Things to look for when buying a used campervan
Written by Daily Fix - Published 17-Aug-2022, last updated 21-Jun-2024
Are you ready to buy your first campervan? Or are you an experienced campervan owner looking to replace your existing camper? In this article we look at the things you should look for then buying a used campervan from a private seller or motorhome dealer.
First things first, sort out the finances
How do you intend paying for the campervan? Are you paying with cash, savings or a bank loan?
If you are paying using a bank loan then is the loan offer in place. Don't waste time viewing campers for sale and choosing one to purchase only to find out your bank loan application is refused. Make sure the loan has been agreed an that you know what your ultimate budget is.
If you are purchaing from a dealer and you want to pay by debit or credit card it may be worth speaking with your card provider to let them know there may be a large card transaction soon and check it they foresee a problem approving the card payment.
Where to find the best deals on used campervans
Are you looking to purchase a campervan from a private seller, or from a campervan dealer?
You may not have a preference, but you may only want to purchase from a dealer that offers afterservice and a warranty.
As with buying a car, you are likely to pay less purchasing from a private seller than from a dealer. Given two identical campervans, purchasing from a private seller will more than likely be cheaper than purchasing from a campervan dealer. But are you happy to risk purchasing from a private seller when you will probably have no comeback should problems arise after the purchase? Or would you feel safer purchaing from an established camper van dealer with a good reputation and a vehicle warranty?
You can find campervans for sale in lots of places. Online campervan listing sites, campervan dealer websites, eBay, Facebook Marketplace etc. Just be careful, if you are purchasing from a dealer see if you can find online reviews, if you are purchasing through a facebook or eBay listing then look at the feedback left for the seller.
What to look for when inspecting a used campervan
When you begin looking for your first, or next, campervan it may be tempting to overlook high mileage newer vehicles in favour of low mileage older vehicles. But remember, most campervans are based on commercial vehicles with the primary purpose of being on the road all day clocking up big miles. Older vehicles with low mileage may look tempting, but remember that mechanical, suspension and chassis problems can be as much age-related as mileage related.
So you should probably look for a campervan as new as possible for your money regardless of mileage. A three-year-old camper with 100,000 miles may well be a better buy than a 10-year-old campervan with 50,000 miles.
Check the exterior of the campervan
The exterior of the campervan will be the first thing you see when viewing the van. Is there any damage to the bodywork - dents or rust?
Check the tyres to see if they are matching. A campervan owner who ensures the same tyres are fitted on all 4 wheels is probably a conscientious owners who cherised their camper.
While you're looking at the wheel rubber, check for uneven tyre wear. This could be a sign that the wheels are misaligned or, more seriously, that there is damage to the suspension caused by pot holes or traffic calming humps. So remember to check if there are any signs of damage to the suspension system.
Check the interior of the campervan
What is your first impression of the overall condition of the inside of the campervan? If the interior of the campervan looks like it's just rolled out of the showroom then this is a good indication that the current owver has looked after the vehicle. And if they've taken care of the inside of the campervan then they have probably also serviced it regularly and generally looked after the campervan.
If it's a little shabby inside, remember that dirt cleans off. But tears in seats and damaged pieces of trim can be expensive to repair.
Under the bonnet
You may know nothing about engines, but anyone can do a few simple checks to assess it's condition.
Check the fluids
Locate the dipstick and remove it. What colour is the oil at the end of the dipstick? Look for oil that is honey coloured or light brown. If the oil is dark brown or black then ask the owner when the camper was last serviced as dark oil can be a sign of all sorts of problems ahead.
While you're checking the oil, remove the oil filler cap and check it for creamy deposits. This is sometimes called mayonnaise and can be a sign that water or condensation is mixing with the oil. It can also indicate a blown cylinder head gasket.
Look for leaks
Are there any signs of leaksin the engine bay, or underneath the vehicle. Can you see oil on the seller's driveway?
Timing belt
Ask the owner when the timing belt was last changed. Vehicle manufacturers have schedules for timing belt replacement. For instance, it may be 5 years or 80,000 miles - whichever comes first.
Find out when the cambelt (another name for timing belt) was last changed and if it's due to be changed, or overdue, factor this into what you think the campervan is worth.
Check the service history of the campervan
Visual checks are all well and good, but ask to see the service book and bills for work carried out on the campervan. These help you build a picture of how the camper has been looked after and whether important jobs like cambelt replacement, gearbox services and brake services have been carried out at the recommended intervals. Don;t you want to purchase a campervan from the type of person who takes the time to keep service records and file them away neatly!
Take the campervan on a test drive
If you have valid insurance, ask the seller if you can take it out on a test drive so that you can asses how it drives and see if you can detect any issues.
If you are not insured to drive other vehicles then ask the seller to drive while you sit in the passenger seat.
As with any test drive take some time and make sure you drive on a route of different types of road with different speed limits. Drive far enough for the engine to get hot, stop it when it's hot, then try to start it again. Does it start OK?
Do you hear any knocks and rattles from the suspension and under the bonnet when the campervan is being driven?
When the engine starts, is there any blue smoke coming from the exhaust? It could indicate the engine is burning oil due to an oil leak.
Check the dashboard, are there any warning lights? Check each and every switch - do they all work?
What did you think after the test drive? Did anything worry you, or was everything as you would expect?
Have a habitation check done
Currently, habitation tests are optional for campervans and motorhomes; nonetheless, any savvy owner will ensure they have had one every year. If you are purchasing a campervan from a private seller ask them for evidence of regulary habitation check. And don't assume that the campervan is safe, get a habitation check done as a condition of the purchase.
Having an annual campervan habitation check, by a campervan or motorhome approved specialist, is an important part of campervan ownership. The annual vehicle service takes care of looking after the engine, drivetrain, and other oily bits - but things like the water and gas systems, pumps, ventilation and safety equipment like fire extinguishers also need to be checked.
If the campervan you are looking to purchase does not have a valid habitation safety certificate, ask the seller to have the safety test done before you purchase.
How to negotiate the price of a used campervan
If your campervan test drive went without incident and all the paperwork looks in order, it's time to do the deal.
Take into account things like when the next service is due, when the timing belt needs to be changed, whether the camper needs new tyres or brakes and how may miles the camper has covered.
If you've looked at a few campervans for sale then you will have a sense of what's available in the market and what they are selling for.
Don't be afraid to offer less than the asking price, expecially if things need to be done to bring it up to the condition you are happy with.
When and if you agree on a deal, how are you going to pay? Cash may seem the easiest, but if you don't like the idea of carrying around large amounts of cash, a bank transfer may be safer.
If you are paying by bank transfer, as the seller to see a copy of a bank statement so that you can verify the account number and sort code, and that the account belongs to the campervan seller.
Ask for a written receipt and keep it safe. Though a private sale is unlikely to come with a warranty, if a fault develops within a few weeks it's important to have evidence of the terms of the sale in case you decide to take matters further if the seller refuses to repair any faults which you think may have been present when you purchased but were not disclosed.