swift challenger 5 birth 2003

[Caravan newbie]

Hi does anyone have any experience with swift challenger 5 birth caravan. We have seen one (only pictures at this point. Attached)
Looking at either getting a second caravan to rent out or potentially making the attached the primary caravan as it's bigger than what we have? Being sold for £3500.. thoughts or advice, as always appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Mel]

We had a 2006 Swift 5 berth. Found the layout very flexible with our family at the time. It was bought new, so this was some time ago. It did have some damp issues which were fixed under warranty. It was rather nose heavy and needed strategic loading.
Condition is everything, so if you do go for it, get a good check over and if you are not confident in your own ability to inspect it, get an AWS engineer to have a look. Worth the cost.
mel

 

[otherclive]

It’s not really possible to judge by the photos alone, but it looks tidy. Does it have a good service history with a very recent damp check? If not an independent check for damp would be essential. Are you planning to rent a caravan out os a touring caravan or a static? Either way you become legally responsible for it performing safely, which is a whole new ball game compared to self use.

 

[Raywood]

At that age the price looks Ok provided it is in very good condition and photos can be deceptive. If this is a private buyer get the vin number and check if it not on their theft register. This is not conclusive but a good start.
Do not pay anything before seeing it and check for damp, you can but a meter cheaply to do this. Make sure that the seller demonstrates everything fitted works, they have proof of ownership and any maintenance documents. There are a lot of scammers out there so beware.
Insurance for hiring a caravan will be a lot higher than standard policies. Check what your insurer says and if they will not cover this se what a specialist broker can offer. The cost needs to be factored in to any calculation and may make the idea un economical.

 

[JB1]

We had a similar caravan back in around 2008 it was fine good flexible layout, from memory it towed very well? Like any second hand purchase of an older vehicle and such like do your due diligence checks, ie not stolen, what works and what does not what is broken or needs servicing, age of tyres, and allow a bit of money for unforeseen repairs.

 

[GaryB]

Our first brand new caravan was from the Swift group (2002 Sterling Eccles Jewel) and the build quality was excellent, far superior to the Elddis that replaced it in 2007.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi does anyone have any experience with swift challenger 5 birth caravan. We have seen one (only pictures at this point. Attached)
Looking at either getting a second caravan to rent out or potentially making the attached the primary caravan as it's bigger than what we have? Being sold for £3500.. thoughts or advice, as always appreciated.

Thanks.

I have to endorse what Otherclive has pointed out, but to put a bit more meat on the bones:-

As soon as you lend or hire a caravan out, it's status changes from private to a business. and it is accessible by the general public. This means you have to comply with all the health and safety regulations.

Where as if you only use the caravan for yourself, you are technically permitted to work on the Gas and electrics without being qualified - but the work still has to conform to the relevant standards and you should be using the codes of practice and methodologies for performance and safety testing.

As a business, you have no option all work on the gas installation and appliances must be carried out by an approved fitter. It is a criminal offence to do such work if you are not a registered fitter.

Similar constraints also apply to the mains electrics.

Your arrangements about hiring out the caravan will legally be a contract, and you will be subject to all the consumer rights involving purchasing, and warranting the condition of the caravan.

You will need to get insurance, not only for damage arising from towing, but also second (the hirer) and third party claims for the than breakages of the caravan.

You will need to have a means of recovering the caravan if there is a problem whilst it has been hired, and to ensure the hirers immediate needs are met in terms of transport and accomodation.

The list goes on, its not quite as simple as might seem.

Do your homework, but also expect to discover you may not have thought of everything.