Buying a Static Caravan

Why are static caravans so popular?

Static caravans are becoming increasingly popular as holidaymakers look for an alternative methods to get away. They provide a holiday ‘home away from home’ that is readily available at all times and now caravan parks offer more and more activities, there has never been a better time to get in on the action. 

Things to consider before you buy a static caravan

Before you set off buying a static caravan, there are a few things to bear in mind.

Berth

Berth refers to how many people can sleep in a caravan. Caravans can have anything from two berth (room for two people to sleep) right up to eight berth. It’s important to know the size of caravan up front as it affects the options you have available to you.

Park location

The location of your static caravan will make a huge difference to your holiday experience so be sure to look at a number of locations and find the one for you.

Some things to think about include:

• How often you plan to holiday

• Whether you’ll be allowing friends and family to use it as well

• What local attractions are nearby

The park itself

Not only is the general location important but the park itself will take some thinking through. Different parks will suit each customers needs uniquely.

If you’re a younger family, then a park with a number of activities geared towards children will suit you a lot more while parks for younger caravan users will often have more evening entertainment.

It’s a good idea to visit a number of different parks to get a sense of what a holiday could be like, whether that’s on a sales day, staying in a friend’s caravan or even taking a mini-break.

Running costs:

It is also good to think about how much running a caravan will cost before you part with your money to buy one. 

Some of the major costs that can mount up include:

• Site fees – the ‘rent’ for the plot of land your static caravan will live on. This differs from park to park and can even differ at the same park, depending on your plot.

• Power – whether you go with gas or electric power, different parks will charge different rates and it’s worth thinking about before you go ahead and buy your caravan.

• Insurance – you’ll need to take out caravan insurance-  so that’s worth thinking about

Once you’ve given that some thoughts and you’re ready to buy your static caravan, you’ve then got the question of a new caravan or a used caravan.

Buying a static caravan

There are a few options you can consider when it comes to buying a holiday home of your own.

Buying a new static caravan:

Buying a new caravan means you have access to all the latest features and amenities right from the start, rather than having to spend money on repairs for a new one.

There are finance options available as well which can lessen the financial burden if need be.

You can also go for dual ownership where you share the cost of purchase with another. That way, you share the purchase costs as well as the initial outlay that goes with purchasing a static caravan. This does mean you’ll need to work out the particulars of who will hold responsibility for what part of the venture, how time will be shared, etc. but managed well, it has its perks. 

Buying a used static caravan:

Forget the stereotype of a freezing cold caravan with holes in the roof when it rains – even a decent used static caravan can be a worthwhile holiday investment. Here are some tips:

• Ask holiday parks – often they will either have a caravan for sale or know people who do.
• Make sure it’s the right age – most parks will have an age limit for the caravans allowed on site so keep an eye out for how old your potential caravan is.
• Have a good look – look at the chassis, watch for excessive rust, large pieces of debris falling off or flaking or damp. Pay attention to the state of the windows or damage to the shower/bath.

Taking these into consideration will hopefully lead to a great caravanning experience.

Top tips for looking after your static caravan

If you’re noticing a build-up of moss or algae type moulds growing on you caravan then use a mix of WD40 along with some warm water. A quick coat of the mixture every six months will keep moulds at bay and give your caravan a nice sheen too! – One more tip for this hack, make sure you use diluted vinegar for your windows or you could get streaks. 

Preventing damp in your static caravan

Even with all the prevention in the world, things will get damp. If a caravan is uninhabited in winter time, damp will grow. 

A great tip submitted by one of our Facebook community members is to leave a few bowls of salt around the caravan while you’re away. The salt will extract the moisture directly from the air. Less moisture in the air means less of that damp settling into your furniture or into the caravan itself!

Taking that one step further you can add uncooked rice to the salt too. As the salt draws in the moisture the rice grains will lock it in stopping the salt from becoming saturated. This will lengthen the affect the salt can have.

Granted, this would never be preferable to being able to periodically visit the caravan to ventilate, or even using a dehumidifier, but if needs must, simple tricks like this can have a positive effect against damp related problems.

Carbon monoxide in your static caravan

Carbon monoxide is certainly a risk that’s worth being very careful of; breathing in even low levels of this gas is highly dangerous. Carbon monoxide can be released from poorly fitted appliances or paint and is especially likely to occur where there is a lack of ventilation.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning you should get your appliances checked every 12 months especially if you have an older caravan. If you rent your static caravan to others this is a legal requirement but if not we still highly recommend it.

Checking caravan gas levels

What’s a sunny day without a BBQ?

Before you get cooking it’s an idea to check how much gas you have in the tank so you know you’ve got enough to keep things lit. Use this simple hack to check, just boil some water and pour it down the side of your canister making sure you don’t pour any over the top. Carefully press your hand against the canister and feel which level is cold and which is warm. Where the cold and the warm section meet will indicate the level of gas you have remaining for your BBQ.