Apologies Bar_20 for not replying sooner. We have just driven the Blue Ridge Parkway for 4 days and now 2 days in Great Smoky NP. Fantastic views and great hiking but no internet access. Sometimes 2 out of 3 certainly ain’t bad!
We think Petite purchased the van from a contact in Connecticut who bought it at auction. But who would know? They mostly sell Class B’s and small cars. They panel beat and paint on site – we saw that being done to other vehicles.
There was some water in the tank prior to purchase. We did test the pump and the water came through OK. The leak does only occur when the water level reaches a certain level and we went back when we discovered this. I don’t know if they knew already but they looked underneath and said it was the overfill/pressure valve. They said we had filled it at too high a pressure and the implication was next time it would be fine. We have since learnt that there is no pressure valve working in the way it was explained to us. We reckon we get about 2/3 of a tank before it starts leaking.
Fast Paddler – you are so right in saying ‘Buying anything used, including a house is potentially fraught with a problem’. This is our ‘house’ as we are currently travelling in the US and Canada for a year, exploring and enjoying your vast lands.
Yes, in hindsight (a wonderful thing) we made quite a few mistakes in checking out the vehicle. Hopefully our tale will be a warning to others. Meanwhile we are not going to let this impact on enjoying our travels.
