Key Buying Decisions when Choosing a Touring Caravan

Let's assume you have some experienced caravanning, either with friends or family, may be you spent time in the family caravan as a child, and are now looking to recreate some happy memories with your own children.

You excitedly arrive at your preferred new and used caravan dealer, Homestead Caravans & Outdoor Leisure of course and eagerly begin to peer inside the many windows of the caravans on display, when it suddenly occurs to you that you have no idea how to identify which caravans are most suited to your requirements.

Realising your short-comings you head into the sales office to speak with a member of the sales team who, greets you with a big smile and is happy to sit down and spend some time discussing the various layouts, specifications, options, budgets and available financing. Before arriving at Homestead Caravans to find a quality caravan, we recommend you make a comprehensive list of your requirements, to help narrow down the field. If the caravan is to be used for family holidays, make sure you get everyone involved from the start to ensure your requirement list is as inclusive as possible.

Here follow some of the key requirements we recommend you at the very least discuss before heading out in search of your perfect caravan:

Do you have a Budget in mind?

It can be an awkward question to be asked, which any good sales person will appreciate, but the question is actually a very practical one that allows the sales person to qualify, which caravan models to consider, as he or she works through your list of requirements. There's no point spending time looking around caravans you cannot afford. A good sales person won't completely exclude caravan models that marginally exceed your specified budget, it might be just what you are looking for and the deal breaker – a little number juggling by both parties can overcome any budget restraints.

Calculating the Maximum Weight your Tow Car can Handle

Before you set your heart on a particular make and model of touring caravan you need to be sure your tow car is capable of towing it safely. This is an extremely important factor when deciding whether or not a caravan is suited to your tow car, and therefore safe to tow. Once the maximum weight your tow car has been established the field of caravans available to you will be greatly narrowed.

Twin axle caravans are usually the largest and the heaviest available but they are often the type of caravan that contains a fixed double bed and a larger toilet and shower area. This makes twin axle caravans quite popular amongst caravanner's who, like to spend a lot of time making good use of their caravan.

Large single axle caravans and twin axle caravans are ideally suited to towing by four-wheel drive vehicles although some larger saloons and estate cars may also be suitable tow cars. When calculating the maximum weight your particular car can tow it is important to consider the kerb weight of the towing vehicle. Kerb weight is the weight of a car without occupants or baggage.

The ideal kerb weight ratio is 85% of the vehicle weight, although in theory you could pull 100% of your vehicles weight and still tow legally.

It is important to note that some vehicles have a maximum towing weight of lower that the kerb weight. Under such circumstances it's vitally important specified weights are adhered to.

All touring caravans have a published unladen weight and loading margin for all essential and personal equipment. These figures are known as 'Mass in Running Order' and the 'Payload',.

Mass in Running Order includes 'Essential Habitation Equipment' and Payload includes 'Personal Effects' and 'Optional Equipment Payload'.

The final figure quoted is the 'Maximum Technical Permissible Laden Mass' or MTPLM for short! This is the weight that the caravan should not exceed when fully loaded. The margins provided are usually more than enough and caravan owners would be hard pushed to exceed the loading figure.

Of course, when considering the total towing weight of a caravan one needs to keep in mind all of the holiday equipment and paraphernalia a modern caravan holiday entails. An exhaustive list of additional equipment can soon be compiled such as, caravan awning, 12V television, satellite equipment, camping furniture and gas barbecue etc..

Caravan Storage & General Handling!

Not an obvious consideration at first but just imagine proudly driving home with your new caravan, neighbours enviously peaking from behind the curtains to get a glimpse, only for you to discover that the caravan is 10 inches too long!! My goodness, how horrendously embarrassing and frustrating that would be! Believe it or not that does happen.

If you don't have plans to store the caravan at home then you probably don't need to worry but if not, it's a good idea to measure just how much space you have for storage before you settle on the caravan of your dreams.

It's also worth a moments reflection on how much effort is required to move the caravan when on site and at home. If the caravan is simply too heavy for you to handle then don't despair, there are a range of electrical motorised wheels that can do most of the work for you.

Caravan Motor Movers have become an essential bit of kit in recent years, thanks to a significant fall in price. Motor Movers offer welcome manoeuvring assistance on-site and when trying to park the caravan at home, especially in difficult locations where precise steering is required to avoid damaging the caravan.

How many people will be sleeping in the Caravan?

A basic and yet vital consideration when buying a caravan. Caravans tend to come in 2, 4, 5 or 6 berth variations with additional outside sleeping room provided by purchasing a caravan awning.

Logic follows that a family of 4 require a caravan with a minimum of 4 beds but that doesn't mean to say a family of 4 shouldn't buy a 5 berth or 6 berth caravan if it is found to tick all the boxes. Indeed 4 berth caravans are very popular with couples because of the extra room they provide, especially when a fixed bed layout is preferred.

