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Posted 14 July 2009 by Ian

It seems that Britain has become gripped by the joys of camping! With a tightening of belts, a drop in the pound pushing up prices abroad and the arrival of one of the hottest summers in years, it seems we are turning to Blighty for our summer fun.

If you've read Preloved's guide to tents and camping you'll already know about the fun to be had under canvas, and in our tips for buying a used caravan we turned up the luxury a little. Now it's time to cast our eye over the camper van and give some hints on what to look for and how to get a bargain.

Caravan or camper van?

Firstly we'll revisit the decision we made in our caravan buyers guide - do you choose a caravan or a camper van?

Caravans do offer a lower cost option and, if you expect to spend one or two weeks relaxing in the same spot, can be the better choice. If you do want to take trips around the local area during your holiday it's easy to take the car and explore places that might be too small and narrow for a large camper van.

However, if you are looking to spend your holidays travelling between several different camp sites, perhaps doing a tour of a wide area, a camper van is probably the better choice. There's little to do when arriving at each destination - you can have your feet up and be enjoying a cup of tea within minutes of arriving at your pitch.

All shapes and sizes

The next decision to make is what size and type of camper van to buy. Of course, your budget is going to be a major consideration here, but buying the biggest possible van might not always be the best option.

Caravanette

The quaintly named "caravanette" (sometimes known as a Dormobile after one of the original manufacturers) is the smallest type of camper. This type of van normally has a fold out bed arrangement, and a small kitchen. Any other facilities such as a toilet or shower usually involve the great outdoors! Standing room is achieved either by a lifting roof arrangement or the addition of a permanent raised roof.

The best known is probably the VW camper van which has existed in various forms since the 1950s. Demand for these is very high and this is reflected in the price but fortunately there are many other options including the purpose built Mazda Bongo imported from Japan, or campers adapted from standard panel vans.

Whilst you really need an awning to live comfortably for any period of time, the great advantage of this type of vehicle is that it is small enough to be easily driveable around town, and many can slip under the 2m height barriers erected in many parking spots. It's even possible to use one as your day to day vehicle.

Coachbuilt Motor Homes

Coachbuilt motor homes use the cab and chassis of a production van but have a coachbuilt body built behind the cab and often extending above the cab for an additional berth. These vans will usually have plenty of headroom for standing upright and include a fully equipped kitchen, berths for between 2 and 7 people and even a bathroom and shower to save those midnight treks across the camp site in your pyjamas.

A Class Motor Homes

A Class motor homes use the 'underneaths' of a production van, but the entire body is coach built, leaving no visible signs of the original van. This enables manufacturers to provide a more spacious driving area which stretches the entire width of the van and offers much greater headroom in the cab by virtue of a berth above which folds upwards. These tend to be larger vans and also more expensive and are fairly rare in the UK.

The RV

Finally, we move into rock star territory with the recreational vehicle (or RV). These are big vans, often based on the drive train of a bus or coach, and offer the ultimate in luxury inside with sleeping quarters divided into luxurious cabins and a large living area. Some vans increase space even further by having sides which expand outwards. These vans are obviously not for everyone - they are expensive to buy, expensive to run, and many camp sites are not large enough to provide access to something so large.

Awnings

Of course the larger the van, the more comfortable it will be to live in over long periods and larger vans will have more beds, larger living accommodation, a better equipped kitchen and the space for a shower.

However, a great way to enlarge the living accommodation of your van without spending a fortune is to add an awning. There are two main types of awning for camper vans. Whereas a caravan awning relies on the caravan to provide one wall of the structure, a camper van "drive away" awning is more or less a free standing tent. However, it has a special flap arrangement which allows you to link it to the side of the van when on site, then simply untie it and drive away for a day trip around town with the awning guarding your spot for your return.

The other type of camper van awning is the roll out awning. This is permanently fitted to the side of the van and can be rolled out either manually or sometimes electrically to provide cover overhead. This can be enhanced with side walls and even inner bedrooms to make a fully enclosed awning. However, this then means it has to be completely disassembled should you wish to make a day trip in the van.

Do your research

Find out as much as you can about the van. What will it cost to insure? Are there common problems that need to be checked? What different layouts are available? Of course, in the age of the Internet, these facts are easier to find than they used to be.

Preloved offers a readers reviews section featuring camper van reviews written by the people that know them the best - the owners themselves.

Check the seller

Once you've found a potential van, there are a few simple things you can do to help check that you are dealing with a legitimate seller.

Remember, whilst motor homes purchased from a dealer will be a little more expensive, you do benefit from a certain amount of extra legal protection should there be a problem with your purchase. When calling a private seller, ask about "the motor home". If they ask "which one?" you may be dealing with a dealer that is trying to pretend otherwise, thus avoiding their legal obligations.

