Choosing the Best Used Caravans for Sale
Anyone would prefer to buy a new caravan but due to budgetary constraints, you may end up searching for used caravans for sale. Buying used ones does have its own advantages, besides getting a cheaper caravan, you also avoid the large depreciation in the early years of owning it, and first timers can try out caravanning at a lower cost. Once you get the hang of it, you can choose whether to invest in a new caravan. Buying anything used is always tricky since you cannot enjoy the full guarantee of buying a new item. You have to be very meticulous in the selection process. Here are a few tips:
Learn a little more about caravans
It is important to do your homework about caravans so you can have an idea of what you are looking for. They come in a wide variety of sizes and layouts, and the caravan you choose will be determined by the capacity of your tow vehicle. You can get good advice about different kinds of caravans and matching the right weight to tow vehicle from online sources.
How much should you expect to pay?
You can visit a used caravan dealership where you will find a good selection of potential caravans to do a price assessment. Prices of used caravans depend on age, condition, size and the specification level. Price uniformity among dealers is quite common but private sellers may be a bit of a hit and miss. This is because private sellers often have an inflated opinion of what the caravan is worth due to their sentimental attachment. However, the best part about buying from private sellers is there is often room for negotiation.
As with cars, caravan prices are often linked to the make, model and year of manufacture too. You will need to identify the year of manufacture to ensure that the caravan is not over priced. You also need to consider if there is any extra expenditure expected in repairs and negotiate these off the price of the caravan. If the seller cannot confirm that the caravan has had a recent service, then you may have stronger grounds for negotiation as the caravan will definitely need service before you can use it.
Checking the caravan
You need to ensure that the caravan is working properly before you pay anything for it, especially when buying from a private seller. Getting the chance to take it for a test drive would be an added advantage. Check for rust and dents in the body and undercarriage, check the upholstery in the seats (it can be quite expensive to replace), are the retractable bunk beds still in good condition? Is the floor still holding up well? Are all the electrical components and controls still working? These are just some of the things you need to check out before buying a used caravan.
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