Repairing A Damp Caravan: Part 4 - Removing more cupboards, a wall and and investigating the floor.

In this part, Jamie accepts the inevitable, and begins stripping down the left-hand wall of the caravan, as, although now dry, shows a history of water ingress. Later on, he investigates the caravan floor and wonders how far the rot has travelled. Finally, an entirely predictable event leaves Jamie surprised, as he wonders how to level off a caravan, that is now seriously off-balance!
Who are we?
We’re Jamie & Stacey McNeill, two, 30-something professionals, who’d had enough of the rat race in summer 2018, when we quit our jobs and sold our house, in order to live full time in a touring caravan in Wales.
Our channel shows our journey living this way, the highs, the lows and everything else in between. We also use our platform to advocate to others, the benefits of living a lower stress, more balanced lifestyle.
We have built our KZbin reputation to date on honesty and integrity - you won’t find us using ‘click bait’ titles or nudity to draw in ‘cheap views’. We’re here for the long-term to show that this way of living can be a lifelong change for you as well as us.
If you’d like to make contact with us, we’d be delighted to chat with you. We read and respond to every video comment, so feel free to raise a question or anything else that’s on your mind.
Best wishes,
Jamie & Stacey

[@pamelaturnbull6164]

Bloody hell, you’re one brave soul, bet it’s great when done. I’m hooked now...👍🏻

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Glad to hear it. New part out in the next few minutes!

[@statup2.0]

Loving the vids and the pies, I'm about to tackle the same job on my caravan

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Best of luck with your repairs. If we can be of help, feel free to get in touch. We don't have all the answers, but if we can help, then we will. J

[@alanshaw3197]

You are a brave man. I am just in the process of my Bailey been repaire but nothing like yours. And it's a long time since i had one of those pies. Enjoy.

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Ha ha! Brave or stupid? Have a celebratory pie! They're awful, but good awful!

[@karljohnson8221]

Your a more patient man than me Jamie, I started to strip a damp caravan years ago didn't even get as far as you when I gave up and scrapped it, but then I had a full time job as well so time was not on my side. Keep going mate I'm watching with interest 👍

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Thanks for your interest. This is why so many get scrapped - repairing them is so time intensive. We're getting closer every day to finishing. Will keep updating the channel.

[@jasonandreoli4135]

Sorry, too late now but the best tool for cutting the cupboard fixings is the oscillating multitool you used in the last vid. Good luck with the rest of the job.

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Hi Jason, Agreed. Will need to locate a metal cutting blade for it. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Jamie 😀

[@russfulford3684]

Only just found your channel your a brave man

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Thanks! It all worked out well in the end and we were pleased that we did the repair. It certainly beat buying another caravan with problems!

[@jamesdecross1035]

Tip: if your battery box is plastic, rather than fibre-glass and resin, you can 'weld' it with a soldering iron.

[@justmark1976]

Good shout, to expand on this idea you can also melt in thin wire mesh it reinforcing is needed and you can use cable ties to melt in extra material if needed.

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Hi both, Fortunately, the damage wasn't bad. I've only cracked a large chip from the outer edge, around the size of Jaffa Cake. I'll bridge it with a piece of spare aluminium or something! Very silly mistake of me, really!

[@twowolves69]

Loving your enthusiasm...

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Thanks!

[@clivehewins]

Concerned, its been 3 days since episode 4 🤤 Hope all is well and caravan hasnt collapsed into messy mess. 🤞🤞🤞

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Part 5 out today, at MIDDAY! It's a mega episode, covering multiple days. Enjoy it!

[@senjagutt250]

The music (on repeat) is driving me mad, wanted to poke out my eardrums..... Other than that, great video

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

You should feel sorry for me - I had to edit that monstrosity! Yes, the music is an issue. I have tried to compensate for that in later videos!

[@moyaking8961]

Ohhhh scary stuff. You are teasing me with them there Fray Bentos pies 😉

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

I'll send some pies over to you ha ha!

[@kayeirvine9972]

I'm thinking my damp repair may be the same lol. Beds out first then Jamie? 😉

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Definitely. Get as much stuff out of the way first so that you can see what you're up against. Good Luck!

[@gerbilwilliams5848]

Hi Jamie, I do like a Fray Bentos but tend to stick with good old fashioned Steak & Kidney I'm afraid

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

I'll take the steak, but the kidney 🤮

[@blackdaisy1973]

I can't get the box at the front out at all, looking like I'll have to fix the sides with it in situ.. Very deflated and frustrated :(

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Yup, some jobs are a bit like that. I fought like hell to get the bulkhead out, but it came in the end. Perseverance. Good luck!

[@Jim77463]

Enjoying it your like me tackle anything

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Yea, and most of the time it works out for me! Hopefully, this will be another success 😂

[@colinrimmer789]

And to think they used to let me teach Kids 🤣😂

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Ha! Ha! It's unreal, isn't it!

[@karvanznlife9227]

Are u sponsered by fray bentos 😂

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Ha! I wish I was!

[@phjones01]

Ha, I said the exact same thing to the missus watching tonight's episode :-D

[@karl9460]

What age is this caravan I wonder?

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

It's a 1997 or 1999 we believe.

[@craignelson-swiftyenzed7578]

Have a little think and come back? How about a cup of tea and a lie down..

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

I had to lie down often during this project... Question my life choices, that sort of thing...

[@Justsum1Else]

Brave, stupid or both? I wouldn’t even bother mate. It’s too far gone.

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Ha ha, well we did go there and it was definitely worthwhile! 😂

[@karvanznlife9227]

Whats ur twitter account i had same problem in roughly same areas but up one wall all the way to the back of van which included removing bathroom and redoing walls i could answer some questions and i have before and after photos i can suggest other areas to check to and materials to use for damp proofing, hope it goes ok its always a bloody can of worms in my experience

[@TheMcNeillsonWheels]

Hello! I don't do Twitter - probably the only social platform that I couldn't ever get into. We've checked the other areas of the caravan thoroughly and the water damage is limited to the front end, only. It appears that, at some point, the caravan has had some front end accident damage, which likely started the water ingress. Thanks for your comment!

[@karvanznlife9227]

@@TheMcNeillsonWheels ur doin a great job it took me a few months i also cut out the bad stuff with multi tool they are an awesome piece of kit, i also bonded the supports after cutting out the crap its a big ask and btw bitchumen paint is awesome to seal the underside of the van and rem check the ply down there i had alot of problems there. Best of luck