What to look for when buying a used Caravan
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- What to look for when buying a used Caravan
In todays video which is aimed mainly at People New to Caravanning. Phil will explain what to look out for when buying a used Caravan. You could save some money and a lot of heartache.
Thanks to Stewart Longton Caravans for allowing me to film.
www.stewartlongton.co.uk/
Another great video Phil - had our (2011) caravan 2 years now and fortunately had no issues, but videos like this are invaluable to new buyers especially first time caravanners.
Wish I had looked at tyre markings as at the time I didn’t know about them and ended up getting new tyres a year in as they were then 5 years old .
If I’d looked before buying I would have got the dealer to change them as a deal breaker.
I took my wife’s nose around the dealers and it sussed out all the damp smelly ones. Mine is not so refined !
Think next time I’ll take my damp meter with me - not expensive and worth a poke around inside a van with.
I also looked at A frame as dealers put stickers on after each service .
Excellent advice and well presented - thanks for taking the time to do this video.
Thanks Howard you have made some extra valid point. I will PIN this as the lead comment. Thanks so much for your valid comment. Phil👍
Yeah its a good point with caravan and campervans the tyres might have even gone flat in the past whilst it was standing or the wheels not rotated periodically while stored, maybe its worth getting a tyre place to take them off and check them.
Probably a case of not seeing the wood for the trees. Lol
@@lostweekendscaravancaravans for sale in SA
@@lostweekendscaravan wow thanks very much for sharing we watched also here in Africa hope you will check out to my channel am Thierry I teach music to youths here in my country
I am trying to convince my SO that we should get a mobile home/caravan. His biggest qualm is where to keep it when it isn’t being used and if we could loan it to family members so they can use it when we’re not. We have a great deal of research ahead of us, and this video has been saved for future reference. The video was great quality! Very helpful!
Hi Molly Thanks. If you are thinking of a static caravan, the site fees can be very expensive and there are a lot of restrictions. A cheaper option is to buy a large Touring Caravan and place it on a seasonal pitch. I will be covering this subject in March. Glad you liked the video. Thanks again Phil.🙂
A deal breaker for me is if there is ANY GAPS between the cabinets/panels & the wall. They should be a tight fit, especially in an English caravan as the cabinetry is part of the bracing/structure of the caravan and not easy to repair. No matter how much you like the caravan, don’t even think about buying it - yes we’ve had the experience.
Hi John yes you are quite right and you has raised a very good point. Thanks Phil🙂👍
Hi Phil, really helpful video for new people to Caravanning..well done..All the best Rob
Hi Rob, Thanks. I have been meaning to make the vlog for ages and finally recorded it yesterday as I had some free time. I do hope it is heplful for others. Thanks again. Phil
Simple things seasoned caravaners take for granted but lots to take in when starting out, nice one Phil.
Thanks Colin. Yes you are quite correct. I would hate anyone to make a costly mistake and spoil their interest in Caravanning. Thanks again Phil👍
Great advice Phil... I rushed into buying my caravan and nearly paid the price when I found all the front to be rotten. Luckily the seller refunded my money and told me to get the repair done and give them what money was left over. Lesson learned for the future... cheers... Ian👍
Thanks Ian. It is a big investment and they are not cheap. We looked 100's of used vans before making our choice. I am glad your van got sorted in the end. Many Thanks Phil👍
Interesting.
Some years ago we purchased a used caravan from a dealer in the North West.
The extensive rear end rot had been hidden by fresh matching wallboards which of course, were dry.
There was no smell.
It was only when we got the c'van home and I went probing under the shower tray did I find the rot!
Thankfully my then Father in Law was a dab hand with timber and we fixed it but what a lesson learnt ! ☹️
Hi Martin. Thats a sad and bad story. I would like to think most if not all are honest these days. If you get a bad reputation you can loose your franchise these days. Glad you got it sorted but that should never have happened in the first place. Thanks Phil. 👍🙂
Please report that dealer so no one else gets stung
Thanks Steward some great tips!
