So, you’d like to buy your first caravan. You’ve decided to buy a pre-owned one and now you’re looking for a checklist to help you through the process. Well, here it is, our 5-step guide to buying a used caravan.

First to consider are the reasons why buying a pre-owned caravan is such a good idea. Unlike a used car, a used caravan usually only covers a few hundred miles each year and some owners treat them like pampered pets, so with over 500,000 touring caravans in the UK there’s choice and value to be had from buying a pre-owned caravan.

With so many pre-owned caravans available you can narrow your search by identifying which caravans your car can safely tow. In short, your vehicle should weigh more than your caravan. Your car has what’s known as a ‘kerb weight’. Once you know the car’s kerb weight and the max tow limit, you then need to know the weight of the caravan you intend to purchase. You can usually find a caravan’s weight in the handbook, on the manufacturer’s website, or on a plate (usually positioned near the caravan’s door). However, our team can guide you through this.

The third stage to consider is the layout of your caravan. Knowing how many people will sleep in your caravan determines how many beds (berths) you need. Plus, if you plan to stay on one campsite and return there for all your holidays, you won’t need a caravan that’s designed for moving from site to site. Also, if you are keen on outdoor sports, you will probably need a different layout to someone who wants a less active holiday. Again, our team are on-hand to help advise in this area too.

The fourth factor is affordability. In your mind, you’ll probably have a vision of your perfect caravan. Whether you are buying with cash or on finance, you need to set a budget you are happy with and then explore what’s available in that range. Once all that is sorted, you’ll need to know where to buy your used caravan and when is the best time to buy it. Well, it won’t surprise you that we’d suggest right here and right now at Ropers Caravan World. We have over 125 caravans and motorhomes in stock to choose from including 50 used Bailey caravans, as well as a selection of Swift, Elddis, Lunar, Coachman, Compass, Hobby, and Sterling caravans, plus a selection of quality used motorhomes. On that basis, we’re sure you’ll be able to find your perfect caravan and with our early bird sale on right now, there’s never been a better time to buy with huge savings available and our 1-2-3 offer where you can choose from:

1. A free Powrtouch Freedom motor mover (single axle models only) OR
2. A free Truma 100watt solar panel OR
3. A further reduction of £500 off the ticket price

Be prepared to act fast though as these offers and great caravans won’t hang around forever!

With the Powrtouch Caravan Mover… you’ll be amazed where your caravan will fit! Available in single, twin axle and all-wheel drive with manual or automatic roller engagement, the Powrtouch range is designed to make moving your caravan a breeze as it allows you to move it to precisely where you want it to be. Lightweight and contemporary in design, you’ll have the ability to change direction without stopping and to engage/disengage both rollers from one side. Designed and built in the UK for over 25 years, these are an absolute must for all caravaners.

Truma Solar Panels – Your independent, intelligent power supply, supplying power to your caravan or motorhome wherever you are! These kits generate power even when it’s cloudy and are lightweight and durable. So, if you want even more comfort on the move, choose this.

Christmas is coming and it’s the time of year when we all struggle a little with what to buy our family and friends. With that in mind, we thought we’d do a little feature designed to help make your Christmas shop a little easier when shopping for the caravanner in your life. Here are our top 5 suggestions for this festive season:

2020 Armcher Motorhome & Caravan Calendar – £9.49 each

Full of antics to enjoy every day! Well worth a read, a real conversational point.

Christmas Mug Set – £12.99

Perfect with a partner – this Christmas mug set will grace any table, especially one that’s exploring over the Christmas period.

Floe Truma Ultra Flow Kit – £48.99

Maybe not the non-caravanner’s first thought, but this is one of our best sellers. The Floe system makes it easy to drain the motorhome or caravan’s water system, flushing pressurised air down the pipes, through the tank, and any pumps or mixer taps. It helps to prevent stagnant water, frozen pipes, bacteria growth, and keeps the system clean and fresh without hours of work. An essential for any caravanner.

Bamboo Bread Bin (Green Clover or Linear with Black Stripe) – £14.99

Made from Bamboo fibre, dishwasher safe with a wooden top that doubles as a bread board to save space, this is an important consideration when caravanning.

Lightweight – 13cm deep x 36cm long x 20cm wide.

Kampa Diddy Heater – £19.59

For extra heat as, when, and where it’s needed. Ideal for caravanning, camping, conservatories, garages, sheds, workshops, porches, and around the home.

With a bulging stocking, you are now well and truly ready for the festive season ahead, and so is the caravaner in your life. Just two things left to say really…

Firstly, if the caravanner in your life decides to buy a new or pre-owned caravan in the new year, please point them in our direction. We promise we’ll look after them. Secondly, Merry Christmas from Ropers!

1919 saw the first car-towed caravan enter commercial production here in the UK. The date marks the rise of caravanning for leisure and the start of the growth of the camping and caravanning industry.

It all began shortly before the start of the internal combustion engine era when a Scottish medic, Dr William Stables commissioned his ‘Wanderer’ caravan, which was hauled by two horses.

Following the horrors of the First World War, and with the growth in the number of personal motor cars, Britons were looking for new ways to spend their leisure time. Bill Eccles Snr of Eccles Motor Transport Ltd spotted a potential new and lucrative market, and created the world’s first prototype of a caravan, specifically designed to be towed behind a car.

In 1919, he sold the first prototype to the Dowager Countess Rhonda and soon had 50 more orders on his books. During the 1920s, he continued finessing his designs with th company becoming a world leader. The caravan was shown at the 1922 Motor Show in White City, which increased demand even further.

Today it is estimated that around one million Britons own a caravan or motorhome, and that the industry is worth about £6 billion to the economy each year. According to the National Caravan Club, 130,000 people are employed in the industry and Britons spend approximately £2 billion and stay 50 million nights in caravans each year. That’s an awful lot of nights!