Your guide to buying a used campervan in South Wales
Posted on June 12, 2018
So you’ve decided to buy a campervan. Congratulations! You are about to forever cast off the shackles of static location holidaying to embark on countless nomadic adventures!. If you read our last blog post, you won’t be a stranger to the liberating possibilities camper van ownership can offer.
Buying a camper is no small decision, there are many different options, sizes classes and features all of which need to be taken into account when selecting your dream purchase. Like many, you may have opted to buy your vehicle pre-owned, a popular option which can save you a considerable amount of money compared to buying brand new.
Buying a second hand van come with pitfalls if you are not careful. The last thing you want is to hand over your hard earned cash only to find you’ve bought a campervan that is damp, rusting, mechanically defective or uncomfortable. As the largest dealer of new and used camper vans in South Wales, we’ve are experts in knowing what to look for when making that all important purchase. To help you narrow down your search, we’ve created a list of the top five things to look for when buying a used campervan.
Does it match up to the ad?
Although it may sound painfully obvious, you would have selected your campervan of choice based on personal preference and features geared to what you want to achieve. It’s very important that when you see the van, you take time to explore the features eg. check the size of the beds, does the driver seat feel comfortable? Is there enough room for the kids in the back? There is no point buying a van just because it looked good in an ad photo but is not realistically cut out for your requirements. This also includes reviewing whether the van weight will be within legal guidelines when loaded with your passengers and supplies.
How does it feel?
Remember, you will be potentially driving this van for thousands of miles through multiple countries, roads and settings. You need to make sure that you are comfortable with the feel of the vehicle, visibility for maneuvering and that you are spatially confident driving it. Again, nobody wins if you misjudge that tight village turn and end up severely damaging the entire bodywork.
Check for Damp
Damp is not good especially for any wooden framed interiors. Untreated dampness can result in wet rot which in turn can decay large sections of the interior. It’s probably safe to assume that many second hand camper vans have probably seen a fair amount of exposure to wet and cold weather so it’s important to be thorough with your inspection and determine if dampness is present. A good indication of damp is a musty smell that permeates throughout the van. It’s also a good idea to check for the sealing around windows and for the presence of black residue in the corners.
Retouched paint the doesn’t match the original colour
Patches of slightly off-colour paint can indicate that the seller has tried to repair the vehicle after an accident. This is a crucial thing to look out for as although there are many used camper vans in South Wales, some are being underhandedly sold with major structural damages hidden from view. Whilst accidents do happen, it is important to know if your van was involved in an accident, and the extent of the damage. As mentioned before, these vehicles will see a considerable amount of wear in numerous situations and conditions. As an owner you need to have full confidence that your van will be reliable and robust and the most important of times.
After quality used camper vans in South Wales? Newport Caravans can help
At Newport Caravans we have been helping customers find their dream used camper vans for a decade. All our pre-owned vehicles are fully serviced before handing them over to their new owner. When they are picked up, a full handover instruction is given. All used caravans and motorhomes have a 12 month Newport Caravans and Motorhomes Care warranty as standard.
We pride ourselves on our commitment to customer service and have been awarded the Approved Motorhome dealer and Approved Caravan Dealer by the National Caravan Council. We provide a personal service to help find the suitable caravan or motorhome to meet your needs and budget.
We have the largest collection of used camper vans in South Wales. Come and pay our friendly team a visit or call us now on 01633 843066. Alternatively you can also send us a message and we'll be quick to respond.