NEWBIE: Is our budget and expectations realistic?

[newbie2025]

Hi

I have started researching for our first touring caravan which we wish to purchase in this autumn ready to start caravanning next spring. Our budget is £5000-£6000. Is that realistic for a 4/5 berth? We are looking at no older than 2008. We like the look of;

• Bailey Ranger 550 Series 5 2006
• Bailey Provence S6 2007 or 2008

Any more you'd recommend?
It suits our preferences of;

• A section that can screen off our two young boys at bedtime.
• A separate shower to the sink and toilet.
• We don't mind if bathroom is in the end or middle as long as we can section off the children in the evening so we can still use the kitchen area.
• A big bonus would be a dinette tablet in addition to the beds for our boys.
• Plan is to have the front seating area made as a bed for us 2x adults and have the awning as a our seating area in the warmer months. I am of the understanding a decent awning will be additional to our budget.

I caravanned as a child in the 90's, but it was a small static. We do not want a static due to several reasons. Our plan is to get a seasonal pitch whilst the boys are young and tour more as they get older. We don't want to spend loads of money and turn round and caravanning is not for us and we've wasted too much money. We can always upgrade in the future if it turns out it is something we enjoy.

We live in the North West of England Lancashire/Greater Manchester area. We will only buy from a dealer so we have fall back for issues of damp etc. So please feel free to recommend dealers too. I have noted several already.

I look forward to your advice. Many thanks!

 

[Mr Plodd]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.
I think you will struggle to find any dealer with stock at that price point, plenty for sale privately, but at that age you will need to be VERY careful indeed not to buy a money pit.

There are good ones of that age around, but the dodgy ones will far outnumber them.
If you find one you like then INSIST on having your own damp check carried out by a professional. It will cost you, but could save you a huge amount of heartache as damp repairs can easily run into £1000+
Do a Google search for caravan damp to see what you need to be aware of.

If a seller is jittery about you having a damp check done there will be a reason, so its time walk away.

Good luck.

 

[Len W]

Shop around do your research, there are makers of dry caravans out there that last long after the original owners fell out of love with them. We bought a 2006 Burstner caravan with some cosmetic damage , faulty window and power supply unit both repaired under £800. If you get stuck there's plenty of helpful people on here that will point you in the right direction. Buy with your head and not with your heart. NB we bought ours from burlingham caravans on the A6 nr Preston . Good luck with the search.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi

I concur with Mr Plod's post #2. I do feel your present budget is particularly tight especially as you have stated you'll use a dealer rather than a private sale. Just by being a dealer sale you might expect to pay 20% more compared to a private sale, but as you point out, using a dealer does give you some extra protections.

But based on what you have told us so far, and in particular your intention to site the caravan seasonally until your children are older, I do wonder if you need to purchase a touring caravan now, or whether it would be better to wait until the children are older, and in the mean time use a rented static, and to save to have a bigger purchase pot when the time comes.

Whilst you seem to have put a lot of good effort into establishing the layout of caravan you would like, have you looked into the costs of ownership? Purchase cost is just the start, Insurance, holiday site fees, storage fees, costs of services such as gas and electricity (which I know are both quite variable) service and repairs, extra fuel needed to tow to name the most common.

Is your tow vehicle capable to legally tow the caravan? Does it have all the necessary tow bar and wiring? There will be extra wear and tear on the vehicle when it tows.

If you haven't towed before, it is beneficial to do a club caravanning towing course which should give you more confidence and competence behind the wheel and about using a caravan.

Use your head not your heart about these things.

Good luck

PS also bear in mind that the older a caravan gets, the availability of spares especially for body work items can become a difficulty.

 

[otherclive]

It’s unusual to be able to rent a static for long periods apart perhaps on larger holiday parks. But as hoc renting varies with time of year and will easily be £500 per week and upwards. Plus if the OP were unable to effect a longer term rental they loose the benefit of spontaneity for their breaks away with the children.

 

[Dustydog]

Of the two you mention go for the Provence . It is one of the Pageant range whereas the Ranger was an entry model.

Pay heed to Mr Plodd’s advice.

Look for one that has a complete FSH. Look at the private sales. I doubt you will find a good deal at a Dealer in your budget range.

Damp, water ingress , is the death knell for any caravan. However if previous leaks have been correctly repaired ,fine.

I recommend you seriously get a full pre purchase survey done by an Approved Workshop Scheme engineer before parting with your hard earned cash. Good luck and always be prepared to walk away and spend another day.

