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Subject Topic: swift roof leak Post Reply Post New Topic
Personteddydoc
10/6/2019 at 1:15pm
 Location: middlesbrough
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 520 View teddydoc's Profile View Profile   Reply to teddydoc Reply   Quote teddydoc Quote  
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Hi I found when washing my 2012 swift challenger sport a 5" crack on the top roof corner checking the oposite side a hairline split was found these I have sealed.I hope I have found the issues before too much damage has been done. The only sign of the leak is orange marks on the ceiling and a damp reading of 20-25 Question will a dehumifier help.    


Persontowedyears
10/6/2019 at 4:02pm
 Location: Cannock Chase Staffordshire
 Outfit: Lunar ultima 564+Volvo XC60D5 AWD View towedyears's Profile View Profile   Reply to towedyears Reply   Quote towedyears Quote  
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Hi Teddydoc I am a joiner by trade and have worked repairing caravans and also in the construction industry. I would be very concerned with the cracks in the plastic panel any split no matter how fine will allow water to penetrate and unchecked will ruin the timber frame and internal panels. Sealant may well solve the problem. The panel has clearly failed due to stresses caused by movement and expansion & contraction due to temperature changes. The plastic has poor tensile strength. I have successfully repaired plastic using glass fibre and resin this both mends the crack and reinforces to prevent re-occurrence. The repair would be out of sight on the roof. Dehumidifiers would have little effect has they simply remove moister from the air. The ceiling panels usually have a vinyl finish this would prevent passage of moisture . The most important task is to stop water ingress. Hope this helps.


Personteddydoc
10/6/2019 at 4:43pm
 Location: middlesbrough
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 520 View teddydoc's Profile View Profile   Reply to teddydoc Reply   Quote teddydoc Quote  
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Many thanks for your help I bought a tube of sealent from the dealer and have sealed the cracks,I have also booked in to a local dealer to see what the damage will cost, pity it is a year out of warrenty plus now I have ordered a dehumifier its not been my day.
Thanks again   Ted


PersonG7ACU
12/6/2019 at 8:42pm
 Location: West Mids
 Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0 View G7ACU's Profile View Profile   Reply to G7ACU Reply   Quote G7ACU Quote  
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Hi Ted.
It will be interesting to hear what your repairer quotes for this. Are these cracks on the top edge of the back panel? I know on some Swift and Elddis vans, there has been an issue with fine cracks; the manufacturers produced a 'cap' designed to be bonded over the top corner to effect repair, a job I have recently had to do myself.
As for the damp reading, this is obviously subjective and might vary between different equipment but I would think you've been lucky to find this; I believe the general consensus is a reading below 20 is acceptable, so yours could be caught at a reasonable stage.

Keep us posted.

-------------
Paul

Every day's a school day!


Personteddydoc
12/6/2019 at 11:43pm
 Location: middlesbrough
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 520 View teddydoc's Profile View Profile   Reply to teddydoc Reply   Quote teddydoc Quote  
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Hi Paul I have booked in with dealer for damp report in the morning ...will let you know how it goes. Cheers.   Ted


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Personteddydoc
14/6/2019 at 7:34am
 Location: middlesbrough
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 520 View teddydoc's Profile View Profile   Reply to teddydoc Reply   Quote teddydoc Quote  
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Hi Paul Worst news possible
damp report shows 30 readings with a 40 in the corner.
est. £3000 to £4000 for repair





Personbirdman101
via mobile 14/6/2019 at 9:20am
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: 2023Archway Woodford View birdman101's Profile View Profile   Reply to birdman101 Reply   Quote birdman101 Quote  
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If this price is including a new back panel you can reduce this price by about £2500 by having caps fitted on corners. If you had owned the caravan from new and regular annual service at Swift dealer it would of already had them fitted as a precaution. Our 2013 van did at 2nd service. Caravans that already had cracks appearing also had them fitted.
JUst looked up my warranty conditions. If you are the first owner registered from new and have proof of annual servicing by dealer or approved workshop engineer which have been registered with Swift you should be covered under the warranty for water ingress until the caravan is 10 years old.

Post last edited on 14/06/2019 10:16:00


Persontowedyears
14/6/2019 at 11:40am
 Location: Cannock Chase Staffordshire
 Outfit: Lunar ultima 564+Volvo XC60D5 AWD View towedyears's Profile View Profile   Reply to towedyears Reply   Quote towedyears Quote  
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Hi Teddidoc. Beware damp meters and surveys. Yes there was a leak but is it still leaking? From what you say the leak was recent so it is unlikely to have rotted the timber battens. The internal panels do show damp but not bad. It would appear there is a common fault with swift hence the corner caps. I cannot see any point replacing the rear panel as this could also crack. My advice would be if no warranty available shop around for a repairer. Fixing the leak and fitting corner caps then replacing internal panels should do the trick. A damp meter only tests for electrical resistance it does not have xray vision what has it told you nothing that you didn't already know you've had a leak and Yes it would read higher in the corner that's were the leak is. My advice stop the leak/ monitor the panel stain/allow time to dry out/then shop around for a good repairer.


Personteddydoc
15/6/2019 at 6:40am
 Location: middlesbrough
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Thank you for your advice I have ordered the caps and as the panel is not showing or feeling damp apart from slight staining I will wait and see. Regarding fitting a new panel I have emailed swift asking if replacement panels have the caps fitted. If only they had contacted owners directly to inform them about the fault it could have saved them from a lot of worry and expense. I will let you know what their response is.   Many thanks. Ted

Post last edited on 15/06/2019 08:10:49


Personbirdman101
via mobile 15/6/2019 at 8:39am
 Location: Milton Keynes
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Main dealers fitted them when caravans went for service. This is why it always pays when buying new caravans and cars to have them serviced during warranty periods by main dealers.


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Personteddydoc
15/6/2019 at 9:25am
 Location: middlesbrough
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Many thanks for your helpful and well thought out advice. Happy camping birdmen


Personbirdman101
via mobile 15/6/2019 at 11:30am
 Location: Milton Keynes
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The latest panels are now GRP and no longer ABS, but if you go on Swift Talk forum there have been one or two of these that have been reported cracked. Also Coachman have the problem, but far the worse appears to be Elddis


Personteddydoc
15/6/2019 at 3:21pm
 Location: middlesbrough
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Thanks members for your help The van was 8 month old when bought and due to illness we have not used the van for over 18 months and I missed last years service. so my fault no warrenty. Now the leak is sealed and the inside ceiling apart from the pink stains does not feel damp.I think I will see how it goes,use the van, not worry and enjoy life
Cheers    ted
Your only old once.


Personbirdman101
via mobile 15/6/2019 at 5:08pm
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That's good let's hope you have caught it in time. Fingers crossed.


Personjuliejch
via mobile 28/12/2019 at 9:41pm
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If the caravans were sold like this basically unfit for purpose I would've thought legally it doesn't matter whether there was a warranty or not the back panel should be repaired or replaced by Swift free of charge



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