10 Aug 3 tips for choosing the right caravan for you
It seems every second person is either jumping on a plane to escape the cold, or embarking on a road trip with their caravan in tow. Are you in the market for a caravan? Wondering what kind of caravan you should buy? When you’ve never owned one before, it can be hard to know which one would be the best option for you.
If you’re looking to buy your first caravan, here are 3 solid tips that we believe will help you make a more informed choice. Here’s to getting on the road sooner!
Tip 1. Sort your budget
You knew we were going to start here, right? Like any other large purchase, it’s absolutely vital that you have a price in mind before you begin your search. Determine how much you can afford as the very first step and move forward from there. This will help you see if it’d be better to opt for either a new or second-hand van and the quirks and features you should expect for your price range.
Tip 2. What size caravan do you need?
As you would know, caravans can feature toilets, showers, and reasonably-sized kitchens, but this all comes at a premium – which is why it’s so important to have your budget sorted first.
Here’s a handy tip: Make a list of everything your new caravan absolutely MUST have, and also a few of the ‘nice-to-have’ features. The next step is to do some research to see if you can get something new or second-hand that includes your must-haves, as well as makes and models that are ideal for you.
Tip 3. Review the weight
The maximum towing capacity of the vehicle you’ll be using to tow the van is also going to determine the size of van you can get. You can find out what it is in the car’s owner’s manual, and don’t forget Google can help you here too!
Additionally, you should understand that while the van’s tare weight (without gear) might not be as much as your vehicle’s max towing capacity, loading everything into it may surpass it.
Have you heard of GCM? This is the Gross Combination Mass – the combined weight of your car and the van. This can also be found in the owner’s manual of the car. Have a good discussion with the caravan dealer about it, it’s an important topic to cover!
Bonus tip!
Buying second-hand? Safety checks are essential!
If you decide to go for a second-hand caravan, just like a car, safety checks are so important! You need to make sure you check all of the operational levers, straps and cranks for any damage or serious signs of wear. Further, because utility connections are used frequently it’s important to properly check these – some people might have ‘doctored’ connections themselves to sell it which can cause them to be highly dangerous.
Ready to purchase?
As you would know, with any big purchase research is so important. Spend time on the countless forums and review pages online and get to know different caravans inside and out. Do everything you can to be in the best position to make the right choice and get the van at the right price.
Once you’re ready to make your purchase, be sure to contact us for help with your finance. There are many different finance structures you can choose, with varying loan terms. We will ensure you hit the open road sooner, through simplifying the finance process and doing the legwork for you. Contact us today!