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Essentially, people lie about many aspects of second hand caravans because they want to either get more money for their van or they want to get rid of one that turned out to be a bit of a lemon. This goes for dealers and sellers alike – these people are just out to make a quick buck, regardless of what issues it may cause you in the future.

When people lie about their second hand caravan in order to get you to pay more than it is worth, they will generally try to gloss over the age of the van and any problems that it may have. Some sellers even go as far as to find a newer van that is similar to their old one and claim that it is the newer model. Others will cover up problems with damp or damage caused by accidents, knowing that these issues drastically lower the worth of the caravan.

When people lie about their used caravans in order to get rid of a dodgy purchase, they will generally praise the quality of the van and not mention any issues or problems at all. Some sellers will try to prevent you from looking to closely at the entire van or certain areas of it (if this is the case, be very wary of what problems are lurking beneath). Others will try to sell the caravan online, usually though auction websites, hoping that the buyer will not want to view the van first (and offer a ‘no refund’ policy).

Ultimately, people will lie about the condition and age of second hand caravans because they are trying to squeeze every last penny out of you. You should always go with your gut instinct – if you feel you are paying too much for a used caravan, you probably are.

Second hand caravans are a great choice for satisfying budget constraints, being particularly useful for those looking for cheap and easy holidays, or for families who expect the motor-home to be subject to a certain amount of damaging wear and tear. Used caravans can also be bought on the spot, eliminating the waiting times associated with choosing specifications for and manufacturing a new recreational vehicle.

Choosing a second hand caravan, however, requires a little extra thought than purchasing a new model. Used motor-homes can be bought from either dealers or from private sellers. A second hand caravan dealer will usually offer a warranty with the second hand motor-home, guaranteeing that the vehicle is in good working order. Privately sold second hand caravans will usually be cheaper, but will not fulfil the same guarantees. Whether you buy from a dealer or a private seller, it is necessary to check the second hand caravan for defects before purchasing.

When assessing a second hand caravan the seller's description of the vehicle needs to be checked against the actual quality of the motor-home. Crucial elements such as brakes, road lights and appliances all need to checked before purchase to determine whether the vehicle is roadworthy or not. Second hand caravans should also be checked for damp, which can be particularly damaging to the interior of a caravan, as well as expensive to fix.

If you are looking at buying an second hand caravan more than a few years old it is important to check that all parts of the motor-home are intact and in working order, because some parts can be difficult and expensive to source. Once you have made a full assessment of the used caravan, you can start looking forward to your next holiday!