So many people are saying 'as new' and they are no where near!

Any advice? Are there damp free good condition vans out there in our price range? We are going to see an Elddis Glen this evening and that is priced at £3k for a 2 berth end kitchen style. Is this expensive?

I thought it would be easy to find a van but is proving harder than we thought. Looking for something local so hopefully in Glasgow. Lanarkshire area.

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Hi pamela.

you would be better off leaving it till the winter months.

you will have more chance of picking a bargain up after the camping season.

steve

there is a place on the A1 called ecosse storage at tranent who have some caravans for sale, he actually has a 2 berth twin axle for sale for £950 i think it was butalshasa few others aswel. as we have our own van i dont get to see te rest.

i dont think you are setting your sights to far always best to get a damp free van if poss as it saves money and time if it needs repairing although a few memebrs have done just that on this forum.

i do hope you find a van you like and want and that its not out o your price range. and welcome to UKCS hope you find some useful tips and information

Hi Pamelab21 , Welcome to UKCS , there are some good dry caravans out there , they just take time finding , 2 berth caravans do tend to be lower priced than others so don't end up paying too much for one .

atb

Wizard

Hi,

I agree with the comment to hang off until winter.Dealers tend to only sell on "dry damp free" vans as they don't want grief from their customers.They tend to trade damp ones.Try looking at local dealers it will give you an idea on whats on offer and let you see what kind of layout you want.There are quite a few dealers in the central belt ,Burnhouse in Beith,Eginton in Irvine,Duncans of Wishaw and probably the biggest in the area Knowepark at LivingstoneStrathaven caravans are no longer in strathaven but at Carfin and tend to have only motor caravans.Happy hunting

Sandils.

Hubby and I had the same reservations as yourself Pamela - and one kind member advised taking along a damp meter.  You can get them in B&Q.

One thing you will find though when you visit the dealers is that you are in a very strong bargaining position because you are not trading in a van.  Haggle for everything - money off, free awning or a offer of a percentage off one - and if they offer you a six month warranty, insist on 12 months.  The dealers want vans off their site to make way for the new models and all the trade-ins expected from those who go to the Caravan Show at the NEC in October.  They will be picking up their new vans from February onwards, so that may be a good time to look. 

Wishing you luck and happy hunting

thanks all. We have been taking my parents along to see any vans (went to one last night and the floor was like a trampoline, she had all the roof lights open for us coming and a glade plug in burning away nicely in the socket! Described as damp free and first to see will buy!)

We have been checking ad trader, especially on line, been to Duncans Wishaw they don't have anything under 6k they told us. Knowepark only had spares or repairs vans in our budget! The search goes on!

I think the key phrase here is no smokers, no kids, no pets.  You should get a good 'van for that budget.

Duck

Hi

Have you also check www.autotrader.co.uk? They have a caravan section and, like e-bay, you can set a maximum distance from your home postcode.

HTH

have been looking on there too thanks. Nothing much on there at the minute either, maybe we are looking at the wrong time.

We have had to reserve our storage space already though as a space came up locally and we had to grab it. He has been good nd said the year will start from the first day we bring a van in though so thats not too bad, we were just hoping to maybe get some use out of one this year.