Just back from a weekend in York. While there I decided to have a look at the local caravan dealer to see if we could get sight of one of the new island bed / end bath Lunar. Not possible this dealer doesn't do Lunar.
They did however have examples of most models of the Bailey Alu-tec range several Olympus, Peggy and 3 Unicorns. Looking at them parked in the yard outside the thing that struck me most was the amount of black streaking on both sides and at the front of these vans.
Closer inspection revealed that there is only awning channel on the off side and it is flush so there is nothing to stop water running off the roof and making black streaks down this side of the van. The story at the other side of the van much the same but here there is no integral awning channel.
The main surprise to me was that a fair amount of black streaking was also apparent on the front of these vans. The design of the front panel whilst aerodynamic has no recesses to deflect or halt the progress of the water running off the roof.
If I owned one of these vans I could deploy my cure for black water streaks only on the off side of the van.
Only ways I can see round it is to cover the van when its on the drive or in storage or store it under cover. When at sites just have to pray for good weaher. Elseways up I'd have to spend a lot more time cleaning it!
I presume at some point a later version of Alu-tec construction may address this problem.
not really a problem , park nose high and tilt slightly to the nearside and all rainwater etc runs down the deflector beading threaded through the awning channel or down the back of the van
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Quote: Originally posted by bev+jon on 10/10/2010
not really a problem , park nose high and tilt slightly to the nearside and all rainwater etc runs down the deflector beading threaded through the awning channel or down the back of the van
You could always wash the ROOF also and poilsh it and the rest of the van with autoglymm super resin followed by extra gloss protection
Quote: Originally posted by bev+jon on 10/10/2010
not really a problem , park nose high and tilt slightly to the nearside and all rainwater etc runs down the deflector beading threaded through the awning channel or down the back of the van
Unfortunately my drive doesn't lend itself to this solution since its laterally level for the van and longitudally tilts the opposite way which would necessitate lots of chocking or the worlds longest jockeywheel shaft.
if the caravan is near a city centre or a motorway you will have more sooty deposits on the roof , when i clean my van i allways clean the roof and i never suffer from black streaks , the dealer who was selling the vans only washed the sides and never the roof
I booked ours in for a service wash with the dealer earlier this year which evidently didn't include the roof. Caravan is parked on drive under bedroom window so we knew when we got it back the roof had been missed and complained.
How many of us are stilt walkers? so woudln't otherwise know?
Quote: Originally posted by bev+jon on 10/10/2010
not really a problem , park nose high and tilt slightly to the nearside and all rainwater etc runs down the deflector beading threaded through the awning channel or down the back of the van
You could always wash the ROOF also and poilsh it and the rest of the van with autoglymm super resin followed by extra gloss protection
washed and polished EVERY month ,autoglym caravan/motorhome cleaning solution ,rinsed off,dried then polished with autoglym resin polish .unfortunately,the roof will still get dirty and dirty water will still run down regardless ....unless you`ve got the time to wash it every day like ?
If you get the van done by Paintseal then any black streaks can just be wiped off with some white spirit in seconds. Our van has never been polished and looks as good as new.
I prefer to enjoy my van for the weekend breaks or longer holidays it affords me exploring new places or enjoying favourite ones. The cleaning is a necessary evil which should imho take up as little time as possible.
If you get the van done by Paintseal then any black streaks can just be wiped off with some white spirit in seconds. Our van has never been polished and looks as good as new.
Just washed with plain water and nothing else!
Post last edited on 10/10/2010 20:20:43
im sure i read in the handbook that white spirit shouldnt be used on the bodywork...
i clean mine very regular , i have had 85 nights away since january , going as far south as Spain , i dont see cleaning the van or the 2 cars that hard its a good way of keeping your body in good condition , when the going gets tough the tough get going ,
Quote: Originally posted by joecroft2 on 10/10/2010
i clean mine very regular , i have had 85 nights away since january , going as far south as Spain , i dont see cleaning the van or the 2 cars that hard its a good way of keeping your body in good condition , when the going gets tough the tough get going ,
Just told my OH that - suggesting she might like to clean and polish ours every couple of weeks...
her reply was unprintable
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Quote: Originally posted by dave8858 on 10/10/2010
I prefer to enjoy my van for the weekend breaks or longer holidays it affords me exploring new places or enjoying favourite ones. The cleaning is a necessary evil which should imho take up as little time as possible.
D
Thank god. Was beginning to think I was the only dirty b reading this.
Never can understand people actually enjoying cleaning things. Fascinating.
------------- Fools and charlatans know everything and understand nothing . Anton Chekhov