Hymer annual damp check is it worth it?

[Speve]

Hi all,We are now on our second Hymer and have always had the check carried out as required, however on enquiring with our usual dealer Premier at Chichester, they tell me they are no longer a Hymer dealership and are unable to carry out any work for me until November, bearing in mind we are at our damp check anniversary already I am inclined not to bother about having it done.
What are others thoughts on this and do you think it would make much difference when coming to sell the van in years to come?

 

[Figaro]

How old is the van, unless it's a requirement to the warranty I wouldn't bother, but then my Hymer is seventeen and bone dry

 

[pandas]

does that mean they cannot carry out Hymer warranty work I wonder?

 

[hymerman]

How old is the van, unless it's a requirement to the warranty I wouldn't bother, but then my Hymer is seventeen and bone dry

Totally agree, mine is now 20 years old, and no damp or leaks.
Even if they do spring a leak along a seam, due to the construction method used the water has no where to go and they didn't use any wood in the frame construction, so nothing to rot.

 

[bellabee]

I may be wrong, but I think you've got 6 months' leeway from the anniversary date. ie, if you bought your van in June, and had the damp check done in June last year, you need to get it done by Dec this year, to stay in warranty. I'm sure Lenny HB will be along to confirm this, or otherwise.
I'd prefer to maintain the warranty, but it's a matter of chance, like an insurance policy.
If you intend to keep your van until it is 6 years old, when the warranty expires, I wouldn't think it would make any difference when coming to sell it.
We're hoping to be able to have ours done at Campirama in September. If you're off to the Continent, you could go there, it's very convenient from Calais (and much cheaper than having it done in the UK ).

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

 

[Larrynwin]

It is a requirement of the Hymer ingress warranty and if not carried out and registered for first five years , get a leak and you sort at your own cost.
I have mine done without fail, if I were to try and sell and the potential buyer asked about the 7year damp warranty could also cost on final deal if no warranty, similar to full service history.

 

[hymermick]

Southdowns Motorhome Centre Coordinates: 50.8260002, -1.0506099
Portsmouth, Hampshire phone: +44 2392 674820
Painter Close, Anchorage Road, Anchorage Park
PO3 5UH Portsmouth, Hampshire

These are now a Hymer dealership and have a Service Workshop.

 

[Lenny HB]

I may be wrong, but I think you've got 6 months' leeway from the anniversary date. ie, if you bought your van in June, and had the damp check done in June last year, you need to get it done by Dec this year, to stay in warranty. I'm sure @Lenny HB will be along to confirm this, or otherwise.

Used to be the case but sadly no more and it only applied to the first damp check.

 

[bellabee]

Used to be the case but sadly no more and it only applied to the first damp check.

That's a shame . Hope the travel restrictions are lifted by September, or we'll be stuck with the difficult choice of using the UK dealer, which we really don't want to do based on past experience, or letting the warranty lapse.

 

[Lenny HB]

Ours was booked in for the 24th March obviously canceled, I assume Hymer will extend the warranty condition I think most other manufacturers have. I've not checked to see if they have, not too worried with an aluminum sandwiched body, i.e. inner wall aluminium.

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

 

[Speve]

Ours was booked in for the 24th March obviously canceled, I assume Hymer will extend the warranty condition I think most other manufacturers have. I've not checked to see if they have, not too worried with an aluminum sandwiched body, i.e. inner wall aluminium.

I have actually contacted Hymer with regards to their policy due to Covid, I explained the situation and am awaiting a reply.
Personally I’m not to worried as I think these damp checks are a way of generating income for dealers as all they do is spray around any cable and pipe entries and inspect underside.
I could do that myself and certainly hoping to still have this van till I pop my clogs.
At the end of the day I would hope to save money by not bothering as van is dry and only two years old . The warranty is only six years not seven Larrynwin I’m not worried about selling on the van as I don’t intend to until I am unable to do motorhoming hopefully a long time yet?
I will post reply from Hymer when I receive one thanks for everyone’s input and interest hope to see you down at El Rocio next winter bellabee ? I’m probably not going to bother with damp spray though I think if we get a leak it won’t be through the floor? Although some of you out there had wheel arch problems which we haven’t.

 

[Lenny HB]

They don't do the spray anymore.
I would like to know how they test a van with internal aluminium walls as a damp meter won't work.

 

[Lenny HB]

Although some of you out there had wheel arch problems which we haven’t.

I don't think Hymers have had wheel arch problems, they have had problems on elderly vans with wooden floors behind the rear wheels.

 

[Steve and Denise]

We have had our moisture ingress done each year now 3 years old with no probs,there is a six month lee way as registered new 12 month check, the only reason we do this is in case we chose to sell before the six years warranty is up.

 

[Steve and Denise]

They don't do the spray anymore.
I would like to know how they test a van with internal aluminium walls as a damp meter won't work.

What £170 and no aerosol disgraceful
I do remember you telling us you have your van done in Belgium for €25 but some of us have no euros

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

 

[bellabee]

Speve, el Rocio seems like a dream. I really do hope to be there again next winter. Hope to see you there.

