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Topic: 60% damp

dianedrysder

14/8/2013 at 3:11pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: SWIFT CHALLENGER 530SE

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As newbies we bought a caravan last year from a colleague at hubbys work.We have just had it serviced for first time, really disappointed at the result of the damp check as it now has 60% damp along one side in several places.Do you think this has happened in the 10 months we have had it or is likely to have started before we bought it?Being totally new to caravans I recall asking about a large bubble in the corner of one of the cupboards to be told it was nothing to worry about,this has obviously now spread.The guy who serviced it said it was still useable for a couple of years yet and would not be cost effective to repair and that it was due to the awning rail.Is it possible to just seal the rail and not treat the damp in the hope it gets no worse so we can still use it?
Lots of questions I know but hubby is rather annoyed at his workmate as am pretty sure this could not have happened in such a short time to this extent.Saying that the colleague has offered to buy it back from us.Haven't been away in it this year anyhow as hubby so gutted by it all,so might just do that if the problem is going to be too big for us to tackle.

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Di

fife-bloke

14/8/2013 at 3:15pm
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I would say youve been sold a bad one,but to be honest,impossible to prove

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dianedrysder

14/8/2013 at 3:28pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: SWIFT CHALLENGER 530SE

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That's what I thought Fife-bloke,think we may just cut our losses and sell it back to them,then save for another one.Hubby took the report in to his workmate and think she was as surprised as we were to be honest,though suspect her hubby might have been aware.Ach well ,live and learn,won't be so hasty next time,now know what to look out for after reading through this forum,should have joined beforehand.

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Di

the black fox

14/8/2013 at 5:11pm
Location: flint north wales
Outfit: swift challenger 480se 2002

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it really depends on how old the van is and whether you feel its a viable self repair job ,i personally would be gutted to give this back then find that a new one i have saved for had even worse problems .
    damp is a issue that comes up more than any other ,but remember the caravan engineers /workshops etc ALL have a vested interest in finding damp and as your engineer said it was still useable use it ,and take your time to do a repair .
   if its just the awning rail to re-seal get that done asap and let it dry out properly i.e open windows on a nice day and let it air through .
   its a bit like a car how often do you find that the new one is only slightly better or sometimes worse than your previous one ,nearly fell prey to this ourselves at the weekend luckily a test drive made us realise the value of what we already have

so give us some more details age ,make ,value etc and i,m sure a lot more replies will follow

dianedrysder

14/8/2013 at 5:25pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: SWIFT CHALLENGER 530SE

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Its a 98-99 Swift Challenger 530 so pretty old.We paid £2250 for it.We are not very good at diy and finding the time to do it up might prove difficult.Is the awning rail a difficult job to do ourselves?Hubby is fairly keen to keep it and attempt repairing it,but don't want to end up in a worse position than we are now.Thanks for your input, the black Box.

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Di

Frannyvan

14/8/2013 at 8:12pm
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Swift Classic Corvette 1998

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Sounds very similar to our story and of course many others on this site. We are going to repair our van after getting good use out of it this summer. Do a search on the caravan repair forum for damp and you'll come across lots of people asking the same thing and lots of good advice.
Good luck and don't get disheartened. I've spoken to several caravaning friends and caravan professionals and they can be quite pessimistic. It wasn't until I did quite a lot of research on here that I now feel fine about it. Of course it will cost a fortune to be repaired professionally, as it's several hours of work at around £50 an hour, so not worth it on an old van. But a bit of time and patience from you and it will cost a couple of hundred at the most.

the black fox

14/8/2013 at 8:21pm
Location: flint north wales
Outfit: swift challenger 480se 2002

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there are plenty of help vids and photos in the repairs section on here to help him its a fairly straight forward job if he works methodically .read up on it ,then read again go and buy the right materials and decent tools read up on it again and do it .

at that age and price range you have not been ripped off in the least .you would probably need a weekend of dry weather to do the job first time .ours is a 99 van and yep its had a leak in the past and a rear panel dented in but i have repaired it and it will last a good few years yet . you have also just paid for a service why waste that sort of money .if you add where your located someone local may offer to help we are a friendly lot on here .

just a thought if the awning rail is just loose from storm /high winds vibration (with the awning fitted) and the mastic behind is still flexible it may just be a case of tightening a few screws and possibly a bit of mastic shoved in to seal it up .till time /money/ help is available .

one things certain if you take your first course of action the only one to lose out will be yourselves

click on my gallery images on the left ,thats our van ,cost me £600 as it needed a couple of similar jobs doing .dry as a bone now .

AceMarauders

14/8/2013 at 8:22pm
Location: Northamptonshire
Outfit: 1983 ABI ACE MARAUDER

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Better the devil you no than the one you dont.
We are new to caravaning and chose a slightly run down van as to me it makes the van feel more your own when you have done some work on it.
Just take your time if unsure if you'l remember how it goes together take pictures as you go along to refer back to.

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She may be old, she may be rough around the edges but she is our home from home and we love it.

stuartandjulie

16/8/2013 at 5:37am
Location: Aspatria Cumbria
Outfit: Coachman 5 Berth Caravan

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We have just bought a 1993 coachman that has a bit of damp.

We are going to tackle it ourselves (with the help of a friend) as going to a professional will be too costly.

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Carpe Diem

Started in Tents, then trailer Tent and now Caravan.

Stuart

feeblecat

16/8/2013 at 7:28am
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Coachman Highlander (Amara)

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Our caravan was found to have extensive damp when we bought it. Inside immaculate, chassis great and everything else in good running order.Twenty years old. When I asked about repairs the guy said it would cost more than it's worth. Also said we could get years out of it if we wanted. For £1800 with a brand new awning thrown in we're not too bothered. Hubby has resealed awning rails etc. if we a few years out of it I'd be happy enough. Que sera.

birdman101

16/8/2013 at 7:50am
Location: Milton Keynes
Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford

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I am afraid the warning sign was there when you bought it seeing the bubble.Never buy without reassuring yourself all is ok with a damp meter, or get a professional to pre-check a van for you before buying.

iank01

16/8/2013 at 10:26am
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Buccaneer Cruiser

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If they have offered to buy it back, it seems that they genuinely did not know about the damp and also want to keep good relations with OH.
I would take the money and thank them for being so understanding.

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