ferguson_tom Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Hi Everyone In my search for a cheap caravan i have come across a van which ticks all the right boxes, but it is damp and by sound of it very damp. Its a 1997 swift 4 berth. Talking to the seller the whole nearside is damp, some of the front is patchy and some of the offside is as well. I am going to look tomorrow but have provisionally agreed a price of a few hundred quid - the van if dry is worth about 2500-3000. Just wondering if any of you have repaired damp caravans before and how you found it. I am pretty competent DIYer and done work on our old caravans but never damp repairs. My idea is to just take the whole interior out (luckily the bathroom is fine) and take all the wall boards off and leave a dehumidifier in there for a few weeks then work my way round it replacing anything that needs doing. All going to be undercover as well. Does this sound like the best way of doing it or is it better to deal with it in sections. Also i will reseal all the panels and awning rails etc to stop the water coming in again. All the best Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bi9johnny Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 sounds like you have it sorted tom good luck mate..... love caravans had a few but a pain when they go wrong regards john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretagentmole Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Forget it, that much damp in means the thing is a rot box. You will end up replacing everything, the floor could be sprung/rotted too! Much better to find a dry van, or one with minimal damp. You will need to reseal the outside wall joints as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Forget it, that much damp in means the thing is a rot box. You will end up replacing everything, the floor could be sprung/rotted too! Much better to find a dry van, or one with minimal damp. You will need to reseal the outside wall joints as well! +1 It sounds like it may well need the boards AND framework replaced. If the floor has delaminated too then it's a HUGE task. This generally happens because many people dont understand the vans need resealing every couple of year! Lack of such maintainance leads to the damp as you describe it. A small damp patch yeah not a prob, but it sounds like this thing will not be cost effective. If its just £200 then I would be more inclined to strip it and sell the cushions, kitchen, bathroom, windows, roof light, lights, stripping it all down to the chassis and sell that too. A good chassis such as ALKO can fetch £150 to £200 on its own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 I bought a cheap £300 van for my daughter to use as a 'den'. As she is approaching those teenage years, it's nice for her to have somewhere to have her pals around at school lunchtimes and after school,. etc. There was a point somewhere on the top, which was leaking... I think it was the top (middle) joint seal. The roof had weakened, and constantly had a puddle of rain on top, which I sorted by bracing the inside ceiling (Pushed it upwards and secured with batons) As it's a static 2 berth, I just sealed everything with silicone outside, and stuck a dehumidifier in it overnight. Seems to have done the trick. A lot of damp in a caravan, though, can also be dangerous due to the mould spores. If anyone has allergies or asthma... Might be a bad idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul99 Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Forget it, that much damp in means the thing is a rot box. You will end up replacing everything, the floor could be sprung/rotted too! Much better to find a dry van, or one with minimal damp. You will need to reseal the outside wall joints as well! I agree if the one we had was anything to go by the problem is 100x worse than what it looks initially and what seems like an easy fix like replacing a mastic joint turns into a major job stripping out and replacing sodden insulation and rotten framing - which to get at requires even more stripping etc. There are so many caravans out there for reasonable money it's really not worth taking a gamble on a damp one take your time and you'll eventually find a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine1980 Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 I rekon a can of petrol and a match would do the trick!! Royal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
station Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 I rekon a can of petrol and a match would do the trick!! Royal you offer sound advice - one less on the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canis Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 While i remember fondly a number of " almost camping " family holidays when i was a kid I'm not to sure of the point of a touiring caravan now that diesel is so expensive. Go any distance and its got to be cheaper to stay in a hotel! or save the fuel and pitch a decent sized tent. Each to their own I suppose. OP sounds like you are taking on a lot of work - if you are up for doing that make sure that the internal fittings are undamaged- they wouldd be costly to replace ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 The best thing you can do is take it into the middle of a field and burn it. The damn things ought to be outlawed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 nope the best thing you can do is sell it to Top Gear for the next series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypaint Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Don't be tempted to use silicone, get some tiger seal, sikoflex