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Subject Topic: Caravan booby - sub 1100kg on a budget? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personadamangler
12/4/2017 at 8:09am
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Hi guys.

First post, I used to go caravaning as a kid a lot and want to try it as an adult an see if we like it.

I want to buy a caravan but am limited to 1100kg max full laden weight with my old car.

Also I only want to spend the minimum on a caravan about a grand max. Just to try it out see how we like it then ideally upgrade to a bigger van and car in the future. I passed my teat after 97 so am limited there as well.

Is it possible to find an old caravan under this weight or ideally less? Or am I better looking for a bigger car .

Many thanks

Adam


Personbrianconwy
12/4/2017 at 8:26am
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There are lots of caravans at that weight. The most important thing is to get a damp meter. They are available starting at around £20. It is a big gamble to get a van without one. You will find old posts on here telling where to check with the meter.


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PersonMrs. Bonce
12/4/2017 at 8:43am
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Look for a Castleton caravan, they are old but good, we had one once.


PersonOpensauce
12/4/2017 at 9:17am
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Plenty on ebay. Mid 1990s for around £1000. Not a good time to buy now at start of season with high demand. Best time to buy is Sept-Oct-Nov. Caravan of that age can be anything from pristine to damp riddled beyond repair so as pointed out check for damp & be prepared to do diy repairs on an ongoing basis. Also budget for chassis service & probably new tyres if more than around 5yrs old regardless of wear.


PersonTroon
12/4/2017 at 10:02am
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Perhaps a folding camper would suit your needs better: lighter and easier to tow with a smaller car, probably cheaper for the same quality, arguably less risky to buy (easier to check, fewer places for damp to lurk).

Apart from a few minutes' set-up and take-down at each end of a stop, the experience will be similar to a basic caravan. Awnings can be fitted: very worthwhile, more than doubles the floor area.

Here's our Cruiser which has a max mass of 900kg, admittedly not behind a "smaller" car:



If you find you enjoy that, then you can decide to "upgrade" to a caravan and more suitable tow car at your leisure.

However, we love our FC and wouldn't change — it lives in the garage when not in use, and is great to tow and easy to put up.

Post last edited on 12/04/2017 12:33:13


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PersonGrampian91
12/4/2017 at 11:14am
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I wouldnt mind a folding camper but its the packing it away wet issue. We spend a lot of summers in Cornwall so more often than not its going to be put away wet or damp.


Personjake001
12/4/2017 at 11:58am
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A Dandy can be folded wet and even the heaviest Destiny is within the o/p's weight limit.


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It'll do a trip


Personadamangler
12/4/2017 at 12:01pm
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Thanks for the replys.

I dont think the camper would be a ln option as my partner will not entertain sleeping under canvass. I have access to a tent and a trailer tent but been told no chance lol. So it has to be a caravan, I will need a towbar fitting to my car so just trying to work out of its worthwhile doing that with it only been able to tow 1100kg or to look for another car. I have a work van but that had a gross weight of 2700 fully laden so any caravan would be over the limit of the daft 1997 licence change.


PersonOpensauce
12/4/2017 at 12:48pm
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If a 2 berth caravan is ok for you there is plenty of choice of 1990s caravans on ebay under a tonne in your price range. If the car you have will tow 1100kg then you can do it.

But you have to make it happen. You have to turn this into reality if that's what you want. If you want a £1000 caravan you need to be prepared to diy & you need to learn about caravans. How to do minor repairs on the body & the electrical & gas parts of it.

I have a 1995 Abbey. 2berth 900kg loaded. Cost me under a grand last yr. I got one that was basically sound & I fixed a few bits. I will be towing it around France this summer. It's as good as a new caravan.

But I have a garage full of tools. I can fix just about anything. That's how you successfully run a £1000 caravan & make it as good as a £15000 caravan. You can do it if you want to. Anybody can.

Post last edited on 12/04/2017 14:40:51


PersonTroon
12/4/2017 at 2:33pm
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Quote: Originally posted by adamangler on 12/4/2017
any caravan would be over the limit of the daft 1997 licence change.


Might be worth doing your B+E to open up more options?

FC interior:


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Personadamangler
12/4/2017 at 3:39pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Opensauce on 12/4/2017
If a 2 berth caravan is ok for you there is plenty of choice of 1990s caravans on ebay under a tonne in your price range. If the car you have will tow 1100kg then you can do it.

But you have to make it happen. You have to turn this into reality if that's what you want. If you want a £1000 caravan you need to be prepared to diy & you need to learn about caravans. How to do minor repairs on the body & the electrical & gas parts of it.

I have a 1995 Abbey. 2berth 900kg loaded. Cost me under a grand last yr. I got one that was basically sound & I fixed a few bits. I will be towing it around France this summer. It's as good as a new caravan.

But I have a garage full of tools. I can fix just about anything. That's how you successfully run a £1000 caravan & make it as good as a £15000 caravan. You can do it if you want to. Anybody can.

Post last edited on 12/04/2017 14:40:51



Thanks for that.

D.I.Y is not problem I used to be a mechanic many years ago and still have most of the tools including a welder and my dad has just about every tool known to man in his garage and is a d.I. y nut so I've no issues repairing and maintaining a caravan was just concerned about towing weights and being legal as I rely on my licence for a living so don't want to make any silly mistakes.

I will have a look around ebay and do some more reasearch before I decide thanks.


PersonWendy106
12/4/2017 at 8:46pm
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We've got a 1982 Avondale, was originally 5 berth. It's 985kg fully laden. It needed loads of work doing on it, was damp as a very damp sponge. We're still finishing it off, it's taken a while, but it only cost £50 in the first place. Fortunately we have another caravan to go on holiday in, as the Avondale has been a major labour of love, but we fancied a project-:) Anyway, my point is, there's caravans out there to suit all weights and budgets, there's one with your name on it somewhere-:)


PersonColin21
12/4/2017 at 9:38pm
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This is our 4th year with our £500, 1988 Elddis Tornado, which is well within your weight limit. They are out there, but as Opensauce says, it's not a good time to buy. People will be asking silly prices as it's the start of the season. Prices come right down in the last 3 months of the year.

Look at everything locally up to your limit, and don't expect a £1,000 caravan to be any better than a £500 one. Like anything else, an old caravan is only worth what someone else is prepared to pay for it.

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Best Regards,
Colin


Personcheckley1973
12/4/2017 at 10:03pm
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Adria 432PX. Nice vans good reliability and 1100 all in.



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