 

[Larrynwin]

I have actually contacted Hymer with regards to their policy due to Covid, I explained the situation and am awaiting a reply.
Personally I’m not to worried as I think these damp checks are a way of generating income for dealers as all they do is spray around any cable and pipe entries and inspect underside.
I could do that myself and certainly hoping to still have this van till I pop my clogs.
At the end of the day I would hope to save money by not bothering as van is dry and only two years old . The warranty is only six years not seven Larrynwin I’m not worried about selling on the van as I don’t intend to until I am unable to do motorhoming hopefully a long time yet?
I will post reply from Hymer when I receive one thanks for everyone’s input and interest hope to see you down at El Rocio next winter bellabee ? I’m probably not going to bother with damp spray though I think if we get a leak it won’t be through the floor? Although some of you out there had wheel arch problems which we haven’t.

Thought it was 7 , must be mistaken .
I know the under spray is just around entry points in the floor but the complete damp check warranty is for the whole vehicle , so a leak in the roof would not be covered if damp check and under spray not carried out.
I managed to spend £75k + buying it so why spoil the ship as the saying goes.

 

[Speve]

I don't think Hymers have had wheel arch problems, they have had problems on elderly vans with wooden floors behind the rear wheels.

There were a few posted on here that have BDLs not on the bigger ones, I think it was rear wheel arch on near side LHD. from memory it was last year. I’ll try and find the thread.

 

[Speve]

I managed to spend £75k + buying it so why spoil the ship as the saying goes

I understand your thoughts we spent a bit more than that but it’s only money and life’s to short.

 

[Larrynwin]

They don't do the spray anymore.
I would like to know how they test a van with internal aluminium walls as a damp meter won't work.

They did mine in Feb this year.

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

 

[Larrynwin]

I understand your thoughts we spent a bit more than that but it’s only money and life’s to short.

A leaky roof and stained headlining would cost a deal more but your choice.

 

[hymermick]

We had our damp check done by Premier Motorhomes(Chichester) in February this year. The test included spraying the underside of the van. I had my first damp test done in Bad Waldsee where they marked my book with all the future damp test dates all with 6 months leeway.

 

[Lenny HB]

There were a few posted on here that have BDLs not on the bigger ones, I think it was rear wheel arch on near side LHD. from memory it was last year. I’ll try and find the thread.

Forgot that ones it was Stewart's van. I think it had been assembled incorrectly.

 

[Lenny HB]

What £170 and no aerosol disgraceful
I do remember you telling us you have your van done in Belgium for €25 but some of us have no euros

€70 is what I pay but they haven't reduced it now they don't do the spray but they did grease the rear axle for free.
€70 is still excessive for 10 minutes work.

 

[Lenny HB]

We had our damp check done by Premier Motorhomes(Chichester) in February this year. The test included spraying the underside of the van. I had my first damp test done in Bad Waldsee where they marked my book with all the future damp test dates all with 6 months leeway.

That is not correct the 6 months was only on the first year, read your manual it is stated in it. Anyway they dropped that a year or two ago.
Badwaldsee are only a dealer independent of the manufacturer.

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

 

[JockandRita]

I don't think Hymers have had wheel arch problems, they have had problems on elderly vans with wooden floors behind the rear wheels.

Yep, been there and done that. What a let down on a quality marque, and not even marine ply.

No problems now though with our fibreglass underflooring.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Never been near a dealer for any leak test, As I had a horrendous leak into the garage area that allowed water to flow across the floor and build up. Lowdhams told me they wanted it taken from Dover to them at Yorkshire , left for at least 6 weeks and they would look at it.
THE COST OF TAKING TWO VEHICLES UP THERE TWICE??????? No way was I playing that game.
I ended up removing the back panel attachment from the floor and moving it forwards 6 mm so the door fitted properly and resealing the whole lot. It was really a slap happy fixing at the factory but no longer leaks at all. This was a brand new van too . I was told I had negated the total warranty by doing it myself , but as they were only going to replace the offside door and seal, it would not have fixed it. It was the door aperture that was too big. Never been near A dealer again. Never will.

 

[63720]

When a lot of money is spent isn't it worth a few hundred quid protecting your investment?

 

[Speve]

When a lot of money is spent isn't it worth a few hundred quid protecting your investment?

I think it is a very reasonable suggestion but when you think that they no longer spray underside and the damp check can only be visual as we have aluminium skin inside, I can check that out myself and carry out a repair to seal it, whereas you are waiting for a damp check on a yearly basis, you could get a leak the day after your check and if you don’t do regular look around yourself it may be left a year before being found.
I have always been doing something on our van and always looking for anything out of the ordinary so pretty sure I would spot a leak very quickly and fix it.
so don’t feel the need to spend £170 on a damp check.

 

[Lenny HB]

I don't mind spending the €70 we pay only because it makes life a bit easier if you sell the van in the first five years. If we do keep the van longer it won't get any more.

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