Moisture ingress
What to look out for with regard to water ingress in Caravans and Motorhomes
The products used to build the vehicle's interior and core panels will significantly influence the likelihood of water ingress.
For this article, we will categorise the vehicle construction methods into two main types: absorbent and non-absorbent
Absorbent structures
The early model vehicles were built with an imperious Alloy or Fiberglass outer core and an absorbent Polystyrene foam inner core plus an absorbent decorative plywood inner liner; these vehicles will deteriorate very quickly once any water gets in through a seam, roof vent, window frame or access door.
The materials used were lightweight and therefore deteriorated rapidly once wet; the structural areas around the window and door frames, as well as the wall and floor perimeters and frame struts, were made of untreated timber.
It only takes a couple of months of high moisture levels in the walls to cause irreversible damage to the structure, and it is expensive to repair
Non-absorbent structures
The newer vehicles are being built with non-absorbent materials, which greatly reduce the impact of moisture ingress into the vehicle interior. The products used now are closed-cell foam insulation sandwiched between fibreglass inner and outer skins; in some cases, the outer skin is powder-coated aluminium.
If water penetrates this type of construction, the inner lining and foam are not affected because it is impervious, but the interior furniture and fabrics could be compromised.
Why does water get into your vehicle?
The water will mostly enter due to poor maintenance. Motorhomes and caravans are always on the move, subject to vibrations from road surfaces. Most manufacturers will give a 5-year water ingress warranty, but only if the vehicle is inspected by an approved motor home or caravan agent. After the five-year period is over, most owners don't bother having any more inspections done, which does not make sense, because that is when the seams, wall-to-roof connections, skylights, and window connections might start working loose, and because the vehicle is no longer under warranty, the repair costs are now for the owner to bear.
How to prevent water penetration
There are a couple of things you should do:
- Always ensure that the annual inspections are maintained religiously and that any issues picked up in the report are fixed as a general maintenance plan; the cost of maintenance is much less than the cost of repairs
- Store the vehicle in a sheltered location, under a canvas cover or shed. The canvas covers will sometimes cause scuffing to the paintwork and acrylic windows; you can avoid that from happening if you mask those areas with bubble wrap or something similar
Images of ingress problems
If you suspect that there are issues in your vehicle, we can assess it for you. A basic initial assessment is free, and if there is ingress, we can find it fairly quickly.
If you have any questions, contact us
