Buying a second hand caravan

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As the camping season starts to stir, and people turn their attention towards the summer, the Spring becomes a popular time to purchase a new or second hand caravan.

Usually, it's cheaper and better value to buy at the end of the summer, when people may decide to give up or upgrade. In the spring, there is also some movement as people decide to upgrade their existing caravan for a newer or different model. New vans are released in September/October, although manufacturing has been hampered by COVID.

Buying from a dealer vs. private sale

When deciding how to purchase a caravan, the options are sometimes driven by budget. Dealers tend to have a better stock of higher budget caravans. If buying a caravan on a smaller budget, its worth exploring whether any local campsites have a notice board of caravans for sale before trying the popular selling sites. When buying privately, it's 'sold as seen' with little buyer protection against hidden defects or outright scams... buyer beware.

Checking for stolen van

It's really important to make sure that the caravan isn't stolen & it is a legitimate sale. CRIS is a good resource to check whether the van is registered to the person who is selling it. Even in today's climate of demand outstripping supply, don't be tempted to pay a deposit for a caravan unless its to a dealer as there is a possibility that you may not see the money again.

If you do unwittingly purchase a stolen van, it could be seized.

Check thoroughly for damp

Make sure she's structurally sound, which means no damp.

View it twice if possible, once when dry and once when rainy. Take note of a smell when you first walk inside, be mindful that it may have been 'well-aired out' or if there is a heavy scent in the air it could be to cover for damp. Ask for a recent damp report from a reputable source.

Check inside cupboards and under seats for mould, have a look inside the front locker at the exposed wood for signs of water ingress & look underneath for signs of water ingress on the underside of the floor. It's a good idea to check all areas of wall board that you can get to for discolouration.

If you do see any areas of discolouration, it doesn't mean that the problem hasn't been fixed, a conversation with the seller should tell you quickly if the problem is known and historical & they should be able to show you the remedial works.

You can buy a damp meter from Amazon to help.

Other necessary checks

New sealant around the caravan edges, check all window rubbers for perish, hinges and catches should be working. When was the caravan last serviced? Was the gas checked?

Have a look around the stabilisers for stress damage, they are for stabilising, not levelling.

Have a look around the awning rail for any damage and if possible use the camera function on your phone to get a look at the roof condition through the skylight.

Floor delamination

The floor of a caravan is effectively a sandwich - ply, insulation, ply.

Sometimes the insulation can wear away, sometimes due to water ingress, which leaves the floor feeling either soft, spongy or bouncy. Checking for dips or bouncy spots in the floor can head off this issue in your new caravan.

Checklist - Outside

• Check underneath for rust, water damage, stress around the stabilisers, pipes and vents should be in tact and in good condition.

• Are the tyres and treads in good condition? Look for cracks and rubber perish.

• If the tyres are over 5 years old, they should be replaced. The code on the wall of the tyre will tell you the year of manufacture.

• Look at the hitch and handbrake, is the breakaway cable in good condition? Do they look clean and well maintained? The hitch head may have a little movement but if it moves quite a bit, that could be troublesome.

• Push the hitch towards the back of the van to test for resistance in the damper, there should be some, if there isn't, it may need to be replaced.

• The sealing around the awning rails should be intact with no gaps.

• Have a look at the windows to make sure there are no cracks or gaps.

• The door should be well fitting when closed.

Checklist - Inside

• All important damp test, check everywhere, follow your nose: behind curtains, under beds and sofas, inside cupboards, around the toilet, everywhere the wall board is exposed & the seams where the walls meet the roof.

• Check the floor for soft spots.

• Hinges, locks and catches on all windows and cupboards.

Now is a good time to talk about paperwork, CRIS registration, service history and previous works undertaken.

Good Luck!