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Subject Topic: Damp van - avoid full-stop?
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Personpieeater
28/8/2015 at 6:34pm
 Location: Wigan
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Hi folks,

It's been approx. 8 yrs since we sold our last van, but are now looking to get back into the fold again.

Seen some new-ish models up advertised as having slight damp, but prices they're asking is rock-bottom.

I wouldn't be looking to repair the damp boards itself like many brave folk on here have done, but would reseal awning rails etc.

Is there any risk (aside from cosmetic) from using a van that has had water ingress??

Cheers folks :-)


PersonAndy Higham
28/8/2015 at 7:13pm
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The trouble with damp, as soon as you discover it it's probably too late.
the water can run along the wooden frame and only show in the wall boards weeks/months later and can show many feet away from the leak


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Personpieeater
28/8/2015 at 7:15pm
 Location: Wigan
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Hi Andy,

Yep, aware of that - what I mean is, what happens when damp sets in? Will the van literally drop to bits, or be structurally unsafe to tow?? Or is it just a cosmetic thing?


Persontango55
28/8/2015 at 7:37pm
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When damp sets in it's like cancer as it slowly rots the timber and spreads so it won't stay the same but just progressively get worse over time. The only solution is to repair before it gets any worse or wait and sell it for scrap value when it becomes unroadworthy.


VangoMan02
28/8/2015 at 8:02pm
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To be honest I would not touch a van that knowingly had damp issues. Especially a " newish" one as you mention.
I would imagine you would still be paying thousands of pounds for a newish van. You are unable to see what damage has been done and what has been camouflaged.

Different if you pay under a £1000 and fix it yourself but not thousands of pounds... in my opinion.

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Personbilly
28/8/2015 at 8:05pm
 Location: North Essex
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If the inside looks reasonable then buy cheap and reseal outside, job done. To actually fall apart it would need to be pretty far gone and most caravans are not that. As long as seams are sealed and everywhere else like windows and grab handles then water can't get in so caravan can only become drier and better.


Personpieeater
28/8/2015 at 8:12pm
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Okidoki, cheers folks! :-)

Didn't know if damp was just a cosmetic thing that wouldn't affect its use, that's all - like a 2nd-hand car with a big dent in the side (I.e.the dent isn't pretty, and ideally it wasn't there - but it was dirt cheap and everything else is bob-on with the car etc)

Cheers


Personpieeater
28/8/2015 at 8:15pm
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Hmmm, that's an interesting point you make Billy (our posts crossed then) - if the walls haven't gone spongy, and the point of ingress has since been resealed, do vans eventually dry out? Or are they permanently damp? :-/


Personbilly
28/8/2015 at 9:50pm
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They dry out, between outer skin and inner wall board you have wood frame and polystyrene foam insulation which is impervious to water, so its just the wood that has to dry out. With the money you save take a hol in sth France. Baking in direct 35deg sun all day soon dries them out.


VangoMan02
28/8/2015 at 10:56pm
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I don't think its reasonable to indicate that once the "leaks" are fixed on the outside that all is well inside.
Not always the case with frame wood being so rotten that it has no real strength as has been shown on many restoration projects. Ok broadly speaking the van would not fall apart but its all down to what you want and what you pay!

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PersonBaileyjake
28/8/2015 at 11:29pm
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Or you could hire an industrial dehumidifier and dry it from the inside out. Depends on how old the van is surely. Wood doesn't rot in a few weeks. Better to buy a cheap van knowing it's damp than a damp van dried out by an unscrupulous dealer for market value. If you buy it cheap and reseal it you are going to get some years of fun out of it. Like a car with a cat c against it.


PersonNetStorm
28/8/2015 at 11:42pm
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I'm repairing a van at the moment that has damp in three places, I've started to take off one of the wall panels, it's amazing how far the water spreads from the point of ingress. Although looks as though the frame might survive this one.

I got the van at a great price and without the damp I wouldn't of got such a deal. I definitely think it's worth repairing if you have the time and the price is right.


VangoMan02
29/8/2015 at 8:41am
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Quote: Originally posted by Baileyjake on 28/8/2015Or you could hire an industrial dehumidifier and dry it from the inside out. Depends on how old the van is surely. Wood doesn't rot in a few weeks. Better to buy a cheap van knowing it's damp than a damp van dried out by an unscrupulous dealer for market value. If you buy it cheap and reseal it you are going to get some years of fun out of it. Like a car with a cat c against it.


I don't think the OP was thinking of buying a damp van a few weeks old. Newish was what was mentioned.
I think we all know that generally speaking damp will have done a fair bit of damage before it shows up on the inside of the van.

Which ever way you look at it buying a damp van will always be a risk, and as I said it all depends what you want and what you pay.

If you are a competent diy'r and you want to spend the time fixing a van up then yes you could get a bargain but you could get a nightmare.

Edit: The OP has also stated he is only looking to reseal awning rails etc, not renewing wall boards etc..

Post last edited on 29/08/2015 09:21:02

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PersonBaileyjake
29/8/2015 at 11:53am
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How do you know that a dealer has not bought a damp van cheap then dried it out before selling it with his own damp check?


VangoMan02
29/8/2015 at 1:41pm
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I don't but the OP is talking about buying a van that he knows has damp issues.


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It is a fool who has to say something.


Personbirdman101
29/8/2015 at 3:29pm
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If a van shows damp reading although not visible and goes back to the factory wall boards are removed, timbers dried and any replaced if needed.If this is not done damp trapped inside has no way of escaping and will continue to rot.



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