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Subject Topic: Caravan DIY Repair Post Reply Post New Topic
Persondetritus
06/5/2014 at 10:37am
 Location: Strathaven
 Outfit: Elddis Crusader View detritus's Profile View Profile   Reply to detritus Reply   Quote detritus Quote  
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Morning

New member so be gentle with me lol

Looking for some advice here from all you experienced caravan repairers.

I have an Elddis Crusader that is needing repair due to damp etc. It has been repaired in the past by the previous owner in various areas.

The main problem i have apart from damp in all 4 corners is that the floor at the front of the caravan is rotten and absolutely sodden for about the front 2-3 feet, this has been repaired before by the previous owner. As well as that the floor has come away from the walls as the the wood has rotted and the screws have rusted away.

Im doing the repair in my front drive as unable to find anywhere else to do it under cover.

So how do i go about replacing the front 3 feet of floor and the wood that holds the side of the caravan to the floor?

Any advice and help will be greatly appreciated.

Here are some photos to explain my situation.


Personimpster
06/5/2014 at 10:05pm
 Location: Mid Wales
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I'll be following your progress on this as I have a rear corner on mine showing similar symptoms.

Here's hoping the forum members can provide us both with good advice!


Personjeff juke
07/5/2014 at 5:21am
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Do a search here,top right of the link "The fixed it club" Click

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Animals have feelings..

JEFF................


Persondetritus
07/5/2014 at 8:06am
 Location: Strathaven
 Outfit: Elddis Crusader View detritus's Profile View Profile   Reply to detritus Reply   Quote detritus Quote  
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Thanks for that Jeff looked all through the fixed it club but couldn't find anything for replacing the floor at the front but lots of info on replacing the walls which I will be using shortly for the 4 corners lol

Yeah impster here is hoping lol


Personmaritimesbob
07/5/2014 at 9:04pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Abi Courier View maritimesbob's Profile View Profile   Reply to maritimesbob Reply   Quote maritimesbob Quote  
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Good luck with that. I too look to be embarking on something of a similar scale.

The two front corners of the floor are saturated, the left side looking toward to front, the wall is also damp half way down more or less in the awning rail area. All around the front window has also rotted away.

I've stripped out all the "compost" from around the front window through to the plastic outer shell. I have a fan heater and dehumifier going 24/7 to try and salvage some of the floor.

My problem is the floor is wet and rotted in the corners and a foot up the wall from the floor. I am unsure how the make the wall structurally safe and attached to the fixed floor, as the batons have rotted where the wall sits on the floor.

I look forward to following your progress.

I was amazed that with using the fan heater and dehumidifier for just one day, it has substantially dried out. A few more days yet me thinks.

I am reluctant to do a perfect job, our van simply isn't worth it being an 89 van however I just want to get a few more years from it if possible, and of course make it safe.

For me it's going to be replace the obvious rot, dry it out thoroughly, glue in new batons, treat the wood I did't get out. Seal up thoroughly outside and toughen up the floor. Insulate and panel up.


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PersonFrannyvan
08/5/2014 at 8:00am
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Swift Classic Corvette 1998 View Frannyvan's Profile View Profile   Reply to Frannyvan Reply   Quote Frannyvan Quote  
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I've definitely seen someone do a floor repair on this site before in the last year. Might take a little bit of time, but would be worth you doing a search on "damp" on this section of the forum and having a trawl through to find something.
Have you also checked wizard's site
http://www.1carpc.co.uk/wcdr/favorites.htm

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xxxx


Persondetritus
08/5/2014 at 8:05am
 Location: Strathaven
 Outfit: Elddis Crusader View detritus's Profile View Profile   Reply to detritus Reply   Quote detritus Quote  
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Hi Frannyvan

Searched caravan floor repair and there was one post but unfortunately the link is to their website which no longer exists

Will try damp instead, also been all through wizard's list and nothing specific to what I'm doingjust now mostly walls


PersonFrannyvan
08/5/2014 at 9:26am
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Swift Classic Corvette 1998 View Frannyvan's Profile View Profile   Reply to Frannyvan Reply   Quote Frannyvan Quote  
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Bit of info on this thread???
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=31&TopicID=259422&SearchPagePosition=1&search=floor&searchMode=phrase&searchIn=Topic&forum=31&searchSort=dateDESC&ReturnPage=Search

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xxxx


PersonFrannyvan
08/5/2014 at 9:39am
 Location: Dorset
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I've been looking but can't find the thread but someone was doing a repair where the whole side of the caravan the floor was detached from the van and rotten and they were repairing. I'll try and have a look for you later. Hopefully they'll pop up with a reply.

