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Hi there, & welcome to UKCS.

Personally, i think people change their caravans to upgrade or for a change, If you are happy with a caravan then why change it no matter how long you have owned it?

Hi donneville

A warm UKCS welcome to the Tin Tent brigade, I have over a few years looked at all the variouse things and happenings to various UKCS members and have come to my own opinion that Caravans are like fine wines! they mature better with age and? if look after lovingly will serve you well for many many years, I think you will find that many members have had their own Tin Tents? anything from 10/20/30 years perhaps longer? my advice is enjoy every outing as if it is you first and Happy Camping and Caravaning to you and yours.

Regards

Woggle

Change when suits you I say....

Had our last 'van (new) for 13 months, but the one before that for nearly 10 years.

If something about the 'van doesn't suit you and you can afford it - change!

I bought mine in 1994 and still got it , cant imagine the advert if I were to sell it.

Carefull owners chain smokers 4 kids 3 dogs still in the box

 We had our first van for 15yrs , second one 13yrs and this one bought last year. Why change just for the sake of it , rather like a house if you are happy in it you stay put.

Jo

If you like the layout and the van has been trouble free then hang on to it.  Most people add bits and pieces ( lights, sockets etc) to get it how they want it so once you get to that stage it makes sense to keep it.  As was said it depreciates most in the first year.

We have had ours since 1998, also a Sterling, and plan to keep it a couple of years still, then go for a new fixed bed one.  Meantime we are putting money aside. You could set up a regular saving account, I am doing a Halifax 1 year one that pays 7% , so the cash cannot be touched.  At the end of the year I put it in an ISA so there is not the same temptation to spend it on something else!!!

If you save the maximum every year you would have enough for a brand new van after 5 years.

Hi David!   Believe me, I am not that organised!  But being an Aberdonian I do have a certain reputation to maintain, so I must admit to buying my Christmas cards in January, and my presents in the sales, whatever the time of year!

We always buy new cars, but then we keep them till they die. Our record so far is 14 years, then it was going to cost more to get through the MOT than it was worth.That was in 1988, quality is better now.  At present we have a Volvo 940 that is almost 12 and gone 130000miles, so a mere youngster, and a 440 , that is almost 11 and only done 50000 miles , that we have given to our daughter.  And then our van is coming up on 8, so still almost new!

I think our oldest posession is probably an Electrolux fridge that we bought in 1976, still going strong!  I hate it when things break down and I have to choose something new.  It's not that I don't like having new things,I love getting new things, I just hate having to make a decision in a hurry. It's such a responsibility!  I like to be able to think about it, research the possibilities, and make an informed decision.

Our next van, and the 4x4 to tow it, will possibly (hopefully if they last well)  be our last and a treat for our retirement, but we plan to keep the present ones a couple of years yet, or maybe longer!!!  I think the deciding factor will be OH getting fed up making up the bed!

Meantime the savings are accumulating nicely and it is good to have some money in the bank for that rainy day!

Another good reason, as far as we are concerned, for leaving a while between purchases, is that we don't buy anything ( other than houses ) unless we have the money to pay for it, so it does take a while to save up the money for what we want!

Hi Guys - we've just picked up our new van; the old one was 6 years old (we can't belive times flown like it has).  Why did we change?  Mainly the layout of the old one didn't suit the kids.  In hindsight we think we should have changed a year earlier as it would have saved the odd arguement.  When choosing the new van the wife and me agreed that the new layout would probably only be right for the next 5 years.  Also having sold cars for a short while in my dim and distant past, I thought a 6 year old van retaining 45% of its new price wasn't too bad, and then we got a good discount as well.