Ultimate nightmare

[terryshort]

I bought this motorhome 8 weeks ago, thought it was a bargain, only 19,800 miles even if it was 26 years old, and cost £8,500.
A few days ago one of my grandsons asked to go up top, he is 7. There is a funny smell up here bampi he said. I eventually managed to remove the bed part, and lifted the carpet covering the base. That was the start of my nightmare, as I carried on removing bits, it just got worse, I am at the stage now of wondering what the hell have I done, thinking my wife of 55 years and I could enjoy away times in the vehicle. Does anyone have any thoughts on if this can be repaired, or have I lost all my money to the car breakers? I still need to strip more from the front and drivers side, so I expect a lot worse to come.

 

[Burgo]

I'd only add that don't be disheartened while you're stripping out the old damaged stuff. It's easy to look at it and loose confidence, but once you've got the decks clear and start rebuilding it will all start to look a lot better.
If you start to lose nerve, just remember it's knackered at the moment, so you can't make it any worse!

 

[PaulOH]

Second all that has been said here already - your van is damaged but it is entirely repairable. Am in the process myself and I have only spent on sealant, wood hardener, some joints, a staple gun for the front window and a baton to replace the front crossmember.
Mine is a Ducato-based 1992 and had been struck at the front corner - you're doing well for a 96 so press ahead and it'll be fine!

 

[stevewagner]

You can use PU foam adhesive in a can that bonds almost any insulation boards to anything. One side foam, the other side a water spray bottle to help it key and go off fast. Plasterboard extruded polystyrene and celotex pir boards are glued in this way. Even roof insulation on flat warm decks goes down with Pu glue or foam.

Thats not quire right as PIR insulation on a warm flat roof should not be glued down.

 

[Colinyellowspanner]

As you’ve no doubt already found, the carpentry involved is fairly rudimentary, once you’ve got the interior wallboards off. There’s a fantastic caravan breakers not far, at Blaenavon, near ‘Big Pit’. Enormous range of new stuff too, including wallboards. I matched some when a previous Autocruise rotted out. Good luck!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Raul]

Thats not quire right as PIR insulation on a warm flat roof should not be glued down.

On a new deck you got no reason to, just between the joints of the board and maybe a bit a the perimeter. It sits quite nice on the vapour barrier. On retro fits where the deck is all over the place, you end up using quite a bit of foam to get the boards flat and not rocking. .

 

[Platelet]

Before you start fixing anything back, the first thing is to establish where it’s coming from. It’s no use putting new wood/boards up only for it to happen again. Unfortunately water ingress is the MH, caravan owners worse nightmare, even some of the “one piece” bodies have issues, they are 100% waterproof until you add something ie. window, vent, skylight, aerial then it’s 99% All it needs is a screw/seal that hasn’t been properly sealed and the problems start.

 

[SheilaHandley]

Contact Gareth O'Hanlon on Facebook. He'll give you good advice.