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Subject Topic: Elddis cracked rear panel
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PersonEBBLE1
22/12/2018 at 12:31pm
 Location: west midlands
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We purchased a dealer special Avante new back in 2013 and it was the biggest mistake of our lives. we had both front and rear panels replaced due to cracking and the muppets who did the warranty work managed to buckle the roof by forcing the front panel on and then tried to cover it up with sealant, we got rid and now own a Sprite with no issues what so ever....we will never buy another Elddis caravan ever as the product was unfit for purpose with new replaced panels cracking as well within months and their customer service sucked! we have met lots of people with Elddis caravans with similar issues
Good luck to you all who still own them.


PersonDenver66
22/12/2018 at 1:15pm
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The ASA rarely act on a single complaint I'm afraid. The new Consumer Protection legislation is the best fallback. The courts have found that goods that are advertised as being high quality and built to last should last. As Elddis make claims that their products should be good as new after 23,000 miles and the free from water ingress for 10 years, a material crack after just a couple of years should be covered under the legislation regardless of the manufacturers warranty. An action in the Small Claims Court is cheap and easy to do.


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PersonColin21
22/12/2018 at 2:51pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by EBBLE1 on 22/12/2018
We purchased a dealer special Avante new back in 2013 and it was the biggest mistake of our lives. we had both front and rear panels replaced due to cracking and the muppets who did the warranty work managed to buckle the roof by forcing the front panel on and then tried to cover it up with sealant, we got rid and now own a Sprite with no issues what so ever....we will never buy another Elddis caravan ever as the product was unfit for purpose with new replaced panels cracking as well within months and their customer service sucked! we have met lots of people with Elddis caravans with similar issues
Good luck to you all who still own them.


I can only assume that this problem applies to new/nearly new Elddis models. I had a 1988 Elddis Tornado XL for 4 years, sold it in 2017 and bought a 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT. Both of them were just fine. I am still using the Wisp, and hopefully will be doing so for some time to come. Looking forward to our first outing with it in 2019 once the weather warms up.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonBramidan
22/12/2018 at 5:55pm
 Location: Bucks
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I really can't add anything useful to help the original poster but I am appalled that with modern design facilities including CAD and the ability to calculate stress etc caravan purchasers are faced with this dilemma.
What makes it worse is that it seems older caravans are not susceptible to the cracking caused by the induced stress.
I know a caravan is being towed and will bounce around but surely this is a given and should be addressed at the design stage?
I know I sound like an old fart but why is modern stuff so poor?
So poor in fact that legislation has had to be produced to address the issue on behalf of consumers.
It cannot be price because we seem to pay more for inferior goods.


PersonColin21
22/12/2018 at 6:40pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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I couldn't agree more Bramidan. All the modern "improvements" just seem to make things worse! Cars have got better over the years, but caravans sound to me like they have got worse. At one time an 8 year old car was a clapped out heap, but now it's not unusual for cars to last twice that long. Caravans on the other hand don't seem to last as long as they used to. Modern construction methods and materials should be a lot better, and leaking caravans should be a thing of the past, but apparently not.

My 26 year old caravan could be mistaken for 6 years old if it wasn't for the styling. I don't know how many miles it's done, but it surely doesn't appear its age.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


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PersonDenver66
22/12/2018 at 7:04pm
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Caravan panels have always cracked. We had a 1994 Hobby with aluminium panels and we had a large crack above the door. Modern caravans are made with fibreglass and plastic panels which don't dent as easily as aluminium, but they are quite brittle and do sometimes crack under stress. Elddis bond their panels so we'll that they warrant the bonds for 10 years. Unfortunately, the powerful bonds permit less movement between the panels and sometimes they crack. The problem is not that they crack (most of their vans don't suffer cracks) it is that they won't stand behind them and repair the cracks under warranty outside the first year. Ignore the warranty. The claim is against the dealer who sold you a caravan under the Consumer Protection regulations. The basis is a claim is that the caravan is described as being very well made and lasting. It definitely should not suffer a major panel failure during its normal life-span. Elddis claim their vans should be good as new after 27,000 miles. They imply they will stay strong and dry for 10 years. Faced with these claims dealers who claim a cracked panel is normal after just a few years are on very dodgy ground.


PersonChasNick
20/5/2019 at 9:16am
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Hi

Last year I joined this chat seeking out other members who purchased an Elddis caravan and have had issues with cracks appearing on the rear panel. I got a lot of replies from anguished members who are caught out with these costly issues not being covered by warranties and of course Elddis not offering any solutions. I personally had cracks appear on the lower part of the panel soon after purchase and this was sorted with a new panel. Unfortunately new cracks appeared later on the top left and right and the only solution (the caravan was now over 3 years old) they offered was caps to cover over them. I reluctantly agreed to this with assurances that this was a good fix. However, I now find that with only traveling more than 50 miles and just storing for 4 months a crack has now appeared below one of the caps (see photo). Needless to say Elddis are saying it is not due to the caps. I am sending this just to warn others that caps may not be the solution. If any one wants to look into legal action with Elddis let me know.

