coachman pastiche

[oldun]

Been van hunting today and looked at a very nice 2010 coachman 470/2 all was going well until my damp meter picked up a problem at the right front corner of 25% plus in the red, all the rest of the van was good. Looks like the offside awning rail isn't fully sealing, there is no service history so don't know how long its been leaking although the wall boards are still clean and solid. we really liked the van but not sure whether buying and taking off and resealing the rail at the front or walking away is the best option. Any advice would be welcome.

thanks in advance. peter

 

[littlebasher]

Walk away!

Find another!

Likely you've just uncovered the tip of the iceberg. Avoid unless its significantly cheaper than a sorted example.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I tend to agree with Littlebasher. You cannot know the extent of a damp problem without exposing all the affected material. Rather like an ice berg what you might be able to see on teh surface belies the extent of teh problem underneath.

Most caravan wall boards have a vinyl covering which is basically water proof, so internal damp will only become visually evident when it has already caused the wood panel to degrade, and of course you cant see how it might have affected any wooden battens in the wall structure.

 

[Buckman]

It may be worth spending £60 to get an AWS technician to inspect any caravan for damp before handing over any money.

 

[otherclive]

It may be worth spending £60 to get an AWS technician to inspect any caravan before handing over any money.

That would be for a damp survey, extra cost for a full buyers inspection. But a damp survey is the key one and well worth the costs.

 

[Buckman]

That would be for a damp survey, extra cost for a full buyers inspection. But a damp survey is the key one and well worth the costs.

It must also be remembered that most cheap meters can be rather inaccurate. So a reading of 25% may in reality be only be 15% or could maybe 35% or higher. Recommended meter is the Protimeter which is very expensive.

 

[audiorob]

Does ‘no service record’ mean no paperwork available or that it’s never been serviced? Are there any year stickers on the draw bar fairing that would usually be applied at service? How many previous owners? Have you checked the date on the tyres? It is now 12 years old so might not be blemish free but be very wary of ‘a little bit of damp’ as has been stated already may be more serious than it first appears.

 

[Raywood]

Frankly with no service records and damp I would run a mile, or even more. It is simply not worth the risks involved. If it might not have been serviced, then who knows what else might be wrong with it.

 

[oldun]

Frankly with no service records and damp I would run a mile, or even more. It is simply not worth the risks involved. If it might not have been serviced, then who knows what else might be wrong with it.

Frankly with no service records and damp I would run a mile, or even more. It is simply not worth the risks involved. If it might not have been serviced, then who knows what else might be wrong with it.

Thanks all for your comments, I think I'll pass on this one as I'm in no hurry and there seems to be plenty around at the mo. My moisture meter is an old sovereign industrial type with a sensing pad not prongs, a needle scale with audible alarm if it doesn't like anything and even comes in a leather case !! so it's a good age but it's kept me out of trouble over the years.

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks all for your comments, I think I'll pass on this one as I'm in no hurry and there seems to be plenty around at the mo. My moisture meter is an old sovereign industrial type with a sensing pad not prongs, a needle scale with audible alarm if it doesn't like anything and even comes in a leather case !! so it's a good age but it's kept me out of trouble over the years.

Does it register damp through a non permeable surface? I agree. Walk away. Any caravan with no paperwork may well be hiding a holocaust of problems. You also need to be certain the seller has good legal title and there is no outstanding finance