How did this happen?

[redleader]

Hi, Arrived at the Bunree Caravan Club site near Fort William on the Friday afternoon. Set the van up and did the customary walk around to check all ok. New van, and all was fine. Went out all day Saturday. Sunday morning while filling aquaroll discovered this dint in caravan. It has obviously been caused by a stone chip. I mentioned to the site warden about grass cutting, but he confirmed that no grass cutting had been done on the Saturday and I believe him. Now the strange thing is, both my wife and I heard a bang during the Saturday night / Sunday morning while in bed. Not sure what time it was. Bunree is not the sort of site where you would expect any form of vandalism, but it is a possibility. The only thing I can think of is a motor home was parked next to us. The pitches are on gravel, and the motor home front wheels were on drive up levelers, at a position to where the dint is. Is it possible that a stone has got trapped between the motor home tyre and leveler, and sprung out during the night? Unlikely perhaps, but other than that I am at a complete loss as to how it has happened. I say again, it did not happen on the journey!
As it's a new van it is booked in for repair, £200+vat. Not bothering with insurance as I had a recent claim with my previous van when it got in the way of kids playing with plastic swords!! The claim for that was £1000+
The joys of caravanning... but still enjoy it!
So, any ideas?
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[ProfJohnL]

Hi red,
Looking at the pictures, its not disimilar to the mark left by an airgun pellet.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi red leader
looks like an air gun pellet to me, it's too cylindrical to be a stone,
possibly a ricochet from someone rabbiting during the night,

edit, beat me to it John, we have a couple of those in the side of our van definitly caused by a airgun if I can upload some pic's we will compere them,

 

[redleader]

Thanks for quick replies guys. Colin, it will be interesting to see your pics, and if they look similar I'll call the Bunree site and let warden know.
I never thought it could be something like an air gun pellet!! That makes it kind of worrying!
Don...

 

[Ivorwetwun]

Several years ago I took my van in to a dealer for its annual service, and carried out a visual check before I left it.
On my return there was a cluster of 7 identical dents to yours within a 6" circle.
I pointed these out to the dealer, who denied all knowledge, but after a heated discussion he agreed to repair it t a cost
Of £150 .
Looking back, I suspect that a local had been using the van as target practice.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

Thanks for quick replies guys. Colin, it will be interesting to see your pics, and if they look similar I'll call the Bunree site and let warden know.
I never thought it could be something like an air gun pellet!! That makes it kind of worrying!
Don...

hi Don, I will have a go in am tomorrow got to work today, ours was caused when I took the van to our daughters for servicing (other half has a pit) some lads opposite were shooting at a target on a tree in there back garden and a couple of pellets came our way after a rollocking they stopped and thier dad forked out £200 for a repair but as the van was 5years old I decided not to bother the marks are on the awning side where there is some other dents from use anyway.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Don
Where were you pitched at Bunree? I've been there many times with no problems.
I agree with The Prof and Colin it looks like an air gun pellet or shot. However depending how you were pitched could such a missile have done this damage??

I suspect it probably happened on your journey to Bunree . Remember how a stray stone from a passing vehicle can break your windscreen?

I have a number of dings on the Wyoming which my dealer says aren't worth fixing . So far previous dings haven't detracted from the trade in values.

Have you eaten at the Four Seasons Restaurant across the road? The Ballachuilish Hotel is also excellent cuisine,.

 

[redleader]

Hi Dusty, we went for a meal to The Four Seasons, but it was a Tuesday and didn't realise the restaurant was shut. Had a drink there though and the nice young lady recommended The Holly Tree at Kentallen. Food was very good, and a huge picture window with fantastic views over the loch. Give it a try the next time you go, it's actually the old Kentallen railway station.
We were on pitch 42 at Bunree, facing the loch. The reason for the complete mystery is that I know it didn't happen on the road and I agree, it is the most likely place! There was salt on the road through Glencoe on the way up, and I gave the van a quick sponge down after arrival on Friday afternoon, and there was no damage. I definately heard a bang on Saturday night in bed, in fact the following morning my wife said to me without prompting that she also heard the bang! It is a bit worrying if the cause was a pellet. As the pitches are on gravel I would never have found the pellet.
It hasn't put me off Bunree, a most beautiful site.
Cheers
Don

 

[forestgump]

oraqnge reflectror wont be out off place,

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Don,
I have done a couple of shots "excuse the pun" of the damage to our van you can see the similarity of the impact crater mind you I'm no david bailey so here goes if it works'

 

[redleader]

Thanks for that Colin, much appreciated! Looks very similar type of damage to me, which is rather worrying! I'll have a word with the site wardens to let them know, just in case anything similar is reported to them again.
Cheers
Don

 

[weejock]

Don it is a few years since I have been at the site but from memory there are a few loose stones around the road ways. Given the height that the ding is at I would also consider the posibilty of a kicked stone. Not needing to be have done as a deliberate act but as I am sure we have all done at some point when walking along inadvertently kicking up a stone.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

Don it is a few years since I have been at the site but from memory there are a few loose stones around the road ways. Given the height that the ding is at I would also consider the posibilty of a kicked stone. Not needing to be have done as a deliberate act but as I am sure we have all done at some point when walking along inadvertently kicking up a stone.

hi wee jock,
while it is impossible "without a photo" to get the exact location of roads, angle of van in relation to said roads and the trigectory the object must of taken to strike the van full on with a point of impact so fine to cause a perfectly round crater without any irregularity at all must be a million to one,
as seen from the photos above the similarity of the damage is unmistakeable mine was caused by a airgun pellets two of them .22 caliber from 50 yards and at a angle of 45 degrees because I caught the culprits in the act.
futhermore even though the trigectory was 45 degrees the impact craters are perfectly round just like Dons allthough not quite as deep and slightly larger in diameter,
my best guess would a ball bearing of .177 caliber from about 60 yards unless it was a ricochet from a closer object the projectile could have come from more than 100 yards he would not hear the shot but would hear the impact.on the van.
while it is allways preferable to think any damage is accidental, the truth is these things do happen, I am not saying the damage was diliberate it could have been a accident caused by a stray shot while rabbiting
modern air rifles like the weihrach have night scopes and silencers fitted for night time shooting, and being a Scot will be well aware that this goes on around camp sites.