Swift caravan stress cracks. It might be an insurance job.

Swift caravan stress cracks For small cracks, those less than 1/4-inch wide, fill the crack with the patching cement. thank you Before it spreads any further it can be stopped by drilling a very small hole at the limit of the break. Elddis have admitted liability for the ingress of damp on the front of the caravan but denied any responsibility for the crack at the rear. But I have a 2010 Swift Charisma 230. Explore our award-winning range of single & twin axle touring caravans. that is definitely a stress fracture. You might get it repaired by a plasitic welding company . we show how to repair cracks in plastic panels on caravans. Cracks where the cross members meet the chassis rails can be common after 100,000km and can be gusseted to repair. I was cleaning my caravan the other day , on washing the roof I noticed the join of roof and side panel on both sides towards the end of the caravan had really deep cracks/ splits in them. erwinhymergroup. this stress crack problem is not solely a Bailey problem it is also found on many other marques dating back to pre 2005. I don't think you will have any luck with an insurance claim unless yo have evidence of a culprit for the damage. My understanding was that the cracking of the acrylic would apply to the window. A. I have seen stress fractures radiate from a drilled hole The rear panel has developed the common cracks from roof down and from side lights, contacted swift who don't want to know as I bought caravan used in 2020 and it has no 2014 Swift Challenger 565 SE just discovered an external crack in the middle of the rear panel just to the right of the high level brake-light. They say to do a proper repair it needs a new front panel and the internal wood replacing at about £3000 for the panel and £600 for the wood replacement. As they say, forewarned is forearmed. Yes we have Crime/ incident number Insurance claim for damage to 1 Wheel and tyre. The panel seems to be plastic. Share; Posted September 21 Or sign in with one of these services. Main Dealership for Bailey, Swift, Sterling, Lunar Venus. The 2025 season is here! Explore our collection of six exceptional Swift touring caravan ranges, including the UK's best-selling Sprite - the ultimate family caravan with 10 family-orientated layouts - the superbly equipped Challenger, and the luxurious Elegance Grande. Is it in the areas indicated In this short helpful guide to how WE repair cracked caravan abs panels we look at drilling out the cracks, glueing and sealing them so they cannot allow any futher water ingress I noticed back in October 2015 that the front GRP panel of my caravan started cracking in the bottom left and right corners where the locker box lid sits. The several threads on this forum relating to stress cracks are from panels made of ABS plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), hence the possibility of why your How do I fix this crack in the front panel above the windows? This has made the whole front wooden frame completely rotten, so I will be taking out the entire front from inside the caravan. To repair a significant crack in the fibreglass, the panel will be pulled out for repair. Does the caravan come with a full service history and can you transfer the remainder of the 6 year warranty? GRP panels can get stress cracks as well as abs ones. Caravan / Motorhome / Static (Make and model): A big un. uk. If there are open spaces around any pipes, fill the gap with the glass fiber or melted plastic. I have just uncovered my van after the winter . Had it serviced today and all came back ok except for a small crack in the roof panel in corner where it meets side. One piece windows take a terrific buffeting when you tow and I suspect that near centre crack is the very place where most stress will be impacting on the window. Hello Prof I reproduced the warranty wording from the owners manual. The dealer contacted Swift who apparently were not interested. The only problem is i have been told that the front panel only has a 12 month warranty. Camping and Caravanning Forums,Campsites,reviews,free classified ads, camping articles and newsletter plus loads more A couple of cases like this have been reported on the Swift Talk forum. I will try and keep this in a nutshell. If you look Our caravan (Elddis Xplore 304)was bought new in 2014; in April 2018 the front and back panels developed stress cracks at the top corners; In Dec 2018 dealer replaced these panels (with abs again) but unbeknown to us did not adequately address the inherent frame faults underneath (i. A small hole will be drilled at each end of the crack to relive the stress in the ABS and prevent it from spreading. mover, blow up awning and tracker thrown in. It is a swift challenger 530 se (2002) I noticed that on the plastic mould which is the rear of the van a couple of hairline stress cracks have appeared . FAQs. The caravans affected are 2017 models as far as we know. Practical Caravan is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 65 volvo geartronic se nav, 2016 buccaneer cruiser, 2017 buccaneer How having your caravan serviced will stop stress fractures is rubbish, it's just a get out of jail for Bailey. We had a great couple of trips but then discovered a couple of cracks in the roof. Sign in with Facebook Hi. Hi I have had my swift challenger sport 544 for 13 months now. any suggestions otherwise please. Once cracks have formed, they’re only likely to get worse, so it’s important to nip these Crack