Buying a Used Caravan: What to Check Before You Commit
Fresh upholstery and a tidy kitchen make a good first impression, but a used caravan needs a closer look. Its identity, maintenance records, body condition and working equipment all contribute to whether it is a sensible purchase. Those checks are easier to organise before you become attached to a particular model.
A visit to a dealer such as Raymond James Caravans gives you an opportunity to compare used caravans in person. Take the same questions to each viewing and record the answers. This helps you judge the whole purchase, including any work needed before your first trip.
Ask for the records before travelling
Request the exact model, model year, asking price and details of what is included. Ask when it was last serviced and whether the seller can share the service report, damp report and invoices for repairs. A list of service dates is useful, but the accompanying findings tell you more.
Read across the records. If a report identified a fault, look for evidence of the repair and any subsequent check. Ask about gaps in the history rather than filling them with assumptions. Confirm your tow car is suitable for the caravan before arranging a long journey to view it.
Save the advert, photographs and written answers together. They provide a reference if the description or agreed package changes later.
Match the caravan to its identity
Compare the identification number on the caravan with its paperwork. On CRiS-registered tourers, check the chassis marking and window markings where fitted. A replacement window can explain a discrepancy, but ask for an explanation and supporting evidence before proceeding.
A CRiS history check searches for recorded theft, outstanding finance and insurance write-offs, and can help verify registered keeper details. Its scope depends on the records supplied to the scheme, so read the result and any qualifications carefully.
Keep the purpose of this check clear: it concerns identity and recorded history. It cannot establish whether the shower leaks or the brakes need attention. For a private sale, ask to see the seller's purchase paperwork as well, and query anything that does not fit the account you have been given.
Look beyond the visible surfaces
Open cupboards and under-seat lockers, and inspect around windows, rooflights and the inside of external locker openings. Note staining, damaged wall coverings or signs of previous repairs. Ask about anything that looks different from the surrounding area.
Damp does not always produce a noticeable smell. Likewise, a floor that feels springy may need investigation for delamination rather than an immediate assumption about water ingress. Request a recent damp report and ask a qualified caravan technician to explain any concerns.
Outside, look for cracked panels, damaged rails and repairs around openings. Record the location of anything you want checked instead of accepting a quick verbal explanation and forgetting it. Distinguishing cosmetic damage from a fault that needs repair is a useful reason to involve a specialist.
Arrange a proper demonstration
Ask in advance for the water and relevant power supplies to be available. Try the taps, toilet flush, lights, blinds, catches and bed mechanisms. Ask the seller to demonstrate the heating, hot water and fitted appliances using their normal controls.
Allow for equipment that needs time to show it is working, particularly the fridge. If something cannot be demonstrated, write down that it remains unverified and agree how it will be checked. An appliance being present is different from seeing it operate.
Leave gas safety tests, electrical testing and dismantling to a suitably qualified technician. A viewing helps you assess everyday operation; it does not replace those specialist checks.
Check tyres and book the right inspection
Ask about tyre age as well as tread condition, including the spare. The four-digit manufacturing date code gives the production week followed by the year, so 1822 means week 18 of 2022. Low mileage does not remove the effects of ageing.
For a caravan you are seriously considering, agree access with the seller and arrange a professional inspection before committing. The Approved Workshop Scheme can help you find workshops offering inspections before purchase.
Ask for the scope in writing. Confirm whether it covers damp, gas and electrical systems, appliances, the chassis, brakes, hitch and other running gear. Inspection packages differ. Ask which areas cannot be examined and what happens if a supply is unavailable or equipment cannot be tested.
Put the final agreement in writing
Use the findings to work out the cost of getting the caravan ready for use. Ask for repair estimates where necessary, and clarify whether the seller will complete the work before collection or whether you are accepting responsibility for it.
List the included accessories, promised repairs, collection date and any warranty terms on the written agreement. Check how warranty repairs would be arranged, where the caravan would need to go and which exclusions apply. Clarify deposit conditions before paying.
You should be able to explain what you are buying, what has been checked and what remains unresolved. If a significant question is still unanswered, take the time to resolve it before arranging collection.
