2000 Herald Gleneagles 490/4L

[Colinf70]

Hi there could any one give me any info on this van that we have seen is it any good and what should I look out for
regards Colin

 

[Parksy]

Hi Colin
I think that the Herald Gleneagles is a dealer special based on the Compass Rallye.
The 490/4L looks like This One which looks quite well looked after, so if your prospective buy is similar have a look at Andrew Jenkinsons Used Caravan Guide just to make sure that you don't miss any obvious pitfalls and if you can get it for a similar price or less than the example shown above you are about right.
If buying privately ensure that the vendor has the right to sell the caravan i.e. no outstanding finance by having a CRiS HPI check done and check the caravan thoroughly or better still get a mobile caravan engineer to check it before parting with any money because on private sales there is little chance of redress if things go wrong.
If you are buying from a dealer ask them to carry out a damp check, ask to see the results and get them to certify that the caravan is damp free and free from major faults before you buy. A dealer should supply some guarantee for a 2000 model which gives you a bit of breathing space.
Ask for evidence of regular servicing and ask how old the tyres are because regardless of the amount of remaining tread pattern caravan tyres should be replaced before they are 7 years old because the sidewalls deteriorate which can lead to blowouts.
If the tyres are need replacing and the vendor does not replace them factor in the cost of replacement tyres and deduct it from the asking price. You will probably also need a leisure battery (around £100) and an Aquaroll and Wastemaster (£100 for the two)
If you have any questions just ask

 

[Colinf70]

Hi thanks for the info parksy
that is the van it comes with everything but aquaroll and wastemaster
It looks well looked after no soft wall or floor but I could not find any info apart from that one
would you say it's the right price
regards Colin

 

[ProfJohnL]

..........A dealer should supply some guarantee for a 2000 model which gives you a bit of breathing space...........

All retail sales are coverd by the Sale of Goods Act - even secondhand caravans! That does not mean you should expect a 13 year old caravan to be as new perfect, SoGA requires the goods to be as described, fit for purpose, and of merchantable quality. This is a strue for secondhand goods as new. However the other SoGA requirements of free from material designe or workmanship faults, they still apply but must be taken in the context of teh age and condition of the goods, And the retailer can decline to cover certain aspects of the goods provided those points are covered in the contract.

Most dealers will offers some kind of guarantee with secondhand sales, but that is a totaly seperate issue to your statutory rights under SoGA.

It is vitally important as a buyer to ask all relevant questiond before you agree to buy. And if you dont like the answers - dont buy.

 

[Parksy]

Hi thanks for the info parksy
that is the van it comes with everything but aquaroll and wastemaster
It looks well looked after no soft wall or floor but I could not find any info apart from that one
would you say it's the right price
regards Colin

According to the Used Caravan Price Guide the equivalent 2000 model Compass Rallye 490/4 GTE is priced between £3500 for a private sale and £4300 from a dealership so the model from John Charles is about right.
There's no reason why you shouldn't haggle though Colin, as a serious buyer rather than a tyre kicker you are in a good position because the summer is turning out to be poor so it's a buyers market.
Ask what price they would be prepared to sell the caravan for, they can only say no but my guess is that they'll hum and haw and knock some money off.
It all helps toward your first holiday or perhaps a caravan insurance premium so be a bit cheeky, there's no harm in trying

Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Colinf70]

Went back today and found damp at rear
they said they would seal and replace panel in side
what do you think I should do

 

[Parksy]

Went back today and found damp at rear
they said they would seal and replace panel in side
what do you think I should do

To buy or not to buy, that is the question.............

There are very few 13 year old caravans which can be guaranteed 100% damp free to be honest, Colin.
Go back for a really good look round and take a torch with you. Look inside lockers at the wall surfaces, look all along the line of the awning rails, especially on the door / awning side of the caravan, look around all places where panels meet and are sealed including the floor area, round the door and in bathroom cabinets and under sink cupboards.
Does the floor feel spongy or is it creaky?
Look behind curtains around the windows, gently ease the rubbers back to look for signs of water ingress, black mould etc and check the places where the grab handles are mounted, another potential leaky area.
If there are any more damp spots or faults it's probably best to walk away to be honest, but if the dealer is reptuable and carries out a good repair which they are prepared to guarantee then you could do worse if the price of the caravan is right.
Are you sure that the damp is due to sealant failure rather than panel cracking? Examine the end panels outside the caravan closely, check any curved or stressed areas for minute cracks which can let a surprising amount of water in.
If there are cracks the affected external panels will need replacing as well as the interior timbers and wall board.
Look at the sealant on the exterior, is it dry or brittle? Is there any sign of mould or moss, especially where the roof meets the front or back panel and on top of the awning rails?
These are all symptomatic of sealant failure, to be expected on a 13 year old caravan but not a terminal failure if properly addressed.
If sealant failure is the problem then there's a good chance that all joints will need re-sealing properly, so is the dealer prepared to carry out the work before selling the caravan?
A really thorough inspection will cost you nothing if you know what to look for, or around £50 if you get an approved Mobile Caravan Engineer to carry out a damp test and give you a report.
Your decision on whether or not to buy boils down to how trustworthy the vendor is, I haven't seen any bad reports about John Charles Caravans here but it might be wise to ask about them on various caravan forums just to make sure.
If you do decide to buy, get them to write down that there are no major faults, and hoppefully you will have a repaired caravan that is dry.
If you don't buy it might seem disappointing but put it down to experience and begin the process again armed with the knowledge of what to look for next time.

 

[Colinf70]

Thanks for info parksy
there was some moss on the top of van and yes the sealant looked a bit cracked the damp in the van was at the lower part about 6" above the floor

 

[Parksy]

If you buy you will need the caravan completely re-sealed with the awning rails removed and replacement stainless steel screws when it's put back on Colin, not a difficult job for a caravan dealership.
It all depends on how bad the damp is and what damage has been done to the timbers inside the wall.