or weld sealant. All above available from any car paint supplies. They last year's, grip like hell and water proof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvid wings Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 box of swan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted January 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 Thanks for the replies, even the very useful set fire to it ones I need a caravan as we own vintage tractors and a steam engine and so exhibit at steam and country shows etc. I must admit nothing on the road annoys me more than a caravan being towed by an incompetent driver - I don't think you would complain too much about following me towing a caravan I don't hang about. (But still very safe) With regards to the correct materials I will be buying all the proper caravan stuff as do not want to be doing it again. I am seeing it tomorrow so will see how much work it actually needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickS Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 A caravan being towed by a steam roller along the singe-carriageway section of the A303 on a bank holiday weekend..... Now there's an image! Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 You need to see it when the Muppets have their Rally near here, its chaos for days before and after as they mostly seem to think its a good idea to drive whatever tractor or steam engine they have there. Then over the weekend they have a who can drink the most and still drive said steam engine or tractor to the pub and back some right funny sorts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 You need to see it when the Muppets have their Rally near here, its chaos for days before and after as they mostly seem to think its a good idea to drive whatever tractor or steam engine they have there. Then over the weekend they have a who can drink the most and still drive said steam engine or tractor to the pub and back some right funny sorts. A caravan being towed by a steam roller along the singe-carriageway section of the A303 on a bank holiday weekend..... Now there's an image! Nick # I am one of those muppets see you in June I must disagree with you about the drinking though the majority of people with engines and tractors do not drink and drive the engines, maybe a pint down the pub on the evening road run but nothing serious. Everyone looks out for each other and that includes people drink driving and risking problems for the rest of us. The caravan wont go behind the roller it shakes the caravans to bits and the black smuts are a pain to get off the white caravan roof instead, i will post a pic up later of the roller living van which goes behind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Personally, if I were to own and run an old steam traction engine, I would want to tow something age related behind it. One of those old romany horse drawn wooden jobbies perhaps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Personally, if I were to own and run an old steam traction engine, I would want to tow something age related behind it. One of those old romany horse drawn wooden jobbies perhaps! Pictures to come when i get home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Personally, if I were to own and run an old steam traction engine, I would want to tow something age related behind it. One of those old romany horse drawn wooden jobbies perhaps! half of them do # I am one of those muppets see you in June I must disagree with you about the drinking though the majority of people with engines and tractors do not drink and drive the engines, maybe a pint down the pub on the evening road run but nothing serious. Everyone looks out for each other and that includes people drink driving and risking problems for the rest of us. we are going back a few years and the real problems were when the show was at its previous home and all the dingleberries at 2mph on roads with lots of bends. Its much better in Codicote well out of our way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 I use to build them a few years back ,and there not easy to take to bits when you take them to bits the damp WILL be in the boards timber insulation ,all this WILL need replacing my advice is don't buy ,again don't buy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bovril Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 The best thing you can do is take it into the middle of a field and burn it. The damn things ought to be outlawed Why?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Why?? Cause she is a lady truck driver and gets stuck behind them I think ,no offence miss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 (edited) A lot will depend on how long the van has been leaking-if its fairly recent then get the van resealed by a pro-ours was about £300 a couple of years back.If resale value is around 2.5k then you can afford to spend a bit on it-you will get it back when you sell anyway.Delamination of the floor is no great problem either-it can be drilled and have glue injected into the holes-you can the fit laminate flooring to hide the repair-should be less than £100 in total if you do it yourself.In the meantime get it under cover and remove the upholstery before it gets mouldy-you can get dehumidifiers on the bay for less than £40. Edited January 4, 2013 by bruno22rf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Have a look and see how bad it is. If cheap enough but knackered sell all fixtures weigh in the ally panels and turn chassis into a trailer to sell on. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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