Dampness Project - Rear end now! (1 Viewer)

Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
Following on from my previous damp projects, I am now working on the rear of the motorhome. I am now about to resolve the rear dampness issues on our Bessacarr E795.

if you have followed my progress beforehand you will be aware of the dampness issues in the roof and flooring , see links below for the full details.
Roof thread
Floor thread

By the time I’m finished I will have a brand new van!

We have just returned from a weekend away and I could smell the never ending damp in the van, so I thought I would have a look and see what I could find. At first I thought it would only be a small repair. After removing the fresh water tank and the seating at the rear I was left with a blank canvas.

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There was tale-tale signs of damp and the smell started to increase as I removed more and more items.

It didn’t take long for it to be groundhog day, damp rising up the wall behind the wallpaper and rotten wood around the edges. A certain amount of deja vu from the flooring project at the front of the van.


8248899B-85EE-437D-BD29-681B50480E10.jpeg


I could see where this was going so I cracked on with the removal. The black plastic of shame that was fitted to the Swift’s of this era has again produced the result of not letting the water escape and be able to dry out.

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After many hours I have managed to remove one half of the rear, need to leave a little structure in place.
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As this is a similar repair to previous I am going to use the same method of repair. Removing 3 pieces of wood and making the whole piece from treated wood. Will need to construct a frame around the end and join this to some good timber left.

all in all a lot of work again on the Bessacarr.

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Pretty sure the fresh water tank bung when removed did not let all of the water escape out the back of the van. Over the years the water has built up and the result is a very rotten rear end :LOL:
 

Argar

Free Member
Sep 21, 2020
83
117
Funster No
76,147
MH
A Class
DJL220 Can't believe you're looking at more damp work - still going on our van and I've hit the one year anniversary. Same issue water gets in and there is no way out. To protect the walls Eura Mobil put extruded polystyrene all the way around the bottom of the van - wood above it is rotten on every piece I've got to 😭

Good luck on the repair - I'll be following

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irnbru

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 27, 2013
13,503
31,101
Glasgow
Funster No
26,684
MH
Benimar 264
Exp
11 yrs
Thats certainly a mammoth looking task youve been doing in your van. Well done for having the guts to tackle it. Have you actually found the source of water entry?
 
OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
Thats certainly a mammoth looking task youve been doing in your van. Well done for having the guts to tackle it. Have you actually found the source of water entry?
I think so on the back end, poor sealing/rubber on the sides. Possible leak from the water filler and defo a leak from the tank went emptying, some going across the whole back end. Will do some water tests before fully fitting the backend
 
Dec 14, 2017
2
2
Funster No
51,650
I've pretty much all the same repairs as you to do on my 2000 Granduca Pegaso 7 berth. All resulting from a bad roof light repair and poor construction, when the aluminium roof skin was being fitted it was cut up to 2cm too narrow exposing the timber along the top of the offside so when the roof rail seals failed water got in. The top rear offside corner has rotted so much that the wood has turned to compost. Also it'll need a new roof skin as it's full of holes and has detached from the ply underneath, which may actually be particle board!

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OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
So a little progress over the past few days mainly working late into the evening. One side is cleaned out and ready for the decent timber to go back in. Weather hasn’t been the best so ducking in and out of showers.

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First test fit, using a lap joint and will glue and screw/nail.

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Test fit with the ply in place, fairly happy with the fit. Just need to ensure everything lines up before fitting the first halve tomorrow.


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Just waterproofed the wood with a first coat of sealer, the outer wood is pressure treated which should give a little extra life. Will join the old and new ply with some filler strips and use some epoxy resin underneath the MH.

Fingers crossed I should be able to crack on this weekend :LOL:
 
OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
I've pretty much all the same repairs as you to do on my 2000 Granduca Pegaso 7 berth. All resulting from a bad roof light repair and poor construction, when the aluminium roof skin was being fitted it was cut up to 2cm too narrow exposing the timber along the top of the offside so when the roof rail seals failed water got in. The top rear offside corner has rotted so much that the wood has turned to compost. Also it'll need a new roof skin as it's full of holes and has detached from the ply underneath, which may actually be particle board!
I feel for you, when I started on the rear project the timber had also rotted some much it was like compost. Really not sure what was holding the backend together :rolleyes:

good luck with your repairs (y)
 
Last edited:
Dec 14, 2017
2
2
Funster No
51,650
Thanks! Tbh I knew it had issues when we bought it but the price was so good I couldn't let it pass. We got a couple of seasons out of it before the engine dropped a valve. That was 3 years ago and I finally got it back on the road for the summer. With covid, camper prices have gone through the roof over here and when it's fixed it'll be worth over twice what we paid for. The only problem I have is that while I can fit it in the shed, I'm short on space so the classic bmws have to go!

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OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
So a little effort over the weekend and one side of the rear now has some structure reinstated. It’s not the whole story as the water has also damaged the side around the locker. That will need repairing after the back has been completed.

Progress shots of the other side which appears to have travelled a lot further up the wall ☹️

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Above you will see I have cut the plywood along the chassis rail, I will joined the ply by gluing another piece to bridge the gap.

