Buying a used caravan - preliminary considerations, viewing, handover

Buying a caravan has been one of our best decisions in recent years. If you are also looking for a used caravan, the following article is sure to be something for you. We have put together our most helpful tips so that you too can enjoy a great home on wheels in the future.

This is about caravans, click here if you want to buy a used motorhome.

Preliminary considerations – So that it is exactly the right one

Once the basic decision to buy a used caravan has been made, the next step is to find the right model. And this does not mean the appearance of the caravan. Instead of being dazzled by external features – such as an interior in trendy colors – ask yourself what the caravan needs to offer so that it suits you and your needs perfectly.

If you don’t do this and randomly inspect caravans that might somehow fit, there is a risk that a) you will make compromises that you will be annoyed about later, or b) you will waste a lot of time traveling to and inspecting caravans that, on careful consideration, may not even be an option.

How many people travel regularly?

This not only determines the number of sleeping spaces you need, but also the storage space and the minimum size you need to feel really comfortable. Keeping three children happy on rainy days squeezed into a tiny caravan? That sounds like a real challenge. On the other hand, if you are traveling alone or as a couple, even a small caravan can seem like a palace.

A lot depends on the floor plan. What are your wishes here? A French fixed bed or would you prefer a round settee that can be converted, bunk beds or would it be better to buy single beds? A family bed that the children can snuggle up in?

The desired payload of the caravan also depends on the number of people traveling with you. It is important to note that you should never rely on the values stated in the vehicle documents, but should ideally weigh the vehicle yourself. This is because the payload is often already severely limited by attachments such as a mover, awning or air conditioning.

Questions upon questions that you should clarify before you start your search.

How much comfort do you want?

While one person absolutely needs a shower to feel comfortable, a toilet is sufficient for another. The third, on the other hand, can do without both in the caravan and uses the public sanitary facilities without grumbling. The same applies to the kitchen, storage space, seating area and the sleeping area mentioned above. Space in a caravan is precious. Every square centimeter that is used for a larger wet room, a lavish fridge or the lounge corner is missing elsewhere. Sort it out for yourselves.

In which climate will the caravan be used?

Are you a pure summer fair-weather camper or do you also want to go on a big trip in winter? Not every caravan is equally suitable for temperatures around freezing point or ice and snow. Our small Eriba Touring, for example, is much less comfortable in sub-zero temperatures due to its steel frame and thin outer shell, compared to better insulated models such as the Fendt Bianco from Nele and Jalil.

Do your own ideas fit the budget?

A camping vehicle is a luxury item– even if it seems indispensable to us die-hard camping fans. So you shouldn’t go heavily into debt for it. If your dream caravan doesn’t fit into your budget, ask yourself: What can you do without without it hurting?

And ultimately, of course, you should also like the look, but that’s a matter of taste.

If you’re not sure which caravan suits you, why not put it to the test and rent a caravan for a few days that comes as close as possible to your dream vehicle. A short practical test like this sometimes works wonders and clearly shows what the perfect caravan for you should look like.

Photo: (c) CamperStyle

Which manufacturers are widely used on the German market?

Fendt

Fendt is a renowned brand known for its premium caravans. They offer an excellent blend of luxury, comfort and reliability. Well-maintained used models can be a great investment and provide many years of camping pleasure.

Hobby

Hobby offers an impressive range of models and stands for quality and variety. Used Hobby caravans are often in good condition and offer a solid option for purchase.

Dethleffs

Dethleffs is known for its robust and reliable caravans and is appreciated by many campers in Germany. The good resale value and durability of Dethleffs models make them an attractive choice for used purchases.

Knaus

Knaus manufactures a wide range of caravans that differ in terms of size and equipment. Knaus caravans are known for their high quality and are well represented on the second-hand market.

Hymer

Hymer is an established brand with an excellent reputation for stability and durability. Their caravans are not only robustly built, but also offer a high level of comfort and convenience.

Buying a used caravan privately or from a dealer: Advantages and disadvantages

If you’re looking for a caravan, you can check the relevant online portals such as truckscout24.de or mobile.de to get a Germany-wide overview of what’s on offer. Incidentally, we found our caravan via eBay classifieds with a really nice family and can highly recommend searching there. If you prefer to look around offline, visit the dealer around the corner or take a look in your local newspaper.

Depending on which option you choose, whether you prefer to buy from a dealer or a private individual, you have the following advantages and disadvantages:

Purchase from the dealer

If you buy from a dealer, you have at least one year’s warranty, or liability for material defects, as the lawyers call it. This means that the dealer is legally liable for defects in the caravan that were already present at the time of delivery. In principle, the German Civil Code even provides for two years of liability for material defects.

Dealers can limit this period to one year, but – and this is important – they cannot exclude it completely. If you buy from a dealer, you can rest assured that you can contact your dealer for at least one year if any defects arise.

In return, you have to pay higher prices at the dealer. With this surcharge, dealers compensate for the liability risk of guaranteeing that older caravans are free of defects.

In addition to the “warranty”, some dealers advertise an additional guarantee. An additional service that is of course paid for indirectly through a higher price.

