There are good older dry vans out there. Buy a cheap damp meter to check potential purchases.
Damp will get in around joints, most older vans are timber constructed frames with aluminium outer panels. The more joints the more potential for leaks, which is why modern vans have typically one piece sides, some plastic framed.
The joints will be sealed with a non setting mastic under things like awning rails and this can dry and crack with time. I resealed our last van which was an old ABI Dalesman 5 berth using new mastic which cimes on a roll with a peel off backing. I unscrewed the awning rails and removed them, cleaned off all old mastic then replaced, sealing with the new stuff. Simple enough to do (Stainless steel screws used during manufacture was a blessing), hardest part was cleaning off the old mastic. Similar process around window seals, skylights, road lights and the manoeuvreing handles.
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