Oh well, good luck with it then. It should be a reasonable outcome if you can get back near what you paid as you have presumably had a season's use from caravan?
i detect you have 'had it' with caravans and cant wait to get shut of it. was this because of the damp problems or are there any other factors?
i think there are 2 things to take with a pinch of salt around caravanners
1) my family car tows like the caravan isnt there
2) my caravan is bone dry
i have just changed my once leaky and damp (but now fixed and for the time being dry) bailey ranger. for a very nice and well equipped Coachman Amara.
i received in the post the service history documents from the previous owner showing every damp check since the first year. i now find out there has been damp, all be it very low readings in the past in my nice new to me caravan. so i go to town with my damp meter in the area reported in the past (i think leaving it a year between damp checks is too long so i have a meter, in fact i have 2) i then find 38% damp in one position under the front window but a very small patch maybe 50mm wide by 30mm tall. yet the dealers that sold me the caravan showed me the results of their damp check as being 12-14% everywhere which they are except this one place. so imagine my disgust.
anyway i can see where the window seal rubber needs resealing, i could take it back to the dealer but that would involve a lot of time and diesel its a shame the dealer didnt do it.
i am prepared for the time being to 'carry on caravanning' like Sid James and Barbara windsor because we still enjoy the holidays and weekends away, just wish we could use the caravan even more than we do.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
Quote: Originally posted by Baileyjake on 23/2/2016
Hi Nosaj
i detect you have 'had it' with caravans and cant wait to get shut of it. was this because of the damp problems or are there any other factors?
i think there are 2 things to take with a pinch of salt around caravanners
1) my family car tows like the caravan isnt there
2) my caravan is bone dry
i have just changed my once leaky and damp (but now fixed and for the time being dry) bailey ranger. for a very nice and well equipped Coachman Amara.
i received in the post the service history documents from the previous owner showing every damp check since the first year. i now find out there has been damp, all be it very low readings in the past in my nice new to me caravan. so i go to town with my damp meter in the area reported in the past (i think leaving it a year between damp checks is too long so i have a meter, in fact i have 2) i then find 38% damp in one position under the front window but a very small patch maybe 50mm wide by 30mm tall. yet the dealers that sold me the caravan showed me the results of their damp check as being 12-14% everywhere which they are except this one place. so imagine my disgust.
anyway i can see where the window seal rubber needs resealing, i could take it back to the dealer but that would involve a lot of time and diesel its a shame the dealer didnt do it.
i am prepared for the time being to 'carry on caravanning' like Sid James and Barbara windsor because we still enjoy the holidays and weekends away, just wish we could use the caravan even more than we do.
A very pragmatic approach Baileyjake.
We have just changed to a Coachman also and my biggest fear I guess is around damp. I also have a meter and most readings seemed OK on first weekend away even though has been very wet pre and during weekend. Still getting an independent check done next week though as some readings were higher than I have been used to (and indeed per the report we got with caravan) with our previous Adria, which really was bone dry.
Unlike you however if there is a problem I will drive it back the hour and half or so back to supplying dealer to either sort or reject - fingers crossed for all!
There were some other minor factors mainly logistical but the damp was the final huge nail in the coffin
From talking to various people they all seem to say that a bit of damp is to be expected etc. even in new units. I do find this quite absurd and probably the reason why a permanent solution is never found as the manufacturers seem to be able to sell sub standard leaky products to a willing public. Are leaky cars, windows, houses, conservatories or boats etc accepted - no - so why are caravans? Until such time that this trend is reversed this particular customer will vote with his feet.
We have now accepted an offer from the dealer and luckily we can now put this all behind us.
I too enjoy camping, being outside mixing and chatting to other campers. This type of roughing it / all in together type feeling was really lacking when we went away in a caravan so we will be reverting to a tent
i would have bought an Adria, which was my plan before the bailey except i wanted something larger than my bailey 550/6 with fixed bunks, which Adria didn't seem to provide.
i looked at an Adora 545/6 and it was nice and bright and ikea style but it was smaller than my ranger, had the wetroom style washroom and a very small 1/2 oven.
anyway the coachman is a different world from my ranger with is sprung seating, awning heating duct, external bbq and power points etc etc the list goes on. other than the window seal i am so far impressed. the caravan is mint.
Nosaj
i think that many boats do leak some cars also but obviously not in the numbers caravans do. i the problem with caravans are they have to be light enough to tow with a car and withstand being towed these are a conflict in design terms. when you tow them they flex and the seams open up.
one interesting point about the ford capri was that the larger engined versions rusted more than the smaller engined versions. the reason being that the torque reaction through the body opened the spot welded seams and let water in. when you follow caravans you can see them flexing. another thought, how many people check their car yearly with a damp meter?
where i work we have a portacabin, it lives inside a factory, it never sees rain. i sunk my damp meter probes into the wall board and got a reading of 13%.
i take your point about camping and comradery, when i get the chance i take my tent on my motorbike. at bike camping rallys we have witnessed caravan rallys were the group of caravanners (on the rally field) have been sat cosey in their individual caravans watching TV until the power tripped, then they all came outside and started interacting.
some of the places i have taken my caravan i am happy to keep my self to my self.
------------- First van bailey ranger 550/6
Now the proud owner of a coachman amara
We had to go slightly older to get what we wanted so have a 535/4 VIP. mainly because we wanted the longer front benches for kids to sleep on (benches are 5ft 6 long so fine for upto probably young adults) which the 530 and 535 have whilst having a decent size fixed rear and very usable storage and kitchen.
The 535 won out due to enough locker storage for onsite family use and having a huge amount of workspace which OH is in heaven with!
Bathroom is the compromise but actually done very well with a proper shower cubicle as such although you would have to dry it off before accessing toilet which is fine for us as use site facilities mostly
To be honest wasn't worried whether we got Amara/Pastiche or VIP for any of those models as all well equipped, but nice to have the VIP as the interior does feel special and really nicely finished
The Adria was great and as you say its only because we couldn't get what we wanted we moved away
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Topic: 10k Caravan 50% damp ??
