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Hello.

    The search for my first caravan continues, but i'm learning what to look for with the help of advice on ukcampsite! Today I looked at a 1991 sprite 2 berth which seemed ok, but I noticed that the axle was VERY rusty. Is this normal and would it still have many years life in it. I must say that i've not noticed rust on this scale on any of the other , many, caravans i've viewed. Hope someone can advise. Mark.

Thank's for that Michael.

               It seems to be that all the 'vans i've looked at are ok, except for one thing  ! Bit of damp here,rusty axle there, oh well I suppose it goes with buying a budget 'van.The other thing I forgot to mention was that the handles had quite a bit of movement in them, but this seemed to be because they were only fixed through the outer skin of the 'van, not through the wood underneath. Is this another Sprite "thing"? By the way it was a Sprite Alpine,1991 and he wanted £800.Mark.

I bought my first van(well wasn't my first but first for a long time) a couple of years ago and it's an 1988 Compass Rallye,I bought it off ebay without seeing it and I think maybe I was lucky as even though it had some repairs up front by windows not a damp van at all.I paid £1000 for it which wasn't the cheapest at the time.

I would never advise you to buy without viewing first even though I did.I would say that condition over age might be the best way forward as even though mine is an 1988 van it's very sound and in good condition.I know if you are looking at certain ages and above only ,then you might be getting the worst ones of ,if you see what I mean.

You should be able to get a good dry van for £1000 budget,especially with a 2 berth as I found they were slightly cheaper and less popular.