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After 2 years and lots of bad experiences with the trailer tent, we have decided it's time to make the change and invest in a second hand caravan.  My problem is I don't know where to start!  I've no idea what weight of caravan I can tow, what kerb weight and other weights mean.  I've just got no idea really and hope you many helpful people out there will point me in the right direction!  How would I test for damp or would I take the word of the current owner that it's dry?  I'm sure there are a lot more questions for me to be asking!

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

Mark

ok the best bet is to go to a few caravan dealerships to look at what layout suits you best and what makes you prefer.

what make model and year car do you have ??

Bessie  

Thanks for the initial replies.

My car is a Renault Megane Grand Scenic Dynamique, 2007, 1598cc petrol.

Just to clarify Rob, unladen weight of the vehicle is the weight of my car with nothing in?

Ideally, I'd like a 5 berth but I think I might struggle to tow one of them so might have to settle for a big 4 berth.

If I were to buy private though, how could I ensure there's no damp or is that a chance I'd have to take?

As for budget, as cheap as possible for a starter van, so around £1K perhaps, unless that's too cheap but it's what I had in mind.  I did see one at the weekend at a dealership over the weekend who would take my TT in part ex but the price was still around £3K after part ex!

Hi according to autotrader your car has a kerbeweight of around 1400 kilos so i'd say your best bet would be around the 1000kg mark a little more even, however the biggest problem is a 1.6 petrol will struggle with the weight of the car and van.

My advice would be change the car to a diesal if you can this would give you better options, however it can work as it is but will be a big ask of that 1600 engine

Bessie