Questions To Ask Before Buying A Caravan

When you are on the hunt for a new caravan and you are a first time buyer it is important to avoid the impulse to buy immediately and not ask the right questions.

You should avoid heading straight out to a caravanning & camping show or local caravan dealership because the urge to make an uninformed purchase can be tempting.

Here are 5 important questions to that you must ask before committing to purchasing a caravan.

1. How Much?

This is a pretty obvious question. Before you head out looking, you need to sit down and examine your budget to determine your spending limits, the type of caravan that is most suitable for you and whether you will need to caravan finance.

A new caravan can range anywhere from $15,000 – $100,000 and that is just the initial cost. You should also ask the salesman about the estimated annual costs of running the caravan as well as maintenance, they should be able to provide you with an annual running costs breakdown.

It also doesn’t hurt to find out if the price is negotiable. If you don’t ask, you will never know and it could save a little off the full price.

2. What is Your Caravanning Experience?

No, don’t ask yourself this question.

This is a question for the salesman at the dealership or the private seller who is trying to convince you that this is the caravan that you should buy.

It is essential that the sales staff have had previous personal & professional caravan experience. You need to be getting the right information from their product knowledge so that you can get the appropriate caravan for your lifestyle & budget.

Beware of some dealerships who employ “professional sales people” who specialise in being nice and making sales – they may not have adequate caravanning experience to sell you the right product. Check with them about their industry experience and how long they have been working.

3. Is there a “Buy Back Price”?

In case you fall on difficult times after you purchase your new caravan and you need to consider your options to sell it.

Some dealers will enter into a contractual agreement in case of illness or tragedy in which they can guarantee a buy back percentage based on the agreed value of the caravan. This way you lose as much money to selling your caravan second hand.

There are also dealers who won’t offer this cover and you may need to consider insurance for these circumstances which again needs to be factored into your budget.

4. What Kind Of Vehicle Will I Need To Tow This Caravan?

Caravans come in all shapes, sizes and weights. Different caravans have different minimum towing requirements.

One of the biggest issues that first time buyers run into is that they do not have a vehicle that is suitable for towing the new caravan. Be sure to seek advice on the best type of vehicle for towing your new caravan and again, this may be something that needs to be factored into your budget.

You can check out our guide on towing caravans for beginners.

5. How Reliable Is This Caravan Going To Be?

You are going to (hopefully) be towing this caravan around the country for a good 10 or more years which means reliability is a big factor.

Consider the warranty that comes with your chosen caravan because this will be a good indicator on the manufactures faith in the product. The longer the warranty, the better.

It can also help to do some research online and look at some reviews from actual people who have purchased the make and model of a caravan that you are looking to buy.

If you remember to ask these questions, you will gain a wealth of information that will assist you with making an informed decision on the caravan that you buy.