In the market for our first caravan and would love if anyone could take the time to point out the things to watch out for, what is a good brand etc.
Thought I should start with the ones with all the experience - the grey nomads! :)
Our budget is around $15,000 and there is just me and my wife (first bub due in a few months!).
After looking around for a while, have my eye on the Coromal Seka range around the mid 1990's era. If you could shed some light on this particular type??
Any guidance or feedback would be greatly appreciated as I have never bought a van before.
Weight - originally only towed with a Mazda Bravo Cupboard space
Condition of kitchen- we rarely cook in our van so didn't consider smoke stained ones Obviously my hubby checked the technical things like underneath etc
Front Kitchen & L shapped dining
Prefer light coloured interiors
Island bed although we now have L shapped singles and love them
Maybe when you are looking you write things down or take photos and then compile your must have/would like list
We have had a few vans including a dear Winny - Windsor poptop 16' and now have our reliable Fugly Mal - not as pretty as most vans but a reliable 18' Coromal Seka pop top with S&T
Good luck in your shopping
Di
-- Edited by didiaust on Wednesday 5th of January 2011 08:21:42 AM
We had a similar budget to yours. We also took our time and looked everywhere. A lot of the older vans in dealerships were rubbish. Take a torch with you and get down and look for leaks in all the out of the way places. Crawl under and check for chassis cracks. Also put your hand in there. In one van it was like putting your hand into a baby's nappie it was so wet and rotten. We did a lot of searches on line, and eventually looked at a van up the road from us for 10,500 neg. It had an almost new full annex and though 20 years old was in very good condition. When I asked about the neg part he just said "give me 9.500 and its yours". After a year and about 10,000ks towing we are very happy, saw lots in yards at 15,000 that were not as good.
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If there is such a thing as a tourist season.... why cant we shoot them?
Hi Dont want to frighten you but have a look here , its better to know what can happen .. I dont like to put another forum up but this is a important thing you are about to do.. Good luck with it....Bob
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Land Rover Discovery Chipped TD5 Manual ,Air Springs, Anti Sway. T.C. Auto level. Van, Roadstar 21.6 Voyager 4000 all sola powered.
Hiya Ollie, Remeber the new Bub will grow and maybe followed by another at some time. You'll certainly need a family van that can cater for a growing family. Your budget will severly limit your oprions in WA as anything remotely decent is being snapped up at ridiculous prices for families in the mining towns where accommodation is scarse. With only $15K to spend you maybe limited to a camper trailers I've sent you a PM. Cheers, ozjohn.
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
Ozjohn is right, even if you own a good van and want to sell it, Karratha and those places do pay ridiculous prices. Also they can sell cheaply up there at times especially when in a hurry to leave. The vans history is important as I would prefer a van from the southern states and look out for the farmers vans, generally tucked away under cover and may be older and very dusty but good value. Look at the mastic era and avoid it if possible generally pre 80's as the silicones are more flexible and leaks less likelly. If leaks show up in the corners they can eminate from anywhere as the cladding on the inside act as gutters and the unlevel van will transfer the water elsewhere. Get a knowledgable freind to help you and in the end the final decision is yours. Enjoy.
With only $15K to spend you maybe limited to a camper trailers
This may well be a suitable option for you as $ for $ it would probably give you more space for a young family than any other option. The use of flies over the extended beds and an awning/annexe can give you a camp that's just as dry as a full caravan in foul weather.
Ozjohn is right, even if you own a good van and want to sell it, Karratha and those places do pay ridiculous prices. Also they can sell cheaply up there at times especially when in a hurry to leave. The vans history is important as I would prefer a van from the southern states and look out for the farmers vans, generally tucked away under cover and may be older and very dusty but good value. Look at the mastic era and avoid it if possible generally pre 80's as the silicones are more flexible and leaks less likelly. If leaks show up in the corners they can eminate from anywhere as the cladding on the inside act as gutters and the unlevel van will transfer the water elsewhere. Get a knowledgable freind to help you and in the end the final decision is yours. Enjoy.
Try to look inside as many caravans as possible, to get an idea of what you'd like and what you can do without. Caravan sales places are ok for this, but in caravan parks, people are often very obliging about showing off their pride and joy. We were staying in a cabin once and got a guided tour of a very up-market rig, without even asking!
I hunted for 18 months before I found the van with my preferred layout, and price. I hunted the internet and drove my girlfriend mad when I went to Perth, checking out the yards. I finally bought a '98 20ft Roma which was exactly what I wanted for $25000. When it first went on to ebay it was $32500. Six months later I checked again and it was $28000. So I put my bid in and I have a nice home. I know it's more than you've budgeted for but if you persist and are patient, the right van for you is out there for the price you want to spend. I have found where the van leaked, and resealed it with Sikaflex Marine & Auto. That's another side to the story. A used van is my preferred option because most of the teething problems will have been addressed. This van had very worn spring hangers, and some of the underside was rotten from water leaks, probably from new. Just like buying a car, there is a lot to watch for in a caravan. Wheel bearings, brakes, structure, layout, how well it's been cared for and what you need to be comfortable with your family. Big decisions deserve all the attention you can give them. It's an investment in your safety, comfort and happiness. All the best to you.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
