Caravan Purchase Checklist

mjt57 · Senior Member

Caravan Purchase Checklist

KFT · Guru

I have a checklist we used when collecting our new van. It may be of some help to you. It is quite comprehensive and I modified it to suit our situation.

-- Edited by KFT on Monday 28th of September 2015 11:10:33 AM

Woody n Sue · Guru

Number plate hight under 1.3m if second hand age of tyres there is a four digit code on them = week( two digits )of year and year of manufacture if over 5 years old repairer can refuse to repair a puncture in them techinicaly speaking.
tow ball weight with full water tanks ( if fitted ) then you can work out where you will be able to store your goodies in side without over loading the tow bar

migra · Senior Member

What state are you in ?

the rocket · Guru

In our experience. buy new. N before pick up get them to weigh van. Our 2have not been correct and after we weighed vans took them back for seller to fix at their expense. When purchasing ask does the weight of van include, mattresses, tv, microwave, washing machine, solar, batteries, fridge. Tow bar, bumper bar and anything else u can think of and GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Cheers. Rocket n strop

-- Edited by the rocket on Monday 28th of September 2015 06:59:05 PM

mjt57 · Senior Member

Thanks, folks. Gives me a few things to consider.

In another thread there's a post about a caravan with a sign "no warranty, no service" or something like that. One fellow posted a comment about how manufacturers are doing a poor job with QA.

This is disappointing. Given how we're desperate for any form of manufacturing to survive here, the last thing that we need is for people to shie away from the locals such as Jayco and others and to buy the imported vans.

Missus was reading how one particular manufacturer had a lot of QA problems, for example, wiring not finished. In one case the wires coming from a supply, switch or whatever to their termination point just weren't long enough and would never have been able to be connected.

So, I'll be developing a comprehensive check list, that's for sure. If we're going to spend what amounts to a yearly gross wage for many people on a product that will see a bit of use and needs to be safe amongst all things, we need to make sure that we're getting what we paid for.

Plendo · Guru

Hi Martin, not sure what stage in the purchase process you are at, everyone has focused on what to check when you pick up your van, but there is a very different list of things to consider if you are selecting a van, and it really is a list that is predominantly up to you, as what suits you will not be what other people need/want.

There are however a few basics that you must consider when choosing your van:

1. If you already have your tow vehicle, make sure the ATM (All Up Tare Weight, or total weight) is less that the maximum weight your tow vehicle can tow.

2. Make sure the expected ball weight of the van is less than the ball weight limit of your tow vehicle. Note that the ball weight the manufacturer lists will increase as you load your van, to be safe, bank on your ball weight being about 10% of your ATM. Make sure the manufacturer of your vehicle does not list a reduced ball weight with load.

3. Make sure you calculate how the payload in your tow vehicle will be consumed, first understand what is included in your tare weight (fuel ? Driver ?), then how much you are going to add above your tare, (include driver, passenger, fuel, bullbar, roof rack, fridge in back, other load/luggage items, DO NOT FORGET TO ADD YOUR BALL WEIGHT. You may find this limits the ball weight you can handle.

Once you go through this process you should then be able to work out what you can tow, then you can look at the features you want in your van.

I hope this helps your decision process.

mjt57 · Senior Member

Thanks Plendo.

Right now, we are still looking. We won't be purchasing til the New Year. Right now it appears that the van which we decide that we want will dictate the car that we get.

And Migra, we're in Victoria, Gippsland region.