Answer first: inspect a campervan when it is dry enough to see and smell clearly, but do not rely on a quick look. Work around every roof opening, window, door, service point and floor edge; record symptoms before cleaning them; and commission a model-appropriate damp or water-ingress survey when you find staining, softness, persistent odour, damaged seals or unexplained moisture readings.
Start without tools
Open the vehicle before air fresheners, heating or open windows can mask the interior. A musty smell is a clue, not a diagnosis. Look for staining, rippled wall covering, lifted flooring, swollen timber, mould, rusted fixings and sealant that has cracked or pulled away. Press finishes gently with fingertips only. Do not puncture panels, prise trim or probe a sellerâs vehicle without written permission.
Ask when the camper was last used, washed or exposed to heavy rain. Note whether the reading or symptom could be condensation, a plumbing leak or external water ingress. These causes demand different repairs, and a damp patch does not identify its source.
Inspect in repeatable zones
| Zone | Look and feel for | Follow-up question |
|---|---|---|
| Roof lights, vents and aerials | Cracked sealant, staining below, soft ceiling edges | When was the opening fitted or resealed? |
| Windows and doors | Water tracks, swollen surrounds, failed catches or seals | Has the frame ever been removed? |
| Cab-to-body and panel joints | Discolouration, delamination, uneven sealant | Is there a repair invoice or damp report? |
| Kitchen, washroom and heater | Wet pipe joints, pump cycling, damaged shower seal | Was the water system pressure-tested? |
| Floor perimeter and lockers | Softness, dark fixings, damp stored items | Were readings taken beneath furniture? |
| Pop-top and high-top | Canvas staining, gutter corrosion, wet roof lining | Was the roof raised during the last survey? |
Use a torch and inspect both sides of an area where accessible. Exterior sealant can look tidy while moisture is trapped inside. Conversely, surface condensation around cold metal does not prove structural water ingress.
Treat a moisture meter as evidence, not a verdict
Meter type, construction material, temperature, surface condensation and calibration affect readings. A pin meter can also damage a finish. The manufacturerâs construction and service instructions should control the test method. Baileyâs model-specific service handbook, for example, requires a calibrated meter and identifies precise test locations and thresholds for that construction; those figures should not be copied blindly to a different camper.
If you take non-invasive comparison readings, record the instrument, mode, date, weather, location and repeated result. Map readings on a simple floor plan. An isolated number is much less useful than a pattern that a competent technician can reproduce.
Use a stoplight decision guide
| Finding | Next action |
|---|---|
| No visible symptom; complete, recent model-appropriate survey | Check scope, tester and excluded areas. Keep the report with the vehicle record. |
| Damaged sealant or a small local stain | Protect the area from further water and obtain a cause-and-extent assessment before cosmetic work. |
| Soft floor or wall, spreading stain, delamination or repeated high readings | Pause purchase or use decisions. Seek a specialist body and moisture survey with repair scope. |
| Mould, live electrical equipment near water, or suspected gas-appliance damage | Do not energise or operate affected systems. Use appropriately qualified specialists. |
A recent habitation service can be valuable, but read its actual checklist. Swiftâs service schedule separates damp and lamination, body security, water, gas, 12V and 230V checks. One completed item does not prove every system or concealed area is sound.
Make the check useful six months later
Save dated photographs in the same order as your inspection zones. Add the weather, whether the vehicle had recently been heated, every reading location, the seller or owner explanation, and the next action. Keep service reports and repair invoices as originals. If remedial work follows, record the leak source, drying evidence, material replaced and the post-repair testânot merely âdamp fixedâ.
For a purchase, combine this page with the pre-purchase document checklist and the classic campervan rust inspection. Damp and corrosion often share water pathways, but they remain separate inspection questions.
Checked 24 August 2026 against the Swift owner-handbook archive, its published service checklist, and Baileyâs model-specific moisture-survey guidance. Always follow the handbook for the exact make, construction and appliances. This is an observation and record guide, not a damp survey, roadworthiness assessment or repair instruction.