Restoring an Elddis Earl Caravan
If you already own a caravan and find damp I would always recommend, if your finances will allow to have it repaired by a qualified workshop, the only problem is unless you have your caravan regularly tested for damp, by the time you see it there is a fair chance it has affected more than you think, the reason people think repairers are expensive is simply the amount of work that may be required and it is very time consuming, an old damp caravan is only worth really what the fittings are worth and then you have to try and dispose of the shell. Unless you think it is repairable and you have basic DIY skills to do it yourself.
Hopefully the following attempt to repair a damp caravan will give you some insight as to what is involved, I intend to put everything warts and all on the following pages, please feel free to send comments if you see an easier way I could be doing it ( I have already been told I am crazy to attempt it) sarcastic comments I can do without, but mickey taking or funny comments are welcome.
Some tips on checking a caravan for damp you intend to buy
1. Awning rail this takes a lot of strain if the caravan has had a awning attached, well worth checking around the top on the inside especially inside cupboards a damp meter would be ideal, a readout one rather than one that just bleeps, make sure you only use it where it wont show as obviously it leaves a couple of minute pin pricks.
2. Front windows the blinds and curtains usually block most of the front window frame but well worth spending a bit of time carefully examining the area.
3 If the caravan has a leak either from the awning rail or the front, it is likely to track down the sides and because there are strengthening batons that run the length of most caravans, will follow along these, meaning even if you do not get a damp reading just below the side window, it may have been affected further down, so again well worth taking the cushions off and having a good look at the back of the seating units.
4. Run your fingers round all the panels especially in the bathroom.
5. Check underneath near the edges for any damage or flaking, taking in to count of the age.
6 Ask if the caravan has had a service recently and if so ask if they have had a damp check done.
7. Check that the caravan is cris registered.
These are just a few of my tips if you want a really good guide you should try www.caravanbuyersguide.co.uk it is full of loads of info on buying restoring ect.
The caravan I first bought was a ABI Marauder gold the front had a leak from the awning rail, I removed the awning rail, took the left hand seating out and stripped the wall where the damp was, put new timber in re-boarded the wall and put the rail back on, have used it all summer dry as a bone now and a lovely little caravan. The only problem was the battery not holding the charge, so we took a trip to our local caravan dealer, and of course you have to look round at the vans. This is where we saw the Elddis for spares only, we got the keys and had a look.
My original plan was to strip it out put the contents in my shed and break the rest of the van and look for an old camper without an interior, my better half had another idea, because she really liked it and I must admit it is a good quality van, I said I would go ahead and take the furniture and fridge out of the area that had the damp, and if I thought it was restorable I would try and do it,
fortunately because it was off a dealer it came with a full damp test with all the affected areas clearly marked.
So we paid the money and towed it home must admit it towed really well and all the lights worked.
If you already own a caravan and find damp I would always recommend, if your finances will allow to have it repaired by a qualified workshop, the only problem is unless you have your caravan regularly tested for damp, by the time you see it there is a fair chance it has affected more than you think, the reason people think repairers are expensive is simply the amount of work that may be required and it is very time consuming, an old damp caravan is only worth really what the fittings are worth and then you have to try and dispose of the shell. Unless you think it is repairable and you have basic DIY skills to do it yourself.
Hopefully the following attempt to repair a damp caravan will give you some insight as to what is involved, I intend to put everything warts and all on the following pages, please feel free to send comments if you see an easier way I could be doing it ( I have already been told I am crazy to attempt it) sarcastic comments I can do without, but mickey taking or funny comments are welcome.
Some tips on checking a caravan for damp you intend to buy
1. Awning rail this takes a lot of strain if the caravan has had a awning attached, well worth checking around the top on the inside especially inside cupboards a damp meter would be ideal, a readout one rather than one that just bleeps, make sure you only use it where it wont show as obviously it leaves a couple of minute pin pricks.
2. Front windows the blinds and curtains usually block most of the front window frame but well worth spending a bit of time carefully examining the area.
3 If the caravan has a leak either from the awning rail or the front, it is likely to track down the sides and because there are strengthening batons that run the length of most caravans, will follow along these, meaning even if you do not get a damp reading just below the side window, it may have been affected further down, so again well worth taking the cushions off and having a good look at the back of the seating units.
4. Run your fingers round all the panels especially in the bathroom.
5. Check underneath near the edges for any damage or flaking, taking in to count of the age.
6 Ask if the caravan has had a service recently and if so ask if they have had a damp check done.
7. Check that the caravan is cris registered.
These are just a few of my tips if you want a really good guide you should try www.caravanbuyersguide.co.uk it is full of loads of info on buying restoring ect.
The caravan I first bought was a ABI Marauder gold the front had a leak from the awning rail, I removed the awning rail, took the left hand seating out and stripped the wall where the damp was, put new timber in re-boarded the wall and put the rail back on, have used it all summer dry as a bone now and a lovely little caravan. The only problem was the battery not holding the charge, so we took a trip to our local caravan dealer, and of course you have to look round at the vans. This is where we saw the Elddis for spares only, we got the keys and had a look.