Charles


PersonDenver66
20/5/2019 at 9:39am
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ChasNick

Although the manufacturer said your only remedy was to fit caps, they were wrong. Under the Consumer Protection Act 2015 your remedy is not with the manufacturer but with the dealer you bought the caravan from.    If you bought it from a dealer, the CPA gives you protection for six years. If you suffer a fault in the first 30 days you can simply reject the caravan and get your money back. In the first six months you have to give them one chance to fix the fault and then you can reject it. For the first six years everything should work properly for a reasonable period. The major panels should be free of cracks for at least six years. If they crack take it up with your dealer. If there is no dealer, take it up with the manufacturer. Ask them to do a proper repair. If they won't then get a solicitor to write to them. Usually, they change their stance immediately that you show them you mean business. Good luck and keep us posted.


Personiank01
20/5/2019 at 10:39am
 Location: Worcestershire
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Quote: Originally posted by ChasNick on 20/5/2019
Hi

Last year I joined this chat seeking out other members who purchased an Elddis caravan and have had issues with cracks appearing on the rear panel. I got a lot of replies from anguished members who are caught out with these costly issues not being covered by warranties and of course Elddis not offering any solutions. I personally had cracks appear on the lower part of the panel soon after purchase and this was sorted with a new panel. Unfortunately new cracks appeared later on the top left and right and the only solution (the caravan was now over 3 years old) they offered was caps to cover over them. I reluctantly agreed to this with assurances that this was a good fix. However, I now find that with only traveling more than 50 miles and just storing for 4 months a crack has now appeared below one of the caps (see photo). Needless to say Elddis are saying it is not due to the caps. I am sending this just to warn others that caps may not be the solution. If any one wants to look into legal action with Elddis let me know.

Charles


Denver has it spot on however when was the caravan purchased. A warranty is between the manufacturer and the dealer and not between the manufacturer and the consumer so you need to approach the dealer and remind them of their obligations under CRA 2015 if the caravan was bought after Oct 2015.
Also the repair done by the dealer has failed and you are definitely covered well and truly by CRA 2015 for the repair even if it was done under warranty!


PersonChasNick
20/5/2019 at 2:04pm
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Unfortunately I purchased it in 2013 and the dealership closed 2014. They honoured the warranty 18 months in when I had quite a few issues plus a replacement rear panel.


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Personiank01
20/5/2019 at 2:29pm
 Location: Worcestershire
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Quote: Originally posted by ChasNick on 20/5/2019
Unfortunately I purchased it in 2013 and the dealership closed 2014. They honoured the warranty 18 months in when I had quite a few issues plus a replacement rear panel.


March 2013? However if it was repaired within the past 3 years you may have a case to put in a claim. Contact Which Legal Services by phone for advice as they are a consumer body and they can give the best advice.


PersonDenver66
20/5/2019 at 4:09pm
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Yes, I agree with aink01. It is marginal, but you may still have a claim.


Personedridsdale
via mobile 18/4/2022 at 3:41pm
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On the subject of elddis back panel cracking on roof corners, I had my 2014 xplore 504 rear panel replaced under warranty, or so I thought and after a year or so the cracking occurred again.I contacted the repairer and they state they only warranty repairs for 12 months. I tried using a filler on the cracks and for a while all was ok then lockdown stopped my trips for 2 yrs. When I took it out this April I noticed the cracks were evident again so considered trying to get it replaced again but decided to remove my filler to take photos only to discover filler on the rear face of the panel near the corner, but not my filler...I had no cause to use filler there and in removing my filler I inadvertently came across this site of filler and had assumed it was mine....it wasn't!!!
I now believe that the enormous cracks showing now are the same ones that had been filled by the approved repairer for elddis. I was told a new panel was fitted but now believe it was a repair not replacement and am not surprised that the cracks have reappeared. My van is well looked after, serviced and used 5 or 6 times a year normally. Not a hard life.....
The repair shop is in Northwich near the Anderson boat lift and no doubt if confronted in this matter would vehemently deny my claim regarding this suspicion.
So I am using a trusted repairer that I use for services and picking up a tab of approximately £500 for a repair job that will probably outlast the first one by a significant time after which I will change it for another van from a reputable manufacturer.
Beware of warranties that appear worthless when required.


PersonHumberWolf
18/4/2022 at 7:26pm
 Location: North Lincolnshire
 Outfit: Elddis Xplore 495 View HumberWolf's Profile View Profile   Reply to HumberWolf Reply   Quote HumberWolf Quote  
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If I can offer some hope for the repair of your ABS rear panel, it can be repaired to its original strength.

In 1998 I split the rear ABS panel of my Swift Rapide when I nudged a post making a tight turn. The mould for a replacement was no longer available so it was repaired by a local dealer using a special resin. The panel was resprayed and the repair was undetectable.

The caravan is now 30 years old. It is used regularly by my son's family and the repaired panel is still in excellent condition.


Personedridsdale
via mobile 18/4/2022 at 7:30pm
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Thanks for your encouragement, but I think my panel is GRP....or plastic in other words, but I feel confident that my repairer will do a sound job on it
Cheers.



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