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Use your senses-if it is damp it may smell of it.

Look for mould or discolouration on walls, particularly under windows and around the seams (by roof, along front edges under all windows).

Check in shower compartment if fitted.

Feel the wall board in  areas mentioned- if it feels spongy or soft compared to other areas it could indicate damp.

Ask owners if it has been serviced, as a service should include a damp check.

Look at the outside, along edges, seams, see if the mastic is sound, large amounts of excess sealant might show it has had  a problem.

Ask the seller, hopefully they will be honest?

Don't know anything about the van type, but I have had a van with damp in the past-which I repaired!

Good luck

A damp meter costs about 8 quid. A caravan can cost thousands.

Dampness is probably the biggest single fault in caravans and buying a secondhand van without checking it for dampness is, to put it mildly, foolhardy.

Just look through the forums here about the number of people that have suffered from damp problems. Some in vans less than 3 months old!!!!

I most respectfully suggest that you do not part with your money, no matter how much you like the vans you see, until you but a dampmeter and learn how to use it. It may save you a great deal of money and future problems.

if you knock it (like knocking a door) using the knuckle of your index finger and it rings solid then chances are it is okay, if it is muffled or feels soft then she is wet. get a damp meter tho and if you start playing music she is a bad un and walk away

mind once looking at a sprite alpine and the back wall was soft like wet tissues and the bloke said that isnt damp, yeah right, he was wanting £1500 for the van and all it had was a fridge, no heater or hot water or casette loo. offered him £500 he told me 2 words (2nd being off) lol

  Hi Jo, I was going to lend you my meter when I realised where you are located. A bit too far from Newcastle!.

Then I had a chuckle with you asking about dampness.  Lets see if anyone else has my sense of humour.

Good luck with your search!

Our first caravan when we changed over from motorhomes, was riddled with damp.

The sellers, an older couple who had not use it for several years due to ill health, seemed genuinely honest people and perhaps they did not know that the van was damp, but in the end, I had to remove all the furniture, walls and half the ceiling, right back to the metal on one side and renew it all.

For an £8 dampmeter I could have saved my self a couple of thousand pounds and 6 months work. I will not make that mistake again.

Yes there are good vans out there, but if it is dry and comfortable, why are they selling it?????

Buyer beware!