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Really damp in this corner and the water in the wood was very apparent. Still not 100% sure if this is due to the water being released out of the tank or if the water is coming in from a failed seal. Will get the hose on the back to check!

32FB7F73-7EEA-4089-BBC6-B9456261C63C.jpeg



ECF60273-C086-4AE4-8EE2-12BEA98345CD.jpeg

In the end I chased the dampness further up the wall, will bring van back to life again 😄

On the flip side the other side is ready to connect back to the chassis and I’m really pleased with how solid the n/s has become.

The underside has been painted black to match the rest of the M/H.

B6862145-51B5-4A6B-9359-046C7AD68644.jpeg
 
OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
Not had much time over the last week, managed to crack on over the weekend and the light is showing at the end of the tunnel :cool:
I managed to chase the rest of the dampness out on the O/S and cut the replacement timbers, painted and added protection too.

pictures of the test fit
927BF5CE-A1F7-4359-949D-2157EB58C66F.jpeg


Trying to rejoin to the existing timbers with the cross below.
2E32ABE7-BCBE-4C6F-8CBB-9902B006CE50.jpeg


Tonight I managed to install and glue the pieces and the backend is taking shape and is now the most solid since i have owned the van
2854ECC6-EA2F-4654-803A-ABD408031A1D.jpeg

Just need to clean up the glue, fit some foam, new ply top, ply the walls, wallpaper and fit flooring. Fingers crossed should be done by the weekend ready for our next trip. The final piece of the puzzle is the 18mm ply around the garage door, just need to replace that and I’m done 👌

I have re-engineered the fresh tank outlet so it will no longer leak over the back of the MH, why Swift didn’t do this is beyond me. All it took was some pipe and a jubilee clip, cost less than a few quid!
 

Jamesh

Free Member
Jun 28, 2020
2,200
3,839
Funster No
72,388
MH
Van conversion
Exp
Caravaning since 2010
Good job!

More solid than new!

Putting another hat on I've never seen those extensions on your table saw before...

Cheers James

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OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
Brilliant work. You should be very proud. A fellow funster has shared with me a receipt for his repair work on a damp Swift . Absolutely eye watering prices !
Thanks Swifter
That’s the only reason I am completing the repair work myself. I got quoted around £10k just for labour on a previous project. The wife said we either scrap the MH or crack on 😂
Every time I undertake a project the MH becomes much quieter when travelling, less rattles and background noise.
 
OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
Good job!

More solid than new!

Putting another hat on I've never seen those extensions on your table saw before...

Cheers James
Thanks James
It’s an old and cheap table saw that keeps on going, they extend out for an extra 300mm on each side. Saved me making an extension table many a time 😂

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Aug 4, 2021
1,203
6,810
Haslington, UK
Funster No
83,194
MH
Niesmann and Bischof
Wow!! I have never seen anything like this! Has anyone ever shown photos to the manufacturers? It's terrible that a vehicle in the UK with it's less than dry weather should be made from so much wood that can rot!
 
Mar 12, 2012
1,395
1,612
Bridgend, South Wales
Funster No
20,125
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
Just started!
Fitting untreated pine in the build is bl**dy reckless! If it was the manufacturer, they should be named & shamed!

You've done a great job :)

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Last edited:

JockandRita

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 2, 2007
11,402
148,471
Lincs/Cambs border
Funster No
49
MH
N+B Flair 8000i
Exp
Since May 05 (Ex Tuggers).
Fitting untreated pine in the build is bl**dy reckless! If it was the manufacturer, they should be named & shamed!
Agreed, and they have been named several times..........................but not shamed enough unfortunately. :(
They didn't earn the model name "Leaky Kontiki" for nothing. We checked out three of them some years ago using a damp meter, and every one suffered damp issues, with one in particular having (just days before) undergone a full habitation check at Broonfools of Newark :( The private owners were devastated when I showed them the meter readings as evidence, that their pride and joy was soaking wet internally. :cry:

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
DJL220 Amazed at how quick you manage to do these repairs - mine seems to have taken me ages!

Well done!
I know what I’m doing this time as I have had practice 😂
Plus I need it to be ready for the next trip away!

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JockandRita

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 2, 2007
11,402
148,471
Lincs/Cambs border
Funster No
49
MH
N+B Flair 8000i
Exp
Since May 05 (Ex Tuggers).
When it comes time to sell the MH I can at least prove its not damp 😉
You'll not be needing to borrow my meter then? :LOL:

Just like your your other work, it's a credit to you. (y) If Peter Jones is still in charge at Swift in Cottingham, I could put a good word in for you, if you fancied a job with them? ;)
I'm sure you could teach them a thing or two (and more) about quality and robustness. ;)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
OP
OP
DJL220
Sep 13, 2019
321
795
Hertfordshire
Funster No
64,185
MH
Bailey 79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
Short on time after work so I have only managed to make and test fit the new boards for the floor. Happy to move forward one step at a time 😎

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A728255C-96A8-478A-B2D4-51022FFA64E4.jpeg
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Staring to take shape and look good - first time in a long while.

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