Trying to pick the most reliable van to buy ???

oldvanman · Member

Trying to pick the most reliable van to buy ???

Possum3 · Guru

Oldvan man, I believe many manufacturers occasionally let a Lemon Caravan onto the market - Check out Lemon Caravans and RV's website. Download technical reports and checklists at Caravan Council of Australia website www.caravancouncil.com.au/

Unfortunately the best brands Kedron, Trackmaster, Evernew, Montana - will be expensive but they will most probably be trouble free. Consider a second hand good caravan rather than a new if the best are too expensive.

Do your homework - talk to as many owners in caravan parks, etc - Don't believe the slick salesmen in dealer yards.

Edit spelling

-- Edited by Possum3 on Sunday 30th of May 2021 10:01:50 AM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Allen, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I agree, do heaps of research on here and elsewhere, talk to other happy campers.

Did I say 'Research'? Well then, research and heaps.

For what it's worth, I had single beds built in when I had my aluminium tent built however, 6 years later I should have gone with the bigger bed as now I live with some pain and the bigger bed would have been much better. I did solve the problem by putting a good quality king Single (I am solo and even a double wouldn't fit across or length ways) across the base of both single frames, with a support in middle, so now I sleep East West. At least my feet don't face the door as that Kung foo thing or should that be Feng Shui says not to sleep with your feet facing the door as that is how they carry you out when you ride on ahead.

It can all be converted back to singles easily if I ever sell.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

oldvanman · Member

Thanks for the replies,

We have been looking for the last few months for a second hand 2014 to 2020 vans , Millard , Jayco,Viscount , Coramal , Olympic with Ensuite, Single beds, solar, twin axle all the good stuff and we have not seen any S/H ones that are in good condition at a reasonable price . If there is one that comes up it is snapped up quickly. We have spoken to a number of Van dealers and they say it is hard for them to get any S/H vans themselves.

Single beds is the biggest problem not many of them around. So today we went out and had a look at NEW Olympic, Franklin, Viscount V3 and Millard. So far the Viscount had everything in it that we wanted other than a Truma gas heater. So, up to today the Viscount V3 sort of suits our budget and the dealer can get one to us pretty "quickly" this year ???

Regards

oldvanman

oldvanman · Member

Hi All GN , after a long search we finally purchased a new caravan in July 2021 as we could not find a reasonable quality second hand Caravan at a reasonable price . The features and options we wanted in the second hand caravan put the price so close to a new van ( and a new van comes with a warranty) it was not worth looking any more for a S/H so we bought a new Van.

We will get our new Caravan delivered around March April this year, we paid MUCH more than we wanted but , that's life .

I was wondering if any one that has purchased a new caravan did you get a
professional caravan inspection on the new van to see that it has been manufactured in a sound professional fit out and mechanical/ structural manner ?
Is an inspection worth while or a waste of money knowing the new caravan comes with a 5 year structural warranty ?

Many thanks for any replies.

Oldvanman

Possum3 · Guru

Oldvanman; Definitely have a professional inspection - not just a mechanically minded mate. See; www.caravancouncil.com.au/ and download checklists and technical information -

Colin Young at Caravan Council May be able to assist with inspection. Telephone: 0409 865 399