New vs. Used Caravan – Which One Is Right For You?

What are you planning to use the van for?

A simple weekender that you’re not taking too far from home? Or a heavy duty van that will be by your side for a big road trip?

Understanding your ideal use for your van will have a big impact on whether you purchase a new or used van. With added reliability and longevity, new vans are commonly used for longer trips, as the investment makes more sense. On the other hand, shorter trips lend to buying a less expensive van to do the job. 

New caravan purchases can easily be tailor made to fit your exact needs. You might want to have to ability to choose all the bells and whistles, to make that journey comfortable and luxurious – or on the other hand, you may be happy with the base model to get you where you want to go. Either way, a new caravan allows you to make that decision. 

A used caravan, however, really means that you get what you’re given. This can be great if you find exactly what you need, but it’s important to keep in mind if you have specific needs when making your purchase. 

You might be all about the creature comforts of having a luxury caravan with a higher price tag. On the other hand, you might be willing to save a little money to purchase a cheaper used caravan, leaving more money to enjoy the trip!

There are a couple of things to consider from a reliability point of view when it comes to purchasing a caravan. 

First of all, safety is a big thing to consider here – like with cars, the newer the van, the more up to date the safety specs are likely to be. As safety standards are constantly being improved, manufacturers are required to be more diligent with their testing requirements, leading to a safer final product. That being said, good quality older caravans from reputable brands can offer great safety features too. 

The second thing from a reliability point of view is the purchase itself. Purchasing a new caravan gives you the peace of mind knowing that it will come with manufacturer guarantees and warranties, should anything go wrong. On the other hand, an older model may have lapsed the warranty, particularly if you’re purchasing privately. A great way to bypass this problem if you’re wanting to purchase an older van is to purchase through a used dealer, as their requirements for ethical sales are far higher than a private sale. If you’ve found what you think is the perfect van from a private sale, that’s great! But, be sure to inspect the caravan thoroughly – even bring an experienced van owner to help you out and make sure everything’s A-OK.

Naturally, a newer van is far more likely to last longer than an older van, given the new materials, fresh suspension and lack of general wear and tear. 

Something that often befalls inexperienced caravan owners are the expensive problems that impact the lifespan of the van. Major examples of this are the suspension and the structural integrity of the frame – whether it is free from rust or not. Make sure to check out these things to ensure that the lifespan of your potential caravan purchase is maximised.