How waterproof is your caravan

There is already a thread running regarding Caravan Covers with various opinions. We always use a cover and there will be as many that dont. Take your pick !.

We have a 3 yr old Swift which had the running water under the front windows. This was caused by the seal under the window hinge failing. The water was running down the inside of the front panel and into the front locker and across the front bulkhead and onto the cushions. The seal was replaced under the hinge ( mainly mastic/sikaflex ) and new front panelling and cushions, fortunately under warranty.

I suggest you look carefully where the water is actually getting in, as it may not be where first thought.

Good luck though.

If you are heating the caravan are you sure the damp is not condensation?

I'm a 'never heat or dehumidify' person although some are of the opposite viewpoint!

I've only had the heater on for a couple of weeks to dry it out so I don't think it's condensation, although a friend suggested keeping the side windows on the first catch just to let the air circulate. I do like the idea of leaving a couple of silica-gel bags in there though - worth a try

I store my caravan on my driveway at the side of my house. I don't use any form of cover. A crystals type dehumidifier is kept in the end bathroom/ changing area and a small table top sized 240 volt dehumidifier (available through Amazon for appx. £25) in the main living area. Combined, these two units keep the caravan dry and smelling fresh. On any sunny days I leave the half stable door open and the two roof lights open ...In winter I leave every cupboard ,overhead locker, bed base locker and drawers , open. ..Touch wood, my annual service check passes it's damp test on the caravan, now 4 years old.

It would be wise to check thoroughly for a leak. No amount of heating or de-humidifiers will help if water is coming in through through a failed seal. I discovered a similar problem, damp beneath the front windows, in a recently purchased used caravan. Although I re-sealed the roof to front panel joint and replaced the window surround rubbers I believe the water had actually been coming in through the fixing screws for the hinge above the middle window. This was very easy to remove and re-seal with Sikaflex. It took a couple of weeks to completely dry out once sealed but now it is bone dry.

If your van started off dry inside, but you find water all over the walls coupled with damp meter readings "off the scale" you clearly have a leak somewhere I'm afraid.  Front window seals themselves are pretty easy to replace, there are lots of youtube videos and projects detailed with pics online.  I'm afraid it's usually the fact that the wooden frames have begun to rot that cause a lot of work and often the leak comes fromelsewhwere, eg the window 'hanging' rail or the shell around it (some Bailey models) or the area below them (some Swifts as said by Bluemalaga).  

There's a great 'step by step' post on the Caravan forum of CT from someone who did a really nice job on a series 5 bailey pageant, he replaced the wooden frame and interior boarding, then the window seals and repaired the source of the leaks.