First starter caravan? 1st time buyer advice

[jbowman]

Hello

Would forum members be able to recommend a make/manufacture of an older 2 berth caravan that would be a good starter caravan to look out for?
A model that tends to age well?

I am new to caravanning,after owning a few camper vans a number of years back and have no knowledge at all of types/makes and styles or caravans so please excuse my naivity.

I am looking to buy a 2 berth second hand caravan on a very low budget to be towed by a Vauxhall Zafira.
Its for me & my wife-I am 6.1' in height.
It doesn't need to be pristine but it does need to be ready to go with no issues(not looking for a project).

I'd be grateful if members could recommend a type of caravan that we should consider and/or any tips to look out for

Many Thanks

J

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

2 berth vans generally come in 'end bathroom' or 'end kitchen' versions, with the first longer and heavier than the second. You need to decide whether you want to use the front seats as 2 single beds or 1 double. In smaller vans the seats may not be long enough to use as singles.
Some people buy 4 berth vans with either 2 singles or a double near the rear of the van to save making up the front beds each evening. You need to go to a dealer and look around the various options to see which would suit your needs.
Also look at the layout in a caravan finder.

 

[Mel]

First off work out the weight of van your Zafira can tow. You should have lots of choice if you stick with a two berth but if you get tempted by a fixed bed 4 berth (and who would blame you) your options may narrow.. I seem to think that the older Zafira's had a lowish kerbweight?
mel

 

[jbowman]

Thanks

We had a look at an ELDDIS WHIRLWIND toady which seemed the ideal sort of caravan for us to start with.
The point on matching the car to towable weight it a great one,thanks for that-must check car/caravan weight ratio.
Zafira is a 2005 model

 

[Parksy]

Hi
There is no one manufacturer which could be said to be head and shoulders above the others so it's vitally important to carefully inspect any prospective purchase when bying a used tourer.
If you buy from a private vendor the caravan may seem less expensive and there may be accessories which come with the caravan but in the event of you later discovering that the caravan was not up to standard it can be well nigh impossible to get redress.
If you buy from a dealers forecourt there may be some guarantee period, you are protected under the Sale of Goods Act but there may not be any kit included and the caravan will be more expensive to buy.
To help you to avoid the most obvious pitfalls Click Here to have a browse through the Caravan Buyers Guide.
Use the rectangular buttons on the left to browse the various categories which offer step by step advice on the most important things to check and armed with this knowledge, and a pen, notebook and a torch to peer under seat lockers you can enjoy your search for that first caravan without the fear of being ripped off.
If you buy from a source on the internet never agree to buy without either inspecting the caravan or if it's a long way from home you could find a local approved mobile service engineer who could carry out an inspection for you.
If you have any questions, just ask

 

[Surfer]

If you can be more specific about the Zafira we may be able to help you better. Is it diesel or petrol, auto or manual, size of engine etc. and do you have a B or a B+E driving licence.