on top corner of rear panel, Swift. See the two pictures here. Have you spoken to your insurance company, may be covered, but you need to read your policy Stress cracks on caravan panelsCaravans and Caravanning. The good news is that Swift have 9 replacement windows available from stock , and delivery to the dealer will be the week after I am the proud owner of a 2012 swift challenger sport 514, ( bought in November 2016 ) or I was until a neighbour said “I read some where your van can get stress cracks on the corners at the top of the van. Noticed a spider web like crack on my 2010 Sterling Europa 530 & black like spots which you would think was over spray. Plastics suffer from a phenomenon known as stress cracking this is speeded Cracks can occur due to stresses in the formed panel, flexing etc. If no damp had got in and the cracks were on the corner of the panel then Swift fitted the plastic repair caps. Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance. Our 2015 Swift caravan single front window cracked around the top and down both the outside and inside sheet. Under the CRA 2015 the caravan incl panels have to be "fit for purpose and durable," or more likely "a underlying manufacturing/design fault that has caused the panel to fail and stress- crack due to said inherent Kia KX 3 auto / Bailey Alicanto Grande Estoril and Swift Challenger 570 (2010 model Not towed - used as a static) Swift caravans, motorhomes & holiday homes. It is a 2016 Swift Challenger My dealer has quoted for a new rear panel at c£4k Couple of things I could do with advice/views:-Can it be repaired or is a new panel the best option? the corner of the caravan light i seen this alot on swift caravans is it a know fault and as anyone else got this problem with there van click on link to Will I be able claim for this stress crack on the front crack. They can be repaired easily, we had the same happen on a 2010 Swift Charisma 550. The crack is filled, and the panel is repaired from behind and front to ensure it is smooth. cracks in caravan roof; By chris mcg August 12, 2015 in New Member I'm surprised the Swift caravans still have the top side marker light fixed to the rear panel or are they made of GRP now? as most manufacturers moved the light after cracking was found from the screw holes and they can only create stress A number of Swift GRP panels , I know of have also failed. 3. co. We had cracked rear panel discovered at first service in 2018 Lunar Clubman Solaris,dealer was unhelpful, another dealer wanted to replace whole panel ,Lunar said reapir it then went bust, so chopped it in against a Swift, took a hit but glad we got shot of it. A topic started on the 3rd Feb 2013 has identified 5 incidents of serious cracks in the rear ABS panel. . i hope it goes your way and you get a new panel from Swift but Fully trained and highly skilled in caravan & motorhome bodywork repairs including panels, cracks, splits or damage to bumpers and wheel arches. Just wanted to pull in experience of others and if I need to be concerned on rear stress cracks causing leaking? Swift have advised my rear wall is GRP @stepmadlin 1k seems excessive , I have repaired several caravans with the same fault for a lot less. It also depends on whether the cracks are only on the gel coat, or go deeper, but what ever the cause, please visit your dealer to arrange a repair. Between leaving it at the end of last season and getting it out, we have discovered a crack that is a good 10-12 inches in the top rear panel 1. Its on the front pannel above the front right window. 1 (406) Erwin Hymer Group. Camping and Caravanning Forums,Campsites,reviews,free classified ads, camping articles and newsletter plus loads more Hi Albert, stress cracks that go all the way through the sheet material do occur and need a small hole drilling at each end to stop them Hi Chris. I bought a new Swift Coastline in June 2016 from Highbridge caravans Somerset, it has now after 2 years developed a list of problems from stress cracks on back and front panels,blinds coming away from walls,cupboard doors loose, darker patches appearing on outer side panels,mattress has sagged in the middle. 1 After months of trying to get faulty fitted shower base replaced due to stress cracks around waste I gave up and made some repairs myself. 2nd panel lasted the trip home, (20 miles), from our service centre before cracking again exactly as the 1st one! Same reason for stress cracks given by our honest service centre manager (not Glossop) as Longtailtit for the repeated failures. Using a hot staple repair kit Crack on top corner of rear panel, Swift. This video is a step by step on how to properly repair your cracked gelcoat. The outer pane collapses onto the inner pane. Thanks, Ash I have a 2008 swift caravan and when i was washing it at the weekend i found a crack in the front abs panel above the window. we have just found a little crack on the back corner of our caravan a friend suggested that we use super glue as it only a small airline crack. We looked through our warranty small print and thought we were not covered as we were second owners. It might be an insurance job. The engineer found a piece of good quality clear tape over it. e. 2003 avondale dart,I have already had the rear panel changed due to stress cracks,at 2 years old, I have now got 2 new stress cracks in front panel, also am starting to get cracks in rear panel again and it is only 5 years old,reason for the first panel was bad fitting at factory For those swift owners who are not