Help me choose my first van

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Nov 16, 2015
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Surely if you are using a credit card to buy a caravan or a car, and you pay the card off in full, there must be a cut off time the finance company, will help you out.
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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Surely if you are using a credit card to buy a caravan or a car, and you pay the card off in full, there must be a cut off time the finance company, will help you out.
Not many dealers will accept a credit card for the full purchase. But if you pay towards the deposit above £100 you receive protection under the CCA section 75. The period of protection is in CCA and 6 years from date if purchase for values £100 to £30000. Paying it off doesn’t affect the protection provided.
 
Jul 18, 2017
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Not many dealers will accept a credit card for the full purchase. But if you pay towards the deposit above £100 you receive protection under the CCA section 75. The period of protection is in CCA and 6 years from date if purchase for values £100 to £30000. Paying it off doesn’t affect the protection provided.
You can pay £1 to get the full protection if the goods are valued between £100 and £30k?
 
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Aug 8, 2025
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Took SWMBO along to a dealer at the weekend so we could both have a snoop around to see what we liked. They only had one van with the twin single layout and it was a firm no from Claire. Lounge was quite small and I had to agree with her, not big enough to lounge across the couch. It was an Eldiss but not sure exactly which model.
They did however have a 6 berth twin axle with a fixed double which was significantly more roomy so now I am looking at 6 berth vans. Thinking about it this does make sense in regards having plenty of room for the dogs and the grandchildren if we ever drag them along with us. I see that we have cars that can handle the weight of the vans I have looked at on the Web so as it is by order of the management then it looks like it will have to be a 6 berth.
 
Jun 20, 2005
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Eddie
6 berth for the rare times the grandkids join you may a bit like having a five bedroom house all kitted out for family and guests whom you see once a year😜
If it's just you and Claire the other 51 weeks look to a big four berth
Plus most 6 berth bunks are small and no good for lanky teenagers!
 
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Aug 8, 2025
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The 4 grandkids range from 2 months to 5 years currently, our Lurcher is bigger than any of them 😁 Another one due just before Christmas, grandchild that is. Although knowing Claire we could well acquire another dog before then.
Taking teenagers on holiday with us is just not going to happen, been there, done that. No thanks.
The twin single we looked at was a fairly compact van. 7.2 metres overall length so giving away a bit when compared with the 8 metres maximum?
It was our first visit together to take a look and was only a small dealership. The Eldiss had a sticker price of £11500 but the guy said he had sliced £1k off, this was Saturday. It is now showing as £9999 on Autotrader.
I see that there is a news article on this site telling of the state of the market which is slow and slowing further. I'm going to visit more dealers with Claire and get to look at as many vans as sanity will allow, might make a few cheeky offers just to test the water.
Not in a great rush to buy but if I can find the van for us and the price is right then could pull the trigger, as long as the management gives the green light.
 
Nov 6, 2005
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fairly compact van. 7.2 metres overall length so giving away a bit when compared with the 8 metres maximum?
In case you've misunderstood, the UK limit* is 7m not 8m but is based on body length not overall length.

* longer trailers/caravan can be towed with trucks over 3.5 tonnes
 
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Aug 8, 2025
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In case you've misunderstood, the UK limit* is 7m not 8m but is based on body length not overall length.

* longer trailers/caravan can be towed with trucks over 3.5 tonnes
You are quite correct, I was a bit uncertain on the total permissible length regulations.
I am finding it a touch irritating that so many adverts lack the comprehensive data on dimensions that I would expect to see. And far too often the data is conflicting or just plain wrong. I'm getting a bit fed up with seeing something that seems to fit the bill but after checking out a selection of other reviews or data sets finding myself totally confused as to what the weights and dimensions really are.
Autotrader is notorious for numerous errors in listings when they use the autofill option, and that is generally how any dealer uses Autotrader.
And this is why I intend to visit the dealership in person and see for myself, tape measure in hand 😁
 
Nov 11, 2009
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You are quite correct, I was a bit uncertain on the total permissible length regulations.
I am finding it a touch irritating that so many adverts lack the comprehensive data on dimensions that I would expect to see. And far too often the data is conflicting or just plain wrong. I'm getting a bit fed up with seeing something that seems to fit the bill but after checking out a selection of other reviews or data sets finding myself totally confused as to what the weights and dimensions really are.
Autotrader is notorious for numerous errors in listings when they use the autofill option, and that is generally how any dealer uses Autotrader.
And this is why I intend to visit the dealership in person and see for myself, tape measure in hand 😁
I sometimes think the missing information on Autotrader and similar sites is to get you to contact the seller, which allows them to open a conversation. MTPLM was one important piece of information that was often missing.
 
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