1996 duetto

My Duetto passed its mot but advisory of general surface corrosion under body. What, if anything, should I do about this?
Many thanks

I sprayed the underside of mine (a 99 van also on a Mk.5 Transit) with Waxoyl and it lasted very well, but it's something that typically needs renewing every few years, as it's quite soft. Others here have used the black version of Waxoyl and have reported that is harder wearing.

A bitumen-based underseal also works well provided there is no flaking paint or deep rust scale - but water can get behind if there is. You may also get some suspicion on the part of buyers when you come to sell, as underseal is often used to cover over badly executed body repairs!

Thank you. Next question does anyone know a firm in the south west (Bristol area) who they recommend?

Sue68 wrote:Thank you. Next question does anyone know a firm in the south west (Bristol area) who they recommend?

No......but Google does! 

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Thanks Bulletguy. I had a quick response £480.

Seems pretty expensive to me, but then I've always done it myself - total cost probably less than £40 in materials on the last one I did...

-mojo- wrote:Seems pretty expensive to me, but then I've always done it myself - total cost probably less than £40 in materials on the last one I did...

It certainly make me think whether it's worth it. Would you like to do mine? :-))

Sorry to say that I've still got the front half of the Trooper to do! Unlike Transits, T5s are a pain in that VW fit a whole load of plastic undertrays that are so weak that if you go through a really big puddle they drop off (or more likely, half drop off and drag along under the van), but which have to be removed to wax spray. That's my excuse for only having done half so far...

But on a Transit there is nothing complicated. I can't really see any reason why it should take more than 4 manhours @ £50/h (generous, given the level of skill needed) plus £40 materials, given that they buy it in bulk. So it looks to me to be double what I would consider a reasonable price.

However, as most of us have found out, motorhome owners are, it seems, considered to be wealthy and an easy touch by some...

Thanks I will try elsewhere :-))

-mojo- wrote:Seems pretty expensive to me, but then I've always done it myself - total cost probably less than £40 in materials on the last one I did...

A DIY job like that isn't so bad if you have a garage pit to work from. Not much fun if you don't and end up crawling around underneath on your back!

True - it's worse on a T5 as there is less ground clearance. IIRC I did the Transit just by parking with two wheels up on the kerb (which happens to be fairly tall outside my house) and then it's not so bad...

I've got in touch with our local body shop, they've seen my van before :-)), and they said 'bring it round and we'll have a look'. They also advised that if it was bad all that would happen is that the rust would still be under the sealer. They put it on their ramp and brought the van back to me. Only surface rust and worth doing waxoyl and stone undersealed £250.
Lovely people who have repaired the bodywork well

Sue68 wrote:I've got in touch with our local body shop, they've seen my van before :-)), and they said 'bring it round and we'll have a look'. They also advised that if it was bad all that would happen is that the rust would still be under the sealer. They put it on their ramp and brought the van back to me. Only surface rust and worth doing waxoyl and stone undersealed £250.
Lovely people who have repaired the bodywork well

Work done van returned. I have the choice of paying cash, no receipt or vat or pay by card with receipt and vat. Is it worth paying the extra?

Sue68 wrote:

Sue68 wrote:I've got in touch with our local body shop, they've seen my van before :-)), and they said 'bring it round and we'll have a look'. They also advised that if it was bad all that would happen is that the rust would still be under the sealer. They put it on their ramp and brought the van back to me. Only surface rust and worth doing waxoyl and stone undersealed £250.
Lovely people who have repaired the bodywork well

Work done van returned. I have the choice of paying cash, no receipt or vat or pay by card with receipt and vat. Is it worth paying the extra?

If the company doing the work is VAT registered, then paying VAT is not optional, as far as I'm aware.

Sue68 wrote:Thanks Bulletguy. I had a quick response £480.

Gosh, I have just agreed to have the underside of my Transit based Duetto 1999 done for £40 per hour plus materials - Expected invoice somewhere in the region of £1000. This is being done by people based at Lindfield in West Sussex. They use Dinitrol not Waxoyl. There is no welding to do - I just want to safeguard my investment against future horrors. Am I an idiot? 

I ended up with my local bodyshop doing it for £250. I haven't a clue what sort of job they have done but are excellant for body repairs.