Light 4/5 Berth for first time owners.

[danwarnermeanwell]

After a holiday in parents' caravan over the summer (set up for us!) we're looking at getting our own for UK holidays with a little one.

We drive a Skoda Karoq and are looking for a compact (but not too small!) and light 4/5 birth ideally with bunk beds and a double! Does anyone have any recommendations for makes/models?

Torn between finding a used dealer but costing a bit more, or private sale and saving a few quid. What would you recommend?

Any/all ideas welcome!

 

[Mr Plodd]

First off what's the max towing weight for your car? That could (will) have an influence on any caravan. Any caravans MTPLM must NOT exceed the cars plated max trailer weight.
With a dealer you will get a warranty, if buying private you will get none. So if buying private be sure to get a damp inspection done, and make ut a condition of sale it gets a clean bill of health. Damp repairs cost vast amounts!

 

[otherclive]

After a holiday in parents' caravan over the summer (set up for us!) we're looking at getting our own for UK holidays with a little one.

We drive a Skoda Karoq and are looking for a compact (but not too small!) and light 4/5 birth ideally with bunk beds and a double! Does anyone have any recommendations for makes/models?

Torn between finding a used dealer but costing a bit more, or private sale and saving a few quid. What would you recommend?

Any/all ideas welcome!

I had a Sprite Musketeer TD five berth. Double at front and a configuration at the back that can provide good single, a bunk for a child or small double with a bunk above it. It was 2012 and MTPLM 1300 kg.

 

[danwarnermeanwell]

First off what's the max towing weight for your car? That could (will) have an influence on any caravan. Any caravans MTPLM must NOT exceed the cars plated max trailer weight.
With a dealer you will get a warranty, if buying private you will get none. So if buying private be sure to get a damp inspection done, and make ut a condition of sale it gets a clean bill of health. Damp repairs cost vast amounts!

Super helpful thank you! Max towing weight is 1500kg! Really useful with the damp inspection too, is it fairly easy to find someone to carry one out?

 

[danwarnermeanwell]

I had a Sprite Musketeer TD five berth. Double at front and a configuration at the back that can provide good single, a bunk for a child or small double with a bunk above it. It was 2012 and MTPLM 1300 kg.

Awesome! That sounds ideal!

 

[otherclive]

Here’s some details. Mine at 1300 kg had the payload upgrade.

2013 Sprite Musketeer TD Used Caravan | in Highbridge, Somerset | Gumtree

Location: Highbridge, Somerset (call: 01278 782725) Specifications Year: 2013 Manufacturer: Sprite Range: Musketeer Model: TD Axles: Single Berth: 5 About Us: Highbridge Caravan Centre is your first choice for New & Used Caravans, Motorhomes, Trailer Tents and Folding

www.gumtree.com

 

[Woodentop]

The OP does not say whether the Karoq is petrol or diesel, and 2WD or 4WD?
We have the MY22 2L TDi 150 Sportsline 2WD and that is rated to tow 1800kg. Our van is a Unicorn 4 Seville uprated at 1450kg MTPLM and it tows like a dream.
The main advantage of the Karoq (CMC TCotY 2023 and C&CC TCotY 2024) is essentially the same MQB chassis as most of the mid-range VAG car/SUVs and widely regarded as one of the best on the road, but has the advantage of relatively small overhang behind the back wheels which makes the ride almost pitch-proof.

Buy the caravan from a reputable dealer, discuss options, and push for the best price to include any unused manufacturer warranty with dealer warranty on top to bring it up to a minimum of 12 months. TAKE GREAT CARE if there is unused manufacturer warranty on what you buy to make sure that any in-warranty service etc has been done and recorded else it may be void. For example with Bailey it needs to have had an annual service every year since new within +/- 4 weeks (or is it +/-6 weeks?) of the anniversary of the original date of purchase - i.e. the date it first left the showroom and very specifically NOT the anniversary of any subsequent transfer of ownership.

