Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 13/8/2018

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I must say my 8 month old Elddis is still bone dry.

Its just sad that:
The 5ft surround round the stargazer skylight fell off after the first time we used it.
The microwave cupboard is falling off the wall again.
8 cupboard doors are falling off
The 2 bed frames are falling off
The roof is now starting to collapse at the front.
The seat cushions are sagging
There is a brake problem

and then there are a number of minor problems.

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Quote: Originally posted by richardandjo2010 on 12/8/2018

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Although I agree with most of these posts, the problem is not actually quite as bad as it seems when you take the total number of caravans produced each year, and subtract those with faults I would think its minimal.
Bailey caravans get bad press about workmanship and build quality, some of you here have said its luck you either get a good one or a bad one, well I have had 2 Baileys and I have never had a problem, I have also had quite a few others without issue surely I cant be that lucky.

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Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 14/8/2018

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Quote: Originally posted by richardandjo2010 on 12/8/2018

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.............Although I agree with most of these posts, the problem is not actually quite as bad as it seems when you take the total number of caravans produced each year, and subtract those with faults I would think its minimal..........

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Consider the greater number of mass produced cars. 4 opening doors and tailgate, 4 opening side windows, and sometimes a sliding roof light. How many complaints do you hear of, even when the cars are several years old - against leakage problems with caravans from year one?
Quite honestly, I think the problem is far worse.
Bertie.

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Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 14/8/2018

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Quote: Originally posted by richardandjo2010 on 12/8/2018

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Although I agree with most of these posts, the problem is not actually quite as bad as it seems when you take the total number of caravans produced each year, and subtract those with faults I would think its minimal.
Bailey caravans get bad press about workmanship and build quality, some of you here have said its luck you either get a good one or a bad one, well I have had 2 Baileys and I have never had a problem, I have also had quite a few others without issue surely I cant be that lucky.

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I've now had four new British caravans (including 2 Baileys), and each one has been a disaster with major faults in the first year. If just one in 100 vans are faulty, then the odds me getting 4 faulty ones are 10 times worse that being struck by lightening in the UK, or 7 times worse than winning the lottery.

I think it reasonable to suggest the percentage of significantly faulty vans is far higher than 1%.

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Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 15/8/2018

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High numbers of cars will always 'have problems' of some sort - they are more complex than caravans, and many of the problems can depend on servicing thoroughness and how they are driven.
But on the subject of water ingress, cars very rarely suffer these faults.
By comparison, caravans are of low volume manufacture compared to cars, therefore, if poor workmanship was not an issue, on would expect caravan complaints to be very much in the minority.
Bertie.

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Quote: Originally posted by misterg on 15/8/2018

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Had they done a recall to dealers to reseal it would have saved a lot of vans going back to the factory.

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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 15/8/2018

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It is true that people will shout about anything that has a problem, but often don't say anything when they have a good one.

However, I have been on this forum for a few years now, and I have noticed that many of the complaints are about new or nearly new caravans. Has quality control deteriorated? I got back into caravanning 5 years ago with a £500 Elddis, and changed this for a £1,100 one last year. Spending that amount I half expected problems, but have had few so far that I couldn't easily fix. Maybe the answer, if like me you are not bothered about having a shiny new caravan, is to buy an older one that has been looked after. The theory being that if it was going to leak it would have done so by now. Maybe quality control was better back then?

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Quote: Originally posted by shaggy2000 on 16/8/2018

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A few years down the line they start noticing problems, doors not closing properly, cracks in the walls etc. turns out all of the "wooden" surrounds for the doors and skirting boards were down with MDF. The builder used really cheap materials, and this wasn't a "fly-by night" builder, it was a well known company (like Barrets but not them)

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