Used Caravan buyers’ guide
It can always be difficult finding the ‘right’ advice when making any significant purchase and buying a used caravan is no different. We have pieced together our experiences to give you some helpful hints. There can never be a conclusive guide, our best advice is summed up in the following:
● know what layouts are available and look at different vans, know what layouts you would like.
● spend time checking the van – do not get rushed. Make sure you are happy with the quality of what you are about to purchase.
● research the prices of the van you are about to view, taking into account extras. Is the seller asking a ‘fair price’.
● ask to see the latest service record, this should include the damp report and any advisories.
● if you are happy with what you see and trust the seller, discuss payment terms and agree how to collect your new van.
These are only a guide and we would always recommend that if you do not feel comfortable with the deal at any time to walk away and look elsewhere. Do not feel pressurized or bullied into any purchase!
Buying a used awning needs a little time invested to make sure you get the right awning for your van and that it is complete with all the bits. Its probably best to put the awning up on YOUR van to check its all complete and ok, before finally purchasing it. Maybe you can work out an agreement with the seller to pay for it on the basis of a refund if it doesnt fit, or if its not complete or not suitable
1. Check the size for your van by measuring the awning rail track from ground to the ground at the other end. Physically measure the awning you are considering buying to make sure its going to fit.
2. Check the ‘integrity’ of the fabric. Look for thin spots and stained (black mildew is not necessarily damaging, not unusual, but very difficult to remove once stained, and may only be a cosmetic defect). Dont be afraid to gently pull at the fabric, if you can tear it that way then it will certainly tear in the wind!). Smell the fabric – a musty smell is not unusual if its been stored for a while but a very very musty smell might indicate rot in the fabric.
Fabrics can be reproofed, but if rotten that will not help. If you are concerned for the proofing then spread out, or ideally put it up, and spray it with water. If the water beads off (like when you have waxed your car) then the proofing is ok. If it wets out then it probably needs reproofing ( see article )
3. Check the poles a: for any damaged, and b; to make sure they are all there. If there is no pole diagram to help you, then you really need to be able to assemble the frame to ensure it all fits together.
4. Pegging rubbers & pegs: check all the loops around the bottom for pegging rubbers. these are often perished but easily and cheaply replaced. There is no need to sew new rubbers in, just buy longer rubbers and loop them through. Pegs will often be dirty, bent or damaged but these are easily and cheaply replaced. Dont let the state of them put you off a good awning.
Also check for guyline attachment points for integrity. Guylines are, again, easily replaced, but if the attatchment points are pulled out of week then that will take a sewing machine job to repair them.
Apply the same guidelines as for caravans, but also consider the extra mechanical side – you are buying a motorised vehicle as well as a ‘Caravan’, so consider getting that side of it checked out by experts (eg AA RAC, local garage).
Apply the same guidelines for both Awnings and Caravans. These units are a combination of both having many of the assets of a caravan (chassis, gas equipment, fridges etc), as well as the canvas of an awning, as the main living structure. Note that if the canvas is suspect the cost of repairing is likely to be high and getting a replacement for it is highly unlikely, or very expensive.
