Spinney’s Guide to Buying a Caravan for the First Time

Perhaps you and your better half managed a sneaky weekend getaway or took a road trip with friends, or maybe the whole family rented for a week and loved it. Whatever your attraction to the caravan life, you’ve now decided it’s the thing for you and that you’d like to buy a vehicle of your own. Whether you’re looking for used caravans or new caravans for sale, there are still some things you’ll need to think about before committing to a purchase of that size, so let’s run through them here in our handy guide to first-time buying…

Towing

One of the most immediate considerations when you’re thinking about buying a caravan is actually the most practical. How are you going to tow it? Is your car even capable of towing it? This could relate to something as basic as whether it has a tow bar fitted, or it could mean there is some maths to do because you’re limited to a certain weight of caravan due to the type of car?

So how do you find out what your car is capable of towing? Locate your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and this will tell you the weight of your car. The VIN number will be stamped into the chassis of a vehicle, usually found in the engine bay or beneath the plastic trim around the driver or passenger door opening.

It is recommended that the weight of a new caravan should not exceed 85% of your car’s weight – and you can’t legally exceed a combined weight of 3500kg if you passed your driving test on or after January 1st, 1997. Note down the maximum combined weight of your car and the potential caravan you have your eye on (and consider luggage etc too).

Budget

With any major purchase – and, let’s face it, however reasonable the price, forking out for a new caravan is going to cost you a little more than just your pocket change – you should consider your budget. What are you going to get for what you spend, and is the sum itself or the list of specifications available within that sum movable? Can you tweak either of them to make the purchase work for you?

A smart move is to set yourself a budget and stick to it as your starting point. This will mean you always get a really good idea of what you are going to get for you can reasonably afford, and you can then compare the appeal of various caravans within that budget. Opting for a mid-range caravan is a good move as this is the most common price point so there is competition between manufacturers for custom and, therefore, a lot of effort goes into making wider choices available. It also means there will definitely be stock available as more caravans in the mid-price range are manufactured to meet the demand, and any parts necessary for repairs or replacements will also be more readily available.

Your personal list of must-haves

A very important thing to think about is just how you will use the caravan – or, more specifically, who will use it. If you’re a family with a child or a couple of children, then it makes absolutely no sense to buy a small two-berth caravan just because you like the look of it or make the presumption that it will suit your needs. It really won’t. You should take careful stock of your circumstance and opt for something absolutely appropriate to your living needs. Two kids (plus you, the parents) = four berths.

Once you’ve established the basic (how many berths you will need for the caravan to function – or, rather, for the number of people within it to be able to function) then you can think about things like the layout and configuration. Are there pull out beds, convertible bench seating beds, or bunk beds? Are there any of these which are not acceptable to you, or unsuitable?

You should also think about the other practical living things – whether the living space has enough seating in an orientation that appeals to you, whether the shower and washroom will fully meet your needs or the needs of your whole family, whether the kitchen dinette is an adequate size, whether there is enough worktop area, and whether it is kitted out suitably (cooker, hob, microwave, fridge, freezer). Plus: whether there is a heating system and what it is (central heating or small heaters), an alarm system, air-conditioning, etc.

You may also want to think about the features or enhancements that will extend the enjoyment of your new caravan. Things like whether it has an awning can make a difference to the way you consider using the exterior space. The idea of having an area outside of the caravan door, once you’ve parked up, where you could pitch up a couple of chairs and a table and do some serious relaxing amongst beautiful scenery could be a real selling point. Or, rather, a real buying point.

It’s a good idea, in advance of thinking about all of the physical ‘musts’, to write down a list of the things that you can’t live without on the road. It will help you hone in on the features of each caravan you consider, and you can check them off one-by-one as you browse online or on the forecourt. It’s a good idea to check each caravan in person if you can, as you will get much more of a sense of the space you’d be living in and how day-to-day life would work than you would if you just looked online.

Things to look out for on used caravans

When you got to view a caravan, it’s a fair assumption to make that a brand new one will be in tip top condition. However, if you’re looking at used caravans (or second-hand, pre-owned, pre-loved – however you want to put it), then there are a few things to keep an eye out for and make a point of checking. Make sure any used caravan is watertight (water poses a threat to caravans, as it can mess up the interior and, in the worst-case scenario, damage the structure itself. Check the bodywork for scratches or dents (you might find you can negotiate on price a little if you spot something you’re not happy with). Check the condition of the tyres, and of the mechanism which fits the caravan to your towbar. Ensure all of the gas and electric safety certificates are available to you.

Other considerations: Storage and upkeep

Think about where and how you will store the caravan when it’s not in use. Is it going to be parked up at on the street, or at the side of your house, on the drive? Or do you have a garage large enough to house it when it’s off the road or through the winter?

If you are parking it up or storing it for an extended period through the coldest months, then you will have to go through the process of winterisation – a series of tasks and checks that will serve you well by making sure the vehicle is prepared to cope with the decreased conditions.

General upkeep of you caravan, whether it’s winter or not, is always a consideration when you’re looking at buying. Are you going to be able to physically manage the various cleaning, maintenance and repair jobs that you might need to do throughout the year? You might have stretched your budget to its absolute limit to be able to afford the caravan in the first place, so are you going to be able to cover the cost when unforeseen things crop up (new tyres required, etc).

Here at Spinney, we have a great selection of used caravans and new caravans for sale. We will do everything we can to assist you on your buying journey and are always available to discuss any questions you may have about any part of the process, or any of the things you feel you need to know in further detail. Simply get in touch.