Broken base, rotten floor: what happens when a caravan fails on arrival
Most problems on collection day come down to one thing: what happens when a caravan fails on arrival, not what was typed into an enquiry form the week before. A caravan can look sound in every photo you send us and still turn out to be a different job entirely once our crew has a hand on it. A base separating from the chassis, a floor giving way underfoot, walls no longer bonded to the frame. None of that shows up on a phone screen from the driveway.
What "failing on arrival" actually means
Failing on arrival means the caravan can't be towed away in one piece, safely, on the day our crew turns up. In practice that's one or more of four things: the base separating from the chassis rails, the floor giving way when weight is put on it, the wall panels no longer bonded to the frame, or wheels that are seized solid or missing altogether.
None of these are cosmetic. A scratched panel or a mouldy curtain doesn't change your price, because we've already seen it in your photos. A base or a floor that's genuinely failed changes what job this is, from a straightforward towable collection to a caravan not towable job broken up where it stands.
Why none of it shows up from outside
A rotten floor can sit under carpet and lino for years before anyone presses hard enough to feel the give. A chassis rail can rust through underneath while the bodywork above stays dry and presentable. Good photos catch most of this: a soft patch by the step, staining around a window, a wheel that looks flat rather than just low. But a genuinely hidden fault can still only be found by hand, on the day. That's why we always agree what happens if the caravan turns out different from the photos, before our crew sets off.
The call our crew makes on your drive
If a caravan fails on arrival, our crew has three options, and they decide on the spot based on what's actually in front of them.
Breaking it on site
Most non-towable jobs are broken up where the caravan stands. It's quicker, it's usually cheaper for you, and it avoids trying to move something that's already failing. You'll need to arrange your own skip, a 6 to 8 yard one is normally enough, because that's not included in the price.
Loading it onto a tow bed
When access or condition means breaking on site isn't practical, a caravan wedged against a fence, say, or one on hardstanding our equipment can't reach, we load it onto a tow bed instead and take it away to be broken elsewhere. It costs more, because it takes more time and more kit.
Walking away
Rare, but it happens when neither of the above is safe: no room for a tow bed, a caravan too far gone to lift without risk, or a site we simply can't get equipment onto. We'll always tell you honestly rather than force a job that isn't safe.
What that decision does to the price
A caravan fails on arrival job is priced differently from a straightforward towable collection, because it's a different amount of work.
| Caravan type | Condition | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Touring caravan | Towable, sound enough for the road | £350–£450 |
| Touring caravan | Not towable, broken on site or on a tow bed | £500–£850 |
| Static caravan | Broken up on site, waste taken away | £1,800–£3,980 |
Static prices drop by a few hundred pounds when we're able to burn the wood on site. All of this is confirmed at quote stage once we've seen your photos, not guessed at on the day.
Static caravans fail in much the same way as tourers, just with more of it. A static that's been standing for years is more likely to have a rotten floor, damp-swollen walls or a base that's parted from its bearers, so the same on-the-spot decision applies, just at a bigger scale.
How a few honest photos stop this happening
Before anything is confirmed, send us clear photos: close up of the step and floor near any doors, the underside where you can see it, each wheel, and any wall panel that looks bowed or stained. It sounds like a lot for a caravan you're getting rid of, but it's the single biggest thing that stops a quote changing on the day. We've written more about why being upfront when you ask for a quote matters, and it applies just as much here as anywhere else.
What happens to your booking if the job changes shape
We're always busy, so book within 24 hours of getting your quote or you could be looking at several weeks before another slot opens up. If your caravan turns out to be a caravan not towable job rather than what was quoted, we won't cancel the visit outright. We work out a new price there and then, based on what our crew finds, and you decide whether to go ahead. Read more about why we ask for a deposit before we come out if you want the full detail on how that works.
Quick answers
Can you still collect a caravan that isn't roadworthy?
Yes. Not being roadworthy is exactly the situation this article covers: we break it on site or take it away on a tow bed. It changes the price, not whether we'll take it.
Will I be charged more if it turns out worse than described?
Only if the fault is structural: a base, floor, wall bond or wheels that mean it can't be towed. Anything cosmetic that was already in your photos doesn't change the price.
Does this happen to static caravans too?
Yes, and often more so, since a static that's stood empty for years has had longer to fail in the same ways. The same on-site decision applies.
Will you ever turn a job down completely?
Rarely, but yes, if there's no safe way at all to reach or lift the caravan. We'll tell you straight rather than force it.
A caravan fails on arrival more often than most people expect, but it doesn't have to mean a wasted visit or a fight over the price. Send clear photos, book while your slot's still available, and our crew will tell you honestly what they find. from Scrap My Caravan's caravan scrapping service, or read more about what we do once a caravan's been collected.