pre 2000 used caravans

[lp4967]

I totally new to caravanning and am looking to buy a used van

ideally 4 berth , my towcar is going to be a focus c max 1.6.

When is the best time to start looking I am looking to spend

ideally around £4000-5000.

Does anyone has any suggestions would buying from a dealer be the best bet?

 

[Royston]

Hi Lesley,

We had a Ford Escourt estate 1.6 when purchased our first caravan a Dalesman 2 berth total weight about 1000kg, found it very hard to tow in head winds pretty gutless really , changed to a 2 ltr Daewoo Leganza which solved all our towing problems.

 

[swpostie]

Hi Lesley,

We bought our first caravan earlier this year, having spent quite a long time looking!

We bought from a dealer, in the end, as we didn't have much idea about what to look for in a used caravan. Also, the dealers have lots of caravans to look at and, when we collected ours they spent a couple of hours going through everything to make sure we knew how to operate it all - which was very helpful.

If you buy privately you'll proobably get lots of extras thrown in (although you should be able to pursuade your dealer to throw in a few bits too - we got an awning) and you'll pay less but, for your first 'van at least, I would suggest buying from a dealer - the caravan will be serviced, explained to you and will come with a warranty.

The best time to get one? Autumn or winter, when people don't want them!

Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[lp4967]

Hi Lesley,

We bought our first caravan earlier this year, having spent quite a long time looking!

We bought from a dealer, in the end, as we didn't have much idea about what to look for in a used caravan. Also, the dealers have lots of caravans to look at and, when we collected ours they spent a couple of hours going through everything to make sure we knew how to operate it all - which was very helpful.

If you buy privately you'll proobably get lots of extras thrown in (although you should be able to pursuade your dealer to throw in a few bits too - we got an awning) and you'll pay less but, for your first 'van at least, I would suggest buying from a dealer - the caravan will be serviced, explained to you and will come with a warranty.

The best time to get one? Autumn or winter, when people don't want them!

Good luck and happy hunting!

thqnks I have been looking at my local dealer flintshire caravans but all too dear at the moment its the weight issue I am worried about on the old models

 

[lp4967]

Is there anywhere you can find the weight of old tourers?

would be on any internet site?

 

[swpostie]

If you are looking at 'vans at a dealer the weight should be on the info board.

Generally, though, I believe the older 'vans are probably lighter than the modern 'vans (I could be wrong) due to having less equipment.

When we were looking for our first 'van a few months ago we bought a couple of books of old test reports, from the following link:

http://www.testreports.co.uk/outdoor/caravan/stock/type.asp?StockTypeID=8&Source_ID=1
They'll give you an idea of typical weights for the age of caravan you're looking for.

 

[lp4967]

yes I have been on that site and ordered the book hopefully this will help.

 

[BillyBob1]

Is there anywhere you can find the weight of old tourers?

would be on any internet site?

the main system we use as dealers is Towsafe, it list's most weights of caravans. they should have a website.