hi all.

i bought an 1990 elddis shamal XL last year for a dirt cheap price as it was in a little bit of a mess. I have now brought the van upto its former glory as you do. But as i was serching through the services papers that came with it and i had noticed that the front window seal had been replaced and sealed many of times right up to 2004. i had the vans chassis serviced last year just to make sure it was ok but nothing else, So after i read the service papers i went to the van and i just checked all over the front windows and i noticed some wood has risen from my knowledge of static vans and stories i had heard about damp in them, the alarm bells started ringing, so i checked in the locker box and to my shock the hole wood under the front of the van was wet wet wet. so i checked out the front windows and to my horror the left hand small window seal had no filling it what so ever so the water had been pooring in for some time. so i then went straight on ebay and bought my self a caravan cover. the van has been stood since around septempber as i havnt had the chance to use it.

i then got my friend of ours to store the van in his barn over the winter period, so it had chance to dry out and i placed a few warm air radiators that will dry it out. and just before it came out i resealed the window with sealant. the wood has no dried but has stained underneith.

Now after this i noticed the front boarding was completly wrecked by the water although this is not noticable from the naked eye, but when you feel it you can tell its soft and warpy kind of feeling, as well as woodwork underneith the window has risen and left a small gap.
just so i feel more complete as well as the van as far as im aware it was only that little part that was affected. i would really like all the boarding and woodwork replaced i would do it my self but hav no idea what i am doing and plus i hardly have any time carry a repair like this out, but i am no experienced caravanner and havent the faintest idea where to go. i have researched on the net, and i suspose i could send it to a caravan centre but no doubt it would cost me a bomb and to be honest it would not be worth it on a van of this age.

so if anybody could help me to locate or can give me any good caravan repair centres in or around the area of HULL in yorkshire, in the UK who specilise in damp repair then i would be most greatful to them.

thanks josh.

josh, March 2008

hi nobby.

thanks for that. i will check it out over the easter.
i bought the van for just short of 800. but it had a brand new porch awning that cost £359 plus a full size awning which had everythink like storm straps ground sheet etc. The van also had all new cushions etc just put in, plus lots of extras like pots n pans, storm straps a new set of curtains that have never been hung, 4packs of laminate that has not been layed yet plus new tyres and alloys so i guess for 800 it was a bargain to me considering the owner wanted 1300 for it. but after having it valued by an expert from elddis they said it was worth around 1000/1100 without the front being repaired.. when i took it the company whos serviced it they said this caravan was one of the best vans they have ever seen chassis wise as it was spotless.

But after looking further at it, i had a mate who did a damp test on it and it came back negative, so the front must of really dried out very well.


thanks for help

josh

josh, March 2008

When you say dirt cheap do you mean £100
as I think that's all I would have paid for one that old.
I found these three on google search,I live in West Sussex so can't comment on these firms.
But you will have to accept that it may not only be the front of the van that needs repair/replacing You may be lucky and onl the bottom section below the window is rotten so they MAY be able to just replace that bit but it still means the outer skin being removed..

1. Cara-fix
unit 16 Acorn Industrial Estate Bontoft Avenue,
Hull. HU6 4HF
Tel: 01482494500
or call in person to workshop

2. FM Caravans
169 Fountain Road,
Hull HU2 0LH
Tel: 01482 823330
Or call in person to workshop

3. Mardon Caravan Repairs & Services Ltd
The Workshop, Hedon Road,
Hull, HU12 9HA
Telephone: 01482899070
Or call in person to workshop.

Don't think nobody is there if they don't answer they may be just very busy, hence the 'Call in to the workshop.'
Good luck I think you need it.

Nobby, March 2008