Have Caravan Prices gone too far?

[@steamdrivenandy6880]

One of the nails you've hit on the head is that incomes haven't kept up with inflation and generally most are poorer than they were a decade ago. Manufacturers have to keep pace with inflation or go bust, many of their customers haven't been able to keep up. Then there's the high cost of credit to quell inflation, when back a decade or so ago borrowing was ultra cheap. All factors affecting the market.

[@marumaru6084]

This is the whole purpose of money printing inflation!

[@meurigjones2469]

The "Goose that laid the golden egg" springs to mind. Everyone has tried to get an extra slice of the action by charging more and the consumer has had enough. £13,000 in 2012 is the equivalent of £18,144.55 according to the Bank of England. So to charge £25,000 for a comparable model now is way above inflation. Caravanning was an affordable pastime for young families etc, but not anymore. Manufacturers and campsite owners need a wake up call before it's too late for them

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

That’s a great stat, really interesting that a comparison now is around 18k, and I know we could sell a good number at that.

[@muddymarvellous]

I'm a chartered procurement guy. Caravanning is a hobby of mine...I do less of it now so won't be changing my Valencia. I won't be changing because I had Fraser Brown do my axle. I have done the roof strap myself I pay for it to be stored in a dry ventilated Barn, so no damp floor issues. I do rallies £10 a night bought a power pack. So it's a keeper, new caravans offer me no more I've got and my caravan is a keeper. It's still worth what I paid for it Privately 5 years ago. So what I'm saving.and could have used on a new caravan at £35k is in the bank gaining 5% interest.. We now have guaranteed ☀️ holiday abroad We go cruising now I've found the increased cost of a caravaning Is offset. However the cost of 10 days in Turkey in August and two weeks in the Carribbean in February is easy and the great exchange rates going out to eat is superior in quality service and cost to the UK Aboard they don't slam the plate down on the table in front of you, they place it down with a smile and give you a free dish or even a drink, and offer to run you back to your hotel. No increased cost of electricity abroad. Ditched the caravan and motorhome club, stuffy and too expensive, can see there now reducing prices! Going abroad I get sun sea a pool and more memories. With a new caravan I will get issues, a rubbish product a warranty that won't pay out.

[@malcolmmyatt9092]

Caravan and camp site prices are killing the industry. Then again so will the coming change over to alternative electric vehicles that cannot tow a caravan.

[@cq44b]

Interesting video, I can only count myself lucky in that I’ve never felt the need to have the latest van. I’ve managed over the last 22 years to trade privately (apart from a new Eriba) and have only added a small amount of cash to my next purchase. I was lucky in that I could buy without having to sell my existing van and have two vans on the driveway then sell the other. Current van is a 2007 abbey, getting a bit tatty but it still does the job some 9 years after I bought it. A great friend used to trade their van virtually every year and I think he kept highbridge caravans in profit and he couldn’t understand why we never changed. Love your videos, very entertaining.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

I wouldn’t say lucky, you’ve put the time and effort in to work it that way, a lot of people don’t want the hassle or are worried about doing it that way. That caravan you have probably doesn’t owe you much, it’s a good position to be in.

[@peterwright3668]

The industry relies on the older generation who bought vans when there mortgage was coming to an end plus it was a generation thing .Not a lot of the new generation are interested in camping or caravaning .For the price camp sites are now changing £30 to £50 per night, they consider they get a better deal going abroad and better weather.On the seasonal pitch we are on over the last 2 years we have seen a dramatic drop in people coming to stay.Even the Caravan and Motothome club are in trouble and a lot of the time they are not fully booked as in the past years.Seems the whole caravan holiday industry is in trouble.

[@clivey1977]

Exactly this. Exactly the reason we have sold up. Overnight charges are too high. Especially if you need to add an extra night to have a late checkout. Tow cars are expensive to maintain. Significant time spent sat on the driveway (car and van). Then, a day out with the kids somewhere is at least £100 a day. Holiday abroad has typically better weather. Everything is included if you find the right place. For us it was a simple maths calculation and value for money. Now, when we're retired I can definitely see us back in the market. Touring as a couple with a modest van and car using smaller sites.

[@peterlloyd5807]

Greed kills any industry ! There are far better holiday deals abroad with air fares included and far better weather ! 😂

[@whatsmining9917]

£30 to £50 is low fully serviced is around £75

[@paul756uk2]

I agree, especially regarding the generation thing. We enjoy using CL's and they're more reasonably priced. We had a 7 week stay on a site on the Moselle and I got a 30% discount. Paid £23 a night which wasn't bad.

[@blackvulcan100]

@@whatsmining9917 We caravan in Spain and France high season July the max we paid was 45 Euros and it was all singing and dancing.We moved on to a cheaper site and paid 32Euro.

[@alisonhall9385]

Everyone from manufacturers to dealers got greedy during and for the next couple of years after covid. It is that simple. The world has opened up again, people are going abroad and you are left with the hardcore of caravanners with caravans still priced sky high, sites charging a fortune and quality down the pan. I'm in my 50s and have caravanned on and off since childhood. We are about to downsize and be in a position to buy again but I don't want a £30k leaking tin can. If you go seasonal and have issues it's a big headache, we had a dealer renege on a promise some years back when we bought a secondhand caravan during the off season and it had a fault in the spring during our shakedown trip. Tbh it has put me right off, we are still doing cottage holidays because of our previous experience and it's unlikely I'll ever spend a significant amount on a caravan again.

