Would anyone have any information about this caravan. I bought it in a moment of madness and now I'm stumped as to how to begin repairing it. The electric doesn't work inside but when connected to the tow bar the break lights and indicators work, (although the left brake light is stuck on) , the water wont work and I'm not even going to risk trying the gas! I have found a slight patch of damp and I have a cracked acrylic/perspex window that I don't know where to purchase a spare part.
Has anyone owned this caravan and repaired/maintained it and can give me advice. Also does anyone know of any caravan repair specialists in Northern Ireland who would be able to work on the electric and water as I wouldn't want to risk those bits myself.
I honestly haven't a clue what I'm doing but I do want to learn!!
All help and advice is greatly appreciated I want to start fixing it up so I can get some use out of it this summer!!
Hi, yes I've got an 80s ABI. If its just a gas cooker it should be ok, theres a copper pipe that runs from gas locker to cooker so no reason why that should be problematic. I don't bother with a tap in mine, I took it out & just use a 5litre water carrier with spout. You will be lucky to source a replacement window of correct size & you can seal the outside gaps with pu sealant like Sikaflex & hope the inside dries out in time.
If you want to tow on the road you need to get the chassis & lights sorted so find a trailer workshop to service these, shouldn't be much more than £70+parts. Also if tyres are old & cracked then you should change them as well regardless of tread depth.
There is a gas cooker, a gas heater, the remnants of a gas lamp and i think the fridge can run from either gas or electric.
Shame about the window it would be nice to get a replacement for aesthetic purposes but mainly for the damp!
Do you know where I would find a trailer workshop is there a list of reputable ones anywhere online, I know I will be limited in whats available, being off the mainland!
Have you tried Googling "caravan breakers"? I have a 1988 Elddis Tornado, and obtained a replacement window this way recently. If you can't find one locally, maybe you could get a window posted to you.
I would advise getting the gas checked professionally, and change the tyres, but most other jobs should be not too difficult to D.I.Y.
So I have taken the caravan out from the side of the house to begin working on it for the summer. Should have took it out back in January with the amount of work I'm slowly discovering!
Decided I needed have a further look at the damp, ignorance is bliss wish I had never started!
One of the guide handles was loose which coincides with the damp spot, pulled back the hardboard and was saddened to see so much black crumbling wood (and soggy black fibre glass yuck!) , most of the frame on that side has rotted and will need replacing, had a closer inspection around the rest of the outside of the caravan and noticed one of the break lights (same one that had been suck on) was loose unscrewed it and ended up with crumbling rusted screws in my hands went in side pulled back the hard board and again same situation as the other corner, frame hardboard etc needing replaced.
The other 2 corners (toilet and electric box) seem sound enough no signs from the outside or inside of damp.
Had a look at the fix it club bits and bobs and have decided all the mastic on the awning/side rails will need replaced, had a wee peek under the rubber seal on the side rail and realised it had all been fixed on with nails not screws
How the heck do I get those out? They are all rusted to death!
Feeling overwhelmed with it all, my ma seems confident we can fix it, my da says if I ever manage to fix it up and sell for even a penny more than I paid he will double it....so really want to prove him wrong!
I am going to continue this thread with pictures of the repairs / hopefully my progress and fingers crossed some of you experienced DIYers will keep me right!!