What can I do with a condemed caravan?

[Debbi_5109580]

Just had a call from caravan centre where caravan is in for a service to be told that it is riddled with damp, which I learnt last November, de laminating, and basically not structurally sound. They have advised that it can only be used if put on a site and it stays there but not to be uses on the roads after that as the gas pipe may rupture where the sides are moving.

Dealer now 'vanished' after I paid £2,000 for it last May. Any ideas what I can do with it now? Unable to buy another caravan so if any one wants the last week in August down in Finchampstead I have a spot at £127.00 for the week!

Totally fed up now wished I had kept my 1982 Monza 1200, no luxeries, no damp and no hassele!!

 

[Angus1]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience, but its funny how anything you try to trade in is leaky but everything the dealers sell are sound.

Anyway, you could try to sell the interior to someone who is converting a truck to a horsebox (maybe try the Farmers Guardian or similar) who would take it as it stands, or there a few breakers who may take it, but I don`t think you`ll see any return from them unfortunately.

Best of luck.

 

[Oldfogey]

I fear that if the van is really beyond fixing, you have only 3 options;

Call a caravan breaker, who will take it away and maybe give you a bit of money.

Put it on ebay, making clear it's condition. It will probably sell to someone who will break it, or who wants the interior, eg for fitting out a motorhome or horsebox conversion.

Break it yourself, selling the bits on ebay. This may well give the best return if you have the time and space, and access to a courier. You can sell everything - doors, windows, roof light, road lights, furniture, electrics, and finally the chassis for making a trailer.

The money you get for breaking it yourself could well finance the purchase of a replacement van of "a certain vintage", and the experience of taking it apart could be invaluable in any renovations needed. Indeed, if you can manage to hold on to any of the best bits (cooker, Zig?) they could be useful for upgrading the next van.

So perhaps all is not entirely lost, and with a bit of time, effort and patience you could be 'vanning agin in 2008!

Nill illegitimi carborundum!

 

[Debbi_5109580]

Thank you for all you help and tips on this one. I think my brother in law would love to dismantle it. Luckily the caravan is stored in a farmers shed so I could keep the bits there until they sold.

Thanks once again.

P.S. Just heard of an Compass Omega 1991 which is for sale through a very reputable caravan repair centre, has 6 months warranty, damp certificate and full service from centre, going for