[@brianridley1102]

Good point on the price on sites, it has really put me off as there are other options at that point. A long weekend away for 150-200 moves away from the original aims of camping and caravaning. I watched a video the other day and a field on a slope with washing and toilet facilities but nothing else other than a view was nearly 47.00 a night!!

[@raymondporter2094]

I suppose another thing to say is that people will cut their cloth according to their purse. I don't own a Rolls Royce, Bentley or a new Mercedes because I can't afford them. It doesn't give me sleepless nights! My car is 7.5 years old. When I bought my first caravan, it was an ancient one for £500 to "see if we liked it". We did, so 18 months later we got the £500 back when trading it in for a more expensive model. £500 wasn't much even then. You can get a van which will do a job, one that is old but still "works", for a LOT less than the price of a new van. Just like my 7.5 year car works perfectly well yet is worth/would cost LOT less than a new model of the same car. Families spend a few thousand to go abroad on holiday and, at the end if it, may have only some memories and maybe a suntan to show for it. But if they spent that money on a "pre-loved" van, they could have their holiday (Scotland/Wales/NYMoors/Devon or wherever) and STILL HAVE THE VAN at rhe end of it. Ready for further holidays/Bank holidays/long weekends away for as long as you'd want. 30:54

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, it doesn’t have to be expensive I’ve got cheaper vans in the four court that will certainly do the job on get you out on the road.

[@mavicsteve9275]

We have been caravaners for thirty years and have changed them on average after four years. Have now seen the light and decided that ten thousand or more pounds will go along way to maintaining or modifying our current van for along time to come.

[@bordersw1239]

Daughter has just hired a static for just over £70 per night in Devon. No towing, no large car , no servicing, no storage fees etc. kind of makes you wonder!

[@ianwood2917]

Wages in real terms are less making people having to prioritise what they spend their money New van prices in general are rising by £1K per year when they should be reducing that by £1k Also the big caravan clubs pitches are far too expensive also compounding the problem

[@whiskygolf1]

I think your video was well made and you have explained the current situation very well.Having caravanned since 1978 and purchasing a new caravan this month I have to agree with your reasoning’s on the state of the industry and caravan sales outlets.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@whiskygolf1 thank you, it’s good to know.

[@jo_clarke1960]

Never seen your channel before and not a caravan owner but I have always been interested and I'm a former business owner. I think it is the same in most product markets, food, clothes, construction, houses and vehicles prices. It is due to the fact today's £1 is not like for like the same as a few years ago, the food shop is something everyone must have felt it on and most, economised. People just don't have the money spare of a few years ago (the more fortunate ones), as wage rises have been way outdone by inflation following the little worldwide health issues and a disagreement in Ukraine on the back of it. From the perspective of a former small fabrication manufacturer, I have go e through years where the yearly profit margin was £0 after TAX, due to discounted deals done which means guaranteed contracts for the next year which would give a profit, it's business by the seat of your pants and I had good people working for me who understood our limitations. As for the prices possibly being of a lesser difference compared to previous, it could be the manufacturer's are cutting the meat close to the bone to try keep costs down for buyers, fully aware of what could be a shrinking market, hoping for an economic upturn and profit in coming years. It's something which can be done short term but is unsustainable long term, obviously ending with layoffs/closure. Great vid, enjoyed that 👍

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Thanks for watching the video, it is interesting to get views from outside the industry, and to know it’s the same everywhere, you tend to think you’re doing something wrong as a business owner and the everyone else is doing well. It’s not good to know everyone is in the same boat, but on a selfish level, it is..

[@raymondporter2094]

Camping Club Temporary Holiday Sites and weekend meets £10-15 per unit per night. Probably similar in the Motorhome &Caravan Club. Several choices of sites "in your region" every week. THAT makes it affordable. Calor Gas & a solar panel for the 12v makes it easy.

[@paulchester1412]

Self refillable cylinder makes it even cheaper if you go away frequently

[@davidhartley2373]

5 years ago we paid 15995 for a Compass rallye. 3 month's ago we part exchange it for a newer van. The dealer has got our old van for sale for 14995.

[@tonks1968]

Good video. For me, I didn’t think that recent years had seen bigger increases than the before. I have always thought that they were increasing equally around £1k per year, so Sprites for instance have seen their prices literally double in 12 years. Also, Elddis and Coachman seem to have increased even more with some of their top end vans costing over £50k. 12 years ago, their top range vans were all well under £30k. That is definitely greed. So caravans are now in some cases are costing more than a motorhome was just a few years ago. Poor quality and obvious greed (in some brand examples) just miff the customers off to the point that they get out of caravanning altogether, or as in my case decide to save for a motorhome (which to me seems better value when considering additional costs like tow cars etc). Keep up the great work and exposing the issues around the decline in the caravan market …….

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Thanks for the nice comments, I’m not sure it’s greed though, like I said, it’s not in their interests to out price the market, everything to do with making caravans has shot up, customers want a show to go to, that cost swift a million quid to put on.

[@supergroups]

I think you are quite correct, nothing much has changed! The industry has never been particularly focused on customer service and satisfaction. What has changed is the dealers and the clubs have jumped on that bandwagon and lost their focus on the customer too. The Industry has used the pandemic and the ready stream of new customers to increase margins and then shock, horror these new customers don't get the experience they were expecting and leaving in droves create a glut of product on the market!

