Tips For Buying A Second Hand Caravan

Buying a second hand caravan is vastly different to buying a second hand car, or even a brand new caravan – there are many more areas you need to make sure you check before making a decision. To make things easier, use this handy tips list when next buying a second hand caravan:

• Research the caravan you’re looking at. Before you buy a second hand caravan, make sure you know how much it’s going to cost to insure it. It is also a good idea to research whether there are any common problems with the model you’re interested in.
  
• Check out the seller. While buying a second hand caravan from a dealer can be a little more expensive, you can rest assured that there are legal obligations in force in case something goes wrong with your caravan at a later date. This is not to say that you should not buy a second hand caravan from a private seller – there are plenty of honest and trustworthy people around. Always make sure that you can view the caravan at the seller’s home or on the dealer’s premises.
  
• Check every aspect of the caravan. Make sure you do this during the day so that you have the best visibility possible. There is nothing worse then buying a second hand van that doesn’t work properly. The things to check: damp (can you smell it in the air), the doors and windows (are the locks and hinges secure?), the chassis (is there any new paint that could be hiding something underneath?), the gas and electrics (is there any DIY work?), and the appliances (are they all in good working condition?). If you are unsure about any of these things, get a professional or someone experienced with second hand vans to look over it for you.
  
• Don’t worry about spending a little extra money. Keep an eye out for second hand vans that have TV equipment, or gas bottles, or battery charges, especially if you are planning to install these into your caravan. Buying a second hand van with these things already included will quite often get you a better deal.
  
• Check the history of the second hand van. People who have looked after their caravans will be able to give you a great service history (including receipts and invoices of any work that has been done). When buying second hand, find out how much the caravan has been used and what kinds of distances it has travelled. Beware second hand vans that have been sitting unused for a long period of time.