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We went to look at a 2005 Fleetwood this afternoon and there was a musty smell inside the van which I suspect was damp, intially I thought maybe it was because the van hadnt been used and had sat on their drive all winter but my in laws motorhome dosent smell when we go in and check it etc. We had a very good look and did some some water marks on what I think was a waste pipe (under one of the lounge seats), couldnt see anything else and the smell wasnt from the washroom as the smell went when I stood in there and closed the door. very disappointed as layout wise it was spot on. How common a problem is damp in vans 4-6 years of age?

Anyway we walked away as it had other problems despite being described as excellent condition and it had no service history at all which put me right off.

This van hunting is turning out harder than I thought.

Our caravan hasn't been used or hardly opened all winter. It doesn't smell.

If it smells damp it probably is damp and there is a better one out there.

You did right to walk away, follow your instincts, if it doesnt feel 'right' to you then it probably isnt.  No service history at all is suspect I think.

When you find  your van, you will know it  because it just kind of feels right when you're sitting in it.

Yuck imagine spendinging thousands of pounds of your hard earned money for a caravan that honks each time you open the door!!!  Smells like that don't tend to disappear too quickly either.  When I opened our caravan last week and took the cover off it still had that new woody smell - I think you were definitely right to trust your instincts and walk away.

Hopefully your ideal van will show up soon!

 I've taken to printing off photos and taking them with me... cos I'm sure sometimes the photos and van are not one in the same

some of the photo's in a sale advertisements are borrowed or copied from other adverts with good intention,many dealers use library photo's in there ads (they must say this) .odd times these photo's can be used to deceive a reader and prompt you to go and look.

let your nose do the walking.and take a damp meter to check every corner of the van.

gail, we didnt go to Wales in the end as when OH rang the seller to ask a couple more questions it wasnt the deal he was advertising, started saying all the included stuff was extra not included! We're going to look at a nice Adria an hour away today, looks fab but who knows til we get there. Theres also a Bailey Pageant Vendee we're interested in.

The smelly Fleetwood has sold already (well ebay offer accepted by the looks of it)  how someone can buy a van without seeing it is beyond me.

Thanks for your help tentz, we are definetly walking away from any van without a good service history.