Message Forums

Well, we've just come back from our first caravanning holiday and we're now well and truly addicted! We spent a week at a lovely little site in Much Wenlock, Shropshire and although it poured with rain every night, we had plenty of dry weather during the day to get out and about.

I would like to ask some advice from the seasoned caravanners out there though. We bought our van very cheaply from a local dealer and although I wasn't expecting it to be perfect, I was a bit disappointed to find that the rain was coming through in two places. Am I being naiive expecting that I should have been told it wasn't watertight or should I be complaining?

I'm pleased that you had a good time and now love caravanning but sorry to hear of the damp problem.  I am new to caravanning but I would take it back to the dealer straight away and tell them that the van is not fit for purpose. ie it leaked.  Make a really strong but calm and determined stance and insist they do a free repair or even your money back.  Some on here may say that it is up to the purchaser to ask about damp, I do not know the form being new but don't let them get away with it. If they are  difficult you could always let them know you will be posting on caravan forums about it.

Good luck

Carol

was it a "trade sale sold as seen" only you say you bought it cheaply,if he gave you a short warrenty you may be ok but don't get your hopes up .
You say the rain was coming in in two places could you be more precise where it was coming in from ,most damp repairs are straight forward DIY type jobs that can be done cheaply enough ,best fo luck .

David

Thanks for your replies.

David, there was a drip coming in above the front window from the centre of the top of the window frame. There was also a leak somewhere in the back corner as we only realised that the underside of the mattress on the bunk was sopping wet when we came to pack up.

I've got the caravan in indoor storage and have left the skylight window open and taken the mattress off the bunk and stood it on end in the middle of the floor, hoping that it'll dry out and not go mouldy. I think I'm also going to talk to the dealer as well. As people have said, even if the caravan was cheap, it should be fit for purpose. There were some caravans that were equally cheap but had signs on them basically saying that they were cheap because they weren't watertight, so having turned away from those, I was expecting not to have to deal with that problem.

Tigger2000

I would take it to the dealer while it is sopping wet.  Go for it.

Carol