Approved Touring Caravan & Motorhome Servicing in the UK

The Approved Workshop Scheme is the benchmark for motorhome and touring caravan servicing in the UK with fixed and mobile workshops nationwide.

www.approvedworkshops.co.uk

 

[trevormonty]

Check carefully for water ingress. I start by look underneath at floor on edges of rear half of any ranger from this time. Two I looked at had rotten floors. If floor looks OK from underneath then look inside around edges top and bottom.

NB these vintage Bailey's don't have good reputation for weather tightness. The earlier 2000s were better as they used different construction method.

European caravans from the same time have better reputation but layouts and appliances may not be to your likely. Our 2009 Adria Altea, seat swaps weren't as supportive as UK vans. Also Adria heater was gas only while HW was electric only, UK vans are typically dual fuel.

What ever van you decide on get a professional to check it out. Don't rely on dealers report or warrenty. One of rotten Bailey's I looked was dry according to dealers report.

 

[Beachball]

I would go for a Bailey Pageant Provence Series 6 2007 you might have to up your budget just looking online there was one at a caravan dealer at £6,495 but that Sold so i would shop around .

 

[Mel]

At that sort of budget you may find any Warranty a dealer will offer is quite short ( 3 or 6 months). If this is the case, you may want to do the financial maths on a private sale that you have had thoroughly inspected by an AWS technician.
Shop around considerably and check out Autotrader and Caravanfinder. Do not rush into anything
Good luck
Mel

 

[Buckman]

At that sort of budget you may find any Warranty a dealer will offer is quite short ( 3 or 6 months). If this is the case, you may want to do the financial maths on a private sale that you have had thoroughly inspected by an AWS technician.
Shop around considerably and check out Autotrader and Caravanfinder. Do not rush into anything
Good luck
Mel

However CRA 2015 over rides any warranty especially if it is only 3 - 6 months so that is not an issue.

 

[RogerL]

However CRA 2015 over rides any warranty especially if it is only 3 - 6 months so that is not an issue.

The OP's budget suggests 20-year old caravans - plenty of wear & tear on those which wouldn't be covered by CRA 2015.

 

[Dustydog]

The OP's budget suggests 20-year old caravans - plenty of wear & tear on those which wouldn't be covered by CRA 2015.

Not necessarily. It all depends on the sellers description.
CRA gives you an initial 30 days to reject it, if it is faulty, and claim a full refund from the dealer that sold it to you. If say the fridge failed because of w&t that's not the purchasers fault. Unless he was told it was worn out

 

[volts]

Oldham caravans (sister of Glossop Caravans) is where all there pre-loved stock go if its not on your list already

 

[Buckman]

The OP's budget suggests 20-year old caravans - plenty of wear & tear on those which wouldn't be covered by CRA 2015.

In correct as caravan woudld need to be in a satisfactory condition

 

[RogerL]

In correct as caravan woudld need to be in a satisfactory condition

"satisfactory" isn't specifically defined in CRA - it would be a lower standard for a 20 year old caravan than a 3 year old one.

 

[Buckman]

"satisfactory" isn't specifically defined in CRA - it would be a lower standard for a 20 year old caravan than a 3 year old one.

And all the time I thought that S9 was part of the CRA 2015.

(1)Every contract to supply goods is to be treated as including a term that the quality of the goods is satisfactory.

(2)The quality of goods is satisfactory if they meet the standard that a reasonable person would consider satisfactory, taking account of—

(a)any description of the goods,

(b)the price or other consideration for the goods (if relevant), and

(c)all the other relevant circumstances (see subsection (5)).

(3)The quality of goods includes their state and condition; and the following aspects (among others) are in appropriate cases aspects of the quality of goods—

(a)fitness for all the purposes for which goods of that kind are usually supplied;

(b)appearance and finish;

(c)freedom from minor defects;

(d)safety;

(e)durability.

(4)The term mentioned in subsection (1) does not cover anything which makes the quality of the goods unsatisfactory—

(a)which is specifically drawn to the consumer’s attention before the contract is made,

(b)where the consumer examines the goods before the contract is made, which that examination ought to reveal, or

(c)in the case of a contract to supply goods by sample, which would have been apparent on a reasonable examination of the sample.

(5)The relevant circumstances mentioned in subsection (2)(c) include any public statement about the specific characteristics of the goods made by the trader, the producer or any representative of the trader or the producer.

(6)That includes, in particular, any public statement made in advertising or labelling.

(7)But a public statement is not a relevant circumstance for the purposes of subsection (2)(c) if the trader shows that—

(a)when the contract was made, the trader was not, and could not reasonably have been, aware of the statement,

(b)before the contract was made, the statement had been publicly withdrawn or, to the extent that it contained anything which was incorrect or misleading, it had been publicly corrected, or

(c)the consumer’s decision to contract for the goods could not have been influenced by the statement.

