How Much To Empty

This one question we get asked a lot is: “do I really have to empty the van?”

The short answer is “yes”, the short reason is we need to access all corners of your caravan and motorhome so we can do the best damp report we can.

Here is why we ask you to empty your van

Damp is the number one biggest fear of caravan and motorhome owners, if we do nothing else on the day of the service the damp report is the one thing everyone wants to know about. So with that in mind, the only way we can give the customer a full and comprehensive report is if we have full access to everywhere the construction of the van allows. 

The ideal situation for us is the van is empty of everything that wasn’t in it when it was new. The seat cushions, carpets and mattress can stay (although we have had some customers who go to the next level and remove these!) but extra cushions and throws etc should be removed. Clothes, towels, bed linen, sleeping bags, duvets, pillows etc need to be removed. We have had times where the customer has taken these items out from under the bench seats and piled them on top of the bed. While this seems like a good idea, we need to access under the bed as well so it’s not always that helpful.

Most of the newer caravans have no timber in the walls or ceiling so if the top cupboards have a few items left in them then it’s not the end of the world. However nearly all vans have to have the floor checked so it’s most important to remove low level items from cupboards, under bench seats and under beds.

It goes without saying that we need to get into the van, so we ask that items like awnings, awning carpets, poles, BBQ’s, waster water carriers, fire pits, dog beds, dog cages, wind breaks, tables and chairs or anything that is generally stored inside the caravan needs to be removed. There is no need to empty cutlery drawers, but pots and pans should be removed please. Also check that nothing flammable has been left in the oven or under the grill, there have been times when I have lit the gas and not seen a plastic item or a cloth that has been somehow push to the back.

It might sound like we are being too fussy about this, but we are being paid to do a professional job and we can’t do that properly if we can’t get to take readings from the caravan because of kit and belongings that are in the way.

Most customers are very good and remove their kit, and we are very grateful for all the help that allows us to do the job we are being paid to do.

Here are some examples of customers going above and beyond when emptying their vans