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Subject Topic: Dipping toe into Caravan World
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Persondenny98
29/8/2018 at 10:23am
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Outwell Montana and Birdland 3 View denny98's Profile View Profile   Reply to denny98 Reply   Quote denny98 Quote  
Joined: 29/7/2007

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My tent is coming to the end of its life and having spent some time in friends tourers recently, I am now looking at acquiring one myself. Funds are limited so will have to be an older model. Question is apart from damp and spongy floors what else should I be looking out for? Most things happy to sort myself ie electrics, water etc but I guess more concerned about underneath and wheels etc
Any clues would be gratefully received


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Denise


Personegbert
29/8/2018 at 10:24am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View egbert's Profile View Profile   Reply to egbert Reply   Quote egbert Quote  
Joined: 25/7/2011

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As we have learnt to our cost, if you don't know what you are looking for, best to take a local independent assessor with you to do the equivalent of an AA check on it before you pay


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Persontrog100
29/8/2018 at 12:54pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View trog100's Profile View Profile   Reply to trog100 Reply   Quote trog100 Quote  
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look for structural integrity.. dont buy one that is falling apart.. make sure the sides are still firmly attached to the floor.. look for signs of rot and the likes.. its not that hard to spot.. :)

trog


Personchrisn7
29/8/2018 at 1:22pm
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011 View chrisn7's Profile View Profile   Reply to chrisn7 Reply   Quote chrisn7 Quote  
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If funds are tight please get any van inspected - the cost of doing so is way less than the potential cost of damp repairs. Every season there are sad stories of people who come on here after they have bought a rot box through inexperience.

Its is true that advanced rot is possible to spot (and smell!) but not so in the early stages when plastic wall finishes hide the truth for a while.

Body integrity, wheels and tyres, functioning equipment - appliances, lights, charger etc all need to be verified


PersonColin21
29/8/2018 at 2:43pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Not sure if you have any particular one in mind, but if not it is well worth speaking to caravan dealers and asking if they have any "trade sales" in. They often have them out the back, rather than on display. These are often older models that have been traded in, and generally dealers won't touch rubbish. Not worth their while.

This is how we found ours. It's a 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT in lovely condition, bought it for £1,100. I would still recommend taking someone with you if you don't know much about caravans, but even though trade sales are usually sold "without warranty", as traders they are still covered by the sale of goods act. If you buy privately it's 100% down to you. No come-backs.

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Best Regards,
Colin


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Persondenny98
29/8/2018 at 4:10pm
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Outwell Montana and Birdland 3 View denny98's Profile View Profile   Reply to denny98 Reply   Quote denny98 Quote  
Joined: 29/7/2007

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Thanks for all your ideas


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Denise


PersonHairywol
29/8/2018 at 11:46pm
 Location: Teesside
 Outfit: Challenger Sport 524 + Volvo V90 D5 View Hairywol's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hairywol Reply   Quote Hairywol Quote  
Joined: 02/6/2005

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Hope you find something - the advice above is sound and I won't repeat it. But we changed from tenting to caravans four years ago and wouldn't willingly go back.

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


PersonColin21
30/8/2018 at 2:12pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

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I think a lot of us probably started with a tent. We certainly did and we loved it, but we were young back then with no kids. Once the kids came along we switched to a caravan as it was so much more convenient with all the bits and pieces young kids need. Drier too! Then for many years we had a boat on the river, but there are only so many times you can go up and down a river. You need at least a week to get further than just a local stretch of water, and it takes a week to do what you can do in an hour by car.

Now we are retired it's back to a caravan. Bad backs, and dodgy hips don't go well with tents, and we do like our comfort.

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Best Regards,
Colin


Persondenny98
30/8/2018 at 6:04pm
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Outwell Montana and Birdland 3 View denny98's Profile View Profile   Reply to denny98 Reply   Quote denny98 Quote  
Joined: 29/7/2007

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Well it was Caravanning with Mum and Dad A Cortina and a Sprite Alpine when I was younger, then Camping with my children (now Adults) As much as I love Tents think I would now prefer it a little drier at times I had seen a van that may have been a candidate online, pictures looked ok but wanted to see it in the flesh so to speak before deciding, anyway long story short, Emailed seller who declined viewing as van in storage and not allowed!! Cannot believe anyone would try and sell something like a caravan without letting someone view it before bidding.
Yes folks I walked away!!





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Denise


PersonColin21
30/8/2018 at 7:02pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

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Don't blame you for walking away! I would have done exactly the same. Curiously, our first caravan many years back was a Sprite Alpine, and we towed it with a Mk2 Cortina.

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Best Regards,
Colin


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Persondenny98
30/8/2018 at 7:30pm
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Outwell Montana and Birdland 3 View denny98's Profile View Profile   Reply to denny98 Reply   Quote denny98 Quote  
Joined: 29/7/2007

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great combination

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Denise


Personnavver
30/8/2018 at 8:00pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
Joined: 23/8/2008

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Very important is to check what weight your car can tow.


What car do you have


Persondenny98
30/8/2018 at 8:14pm
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Outwell Montana and Birdland 3 View denny98's Profile View Profile   Reply to denny98 Reply   Quote denny98 Quote  
Joined: 29/7/2007

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Landrover

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Denise


Personmarg6
30/8/2018 at 8:31pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View marg6's Profile View Profile   Reply to marg6 Reply   Quote marg6 Quote  
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landrover what? what year too and what licence do you hold? i.e. when did you pass your test? have you done the extra towing test?


PersonRob and Tina
30/8/2018 at 9:24pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB View Rob and Tina's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rob and Tina Reply   Quote Rob and Tina Quote  
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What model and year Landrover? Do you have a B+E licence?

Rob


Personmisterg
30/8/2018 at 10:26pm
 Location: East Midlands
 Outfit: Coachman VIP 575.Santa Fe View misterg's Profile View Profile   Reply to misterg Reply   Quote misterg Quote  
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Your post suggests you are aware of the dreaded damp which is a real problem even in nearly new vans but I would still stress the need for a damp meter.
When we looked at vans for my son all were described as damp free but we saw many before we found a dry one including those at dealers. It is sad but you can’t trust anyone!

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Mister G



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