(8)In a contract to supply goods a term about the quality of the goods may be treated as included as a matter of custom.

(9)See section 19 for a consumer’s rights if the trader is in breach of a term that this section requires to be treated as included in a contract.

 

[RogerL]

And all the time I thought that S9 was part of the CRA 2015.

(1)Every contract to supply goods is to be treated as including a term that the quality of the goods is satisfactory.

(2)The quality of goods is satisfactory if they meet the standard that a reasonable person would consider satisfactory, taking account of—

(a)any description of the goods,

(b)the price or other consideration for the goods (if relevant), and

(c)all the other relevant circumstances (see subsection (5)).

(3)The quality of goods includes their state and condition; and the following aspects (among others) are in appropriate cases aspects of the quality of goods—

(a)fitness for all the purposes for which goods of that kind are usually supplied;

(b)appearance and finish;

(c)freedom from minor defects;

(d)safety;

(e)durability.

(4)The term mentioned in subsection (1) does not cover anything which makes the quality of the goods unsatisfactory—

(a)which is specifically drawn to the consumer’s attention before the contract is made,

(b)where the consumer examines the goods before the contract is made, which that examination ought to reveal, or

(c)in the case of a contract to supply goods by sample, which would have been apparent on a reasonable examination of the sample.

(5)The relevant circumstances mentioned in subsection (2)(c) include any public statement about the specific characteristics of the goods made by the trader, the producer or any representative of the trader or the producer.

(6)That includes, in particular, any public statement made in advertising or labelling.

(7)But a public statement is not a relevant circumstance for the purposes of subsection (2)(c) if the trader shows that—

(a)when the contract was made, the trader was not, and could not reasonably have been, aware of the statement,

(b)before the contract was made, the statement had been publicly withdrawn or, to the extent that it contained anything which was incorrect or misleading, it had been publicly corrected, or

(c)the consumer’s decision to contract for the goods could not have been influenced by the statement.

(8)In a contract to supply goods a term about the quality of the goods may be treated as included as a matter of custom.

(9)See section 19 for a consumer’s rights if the trader is in breach of a term that this section requires to be treated as included in a contract.

S9 2(b) takes the price into account

 

[Buckman]

S9 2(b) takes the price into account

However the goods still need to be of a satisfactory quality even taking into account the cost.

 

[Dustydog]

However the goods still need to be of a satisfactory quality even taking into account the cost.

Sold as seen for say 50% of the market value may be a no go for CRA .

But sold at a realistic market value with no reservations CRA must give the purchaser the same protection as if the goods were brand new. Thus the goods, as you say must be of a satisfactory quality.

 

[Hutch]

Sounds to be more expensive and long winded to take a used caravan back to a dealer under CRA2015.
And surely you cannot use the caravan during that time, otherwise your saying it's useable.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Sounds to be more expensive and long winded to take a used caravan back to a dealer under CRA2015.
And surely you cannot use the caravan during that time, otherwise your saying it's useable.

That depends on which CRA failure you are returning the goods for. If goods are not fit for purpose, then it continuing use of the goods could undermine this complaint.

Goods may not be satisfactory, but that does not always preclude goods being usable, for example a paint finish may not be satisfactory of the colour or finish is wrong, but the goods may still function.

Especially for second-hand goods if a fault is described in the sellers description or is verbally explained prior to the sale being agreed, then that fault cannot then be used as a basis for a subsequent claim against the seller, as it was as described and formed part of the contract.

 

[Buckman]

Sounds to be more expensive and long winded to take a used caravan back to a dealer under CRA2015.
And surely you cannot use the caravan during that time, otherwise your saying it's useable.

We had no choice as we were away when the moulding pulled away from the roof and a cracked panel showed up. We were in France at the time. Generally you are correct that you should not continue to use it if a major fault is found that could have a affect on your enjoyment of the goods.

 

[Sam Vimes]

22 posts in this thread of which only about 10 address the OPs original question. The rest is a discussion between regular members about a topic that gets raised many times. While it may have some relevant information I'm not convinced it's helping the OP.

They posted the original question and I don't see any further input from them. Have we frightened them away with too much, perhaps off topic, detail?

 

[Dustydog]

I’d say the OP has sucked our brains and is now well versed in most aspects of how CRA may assist him in the event he buys from a Dealer.

He is part of a young family . Whilst his budget is small he still deserves to know the potential remedies open to him post purchase from a Dealer.

 

[borderbilly]

Fred drift