Damp and new construction
Caravan manufacturers are keen to tell us that their new construction methods mean that we no longer have damp caravans. I have just traded in our 2014 model Xplore made by Eldiss using their SoLid construction which they claim to be totally damp proof.
The dealer has just phoned me to say he has found damp around the front window and he will have to make a warranty claim. I hope the Venus - built by Lunar with its traditional timber construction - may prove to be more watertight.
Comments
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The system reduces weight and some leakage problems. It still requires a complete seal to be applied as do all the new systems. From the complaints it does seem none of tbe manufacturers have got rid of human error or possibly just plain carelessness.
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New construction methods do not solve the damp problem merely reduce its impact as there is no wood to rot away although it presumably then looks for some other absorbent 'home' - the interior panelling.
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New construction methods do not solve the damp problem merely reduce its impact as there is no wood to rot away although it presumably then looks for some other absorbent 'home' - the interior panelling.
Write your comments here...Not quite the case with Eldiss/Xplore as their caravans are constructed of plywood. The new SoLid construction refers to a reduction in the use of screws and what they describe as their brilliant glue bonding system. The dealer
from whom we are buying our Venus - made by Lunar - is no longer an Xplore dealer as he has had so many damp problems that he got fed up with dealing with warranty claims.0 -
You need to buy a caravan that has woodless walls roof and floor.
My present Alutech has all those except the latter. Only a swift Smart HT has that.
They can still leak water but the advantage is no damp ingress, at the worst only the interior decor will be spoilt.
Solid is just a caravan held together with no nails, so any leak will be absorbed into the walls, some other go a little further with having no wood wall battens, but then spoil it all by using wood interior wall panels, which do absorb water.
And that includes Smart, and Smart plus.
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Our Bailey Pegasus has a plastic inside wall so cannot absorbe water. However if the inside wall has condensation on it then a damp meter may show a high damp reading in eccess of 15%. I put the heater on for an hour wiped the wall with a dry cloth. Down
to about 5% around the base of the door.0 -
What is the Bearfoot?
Write your comments here...It is not a Bearfoot but a Barefoot. You can find it go-barefoot.co.uk. To me it seems very expensive, remarkably impractical, too small and lacking a lot of basic items which are provided in most caravans for two thirds of the
price: e.g. no oven, no fixed bed option etc.0 -
Agree with Wildwood. We have had two Bailey Alutechs with no damp problems so far but no system is better than the bloke who assembles it.
This is the crux of the whole damp issue. Guys on piecework applying sealant by hand will remain a source of damp, until robots are used as per automotive.
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When our dealer discovered the damp in three places in our 2014 Xplore told me of his conversations when negotiaitng the switch to Lunar from Eldiss/Xplore. He asked about their construction and the reply was along the lines that all the manufacturers who
have introduced new systems are still having warranty claims for damp. Therefore they have made the decision to contiune with their timber frame and concentrate on getting the build right on the factory floor. I have read, on other forums, of many people
being happy with Lunar but perhaps that comment will produce a flood (appropriate word!) of comments from folk with leaking Lunars. We are taking deliver soon so I will be watching the coming months with interest.0 -
That may be true but, from a quick look at various web sites, I have been unable to find anything we would actually want to buy for three reasons: layout (no transverse island bed), weight and internal decor. I find the construction of Eriba appealing.
Would I want to travel with a caravan with no island transverse bed, no front chest with pull out table, no shower and a shortage of overhead lockers? Anser: no.0 -
No service engineer will damp test an Alutech interior wall, its pointless as it will not absorb it. Only the floor must be damp tested.
...When our alutec is serviced its only the floor level that is damp tested as its the ony wood in the van
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if you want to see the vans that survive the longest, just have a look at the brands that the long termers use, year after year...
hymer, hobby, fendt.....any common theme....?
...Travelers
yet another sweeping, insulting generalisation.
many vanners from all over europe, some of whom are also members of the two main clubs, 'travel' for large periods of time each year.....are you insulting all of these or just those who use a brand of van that doesnt leak?
incidently, there are two 'l's in 'travellers'.
to paraphrase Sybil Fawlty, "if you're going to insult someone (or a group) at least have the decency to spell it correctly."
..Back to your usual childish method of insults when things do not go your way , my reply was to your direct question ref common theme, where have i mentioned anything else
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your insulting of vanners who use one of the brands mentioned doesnt mean that something 'has not gone my way' (whatever you mean by that), merely that you've tarred all users with your hideous bigotted 'brush'.
the thread is one about leaking vans, not who travel in them.
i could easily have bought a Hymer or even a Knaus in lieu of my own German van, and if i were a Hymer owner and you'd tossed your remark at me Id be letting Ro have a chat with you
..Silly boy its a well known fact who own a lot of the makes mentioned and please note the smiley with the post
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Just to bring the debate back on track. I asked a reputable caravan repairer in the Northwest "Which is the best caravan to buy nowadays to avoid damp" his answer was, "They get so called waterproof vans from all manufactureres in for damp repairs". His
opinion was that one should purchase from manufacturers with the best warranty who get any necessary work done without hassle. He did tell me who that was and I will say, it hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread. He also said that the cost of repairs is
increasing considerably because vans are getting so hard to pull apart. In a nutshell, less damp (perhaps); increased insurance and (in the retail price) warranty costs (Definitely).0 -
At the time I asked the question (ie when our Elddis was in for a complete out of warranty reseal 2 years ago), it was Swift. That may have since changed. The point I'm making is that when buying a new van, research into the value of warranties and after
care should perhaps figure more highly than the sales hype about a manufacturer's own particular brand of damp prevention technology.0 -
At the time I asked the question (ie when our Elddis was in for a complete out of warranty reseal 2 years ago), it was Swift. That may have since changed. The point I'm making is that when buying a new van, research into the value of warranties and after care should perhaps figure more highly than the sales hype about a manufacturer's own particular brand of damp prevention technology.
That ties in with Practical Caravans surveys as only Swift and Coachman had less than 10% in their latest survey.
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