RV FEATURE
How old is the van, where has it been, and how many owners has it had?
Here, you’ re trying to determine what sort of life the van has had. It could be three-years-old but spent two years on the road full time. Or it may be five-years-old and only been used four weeks per year at the local beachside caravan park. Or perhaps it’ s fiveyears-old and had that many different owners.
Can you take me on a detailed tour and demonstrate how everything works?
How they respond will help you understand how genuine this sale is. Alarm bells should ring if the response is“ I don’ t have time to do it now so look for yourself”.
Someone is more genuine when they respond positively and proceed to demonstrate all the features.
Can I take it for a tow test?
You wouldn’ t buy a car without first test driving it, so it’ s really important to arrange a tow test when purchasing from either a dealer or privately. You could even make it a condition of sale.
Buying from a dealer will afford you certain guarantees under Australian Consumer Law, but private sales are ' buyer beware '.
SUMMING UP
While this article has covered many points, buying a secondhand caravan needn’ t be a daunting process if you take the time to research and do as much preparation as you can. You’ ll have more information than the average buyer and be well on your way to ultimately purchasing that caravan of your dreams.
This article should be read as a guide only – it is not necessarily an exhaustive list of every point to consider. However, we hope it provides food for thought and prompts you to be as critical as possible when inspecting a secondhand caravan for potential purchase. If in doubt, consult a professional – mobile services are available. You might even go so far as to have a mobile leak tester conduct a test.
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