Welcome to caravans.co.uk. You've finally found a terrific website which makes it super simple to find your perfect caravan or motorhome for sale in the UK.
We are the sister site to caravanfinder.co.uk and motorhomefinder.co.uk which has been running for over 25 years.
If you're looking for your first caravan for sale or perhaps a motorhome then you are definitely doing the right thing. Owning a caravan or motorhome opens up adventures for short trips away or for longer periods for you and your family.
Perhaps you already have a caravan or motorhome which you wish to sell yourself. If this is the case then why not sell your caravan or motorhome on our websites. Your advert will appear in multiple websites, conveniently managed by yourself from one location.
If this is your first caravan or motorhome, most people make the same mistakes: buying the wrong size, ignoring weight limits, and not checking for damp. Let's make sure you don't. Here are the top practical tips experienced buyers follow.
This decision changes everything.
Many beginners start with a caravan because it's cheaper and easier to try the lifestyle before committing big money.
If you're buying a caravan:
You must check:
A caravan that's too heavy for your car can be illegal and dangerous to tow and can cause serious damage to your car and it's engine.
Rule beginners follow:
Beginners obsess about brands (Bailey, Swift, Coachman etc). That's mostly irrelevant.
The layout determines whether you enjoy using it. Get the layout wrong and you wont enjoy going away in your caravan or motorhome
Ask yourself:
You'll spend hours inside it when the weather is bad.
Experts call this the "wet day test" - imagine spending a full rainy day inside it.
Also when looking at a potential caravan or motorhome imagine you already own it and visualise where your belongings will go. Is there sufficient storage ? Is the bed mattress comfortable ? Is the cooking area suitable to your needs ?
This is the #1 thing that ruins caravans.
Signs of damp:
Damp damage can be extremely expensive and often hidden, so it's critical to inspect carefully.
If you're serious:
For caravans in the UK look for:
CRiS Registration (Central Registration & Identification Scheme)
Also check:
If the seller "can't find the paperwork" - walk away.
When viewing:
Turn on and test:
You'd be shocked how many caravans are sold with broken appliances.
Look underneath for:
Also check tyre age - caravans often sit unused and tyres crack over time.
Before buying, ask:
Where will you keep it?
Options:
Storage can cost £500 - £1500 per year.
This is a common beginner mistake.
Large caravans:
Many experienced caravanners say:
"Buy your first caravan slightly smaller and upgrade later."
If you have children then it's not uncommon for them to sleep in the awning, as far away from the grown ups as possible.
Just like a new car, new caravans lose value quickly.
Typical depreciation:
Buying 2-5 years old is usually the sweet spot. After this period depreciation is pretty steady.
Remember a new caravan costing £40,000 this year is likely, due to inflation cost around £41,600 the following year and £43,680 the year after that. (based as an example 5% per year). This increase helps a second hand caravan market hold its value better.
What experienced caravanners recommend:
This prevents the £10k mistake many beginners make.
We hope this has been of use to you.
Welcome to the wonderful world of caravan and motorhome ownership. The adventures that await you and your family are endless and will bring enormous enjoyment for years to come.