Why should you buy ex demo caravans?

When you’re looking to get more for less, we may have just the thing here at Lowdhams. Purchasing a pre-owned caravan (or other type of leisure vehicle, whether it’s a motorhome or campervan) can be a great way to save a little of your hard-earned cash – and so is buying an ex-demo. A demonstrator clearance model is, in other words, a caravan which has previously been on display on the forecourt or in the showroom, and has been ‘handled’ before sale.

This fact may actually put some people off, as there will always be those who’ll only consider buying a caravan that’s fresh from the factory – but in this edition of our blog we’ll explain why buying ex demo caravans can be a great way to save money.

An ex-demo caravan is a caravan which has previously been used for display purposes in the showroom or on the forecourt of a dealership. It may even have been taken out for a run at the rear of a tow vehicle. As a result of its availability to view, the caravan is likely to have been inspected by several people in the time it was on show.

The likelihood is there, then, that the caravan will not be absolutely ‘box fresh’ – but it most definitely would not be put on sale in anything less than close to best condition. The caravan you’re thinking about buying will have been well maintained – aesthetically and mechanically – so that sale can be encouraged, so it’s highly unlikely that there will be faults or issues to cause concern.

The major benefit to opting for an ex-demo caravan is that you’ll gain a significant discount on buying an equivalent new model. Remember, you’ll get the same features, the same specifications, but at a reduced price – all because the caravan has merely sat on a forecourt or in a showroom and been looked at by other potential buyers.

You may also find that, because a dealership will probably have put the highest spec out on display, you are getting very best version of the model you require. An ex-demo may boast top-of the-range features and all mod-cons tech. Some of this spec may not come as standard with most of the models in the range – so opting for an ex-demo may ‘upgrade’ the return on what you can afford. Additionally, as stated earlier, the ex-demo will have been well looked after by the dealership, with any aesthetic damage or mechanical issues dealt with if and when they’ve cropped up.

Though an ex-demo can still be thought of as, essentially, a new caravan there will be a little bit of wear and tear. Any warranty is likely to have started from the date of registration, which could potentially be months before you have decided to purchase it. This will be reflected in the reduction in price, of course, but will leave you with a shorter warranty compared to a brand-new model. It’s also worth asking the dealership to supply any record of work undertaken on the caravan during the show period.

It is always a good time to buy, for all of the reasons described in the sections above. However, towards the end of the year, most manufacturers announce new models for the following year’s season and often launch them at the big annual show at the NEC in Birmingham – so the autumn is a particularly good time to buy. You are more likely to secure yourself a really great deal on ex-demo caravans – and at Lowdhams we have a fantastic selection available. If you are interested, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We also have ex-demo motorhomes for sale.