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Buying a second-hand caravan

Many new caravanners' first purchase is second-hand, and it's easy to see why. Far cheaper than buying new, second-hand caravans have become more and more reliable over the last few years, meaning you can pick up a real bargain if you know what you're looking for.

Of course, a lot of people don't know what they're looking for, and have little choice but to trust the seller. If that sounds like you, help is at hand. Our checklist below gives a brief overview of the extra considerations you might want to make if you're looking at a second-hand caravan purchase rather than a brand new one.

• Size things up straight away. There is no point a family of four making an hour-long external examination of a van if inside there is hardly room for two inside. Check that there is room enough for the family to live comfortably for weeks at a time.

• When you're sure the caravan fits your requirements in terms of size, it's time to check the caravan's condition - both inside and out. It's important that you highlight any problems you see to the seller - even if they're not major enough to jeapordise the deal it does give you bargaining power.

• One of the main problems with older caravans is rusting. Check the caravan over, paying particular attention to the area around the chassis - if there is a lot of rust it may be one to avoid. If that specific area is covered over with fresh paint, alarm bells should be ringing. It may well be that the seller is trying to patch up unsightly rust.

• Check for signs of damp - an initial indication being a slightly musty smell inside the caravan. Feel the corners of the caravan beds, they too can indicate damp. Water coming into the caravan is a fundamental problem which could cost you hundreds of pounds to correct - faulty seals, pipes or windows are all plausible causes.

• If the caravan has been well loved and well used, the tow hitch probably won't be as good as new. Check that it still functions well though, and make sure that the handbrake is in full working order.

In addition to these considerations, there are a number of more technical checks you may want to undertake before committing to a purchase. Try the advice centre and forum at www.caravantalk.net for more help.