Caravan FAQs

How Long Does A Caravan Last?

How Long Does A Caravan Last?

There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight to the list of things you should consider before buying your first caravan. We know. It is quite overwhelming and nerve wracking.

You might be the type of person who has decided to only give touring caravans a go for a short while, or you might be the type of person who wants to live minimally and wants great views and new sights and adventure for the rest of their life, yet again you might be the type of person who wants the peace and calm of the life of a static caravan, either as a weekend or holiday getaway or even permanently.

You might be a combination of any of the above and none of the above.

What was the point of all that? Well, depending upon ‘all that’, among other things, your answer to the question How long do caravans last?, will change.

Add to that the factor of whether you’re buying a brand-new caravan or a slightly used one, you could be left with even more confusion than you started out with.

There’s no clear cut answer how long a caravan lasts. It depends on how much you use it, and how well you maintain it.

Let us take a look into some fairly basic things you should be aware of to fully answer your question on caravan longevity.

Ask yourself, “What do I expect from my caravan?”.

You could come up with a variety of expectations, that may or may not cross our mind, but we will try our best to cover all the answers to your self-reflecting question.

If you wish to spend the rest of your days happily in a beautiful static caravan that is state-of-the-art when you purchase it, you MUST read the terms of your site license agreement. Most places let you stay on for 10 – 20 years.

Hold on.

What Is A Caravan Site License Agreement?

What Is A Caravan Site License Agreement?

A site license agreement, also called a pitch license document or agreement, is the agreement terms decided upon when you move into a caravan site. This is a legally binding paper. It usually consists of statements regarding the price, age, details and condition of the caravan, the rate of depreciation of caravans, and criteria for deciding whether or not the caravan is up to park standards.

You need to make sure your agreement permits you to keep and use your caravan for as long as you expect it to.
But, wait.

Why Do I Only Get 10 – 20 years In My Caravan?

Excellent question.

Because, the saying time fades everything, is truer than we would like it to be. Your once luxurious, top-of-the-line caravan will no longer stay the luxurious, top-of-the-line model you purchased 10 or 20 years later. And no body likes worn down structures in their view.

Other park homes might be newer and better and ‘look’ better than your aging home, and camp sites do not want that. It brings the value of the area down, and that is not something they want happening.

Ah, okay.

What Do I Do Now?

Well. You can either try to maintain your caravan to look very decent even after a decade or two, this would highly increase your chances of staying on the property. And, if not, you could always look forward to the adventure of change.

Get a newer caravan, one with different bells and whistles, newer technology. You never know, you might love the new one even more than the older one…

And, if maybe, you read through this article, you could find something else to do with your old caravan.

How Long Are Caravans Built To Last?

Quite a long time, actually. A new static caravan which receives all the TLC it is due, can last up to 30 years.

That being said, it is quite common for people to upgrade their older caravans for newer interiors, technological advances or sizes after a decade or so.

The case for a touring caravan, is entirely different. They are not built to last quite as long as static caravans, they are liable to a lot more injuries during all their trips, the general wear and tear, the road bumps and what have you. It should be quite understandable that the lifespan of a touring caravan is quite short, so don’t expect too much.

The same can be said about used caravans. Depending on how well they were taken care of, both static and touring caravans, can have drastically reduced lifespans than brand new ones.

How Long Are Caravans Built To Last?

How Do I Get Rid Of My Old Caravan?

I am glad you asked, here are some options…

Caravan Park Exchange

This is great option for those who wish to stick to the same camp site, maybe move to a nicer pitch even. Some parks may offer a part exchange scheme where they take your caravan, pick out the best bits and bobs, and use that as payment for your newer model of caravan. Neat. We say.

Get Your Site License Agreement Extended

Some places will offer you the chance to keep your old caravan if you have taken good care of it and it is in a safe condition. It will also depend on the plot availability of the park. However, it would not be unusual for them to refuse keeping on an older model just to keep up the aesthetic.

Sell Your Caravan Back To The Park

The camp site people will be more than helpful to get rid of an unsightly, creepy old caravan. They might just buy it back from you and do whatever they please with it.

Sell Your Caravan Privately

Use online selling sites or trade magazines to find companies or people that will be more than willing to buy your old caravan from you. Keep your options open and give yourself plenty of time to decide.

Summary

To a great extent a caravan lasts as long as you want it to, or as well as you maintain it. Accidents happen of course (hence the need for good caravan insurance) but there’s no reason that a well maintained caravan won’t last a solid couple of decades.

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