We have just bought an Abi Ace rallyman apparently late 80's. When we lifted the carpets there are areas of wet rotten wood, we think right throught o the bottom of the van. Is this repairable? please help, so disappointed that we can't use it straight away :(
The first problem you have is to find out where the damp is getting in and repair that, otherwise pretty pointless repairing the floor.
If you have reasonable diy skills the floor should not be a problem as it is made up of a framework of pine , infilled with polystyrene, with thin ply bonded on both sides.
Hi bewybabe2, from the first pic, it looks as if water getting in from the door frame corners, that piece of angle riveted to the corner of door frame could be trapping water in the door frame and then getting in through the gap between the joints, I suspect the door frame joist have some water damage, check to see that aluminium door frame seals between van and frame are in good condition, also check the rubber seals on door frame and door. I would drill hole in the angle bracket in the corner to stop any water build up in the corner coming into van, seal the bottom corner joints, the van should start and dry out if this is where the problem is, only when the van has dried out will you be able to fully assess any wood damage done by the water, heating van will help dry it out also you could use a dehumidifier, you should still be able to use your van while it is drying out, you can cut a piece of plywood and place in van over the door entrance as a temporary measure while you are using the van, then lift the plywood when van not in use.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
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Definately the door frame sealant at fault, looks just like mine did. Ended up replacing half of the door frame and the floor entrance completely......
before cutting out the floor i would fix three pieces 2 inch by 2 inch wood beams length ways ,these can be bolted and washers through at each end by a quarter inch bolt.why three? the doorway needs to take a lot use with people going in and out.once fitted you can cut ot the rotten bit and you have a base to put the new floor section on and screw down.as said the door rubbers need changing....
Quote: Originally posted by fleetwood99 on 19/3/2012
Definately the door frame sealant at fault, looks just like mine did. Ended up replacing half of the door frame and the floor entrance completely......
Ther is confidence for you. I had an ABI Award Daystar that did exactly this, I resealed the door frame several times drilled an in the end I ould guarntee that no water came through there, I resealed the bottom rail on the van, in fact I resealed the lot and still did not succeed. I suspected that the water came in through the fridge vents and dripped down to the floor, and on investigating it was also wet on the floor in front of the wheel arch. I tried all sorts to cure it, and failed miserably.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
do not know the layout but our old van we had a leak under the sink from a broken pipe when the sink was emptying,it gave the same results as shown .caught in time though as the carpet was wet round the door well.
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Topic: HELP - rotten bits in floor