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xxxx


Personweegmack
08/5/2014 at 9:43am
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Trigano Tribute 669 View weegmack's Profile View Profile   Reply to weegmack Reply   Quote weegmack Quote  
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Wow, yikes and gulp! Wishing you all the best with this project. Hope it all works out and you can be enjoying your caravan very soon.x

-------------
Gillian


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Persondetritus
08/5/2014 at 10:08am
 Location: Strathaven
 Outfit: Elddis Crusader View detritus's Profile View Profile   Reply to detritus Reply   Quote detritus Quote  
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Thanks frannyvan

Yeah weegmack we can but hope lol


Persondetritus
08/5/2014 at 5:19pm
 Location: Strathaven
 Outfit: Elddis Crusader View detritus's Profile View Profile   Reply to detritus Reply   Quote detritus Quote  
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Well had some fun today as it was dry for a while lol

Took the front legs off and unbolted the floor from the frame, took back the linoleum on the right to find that im gonna have to take even more floor off as looks like the pump or pipes have been leaking as the floor was sodden underneath the linoleum and part was rotten.

By looks of it the previous fix will all have to be replaced Oh the joys lol.

It also looks like the previous floor was made up of a frame and sheet of ply either side with expanding foam in the void, so thinking this might be an idea instead of sourcing 40mm plywood, Wot does everyone think?

Will put up some pics the morn when i take them lol


Persondetritus
07/6/2014 at 5:42pm
 Location: Strathaven
 Outfit: Elddis Crusader View detritus's Profile View Profile   Reply to detritus Reply   Quote detritus Quote  
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Well been a while so thought id give an update.

On the good side ive managed to replace the spars and batons required and replaced the walls that needed done in the front end anyway.Managed to get my replacemen t ply coated in preserver and just waiting for a good day to start fabricating the floor so i can get some stability before putting the rails etc back on.

On the bad side though found that the fronts windows frame was soaken and parts rotten to hell so had to take all that out and will have to replace fresh lol

Its true what they say about damp if you think it looks bad on the surface it's 10 times worse underneath everything lol

Heres some more pics











PersonBoston600
07/6/2014 at 6:37pm
 Location: None Entered
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Some task you have. But if you can fix it your van will be as good as new, if not better. I wish I had the skills to do this kind of project. It will be worth it in the end.


Personmaritimesbob
07/6/2014 at 8:16pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Abi Courier View maritimesbob's Profile View Profile   Reply to maritimesbob Reply   Quote maritimesbob Quote  
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Pretty similar to the state ours was in. Spent the last month fixing up the front end, repairing floor, front panel, front window, and both front areas of the side walls.

I had never touched a caravan in my life, let alone repair one but I found it quite straight forward after the initial shock! I'm a machinist by trade so perhaps my engineering background might have helped, but it really is basic carpentry that an average DIYer can do.

The worst thing I've found is that god awful tacky mastic stuff they used years ago. It gets everywhere on the drive, in the house, carpets, under shoes etc! Spent an age scraping it off the caravan, and even longer cleaning up the drive!

It was a mess but thankfully we're all done and the wife is now giving the interior a new completely new decor!


Persondetritus
08/6/2014 at 11:41am
 Location: Strathaven
 Outfit: Elddis Crusader View detritus's Profile View Profile   Reply to detritus Reply   Quote detritus Quote  
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Yeah hopefully it will be better than new and worth it Boston600.

The bloody mastic is a pain in the arse maritimesbob lol Specially the stuff thats had water soaked into it think it makes it eveb stickier lol Glad ive got a pressure washer for the drive afterwards lol



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