We bought our caravan in Feb second hand from a private seller, we have used the van 5 times in total and everything apperared ok, however, when emptying the van after our latest break away, my husband noticed a small section of the front near side panel has detatched from the floor, the floor appears sound with no obvious signs of rot although slight feathering right on the edge. What is the best way to reattatch the side panel to the floor and make it secure and prevent any further spread?
Thank you for the link. We have a damp metre and used it when we bought the van, there were no signs of damp or rot visible either by eye, smell or via the damp metre, and this is still the case now, under the seat there is a gap where you can see the road, its approximately 3/4mm wide gap, it appears as though the floor has come away from the side.
The side is secured to the side of the floor by screws which would be possibly 6 - 8mm diameter by 50 - 60mm long both brass and stainless would be less likely to corrode but more likely to break, which is why steel or hardened steel are usually used.
look on the outside of the van at floor level or just above for a rail - possibly the skirt rail - remove this and you will probably find a aluminium sheet join here. this sheet to all intents and purposes the wrong way around i.e. with the step uppermost, remove this in the area that the wall has come away and you will find the screw holes and screws joining the side to the floor. Drill new holes either side of existing holes as required, run a bead of sikaflex 512 or Tigerseal into the gap between floor and wall, then screw in your new screws to pull the side back into the floor. Replace the aluminium cover sheet using the above sealant and staples and the rail using the sealant and stainless 3.5mm x 25 - 30mm screws (if stainless wasn't fitted in the first place)
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Topic: caravan damage is it repairable?
