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Hi - i've just come across this web site. My 2005 Bailey Discovery has developed a crack where the front panel joins the roof. I have taken it to 2 dealers this week to be told the same story - common problem with Bailiey Caravans due to poor workmanship when built. I do not have a warrenty, but have owned the van from new (I have undertook my own servicing). Spoke with Bailey yesterday - they were not interested.

I am obviously pretty miffed at paying £8k for something which is built so badly and wondering what to do next. Will keep informed of further developments.

Quote: Originally posted by jon+annie on 26/9/2008

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Hi - i've just come across this web site. My 2005 Bailey Discovery has developed a crack where the front panel joins the roof. I have taken it to 2 dealers this week to be told the same story - common problem with Bailiey Caravans due to poor workmanship when built. I do not have a warrenty, but have owned the van from new (I have undertook my own servicing). Spoke with Bailey yesterday - they were not interested.

I am obviously pretty miffed at paying £8k for something which is built so badly and wondering what to do next. Will keep informed of further developments.

Is your van over 3 years of age ? if not it may still be under warranty

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Hi - yes fully apprieciate the warrenty point, but important to realise that the Sale of Goods Act overides the warrenty. As stated previously part of this act should cover against the sale of defective items. Having done some digging i have found this problem to be common on certain Baileys - something to do with not pre drilling holes before fixing the sealing strips. Most have been covered by Warrenty repairs so only the unlucky (skint) folks like me get caught out. Out of interest - one of the dealers was a Bailey dealer.....

Will keep you posted.

Quote: Originally posted by Fat Bum on 26/9/2008

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Jon & annie
One of the conditions of the warrenty is that you have your van serviced by an approved dealer or service engineer, as you have done your own servicing you have effectively invalidated any warrenty you might have had anyway. I am therefore not surprised that Bailey were not interested.

Had this crack been picked up earlier by an approved dealer it would almost certainly have been fixed under warrenty.

Also were the dealers you took your caravan to this week Bailey dealers or rival dealers? I can't imagine a Bailey dealer saying that they had poor workmanship, but a rival dealer might say that just to try to get you to buy one of their vans.

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 I tend to agree with Fat bum because you did not spend the £175 quid or so each year and get it serviced they are unlikely to fix the problem under the warranty terms. The terms do state that you as the purchaser are entering into an agreement with the dealer whereby for him (the dealer) to honour the warranty you will service the van annually at an accredited workshop or similar

Sorry to be so blunt but i doubt if they will pay for the repair

EVERYBODY knows that if you don't have a new caravan or car serviced at an approved dealer then the warranty is automatically invalidated. It's not in the small print, it's usually writ loud and clear. We may not like being dictated to in this way but, like paying tax, there's no way out.

Having said that, the apparent poor quality issue here is worrying to us Bailey owners. I am about to write to Bailey to get their re-assurance that a different design fault will still be covered by them when my warranty runs out this November. This relates to the loose single bolt that connects the floor to the axle cross-member that could not be tightened into the floor. Not an unknown fault to my dealer and they effected a repair (using a bonding substance) as guided by Bailey. I see no reason why the manufacturer should not continue to be liable for a serious design fault such as this.

I don't hold out much hope judging by what's been said here. In fact the handbook states it never enters into correspondence with owners, it should always be through a dealer. But what is a dealer supposed to do when the warranty is out?

 i have a 2006 470 /4 which i service myself  its a gamble i know  but having seen some vans that were "dealer seviced" i think its worth it . one of the problems with the panels cracking was due to the position of the screw holes being too close to the edge  i check both panels every time i come back from a trip away, so far no problems . baileys could be more helpful though  but like most manufacturers they will get out of doing anything if they can.

Phil76

Your a brave man by not having it dealer serviced it dont think i would want to take the risk in case i had a big warranty claim and had it refused

Our bailey van is due a service next month and this thread has made up my mind about having it serviced by an approved bailey dealer.

So sorry to hear of your dilemma jon+annie I thought this problem could be covered by the sale of goods act too?

 i agree it sounds a bit daft to risk the warranty but i enjoy servicing the van i put the money i would have spent on the service in an account  at the moment i am well in pocket . we wont change this van for at least another 5 years so by then we will have had our moneys worth ,i have just covered it up for the winter its a sad day, but work commitments mean we wont get away again untill easter . we are planning to tour the west coast of "gods country" for 3 weeks next july/august so that keeps us goin through the long nights.

Quote: Originally posted by phil76 on 27/9/2008

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we are planning to tour the west coast of "gods country" for 3 weeks

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 Ireland i would think ?

Yorkshire!

Mr UM

Quote: Originally posted by Ulti-Mates on 28/9/2008

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Yorkshire!

Mr UM

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