To help you along in shopping for a second hand caravan, I have listed down ten things you should think about upon considering a second hand caravan. You have to think about what your preferences are and the options available out there as getting a new caravan means paying a lot.
1.  Do you want a caravan or a camper van?
You must decide which type would suit you better. Do you want to go to many different places or do you prefer camp sites? If you would be on the road a lot, a campervan would be recommended. If you want to spend more time settling some place to enjoy the location, you will want a caravan. It all depends on what kind of holiday you want to have.

2.  Size does matter.
The bigger the caravans, the more expensive these could be. Determine what size you want and would be best for your family at the price that is most appealing to you. Consider how much space each family member would need so your family can stay in the caravan comfortably during the long trips.

3.  Always get more information and compare.
Never settle for the first offer you see despite how attractive it looks to you. Try to look around and see what options are out there so you have a good idea of what value your money can get you.

4.  Screen the seller.
You do not want to be conned into buying a caravan that could not be sold to you at all. You do not want to be purchasing stolen caravans. There are dubious sellers out there that you want to avoid so applying some due diligence would certainly be wise. You may find some offers to be incredibly cheap compared to most but always check the legitimacy of the offer and the seller.

5.  Inspect the caravan thoroughly.
You do not want to have any surprises later on so try to check the caravan in broad daylight. There are a few things you must watch out for so you won’t get a caravan in bad shape.
Check for any presence of damp.
Check the doors for broken handles and windows for any leaks or damage.
Check the underside of the caravan such as its chassis.
Check the electrical parts and the gas.

6.  Pay attention to the details.
All the little things at first would eventually pile up and make up a big whole. You don’t want the costs to keep going up like this especially in most unexpected times. To avoid this, always pay close attention to the details.

7.  Check the travel and repair history of the caravan.

8.  See how old the caravan is.
9.  Getting an HPI check is strongly recommended.
10.  Try to be a good shopper and buyer.

Getting to purchase a cheap caravan is easier than before because of the availability of online listings. These sites have made it possible for many second hand caravans to reach more people who are feeling the crunch in rising fuel costs and tightening household budgets.

You should still be able to discern well before heading out to make a used caravan purchase that you would probably find online.

You must keep in mind the seven following things when considering to buy an inexpensive caravan.

What is your purpose of having a caravan. Your purpose will greatly impact the succeeding six factors that you must also consider. If you are only looking for a cheap storage space that you will setup somewhere in your backyard, you do not have to put too much thought on the quality of the caravan you are getting. You need pay for too much either.

How much space do you need? There is a significant difference between caravans of different sizes. You may want to determine exactly how much space you need for you and your family to be comfortable taking up that space.
How old is the caravan? It you are planning to use it as a caravan, you may want to know if the spare parts are still available. If you have other plans for it, the older the caravan the lower the price tag would be.

1. What is the make and model of the caravan? There are many caravan models in the market. Some have earned good reputation while others are not exactly sought after. If you think reselling is a possibility or you will travel with the caravan extensively, this point is certainly important.
2. What shape is the caravan in? You would not be saving a lot if you will end up spending on costly repairs after the purchase. You would be better off buying a new one in this case. Buy what you really need and what you could really use. There are many choices out there for you to choose from.
3. Check if the caravan is legally for sale. Needless to say, you could get caught in some trouble if it were a stolen caravan. You would also not want the burden of owning something that could not even get on the road.
4. How much will everything cost you? Factor in all possible expenses such as repairs that you are willing to do yourself.

For people who are new to caravans, the best choice is often the used caravan as the payment will be much lower and the resale value not so bad. The first place to look would be in the dealers’ place. The vans may not be in the best of condition but the models are rather clean. The fixes, repairs and other maintenance stuff do not start unless the unit has been sold. You might find a used caravan in rather good condition and to help you with this, here are some helpful tips.

Firstly, you would have to see whether or not the used caravan has a complete service history. Like purchasing a used car, having records of what work such as repairs and parts replacement have been done in the past would be quite useful. It is of utmost importance for any of these used caravans to have complete documentation such as manuals and other literature related to any of its equipment.

Used caravans can hardly be in mint condition but you can look at its details and look for signs of deterioration such as dirt or mold buildup, cracks, loose parts and others. You must also asses the seller him or herself. You may want to go with a caravan that the seller would personally recommend. It is a good idea to ask a person who can tell you how the caravan performs on trips. This information can be very useful for you.

Talk to other people like your friends who may have experience with caravans. They might be able to refer you to a dealer and give you more information on the best choices out there that would suit your needs. You may also read about the reviews on different models of caravans in magazines and other publication. Most of these published reviews are about the new models coming out and the older ones could be found in older magazine issues so there is no information on how well a caravan would last and how well it performs after a few years of use.

Do not be hesitant about testing the parts such as handles, doors, locks and especially the toilet. Having some things replaced later could get quite costly so you may want to know what costs you could anticipate in the future and exactly how good a deal you are getting. You may find neglected caravans pretty common but you could easily recognize well maintained ones. These caravans usually have upgrades and other features installed which indicate that the previous owner cared about it well.