How To Buy A Used Caravan
How To Buy A Used Caravan
Use the pre-visit questionnaire on the next page to help you decide what you will
Checklist need to bring with you to help you inspect the caravan. Place a or a in the
box to help you decide what to bring.
Hello, and thank you for downloading our used caravan inspection checklist. The
purpose of this checklist is to provide you with a framework to follow when □ Torch
inspecting a used caravan for sale. Whatever faults you find during the inspection □ Damp Meter
can be recorded on this checklist and will contribute towards helping you decide □ Vehicle with towing electrics on rear
on whether you proceed with the sale, negotiate on price or simply walk away. □ Gas cylinder (+regulator)
Additionally, this checklist is not intended as a replacement of a caravan □ Electric hook up lead and connection to household electrics, if needed.
engineer’s inspection. You may find that using this checklist helps you to sift □ Water in a water carrier
through the ‘lemons’ more easily, meaning that you are only paying a caravan □ 12V power
engineer to survey those caravans you really like, thereby saving you money in the □ Floor mat
long run. □ Step ladder
□ Socket Tester
Whilst every attempt has been made to make this checklist as thorough as □ Multimeter (advanced)
possible, I am sure that there are items that have been unintentionally missed. □ 13 to 7 pin OR 7 pin to 13 pin towing plug adaptor.
However, I will update the checklist as I receive feedback, so if using it again,
check back to ensure that you have the latest version.
2 Does the caravan have a 12V battery fitted and will it be charged?
You’re asking this to determine whether the caravan’s 12V system can be tested. If the answer is, ‘No’, then you may choose to bring a 12V battery with you.
Will I be able to test the caravan’s 240V supply by using a main’s hook up?
3 You’re asking this to determine whether the caravan’s 240V system can be tested. If the answer is, ‘No’, because possibly it is in a storage yard, then you could choose to bring a
generator with you that supplies the correct output, or ask to view the caravan at a location where a 240V hook-up can be provided. Check whether you need to bring your own
cable.
Does the caravan currently have a gas bottle with gas that I can use to test the caravan’s gas appliances?
4 You’re asking this to determine whether the caravan’s gas system can be tested. If the answer is, ‘No’, then ask if you can bring your own gas cylinder. Check whether the
caravan was running previously on butane or propane, so that you can bring the correct cylinder and/or regulator.
Would it be possible to test the water system of the caravan, including hot and cold water?
5 You’re asking this to determine whether the caravan’s water system can be tested. If the answer is, ‘No’, then determine whether it is due to an absence of water on site or
whether it is due to the lack of a pump, or even a 12V supply to power it. Be prepared to bring what you need with you.
Has the caravan ever been damaged as a result of any accident? If so, where was the damage and who completed the repair?
6 You’re asking this for two reasons; i - to determine whether the caravan has been damaged or not, so that you can inspect the area more closely during the visit inspection, and ii -
if the seller says, ‘no’, but upon the visit inspection you discover a repaired section, it may throw in to doubt the honesty and integrity of the seller.
7 Is the towing plug for the towing electrics, the newer style 13-pin-plug or the older style 7-pin-plug?
You’re asking this to determine whether you need to bring along an adaptor plug to suit your vehicle. It will also indicate the seller’s level of knowledge of their caravan.
What is the reason for sale (private sellers)?
8 Always an interesting question to ask sellers. Do they have a clear reason, or does their reason sound rushed and hurried? Sometimes sellers will try and quickly sell a caravan
with problems. This question may prompt you to be more alert.
When was the caravan last serviced? Do you have the engineers’ past reports on the servicing for me to look at?
9 The age and value of the caravan you are inspecting will largely determine how relevant this question is. If you are buying a cheap caravan for less than £3000, don’t expect
engineers’ reports, but they are always worth asking for.
Is the caravan CRiS registered?
10 The age and value of the caravan you are inspecting will largely determine how relevant this question is. If you are buying a cheap caravan for less than £3000, don’t be surprised
if the CRiS registration is not up to date.
Os vendedores genuínos e honestos não se oporão a que faça estas perguntas. Desconfie de vendedores que sejam evasivos a responder a estas perguntas ou que
pareçam relutantes ou pouco dispostos a permitir-lhe inspecionar minuciosamente a caravana. É comum os vendedores venderem uma caravana comprada
recentemente depois de descobrirem um problema grave, como a humidade, por exemplo. A presença do vendedor durante a inspeção da caravana irá acelerar muito a
sua inspeção, uma vez que ele poderá ajudá-lo a ativar e a testar determinados aparelhos, bem como responder a quaisquer perguntas que possa ter durante o processo.
Window □ If present, does it match the others? Check for cracks, condensation etc, as before.
Lower □ The rear lower corners are highly vulnerable to accidents whilst reversing. Inspect for
Corners damage or repairs. If repairs are found, question who did them
Grab
□ Are they secure or loose?
Handles
□ Use your torch to illuminate the flooring underneath the caravan. Can you see any
Floor boards
obvious cracks, splits or evidence of repairs having been carried out?
□ Do the waste pipes appear to be in good condition, or can you see kinks, twists or
Waste Pipes
other concerns?
Copper Gas □ Follow the pipework from front to rear. Can you see any worrying corrosion, kinks,
Pipework bends or bumps that don’t look like they should be there?
Corner □ Inspect each corner steady in turn. Has the large threaded piece been greased
Steadies (1) recently, or is it showing signs of orange rust?
Brake □ Examine brake cabling. Can you see any signs of fraying, worrying corrosion or
Cabling excessive slack? Is it drooping, or has it been recently adjusted?
