How to inspect a used caravan

Looking to buy a second-hand caravan or RV, but need some guidance on the most important things to inspect before handing over your hard-earned money?

The bottom line is that a prospective buyer can’t really be fussy enough when checking out a used caravan. Obviously nobody likes being a pain, but with due diligence you should be able to drive away with a recreational vehicle that will give you many years of fun and pleasure.

Check for rot and rust

Moisture/water damage is one of the most common problems with used caravans, in particular aluminium-clad vans.

While this will cause most headaches with timber-frame vans, even aluminium frame vans can suffer from rotted interior lining and cabinetry if the van has been leaking.

You won’t easily tell if the rot has only gone as far as the timber frame, but often it will spread to the interior walls and cabinetry.

Look closely at the walls and inside cabinets for staining or if there’s a strong musty smell in the van – they’re pretty good signs that the van may have had or has a leak.

Any older caravan that has not been pampered is likely to have some water damage, but if the source of the leak wasn’t fixed quickly, it can lead to a pricey repair.

Also, grab a ladder and have a good look on top of the van. Minor creases on front and rear roof sections are not all that unusual (from impact damage from low branches, for example) and if there’s hail damage, it’ll be most obvious on the flat roof panels – and the price should reflect that the van has the damage.

Check the sealing and joins

Another thing to look for is deteriorated joint sealant, which could suggest leaks are about to or have occurred. If you see clear silastic used, it’s not a good sign, as it’s likely an acetic sealant and will eat into the aluminium.

You should also check down the sides and front and rear of the van for lifting sealant; leaks here may do less damage than a leak up top, but it could still end up causing expensive-to-fix wood rot.

Get your bearings

Wheel bearings are not expensive to replace but it’s good to know what state they’re in – if they’re loose it’s indicative of poor maintenance.

Grip each of the caravan’s wheels and rock it forwards and back (as you face the wheel) and listen and feel for any knocking or looseness, which can suggest a damaged and /or loose wheel bearing.

While down at the wheels, look underneath for chassis cracks, split or water damaged plywood flooring or timber-frame damage. Have a look at electrical wiring, gas and water lines and the water tank to see that they are secure and complete.

An out-of-date LP gas cylinder is hardly a deal-breaker, but check its inspection date. LP cylinders must be inspected within 10 years of the last inspection.

Check the brakes

There’s not much you can do about checking brakes without at least towing the van or pulling off the brake drums. Check the handbrake cables to make sure they’re not frayed and that there appears to be adequate tension on the cables when the handbrake is on.

From the late-1980s caravans were fitted with a compliance plate, typically in the front boot, inside the door or on the A-frame, so make sure that the VIN number corresponds with that on the rego papers, and that the wheel and tyre sizes also correspond with what is fitted to the van.

Also make sure the tyres don’t have cracked sidewalls – a sure sign they’ve perished and will need replacement.

Final checks

It’s also worth checking the boot, door and other locks have corresponding keys and that all cupboard latches, window locks and window winders operate.

Turn on the fridge, give it 10 minutes and see if the freezer section has become cold – if not, the fridge might need repairs. Remember that absorption fridges need to be used on a level surface or they won’t cool properly.

Also check all the other 12v and 240v equipment works.

To make sure you cover everything off during your inspection, the Caravan Council of Australia has a free online checklist to assist potential buyers of second-hand 'vans and other recreational vehicles.

The Used Caravan Buying Checklist can be found here.

You can also pay for a professional inspection, with RedBook Inspect now offering both a mobile pre-purchase inspection service as well as remote video inspections for caravans.

In the end, it’s easy to get caught up with the prospect of a new ‘used’ caravan but if you follow these steps you’ll have a good chance of a happy, post-purchase experience…