Advice on purchasing first caravan

Something not mentioned above is fault finding and day to day maintenance of your caravan. Caravans both new and old tend to require some practical skills to keep them snag free. eg your water pump stops pumping, your shower doesn't drain properly, a window stay breaks You may find that a good relationship with your dealer will help you through minor problems, but at quite a premium cost when buying. On the other hand a private purchase particularly from someone giving up the activity, may include a lot of equipment which you would otherwise have to buy yourself. Damp, as mentioned, is very difficult to eradicate. If a van smells musty then avoid it because the seller will already have opened the windows to try and remove the smell. If you aren't a naturally practical person, I'd play safe and buy from a dealer. If you are practical, there's a lot of money to be saved by buying privately.

If you buy from a dealer, getting a first-time-buyer starter kit in the deal can save you a lot of money. This will get you all the extra bits you need to get going, including gas, water containers, hook-up cable, battery, wheel clamp,hitch lock ... and sometime an awning. Also make sure you get a good warranty. I got a 12 month warranty on a 12 year old caravan with a starter kit for less than £3000 5 years ago and it's still going strong.

If I were you I wouldn't bother with the Caravan Show - although you'll see lots of tempting offers, they will all be well above your budget, and perhaps even a layout which didn't exist in older models.  I would concentrate on looking through on-line Caravan adverts - you'll get a good idea of what is available both locally and nationally in your budget, then fix on a layout you prefer and search out the best value in that layout.

If you do decide on a new van, then you may be tempted by the Adria Altea fixed island bed, which could be kept within your towing limits if you make sure you don't use the full spare payload!   

I'd agree with the advice about 'making friends with your dealer'.  If I go in and ask a technical question I (as a woman) find I get much more help than if my OH asks the same question!  I got an absolutely step by step instruction in how to replace a rooflight with a mini-heki, and how to replace a smashed jockey wheel!

  I got an absolutely step by step instruction in how to replace a rooflight with a mini-heki, and how to replace a smashed jockey wheel!

Well there would have been no use asking me ValDa

I am not allowed tools as I am dangerous with them

(ValDa bought my Heiki)

I found this guide. It's a bit old now but still has some useful information.

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that caravans and damp are about as common as dodgy backs (my old doc used to say "60% of the human race have back problems, the other 40% are just waiting for it to start"). Damp in itself isn't so much of a problem, it may only be down to condensation rather than a leak and if you asked two experts to run a damp meter over your van, their conclusions may differ dramatically. The main point isn't so much the damp but the damage it can do to the framework. Later models are less effected but a good test is to press gently on the surface where you think there may be damp and see if it feels soft underneath, in which case the panel probably needs replacing and the van probably needs to be avoided!  Our best and most recent investment is a dehumidifier which we leave in the van the week after a trip, then for a couple of hours a month after that. Hope this helps

Our list goes

Choose size,then layout , age  Damp ,  check overall condition   Then double check ownership ...last of all the price ...you only get what you pay for 

good luck 

ps forgot you need to decide New or used above lust is for used  but you still need to check out above for new to 

In addition to the advice already given we found the following has always helped us when considering a suitable layout. Once you have narrowed down size, price etc. have a look round dealers with plenty possible suitable models on display. Spend time inside a few, preferably without a salesman hovering and keeping you talking. Then go through the various apects of living in the caravan. Try the beds for size, check out the washroom. Some can be very tight and the basin impractical for a decent wash. Is there sufficient worktop space to cook? There will be compromises but some trade offs are easier to live with than others. For us we like a decent lounge where we can put our feet up in the evenings. This may not be important to you if only summer caranning and using an awning. Even if you are going to buy privately going round dealers and seeing plenty of options will help you decide which layout will suit best. Good luck.

I found the various classified search helpful for seeing what models available / suitable  (there doesn't appear to be a database where you can simply put an MTPLM and find all models below that to refine)

Practical Caravan

Caravan Finder 

When you have fine-tuned the filters, you can also "edit" the url addresses to make it specific (I have done the above to to 1330kg max MTPLM below £6k - on the assumption that you will pay less than the asking price)

Hi follow all the advice given but under no circumstances part with any money apart from a small deposit untill you literally have the van hooked up to the car.If you buy off the internet don't bother with people who want to do the hand over in a laybye or motorway services.After all the daunting messages that people have replied with you still want to go for it then enjoy it !!

Steve