WHERE DO I START?
There are, generally, three important things to
consider before purchasing a caravan. They
are simple. Make sure you know where you
want to travel, how long you are likely to
travel for, and what sort of travel you are
most likely to do.
If you’re thinking of tackling the world of
secondhand caravans, put together an
inspection kit that includes a pen and
notebook, a tape measure, a torch, a camera
and, perhaps, a damp metre.
The camera is to take photos to help the
memory. The torch is to see into the van’s dark
recesses inside, outside and underneath. The
optional damp metre will provide a scientific
measure of the moisture associated with what
should be a dry caravan. The trouble is, a
quality metre might set you back $600-700.
Nonetheless, one would be worth considering
as a damp van might be riddled with mildew
or wood rot.
The pen and notebook are for recording the
van’s measurements and weights,
modifications that have been made to the van
and anything that seems noteworthy, like
absent silicon in the corners and joints, or if
the fridge works and so on.
AROUND THE OUTSIDE
According to caravan repairer Peter Clack
from Aussie RV & Caravan Repairs, the
problem with a simple inspection of the
outside of a caravan is that without an
odometer like you find in a motor vehicle, on
which you can gauge how much use a
caravan has had, a presentable looking van
might be concealing many faults.
The best bet is to take the caravan to an
expert repairer for an appraisal, but that
option may not be logistically possible. If you
can’t have the van professionally appraised,
Peter suggests buying vans from a
professional repairer (Aussie RV doesn’t sell
vans) because “then you know it’s been
repaired to a proper roadworthy standard”.