Hi all, I wondered if anyone else has had trouble with the acrylic material on last year's Countryman? I remember a thread regarding a Quartz 6 sometime last year and I know that one member returned the material to Isabella via Pennine but I'm not sure what the outcome was? I was away in Derbyshire last week and we did have a lot of rain. However I was horrified to find that the canvas was leaking, and I mean pouring through rather than dripping, in four places and the beds were soaked. I was up all night mopping up trying to minimise the damage. I rang the dealer the following morning and he said that the cotton needed to swell to fill the holes. Not sure if that's true? My partner said that they were extreme circumstances and probably won't happen again. The dealer has offered to buy it back from me at a loss of £3,500 on the price I paid last August. He said he would assist if I complained to Pennine however. I really don't know what to do - give it another chance, accept the dealer's offer or go through the hassle and stress of complaining to Pennine. Anyone else had the same experience? I would be interested in impartial advice as I feel I hate it at the moment and just want rid!
yes it was another acrylic that had the same problem last year ,contact pennine asap and see what they say ,your dealers offer is not only disgusting its probably against trading standards laws . saying that it might well help to get them involved as the goods are not suitable for there intended purpose
I really do believe your dealer should be doing more to help you with this. As the provider of the goods, they are under an obligation to ensure that it is fit for purpose - which clearly in this case it is not. I would suggest you contact trading standards for some more advice if you have no joy - they are very helpful and will explain would you need to do. Hope you get this sorted.
I also don't believe that acrylic swells - it is not canvas and does not work in the same way!
Just got back from a 3 weeks trip to France and Spain. we experience water ingress through the corners of the Cabin awning where the white strengthening pieces have been sown in. We had followed the manufacturers blurb and weathered in the cabin awning but it still leaked and the water has now caused the kitchen worktop to expand. I have just e-mailed the company that I purchase it through and am awaiting their reply. I am extremely happy with the rest of the unit and it would be a shame if it is let down by this matter as the new cabin and awning material is supposed to be a step up. Don't expect it to leak for the amount of money it costs. Will let you know how things pan out.
Simon
The water leaked through the four top corner points of the cabin framework and the two top points of the kitchen frame that swings up from the kitchen unit. As I said, the water seems to ingress through the stitching of the white strengthening pieces and then run down the poles and collected at the bottom. Very difficult to stop the water running down the poles despite paper towel everywhere around the poles and at the bottom. Hope i have described it well enough. As i said, no problem in the good weather, but afraid to leave it if theres a chance of rain, which is pretty certain to happen at the moment!
Simon
Hi Shipwright,
as an old tent camper with proper canvas..... would seam sealer solve the problem? should not be needed on a new unit as this should already have been done I would have thought......thoughts about a solution as it appears to be...water seems to ingress through the stitching .....
I am not up to speed on the 'new' fabrics being used so this may not be an option/work.
regards
don
Don,
Thanks for the input. As the unit is only 4 months old I want to sort this problem out under warranty. I see from earlier posts that most people have no problem with the main cabin awning so I hope that I can get the kitchen worktop replaced and also get a replacement cabin awning that won't leak. As I said, these new units are not cheap and i would expect them to be able to cope with wet weather, otherwise might as well be back in my faithful tent.
Thanks again,
Simon
I asked Highbridge about these potential problem with the new fabric, when we were just looking!
The FC salesman said that the fabric should be returned, but often seam sealer would fix it as it has happened at the reinforced points & the large needle size meant that the fabric wont swell enough.
Sally, thanks for that info. I am just waiting for my supplier to get back to me but no doubt I will be going to Pennine to resolve this problem. Such a shame as the rest of the unit is great.
Simon
We had leaks in all four corners, (You could see daylight through the Isabella stitching, sounds like the same 4 corners on yours, (inner corners, not outer corners.)
Our new unit has a three year gaurantee.
We emailed our Dealer Casey's of Chester and they forwarded on our email to Pennine asking them to send on some of Pennine's Repair Seal for our leaky Cabin.
Pennine promptly sent it through.
Have used it and hopefully it has solved our problems.
Hi.I met a chap on a site last weekend. He had a caravan with a Isabella awning just about the same colour as ours and he said thet he had had problems with his awning leaking on the roof so this problem is not just unique to our folding campers.Cheers.Alex
Hi All, I've just noticed your continuation to my thread Shipwright - sorry to be so long in replying to you! To give you an update on my leaking Countryman:-
It leaked in the two corners where the kitchen area swings out and also where the two uprights are on either side of the door. It was running down the poles and getting under the mattresses and had soaked the beds before I discovered what was happening. I must have used a roll of kitchen paper continually mopping up throughout the night. I contacted the dealer who explained that it needed to be "weathered" i.e. the cotton needs to get wet a few times to fill the needle holes. He did offer to take it in to spray some sealer on it which might assist in this process. I then sought the opinion of Pennine who said exactly the same thing and offered to send me a can of spray (which I still haven't received). They were unable to advise me how many times I would have endure this leakage before the holes were finally sealed. I enquired of Trading Standards whether I could ask for a refund but they told me I had to give the dealer the chance to put it right. Unfortunately, I had "fallen out of love" with the Countryman by this time and decided to sell it back to the dealer. (at the loss of over £3,000) and have now bought a caravan
I wish you luck in getting your problem sorted so you can continue to enjoy your Countryman.
If it was a brand new FC when you bought it last year at say £13k then you would loose the VAT overnight.
If that was the case then you could say goodbye to roughly £2.5k for the VAT, which would mean the dealer gave you roughly £1k less than the original price before the VAT was added.