Searching for that perfect new caravan can be a headache. You can trawl through endless websites and magazines, but there’s nothing like getting inside the real thing and having a good look and poking around. This is where visiting a show comes into its own, letting you see the latest models from the biggest names in the industry. To get the most from your experience, it’s crucial to know how to buy a caravan at a show.
Here, I’m sharing a few hints and tricks that will explain exactly why it’s worth going to a show, help you get the most from your experience and set you on your way to buying the best caravan for your needs.
1. The benefits of going to a show
Let’s say you’re considering a fixed-bed layout. While the bed may appear large enough on paper, it might actually be too narrow or too short in reality. As a result, the only way to check if you fit is to actually lie down on one.
After you’ve determined which layout you want, you might find a dealer not too far away that has a demonstrator of one particular brand, but you can almost guarantee that if you want to compare a couple of models from different makes of caravan they won’t have both. By the time you locate that second model, the chances are (if you’re like me!) that you will have forgotten the detail of the first one.
This is where the various caravan shows come into their own. In the main, all the UK’s manufacturers have all their models on display – the bigger shows also attract overseas brands such as Adria, Knaus and Hymer. In most cases they’re all in one place too (or under several roofs in the case of the February and October shows at the NEC Birmingham), so you can wander freely from one model to another – and maybe back again! – to compare and contrast various types of caravan back-to-back.
2. Do your research before you go
If you really are starting from scratch, I’d suggest doing a little research before leaving home. Shows are great for seeing lots of caravans at the same time under the same roof but, in the case of the NEC Birmingham, there’s going to be lots of halls to explore! To make sure you get the most from your time at the show, it’s good to have some ideas, so you see what you need to. Consider how many berths you want, what kind of layout suits you and the car/caravan matching that you can get away with.
Research brands before you visit a show too. Check out our annual Owner Satisfaction Survey results – each year, Practical Caravan readers and members of The Camping and Caravanning Club tell us about their buying and owning experiences, both of their ’van and of their interactions with the supplying dealer.
We then draw up tables of those brands and dealers who have impressed them the most – it’s essential reading for anyone considering a tourer.
3. Think about your touring habits
Once you’ve worked all that out and narrowed it down to some brands/ranges that suit your pocket try to weed it down to a couple of models. If you’re only going to use the caravan over the summer period, there’s not much point in having things like Alde type heating (which increases weight and cost) but, conversely, if you’re a hardy soul who’s going to be towing a caravan in winter, then it might be.
If you’re a family with young children, whilst a fixed-bed layout might look attractive, it might not be that practical for your use. Having a list of ‘must-have’ and ‘would-like-to-have’ features will help you refine your search.
4. Know your budget
Think carefully about your budget and don’t forget that you will also need to factor in the additional cost of insurance, kit, a cover and more. Don’t forget there will also be a wide range of accessories on offer at come shows, making it an ideal place to stock up on those caravan essentials, as well as any luxury caravan accessories you may need.
5. Take your time in each van
So you’ve picked your shortlist. Go and spend some time in each of them, and have a good look around. Take your time and don’t be rushed – a caravan is a big purchase, you want to get it right. Go back if you want to check something you’ve missed. Are the sofas comfy? Are the beds long/wide/low enough? Can you reach that high-set microwave? Do you fit in the shower?
Be mindful that most of the caravans on show will have some form of extra lighting (usually tucked up into rooflights) to give perhaps a false impression of light. Try not to be drawn in by the ‘showroom glitz’, but pay attention to the detail.
6. Be willing to compromise
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll find a ‘perfect’ caravan, as they’re all a compromise in one way or another, but if you can live with small foibles then don’t write that particular model off. If it would be an irritation (and can’t be altered) every time you use the caravan, then look elsewhere.
7. Show-only deals
One reason that buying from a show can be advantageous is that there are often goodies thrown into the deal. Manufacturers will sometimes add extras for ‘free’, such as a motor mover or other options, or offer exclusive show-only discounts on caravans sold at the show.
8. Know your dealers
Eventually you settle on one caravan that ticks the vast majority of your boxes, so it’s time to start talking to a dealer. If you’re a seasoned caravanner and know a good dealer that’s not too far from your home, then see if they’re represented at the show. If you’re new to the game, be careful. Find out where any dealer that you speak to is based. It may be that you’re offered a fantastic deal on a new caravan, but if they’re based a couple of hundred miles away from where you live then it’s likely to be a poor deal overall. Why? Sadly, the chances are that you will need something rectifying under warranty, so you don’t want to have to travel for hours.
If you have a dealer of the brand that you’re set on nearer you than the one who you are considering buying from, you might be very lucky and they might do the repairs, but don’t be surprised if they refuse, so you’ll have to return to the dealer you bought it from. Other dealers are not obliged to do the repairs, and will prioritise their own customers. We often compare the caravan industry to the car industry, but in reality they are miles apart.
9. Don’t feel rushed into a decision
Remember also that you don’t have to sign there and then (unless it’s the last hour of the last day of the show, when you might be under a bit of pressure). If it’s possible, speak to a couple of dealers. Get a price that it’s going to cost you, and if you find a dealer who waffles and won’t give you a firm price, walk away and seek out another.
10. Take plenty of pictures
Take lots of photographs of models you’re interested in. That way, you can go away and discuss your potential purchase over a coffee, and have images to refer to in case of queries.
Don’t forget to take a photograph of the outside of each tourer, so you know which one is which! It’s also a good idea to take a snap of the information board you’ll find outside each model, for reference.
11. Caravan financing
Have you thought about how you will be financing a caravan? If it’s on a loan, then there are usually some decent finance arrangements available at the shows. Plus, the main finance companies are usually represented so you’ll be able to get a pretty instant decision. You may want to consider part-exchange.
Only you can decide the best way to fund your purchase, but either way, set your budget and stick to it – it’s all too easy to be tempted to spend more than you planned in the heat of the moment.
12. Keep up-to-date
Chances are that you’ll be given a date for manufacture, but don’t be too surprised if that comes and goes. Stay in touch with your dealer to keep up-to-date.
After buying your new tourer, you’re going to want to do everything you can to maintain it and keep it looking its best – that’s where our guide to caravan servicing comes in.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Caravan magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things caravan related.
Take your time and don't be rushed – a caravan is a big purchase, you want to get it right
