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

 

[Jcloughie]

The OP has thought this through and has identified the possible pitfalls.
We have similar conditions. We towed for over 40 years. But reached the stage that we could not manage the setting up and preparation each time, though the actual towing was fine.

We sold up, then after a few years decided to ‘go seasonal’. We found our caravan already in storage at our site in Blandford Forum. Just 25 pitches in a small forest. Very pleasant. We just book a pitch and the lady gets it out of storage and puts the legs down ready. She also returns it to storage. But we wanted proper seasonal and closer to home. A pitch came available on our chosen site near Brean, we go there next week. As we have no tow bar we found a caravan service engineer who is going to move it for us for £160, which I thought to be very reasonable for a 120 mile round trip.

We are happy with the van, and got it privately for a good price with extras. 2021 Alicanto Estoril. Particularly nice being 8 foot wide. It had its 4th service the day before we signed the deal.

We are now looking for an Isabella Magnum awning. Used.

John

 

[kdsaunders]

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.

Never thought about insurance, thank you! Had a quick gocompare comparison and £180 for the year doesn't seem so bad. Thankfully know the site well, been camping there for a number of years. No crime, well secured etc., so fairly (as you can be) confident it will be OK. Oh and £30k - I wish

 

[kdsaunders]

The OP has thought this through and has identified the possible pitfalls.
We have similar conditions. We towed for over 40 years. But reached the stage that we could not manage the setting up and preparation each time, though the actual towing was fine.

We sold up, then after a few years decided to ‘go seasonal’. We found our caravan already in storage at our site in Blandford Forum. Just 25 pitches in a small forest. Very pleasant. We just book a pitch and the lady gets it out of storage and puts the legs down ready. She also returns it to storage. But we wanted proper seasonal and closer to home. A pitch came available on our chosen site near Brean, we go there next week. As we have no tow bar we found a caravan service engineer who is going to move it for us for £160, which I thought to be very reasonable for a 120 mile round trip.

We are happy with the van, and got it privately for a good price with extras. 2021 Alicanto Estoril. Particularly nice being 8 foot wide. It had its 4th service the day before we signed the deal.

We are now looking for an Isabella Magnum awning. Used.

John

I've identified some pitfalls, but sure there are plenty I've not thought of as well. Hopefully the hive mind on here is going to continue to help me with that.

The pitch we are looking at is just 1hr from home, but takes me from urban landscape in to the wilds of Durham, hoping to be there most weekends for the next how ever many years we can!