[@philipcole66]

I love your videos but I think you’ve missed the real point. Wages for many people haven’t risen significantly over the past few years, compounded by the cost of living, higher interest rates and the cost of cars/vehicles to tow the caravans. You’ve also seen rises in insurance, servicing and parts for both caravans and tow vehicles. The final nail in the coffin is of course the campsites charging so much. As you alluded to, caravans are a luxury so it’s one of the items that will be affected during challenging times. My advice to anyone that doesn’t have a part exchange is to hold off purchasing until 2025.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Hi, thanks for you kind comments, I thought I mentioned this in the ability for customers not to keep buying caravans as the price goes ups due to their ability to do so not going up at the same rate. Which was probably a long way of saying what you said. But I’m not sure I agree with waiting for 2025 to buy. There will still be 2024 deals out there and as I said, dealers might reduce the 2025 stock early to avoid the same issue later in the year, but not to the same level as now, I just think the availability of the caravan you want my be reduced as people snap up the good stuff now, and I don’t think the dealers will be reducing further as the panic is already forcing rock bottom deals.

[@philipcole66]

Yes my point was around all the costs linked to caravans such as the tow vehicle costs and insurance, storage etc. The market still hasn’t bottomed out so my message to buyers without a px is to wait until back end of this year and into next. People are also worried about an increase in personal or general taxation under the new government and the media is not helping this uncertainty.

[@TheSimonn1]

Im a sucker for keeping my caravan as long as I can i don't need fancy new vans. The only thing wrong with caravaning these days is site wardens are a bit stuck up not like it used to be 😊

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Ha, yes, sometimes there is a certain type of person who wants to be a warden, I’ve become a bit of an expert in dealing with those certain types,

[@caravanstuff2827]

I know what you mean..I inquired at a site in Kent about storing my van over winter and the site manager looked down her nose at us because it was a twin axle...must have thought we were "travellers"!!!. 🤣🤣🤣

[@steveone9375]

It still all feels a rip off ...you buy the latest and greatest two years down the line they still find damp

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, it was something I forgot to mention actually, the cost to change might not have technically changed but the reason to change isn’t there. Why bother just to get a newer caravan with potential issues.

[@PapaTube-ep1nk]

The stresses and strains on a touring caravan build with towing for 100's of miles on pot holed traffic calmed roads they will start to rip apart and separate as sealers degrade, every 3 years a caravan body should be checked and resealed, even the strains of a heavy all season awning on the roof will cause strain on roof and side sections. After all a caravan is only a GRP or Tin tent.

[@mpjkea2000]

Rip off sites will see sales of caravans and motorhomes go down. We are full-time motorhome rs and over the last three years have seen massive site increases so much so we invested in solar , lithium batteries, inverter charger etc. So far we have saved nearly £3000 on sites.

[@whatsmining9917]

Damp is a scam

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@whatsmining9917. Not heard that one before.. Why do you say that?

[@katieannmartin9589]

Very interesting video....jiust a note for a lot of comments....the front & rear panels atemade from plastc sheets not GRP! Thats the reason for the panel cracks in many manufacturers caravans, if they were still GRP it wouldnt be a problem!

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

They were replaced with GRP around 2016 I believe on swift.

[@aeberdeencyclecam30]

Thanks for a well-reasoned, balanced video. We've done almost everything; small tent, big tent, borrowed caravan, nearly new caravan, folding camper, self-build campervan, really old caravan and now a pretty good condition 12 year old twin-axle, fixed bed caravan. For me the issue is definitely the cost of campsites. The CAMC sites have doubled in price since pre-covid. Sites we paid just over £20 for then are now just over £40. It's a bit like your pickled onions. We could afford it, but can't bring ourselves to pay that. We've a very basic CCC site that we like, which is in a tourist hotspot, with a massive attraction nearby. I priced it mid-summer and they wanted £70 a night. I'm now going to France for most of September, with the caravan, using an ACSI card. That wont be cheap, but the sites will be around 19 euros a night. I'm in a better financial position than I have been at some points in my life, and I'm looking longingly at some of these 2024 deals you are talking about. The caravan I like has about £5k off, leaving very little difference between a new one and a 3-4 year old one, but the site prices are again the main thing holding me back. That and the thought that my current caravan, which would only be worth £6-7k, might be too old to trade in.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

It won’t be too old to trade in, but at that price point you could probably see it yourself as people aren’t so worried buying privately at that level. I think the site prices should come down, having said that the caravan club site over by Looe near us Is packed at the moment (August) so they might not..😊

[@rarknivesandleatherwork8045]

You wouldn't know there's a crisis judging on our recent experience buying a 2023 Bailey Phoenix+ 440. The caravan had been sat in the dealers for 10 months at a discounted price. Bearing in mind, it's now superseded by the GT75 we asked for further £1500 discount. We were cash buyers and could buy on the spot. At first, it was a blank refusal to discount further. We showed other dealers selling the same caravan at the lower price we were asking. In the end we got a £700 discount but we very, very nearly walked away. The reason we settled was the dealer was closer to us, so easier servicing or warranty repairs.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

They were probably losing money on it, it’s always a tough thing to do, once it sinks in and you get used to the idea, you realise it’s best to just do it and move on.