Thanks John and thanks for watching.👍😀
Hi phi good sound advice it so easy to walk into a caravan dealership and get carried away and purchase a van with out checking it over as we know vans aren't cheap these days as u pointed out what things to look
out for on a van and what to be aware of .well put together good info and advise .kev
Thanks Kev. I had been meaning to record this a while ago but wanted to get a bit more info under my belt before recording it. Thanks as always for your comment and support. Phil👍
Love your videos but why do I always think of gerry from.pheonix nights...lol..xx your accent love it
🤣🤣🤣 you are not the only. I do get this a lot. Thanks for watching. Phil😊👍
Buying a safefill gas bottle £170 to use LPG for heating and cooking especially if your living in it or using it a lot in the cold season seems a good investment considering the vast price difference of calor propane electric or diesel to LPG and the plastic bottles a lot lighter too with it easy to see how full it is being another advantage as well as being able to fill in situ at petrol stations yourself before its even empty.
Hi Mark. Also the weight saving for me is great as the front of the van is not that lightweight so any saving gets my thumbs up. Thanks Phil🙂👍
Thank you for your video 😃
My pleasure 😊
Great video. 👍
Thanks David. It's great product too. It took ages to record. Thanks again Phil👍🙂
Some good advice for buying a used van Phil 👍
Thanks Martin. The Present is working a treat, Cheers Phil👍
Excellent! Very useful!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks Phil🙂
Well explained thanks a lot
Thanks Greg. I tried to cover as much as possible. I hope top have a follow on video out very soon. Thanks again Phil👍🙂
Thanks for the advice
Hello Thanks for watching. I do hope it was of use. Phil👍🙂
Brilliant Phil, cracking video mate; good advice. We picked up the tow car yesterday with tow bar so we're getting there! Slowly but surely.
Thanks Martin and Joanna. I heating was driving me mad. We go away soon so can't wait to test it out. Glad you have got your New Car. Not long now and you'll on your way. Hope you liked my previous video too. Cheers Phil👍
awesome tips , thank you!!
Thanks. If I can help the Community or save everyone money I will film it. Thanks again. Phil👍🙂
@@lostweekendscaravan Thats a really awesome mindset to have especially when some of those mistakes can really cost people dearly!!
@@WanderingSafa Many Thanks. Most of my films are based around money or time saving. Thank you for youe lovely comment. Phil. :)
Great film for anyone looking to buy , sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in the moment and do something quickly ( have been there ) good sound advice 👍 well done , like the reference to investments at the start 😀
Cheers Mate. Investments are important. Having freedom without worry is also a great thing. P&J😉
just wondering why you didn't say anything about checking the vin number ? or cris ? Thanks
Hi Good point. Not all used vans are cris registered and there is no other way to check the vin. They not yet on PNC. Hence no mention on the video. I hope this helps. Phil. 👍🙂
Great tips and advice Phil, we got caught out when we bought our first caravan many many years ago, even on our second caravan that we bought from relatives we got stung which caused a family rift. Using the sniff test is probably the best test you can use, also ask for any service history. To be honest I would now always buy from a dealer I know you would pay more but as they say once bitten twice shy on in our case twice bitten.
Best wishes
Jon and Karen
Hi Jon and Karen. I have to admit I would only buy from a Dealer. We looked at so many used Vans. We only bought new because of my retirement DOSH. Otherwise we would have bought used. Thanks again Hope you are both well. Phil👍
Enjoyed your review; it was refreshing!
Thanks Barbara. We love helping folk and hopefully they will not make the same mistakes that could cost them $$$. Nice to hear from you again. Phil and Juliet🙂
Hi all, I'm thinking about buying a used caravan and need all the help I can get. I wouldn't buy from a private seller only from a reputable dealer which I visited recently. I liked the look of a 2007 Bailey Ranger - 6 berth, but I'm not keen on a tiny washroom which has the shower base and toilet beside it, do you get boards to cover the base? Thanks.
sandee Beech hi sandee! You can buy boards but I am not aware of any to fit that particular van. If it was me I would use the foam flooring. This can be purchased from must van dealers. Hope this helps. Ps make sure it comes with a damp check and better a bit of a warranty. Thanks Phil👍😉
Nice video.
I live in holland at the moment i am thinking about to buy a caravan in GB. I phoned and mailed some dealers to ask what is in the MRO weight of the Van. For instance is the spare wheel, and battery and a gas bottle included in the MRO. I did read that some water in the heating system is also included as from a van of 2011. Could anybody give us an correct answer.
