GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #33 | Page 20

PETER AND JANE Caravanning experience: six years and still going. Ownership history: one Jayco and one Evernew. Current caravan: 2007 Evernew E-Series offroader. GORV: GORV: Why did you purchase a secondhad van? Is there anything you would do differently next time? P&J: Economics, really. We seriously entertained the idea of buying a new van and could have gone for something around $70,000 to $90,000 back in 2014. We were confident with the Evernew. For a purchase price of around $30,000, it would do the same sort of stuff just as well, if not better, than most of the new vans we looked at. We are very self-reliant and both of us are fairly handy so we knew that we could manage most repair issues ourselves, apart from gas and electrical, which has turned out be true. P&J: Not really. So far our experience has been rewarding. GORV: What advice would you give to newcomers to the lifestyle? P&J: Have clear requirements on where you want to take the van and what accessories and equipment you will need. Research on brands and models is absolutely key, not just what dealers say. Talk to experienced caravanners and check out online forums, etc. GORV: What issues did you have with your purchase? P&J: We had no specific issues with the purchase process itself but, as you can imagine, we have had to fix some problems that could reasonably be expected in an 11-year-old van. We’re still miles in front from an overall value perspective. Evernew has been excellent in providing hard-to-find parts or pointing us in the right direction to find them. Peter and Jane are very happy with their Evernew. The variety of vans available on the secondhand market is seemingly endless. 20 \