[@lynziehorn1005]

As a first time caravan buyer hubby and myself have been watching your videos with interest. Following on from your latest advice to buy a new caravan now rather than wait for 2025 stock, for us has definitely been in our favour. We’ve just secured a deal on a 2024 Bailey Pegasus GT75 Brindisi for £25,000 which we are happy with 👍🏻

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Brilliant, glad it was helpful.

[@andreweaston119]

I must admit I am so disappointed I bought a brand new van twin Axle Within 6 months.the sun roof had split and water poured in on our first proper holiday. The bathroom door did not catch the alignment was miles out repeated leaks from faulty frost protection valve under the seat.9 months we waited for repairs there was mould inside the van,then the whole front of the caravan started stress cracking.This was replaced by the factory. When it returned from the factory repair I opened the gas locker and the gas strut ripped off from inside the van yes that big bracket. Financial ombudsman got my money back but I am reluctant to buy again.But I do need one for our sport, what to do or brand to buy ?

[@v4nlife282]

What you’re saying makes sense! UNTIL you factor in todays cost of putting the caravan on a site along with the costs of fuel and everything else associated with caravanning, I no quite a lot of people who own caravans and at least 50% are wanting to sell and not purchase a replacement due to the costs associated with caravanning fuel eating out storage and accessories, That’s just the general consensus I’m getting when the conversation arises which is quite often

[@tian231175]

I commented in the last video about the price of vans going up. In 2017 we bought a new Elddis 866 and paid £21,300 since 2021 that same van has gone up to £35,000rrp. That was too big a leap for us to renew so we gave up caravanning and do miss it. I take your point on manufacturing costs going up and agree that our salaries and circumstances perhaps have not kept pace. I wish my salary had increased by a 50% since 2017. And also your point on people not tying that capital up is spot on. My point is that the product is not worth the price anymore because of the quality. Spending that sort of money knowing you're going to most likely get water ingress or some other issue that the manufacturer will try and wriggle out of repairing under warranty. 10 year warranty against water ingress but in the small print grp panels not covered. The front and back end of most caravans have a grp panel that normally crack and the manufacturer can just turn round and say its not covered. Our caravan even had grp sides! The manufacturers may have no control over energy and general cost increases but they do have control over the quality of the product. People would pay the money if the quality and the warranties were better. It may even persuade me to buy another. Thank you for your informative chat.

[@garymcafee5995]

I don't understand why you gave up something you enjoyed just because you couldn't afford the latest model and you had a reasonably new caravan anyway. I have a 2006 Sterling caravan owned from new and we've just come back from Italy after 5 weeks, I'm not interested in new models i just love caravanning

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@tian231175 yes, I agree and I think Elddis are on the ropes, their attitude is self destructive.

[@steamdrivenandy6880]

Interesting. It would appear that Elddis don't offer an 866 model these days but their 868 model lists at about £31,800 (not £35,000) and with current discounts can be bought for £27,700. If you put £21,300 in 2017 into the Bank of England inflation calculator it comes out as £27,628. So, discounted the van has kept in line with inflation. I dare say that the product has been modified and upgraded in the interim 7 years which may account for the hike in list price above that level.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, the discounted van is about where it should be, but there should only be a few of those around as we tidy up the forecourts ready for the new vans. It isn’t or shouldn’t be the norm.

[@tian231175]

​@@garymcafee5995 our New van had to have a complete new interior front wall due to water ingress as the grp front end had cracked and the water was also coming in through the front window hinges. To us it wasn't worth the stress of ownership. Perhaps they were built better in 2006.

[@Meggy6571]

Hi, Our last two vans have been swift . First was a 2019 Sprite alpine 2 no issues. Second and current van a 2021 Sprite alpine 4 dealer special again no issues so far, we bought it when it was 11 months old, we have had it now for about 2 years. My question is are dealer specials worth the extra cost versus a standard van ?. Just wondering if you could do a little piece in one of your vlogs about this. Thanks. Paul and Joanne 👍 PS really enjoying your series about caravans at the moment great content 👌

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Hi, thanks for commenting, they are as they normally have nicer upholstery and normally a few good upgrades. But for some reason the trade in value isn’t much different so you’d pay a few hundred more for a dealer special, but not loads more.

[@jimbofreg]

Another cracking video. We will be buying our first caravan within the next 6 months. We are going to the NEC show in October to pick up more tips and keep doing our homework on what's best for us at the best deal. Really interested in the advice you give about what time of the year is ideal to buy a caravan. Do the dealers at the show have lots of offers if buying at the show? Great channel...thanks

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Thanks, I have done a video on buying at the shows, link below, it’s not always about the deal. I’ve often thought about offering a service where I talk to you and advise on the best layout, manufacture, place to buy and deal, I know I could save customers hours of time and sometimes thousands of pounds by buying the wrong thing from the wrong place, as I see it happening all the time. Here is the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaGlkJ2eqKmYb6Msi=t6-ZAI1FRc9LsEtt

[@jimbofreg]

@atlanticcaravansUK thanks...Will have a look at your link

[@user-Tortured-soul]

our 2010 Harris was £15,000 and we sold the Harris for £8,000 in 2017 we noticed every year they were going up in price by about a thousand pound a year.We purchased a Swift 580 for £25,000 in 2019 and We sold it in 2020 due to faults for £20,000.

