caravan valuation please
Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 10:57
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scatinkate
Husband and I have been camper trailer campers for ten years and are now looking for second hand caravan. Have found a Windsor Sunchaser 5/6 Berth Pop Top
1996 Model 16'6 x 7'6 with Heron 2.2 reverse cycle air conditioner, electrolux 12v, 240v, gas fridge/freezer. 4 burner gas stove with separate grill. Dual Gas bottles, microwave oven, digital
TV antenna, bunk beds that fold down to a large dining area or alternatively double bed. Main double bed has new custom mattress. Fully insulated, coil spring independent
suspension. Electric brakes, security screen door. roll out awning for short stays or full annex with doors at either end full fly screens and skirt to clip to van. Custom made SS storage box mounted onto rear bumper. water hose. New tyres. Only second owner.
Can anyone give me an indication of a fair price please? Current owner is asking $23,000 neg.
We also have a 1999 Volvo station wagon V70 2.5T to tow it. Capacity tow weight is 1600kg. Will that do it?
Reply By: xcamper - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:08
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:08
Hi
As with all used vans, the fair price is what it is worth to YOU.
It is virtually impossible to price a caravan ,unseen.
The van you are looking at sounds really good, but you are the people to make a decision.
pete
AnswerID:
400305
Follow Up By: scatinkate - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:12
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:12
thanks, have seen photos and it looks in good nick, will have to do an inspection.
Tow weight is 1,380kg.
Pete, does that sound okay?
FollowupID:
669427
Follow Up By: xcamper - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:13
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:13
Hi,again,
I think the TARE weight of a sunseeker is 1030kg.
pete
FollowupID:
669428
Follow Up By: xcamper - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:34
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:34
Hi ,again,
If you want to worry yourselves about "value for money", google Trading Post, and search ,many vans, many prices, but it will give you an idea when you compare pictures, but, you should have a good inspection of the van you are after.
The description of yours sounds really good, but remember the saying, Caveat Emptor.
pete
FollowupID:
669439
Follow Up By: Member - Timbo - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 13:07
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 13:07
I agree, you really need to do your research and find out what other similar vans are selling for. Browse the dealer yards and/or the online (or newspaper)
classifieds and you'll get some idea what similar vans are selling for. It also pays to look at the posting date for online ads - a van that's been advertised for a long time COULD be overpriced (although price isn't the only reason why some things don't sell quickly). It will at least give you some idea, and you may even end up finding a better one (or an equal one cheaper)!
FollowupID:
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Reply By: signman - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:52
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:52
$23 grand !! Tell him "He's Dreamin"
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: scatinkate - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:19
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:19
Hi signman,
What would you offer?
FollowupID:
669437
Follow Up By: On Patrol & TONI - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 20:34
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 20:34
A mans van is his "castle" no matter what it's worth signman LOL
FollowupID:
669521
Reply By: Isuzumu - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:34
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:34
Check out RVPoint.com.au, one same year $18,500, another $18,900 and a 2000 $19,990 hope this helps.
AnswerID:
400318
Follow Up By: scatinkate - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:40
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 12:40
thanks so much Bruce! I will
check those out. We specifically want something with bunks for the girls and that is aircon.
FollowupID:
669441
Follow Up By: PradOz - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 13:39
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 13:39
HI - as a sideline to your thread, i suggest you do some research starting here on EO about c'van air conditioners and fridges. You could spend lots of money thinking a van with all the goodies will deliver all you expect only to have fancy pieces of unusable equipment. You may need to do your own work on these to get them up to manufacturer spec so they work properly. Most van manufacturers do not install them as they are recommended to. Often it relates to something as simple as cable size etc, but you can find plenty of questions and answers on here and also by using google. I dont have any idea if this particular van is up to the fridge and a/c manufacturer recommendations but someone on here may have experience there. cheers
FollowupID:
669451
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 14:18
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 14:18
It would also pay to have it weighed prior to parting with your money.
With all the extras it has I would suggest the plated weight and the actual
weight would bear little resemblence to each other.
Even without your clothes and stuff it may
well exceed its legal ATM and/or the cars capacity
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Gregh2 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:39
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:39
Hey Graham - as an aside, how do you find the Corrimal?
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Follow Up By: Willem - Thursday, Jan 21, 2010 at 09:33
Thursday, Jan 21, 2010 at 09:33
Ahhh! Graham,...never take SWMBO car or van shopping. The fairer mob always see the Bling and not the downside. Made that mistake more than once. Then again, I bought a van she hated....LOL
Cheers
FollowupID:
669577
Follow Up By: Gregh2 - Friday, Jan 22, 2010 at 17:42
Friday, Jan 22, 2010 at 17:42
Buying a van is a 'blokie' thing
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Reply By: Member - Axle - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 15:14
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 15:14
I would be very wary of windsor vans, especially popTops!, just sold a 18ft tandem,Windcheater, They are of very light construction in the side walls, the independant
suspension is good , but had to do some reinforcing in some areas' IMHO you could do a lot better in that price range with other makes.