My original plan was to strip it out put the contents in my shed and break the rest of the van and look for an old camper without an interior, my better half had another idea, because she really liked it and I must admit it is a good quality van, I said I would go ahead and take the furniture and fridge out of the area that had the damp, and if I thought it was restorable I would try and do it,
fortunately because it was off a dealer it came with a full damp test with all the affected areas clearly marked.
So we paid the money and towed it home must admit it towed really well and all the lights worked.
Once it was set up at home the first thing was to test all the electrics and gas fittings everything worked, including this did surprise me, the central heating, warmed the caravan in minutes. The reason for doing this is if it doesn't work when you refit it you know you have done something wrong yourself.
The main reason I decided to put all this info was 1 It may assist someone else who is trying to sort out a damp caravan and 2 For very little money I could have hid the above defects quite easily and so long as a potential buyer hadn't got a damp meter they would not have seen the damp. This applies more so to this style of caravan, simply because of the central heating, the seats have base boards in them so you cannot see under the seats and the backs of the seats have panels with a gap for the heat to rise, if you had a good prod round you may have spotted something, but its a bit awkward to be to rough when your viewing to buy.
The main reason I decided to put all this info was 1 It may assist someone else who is trying to sort out a damp caravan and 2 For very little money I could have hid the above defects quite easily and so long as a potential buyer hadn't got a damp meter they would not have seen the damp. This applies more so to this style of caravan, simply because of the central heating, the seats have base boards in them so you cannot see under the seats and the backs of the seats have panels with a gap for the heat to rise, if you had a good prod round you may have spotted something, but its a bit awkward to be to rough when your viewing to buy.
The problem unit
The base of this unit had sunk at the backe leving gaps as you can see in the next photo.Worth pointing out here there are two scrws behind the plastic trim that screw into the top of the unit.
The base of this unit had sunk at the backe leving gaps as you can see in the next photo.Worth pointing out here there are two scrws behind the plastic trim that screw into the top of the unit.
Looks good
The only way you could tell the caravan had a major damp problem was because the dealer had done a full damp test
The only way you could tell the caravan had a major damp problem was because the dealer had done a full damp test
No bad smells
Someone had fitted a wood effect board above the front window and screwed into the roof suppoets, obviously from this it pointed to something wrong
Someone had fitted a wood effect board above the front window and screwed into the roof suppoets, obviously from this it pointed to something wrong
Condition
All the units where in very good condition, the cushions had no wear on them
All the units where in very good condition, the cushions had no wear on them
End Bathroom
Think this is what the better half liked seperate shower and toilet.
Think this is what the better half liked seperate shower and toilet.
Condition
All the units where in very good condition, the cushions had no wear on the
All the units where in very good condition, the cushions had no wear on the
Problem unit
Below this unit you could tell something was amiss, more photos of this below.
Below this unit you could tell something was amiss, more photos of this below.
Board off
1st thing I did was to remove the board someone had fitted and cut a piece of the ceiling away to have a look.
1st thing I did was to remove the board someone had fitted and cut a piece of the ceiling away to have a look.
Well rotted
The wood on top of the window just crumbled away
The wood on top of the window just crumbled away
Removing the facia
This took some removing the buttons where nails but very easily damaged, had to put me big hammer away and be a bit more subtle
This took some removing the buttons where nails but very easily damaged, had to put me big hammer away and be a bit more subtle
Nails out
All the nails removed and just couldnt figure out what was holding the ends. Sorted after a lot of head scratching 2 screws from the outside before the awning rail was fitted.
All the nails removed and just couldnt figure out what was holding the ends. Sorted after a lot of head scratching 2 screws from the outside before the awning rail was fitted.
Side off
Removed all the rotted wood from the top and the side of the windows
Removed all the rotted wood from the top and the side of the windows
This puzzled me for a bit.
The side of the unit had caved in due to the damp this was hidden by the bottom board in the seating unit next to it and where the fridge was fitted.and as you will see later the floor.
The side of the unit had caved in due to the damp this was hidden by the bottom board in the seating unit next to it and where the fridge was fitted.and as you will see later the floor.
Stripping out
All the front furniture had to be removed also the cupboard that has the fridge in it. Not as quick as I thought because I had to remove the central heating pipes to get at the fittings, presume this is put in after the furniture is fitted.
All the front furniture had to be removed also the cupboard that has the fridge in it. Not as quick as I thought because I had to remove the central heating pipes to get at the fittings, presume this is put in after the furniture is fitted.
Heating water pump
I wanted to take out the wood effect board under the window, so I removed the water pump
I wanted to take out the wood effect board under the window, so I removed the water pump
Side of window removed
Suprised that this board had nothing behind it, just fastened on each side of the frame
Suprised that this board had nothing behind it, just fastened on each side of the frame
My Elddis part 2
