| Welcome to Hobby Caravan Owners Club Forum. THE place for information, talk and advice on everything to do with Hobby Caravans. Run by Hobby Caravan enthusiasts, for Hobby Caravan enthusiasts. Discussuion topics range from Hobby Caravan Spares, Hobby Caravan Towing Advice, Hobby Caravan Technical Section, Hobby Caravan For Sale and Wanted, Places to Stay for Hobby's etc.. Non subscription based and non profit making - free and easy to join, everyone is made to feel welcome and are encouraged to help the forum grow. We hope you enjoy your visit. To gain full access to the forum you must register. Registration is free quick and easy, email addresses are guaranteed to be kept private and not sold on. We are a non profit making private organisation run by Hobby Caravan enthusiasts, so come and join the friendly on line community Register here now, it's free and easy ! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| what to look for; 560 ufe | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Apr 4 2009, 04:51 PM (211 Views) | |
| fendango | Apr 4 2009, 04:51 PM Post #1 |
|
Newbie
  ![]](http://209.85.12.237/static/1/pip_r.png)
|
Hello all.... I'm just about to buy a 560 ufe and would like to know is there anywhere on the caravan to confirm that it is a 2006 model and does £6200 sound about the right amount of money for such a van. All the paper work is there but i was just wondering if there is a plate somewhere that could verify the year. Many thanks Mark |
 |
 
|
| Hobbynut | Apr 4 2009, 05:21 PM Post #2 |
|
Advanced Member
|
VIN plate is is on the same side of the caravan as the entry door and is at the front of the van on the outside..Its a small black and silver plate, at the top is usually the model number and if you look along the chassis number which begins WHB you will see the letter " F " it is the number to the right of this that gives the year so yours should be a 6. Other thing to consider is that it 2.5 metres wide and can't be legally towed by a " normal " vehicle Cheers Hobbynut |
|
|
|
| fendango | Apr 4 2009, 08:35 PM Post #3 |
|
Newbie
|
Thanks for your swift reply....Is there anything else i should be looking for when i view the van...? As for the towing issue... i think i ll take my chances the same as everyone else seems to do, but thank you for high lighting the issue. |
|
|
|
| Hobbynut | Apr 4 2009, 09:47 PM Post #4 |
|
Advanced Member
|
Check both rear corners of the floor on the underside of the van..Put your finger under and use your fingernail to scratch at the floor as far into the corner as you can get it..if the floor starts to crumble then the wood is rotten and if you keep working your finger, you can put a hole in floor..This is a common problem with Hobby's due to a very poor drainage system..Another way to check and this would not be popular with the seller is to put a hammer under the van and start tapping the floor about 6 inches in from the corner towards the middle of the van, slowly move the hammer as you tap and start moving it towards the corner, if there is a problem then you will start off with a solid type sound which will change to a dull type thud.. Cheers Hobbynut |
|
|
|
| fendango | Apr 5 2009, 07:45 AM Post #5 |
|
Newbie
|
Thanks hobbynut...will try that, is there anyway i can check that it is not stolen..? |
|
|
|
| Hobbynut | Apr 5 2009, 08:00 AM Post #6 |
|
Advanced Member
|
When I bought mine I got an HPI check done and was told that it was not registered as stolen in the UK, as for abroad, they couldn't tell me..You could also contact main importers Ambergate and give them the chassis number so they can look on their database to see if it is recorded as stolen..They can also tell you year of manufacture and exactly the model of van, interior colour etc...they are very useful....Daft as it may seem, make sure that the table is there for making the seating area into a bed as they are bl...y expensive Cheers Hobbynut |
|
|
|
| fendango | Apr 5 2009, 02:06 PM Post #7 |
|
Newbie
|
Thank you...in your earlier post you mentioned the fact to check the rear corners of the van should there be a damp problem should i steer clear or would i be ok with a reduced price and if so how much... sorry for all the questions, i suppose you can never be too carefull. |
|
|
|
| Hobbynut | Apr 5 2009, 03:27 PM Post #8 |
|
Advanced Member
|
To be honest if the corners have gone soft I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole..If it's been serviced correctly since new then it's still under warranty..It just depends how you feel about it..Also check to see if it is in good condition inside..Some of the ex travellers vans suffer from what I call " accelerated wear " due to being in use 24/7..If its got a fixed bed then check the frame under the mattress they are not particularly strong Cheers Hobbynut |
|
|
|
| fendango | Apr 5 2009, 08:33 PM Post #9 |
|
Newbie
|
I'm going back to look at the van tomorrow to check the no and the floor pan... it has the table in the sitting area i presume this is the one you mean that is used for the bed make up. The caravan is in a storage yard i've been in the van and it is in good condition although where the tv would sit just inside the door seemed a bit used, haven't checked the frame under the mattress but i will though. It was bought from somewhere in Washington Newcastle can't remember the dealer though....Have seen the paper work but will ask about the service history when i see her tomorrow. My friend has the same van and a similar age he has had a promlem with the wiring which he has had fixed but also says that the pelmet lighting can be tempromental is this a common fault...? i 've read somewhere that the water heater is not the best either....? These faults haven't put me off buying the van just want to be prepared for the future. Thanks Mark |
|
|
|
| Hobbynut | Apr 5 2009, 10:13 PM Post #10 |
|
Advanced Member
|
Water heater is about as much use as indicators on a submarine..it's Ok if you are not in arush for hot water and don't need alot of it all in one go..lights under the pelmet are not really a problem as such, probably get the odd bulb blowing now and again..i would want it coupled up to the mains power supply to make sure everything works Cheers Hobbynut |
|
|
|
| peggy | Apr 5 2009, 11:18 PM Post #11 |
|
Advanced Member
|
Quick year check... Lift one of the removable carpets the model and year will be printed on the underside in big leterrs i.e yours should read 560UFe_06 .. even if it was made in January of that year...
|
|
|
|
| fendango | Apr 6 2009, 09:13 AM Post #12 |
|
Newbie
|
Many thanks Peggy your a star.... Just that when your handing so much money over for something that is second hand and your a newbie, i 'd hate to think i'd bought a lemon...  Mark Richmond North Yorkshire |
|
|
|
| Hobbynut | Apr 6 2009, 04:53 PM Post #13 |
|
Advanced Member
|
Check the VIN plate, there was a set of carpets for sale on Ebay recently from DS Trading...Two seconds to swap carpets, not quite as quick to change plate Cheers Hobbynut |
|
|
|
| yamman | Apr 8 2009, 06:07 PM Post #14 |
|
Newbie
|
Just bought our first hobby a 560 ufe can't wait to go out this weekend....roll on the summer anyone know of any good places to go in north yorkshire ish please let us know..... Mark Richmond North Yorkshire |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
carpet.jpg (662.77 KB)| « Previous Topic · Welcome · Next Topic » |
4:21 PM Nov 26
