Where to buy a caravan with door on the off-side

[brissle]

Apart from going over to Europe and buying a van there, can anyone please suggest whether there are any dealers in the UK who sell caravans with the door on the off-side (i.e. the "wrong" side for us in the UK).

I'm wanting to look at buying a used van like that -preferably with a fixed bed as well.

Have tried a Google search without success. It's probably just a matter of asking the right question....!!
Would be grateful for any suggestions.

 

[Dustydog]

https://www.lowdhams.com/used-hymer-tourer-caravans
Plenty of Hymer, knaus etc that will give you your required layout.

 

[brissle]

OK thanks Dustydog - seems the best bet is to use the Hymer and Knaus and other European van websites to track down their dealers closest to where I live in Bristol.

 

[Raywood]

You are likely to find the odd continental caravan in any dealers used caravans as most will take them in part exchange. Hobby have a small number of dealers around the country who will have some in and if you google the make you want you should get details of firms with some.
Not sure why you want the door on the other side as you can buy some continental caravans built for the UK market which have the door our side.

 

[brissle]

The reason for my question is a bit complicated:
The van will be shipped to New Zealand, where my son will use it and my wife and I will have access when we visit.
But for four months every year it will be on a remote site near a wind-surfing lake in an area susceptible to very strong winds. The wish is to have a van which can be parked with the lounge windows overlooking the lake (rather than a hedge) but with the awning on the lee side. A van with lounge at tow bar end would need an off-side door.
A van with n/s door and fixed bed at tow bar end would be fine (it could be put onto the pitch nose first) but UK vans don't have that layout.

 

[Raywood]

I may have missed something but would it not be possible to buy something over there as the cost of shipping will be very high. As for the position of the door could the caravan not be sited with the hitch to the back of the pitch as many sites here will let you if the layout is right. I appreciate that over there they drive on the left so most caravans will follow our layouts.

 

[brissle]

Raywood - actually the cost of shipping is very reasonable. I have now tracked down a suitable British built van with the fixed bed at tow bar end and lounge at the rear. The cost of that, plus shipping plus minor conversions for NZ rules is significantly cheaper than buying an equivalent van in NZ.
In fact one of the shippers I have been talking to says that he regularly sends vans and motorhomes over to NZ - when people come to the UK on holiday or to visit a family they sometimes buy a van to take back for their own use or to re-sell (which pays for their trip.....).
So we are "all systems go". If it works, I might take another next time we go to visit.......
Got to be better value than renting a expensive campervan for a few weeks in NZ.

 

[Parksy]

Good luck with the shipping, make sure that the caravan that you buy is damp free and well maintained.
Click Here to browse a few inspection tips for when you buy

 

[Buckman]

Raywood - actually the cost of shipping is very reasonable. I have now tracked down a suitable British built van with the fixed bed at tow bar end and lounge at the rear. The cost of that, plus shipping plus minor conversions for NZ rules is significantly cheaper than buying an equivalent van in NZ.
In fact one of the shippers I have been talking to says that he regularly sends vans and motorhomes over to NZ - when people come to the UK on holiday or to visit a family they sometimes buy a van to take back for their own use or to re-sell (which pays for their trip.....).
So we are "all systems go". If it works, I might take another next time we go to visit.......
Got to be better value than renting a expensive campervan for a few weeks in NZ.

Hopefully it is not a Stealth caravan as they had that sort of layout however they went bust. As a matter of interest what brand is it?

 

[brissle]

It's a 2007 Bailey Pageant Vendee - not many built with that layout.
Has been well looked after, but will have a thorough check including damp before shipping by a specialist caravan shipper.
Thanks Parksy for the buying secondhand tips - always useful to be reminded what to look for.

 

[Raywood]

Glad you have found something so good luck.

 

[Hutch]

Hi Brissle, I have heard of a few people shipping caravans and cars to NZ. Good luck hope it all goes well.

 

[brissle]

Yes, we've got our fingers crossed - but the exporter guy seems very confident and the shipping company protect the van with packing at roof level before it goes into the container to prevent damage if the ship rocks. They also do all the paperwork relating to export /import and NZ customs clearance.

Our next challenge is to find an awning and all the associated equipment (water and waste barrels, hitchlock and wheel lock, etc. etc so it can travel inside the van. Ebay here we come....!

So we'll have a decent van to use when we visit in Feb / March 2018 and our son can then keep it after we leave, or sell it on at a profit.