Ten Pre-Loved Caravans from just £4,995

Val Chapman looks at ten used caravans from just £4,995 from Ropers Caravan World in Yorkshire, plus some good value, top-condition gems.

Bailey Jive 530

We couldn’t resist picking this example of a part-exchanged opportunity to buy into the Roper-exclusive Jive brand, as our first of 10, because the 530 is up among the most popular Jive layouts. New Jive 530s are £17,299, so this one represents a saving of £1,304.

There are two fixed-bed models in the Jive range; the other being the shorter, lighter 430. There’s one of those in the used selection, too; a 2015 model at £13,995; another chance to save money compared with the price for a new one, at £16,499.

The 530 is an example of the second generation of Jives, with a very different fabric character to the pale grey scheme in the 2017 models. Both are ultra model but, for our taste, the zig-zags of the Aztec-inspired backrest material make these caravans one of the best fabric schemes we’ve ever seen in a caravan.

Extra mains sockets – this model has six – plus barbecue points, are features of Jives both current and used. And the 2015 Jives are distinguished by grey sides, which give them a head-turning look.

Condition
We think the previous owners of this Jive ate in restaurants during their holiday, for there’s no sign of use on the three-burner hob or inside the combined oven-grill. Or did make use of the barbecue point? This tourer is in pristine order everywhere.

Facts

Price £15,995 Year 2015 Berths 4
Length: Body 5.7m Overall 7.4m
MIRO 1222kg MTPLM 1337kg

Layout
Double bed, end shower room
 

Bailey Unicorn Cadiz

A new Cadiz costs £23,064 (including the delivery fee), yet here is a four-year-old example that looks as good as new. The front panel styling is very different from current Unicorns – but the layout’s the same.

Alde heating seals the Cadiz’s appeal as a year-round caravan. The kitchen has plenty of surface between the dual-fuel hob and the circular sink, which is set into a raised section on the fore end of the kitchen.

The small dresser opposite, containing the microwave, gives you extra surface plus two drawers and a small cabinet. Storage is in ample supply, with six top lockers in the bedroom, four in the lounge and lot of space under the beds.

Condition
The oven hasn’t been used. Only a little heat burnish in the pan trivet indicates some hob cooking has taken place. The upholstery, in a beautiful combination of soft mauve, creams and fawns, is in totally as-new condition. It’s a superb buy!

Facts
Price £16,495 Year 2013 Berths 4
Length: Body 5.68m Overall 7.34m
MIRO 1344kg MTPLM 1499kg

Layout
Twin beds

Autosleepers Mayfair

For a short time motorhome manufacturer Autosleepers made caravans - high spec, high priced caravans with weight to match and spec complete with an AL-KO Mammut motor mover.

Just occasionally they appear on the used market, and offer astonishing value considering they were in the region of £29,000 new.

Features include electrically-operated pop-up televisions, over-hob extractor fans and hairdryers mounted on the wall of the shower rooms.

The Mayfair has a side double bed, a large fridge with separate freezer and plenty of kitchen surface. Fabrics are a luxurious combination of plain, cream tactile material and patterned sections, with piping around all edges.

The shower cubicle is ‘tiled’ and there is even an upholstered loo seat! The whole effect exudes opulence.

Condition
This caravan is in almost pristine condition. Only a minor fault on the front concertina blind (which would be rectified before the caravan goes to its new owner) gives away its six years.

Facts
Price £14,500 Year 2011 Berths 4
Length: Body 5.6m Overall 7.25m
MIRO 1643kg MTPLM 1795kg

Layout
Twin beds

Bailey Unicorn Valencia

Ropers, in North Yorkshire, and easy to reach, close to the A1, is countrywide-known as a major Bailey retailer; in addition to the Jives, all the standard models are here.

So it’s not surprising to find an excellent selection of part-exchanged Baileys on display. And here is an opportunity to save chunks of money on Bailey’s far-and-away best-seller model.

In some buyers’ eyes, this one has practical advantages over a new model; it has deep, tall lockers above the front windows where new models have a high-arching skylight, and the rectangular sink is brilliantly large.

This Valencia, a year or so older than the Cadiz we chose, has the same lovely upholstery and also has Alde heating, complete with a heated towel rail in the full-width shower room.

Condition
Sinks in this generation of Unicorns are extremely susceptible to scuffing unless you keep a mat under the washing-up bowl and, along with most 2011 Unicorns, this Valencia exhibits a very fine web of scratches.

The steel hob surface, though, gleams like new and, like the Cadiz, there is no sign of use in the oven. Another example of great value; a new Valencia is 22,944 including delivery.

Facts
Price £13,495 Year 2011 Berths 4
Length: Body 5.68m Overall 7.25mm
MIRO 1409kg MTPLM 1565kg

Layout
Double bed, rear shower room

Bailey Ranger 380/2

Another Bailey – this time demonstrating that it’s not just recent models that are part-exchanged at Ropers.

Here is a fantastic caravan for a couple looking for a little caravan of extreme light weight; a brilliant first-caravan, perhaps. The 380/2 is a simple, classic two-berth layout, with a shower-toilet room containing a curtain to confine shower water.

Rangers were Bailey’s lowest-priced, lightest range. Heating is Truma blown air. The single-piece window creates a very light lounge aspect, helped by pale cream curtains. And we love the amazing burr walnut effect front of the cooker!

Condition
Forgive this caravan its somewhat dated striped upholstery, for it is in amazing condition. So, too is the cream enamel sink and (proper!) drainer.

There’s a slight bit of damage on the enamel of the four-burner hob but that’s nothing when you consider that this little gem gets a couple into caravanning for less than £5000. The mellow shade cabinetry gives the caravan a warm, inviting look – and it’s in as-new condition everywhere.

