So first thing. Hi guys and gals!
I am totally new to caravaning. Like brand spanker.
Long story short. I've been gifted a Swift challenger 440/4se from my FIL
*it's fine he said*
I know better, the man's a hoarder & never looks after anything...anyway I was under the impression the camper needed a little work but not too much..
Jump forward a week, we've managed to strip it all (furniture, beds, oven etc..)
And now I have found damp. (We knew it had soke we could smell it)
Okay I can deal with it replace a few walls no bigger, but as I'm stripping more and more and MORE of the caravan is damp...
Fast forward another 2 days ripped out the shower/toilet room and the the walls from the back end of the caravan, took it down to the polystyrene.. only to discover half the bloody roof is rotten aswell.
I love a good project and as I've explained to the fella I have no issue pumping some money into this because once It's done I know I'll get my moneys worth back in memories etc.
But...at the same time the more I strip it back the more of a sorry state she looks to be in.
I genuinely feel like I'm going to have to replace all the walls & the ceiling too.
I am up for a challenge I really am. But at the same time I also don't want to waste the next couple months spending X amount of money when in truth I could have just used the same X amount of money and brought a half decent camper.
*just to throw in my fella has gone into this blind, I suggested we fix the outside first and figure out where the waters is coming from but he just decided to start stripping the inside... so luckily we've had nice weather so far but I'm worried that what we are doing (inside the caravan) is pointless unless/untill we find where it's coming from.
*I am no where saying he's done it wrong but since we've got the caravan all I'm doing in my spare time is watching videos/reading forums etc looking at how to fix it up, learning the ins and outs of owning a caravan. He's just going in and destroying the inside without actually having a plan or researching what needs to be done.
I'm trying not to get overwhelmed with it all, but today finding even more damp has just sent me over the edge... I feel like the FIL knew this van had problems & just sweet talked my fella into having it just so that it's out of his hands.
Not sure if you have found this website, could be useful to you.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
can you not cut your losses. sell as much of the inside as you can, people will pay decent money for working water heaters, fridges ovens cassette toilets etc etc, even the curtains, then get the rest of it weighed in for scrap and pool all the cash, and buy a half decent caravan? that is what i would be doing now if i was you, but first port of call would be to get a decent damp meter before you went buying any replacement caravan, and if the owners wont let you use it then walk away as they are hiding something ok.
I would say that it sounds much too far gone to me. You will spend an awful lot of time and money on a project like that, and still end up with something that isn't worth much. As Marg6 says, would it not be better to cut your losses and buy something that you can use without having to do too much. They are out there. We got ours as a "trade sale" from a local dealer and it cost us £1,100 four years ago. I have done a few odd jobs on it since, but when we bought it we could use it straight away, and we did.
You have to ask dealers if they have any "trade sales" as they very rarely advertise them.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Is it really worth it?
via mobile 21/4/2022 at 8:11pm
