I recently baught a Sprite Splash 1999 model caravan, I took it to my father for some mainntenance, replaced a couple of stuff, Sataerday on my out , after hooking the caravaan, I noticed on the top of my caravan roof, it looks like it sagged in the middel at the back, water buildup, laying on the roof. is it normal? and if not, how to I fix it?

Hi Rudolf.  If possible you will need to post a photo or two.  This will help to give correct advice.

Leon wrote:

Hi Rudolf.  If possible you will need to post a photo or two.  This will help to give correct advice.

Thanx Leon

Shoe this clearly should not look like that.  It is as if the whole roof colapsed in the middel.

How does it look on the inside?

Leon wrote:

Shoe this clearly should not look like that.  It is as if the whole roof colapsed in the middel.

How does it look on the inside?

On the inside it looks normal. I actualy used a straight edge to check the inside and found it had no issues. Is there a way to fixit? Or do i need to get a new roof? Or do i leave it like it is? Is it perhaps due to age? 

Well it is clear that it had been like that for some time.  Question is does it leak water?  If yes, then is just time and the wood will rot inside.  If no, you can leave it as is untill you have funds to fix it.

Yes I would say that this is a new roof.  It will be easier to just replace with new one than try to fix it.

In the mean time camp as if each camp is the last one.  I would just pull a small silver sail over the caravan roof everytime until you can fix it.  Other campers will think you doing it to keep the van cool inside.

Try Benoni caravans.  They sometimes sell second hand parts of caravans.

Leon wrote:

Well it is clear that it had been like that for some time.  Question is does it leak water?  If yes, then is just time and the wood will rot inside.  If no, you can leave it as is untill you have funds to fix it.

Yes I would say that this is a new roof.  It will be easier to just replace with new one than try to fix it.

At this stage it doesnt leak water. It is dry.. 

Where can I get a new roof. I know Quatum baught over sprite? 

You can try them to see if they will make it.  Then any fibre glass company should be able to fix the one you have.  Boat places, Canopy places even try The Caravan Man in Centurion.

Last thing I can think of........... remove the handles on the inside of the caravan roof.  The ones you use to push the roof up. If the caravan stand in the sun you should be able to see what is going on inside the roof cavity.  Baybe it is just dented in.  Use a pole of some sort and try and push it back up.

Its just an idea.

Leon wrote:

You can try them to see if they will make it.  Then any fibre glass company should be able to fix the one you have.  Boat places, Canopy places even try The Caravan Man in Centurion.

Last thing I can think of........... remove the handles on the inside of the caravan roof.  The ones you use to push the roof up. If the caravan stand in the sun you should be able to see what is going on inside the roof cavity.  Baybe it is just dented in.  Use a pole of some sort and try and push it back up.

Its just an idea.

THank you Leon, Im defenetly going to do that, luckly I have 2x silver blankets for the caravan. i will defenetly used them, my 1st caravan camp in march the 19th @devoetpadkloof. I realy can't wait. 

I will remove the handles, I  have a enodoscope, that i use for my rifles, that I can use to see inside the caravan roof. I will post my findings...

THank you again for your advice, may God bless you. 

Ek lees nou en sien daai dak.

Ek sal wou nog altyd graag my dak oordentlik was en moontlik n politoer wou gee maar weet nie hoe om bo op die dak te werk nie. Ek weeg omtrent 90Kg en is te bang om op die dak te klim en dan alles mooi te ondersoek, seel en dan was en politoer. Het een van julle ouens al op hierdie "pop-up" dakke geklim om werk te doen, of is daai veselglas en ondersteuning onder die veselglas te swak om mens te hou? (Dit is nou natuurlik met die dak afgeslaan 😁)

Driesvan wrote:

Ek lees nou en sien daai dak.

Ek sal wou nog altyd graag my dak oordentlik was en moontlik n politoer wou gee maar weet nie hoe om bo op die dak te werk nie. Ek weeg omtrent 90Kg en is te bang om op die dak te klim en dan alles mooi te ondersoek, seel en dan was en politoer. Het een van julle ouens al op hierdie "pop-up" dakke geklim om werk te doen, of is daai veselglas en ondersteuning onder die veselglas te swak om mens te hou? (Dit is nou natuurlik met die dak afgeslaan 😁)

Ja ek sit met die selfe idee, ek het gedink on vir my skafolds langs die karavaan op te slaan en dan so skoon te maak en the politoer. 

Skafolding is n good plan, behalwe dat ek dink nie jy sal in die middel van die dak kan bykom nie. Ek wil nie n leer teen die karavaan sit nie. Die ander Die probleem nogsteeds is om tot in die middel van die dak te kom. Ek het al gedink om die karavaan by n afdak te parkeer en van die afdak af te was en te polish. Maar om op die dat fiesies te kan wees dink ek is eerste prys, ek wil net nie die proef konyn wees nie.

Driesvan wrote:

Skafolding is n good plan, behalwe dat ek dink nie jy sal in die middel van die dak kan bykom nie. Ek wil nie n leer teen die karavaan sit nie. Die ander Die probleem nogsteeds is om tot in die middel van die dak te kom. Ek het al gedink om die karavaan by n afdak te parkeer en van die afdak af te was en te polish. Maar om op die dat fiesies te kan wees dink ek is eerste prys, ek wil net nie die proef konyn wees nie.

EK het n garage muur omternt so 400mm  van my karavaan af, ek het gedinnk om die skafold plank van die skafold af na die dak toe te sit en dan op die skafold plank dan te beweeg. EK gaan dit oor 2 naweke probeer, ek sal fotos neem en dan se of dit gewerk het of nie....

Daai klink na n blink plan ! fotos sal gaaf wees dankie Rudolf

As jou wa onder 'n afdak staan en die gaping tussen die karavaan en afdak nie te veel, kan jy die wa onder die afdak uittrek en skoonspuit. Dan om te was kan jy dit so stuk vir stuk terugstoot en vanaf die dak was. Dan weer die selfde prosedure met die poleer. Die afspuit, was en politoer word dan vanaf die afdak gedoen.

Ek het my dak ook met mop al gewas, vanaf leer aan die kant. Moet net 'n hoe leer gebruik.

Ek het maar oor die jare altyd my wa met 'n spagetti mop gewas.  Toe kry ek die TEVO borsel wat jy ook aan die tuinslang kan koppel met lengte verstelbare handvatsel.  Dit werk tot van dag toe nog goed vir my om die wa se dak te was.

Ek polish nie die dak nie net omrede dit nie moontlik is om oral by te kom nie.  Ek polish wel die voorkant ronding en agterkant rondings van die dak.  Dit help om die torsop vinniger af te kry tydens die was proses.

Die Pentas wat ek gehad het se opwip dakke was soliede dakke met geen lasse nie. So dit was nooit nodig om dit te seel nie en die rante al om die kant was laer as die hout aan die binne kant.