Things to consider before buying a caravan
You’ve got the travel bug and are now looking to buy a caravan – or you’ve decided to upgrade from your current set up. You love the idea of buying a caravan but don’t know where to start? What should you look for, and what other factors should you consider before you set your heart on a particular van?
Firstly, the fun stuff 😊
- Where do you want to go?
- How long are you going for?
- How often will you be travelling?
- Are you going off-road, beach driving or sticking to the highway?
- Who’s coming with you?
- What sort of creature comforts can you not do without?
- What tow vehicle do you have?
Knowing the answers to these questions will help narrow down your potential options when buying a caravan.
Next, are you looking to buy new or used caravan?
While some considerations will be the same regardless of whether you are buying a new or used caravan, there are some specific points to think about in each of these scenarios.
You’ve decided to go new:
- Is the van currently in stock or will you have to wait for delivery? If so, how long are you prepared to wait – and what happens to your plans if the delivery date gets pushed back again?
- How long is the warranty on the van – and what does it cover? Or more importantly, what doesn’t it cover?
- Where’s your closest warranty agent? And are there other agents around Australia so in the event of a warranty claim, you can get assistance no matter where you are?
- What might void any warranty? (eg. Hiring it out, wear and tear, certain modifications)
- If you were to install aftermarket accessories such as bike racks, would that void the warranty?
- If you decide to sell the van during the warranty period, is the warranty transferrable?
You’ve decided to go second hand:
- Where has the van been stored? If out in the elements, check closely for any signs of leaks or seal degradation!
- What sort of travel has it done previously? Bush, beach, offroad? Red dust and sand can be difficult to ever get rid of!
- Is the van in good condition? Are there any visible signs of damage or decay eg. Rust, water spots, different paints, damage to the underbody? Check everything – in cupboards, under beds, around windows, near sinks and taps, on the roof
- Is there a service book? Or can the owner provide you details of its service history (receipts, dates, types of service, previous warranty claims etc)?
- Is it currently registered? If not, why not?
- Does it have a VIN plate? Make sure you do a check to ensure that it isn’t a written off or a stolen van!
- Does it have a roadworthy? If so, did the inspecting agent put the van on the hoist and check the undercarriage? Or did they just do a visual?
- If it doesn’t have a roadworthy then you should question why it doesn’t?
- Does it have the relevant gas or electricity compliance certificates? If it’s from interstate, does it have (or need) a HVRAS?
- Is it still under warranty? And if so, is the warranty transferrable?
- Do all of the internals work as they should? Do the doors and windows all open and close? Are there any signs of water damage or marks in cupboards? Do all of the appliances work? What about the lighting? Have you checked all of the switches?
- Does the awning open and close as it should? With no damage, rips, tears or holes?
Other things to consider:
Towing
- Is your tow vehicle capable of towing the weight of the proposed van?
- Have you considered the extra weight when fully loaded with water, gas, fuel, food, clothes and people? Is it still suitable? It’s important to get this right as being overloaded may void your insurance in the event of an accident!
- If it’s within recommended weight limits, you should still see whether the van sits nicely on the tow vehicle. You want a straight horizontal line between the 2 vehicles – no bowing at all. If there are any issues you may need to consider changing the hitch.
- Can you access the rear compartment of your tow vehicle when it’s hitched up? If not, is this going to be a concern for you?
- Are you comfortable and confident at towing? At reversing? At parking? If not, you should consider doing a towing course!
Where will you be camping?
- Are you planning on doing a lot of National Parks camping? If so, will you require a plumbed-in grey water tank?
- Are you planning on doing off road or beach camping? If so, has the van been designed to do this? Does it have enough clearance? Does it have offroad suspension? Does your insurance cover you if you do go offroad?
Practicalities
- Do you need a shower and toilet? If so, are you happy with a combined unit? Or would you prefer a separate ensuite? Or is an external shower and/or porta potty sufficient?
- What about your kitchen space? Do you prefer internal or external cooking? And if external, what happens if it’s rainy/windy/freezing? Would you want an option to cook inside – or even make a cup of tea on those cold mornings!?
- How much water do you need to carry? What about a grey water tank?
- Appliances – what size fridge? Do you want a freezer? Do you want a washing machine? Microwave? Air-conditioner? Gas Heater? External speakers?
Taking the time to research and consider all of these factors before making a purchase will minimise the risk of making a wrong decision.
And finally, spending a little extra to have a suitably qualified person conduct a pre-purchase inspection is also a smart move – as no one wants to buy a lemon! And that’s where we come in – we’re here to help you get into your caravanning adventure!