New, nearly new, or older???

[kdsaunders]

So we have decided to buy a caravan. We are going to put it on a seasonal site (stored by them over winter). We don't tow (tried it before, hated it, never again).

Anyway our dilemma is what type (or age) of van to buy. We know we are going to keep it and use it for the long term. We have a decent budget that means we can get a van, in our preferred layout, new. My concern though is if we buy new, how likely are we to have to get the van towed back for warranty issues? Would we be better getting a nearly new van that will, potentially, have warranty issues resolved? Appreciate that some warranty items last for a long time (10 years for ingress for example) so in those cases we would have to get it towed back.

Any thoughts/advice appreciated.

 

[birdman101]

Though we have always bought new vans and stored them at home, I would be inclined to buy an older caravan that suits your needs as it is going to be left unattended for many hours when you are not there. We had a brand new caravan a few years back and first weeks use it got damaged on a site with children and needed a new side panel.

 

[borderbilly]

Older caravan, the new one's are built by 🐒 and they make them out of rubber so they are easier to bounce back to the dealer 😉

 

[kdsaunders]

Though we have always bought new vans and stored them at home, I would be inclined to buy an older caravan that suits your needs as it is going to be left unattended for many hours when you are not there. We had a brand new caravan a few years back and first weeks use it got damaged on a site with children and needed a new side panel.

Ouch, not good. Thankfully kids won't be an issue - adults only site (not like that).... Still plenty of other things to consider.

 

[kdsaunders]

Older caravan, the new one's are built by 🐒 and they make them out of rubber so they are easier to bounce back to the dealer 😉

Haha nice analogy there! That speaking from personal experience?

 

[birdman101]

We only use Adult sites nowadays, but the thought of leaving £30,000 unattended would be a No.Also may have a bearing on your insurance premium that needs to be considered.

 

[borderbilly]

Haha nice analogy there! That speaking from personal experience?

No, just search on here about horror stories with new van's, fact a thread going at the moment about a useless swift that can't get the door shut without slamming it 😑

 

[otherclive]

Whatever you buy if it’s still under warranty it may still need to be returned to the supplying dealership. So as you don’t tow you will have to make arrangements for it to go back. The further the distance to more it will cost. I believe warranty return costs should be borne by the supplying dealer……Uhm 🤔

Best to buy local.

 

[kdsaunders]

Whatever you buy if it’s still under warranty it may still need to be returned to the supplying dealership. So as you don’t tow you will have to make arrangements for it to go back. The further the distance to more it will cost. I believe warranty return costs should be borne by the supplying dealer……Uhm 🤔

Best to buy local.

Yeah, will be buying from somewhere as local to the site as possible so should any return be needed then the cost is held down somewhat. Currently being quoted £2 a mile for towing service.
Thanks