Simon
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 posted on 29/5/09 at 12:43 AM |
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Caravans
Folks,
We've (me and missus) been thinking that since we both work quite long hours and only see sprogs for a few hours in evenings and at weekends,
it'd be nice to be able to get away as a family once or twice a month so...
....we're thinking of going for a caravan - possible in the spring next year.
Spec would need to cater for me and wife and two boys (who'll be 9 and 7 by then); useage will be long weekends with the odd week, maybe.
Towing not a prob (licence wise - got in '83), and car tow limit 2t, though looking a Practical Caravan an upper limit seems to be 85% of tow
vehicle which would mean max van of approx 1.5t (of 1.8t tow car kerb weight).
Budget would prob be about £8k ish, maybe more, maybe less. I've done it a long time ago, and am quite looking forward to doing it again
Anyone have any recommendations of vans, what to look for, what to avoid etc etc.
Thanks
ATB
Simon
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spaximus
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| posted on 29/5/09 at 06:38 AM |
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I have had many caravans in the past, now motorhome and I would go for a Bailey ranger. Good quality but it is their bottom range, spec wise very good
with all you will need tiolet showere cooking facilities etc. The big plus piont is they are british made and still in business. Some makes like
Avondale are no longer made so spares will become an issue.
Look for service history and annual damp check. If the van you inspect smells musty you have to decide is it lack of use or damp. Look around all
windows anr roof lights for any sign of leaking, if there are any present walk away.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 29/5/09 at 07:25 AM |
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Absolutely buy this manual before getting one. It explains all about how modern caravans are constructed and what to look for when buying one.
Check for spares availably as hub bearings are usually now one piece with the whole drum and there are far fewer user serviceable parts than the old
generation caravan.
Bodywork is of foam core construction and can completely fail if water gets past the seals.
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wilkingj
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| posted on 29/5/09 at 08:08 AM |
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You can have mine at the end of July. I'm selling. My boys are 20 & 22, and we have only used it two weeks a year for the last 5 years. Its
a bit below your budget though.
4 berth and owned from new and a non-smoking family.
Plenty of kit with it (these cost a lot if bought separately and new).
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 29/5/09 at 08:15 AM |
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We have bought and sold probably 50 caravans over the last 3 years.
What do we own ?
A swift challenger, fixed bed, for us the most comfortable and best laid out van we have had, Admitedly only 3 of us rather than your four but whoever
designed the van did not miss a trick, plenty of room yet storage like Pete's pockets.
Where to buy, pm me nearer time, well worth traveling to the east midlands to buy and will give you details of the monthly finance repo auction, I
know its someone else's downfall but you may as well have a 12k caravan for 8 ?
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mookaloid
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| posted on 29/5/09 at 08:17 AM |
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Getting the right layout for you is important. In your situation I would try and get one with fixed bunks at the back for the boys. I find making the
bed before you can get in to it every night is a real pain.
1500kg MTPLM (maximum technical permissible laden mass ) brings a lot of caravans into your range of choice - most single axle ones. For safety, I
would stick with the 85% guideline using the cars kerbweight and the MTPLM for the calculations.
Once you have decided on your layout it's just a question of finding the right van in your budget. I found my latest 'van on t'net
and travelled 100 miles for it.
Damp is the big thing to look for in used caravans along with some evidence that they have been serviced and that the gas installation is safe.
If you buy privately rather than from a dealer, you can often get all the other stuff you need thrown in like aquarolls and awnings which you
wouldn't get at a dealer. but if you are buying privately Use CRiS to check
it's not stolen or on finance first.
Oh and join the caravan club their sites are only available to members and on the whole the caravan club sites are cleaner and better looked after
than public 'sites' although there are plenty of non caravan club sites which are good too.
Cheers
Mark
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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pewe
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| posted on 29/5/09 at 10:26 AM |
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My advice would be to go for the smallest 'van which offers sleeping for two but eating accomodation for four.
We started out with a five berth (SWMBO, self & three kids then 12, 10 & 8 years) but quickly realised that the kids were happier sleeping in
their own accomodation (pup tents - the two boys shared and daughter in her own).
Replacement van was thus a two berth with large'ish dining area. Smaller 'vans are much easier to handle, tow,store etc. etc. Even into
their teens & early 20's kidults looked forward to sleeping in their tents.
Also may be worth hiring/borrowing a tourer first to give you some idea of what's involved - too late to decide a 'van lacks facilities
once you've bought it.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe
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carpmart
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| posted on 29/5/09 at 11:36 AM |
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Some good advise there from all the previous posts.
I can't add much other than to say unless you plan on doing lots of 'camping' caravaning (small sites with no facilities) then the
trend to using a lot of the internal space for separate showers and toilets leads to a real waste of space. You will use the site facilities not the
caravan. Get a van with as small a toilet/washroom as possible. I've used my shower 3 times in 9 years of ownership.
You only live once - make the most of it!
Radical Clubsport, Kwaker motor
'94 MX5 MK1, 1.8
F10 M5 - 600bhp Daily Hack 
Range Rover Sport - Wife's Car
Mercedes A class - Son's Car
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tegwin
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| posted on 29/5/09 at 11:37 AM |
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We are thinking about selling ours, its nice and tidy and well below your asking price....
Its a 6 berth .... Two bunks at the back and a double up front... Oven, Grill, Hob, multifuel fridgefreezer
If your interested drop me a U2U
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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Simon
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| posted on 30/5/09 at 11:43 PM |
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Thanks for all the replies chaps, most helpful. And yes, Jon, I may well take you up on your offer
We went to our local Bailey dealership today (for something to do for an hour) and blimey, haven't 'vans got better since we last had one
(in 1982)
ATB
Simon
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