The dark peach shade carpet (rolled up in the wardrobe) is also completely as new. This Ranger is an awesome example that demonstrates how affordable caravanning can be.

Facts
Price £4995 Year 2005 Berths 2
Length: Body 3.65m Overall 5.32m
MIRO 858kg MTPLM 1048kg

Layout
End kitchen, corner shower-toilet room
 

Bailey Jive 400-2

If you prefer your Jive with shimmering pale grey sides and fabrics that mix Aztec influence with shiny, light-reflecting curtains, plain, ultra-practical dark grey seating (the total effect is stunning) – and you’d like to save £900, you could go for one of the two 2016 Jives still remaining here.

They’re demonstrators, so not used caravans in the strict sense. But well worth including in this selection because they represent a chance to save money; new Jive 400-2s are £15,899. And, just like the two-berth £4995 Bailey Ranger we chose, this tourer for two has a large one-piece front window, which creates a brilliantly light aspect.

The Jive 400-2 has a spacious full-width washroom with a separate shower.

There’s ample kitchen surface space when you hinge up the extension and also take into account the large dresser opposite.

That’s where this model offers the main kitchen storage area, with a three-shelf cabinet. In the kitchen itself, two drawers are beneath the combined oven-grill and there’s a top locker for tableware alongside the microwave.

Condition
Spotless and scratchless; only bits of grit on the vinyl floor distinguish this demo model from a factory-fresh 2017 one at £904 more!

Facts
Price £14,995 Year 2016 Berths 2
Length: Body 4.18mm Overall 5,41m
MIRO 918kg MTPLM 1090kg

Layout
Rear shower room
 

Lunar Quasar 546

Family layout fashion has changed since 2012, triple bunks having completely disappeared from new ranges. That’s because, when the kids grow taller, the restricted headroom of three bunks in a stack is no longer suitable.

Yet this arrangement is perfect for very young children, especially if one is a baby. That’s because the base bunk is at floor level, so anyone rolling out of bed would merely land on the carpet.

And there’s more: the base bunk area converts to a large storage box, with a hatch to the outside; a wooden partition, complete with hinged aperture, rises from under the mattress, to form the front wall of the storage area.

The Quasar 546 is a fantastic family caravan, with good kitchen surface, an exceptionally large round sink and a well-designed offside washroom with a separate shower, plus a brilliant dining areas for four little people at the rear, complete with television points.

Condition
At five years old you might expect a family caravan to bear some signs of use. Yet all we see here is some very minor scratches in the sink. The dual-fuel hob, oven and grill are almost as-new.

The nearest equivalent Quasar, with two bunks, is £19,099, making this one look an excellent buy.

Facts
Price £12,995 Year 2012 Berths 6
Length: Body 5.78m Overall 7.34m
MIRO 1260kg MTPLM 1440kg

Layout
Triple bunk stack in rear family area
 

Cristall Sprint 390D

A four-berth caravan that’s only 4m long; can this be true?

This model from a French-made range that was imported for just a few years, has two dining areas. Both create double beds. The kitchen has an oven-grill alongside the fridge, three burners, and good top storage cabinets.

Surface space is limited but that’s a small sacrifice to make to get this caravan with quality fabrics, solid woodwork and lovely button detail on the typically French-style curtain-panels all for just £4995!

Condition
A little silvering has diminished on the mirror in the loo-shower room; that apart, this tourer is in near-perfect condition. A real bargain for someone who’s watching both weight and wallet.

Interestingly, the price of this model when new was £9,368.

Facts
Price £4995 Year 2007 Berths 4
Length: Body 4m Overall 5.98m
MIRO 936kg MTPLM 1300kg

Layout
Two dining areas
 

Bessacarr Cameo 550GL

This last-of-a-line was made by Bessacarr before the brand became part of the Swift Group. Renowned for high spec, these are classic caravans, with beautiful panelled woodwork and they were one of only a few to have Alde heating back in 2004!

The kitchen is big. The full-width washroom, containing a huge wardrobe and a suite of drawers, is spacious, too, and there’s a dresser containing a double-doored cabinet plus a section clearly designed for a video cassette recorder, with a desk-style aperture for cables! Back in the day...

Condition
A little sun fade on the green velvet upholstery is all we could find to show evidence of 13 years. It’s a lovely quality caravan of cottagey character, all the spec you could wish for and in superb condition for its year. And with the added bonus of twin-axle extra stability.

Facts
Price £5688 λ Year 2004 Berths 3
Length: Body 5.58m Overall 7.54m
MIRO 1494kg MTPLM 1792kg

Layout
End shower room, offside table
 

Abbey GTS 517

Some say twin lounges are the perfect arrangement for family holiday harmony, yet they’ve all but disappeared from new ranges. Which is why they sell so rapidly on the used market.

This one had just arrived when we visited Ropers. Pale woodwork to make the best use of space visually, a good-sized kitchen and a separate shower and plenty of space – all for £8495!

The upholstery isn’t today’s style but we’d say overlook that, for the value in this caravan is obvious.

Condition
Five-berth caravans sell like hot cakes, Ropers’ sales team tell us, and this is a lovely example of what your money can buy, with only very minor tea/coffee staining in the steel sink and a little heat-crazing on the front edge of the hob.

Facts
Price £8495 Year 2007 Berths 5
Length: Body 5.5m Overall 7.1m
MIRO 1340kg MTPLM 1560kg

Layout
Twin lounges
 

Find out more on the Ropers Caravan World website

www.ropersleisure.co.uk