A used caravan can be the holiday of a lifetime, or a five-figure financial disaster. The difference is rarely visible to a buyer at an open inspection. Our 200-point pre-purchase inspection tells you exactly what you're getting — before you sign anything.
Used caravan buyers fall into a predictable trap. The van looks great at the inspection — clean, well presented, an enthusiastic seller, a fair-sounding price. The fundamentals — chassis, body structure, water ingress history, electrical system condition, brake wear — are completely invisible to anyone without specialist knowledge and equipment.
Three to six months after the purchase, problems start emerging. Soft floor in the bedroom. Mystery battery drains. Brakes pulling. Water stains appearing on internal walls. The repair quotes start at $5,000 and go up from there. It's at this point most owners realise the van they paid $50,000 for is actually worth $30,000 — and needs $15,000 spent before it's roadworthy.
A pre-purchase inspection catches all of this before you sign. Worst case, you walk away. Best case, you have a written report you can use to negotiate the price down. Either way, you make the decision with information instead of hope.
Chassis rust, weld integrity, body frame condition, panel join inspection, structural timber moisture readings.
Full pressurised body test plus internal moisture meter readings. Catches hidden water damage that visual inspection misses.
Brake lining wear, drum condition, brake controller function, wheel bearing inspection (roller/race condition assessed).
Battery health and capacity testing, solar panel output check, charge controller function, fault tracing on key circuits.
Pressure test, leak detection, regulator condition, appliance connections checked. Compliance assessment.
Tap function, pump operation, hot water service, tank inspections, water tank capacity, leak history assessment.
Fridge function (12V, 240V, gas), microwave, oven, range hood, washing machine — all tested for proper operation.
Tyre age, wear pattern, tread depth, suspension component condition, shock absorbers, springs, mounting points.
Awning condition and operation, external lockers, gas lockers, water hatches, mounting points, decals and finishes.
Send us the listing or ad, the van's location, and the seller's contact details. We coordinate the inspection time directly.
Wherever the van is — dealer yard, private seller, regional location — we attend in person and run the full 200-point inspection.
Photo-documented written report emailed within 24 hours. Critical issues flagged in red. Indicative repair costs included.
Walk away, negotiate the price, or buy with confidence. We can debrief the report by phone if anything's unclear.