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Hi guys, we're just thinking about getting a second hand caravan but are confused by so many different brands.

Would anyone be kind enough to give me a morons guide to the different brands and their qualities, I'd really appreciate it.

Welcome to the forum - great for getting to know the secrets behind good caravanning - I would have been totally lost if it had not been for all the help on here

I'd also think about the layout you would prefer ie. bunks, fixed bed, central kitchen or rear, same with bathroom, shower or not - look in your local advertiser and go and see whats around but look carefully for damp.

I would agree with the others that the brand need not be that important. My advice to anyone thinking about buying their first van would be to visit as many dealerships as you can and look at different types of layouts to see what suits you best. Even if you intend to buy private I would still suggest the best way to view different types of vans is to visit the dealers first.

Robert

Before you get into the detail of layouts and brands you would be wise to consider your car and what it can safely tow. Forget the 85% rule. A unit can be unsafe at much lower ratios. 

We started with a new Corniche towed with a new LR Discovery and the unit was dangerously unstable. Over months we tried every remedy and advice from dealers and manufacturers and later a Conqueror and Wayfarer twin axles and a Disco TD5 but still found ourselves snaking and bouncing along motorways and backroads at any speed over 30mph.

Eventually after a near disasted on the M1 we sold the lot and later bought a folding camper which is towed smoothly with a VW Golf diesel Tiptronic.

We wish we had discovered fc's earlier as they are a fraction of the weight and height and have services like electrics, fridge, h/c water and 2 double+ bedrooms.

Make sure you check for damp when buying second hand .

atb

Wizard

As others have suggested, the starting point is your towcar.  You need to do a little research to establish your safe tow limits.  Don't just accept salesperson's advice - check it out thoroughly.  The caravanning clubs can offer a lot of towing information, as well as here on UKCS.

Then look at layouts of caravans which suit your needs, within your 'limits' both in terms of towing and cost.  That will very much narrow down the choice from the vast array of caravans.

The branding is pretty much irrelevant, since there appear to be very many makes/models, but only a few stables that they come from!  After a few rounds of viewing caravans, you will soon get a feel for the ones you like.  You will find more second hand Baileys and Swift Group vans than any others, simply because they are the two biggest selling British brands, followed closely by Explorer Group brands.  Many older van brands have disappeared, or been swallowed up into the bigger groups over time.

It might be worth noting that most makes have 3 (sometimes more) distinct levels within their ranges - entry-level, mid-range & luxury.  Once you've started nosing around the vans, you will begin to see which is which.

Hi Laurence,

There are loads of great British caravans out there, but don't rule out continental caravans in your search. Many are as well equipped as British vans but are often cheaper. I have a German-built Burstner at the moment which is excellent, but I am on the lookout for a fixed-bed caravan and have been looking at Adrias, Fendts & Hobbys among others. Keep an eye on the payload (Hobbys are hefty to tow, even the small ones). Having said that, the general feel of most of the continental vans I have looked at is roomy, modern and well-designed (a bit like an Ikea living room!) On the downside, the door is usually on the 'wrong' side, although this has never caused us any problems. Happy hunting!