Purchase from private individuals

If you buy privately, you generally have to waive your warranty. Unlike dealers, private individuals may completely exclude their liability in the purchase contract. This is often done with the sentence: “Purchased as seen, excluding warranty”.

Exceptional case: The seller has fraudulently deceived you as the buyer, for example by deliberately concealing defects. In this case, the purchase contract can be contested and rescinded.

Caravans from private individuals are usually cheaper than those from dealers. As they do not have to offer a warranty, they do not bear any increased risk and can pass this advantage on in full to the buyer.

Affordable financing for used caravans

Regardless of whether you buy your caravan from a dealer or privately. If you are currently unable to afford the full purchase price, banks are usually happy to help you out with a loan. For an initial comparison, it helps to get an overview of the possible forms of financing and the requirements to be met on the Internet.

Before buying a used caravan: inspect, inspect, inspect

Once you’ve found your dream caravan, it’s time to view it. “Strength lies in tranquillity” is the first piece of advice we want to give you when viewing a used caravan. Take enough time and leisure to really get to grips with the caravan, both inside and out, as well as from above and below. Don’t let the seller or dealer rush you.

If you are new to camping and are still a little clueless about the technology and possible weak points of a caravan, take a second person with you who knows about the subject. If no one in your circle of friends knows anything about caravans, search Facebook groups or camping forums for helpful camper souls who would be willing to accompany you. You may also find a friendly camper on a notice board in your local camping store who will support you with their knowledge during viewings.

The older the caravan, the more likely it is that the vehicle you are looking for has some weak points that you should take a closer look at. It’s pretty certain that you’ll come across one or two total losses during your search. Sometimes you don’t recognize them at first glance.

But there are signs that something is wrong, and you should know them. If you come across a car like this, the only thing to do is pull the ripcord and say goodbye. The cabinet of horrors of defects ranges from rotten underbodies to paint-disguised cracks on the roof. We say quite clearly: Hands off.

The tour from the outside

The roof

To get a full overview and therefore a clear view, grab a ladder or carefully step up onto the drawbar. Take a look at the roof from there. Can you see any obvious repairs, cracks or other damage? Look in particular at the roof hatches.

These are located in a prominent position and are therefore a potential weak point. If the hatch is cracked or the seal is obviously porous, moisture can penetrate here. It cannot escape and then collects in the roof and festers.

Photo: (c) CamperStyle

You should also be able to recognize hail damage relatively quickly: These are many small dents on the outer skin that you can see if you look at the roof at eye level – ideally against the sun. Basically, hail damage is only a visual defect.

However, you should still ask the seller about the damage. If the seller has only reported the incident to his insurance company and then had the money paid out without repairing the damage, you will most likely not receive any compensation if the hail damage occurs again.

The reason for this is that you cannot prove to the insurance company whether the damage is actually new hail damage or perhaps the old hail damage. This is a bit annoying when you consider that every partially comprehensive insurance policy automatically includes insurance against hail damage and you are indirectly paying for this insurance.

The outer walls

Smooth and without visible bulges – this is what a healthy caravan exterior wall should look like. If, on the other hand, bulges are visible or if the skin has gentle waves or wrinkles in some places, caution is advised. Such changes may indicate moisture damage in the wood used. Tip: The best way to see such bulges in the outer skin is to look at them against the light.

Whenever parts are installed directly on the outside of the caravan wall and fastened with screws, there are potential gateways for moisture to penetrate. Prominent points such as maneuvering handles, the service hatch, windows, but also add-on parts such as the ventilation grille of the refrigerator are typical danger points. Poor sealing ensures that water can penetrate here and run down the side walls into the wooden floor, where it can collect and slowly cause the floor to rot.

To rule out moisture damage, check the strength of the conspicuous area, for example the area directly under the window or service flap, with the knock test. To do this, use the knuckles of your hand and tap the relevant areas. An intact wall must not yield to finger pressure and must be dry and firm.

In addition to the walls, the condition of the windows is also important. Pay particular attention to damage to the windows, such as cracks. Obvious repairs such as fresh silicone under or in the window frame indicate that there are leaks and that work has already been carried out here. Again, be sure to ask the seller and also carry out the knock test to clarify this issue.

The black vertical streaks, the rain streaks, which are often found directly under the windows, are only a visual problem. They can be removed with a little special cleaner.

The caravan and boat cleaner from Dr. Keddo, the intensive cleaner from the MyCleanHome care set (watch the test video here) and the Frosch grapefruit cleaner, among others, reliably remove these ugly things. Forums also praise the Italian miracle product “Sgrassatore universale”, which removes black streaks and other stains without much rubbing.

The underbody:

If water penetrates from the outside through one of the critical points such as leaking window strips, handles etc., it runs down along the side wall and collects in the wooden floor, which rots within a short time. You should pay particular attention if you notice clear water stains or peeling underfloor paint.

The knock test is also one of our most important tools when checking the base plate. The first step is to tap all four corners of the base to see if they are firm – if moisture collects, it is likely to be in the corners. In the second step, check all four sides using the knock test. This will give you considerable information about the condition of the caravan.

