delamination

[gpz]

I don't know if anybody can help I have a friend who is looking at buying a motorhome and he has told me that the outside panels are delaminating unfortunately he has no pics this motor home is in devon I think so not as though we can have a quick look at it ,anyway my question is can anything be done to refix the panels ,hes been told that van is quite usable as Is any help appreciated I don't want him to buy a lemon as he has no diy skills thanks

 

[Speve]

If it has delamination and he’s no good at DIY it could be a very expensive repair.
I personally would look elsewhere??

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Walk away don't even bother looking unless you have experience of repairing the same and know where to get materials from

 

[wiljoy]

As Jimbo says walk away. In fact run.
We had a delaminating Hymer a few years ago but fortunately they gave us a refund.
Hymer hired a unit near Preston and stripped the vans out then burnt the bodies. It was an AClass.

 

[M-J]

You have to ask? Walk away.

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[Mikey RV]

Run forest run.

 

[Lenny HB]

The question is why has it delaminated? There is a high risk it could be due to water ingress, only one thing to do run as fast as you can away from it.

 

[poppycamper]

You beat me to it Lenny... not how to fix but why????

 

[funflair]

Could it be an older van before they were bonded to the insulation?

Martin

 

[Scotsblood]

Visited the Autotrail factory this week and witnessed the panel bonding process first hand. With the glue coverage on all surfaces, the pressure bonding and the two week “cure” its hard to imagine any panels made with this process delaminating without excess moisture being the culprit.
One reason given for using GRP rather than aluminium was the problem of reliable bonding with significant temperature variations.
So if it’s aluminium sides it’s a possibility, if GRP then moisture, either way don’t touch it with the proverbial barge pole!

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[dipsie]

We had an Adria (A class) can’t remember the model name, 2007/8 it started to delaminate before it was 12 months old. The reason was severe damp, everywhere.
It went back to the factory for repair and it was months before they delivered it back to the dealer. The dealer rang and suggested we come and look at it. I could see even before I got out of my car the repair was crap.
After a bit of hassle the dealer took it back as they agreed the repair was unacceptable.
So my advise would be do’nt entertain any thoughts of a diy repair as it must be nigh on impossible if even a factory repair is difficult.
An interesting fact though, the dealer had resold it within a few days. A big fall out with the dealer ensued as I knew the people who they had ‘ stitched up ‘

BernieT

 

[Janine]

It depends on the price! My last van, a 1995 Holdsworth Valentine, was starting to delaminate but it was on a decent VW T4 base so was still worth the £5k that I sold it for. No damp smells inside so perfectly usable.

 

[Spriddler]

The seller would have to pay me to take that on and suffer the hassle of sorting it, and would that be the only issue...….?
Plenty of others for sale.

 

[CazPaul]

Visited the Autotrail factory this week and witnessed the panel bonding process first hand. With the glue coverage on all surfaces, the pressure bonding and the two week “cure” its hard to imagine any panels made with this process delaminating without excess moisture being the culprit.
One reason given for using GRP rather than aluminium was the problem of reliable bonding with significant temperature variations.
So if it’s aluminium sides it’s a possibility, if GRP then moisture, either way don’t touch it with the proverbial barge pole!

Is that what Autotrail told you, let's just say that there are a lot of people with them who have huge problems with damp.
In fact I know someone with a 2018 model first hab check damp in 3 areas.

 

[Allanm]

In some older aluminium sided vans and many old RV’s, small areas of deamination is quite common and caused by failure of the bonding agent as opposed to damp, though in some cases, it could be both.
You will never bond the outer skin to damp panels, but if the interior is dry, it can be done. It's not a simple job though. You will need access to the failed bond by drilling holes and inserting the bonding agent and clamping the whole section together till it cures. Then you will need to seal and hide the holes.
Simplest way to deal with it is by not buying it, so you won’t have to deal with it.

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[Vipar]

Lots of good advice run rabbit ? run

 

[CazPaul]

Surely that shouldn't even warrant an interest in the van, they would be lucky to give it away never mind sell it.

 

[gpz]

thanks for all the replys apparently this van was cheap but how cheap I don't know I will pass on all your replys and we will see what happens ,I have given my thoughts to other projects but he will only do as he wants anyway that's his problem

 

[Scotsblood]

Is that what Autotrail told you, let's just say that there are a lot of people with them who have huge problems with damp.
In fact I know someone with a 2018 model first hab check damp in 3 areas.

I think the point in my post “ its hard to imagine any panels made with this process delaminating without excess moisture being the culprit” makes it clear that unless an aluminium side damp has to be the most obvious cause of delamination. I just cannot see how with such a good adhesive coat and pressure bonding separation would occur without very specific physical forces unless by ingress of moisture.

 

[Scotch mist]

When the panels are being manufactured all it takes is a problem in the sequence, IE running out of glue & no one noticing ! , it does happen , but I wouldn’t buy it

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