[@derekt7606]

I read a lot about site costs and as someone that tends to use sites with ehu in the UK and EU I always set a maximum of £40 per night which is still a lot of money.

[@SMariaKS]

I tried to buy a used caravan from someone and because they bought it just after covid, they are expecting too much for their caravan. They are rigidly sticking their price and won’t accept the current situation has reduced the price. I’m afraid we have walked away we looked at prices before we made an offer. Dealer price at least you get a short warranty and help siting it. This was a private sale. They expected to get the same price as a dealer would ask.

[@crozzy28]

I’m new to your channel and find your honesty refreshing, I have been caravanning for 30 years did buy a campervan 2 years ago and still use it as my tow vehicle and my daily drive. I totally agree that caravans are getting out of reach of the average person and second hand vans are a gamble because of the build quality, I have a 2021 swift challenger out of warranty and constantly worry when will I find damp or something else break, this van was 30k new, the manufacturers should be made to recall faults that are happening to there products. It’s sad but this will be my last caravan.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Why are you out of warranty, have you missed services? Also, this caravan should last to 15 years if you want it too. Just keep an eye on it and it’ll be fine.

[@crozzy28]

Thanks for replying! I bought this van privately it was just over 18 months old the previous owners had not had the first one year service done. I contacted Swift and they said if I had it serviced then had the second service done on the second anniversary it would be warranted, which meant I would have to have two services done within 4 months of each other which didn’t seem reasonable and pointless so I opted to not have it done as I wasn’t having any problems. Another complication was caused by Loudhams not Chris registering the van at point of sale, this caused me problems when I registered it. Sorry for long story and keep the videos coming 👍

[@whatsmining9917]

They don't get damp any more there made of fibreglass if someone tells you you have damp there trying to scam ether for work or to lower your value

[@michaelmcleary8566]

About 7 years ago I bought a late 90's challenger 480 for £600. Not much worked but having camped for decades we treated it like a rigid tent. Sold it 18 months later for £500. Now, IF I were to buy another, it would be used and about 8 - 10 years old. I cannot justify the cost of a new one that may have the same issues as the older one I would buy.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

There’s plenty out there at the moment if you’re looking.

[@KillickGreenieRN]

Caravan manufacturers must be the only product provider that expects the customer to be the quality control department. The last new caravan we bought had some ridiculous faults that should have been picked up and rectified on the production line.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, the caravans are not tested once they have been put together, Coachman did, I’m not sure if they still do? 1 in 5 are taken off the line and fired up, apart from that it’s down to the dealer to PDI the caravan.

[@perlundin86]

2017, 7 years ago. A brand new Adria Adora 522 UP costed around 25 000€ in Sweden. Today, the same model but the latest generation Adora, costs around 45 000€. If this price increase has been necessary, there's clearly some fault in the business model. Otherwise, a lot of parts in the business is really greedy.

[@MrMortalskymonkey]

I think we need to be realistic and charging £40-50 a night for a place to park a caravan with access to running water, waste and electric quite frankly is taking the mick. It's no longer a cheap hobby and there's a mass exodus within the leisure industry. Be interesting to see how this all pans out.

[@steamdrivenandy6880]

An example of the craziness of the current market. A Bailey dealer in Suffolk asking £20,995 for a brand new Phoenix GT75 420 (List £23,644) and right underneath it on Caravanfinder a Swindon dealer asking £19,995 for a one owner 2 year old Phoenix Plus 420, the previous fit out. one of our local dealers offered me £11k for a PX on our '22 420 and another offered me £13.5k the very next day. I suspect the £19,995 is looking for a mug and the £11k didn't want a sale. The £13.5k is probably about right with it retailing at about £17k.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

That might be a case of the pre owned one being bought before the market went really crazy and it owning them too much, I’ve got a few in stock like that.

[@steamdrivenandy6880]

@@atlanticcaravansUK How on earth do you manage your way out of that?

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@steamdrivenandy6880you just take a bit of a hit, luckily it doesn’t happen that often and I’m a small dealer. If you have a yard full it’s a bit more of an issue. You can’t get it right every time no matter how much experience you have.

[@paulbower5274]

great content again. thankyou . you are saying nothing wrong. the world is changing, ( nowt new ),

[@RB-lt8kt]

Eldiss build quality not good. Our 2022 needed the bed frame tightened up, tap broke in bathroom because its cheap plastic and panel came loose on sofa. Servicing costs keep going up and up for little carried out. I do think most dealers were greedy and now its hurting them. The market is flooded with caravans because all costs have gone up : Breakdown cover, servicing, insurance, storage fees, fuel and site fees. Say you spent £20k on a caravan and used it 5 times a year over 20 days. Annual cost £1000 site fees plus fuel plus insurance plus breakdown.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, unfortunately I can’t argue, something actually just popped into my head, what value do we put on the memory’s we make when we go caravanning? Think of the best memory you’ve had and try to put a value on it? I think this might be the thing we are forgetting, also, you don’t have to spend out on a new caravan there are cheaper alternatives.

[@RB-lt8kt]

@@atlanticcaravansUK Thinking of selling my 2022 Eldiss 840 GT limited edition with big sky roof. Totally agree about the memories....useless wife not helping when trying to reverse an 8 ft wide very long caravan. She likes to stand behind where I can't see, now where did I put her life insurance ? Only kidding.

