Hole in caravan floor

Apattullo
Apattullo Forum Participant Posts: 25
First Comment
edited February 2017 in Caravans #1

Hi all

we are currently looking for a new (2nd hand) caravan. At a dealer yesterday we were looking at a sterling Eccles and when looked under the fixed bed we found a square of wood screw to the floor. Further investigation found that someone in the caravans previous life had cut a 4inch round hole into the floor then plugged it up. There was also another hole cut into the panel around the bed so we assume that the holes are connected. When we asked the dealer what the holes might have been for they were as much in the dark as we were even their engineer had to come and have look at the holes. The caravan over all was very nice but would really like to know what the holes would have been for in case the caravan has a dark secret?

thanks sandy

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #2

    Did the c/van have blown air heating as it sounds as if  a pipe from the system used to run under the van , we had a van with that system,which was useless and we did a mod to bring it inside that left a 4inch hole that was "plugged"

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #3

    Whichever way you look at it-the cut areas will have broken the total waterproofing integrity, introducing areas of probable rotting in the future. If it was done post production I doubt it will be covered by the vans warranty. My view if I was the potential buyer is to walk away. 

  • holmesonwheels24
    holmesonwheels24 Forum Participant Posts: 148
    edited February 2017 #4

    Might this have been used as some sort of caravan security device?  in the back of my mind I recall something like this being used, a bit like the security post that attach to a sunken tube. The benefit of this is the post cannot be rammed or pulled out . Might this be the case here.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited February 2017 #5

    Never come across this and for that reason I would walk away, as per previous post its a recipe for rot particularily if as your post seems to suggest it is plugged from the top side of the floor rather than the underneath. 

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited February 2017 #6

    Caravans have lots of holes through the floor.

    Gas vent hole, cable holes, gas pipe holes, drain holes for internal wet lininers door mats, and Alde drain pipes.

     None of which i have ever seen produce rotting.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2017 #7

    XT, that's because they're pre production & then waterproofed at the factory. If for some reason the factory fitted units have been removed to leave the hole then there is something missing from the original van-another alarm bell to soundfrown

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited February 2017 #8

    Any waterproofing IME is just a coat of black paint, you don't see any paint on the holes drilled because they are done after any treatment.

    The wood on my Bailey was only around 3mm thick on either side with insulation in between, all the holes drilled had no black paint to the edges.

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