Hello Han welcome to my channel. If you are coming over for a caravan may I suggest Caravan Dealers close to the Ferry Port you use. This would be handy should you have to re-visit the Dealers with your Caravan. In response to your question about MRO and items within the Van. I would treat the MRO as not having the items included as part of the weight. Each Manufacturer and Models (including age) can be very different. I would choose your Price you want to pay and the Models you are interested in and then ask the Dealers all the questions that you need to know to help you make your mind up as to which Caravan you purchase. I hope this helps. Thanks Phil🙂 Also make sure your Tow car has a decent weight and towing capacity.
Start on the outside
The biggest thing
You can be taken in when looking at the inside, miss cracks or damage that will cost you thousands.
Thanks Paul. You are so right. Cheers Phil🙂👍
Really useful tips for beginners looking for a caravan, great video Phil! 👍🏻
Thanks Guys. We all need to learn and gain experiences. Costly ones are not the way forward so I hope this does help Folk. Thanks again. Phil👍
I would very much recommend looking under the caravan around the toilet and shower area
Hi Jon. I could not agree more. Thanks for taking the time to comment and watch. Phil👍🙂
please ancvering what document mustt be when you buying caravan pasport or same lkike car documentts if i buy caravan whatt document i must have please thanks
Hello. If the Caravan is registered on CRIS the current owner will have their copy. If not you will just get a receipt from the Former Owner. The is no Log Book like there is for a Car. Thanks Phil.🙂
First thing you need to ask when you find a van you like is WILL MY CAR TOW THIS VAN SAFELY so many people buy vans to heavy for their vehicles
Thanks for watching you are quite correct. I did another video on Towing vehicles a while ago. Thanks again, Phil👍
@@lostweekendscaravan I’m working my way through your vids 😀 some excellent content really enjoying learning. The only reason I mentioned the tow car was because I came unstuck on that very issue. Bought the van I fell in love with only to realise it was outside of my towing weight. Luckily for me the the manager was happy to work with me to find a van I could tow but I’m guessing a private sale wouldn’t be as accommodating
Hi I really do agree with you it cost me dearly I had an Audi A4 Avant thinking it would tow the Sprite but I didn't so I had to change to the Skoda. I lost a lot of money in changing the Car. I hope you enjoy my videos. I try to keep them short and to the point. Thanks Phil👍🙂
Good video
Thanks. I try my best. Cheers Phil👍🙂
Don't forget to have a look at the roof if possible. Walk away from strangely positioned GB stickers or random reflectors
They are usually hiding bad repair work
Thanks Geoff. You are quite right. The Roof is key and yes folk do hide damage with Stickers. Thanks for pointing this out. Phil🙂👍
Thank you for sharing this information! :)
amandabcnn Hi Amanda I'm glad you found this helpful. Thanks again Phil:)
I love that Swift! Great video :-)
It was a nice van. Perfect for a family. Thanks for watching and Subscribing. Phil:)
You forgot to mention the tyres condition & age of the them, also there wasn’t a spare wheel & tyre in the van you did your ‘condition’ checks,
+Home from home With the Shackleton’s Hi Yes you are right the Tyres are a important thing to look at when buying a used van. The Dealer where we filmed do take the spares out as they have been known to go missing. Cheers Phil
Still catching up :-)
Thanks David. Cheers Phil:)
Great advice thank you.
+Landybandy1 Thanks. I am glad you liked it. Thanks again Phil 👍🙂
Great advice Phil. Well Done.
Thanks I hope people will get something from this little video. Thanks again Phil👍
Fabulous and informative. So much to learn. Thinking we like the fixed twin beds just for the extra space it gives...but wondered if they were not so popular when reselling.
Hi Julia. Buying a van is not the easiest decision. You have to buy what suits your needs and tastes. Twin beds suits some but not all. I do feel there will always be a market for them. Thanks Phil👍🙂
Twin beds are really popular here, so not an issue when purchasing 😃
Can buy used carvan for 1000
You probably can as prices have now come down. I would be careful as they will possibly be damp or have a few issues. Thanks Phil🙂👍