[@derekt7606]

We never used to have the likes of the Lusso which started off this £50k caravan craziness. Despite what you say I think that prices have risen sharply in the last two years or so not a gradual rise over six years. I think Coachman started 2024 with their slogan about the price rise for 24 being zero. Pity others didn’t take the hint. Whatever happens the bubbly has burst for caravans and Motorhomes plenty of stock not enough buyers high interest rates so 2025 will not be a corner turner for the manufacturers.

[@craiggrocott7559]

We bought an Adria 552UP new in 2019 for 40,000 AUD, in 2023 that same van was 73,000 AUD

[@caravanstuff2827]

the Australian government slamming a tariff on imported caravans to protect the local manufacturer's...my brother lives there and he says you never see EU or UK caravans on the road..the government have priced them out of the market..so much for the WTO and open markets!!!.❤️🇬🇧

[@matterhorn1975]

IMO, everything has gone up comparably except wages. Every year we are worse off and have less money. Where as 10 years ago a caravan cost 6 months wages, same job now, it costs 12 month wages.

[@lesliesmith4846]

It's not just the price of caravans that is affecting the market, it's the higher cost of finance. Even if someone doesn't need to take a loan to buy or upgrade, the loss of interest of say £20k in a deposit account earning 5%pa (£1k pa) adds to the cost and has to be borne in mind.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, I hadn’t thought of that, it’s definitely made a difference.

[@caravanstuff2827]

Wages haven't kept up with inflation and property values...the working class have definitely dropped out of the caravan/ motorhome market not only because of the vehicle prices but the site charges as well..iths types of leisure activity is strictly the domain of the middle class these days as the working class are just managing to keep a roof over their head , the lights on and food on the table...the big take away from all this is don't do this if you can't take the loss in value at trade in or the inevitable increase in prices...the other alternative is to keep the RV till it's reached it max depreciation then keep it...I'm working class and it's the only way I can afford to keep caravaning , even the used market is out of my reach these days..still I wouldn't do anything else even if I could afford it , it's the best life style activity ever!!.❤️🇬🇧

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

That’s what we like to hear, you also don’t have to spend a fortune on these things, back in the day, the same with cars, part of the fun was fixing things yourself, unfortunately theses days, and through no fault of their own mostly, people don’t know how anything works. Even to the point where they wonder why the microwave won’t work when not plugged into 240v..

[@caravanstuff2827]

@@atlanticcaravansUK to true!!.🤣

[@kray8246]

We Will be keeping our 08 Abbey vogue until it falls apart or we are forced to pack it in altogether. Certainly won't be replacing it with another, not financially sensible anymore

[@stehume]

very good video, look forward to these now. I think you are totally right on what you say. but so many people don't get what you say about all the costs going up. the people that understand it best are the people that have a business. Please keep these videos coming all the best to you

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Thanks, I’ll keep going, hopefully on a bit more of a positive note..

[@margaretbritton7080]

Back in the day we wouldn’t have had all the information that social media gives us about problems with the vans that we have today, so unless the dealer told you about all the issues we all discuss online now, which he obviously wouldn’t we wouldn’t have been so aware

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Definitely, I think I mentioned this in a previous video on trust, the manufacturers have to understand this too, they can’t hide behind the public being naive to the problems.

[@paulmiller4355]

Just over a month ago I went to a very very large dealer in the north to enquire about a motorhome. Would absolutely not deal, pay full or walk away. I walked. Now a month later I see they have discounted the exact vehicle by £7000!!

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

There has been a bit of a failure to see the writing on the wall I think, also dealers thought that Motorhomes were immune to this issue, they haven’t been affected as much, but it’s still slowing.

[@paulmiller4355]

Sadly the net result is a mistrust, even with this discount (cutting nose to spite face???) I'm not dealing with them.

[@adriandavis9790]

God on you to walk away

[@danmiddlehurst6462]

Got a sprite 2013 quattro.. We. Keep going to change it.. Yes it's had issues, all of which I have rectified myself.. Cracking front grp panel which I stopped and fixed myself and has been fine for 8 years.. And 2 areas of damp under side windows which I bought the correct wallboard and repaired properly... The van is still immaculate, I just cannot justify spending another 20k to get into a new van

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

No, and what would you gain, unless the layout wasn’t working for you now, better the devil you know and keep your 20k..

[@webpigjohn4959]

From the manufacturer point of view yes I see what you are saying and the figures seem to be sort of right.. However campsite fees let's look at electric prices. Pitch price at one site I use. £22 pn including electric. Then when prices of electric shot up pitch fee £30 pn +electric on pay as you use. This will put people off buying a caravan. I've sold my van because of campsite prices nothing to do with dealer prices.

[@andrewtucker3070]

If suppliers in a market charge more than the market can bear new entrants will replace them. Vans have increased in price way more than inflation. The manufacturers are incredibly inefficient. They build vans using an approach similar to car manufacturing in the 1970s. This leads to high costs and poor quality. Eventually someone will replace them. I notice the Chinese were much in evidence at the recent Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. I don’t particularly want them to take over but the current manufacturers need a good shakeup. As for sites most are too expensive. If I can stay on a well kept fully serviced CL for £20-25 why would I pay double for a CMH Club site. They should charge those who want loos and showers extra and reduce their prices for the rest of us. They could reduce their staff. They could start by cutting the grass less thereby saving money and causing less of a noise nuisance.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

I spoke to a Chinese company a few years ago who wanted to get into the market, it didn’t go anywhere as it’s not worth the investment it would need to get to a point where the caravans were good enough to sell, and now the market is shrinking, I can’t see who would bother with it..