Perhaps you have plans to take family or friends along too, in which case it's best to plan ahead now and consider where your guests are going to sleep.

Do you have any Caravan Layout preferences?

When buying a touring caravan there are several notable layouts to consider. For families with two or more children fixed bunks are very popular, especially if children are planning to bring along friends.

Smaller families or couples that occasionally take grandchildren often prefer caravans with side bunk beds that during the day can be converted into a small dinette area. This type of caravan usually has a large end washroom with separate shower facility.

Layouts that have become increasingly popular over the years include a fixed double bed, these are particularly well suited to caravanner's who travel in pairs, as the other sleeping accommodation often is fairly compromised. Unless the caravan is one of the larger models with a twin axle, where you can sometimes get a couple more single berths.

When using the Caravan Search on our website, you will see a 'Layout' selector, which allows you to filter our caravans according to your preferred layout types.

Choosing a suitable level of Specification

The level of modern specification available offered by each caravan will mostly be determined by two factors - Age & Budget. If you are buying a second hand caravan it's more likely the appliances won't be bang up to date but that doesn't mean your experiences will be any less meaningful.

The two most important considerations have to be the basic essentials, which of course has to be Hot Water and Heating, everything thing else is icing on the cake as far as creating a photo album of happy memories goes.

This isn't to undermine or devalue the benefits of caravans that offer the very latest technology and gadgets, we all like to feel as comfortable as we can afford in our surroundings.

Caravan Manufacturer Warranty

The majority of new caravans sold in the UK are sold with a 3-years warranty, which not unlike the motor industry is, dependent upon an annual service. In this instance, it is ideal for the supplying caravan dealer to meet servicing requirements, where manufacturer updates and any additional warranty work can be undertaken.

In addition to the 3-year warranty, the majority of new caravans now come with a 10-year body integrity warranty, which typically covers water ingress and panel delamination. However, this is also dependent upon the continuation of annual servicing while the caravan is in your ownership. The point here is, if you are looking to buy a high end second hand caravan, you may in fact be better off going all in by buying a brand new caravan, as the extended warranty a new caravan offers may well prove to be a worthwhile investment. 

Most used caravans for sale at Homestead Caravans are supplied with a 6-month warranty and receive a 'Pre-Delivery Inspection' or PDI prior to collection.

Essential & Non Essential Caravan Accessories

Although most new caravans are equipped with some of the essential caravanning equipment required for a successful caravan holiday, there are still plenty of other caravan accessories that are not. Most new caravans will include a spare wheel, 230v site to caravan lead and a step for safe entry and exit. In addition most touring caravans are supplied with a dry ball stabiliser, such as those manufactured by Winterhoff and Alko. Essential caravan kit such as a 12V leisure battery, fresh and waste water containers and LPG gas cylinders will still be required.

You may be able to make good use of existing items you have at home such as cutlery and crockery, pots and pans and sleeping bags. A comprehensive selection of camping, motorhome and caravan equipment can be purchased from the Homestead Caravans 15,000 square feet accessory shop or our online caravan shop, at low everyday prices with next day delivery to boot!

It's worth mentioning that when you buy a touring caravan from Homestead Caravans very often they will come with an 'Accessory Starter Pack' included in the deal.

Ultimately where ever you decide to buy your caravan, it's important to build a good relationship with your dealer. Having a good relationship with your caravan dealer will lead to positive and enjoyable holiday experiences for years to come. A caravan dealer worthy of your custom should be knowledgeable, trustworthy, friendly and always make time for a chat and be able to offer advice, long after the caravan has left the show-ground.

Swift Group Launch New First Time Buyers Information

Swift Group, the UK’s leading manufacturer of touring caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes, has collated a range of information to the help the First Time Caravan Buyer.

A caravan can give you the freedom that other types of holiday struggle to match, however, Swift realise that buying your first caravan can be quite daunting and wanted to help customers by providing all the information they need to point them in the right direction. A new First-Time Buyers section within the Swift Group website was launched on 12th January 2015. at  covering everything from the basics of what a caravan can offer and how to choose the right one for you, to getting on the road and planning your holiday.

Within this section there is also a link to a video on their dedicated Swift TV channel - ‘The Basics and Getting Started’ covering:

• What a caravan can offer you
• Types of caravan available
• How to choose the right caravan for you
• Your driving license and towing
• Matching your outfit
• Buying your caravan
• Storing your caravan

Swift Group Commercial Director, Nick Page commented, “We have noticed there has been an increase in interest from people wanting to enjoy the freedom a caravan holiday can provide, but they don’t always know how to go about getting started. As a company we strive to offer excellent customer service and by providing a comprehensive range of information for the first time buyer we are extending this ethos to anyone who might be new to the caravan market. Our aim is to point them in the right direction and locate their local dealer who can then help them find a quality caravan.”