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 last year we discovered a wet patch from  top of the wall in the shower area to half way down, on the side. i straight away assumed a leak in the awning channel or roof. so as i was on site, i put loads of the stuff you stick an awning rail on with , like putty, in both the awning channel and on the roof seal where the "fin" joins at the back. looked a mess but seemed to work.dried it out with a hair-dryer. contacted a local dealer , £2-300 to put right , thought ok get in touch with insurers, told get quote emailed to us and the work can begin.

the qoute the dealer sent was for , are you sitting down?,£1,603,84 ! bearing in mind the dealer had examined the 'van. we told the insurers not to pay for it and took the van to our local man who mends them in hartlebury, cost ....£40, it was just the strip joining the fin to the roof needed resealing , so he put a new one on.  no more leaks and whats more no damp or smell. just goes to show there ARE  some decent people out there who mend only what needs mending.  guess where we will go from now on when we need a quote.

Our insurance company insists on two separate quotes - and if you make this clear to anyone doing the quotes they don't come up with any silly figures.  Perhaps your dealer was also quoting for repairing the internal panels and wooden battens, as well as fixing the rail? 

Thinking about it, though, I don't think our insurance company would cover this sort of problem anyway - they do cover accidental damage, fire, theft, etc., but not a problem with the integral structure of the caravan or any subsequent problems of dampness etc. 

I didnt realise normal caravan insurance covered leaks or do you mean you have an extended warranty?

Tell us more about the dealer's quote, I take it that it involved removal & replacement of panels etc rather than just resealing, If it was insured why were you worried about the cost?