[@RollingwithTheRobsons]

The thing is the parks got 20% tax free and often didn't pass it on. Prices in electric have came down quick a bit since its peaks but park prices have continued to go up. So they are now paying less for electric but not passing on. Pre COVID cost 25 quids top for a decent site. Same site now 45 so definitely some greed. Prices should be dropping due to lower electric prices and gas prices at present. Food coming down in places as diesel prices are coming down and supermarkets passing that on. Sites need to do that as well.

[@user-Tortured-soul]

Manufacturers have taken us for granted for to long.They have all neglected to deal with water ingress issues and cracks in GRP not forgetting the uncomfortable cardboard seats and lack of care in build quality.all compounded by the high sight fee charges. Caravanning is now only for the rich. Wages have been kept to low for years, people are struggling to pay the high cost. of renting a home and the rise in the cost of food etc.

[@petermercer5968]

In Australia the prices of caravans are up there with the satellites.

[@gillianbradbrook9906]

You are mot comparing like for like as the Excludive is a cheaper model to the Conqueror. When Swift ended that caravan in 2023, the final price was £35895 so your estimation is around 2k out.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

It’s what people would have to go for now, I think the overall jist is still relevant, I’ll mention it in the next video. And I suppose it would have gone up as well.

[@nigelburton7408]

Build your own camper van. Cheaper than a new caravan, satisfaction of making your own thing and no site fees if done correctly as would be always off grid. 😊

[@Caravanningwiththehoopers]

Visited Dubai 6 years ago, paid for our family of 4x £3800 for ten nights, today that same holiday/hotel is £9000, last week we stayed in a hotel for just one night in Durham, the price of that room for just 1x night was £328, makes a caravan site at £50 a night look a bargain

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

That’s a good point we were saying how much it was to stay in a premier inn has shot up the other day, it was quite a shock. I think we are just done over from every angle, but I suppose in context, we’re not getting shot at or bombed.

[@nigelterry6703]

With caravans these days you don't have to stay in the all singing and dancing sites we have just come back from 4 weeks touring Wales and didn't pay more than £25 a night and used the onboard toilet and shower. Certainly couldn't afford that holiday in b&b etc.

[@Caravanningwiththehoopers]

@@atlanticcaravansUK its life for you, the only reason people are moaning at present is they have less disposable income after paying all their bills, covid showed people were happy to pay £30/40k for a caravan and sites were fully booked at £50 a night when people had the money, when interest rates drop it will undoubtedly pick up again

[@Caravanningwiththehoopers]

@@nigelterry6703 very much try, I’m currently sitting on a CL site which was £25 a night, only us and one other caravan, had beautiful weather with temperatures in the high 20’s, still got all the comforts that I have on a site that's twice as much

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@nigelterry6703definitely, that’s all that was available back in the day, and people got out and enjoyed themselves. It’s about being somewhere different with loved ones, sounds a bit cheesy that, but it’s true.

[@barrystubbs983]

greed always corrupts and eventually destroys

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@barrystubbs983 it’s not greed, it’s necessity.. they don’t want to put the prices up so much, it reduces the market.

[@andrewwalker3312]

Basically there's only so much jam to go round but the pigs are trying to turn the jam into honey and will lose out in the long run because people will go elsewhere or buy honey instead which is the position at the moment 😂

[@richjbarnett]

Remember inflation is just a tax on existing wealth. Its a tax on every £ in everyone's savings and current accounts, it even works if you stuff cash under your floorboards. The Government is taxing you at the rate of inflation. Now then do we believe that official rate of inflation?? I'd suggest you double it and then you'll be close to where it really is. Its no different that legalised forging on an industrial scale.

[@AndrewCaddick-i5q]

Comparison-to change my car Range Rover Evoque from 2019 £22k to equivalent 2024 model £52k!

[@steamdrivenandy6880]

Well said, your comments all make perfect sense to me. Unfortunately social media give the Mr Angrys of the world a platform and they shout very loud without thinking about or understanding the business involved. I've been bugged on a forum by owners of Hymer Nova GL vans which, if they were still made now would cost £50k. The UK equivalent van costs £30k now. I'm certain that if Swift or Bailey made their vans for sale at £50k they'd be better quality than now, but they'd only sell as many as Hymer do, which I believe in the year in question was about half a dozen here in the UK. One thought, back in, say, 2012 Bailey's entry level range were the Orions and since then they've run the Pursuit range and since 2018the Series 1, Plus and GT75 Phoenix ranges. The phoenix ranges are much better equipped and the interior quality much further upmarket than the rather spartan Orions. The same probably goes for the Sprites, so there's a different level of costs in the 2024 product compared to the 2012. That has to be partially why prices have risen as manufacturers have responded to buyers requirement for greater and greater sophistication. Sadly that sophistication is judged on visual criteria, not on product reliability and its the bitter aftertaste of a beautiful caravan that has bits falling off and leaks that deflate the ownership experience.