The metal frame also deserves attention. Pay particular attention here to cracks or rust spots and whether the screw connection of the base plate to the frame is inconspicuous, especially whether the screws are rust-free.

The tires

When it comes to tires, every driver immediately thinks of the tread height. However, the age of the tires is at least as important as whether they are worn or not. If the caravan you are buying has a 100-tyre registration, you may not use it with tires that are more than six years old. Otherwise the registration is no longer valid. And this happens automatically.

The tour from the inside

If the exterior of the caravan is free of any serious flaws that would immediately put you off buying it, it’s time to move on to the interior of the caravan. In other words, your future living room. Here it is important that you sharpen all your senses to get an accurate impression of the object of your desire and not overlook anything important.

Instead of your eyes, however, your sense of smell is required when you enter the caravan. Use your nose as the fine instrument that it really is: a highly sensitive instrument for detecting the most delicate smells. A caravan should smell neutral and not strange.

In particular, it must never, never, never smell of mold or mildew. If you notice such an odor, it’s time to say goodbye and leave. Musty, moldy nuances indicate leaks and rotting wood and have no place inside a caravan.

Photo: (c) CamperStyle

Be suspicious if all the windows and the door are wide open during the inspection. The seller may be trying to cover up an unpleasant smell from the caravan. To check, simply close all the windows and the door and re-enter the caravan after a few minutes. If the caravan still smells as neutral as before, the seller may just be a real fan of fresh air ☺.

If your nose has done its job, now it’s time for your eyes. So take a good look around. The first impression speaks volumes. Does the inside of the caravan make a well-kept impression, or does it look more like a den of thieves? Of course, the years leave their mark on every caravan.

But a worn, perhaps even greasy, unkempt interior should ring all your alarm bells. It’s too easy to assume that a seller who hasn’t even looked after the interior, i.e. his direct comfort zone, has also neglected the car technically. You probably won’t be able to expect a valid gas test here.

Look up first when inspecting the interior. The critical point here is again the roof hatch. If you see water rings or other conspicuous areas around the hatch, tap the critical areas and see if the area gives way under finger pressure. If so, this indicates water damage in the ceiling. A criterion for exclusion.

Open all cupboards, including the closet. The chimney extension is often installed here. This is a known entry point for moisture from outside and should be checked. The wall cupboards can hold many a surprise. Look for water marks in the corners as the first sign of moisture penetrating from outside. If you recognize such signs, which are typical of pronounced water damage, it is better not to make the purchase.

You should also inspect the interior walls for water stains, especially behind the curtains. Do you see any dark spots or water marks? The windows are also typical places for moisture in the interior. A knock test on the area under the frame will give you certainty. If possible, lift the window rubber a little and look underneath. If the wood still appears light and firm, everything seems to be in order.

A useful instrument for measuring moisture in the caravan is a moisture meter, which you can buy at any DIY store or order from Amazon.

Are all appliances and installations working, is the toilet doing its job?

If everything is in the green zone in terms of humidity, turn to the technical details. Check that all appliances are working. Are the fridge, heating, gas stove and water boiler working? If available: Are the mover, satellite dish and TV, air conditioning or alarm system, second battery and other additional installations intact and ready for use? And be sure to ask for a certificate of a valid gas test!

Next up is the toilet: does it flush properly? Does it smell bad in the bathroom? Be sure to take a look inside the toilet tank, where the cassette is located. Some used vehicle buyers have already experienced unpleasant surprises here!

▶▶Tip: The Fresh-up Set from Thetford is a great way to equip your used caravan with a new toilet system. For the current price of around 100 to 150 euros, you can get a brand new toilet seat with lid and matching waste tank. A good investment for anyone who wants to feel really comfortable in their bathroom.

You should also check the cupboards. Are the hinges in order? Open all the flaps. If they’re not, that’s not a defect that should stop you from buying. But it will strengthen your position when it comes to negotiating the price.

Of course, the lighting should also work – both inside and outside – check the rear lights, including reversing and brake lights, as well as the license plate lights.

Important questions for the seller

Everything seems to be in the bag, the caravan has passed your extensive tests, you like it and the price is ok. But before you sign the purchase contract, clarify the following points if they are still open:

• Why is the caravan being sold by the seller?
• Were there other previous owners? Are there landlords among them?
• Do you have all the necessary documents such as the vehicle documents?
• Does the caravan have a 100 license?
• When was the last gas test? Is there a certificate in accordance with G607? Attention for caravans from the Netherlands: There is no comparable gas test here. (Here, gas hoses are often only attached to the pressure reducer with hose clamps. NOT permitted according to G607).
• When is the next TÜV appointment due?
• Are there operating instructions and possibly warranty certificates for all technical devices?
• Is the seller aware of any defects or accidents?

Last but not least, it’s always your gut feeling that you should listen to and that will hopefully point you in the right direction. To be well prepared for the pick-up, take a look at our checklist for the caravan handover. Then nothing can go wrong.

We wish you every success in your search for your dream vehicle!

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Cover picture: (c) CamperStyle/ midjourney

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