The Importance Of Damp When Looking At Caravans

There are many different caravan dealerships in the UK that sell many different types of caravans that are on offer today.  There are certain steps that need to be taken before considering buying a caravan.  Although many dealers take very good care of the items they are selling there are sometimes hidden faults.  For example, the main problem that people have with caravans is damp and this is primarily caused by rain and water getting into the exterior lining of the caravan.  It can get into interior fittings and outer panels and it in most cases is the most costly to repair on a caravan.  In some cases it can run up to the high hundreds of pounds. 

It is important for dealerships to make sure there is no damp in caravans before they go on sale as it can drastically make the price drop and in some cases make the model unsellable. 

Damp can be found in all the walls and roof of the caravan, in order for a person to spot a damp patch in a caravan they need to know what the damp patches look like.  The most noticeable sign to look for is a musty smell when entering a caravan.  This is a major sign that the caravan has got damp patches and needs fixing.  But it is still mandatory to check as well just in case it is a false sign, but also you will need to check if there is no evident smell as the damp may be there but in a smaller scale. 

The main areas to check for damp in a caravan are the corners of the walls and the roof lights as water can get into the caravan from these places without any visible damage.  Also, around the windows and doors are main places where damp can occur because the sealant holding the rubber to the frame can leak and let water in during rainfall.  The panels in a caravan will go very soft and spongy when damp occurs.  Also after the damp has done the damage a tide mark will be left on the wallboards and panels, which is an easily noticeable indication to find where the damp has originated. 

If a dealership manages to stop damp happening to their caravans when on sale will allow them to keep a very high price tag.  This will mean constant service and checks to the caravans to keep them in peak condition.  After you have sorted out all the problems that caravans can have you need to decide which caravan would most suit you from the dealership.  The range is very wide with very small 2 person caravans ranging to a very large whole family caravan. 

To choose which caravan best suits you it is vital to decide what your needs are and what purpose the caravan is going to be used for.  For example a very large caravan for the whole family would be used for long family vacations within driving distance.  This means the large caravan will have lots of comfort as it will be acting as a small home from the time you arrive to the time you leave at the end of you holiday.  This means it will have a lot of equipment and space but this also boosts up the price considerably.  If you are a family of no children a smaller, simpler and easier caravan would be good to take on holiday. 

This allows you to put your own equipment into the caravan as a smaller model will come with less equipment than a large style caravan.  This allows for some customisation and you can do this with a smaller price tag than a much larger caravan.  Ultimately the choice is yours, either go for a leviathan of the road or a smaller model, depending on your needs the choice should be simple enough. 

Author Resource:-
Caravaning expert Thomas Pretty looks into what considerations to make when visiting caravan dealerships.