Buying a Flood Damage Caravan - Your Comments !

[TheTravelMan]

Hi there,

FLOOD DAMAGE CARAVAN.

Just a query, there is a 2005 Compass Rallye 634 twin axle caravan coming up for auction. Only problem is that it has flood damage the caravan looks in overall good condition except the muck and dirt on the floors and the tide mark approx 4" up from the floor around the lower cupboards that has been left, however the van seems to have dried so far quite well.

Would this be a worthwhile project or a keep clear??

The starting price for this is set at around £4000.

I have looked on a major dealer website who has one advertised at £10,500.

What would the maximum you would pay for this type of caravan in this condition.

I would like to hear your comments and also any advice you can give on what to look for and how to repair this type of damage.

Look forward to your comments.

Cheers

Andrew.

 

[Danny_5134221]

Andrew,

Last year we had a brand new Bailey, about six months after purcahse we encountered major problems with the internal plumbing of the caravan and this led a major water leak. Caravan was repaired by dealer and two months later the caravan flooded again, back to the dealership it went and this time Bailey inspected the van and said they could not uphold the warranty of the van because they did not know what damage the water had done to the floor and wall construction. So we were given a brand new van.

As for you decision, only you can decide.........It may be ok when cleaned and dried out properly, but like Bailey said you never know what lies beneath.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Andrew

The structural , long term damage worries me. Has it had a ful damp test recently?

Never mind all the electrical and gas appliances etc.

10 to 1 this caravan was written off by Insurers. Would CRIS know?

Personally I'd save my cash and look elsewhere.

Cheers

Alan

 

[MikeJE]

Just a further thought. Was there, by any chance, raw sewage in the flood water ?

 

[Parksy]

Hi Andrew

My advice would be don't buy it.

We had a seasonal pitch close to a river and all of the tourers were damaged by flood water.

My friends had about 4" of water inside and his insurers were very slow to pay the settlement for a replacement caravan.

He'd booked and paid to go away and he cleaned and valeted the caravan thoroughly so that it could be used instead of him forfeiting the money for his holiday pitch.

The caravan smelt absolutely awful!

It was ok immediately after it was cleaned but when it was warm inside - ugh!!

This caravan is being auctioned in the cold weather but trust me, whoever buys it will soon notice the bad odour when the interior gets warm.

 

[Parksy]

I forgot to add, our caravan was pitched next to our friends and was also flooded to about 3"

The caravan was brand new, we'd only owned it for 3 months but the insurance company declared it a total loss ( write off) and the underwriter told us that it would be highly illegal to re sell it due to the hygeine aspect of the flood.

 

[everton1]

Hi Andrew,

my caravan was flooded in 2000 with other vans whilst at its storage site.the insurance company (cc)as Parksy said declared it a total loss.the underwriter said that the walls are fixed to the floor by metal staples,if these get wet and rust the sides could fall away.

DO'NT GO NEAR IT.

Regards,

FrankE.

 

[UKHunk]

LEAVE well alone its not worth it

 

[caravanoracle]

my considered opinion would be stay clear of it.

if it was worth repairing or repairable, a repairer would have already bought it from the insurance`s salvage company.

 

[TheTravelMan]

Thanks for all your replies!

I took the advice and stayed clear, however the caravan went for