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Hi. We've been caravanning since I was pregnant with my 2nd child who is now 7. We started with an old 70's van which we bought cheap to see if we liked caravanning. We then had a slightly more modern 80s Compass van which we loved dearly but had to upgrade because our 11 yr old got too big for the small bunks. We've now just bought a 4yr old Bailey Ranger from a dealers. The dealer told us that Baileys are the cheaper end of the market but do not compromise on quality, so you get more for your money. We've still got bunks for the kids but more adult sized ones. The biggest change, though, is the upgrade to hot running water, a shower and a cassette loo - pure luxury!  When we decided to spend this kind of money (£6400) we went straight to a reputable dealers. You might pay a few hundred more but you get a van which you know has been properly serviced and there's normally a warranty which is peace of mind should anything go wrong. We went to Homestead Caravans in Weely, Essex and I can't praise them enough. The guy who we dealt with really knew his caravans (and had one himself, which is always a plus) and he understood just what we needed. Before we towed the van away, he took us through how everything worked and even changed the tow ball on our towbar to a more suitable kind, at no extra cost. In hindsight, I would def go to a dealers again as you risk wasting alot of money privately - you never know what you're getting.  Good luck and happy caravanning!!!!