And don't forget extras are good but aren't worth paying big dollars for.
Keep Looking and all the best of luck
Cheers Axle
AnswerID:
400339
Follow Up By: JAZZY - Thursday, Jan 21, 2010 at 10:10
Thursday, Jan 21, 2010 at 10:10
Hi there Axle,
Interesting thread, just wondering what would be a better make?
We are looking at a Jayco Freedom 16-17' with island bed, there are lots out there - are they an ok van? We want to travel around oz for 4 months next year - just the 2 of us.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Thursday, Jan 21, 2010 at 12:07
Thursday, Jan 21, 2010 at 12:07
G/Day Jazz,Their worse than Windsor in my opinion!, The off roaders would be ok from what i've heard, My next choice will be a second hand Kedron or
Bushtracker, Its the only way to get strength and quality together, but you have to pay the dollars, so the finance minister reckons i'll be dead before it happens,,,,,lol
Cheers Axle
FollowupID:
669595
Follow Up By: Gregh2 - Friday, Jan 22, 2010 at 17:44
Friday, Jan 22, 2010 at 17:44
Trying to find a second Kedron/Roma/Supreme is very difficult. Plenty of Junkos/Corimal/Windsor etc.
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Reply By: Member - Teege (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:33
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:33
For that price I would expect to be getting something at least 5 years younger with the same extras. BTW, some of the things you have listed are standard in most vans anyway - 3 way fridge, 4 burner stove with griller, microwave, electric brakes, security screen door and almost all vans these days have a rollout awning and annexe with skirt. I would suggest you do a lot more shopping around. You will have difficulty find a van with extra bunks, but you shouldn't have to pay a premium of $5000 for them.
teege
AnswerID:
400347
Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:37
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:37
Sounds a bit pricey to me & I agree with above comments ref. doing some research on google & second hand yards so that you get a "feel" for it's market Value.
We paid $1800 for a 16 foot Pop Top 1998 Jayco Westport ( Private sale ) back in about 2004. It had the same features as you mention above, other than the bedding as it only had a double Island bed.
Our current van has the same Air conditioner as you mention & we find it to be very noisy & not very efficient. Others on this
forum have recently made the same comments on these Heron 2.2 units. Cheers & good luck
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:38
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:38
That should have read $18000.00 !!
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Reply By: Gregh2 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:50
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 16:50
Hi scatinkate
I am selling a 1999
Roma Elegance Poptop 17'6". It's TARE is 1257kg and ATM 1575. I use top weighted Hayman Reece lifting gear. I was pulling it with a Toyota Camry with modified rear springs and shocks. I now use a Pajero NP MY04 turbo diesel exceed as the Camry just does not have the clearance and I felt I would eventually pull the guts of the vehicle. It has all of the same features as your Windsor except A/C. With a Poptop, I really do not see the need for A/C - just open the vents. I have been offered $19k cash or $18 as a trade sight unseen. We ran a Trading Post ad for 28 days at $23k with one enquiry as a result. I would put it on the weight
bridge before buying. $23k is too high.
Cheers
Doug and Jane
AnswerID:
400349
Follow Up By: scatinkate - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 18:42
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 18:42
Thanks so much Doug. Where are you? Have you got photos or a link to the ad of your van or can you email it to jerry@c-c.com.au?
And thanks to everyone; you have all been really helpful. We will watch out re the Herron airconditioners, being noisy.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Gregh2 - Friday, Jan 22, 2010 at 17:41
Friday, Jan 22, 2010 at 17:41
Hi
I sent you an email off-line.
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Reply By: kend88 - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 18:44
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 18:44
i agree with those who feel it is overpriced, but if it is in tip top condition, and everything works ok, and the bedding config. meets your needs, it could be worth it to you.
My concern would be the car you want to tow it with. Most vans ATM seem to be near 100kg per foot, so you would only scrape in at the best, and with the aircon, full annexe etc. I think you would probably be over the limit. How about the ball weight limit? Don't consider buying it without having it weighed and add about 2-300kg for the stuff you want to take, including full gas bottles, full water tanks, food, tv, etc. I think most people would prefer the van ATM to be no more than about 80% of the tugs towing capacity.
If I was selling my 2004 shower/
toilet 5.35m Coromal poptop I probably wouldn't expect to get any more than $23,000, but could be pleasantly surprised.
Good luck
kenD
bris
AnswerID:
400359
Reply By: Member - Tony S (WA) - Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 23:39
Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 at 23:39
Are you sure it is a '96 model ? Thought all the Windsors of that year had an anniversary disk next to the door stating 25 years. I have a '96 Sunchaser off-road with the short pop. The only problem if you can call it that was that the tare weight of 1350 kg and aggregate mass of 1600 kg was way out. I stripped everything out and still could not achieve the 1350 kg.
Had the
suspension upgraded to 2000 kg . Everything now legal.
AnswerID:
400406