Touring Caravan

Tourer market 2021

The state of the pre-owned tourer market 2021

Covid 19 restrictions haven’t been good to the general package tour holiday industry, with changes to rules in countries that might be visited on holiday and restrictions when holidaymakers return. This has meant that many people have decided on a staycation in the UK. The weather during the last few summers has been pretty good with dry springs, and this has given people the confidence to plan for a UK holiday. Eager to get away the public have looked at alternative ways to holiday and the touring caravan, along with the motorhome and holiday leisure home (static caravan), have been seen as a good way to spend a break. TV producers have also encouraged this trend by producing sightseeing programmes that encourage the rediscovery of the UK landscape and beauty spots.

This is great but the pressure on caravan sales have become immense since mid 2020. Prices for pre-owned tourers have climbed, to the stage where some dealers are not even bothering with price guides. Some tourers, detailed in this section, would hover around the £10k price most of the time back in 2019, now they have climbed to over £11k due to demand. With no or few part exchange’s coming in, the dealers forecourts have emptied, with new stock also going the same way. So caravanning is popular as ever and I reckon that most newbie’s will stay with the hobby after restrictions are lifted. The market may level next year but until then it’s all systems go and dealers are buying in where they can!

Used Family Touring Caravans

It’s a strange world in the tourer market at present, with shortages in pre owned and new the results have meant higher prices. Demand for family models remains high even in slower sales days the family model always stays strong. So what of family models? Well the lightweights are thin on the ground and the fixed bunk layouts command a sale on any forecourt usually within days. The only answer is that it’s a case of keeping your ear to the ground and also making sure that you don’t need to change your car to tow the tourer of your choice. With all the demand the family layouts are in massive demand and as dealers told me from various places that models are sold before being advertised! Beware of those sellers who have over inflated a price with faults any faults find out how much its going to cost to repair and get the part! Dealer service bays have never been empty due to the sales of tourers so do also expect delays on servicing-even in the winter months!

Andrew Jenkinson, September 2021