[@adriandavis9790]

The problem is they sowed the seeds and they reaped the benefits but know it’s come back and biting them on the back sides the quality control is non existent on lots of these vans there is a lot of used and new vans in dealerships go on eBay auto trader and there’s hundreds for sale . Wouldn’t caravan makers be better off cutting production back for a while get the quality control back in line , then let the dealerships move some of there new stock and used stock then start producing the new vans again with a better quality product .As for sites charging too much if everyone refused to pay these high pitch charges they would drop there prices or go out of business simple?

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

That’s exactly what the manufacturers are doing, The Elddis group are only making 900 units next year, Swift have gone to a four day week and apparently extended the holidays to slow things down. And if the sites drop their charges, they would go out of business as their costs have shot up too.

[@chriss4949]

Is it a REAL crisis or just a re-alignment of the market. Ultimately the market will dictate the price, and the manufacturers will ( eventually) chase the market…..they will have to.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

I agree with a re-alignment as the spike in prices resets with a dip now which would be okay if the market was strong, but it’s hit in conjunction with a dip in sales which has ‘bunged’ everything up.

[@chriss4949]

@@atlanticcaravansUK yes it has…its painful but I doubt its terminal👍

[@davidday2947]

One thing I done is reduce site booking use to do 8 to 10 trips a year now I am down to 3 that save me money on diesel as well that gone up a lot site fees like the caravan and motor home club us to be price per couples now it each person that pushed the price up before Covid then pushed it up because of electric my caravan is ten years old now my car is 14years old at 76years old I am just running them down if they last me that my reason to not buy another car or caravan

[@allbushnocraft3031]

it’s nonsense that you can’t build a van that doesn’t leak case point grp sailboats don’t sink.

[@KenNy-cg3ln]

Nope. Value of money going down. Like a stone.

[@ashleyjohnson1908]

Think a couple of things at play, mentally.. a lot of people don't swap vans often so the price difference from when they last swapped they feel has jumped massively, when in reality it hasn't that much as you have proven, add to that time in general feels like its flying, lets face it, the pandemic was 4 years ago now! yet still feels like last year and I think a lot of people feel that way because it was a big event! probably people from WW2 had similar feelings for a good few years after the end of the war!. Add to that the pricing has broken a "milestone" in that a few now are over the £30k mark, is it the old "we sell things for £3.99 etc because it feels like we are saving a massive amount compared to pricing at £4", what I mean by this is human nature we look at a van for £29,999, didn't feel anywhere near as expensive as a van worth £30,999?

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, I’m interested in group hysteria as well, when a lot of people have a specific view on something even if it incorrect, it spreads to the mass consciousness. Take my biggest bug bear, people confusing damp and water ingress and the ‘fact ‘ that you can smell if a caravan has water ingress, you can’t smell water ingress, but try telling someone that and even coming from someone like me who’s been doing this 30 years, they are more likely to believe bob down the pub! I’ve got a video on sales techniques which covers some interesting stuff on the channel.

[@adrianjones5678]

The dealship has committed fraud, by leveraging something they have no entitlement to. Call your insurance company report it as stolen, contact the police and report it stolen, inform the administrator that if they persist they are party to fraud and liable for prosecution.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, kind of what I was thinking.

[@paulhilling6208]

I'm being offered 16k for my 2022 sprite 4eb. Found a deal for 2024 challenger grande 650l se at 32999 . 4.5k of rrp I think it's s good deal

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yep, that’s spot on with what I was saying in the video, trade for yours and a very good chunk off the new one, definitely worth going for and it’s not worth waiting for next year..

[@paulhilling6208]

@atlanticcaravansUK I was hoping for more for mine but I guess 2022 was the peak I paid 23k at the time.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@paulhilling6208​​⁠ I think you’ve done okay there, I’m offering below trade just due to the amount I’m being offered and at this time of year the selling season is coming to an end

[@Highland-Lass]

Couple of months ago i traded in my 2020 Sprite Major 4SB got £17k (i paid 19k inc extras, brand new, bought Jan 20 so pre covid) i downsized (as on my own) to a 2022 Sprite Alpine 2 £18k think i got a very good deal, my Sprite Major i had only used 3 times so was in as new condition.

[@paulhilling6208]

@Highland-Lass this time last year i was offered 19k when it was just over a year old . So I guess it's about right , it dropped 500 in a month. I guess that the market and the new van went from 33.7 to 32.999. So still works out OK.

[@richjbarnett]

The buying power of our currency has collapsed as the government and bank of england has inflated it away to pay for covid and public services. So the result is you earn the same number of £££ each month but you are poorer as it now buys less. Or the things you want like a caravan are more than you can afford. Your living standard fell. We are on average £10,000 behind where wages should have been.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

I agree, that’s exactly what it feels like as well..

[@blackvulcan100]

When people do their calculations caravanning is no longer a cheap holiday especially the cost of pitches in the Uk, europe is cheaper and the weather is usually better.ALSO !! why would you get into caravanning when in ten years time you will be forced to buy EV's and that will be the end of caravanning as we know it anyway. The younger generation 45 + are just not getting into the pastime.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

If you haven’t already, check out my video on EV’s I’ve got a bit more optimistic outlook on the future of EV’s..

[@peterfawcett9969]

Greedy site owners. All the want now is the rich.

[@davidfisher7541]

B,B ere cheaper than caravans

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

It’s a different experience, I don’t think you can compare.

[@shaungilmartin1505]

All that printing of worthless Fiat currency during covid is creating Weimar 2.0.