Just to even things up....
Whilst I fully agree with members coming on this site to share horror stories of their vans and purchases ( and please still do as they are really useful) would some like to share positive experiences with us.....please!!!
I'd like to know if anyone has bought a van, had few problems and no damp, and would recommend them to others.
Like I say, it's good to share the 'not so great' but let's also have the positives of a hobby I love. I don't want to get to the stage where I'm constantly worrying about damp to the point I don't love to camp 😊
Thanks!
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Caravan fit and well since 2007. Driver getting a bit decrepit but navigator worse.
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I’m thinking hard, HoT. It’s too soon to know how the current van will pan out but I can thoroughly recommend our 1989 Abbey Clubman.
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We bought our lovely caravan in 1996. It was already 12 years old, but a quality little coach built two berth Cotswold Windrush. We used it extensively, around 12 weeks in total each year, up to 2014. We then bought a nice little motorhome and tended to use that more as we were limited to short breaks away due to caring duties. But we have kept the caravan. Last used in 2016, she is awaiting a revamp and some TLC on a few things like cooker and new carpets, going to paint exterior, something we did on another old van.
So, 34 years old, comfy beds, dual fuel heater, nice little bathroom. And no signs of damp. Owes us nothing!
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How could I have forgotten our 1992 Shire Royalty - the successor to the Cotswold. Brilliant van and ahead of the game with having Alde.
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Our other longer Cotswold had Aldi heating! A doddle to look after, you just hoovered the sand and dust off the run around baffles!
I think there will be a common theme on this thread, it'll be the older vans that offer better quality!
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Our previous caravan, Adria Altea. 6 yrs of trouble free vanning, not one drop of damp, excellent build quality. Only changed because SWMBO wanted "something newer". Likewise our present 'van, almost 3yrs old now, an Xplore 304, no damp, no split front or back panels, only problem a loose kitchen tap discovered after I brought it home after first service. Took no more than 5 minutes to sort out. Are we lucky? Or is this more typical? Generally it 's those who have problems who make the most noise.
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We've a 2011 Bailey Unicorn Madrid, and it's definitely the best van we've had in 40+yrs of caravanning. Have looked at a number of new models over the last couple of years and not found one that we would consider changing for. It has certainly done us proud as we'll have been away over 2000 nights in it already.
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Euro’s is modern compared to ours, TDA.
Seriously, since the Shire, we’ve not had one completely fault free van and, although the last AS MH was a good un, it still had a bit of damp.
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First van was a Crown which was made by or owned Elldis I believe, a very basic budget van but was problem free for the time we had it. Second was an Avondale, problems with damp every year and cracked rear panels and interior electrics. Current van from Swift is 5 years old now and fault and damp free.
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2015 Bailey Barcelona - used for about 17 weeks a year since we got it. Nothing dropped off or broken and we are really pleased with it to the extent that although I have half a mind to change it, we can't find anything we like better. Have had a few minor warranty issues but the only one of any note was the poor quality filling in the seat cushions (common across a lot of makes, apparently) which I replaced at my expense. Until 2 weeks ago, all the damp readings were 10% or less - but we had a problem with the shower tray leaking which meant the dealer removing all of the bathroom to dry it out and re-sealing the shower tray. Hopefully now sorted, once and for all. Despite all the 'Bailey-bashing' on here, I remain satisfied with the quality of their vans.
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Bought 2012, sold 2015, intervening period I had no damp or other issues not even a dodgy catch or squeaky hinge👍🏻
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Thanks very much everyone for cheering up this forum, it's great to know that we can get vans that just provide enjoyment and not misery 😊
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On our second Bailey alutec with aluminium mouldings and grp body and only one "leak" and and faulty window all down to faulty material from "over there
" would buy another but we are not looking to replace as this and car will see probably see our days of touring out0 -
I’ve recently completed a damp test on our 2012 Lunar Clubman SB and the highest readin I found was 12%. Should I continue to worry?
Just remembered one of the kitchen cupboard doors has a worn hinge.
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get it seen to, it could start squeaking and annoys other users on site
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Good to hear of some problem free new vans.
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we thought it was the bed