Make sure you are able to visit the van at the sellers home (or business premises if they are a dealer). This should match the address shown on the van's registration document.

Check the van

Always inspect the van thoroughly in daylight. If you are not mechanically minded, bring along someone that is. In fact, as this is likely to be an expensive purchase of a complex vehicle, it would be well worth having the vehicle inspected professionally and both The AA and The RAC offer inspection services specific to motor homes. The main things to check are:

• Mileage - While many people shy away from vans with high mileages, it is also wise to be cautious of vans that have done a particularly low mileage for their age as this can indicate a van that may have been standing for long periods. Remember, most camper vans are based on the running gear of panel vans which can withstand many hundreds of thousands of miles of abuse from 'white van man'.
• Servicing - A full record of all servicing, carried out on time and by an appropriate dealer is important for all vehicles, including motor homes. If the van is still under manufacturer's warranty, the warranty will only be valid if the services are carried out at franchised dealers within the recommended time frames. For older vans, the service history is likely to be less complete. However, check to see if the seller has receipts for work he has had done.
• The van that Jack built - Some vans, particularly smaller camper van conversions, have undergone conversion by a keen DIY fanatic. Matching the finish of the professional conversion companies can be difficult but if you are on a budget this might be a compromise you are willing to make. However, you should check with your insurance company as they may decline to insure a van that has not been professionally converted.
• Check for damp - One of the most important checks for a second hand motor home is for damp. Repairing damp in a van is usually expensive, and in some cases could cost more than the cost of the van. If you can smell damp inside the van, be particularly cautious. It is worth spending £15 on a damp meter from your local DIY store. Check corners, bed boxes and inside cupboards and lockers. Check the condition of the external sealing around the body and window frames by pressing close to the joint - poor sealing will soon lead to internal damp problems. Look for any external damage that might cause water ingress. Check that the floor of the van does not feel spongy underfoot.
• Check the chassis engine and running gear - Check for corrosion on the chassis and look out for signs of new paint or underseal that might be hiding something underneath. Checks in the engine bay should be similar to any other car or van so if you're not mechanically minded remember to take along someone who is.
• Check the gas and electrics - Check the condition of the gas and electrical system. If in any doubt, have them checked out by a professional as faulty systems can be lethal. Look out for any signs of DIY work on these systems.

Get an HPI check

Motorhomes sold after 2001 carry a unique Motorhome Identification Number (MIN), a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and their Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM).

Preloved strongly recommends that you carry out an HPI check before parting with your money. This check will confirm the true identity of the van as well as report if it has outstanding finance, has been reported stolen, or has previously been recorded as an insurance write off.

Check your licence

Watch out if the van weighs more than 3,500 kg. In this case, if you are over 70 or if you passed your test after 1 January 1997 you will not be automatically entitled to drive it on your licence and may require you to take a further driving test. For more information, see this page.

Finally, be a good buyer

Be a good buyer by turning up on time for your viewing, making a prompt decision (having done all the appropriate checks), and offering to take the van away promptly. If you need a loan, get it in place beforehand so you are ready to go. Offer the seller a guaranteed method of payment that both you and the seller are happy with.

Being a good buyer that is able to move quickly is the best way of negotiating a good discount on the price of a camper that is in otherwise perfect condition.

Posted 12 August 2008 by Ian

If you are like the idea of camping this summer but are looking for a few more home comforts than camping under canvas, why not invest in a caravan? It needn't be expensive - there's a wide choice of second hand caravans available starting at less than £500. To help you on your way, we've put together our top 10 tips for buying a second hand caravan. 1) Caravan or camper van? Your first decision is choosing between a caravan or camper van. There has been many a lively debate in our forums about which is better but in general it comes down to the type of holiday you are looking... [more]

Posted 3 July 2008 by Ian

As the credit crunch threatens tighter times ahead and as cheap flights no longer seem so cheap, more and more people are turning to camping as a way to spend their summer holidays. If your childhood memories of camping are a heavy tent that takes several hours and a degree in engineering to construct, and a cold night spent under dripping canvas, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how different camping is in an age of modern materials and lightweight frames. Camping can be an incredibly low cost way to explore the great British countryside. A family of four can buy a modern tent and all... [more]

Posted 12 March 2007 by Ian

This is a topic that comes up over and over again in our caravanning forums and seems to the source of much confusion so I thought it would be worth summarising the main points here.The law in the UK is that in order to legally tow a trailer with a width of over 2.3 metres (or a length of over 7 metres), the towing vehicle must have a permissible gross weight of over 3.5 tonnes (Department of Transport - Requirements for trailers). Even the largest 4x4s do not have this permissible gross weight. However, there are a few commercial vehicles that do, for example the LWB Mercedes Sprinter or... [more]

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