Worth buying a caravan?

themaccas

Hi
My parents are thinking about buying a caravan but are not sure whether it is worth the cost. (I secretly hope they do so we can hire/borrow it from them;) ). They want to buy something new, they have many short breaks in the UK and have used static caravans on many occasions. I have told them that for the initial big outlay the other things to consider are:
Servicing
Insurance
Storage (that would be free)
Accessories - not sure what these are but ?awning, waste stuff,
Is there anything else they need to be aware of? I am sure the caravan dealers will tell them but just wanted to know if there were anyother big things that they need to know?

Many thanks

crazyhazel

Hi, If your folks are looking at a brand new one, or at least one up to say five years old, I would seriously recommend a tracker device. I know it would be a further £1k - £1.5k more but def worth the trouble. Another thing - you say storage would be free, I guess that's on the driveway. first thing - does their local council allow parking of caravans on the driveway - some dont now - also consider this - when they are off in the caravan enjoying themselves what is the biggest noticeable thing any one cant see anymore that screams that the house could be empty. Dont want to be a downer but it is best to look at everything before you commit.

HTH

themaccas

thanks, crazyhazel I'll recomend that to them. As far as storage, no it won't be kept on the drive, they would have somewhere secure to store it away from the house, and a tracker device would be a very good idea.

jordylass

I'm not sure I'd go for a brand new caravan in the first instance. It is worth getting a nice 2nd hand one for the first year to see how it goes. Like a car a new caravan will depreciate heavily and if they find it's not for them they will have lost an awful lot more than the cost of paying for holidays would have been. If you can find a van that is being sold because they don't want to do it any more it will more than likely come with water carriers, crockery/utensils etc, and an awning.

How big a caravan will their car tow, or will they need to get a bigger car?

The newer caravans are much easier than they used to be, put there is still a lot of pushing/pulling and exertion in getting it where you want it and getting it set up. If your parents are more elderly this could quickly become a problem, and a small motor home which is only taxed/insured for summer months might suit them better.

crazyhazel

Just read jordylass' post and I do agree the hard work or parking it and / or manhandling it into position could be difficult. Again what they sell now is a little device that fixes onto the caravan (new or used it can be done) that allowes them to unhitch and operate a little box to get the van into position. A bit like a playstation!!! Depending on age and agility worth getting. Again, quoting Jordylass, yes caravans do depreciate very quickly but if they are looking at this one to last them several years I'd go for new - nothing worse than someone else's toast crumbs in your grill pan!!!
:rotfl:

choccyface2006

My parents bought a 10 month old static last summer for £22,000. They have kitted it out with lovely things, all the home comforts.

They pay £4,000 a year in site fees plus water bills, electric, gas, insurance, (TV license I am not sure about) they also pay to have it drained at the end of the season, because otherwise the insurance won't cover a leak. They can't use it between Jan and March.

The site fees alone work out at £400 per usable month, and in high season they may spend a max of 7 nights there per month. I did spend last weekend there myself but most nights its empty. Its againist the rules of the park to hire it out to anyone except close family & friends.

It is lovely and the park that it is on is 5* and very good, lots for children and you don't pay any extra, but I couldn't justify spending that much. The site fees could give my mum and dad two or three nice holidays a year and they could have £22,000 + in the bank!

They considered a tourer but they are quite independant of each other, my mum is more keen but she won't tow (She won't even drive on motorways!) and my dad works full time and has family commitments every weekend. Also they wouldn't want it in the drive so it would have to be kept in specialist storage. Wheres as the static park is only an hours run away.

Sarah x

Inactive

jordylass wrote: »

The newer caravans are much easier than they used to be, put there is still a lot of pushing/pulling and exertion in getting it where you want it and getting it set up. .

Not if you can drive properly there isn't, simply reverse it in to situ, apply brake, wind down legs, unhitch..sorted.;)

I have never once needed to push/pull my caravan.

Perhaps some driving lessons may be in order if anyone needs to push/pull a caravan.:rolleyes:

jordylass

The motor movers are great for getting the van into position and I think you can press a button on some vans for the legs to go down, but to put an awning up is a fair amount of work for me and my OH and I'm in my 40's, it's not something I'd want to start doing at 60 or 70.
Until they've tried touring they aren't going to know if one trip is enough or if it's soemthing they love and will do again.
For not much more than the cost of fitting a towbar some caravan shops hire out caravans by the week. If they are sure they want to buy new this would give them an opportunity to test the water.

jordylass

Inactive wrote: »

Not if you can drive properly there isn't, simply reverse it in to situ, apply brake, wind down legs, unhitch..sorted.;)

I have never once needed to push/pull my caravan.

Perhaps some driving lessons may be in order if anyone needs to push/pull a caravan.:rolleyes:

You're absolutely right, I still can not reverse the caravan, my OH is better at that than me but sometimes we have been on sites where there just is not that much maneuverability and also to get it back on the drive we do not have the room to reverse it on. It has to be pushed into position.

John_3:16

There are many things to consider but not all finacial.

It sounds like whatever is said they and you have your heart set on it?

We have caravaned for many years mainly in europe for summer holidays.
Number of beds is first who will use it and will there be small children sleeping inside etc,
As the children get older they will want thier own space so probably a annex on an awning is the way to go?
Site fees can vary greatly from big plush sites at £20+ a night to smaller sites with little but a toilet point for a few pounds. If they plan to use these sites then a shower and good toilet in the van is a must.

You don't always have to do lots of pulling If there is a nice area you like there are many sites that will let you put the van on all summer to come and go as you please. I have a friend who has done this on the East Coast for about £500 a year. ( this also helps with storage)

Then if they want to travel more then going to France and around Europe is very good and a fairly cheap holiday.

Why not try the carvan club website, for a start. Even if they get it wrong and its not for them. caravns do hold thier value well so they won't lose much.

PM me if there is anything else you want to know.

Ted_Hutchinson

I find caravanning ideal and cheap however new caravans are becoming heavier,(bigger fridges, more gadgets) and so requiring a larger towcar.

We've just bought a new caravan and have gone for a Bailey Ranger 5 As I get tired easily having the option of leaving the double bed at one end available enables me to lay down when required, but it also means when others are using it the full seating capacity is available during the day and you can have tables both ends.

There are versions with fixed beds but if you are wanting to borrow the van for use with kids then these aren't a flexible. I sometimes wonder if the popularity of fixed beds is simply to make them unsuitable for family use!

We bought our last caravan about 9 yrs ago £7000ish and when we traded in/up this year paid an extra £6500. So if you work out the depreciation it's really not too bad averaged over 10yrs.

While I can see the value of a tracker I personally haven't bothered with one. I do have it insured and I don't think the number of caravan thefts is too scary. I only use The Caravan Club certified locations and the last trip away we spent less than a £5 a night on site fees. I cannot see the logic of having a shower/toilet onboard and then only going to expensive sites where these facilities are provided.

Lots of good advice here

We've relatives who have used the caravan and for some people it's once and never again. So I really think anyone considering buying a touring caravan should try one out first. Particularly if you buy new, if you don't like it (or die or become disabled) then you will lose a lot of money trying to sell it nearly new. I've just looked on Ebay and there are several reasonable secondhand caravans with all the gear available and buying one of these would probably work out cheaper than hiring and would enable them to decide if investing in a new van was worth it.