Top-20 used camper buying tips

Over the years I’ve experienced recreational vehicles at all levels, from ute-mounted campers to 27-foot caravans and quite a few in between. But I’ve always had a soft spot for camper trailers.

So when it came time to decide what I’d choose to hitch up to my Volkswagen Tiguan three or so years ago, there was absolutely no hesitation: An appropriately-sized camper trailer able to sleep at least four adults plus a small child comfortably was my virtually default position.

I’ve been convinced over the years that a small, light camper trailer makes good sense. It’s a pretty good way to hit the roads, as well as being a nice combination of sleeping under canvas while being elevated comfortably and securely above-ground while enjoying most of the usual caravan amenities.

The question was whether to buy new or second hand.

At the time I was in the market, the high-profile camper trailer specialist Jayco was offering an appealing, affordable entry-level model, presenting me with the dilemma of either buying new, or searching the web for something older, but slightly bigger, and maybe slightly less expensive.

In the end it was a virtual no-brainer. At the time Caravancampingsales presented a comprehensive and varied array of possible choices that fitted both my needs and my budget.

In due course I settled on a 1997 Jayco Flight offered for sale in my part of the world. Competitively priced and clearly well looked after, it came with quite a few handy extras such as an annexe, a big toolbox on the drawbar and even a hitch for a bike rack.

During the course of making the purchase and subsequebntly living with the Jayco, I found that even though I had covered all the normal bases when checking out my intended purchase, there have been some things I would probably have benefitted from knowing at the get-go.

In no particular order, I’ve listed the things that any buyer of a second-hand camper-trailer should cover off before writing a cheque.

Of course there’s no guarantee that even ticking off every item listed here is going to give you a faultless, trouble-free run, but through being as careful and observant as possible, the chances are pretty high.

Here, I’m talking about buying privately. You might not have the back-up of dealer support should you run into trouble, but at the same time you have a better opportunity to use your intuition in determining the integrity of the seller.

In fact, how you feel about the person to whom you’re about to hand over potentially thousands of dollars is vitally important. That’s where your inner senses come into play. In fact if you’re not an experienced reader of people, it might be best to take someone along with you who is.

So here’s my list of the things you should look for prior to making your used camper trailer commitment:

• Has the camper been kept under cover? If that’s the case, it's likely to have weathered the years better than a camper that’s been stored in the open. If not, is there a protective cover? A waterproof cover will help maintain the integrity of the roof, whether it be fibreglass or aluminium, although it won’t necessarily ward off any deleterious effects elsewhere.

• Check functions of gas/electric appliances. Ensure that the refrigerator is operational in all modes – 240 volts, 12 volts and gas – and that the cooking top is not only intact, but also properly operational. Your first trip out is not the best time to discover that your fridge and stove don’t function.

• Check the stove splash guard attachment. Especially in fold-down types where the stove and sink hinge down to make way for the lowered roof, the secure attachment of the cooking top, grates and splash guard is important. The mechanism is prone to failure if the camper is driven over rough roads.

• Check gas bottle/connections for compliance. As I discovered with my Jayco when having difficulties getting the stove and fridge to function on gas, the fittings between gas bottle and the camper’s plumbing were no longer compliant and needed replacement.

• Check all cupboard latches for function. It might not seem like much, but the content of your cupboards, drawers and other doored storage areas is dependent on the latch keeping everything securely contained when you’re on the road.

• How are the mattresses standing up? A little bit of sagging in a foam mattress is normal, but too much can compromise a good night’s sleep. While you’re at it, check the foam cushions too, including – where fitted – the Velcro strips that keep the backrests vertical.

• The external stays that hold the beds in place when extended play a pretty important role. Check they're in good condition and fit properly into the retaining catches. The same applies to the rods supporting the roof canvas over the beds. Sometimes the retaining slots at the upper ends can deteriorate, making it tricky to fit the rods in place.

• Check the interior lights. It’s not difficult to check the function of the interior light(s) on both 12 and 240 volts before you buy. Once again, a lot easier than being in the dark the first time you set up.

• Check you have all the keys – door/toolbox/water tank. Most campers will have at least a couple of keys for locking the door, or the water tank. Particularly in the case of the latter, a water tank is not much use if you can’t fill it. While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to check the pump over the sink to make sure it’s functioning properly too.

• Carefully check all canvas, including annexe poles etc. To really get to know your intended purchase you will need to see it in full regalia before buying, which means the annex should be up so you can check the condition of the canvas, poles and guy ropes. At the same time, you’ll be taking a close look at the condition of the canvas on the camper itself – as well as the windows, fly screens and curtains. Check the opening roof vent too.

• Operate all the many zips used in a camper trailer to make sure they’re working properly as well.

• Check the roof-winding function. Obviously the roof should wind up smoothly and easily. If it doesn’t, it’s time for a check of why not, probably involving somebody with prior knowledge of the mechanisms.

• Check under chassis for rust, water tank condition etc. What’s underneath your prospective camper trailer is as important as what’s on top. The chassis should be checked for deterioration including rust, suspension wear and damage.

• Equally as important is the condition of the tyres, including the spare wheel. Make sure there’s plenty of tread, both on the road and on the spare wheel. A protective cover for the latter is a good sign the camper has benefitted from some love and respect.

• If there’s a fire extinguisher, check its use-by date.

• Wind-down corner jacks are simple in operation but need to be properly greased to remain in good working order. Check lowering and raising functions, as well as the condition of the winding handle itself.

• Check the roof for potential leaking. Have a good look at the seals around the corners of the roof to ensure they’re doing their job of keeping the camper free of leaks.

• Obviously, you need to check all external light operations – stop/indicator/tail lights. It may be necessary to also check the car-trailer connector if some of the functions aren’t working, which often may be simply due to the pins in the connector needing some adjustment to ensure a proper electrical contact.

• If the camper is fitted with electric brakes, also take it for a test run to make sure everything’s in proper working order. A rolling check of hydraulic override brakes is also important.

• Lastly, it’s not a bad idea to check the jockey wheel function – is it securely mounted, does it fold/retract easily?

The bottom line is that a prospective purchaser can’t really be fussy enough when checking out a used camper trailer. 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.