Buying used

[camel]

There's plenty of posts on this forum about buying a used caravan either from a dealer or private and what to look for when you buy the caravan, but having just change the pads on my coupling hitch and only having the caravan for just over twelve months , I did not actually check the wear indicators on the coupling hitch at the time of driving away from the dealership, so before driving off just check for wear on the hitch, I do blame myself but then again you expect everything to be right,

 

[PHOENIXFLIER]

I hate buying second hand!
Having only recently purchased a second hand caravan and a good second hand car, even with the best research etc. I find it a huge gamble. There are so many dodgy people out there, to get a decent second hand vehicle is difficult. I always go in with "rose tinted glasses", and usually end up selling it to myself!. Its not until I have had time to think about it, do the questions start coming. I recently pulled out of a car purchase, as I smelt a rat after I had left the dealership, but lucky with the car and caravan. "Buyer Beware" is son true!. Good luck,

 

[ProfJohnL]

There's plenty of posts on this forum about buying a used caravan either from a dealer or private and what to look for when you buy the caravan, but having just change the pads on my coupling hitch and only having the caravan for just over twelve months , I did not actually check the wear indicators on the coupling hitch at the time of driving away from the dealership, so before driving off just check for wear on the hitch, I do blame myself but then again you expect everything to be right,

Even with second hand purchases from a trader, the Consumer Right Act, says, as a customer you can expect the goods to be as described, which in trading terms must be perfect unless other wise stated. However if goods are sold as 'second hand' then you must expect wear and tear commensurate with the age of the goods and normal usage. Beyond that the goods must not be faulty, or if they have faults or failures, those items must form part of the description used by the seller.

The more difficult things to determine are what extent of wear is normal; if the pads in the stabaliser are worn, do they have some service life left, or have they worn to an unsafe degree? Where there are wear indicators it becomes easier to check, tyres are another good example.

'Buyer beware' is a constant thread in all (even new) purchases so it's worth checking such things especially on s/h gear. Do not forget that a trader is legally obliged not to lie ( that doesn't mean some don't) but if when you are considering a purchase make a list of things to ask, and present it to the trader so it forms part of your basis of purchase, then if something doesn't match that list, you are in a much stronger position to claim a breach of contract.

 

[camel]

Hi Prof,

I'm well aware of he pitfalls of buying a caravan, used or brand new, I've never seen anyone yet look at a caravan at a dealership and go straight to the hitch to check for wear and tear, it is normally straight inside and a ' Oh this is lovely', the Sterling I have now I never thought of thinking about the hitch but I did tell the dealer that I wanted the tyres changing because after looking at the date on them, at what point do you ask the dealer tp change the hitch pads, if the indicator for the front and rear pads is showing 25% green, more than likely the reply will be 'Oh there's plenty live in them yet, , so going back to the point I made in my post check the indicators before moving away,

 

[Dustydog]

There's plenty of posts on this forum about buying a used caravan either from a dealer or private and what to look for when you buy the caravan, but having just change the pads on my coupling hitch and only having the caravan for just over twelve months , I did not actually check the wear indicators on the coupling hitch at the time of driving away from the dealership, so before driving off just check for wear on the hitch, I do blame myself but then again you expect everything to be right,

A very valid point Camel.It's these type of items that get overlooked and later on cost us money.

 

[Raywood]

Basically you want a used tourer that has been loved but the owners have moved on. The problem is that there are some out there that have been nothing but trouble and the previous owner has just got rid of it.
You can get an independent examination to reduce the chances of a problem model but it does cost and can probably be justified only on the higher priced models.
To be honest the wear on the friction pads on a hitch is not something I would worry about as it is a cheap replacement. You need to be far more careful about items that cost far more and make sure there is no damp.
The rights you get apply only if you buy from a dealer and you need them still to be there so I would not rely on them too much. If you buy privately you have far less rights and they may not be good for the money if you can sue them.

 

[chrisn7]

You can get an independent examination to reduce the chances of a problem model but it does cost and can probably be justified only on the higher priced models.

I think it would be very unfortunate if a newbie (or indeed anyone else) were to be put off having an inspection by this statement. It doesn't matter what the age or value of the van, a significant damp problem will certainly cost more than even a full inspection.
I would recommend an inspection, full stop. Mine cost me £240 and saved me at least £1600 in damp repairs

 

[ProfJohnL]

The rights you get apply only if you buy from a dealer and you need them still to be there so I would not rely on them too much. If you buy privately you have far less rights and they may not be good for the money if you can sue them.

Ray that is strictly not true. The Consumer Rights act relates its terms to a seller, and that can be anyone making a a sale to the end consumer. That means sellers (even private ones) must describe the goods accurately, failure to do so means the buyer can pursue the seller for what might be fraud. However the chances of success may be significantly less than with a trader.

In all of this its still very much buyer beware, and ask as many questions before you buy rather than trying to get your money back.

 

[Raywood]

I agree that if a private seller has to be truthful but problems, he does not know about which could include damp, may not be actionable where as with a dealer they are. Basically if you ask a private seller if a caravan has damp and he replies that he is not aware of any and it turned out there was, then you would not have rights against him unless you showed he did know, which is very difficult to prove.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I agree that if a private seller has to be truthful but problems, he does not know about which could include damp, may not be actionable where as with a dealer they are. Basically if you ask a private seller if a caravan has damp and he replies that he is not aware of any and it turned out there was, then you would not have rights against him unless you showed he did know, which is very difficult to prove.

So the rights are the same! its the chance of proving which I agree is more difficult.

 

[DrZhivago]

I did not actually check the wear indicators on the coupling hitch at the time of driving away from the dealership, so before driving off just check for wear on the hitch, I do blame myself but then again you expect everything to be right,

A very valid point Camel.It's these type of items that get overlooked and later on cost us money.

Unlike Camel, I don't expect everything to be right, and I certainly would not worry about wear in hitch friction pads, brakes or tyres. Such things can be replaced, and I can do that myself. Damp is far more important to look for in a caravan because rotting parts cannot easily be replaced - like rust in cars.

The approach I take is to accept that a second hand car or van is bound to need some work and money spent on it, and I allow for that in considering the price. OTOH I am fairly good at assessing cars (I've less experience with caravans) and find that if you look and wait a low-mileage one will turn up that has been loved by its owner. The first thing I do at a second-hand car dealer's after a glance at a car's exterior is not to get in and say it is lovely; I put on overalls and get underneath for a look. I'm not proud. From salesmen's reactions I guess most buyers do not do this : more fool them.

The car I have now (not my Avatar one) cost me £10k and I promptly spent another £1000 on it in oil-changing, brake pad changing, new rad hoses etc, but I did not mind at all because I now have a pristine low-mileage and freshly serviced car that would have cost £45,000 new. Like a 75% discount in fact.