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Subject Topic: Van shopping... Why so stressful! Post Reply Post New Topic
Personjennygirlx
02/11/2014 at 6:09am
 Location: Dumfries
 Outfit: Mazda 6 Takuya Swift Charisma 540 View jennygirlx's Profile View Profile   Reply to jennygirlx Reply   Quote jennygirlx Quote  
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Hello, been to look at a dealers this weekend.... Every one but one suitable smelt of that horrible sickly smell of damp! And that one wouldn't go on my drive no matter how I measured it!
I really love caravaning, but does anyone else find the actual shopping side the absolute worst?




PersonScreen2
02/11/2014 at 8:24am
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Provided caravan is sound that smell will go if door, windows & roof lights are opened up for a couple of hours. Trick is to find the caravan you want & keep it for many yrs.


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Personjennygirlx
02/11/2014 at 10:04am
 Location: Dumfries
 Outfit: Mazda 6 Takuya Swift Charisma 540 View jennygirlx's Profile View Profile   Reply to jennygirlx Reply   Quote jennygirlx Quote  
Joined: 16/7/2006

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So the smell isn't a complete issue? That's reassuring. I literally bought the first van I saw last time and am being very cautious after that one!


PersonScreen2
02/11/2014 at 10:10am
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A used caravan thats closed up will usually develop a 'funny smell' as no dealer will clean out interior that well. In fact on a nice day you might see 'vans on a forecourt all opened up so they smell better. Whatever older 'van you look at you need to take a damp meter.


Personjennygirlx
02/11/2014 at 11:23am
 Location: Dumfries
 Outfit: Mazda 6 Takuya Swift Charisma 540 View jennygirlx's Profile View Profile   Reply to jennygirlx Reply   Quote jennygirlx Quote  
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Have a meter from the last van, I became pretty good at resealing rails thanks to that error!
That's good to know though, thanks for replies, you've been helpful.
Jen


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Personhomebird2003
02/11/2014 at 12:19pm
 Location: Southampton
 Outfit: Elddis Magnum 505 Conway Countryman View homebird2003's Profile View Profile   Reply to homebird2003 Reply   Quote homebird2003 Quote  
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I've noticed a sickly smell in some caravans. I thought it was toilet chemicals.

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Homebird


PersonTaylor56
02/11/2014 at 12:41pm
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I think its useful that bad ones smell so you can pick a good one.Our van is shut from now until February and it smells fine when we open it up.
Dealers should have all the equipment to thoroughly clean a van to help it sell,if all their vans are smelly they are probably trade ins that have not been touched.


Personjennygirlx
03/11/2014 at 5:42pm
 Location: Dumfries
 Outfit: Mazda 6 Takuya Swift Charisma 540 View jennygirlx's Profile View Profile   Reply to jennygirlx Reply   Quote jennygirlx Quote  
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You might have a point there Taylor, my mum found crumbs in the grill pan on one. That had a decent looking repair to the front corners, which wouldn't have bothered me if it hadn't smelt bad (it reminds me of the showers in older statics). Just a bad vibe all round.
Oh well we are off again this Saturday and have two prospects so fingers crossed...

Jen


Personpencamper
03/11/2014 at 6:58pm
 Location: Derby
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 530 4 View pencamper's Profile View Profile   Reply to pencamper Reply   Quote pencamper Quote  
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Hi
Why don't you find the van you like then look privately.
You will probably get lots of extras with pirate deals and less than dealer prices
Most dealer vans don't get fully cleaned until sold and a lot that we saw at dealers did smell as well.
The way I looked at it was people trade in vans that would be hard to sell privately.. Most had there fair share of dint sand dents with no extras like motor movers / awnings.

I think it is different with new vans but we were looking at spending up to £5000 and in this price bracket there seem a lot of rubbish but some really good vans.
We got a 2002 swift challenger that had been owned for 7 years by the previous owner and came with every extra we could have wanted.
It didn't smell at all and still doesn't
Good luck with your search.


PersonRTS5
03/11/2014 at 9:11pm
 Location: North Wiltshire
 Outfit: Elddis & 3 tents View RTS5's Profile View Profile   Reply to RTS5 Reply   Quote RTS5 Quote  
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Don't expect private sales to be any less hassle. Bouncy floors, unclean vans and damp. Of course none of these things mentioned by the sellers!


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Personjennygirlx
04/11/2014 at 6:08am
 Location: Dumfries
 Outfit: Mazda 6 Takuya Swift Charisma 540 View jennygirlx's Profile View Profile   Reply to jennygirlx Reply   Quote jennygirlx Quote  
Joined: 16/7/2006

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It's such a mine field isn't it?
I actually already have all the extras as sold my last one for spares repair. Awning is going to become a 'patio' type (bit attached to it, she survived 2 hurricanes! And my brother who is a bit ill likes continuity) even have a special set of towels!
Dealers seem to be reasonable this time of year prove wise, offering money off up front but am still taking my bloke as he negotiates better than me!
Still hyper weary, just can't abide the thought of giving money to someone I have a bad feeling about, complely ruins the feeling I have for a van...


PersonHairywol
09/11/2014 at 10:16am
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit: Challenger Sport 524 + Volvo V90 D5 View Hairywol's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hairywol Reply   Quote Hairywol Quote  
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I loved shopping around for my caravan this summer, then playing dealers off against each other for the best price.

Looking forward to doing it again - in about 10 years!


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Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.


PersonBoston600
10/11/2014 at 9:46pm
 Location: None Entered
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I would look at private vans. You will eventually stumble on a good well looked after van. Just keep working through all the rubbish till you find it.


Personpeterws
12/11/2014 at 3:49pm
 Location: Morecambe
 Outfit: Daystar `91 + Berlingo View peterws's Profile View Profile   Reply to peterws Reply   Quote peterws Quote  
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When we went looking for vans, we found the same thing. All smelt musty and unloved at our price bracket. Except one, an oldie at a third of the price.
We've had her three years now. Hope and think she`ll be up to many more. Hope we are too!

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Peripheral people don`t have as much excitement but they sure live longer



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