Vanmaster totally waterproof

Jun 20, 2005
19,123
4,685
50,935
Very interesting to see that Vanmaster now offer a LIFETIME guarantee against water ingress according to Nick Harding in my April PC Mag.Maybe pricier but what a guarantee.

Well done those craftsmen.

Cheers

Dustydog
 
Jul 28, 2008
752
21
18,885
It might have the guarantee, but will it stop it leaking? I have a 2009 Lunar that has a 6 year guarantee, but within six months it was leaking in two places (at least!).
 
Mar 14, 2005
10,008
844
40,935
At that price maybe they build two for everyone they sell so that they can give you another for free if the first one leaks.
 

Parksy

Moderator
Nov 12, 2009
11,904
2,400
40,935
Does a lifetime guarantee meant that if it leaks they come round and kill you? :0)
 
Mar 10, 2006
3,274
47
20,685
I once had some windows fitted with a 16 year warranty, the company went bust after 2 years.

Thinking i had got it sussed, when i had the sofits refitted, i insisted on a insurance backed guarantee, unfortunately i didn't go into fine detail, i got the insurance, but some years later when the white down pipes became beige, i thought to get them replaced under the insurance, the rub was, if the call out was in there opinion unfounded, then i was to pay for any call out, the the real body blow i had not foreseen was the first
 
Nov 4, 2004
1,191
0
0
I believe the MD of Vanmaster is the chairman of the Vanmaster owners club.

They obviously sell as they have a waiting list for them,i had a look at the show and the care taken to put them together is evident.

The finish is superb and a real case of workman taking pride in their work,but you do pay for previlage.

If i had the money i would buy one.
 
Jun 20, 2005
19,123
4,685
50,935
Naievely on eof teh reasons we bought our last two bailey's was for the water ingress guarantee.

I've seen some vanmasters in the flesh but nothing that illustrates their less water ingress prone than others.

The prices are high but undoubtedly they are "craftsmen" made.

Good on them for offering such a good warranty. However short of winning the Loto I'll never aspire to one.

Cheers

Dustydog
 

Parksy

Moderator
Nov 12, 2009
11,904
2,400
40,935
Click Here for instructions on how to configure Internet Explorer or better still try a modern browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome
 
Feb 17, 2007
121
0
0
Dustydog said:
Very interesting to see that Vanmaster now offer a LIFETIME guarantee against water ingress according to Nick Harding in my April PC Mag.Maybe pricier but what a guarantee.

Well done those craftsmen.

Cheers

Dustydog
 

Parksy

Moderator
Nov 12, 2009
11,904
2,400
40,935
I've sent an email to you Billy
smiley-smile.gif
 
Feb 17, 2007
121
0
0
Dustydog said:
Very interesting to see that Vanmaster now offer a LIFETIME guarantee against water ingress according to Nick Harding in my April PC Mag.Maybe pricier but what a guarantee.

Well done those craftsmen.

Cheers

Dustydog

I have a Vanmaster Occolade 1999 wonderful comfy van and well made,but now found a damp patch on rear awning rail coming into the bathroom cupboard,hopeing it has done no damage and once dry will get it resealed .Bigest prob at the moment is trying to dry it from the inside.
 
Nov 6, 2005
1,152
0
0
I believe the cost is the van is built to your spec, its seems they use the same materials and sealants etc but they take twice as long to build them.
In the flesh i cant see how they are worth nearly £35k ??
 
Feb 17, 2007
121
0
0
Michael E said:
I believe the cost is the van is built to your spec, its seems they use the same materials and sealants etc but they take twice as long to build them.
In the flesh i cant see how they are worth nearly £35k ??

The use of wood and screws ,as aposed to chipboard and staples,fiberglass front back and roof not plastic as in most caravans,much thicker guage aluminium and wooden floors not plywood.The cabinets and cupboards are hand made and are of very good quality.Sadly mastic is the same as in most vans as you say ,hence my leak after 14 years .Have had new Bailys and Swifts over the years and had more problems than i care to mention.
 
May 7, 2012
8,596
1,818
30,935
I think the answer is that they take the time to do the job properly but care costs. The main stream manufacturers concentrate more on keeping the price and weight down which probably means they spend less on the sealant and rush the job.
 
Aug 9, 2010
1,426
2
0
Quality will always show in the long term. My Royale, in its day, was the equivalent of today's Vanmaster, ie, very expensive, but also very well made. That's why I and many other club members, are still using them after at least 30 years.
You get what you pay for.
 
Aug 23, 2009
3,167
4
20,685
On school run today we saw a safari has appeared in a garden. Looks a bit of a sorry state at the moment but what a nice project if she's not too bad and mainly just superficial. Looked like an acrylic front window and glass sides so guessing late 1970's ish???? Unless it's a replacement front window then of course she'll be a bit older I would imagine. I remember them being on sites when I was little with towcars such as big triumph's and rover's!!
 
Aug 9, 2010
1,426
2
0
just as a matter of interest,Martin, Royale caravans were originally designed and built by two renegade staff members from Safari.
As I often tell my Safari-owning pal, they took the best ideas from Safari, improved on them, and built Royales!
 
Aug 23, 2009
3,167
4
20,685
I think somewhere in the dim and distant I do remember that something about that unless I'm thinking of Van Royce and Vanmaster, trouble is I wasn't that old when safari where no more. I do remember we were parked next to a safari at Buckfast once when we only had a Mustang. I think I was about 10 at the time so early 80's
 
Aug 23, 2006
378
0
0
smiley-wink.gif
smiley-surprised.gif
smiley-wink.gif
We had a look at a Vanmaster at an NEC caravan show and must admit it impressed us more than probably any other cavavan.
Yes they probabaly use similar materials but watch a master potter with clay then have a go yourself.
They're built by skilled people and yes, you pay the price but at least they're built with skill and pride and not like a Blue Peter project where the dealer then you, yourself get the joyous task of spotting the deliberate(or otherwise) mistakes before you pay.
To be fair any box on wheels , which is subject to the rigours a caravan is subjected to, will eventually leak.
The emphasis is on eventually and not within a few months or even a year or two.
We'll probably never own one but I suppose if you dial in the cost of changing your caravan every few years against just buying a quality one and keeping it longer it might not work out that expensive after all.

Best regards
Tom
 
Sep 26, 2013
1
0
0
Vanmaster Damp Problem.
Billy
I would be very interested to hear more of your Vanmaster damp prob and how you rectified it etc.
Regards
 

TRENDING THREADS