Downsizing from coachbuilt to PVC

[Sapper520]

 

[TheMachMan]

Very similar to our‘s. Plenty of space.

 

[Minxy]

I had a card table under ours rather than fit a permanent 'shelf', worked a treat: At the site I was able to put in 2 Brompton cycles (one behind the other) plus stuff in front of the table too.

 

[ElddisNotElvis]

Downsized from a Swift Bolero to a Rapido V55 just over a year ago. Here are my thoughts. Firstly build quality of the Rapido is much better. In relation to storage we have all we need. Shower and toilet facilities on the V55 groundbreaking technology and excellent. Amazing the places you take your PVC that you would be reluctant to take larger motorhome. More like a car to drive. Downsides, requires more organisation when moving about inside, and on occasions not being able to entertain inside. Overall a good move for us the pros outweigh the negatives.k

 

[ElddisNotElvis]

I don’t see many/if any, as giving the reason for moving to a PVC because of a better chance of no water ingress.

The reason we are considering a PVC is because of the damp issues we have in our Elddis 9 year old coach built, and it would appear that very few coachbuilt have no damp issues - even newish models.

Is it fair to say that damp ingress cannot happens on a PVC as long as any drilled holes are well sealed off?

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[jezport]

The reason we are considering a PVC is because of the damp issues we have in our Elddis 9 year old coach built, and it would appear that few coachbuilt have no damp issues - even newish models.

Is it fair to say that damp ingress cannot happens on a PVC as long as any drilled holes are well sealed off?

Few British ones unfortunately. But it's all down to choosing a manufacturer of quality and one that uses modern construction without structural wood . Our last van a Frankia was perfectly dry at 10 years old.

 

[ElddisNotElvis]

Few British ones unfortunately. But it's all down to choosing a manufacturer of quality and one that uses modern construction without structural wood . Our last van a Frankia was perfectly dry at 10 years old.

But aren’t PVCs all one piece of metal without any joints?

 

[jezport]

But aren’t PVCs all one piece of metal without any joints?

Referring to your quote of coachbuilts all suffering damp.

 

[ElddisNotElvis]

Referring to your quote of coachbuilts all suffering damp.

Oh - sorry, I thought you were referring to PVC’s.

It’s strange that hardly anybody is giving damp as a reason to moving to PVC’S from coachbuilt.

 

[Minxy]

Is it fair to say that damp ingress cannot happens on a PVC as long as any drilled holes are well sealed off?

They can still happen as they have roof vents, windows, hatches (eg water inlet) etc cut into the outer but are less susceptible to the 'usual' water ingress issues you get with coachbuilts such as leaking seams etc.

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[TheMachMan]

Damp was something we considered when buying our PVC.
2 of the 3 caravans we had which were all new had some issues.

 

[Mr Rusty]

We have had ‘damp’ problems in two PVCs we have owned (both vans were bought new). The first one (damp patches on the roof lining) was actually found to be a condensation issue in that the hot internal air was condensing on the inside of the cold metal roof. Manufacturer put more insulation between the lining and the metal roof. Second one, again damp patches on the roof lining, was found to be a poorly sealed roof vent. Dealer fixed it by removing and resealing the vent.

 

[dipsie]

I opened up our Auto Trail V Line 635 (PVC) for the first time in 6 weeks yesterday, I was surprised how dry every thing felt, I had emptied all the lockers and cupboards and left every thing open, left the dash vents open. I have not bothered to put on the external screen cover as the van is parked facing south so the sun warms it through during sunny periods. I checked the batteries 13.6 so the solar is working ok
After 25 years of motorhoming with coach builds I had always kept a small convector heater on to keep the damp feeling at bay.
Last year we did use our PVC all through the winter, 33 nights away, November through to March with no damp from condensation.
One thing I will not be doing in June this coming year is to have a Habitation Check carried out at the same price as my dealer charges of a coach build. I shall get our local mobile guy to clean the fridge jet and do a gas check.

BernieT

 

[jezport]

Oh - sorry, I thought you were referring to PVC’s.

It’s strange that hardly anybody is giving damp as a reason to moving to PVC’S from coachbuilt.

It was one of the things I considered a benefit, but as I had moved from a Frankia I never had worries about water ingress.

 

[jezport]

We have had ‘damp’ problems in two PVCs we have owned (both vans were bought new). The first one (damp patches on the roof lining) was actually found to be a condensation issue in that the hot internal air was condensing on the inside of the cold metal roof. Manufacturer put more insulation between the lining and the metal roof. Second one, again damp patches on the roof lining, was found to be a poorly sealed roof vent. Dealer fixed it by removing and resealing the vent.

What brand?

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[berni109]

Not damp but water ingress caused by pressure washing around a rooflight.
I caught it before it became a problem but the mastic sealing was breached by the pressure washer. Luckily spotted it on the day it happened just a couple of drops of water on the bedding. Thought initially it was water that had just got past the normal seal but unfortunately not.
Resulted in having to remove the whole rooflight and resealing it.

 

[jezport]

Not damp but water ingress caused by pressure washing around a rooflight.
I caught it before it became a problem but the mastic sealing was breached by the pressure washer. Luckily spotted it on the day it happened just a couple of drops of water on the bedding. Thought initially it was water that had just got past the normal seal but unfortunately not.
Resulted in having to remove the whole rooflight and resealing it.

Pressure washers are bad news to motorhomes and best avoided