□ When no longer underneath the caravan, wind each leg up and down in turn. Do
Corner they operate smoothly or are they stiff? If you are new to caravanning, allow the
Steadies (2) seller to wind them back down or ask for guidance about how tight they wind them
down.
□ Stop Lamps
□ LH Indicator
□ RH Indicator
The black towing
□ Side Lights Rear
electric lead.
□ Fog Lights (where fitted)
□ Reversing Lights (where fitted)
□ Side marker lights (where fitted)
Single Lead Plugged
In.
Connect a 12V electricity Supply Only. A water supply via the 12V pump. A cylinder of gas.
□ Ask the seller to identify, and show the operation of, all 12V lighting within the
12V Lighting
caravan, including the awning light.
□ Some gas consuming appliances utilise the 12V power source for their igniters,
12V Gas particularly the cooker. Ask the seller to demonstrate the cooker ignitor working
Appliances from the 12V supply, as well as the gas heater and possibly fridge, depending on its
design.
12V Water □ Check that the water pump pulls water through to each outlet, on both the hot and
Pump cold sides.
12V Sockets
□ Use a multi-meter to check the output of all 12V sockets, present in the caravan.
(Advanced)
12V Blown □ If fitted, ask the seller to demonstrate that the blown air system operates on 12V.
Note: It will NOT generate heat, just air movement. When on 12V power only, heat is generated by the gas heater (to follow),
Air System but is distributed around the caravan using the blown air system. Newer models may not have this system.
□ Ask the seller to operate the hot water system on 12V, gas only. Locate the burner
outlet on the outside of the caravan. Listen for a “tick, tick, tick” followed by a small
Hot Water “whoosh”, which indicates that the burner module is lit. If you do not hear either of
System (1) these, place your hand over the outlet – you should feel heat rising from it. This
indicates that the burner has ignited and is now heating the hot water. If you are
unsure which is the outlet, ask the seller for advice.
Connect a 240V electrical supply to the caravan. Keep the water and gas connected. Ask the seller to switch the water heater over to 240V from the gas.
□ Ask the seller to identify, and show the operation of all 240V lighting within the
240V Lights
caravan.
□ Ask the seller to switch off the 12V gas hot water system and switch it over to 240V
Hot Water
electric heating. Allow time for the system to heat the water. Return to it 10
System (2)
minutes later and check the water temperature.
Electric □ If fitted, ask the seller to show you the operation of the electric, blown air heating in
heating the caravan. Also, ask to be shown how to adjust the temperature by the
system thermostat, where fitted.
□ Ask the seller to demonstrate the fridge running on 240V power. Note, that the only
test you can do is to observe whether an illuminated switch or other sign of power
240V Fridge occurs. It would take too long for the fridge to cool down to temperature. However,
you could leave it switched on during the inspection and feel the ice tray at the top of
the fridge before finishing the inspection to feel whether it is getting cold.
□ Some newer caravans feature a single, electric hot plate. Test the operation by
240V Cooker
switching it on and holding your hand over it to feel for heat.
Electrical □ Ask the seller to identify each electrical socket. For each, insert your socket tester
Outlets and observe its display for a result indicating no problems.
Cooker □ Ask the seller to demonstrate all burner rings lighting, as well as the grill and oven.
Gas heating □ Ask the seller to demonstrate the operation of the gas heater, or other fitted system.
Hot Water
□ If not already tested previously, (see above).
System (1)
□ Check that the bed slats under the centre console retract and stow easily and that
Bed Slats
none are broken.
Roof Vent □ Does the roof vent open and close easily?
Kitchen Sink,
Worktop □ Check for cracks, especially around the plug hole. Inspect worktop for general
and other damage, chips, marks etc.
areas
□ Feel around and under the hot water tank for signs of a sandy, white deposit. If you
discover a lime scale like material on your fingers, this could indicate a leak from the
Hot Water
hot water tank. At best, this could be a loose connection. At worst, the hot water
Tank
tank could be so corroded that it requires replacement, the replacement of which is
not a DIY job for most people.
Area to closely inspect For all of these areas, firstly press the wall Damp Meter Reading Comments
Behind toilet
with your hand before using a damp
□
In upper cupboards where the roof meets
the wall in the inside locker □
Around windows
□
All internal seam joints
□
In areas where water pipework enters and
exits the caravan □
Whilst it would be highly unusual for a newer, high-value caravan not to be registered with CRiS, do not expect older, used caravans at the vastly cheaper end of the market
to have their CRiS registration up to date. However, be aware that if you buy a stolen caravan, or a caravan that is still under finance, it can be taken from you, and it will be
your responsibility to recover your costs from the individual who sold you the caravan.
In addition to proving ownership, there are numerous other benefits of registering your caravan with the CRiS Scheme [taken from the CRiS website]:
It can prove easier for the police to verify ownership and aid the recovery of the caravan should it be stolen
Having the caravan registered to you can ease the sale of your caravan in the future
In the event of a claim, you may find that your touring caravan insurance company will only pay out on submission of a CRiS Touring Caravan Registration Document
CRiS can assist with any safety, security or warranty issues you may face whilst owning your caravan.
If you take your caravan abroad, it is advisable to carry your CRiS Registration Document with you to prove keepership of the touring caravan
VIN CHIP™ theft deterrent and identification system for touring caravans registration is only available to CRiS registered keepers
CRiS registration is only a one off fee of £15.00 for the lifetime that you own the caravan
The seller may ask to accompany you to your bank to verify the validity of
the bankers draft to prevent them from receiving a forgery.
The draft will look like a cheque, but will show the bank’s name as the
payee.
Used Caravan Buying Checklist 17 | P a g e Version 14th June 2020