It is good advice to buy near home. There has been a thread on a forum in the last few weeks where someone bought a caravan from a dealer 200 miles from where he lives. Not long after purchase and still well within warranty it developed a (body water leak?) problem and he tried to get it inspected as instructed by the manufacturer by either a local authorised workshop or another dealer but no-one would touch it. Caravan manufacture is very much a cottage industry in the UK and relies far too much on the good will of dealers as there is no contractual connection between a manufacturer and dealer as there is within the car industry. The only person that makes any money out of the sale of a caravan is the selling dealer and most are too tight to spend even a penny in good customer relations when something goes wrong away from their immediate operational area. We had a new van from a reputable dealer some years back and the first night out I turned over and one of the bed supports gave way. It went back to the dealer who contacted the manufacturer who in turn instructed the dealer to find a solution and let them know how it had been resolved!!!

 

[ProfJohnL]

...

... Caravan manufacture is very much a cottage industry in the UK and relies far too much on the good will of dealers as there is no contractual connection between a manufacturer and dealer as there is within the car industry. ...

Oh yes there is a contractual agreement between the manufacturer and the seller.

What there isn't is a watertight contract forcing dealers to take on manufacturers warranty work on caravan they did not sell.

If the work is not being covered by the manufacturer's warranty, but under the terms of the CRA, then ONLY the selling dealer has an obligation to do the work.

 

[GaryB]

We had a 2014 Swift Challenger 586, rear dinette and bunks, decent centre bathroom and the lounge made up into a good sized double. MTPLM was around 1450kgs. Negatives were that we didn’t find the bed very comfortable, the rear bunks weren’t very big (daughter found them too small when she was 11) and the heating distribution was poor at the rear.

 

[Dustydog]

It’s worth buying a copy of the latest Practical Caravan magazine to view the comprehensive list of caravans available, weights layouts etc. This will give you a good idea of what may suit you.
Buying from a dealer has some attraction on the warranty front but remember there are dealers and then there are dealers😉
Buying used can be beneficial. See the used ads on the magazine web. Sadly many caravanners give up for health reasons. It is not unusual to find the caravan is sold with lots of accessories eg awnings battery aquaroll etc. But as said above make sure you see the FSH and latest damp test. It may well be worthwhile asking an Approved Workshop Engineer to carry out a pre purchase inspection and damp check for you. Good luck.

 

[otherclive]

Just picking up on Dusty's advice the Caravan and Motor Home Club have a classifieds section that covers caravans, motorhomes and accessories. I had bought accessories from that site and have never been let down. As stated by Dusty many caravans will be being sold with full kit.

 

[audiorob]

If buying from a dealer as a first timer you might get a starter pack thrown in - these items quickly mount up - aquaroll, waste, step, battery, number plate, towing mirrors, even toilet fluids will help swing the deal in your direction!

 

[Raywood]

Unless you know caravans and what to look for I would avoid private sales. The forum has numerous threads where people have been sold pups and basically lost thousands. A good dealer is almost essential for a first caravan in my mind unless you then pay for an expert examination, which would go well to wiping out the price advantage you get with a private sale.
Weinsberg might be worth a look if you want a cheap new caravan. They are basic but well made.

 

[Beachball]

This caravan might suit it a Bailey Orion 460/5 caravan it has fixed bunks bed and end dinette
Unladed weight 1181kg
Max weight 13.45 kg
there might some available and in stock at some dealers have a look on caravan finder

 

[trevormonty]

Watch YouTube videos on what to look for when inspecting caravan.

I looked at caravan dealer was selling. There was considerable water damage to floors visible from underneath. Probably passed damp test because it had been sitting out in hot summer sun for couple months

Even when buying from dealer I'd recommend paying for independent inspection. No different that getting used car inspected by professional.

 

[Mel]

Xplore 304? Our mod, Sam can give you a full critique
Mel