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Topic: Caravan not fit for use :(

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Jax365

10/4/2014 at 8:00pm
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi

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Quote: I would happily just use it as a tine tent for now even but not sure you can tow it without the electrics working for the lights at least?

Do you mean the lights inside the caravan or the towing lights? The towing lights have to work to be legal on the road. Don't forget you will also need a car license plate to match your car.

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redheads

10/4/2014 at 10:21pm
Location: kent
Outfit: 2004 Abbey freestyle discovery 2 td5

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we paid £6250 for our caravan a year ago from a dealer in kent came with a 6 months warranty no problems then a year later went back to dealer I said I had found damp in the caravan they said it happens I do feel I have been ripped off I said at the time had it got any damp he said no we would not have taken it in px if it had have just spent the last 4 months fixing the damp problems leaking taps cracked sink in bathroom the list is long what has gone wrong with this van all fixed now and doing it myself and spent a lot of money we don't have p**sed off understatement really your not alone I thought going to a dealer we would not have any problems when buying private very stress full how wrong was i.

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glittering-prize

10/4/2014 at 11:02pm
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seems bad that low lifes like this can sell lethal caravans.I mean,its endangering lives.So let us all know who it is and stop him selling crap.And as mentioned,anything sold must be fit for purpose.Get your solicitor on the case.This sounds illegal,No one is made of money and most of us work hard for it.So get it back.Report him to the law.He is a peice of dog s**te.

Frannyvan

11/4/2014 at 6:55am
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Swift Classic Corvette 1998

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We paid Over £2000 for our damp caravan. I think it's hard to prove that the seller knew there was damp and our receipt was sold as seen. Yes we were upset at the time but now it's fixed it's actually worth more. There are a few bit that need fixing still (floor delamination included) but if the rest of the van is sound and clean, which ours is,then personally I think it's worth investing in. The £700 you paid wasn't going to get you a palace and I would have expected some work for that price.
Also I think probably a good amount of vans have damp without their owners being aware.
Try not to stress and deal with the most urgent jobs first and enjoy your van.

Post last edited on 11/04/2014 07:15:05

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Frannyvan

11/4/2014 at 6:59am
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Swift Classic Corvette 1998

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Check out this thread
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=8&TopicID=308518&PagePosition=3

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flufftec

11/4/2014 at 8:20am
Location: Blackwood
Outfit: Bailey scorpio 5 birth & 5 man tent

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You could always use a camping style hook up to start off with to see if you actually like a caravan as they are not to everyones taste, as you say you have all the camping equipment already I expect you may have one if not they are relatively cheap, get a pair of tyres and try it out for a weekend or so somewhere local if you don't like it you havnt spent a great deal more on it, as for the lights either get someone to rewire them as its not a difficult job or you can get a trailer style light board for now,

Hope it hasn't put you off to much and you have many years of happy caravaning

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Im new to this please be gentle

mikim

11/4/2014 at 7:04pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Not enough space !

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So cost so far is £700 purchase price for a van you love . What make and age is the caravan?
£400 cost for damp could be cut if you are prepared to do the work yourself with the loads of help and advice available on here.
If you could find £400 to get the gas and electric sorted, you could still have a caravan for less than £2000 that could with a bit of TLC last you for another few years and pay you back tenfold.

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I have TAD !

AndyDW

11/4/2014 at 8:06pm
Location: Lincs
Outfit: Coachman Wanderer 19

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Are you convinced that the gas and electrics are as bad as the second guy would have you believe?

It's not unknown for this type of tradesman to go OTT with estimates of how much work needs to be done.

Especially if they think the punter may not be too clued up on this type of work.

Do you have any friends who could check and verify the supposed faults?

Just my nasty suspicious mind at work!!

..........
Andy

mattlad

11/4/2014 at 8:39pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Defender 90 and MyWay Voyager Raid

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Quote: Originally posted by AndyDW on 11/4/2014
Are you convinced that the gas and electrics are as bad as the second guy would have you believe?

It's not unknown for this type of tradesman to go OTT with estimates of how much work needs to be done.

Especially if they think the punter may not be too clued up on this type of work.

Do you have any friends who could check and verify the supposed faults?

Just my nasty suspicious mind at work!!

..........
Andy

Try getting a second opinion.

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Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!

Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.

michell8

11/4/2014 at 9:11pm
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The second opinion needs to the op's own. To caravan on the cheap they need to learn this sort of stuff.

sarahpeee

11/4/2014 at 9:32pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Outfit: Abi Ace Viceroy

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Thanks for all your helpful advice. The caravan is a 1990 Abi Ace Viceroy so is very old and pretty basic but we quite like that as there is less for the kids to damage. We are now considering trying to fix the damp ourselves and will look at getting it rewired by someone else. If it is too much for now then we will use the camping hook up - what a great idea, and just make sure the tow lights are working etc. Thanks for reassuring us all is not lost and yes £700 isn't the earth, it is all we have at the moment but could stretch to a few hundred more to rescue it. I am so sorry for the people that have shelled out a lot more and had such terrible problems, I hope it is all sorted out now for you.
I think I have convinced hubby to take a week off work to learn a new skill and this way we will be much more clued up about caravans by the end of it!
Thanks again, no doubt we will be back with more questions!
Sarah

Janx

11/4/2014 at 9:34pm
Location: lincolnshire
Outfit: Bailey Pageant Burgundy +Kia Sorento

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So sorry to hear your story..I feel for you even though the van was only £700 he should have been up front...I don't believe the bloke didn't know about the damp....some people....just have no soul.

I would ring him again.......maybe about 3,4 and 5 in the morning and about 4 or 5 on a Sunday morning times

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PaulBB

12/4/2014 at 1:14pm
Location: In my motorhome
Outfit: Rimor 677TC superBrig

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The first time I had to repair a van I had no idea what I was doing but I found Youtube vids very helpful. I had a van with damaged wiring for towing lights and not wanting to rip out all the back end to get at wiring for lights I removed the original lights filled holes than screwed on a light board which I got off ebay for £20 (thats new) just make sure cable is long enough.
If the 240volt system is unsafe a cheap way round that is a tent electric hookup board costs about £30<£40.

mikim

12/4/2014 at 5:58pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Not enough space !

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1990 is not that old and it now has owners that love and appreciate it .
Take your time and enjoy , not everything has to be sorted straight away.
Hope to see you on one of the sites, let us know how things progress
xxx

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I have TAD !

sarahpeee

13/4/2014 at 7:22pm
Location: Scottish Borders
Outfit: Abi Ace Viceroy

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I have been down to the caravan today to take some photos but I don't know how to upload them, can anyone help with this?

michell8

13/4/2014 at 10:13pm
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