members of Swift Talk. However when cleaning the van in march we found cracks around the mounting for the grab handle( see lunar plastic cracks ) we contacted the dealer, were offered a repair, told them i was not happy at the thought of repairing the stressed area and asked for Bailey 2005 senator Vermont at dealer for £ 2500 insurance repair dealer has reported that there are 47 stress cracks by the screw holes caused by Bailey bodgers who slammed the awing rail self tapping screws into the rear panel without a pilot hole, my assessor has said this is a known issue that these screws were fitted without a pilot hole which would These types of plastic will lose impact resistance over their life time due to UV exposure and subsequent degredation. LED lighting is standard across the range, reducing power consumption without compromising brightness. Got this mainly for the alde wet heating, weight and the layout for two kids under 6. The Insurer's have therefore rejected my claim for the cost of the repair. mickysf Club Member Posts: 6,532. I phoned the dealer and the next day the dealer came out and took some photos of it. its unlikely its a single clean crack as fiberglass is pretty crack resistant and tends to splinter and leave 'star cracks around the stress point. I have no warranty on my 2005 caravan due to when I bought it in 2007 the warranty was not transferable. Present outfit: 2015 Compass Hi all, new to caravans and had my 2014 swift sport 544 for a few months, with about 4 months of warranty left from the dealer I purchased from. Has a swift caravan back panels cracking letting in water causing damp - YouTube it is more likely to crack if stressed , either by compression, extension, or peel forces and large panels expand and contract a lot as the temperature varies and if not allowed to move , will cause cracking, sometimes at the points of attachments or as in the above IMO these high level windows/rooflights have never been a good idea, yet several manufacturers still market them. As stated dealer said no, and then asked if I would like an estimate for insurance. Now found water dripping in the front area of van just purchase a new 2015 sterling eccles wayfarer found roof cracks at the back of the van near the joint is it normal will swift replace the van as i dont want a . Thankfully I had Gaffa tape with me. At the moment the only Our 2015 Swift caravan single front window cracked around the top and down both the outside and inside sheet. extends from the top - I can see daylight through the Our Caravan Is a 2017 Swift Ace Globetrotter. Find your perfect caravan today. Swift Caravans are committed to energy efficiency, with models featuring advanced insulation and heating systems. Both ABS ( Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene mouldings) and GRP ( glass reinforced plastic or fibreglass) as the other posters have said first drill a small ,2mm , hole at the the end of the crack. However, it is bound to deteriorate and crack at some point. The entire front ABS panel has been identified as well by Service Center as a damp test shows ingress above the window seal. 4. Looks terrible. 6 Caravan roof leaking I have a 2016 Lunar Clubman and have also just discovered a crack - but on the top of the rear panel. Caravan / Motorhome / Static (Make and model): Bailey Phoenix Platinum 2019; Share; Posted March 11, 2022. I have took it back to the Dealers Saturday & waiting with Baited breath for the findings of their appraisal. Camping and Caravanning Forums,Campsites,reviews,free classified ads, camping articles and newsletter plus loads more Hi Albert, stress cracks that go all the way through the sheet material do occur and need a small hole drilling at each end to stop them cracking further Follow Reads. Quite where we're going to store everything while it is away ( 6 weeks minimum) I really don't know. If damp had got in then Swift fitted a new back panel under warranty. com . the AWS technician that I used is very thorough. Caravan shower trays tend to crack more often than those in the home but it’s certainly something we can fix for you saving the time and hassle of a replacement. Was aware of cracking problem on the earlier Swift continues to evolve, but always has its customers’ needs front of mind, as it designs and builds some of the world’s finest caravans – everything from the lightweight, wallet-friendly Sprite to the super-spec’d, luxury Elegance Fill the cracks or holes. The crack will then be scraped into a “V” shaped groove, to accommodate the new plastic from the plastic welding rods, Stress cracks on caravan panelsCaravans and Caravanning. Ours never crack, they just collapse. Posted October 15, 2021. Specifically I’m interested in getting the heads up on issues impacting Swift Sprite 580 SB’s and the dealer specials like Vogue. im just concerned that this could become a bigger issue or am I worrying too much . A known problem to Swift who produce end roof caps to sort the problem relatively cheaply. I have a crack in the front panel of my Swift caravan beneath the locker door. Swift dealer - Gateway Caravans did the warranty repair. Just check for damp on the inside to ensure the stress cracks aren’t being caused by any structural movement Edited July 31, 2022 by GaryB1969 further photos of Stress crack and also the grab handle with poor silicone seal where water ingress has occurred. Pitch and set-up Swift, who you can find out more about in our best caravan manufacturer guide, has designed the Basecamp to look striking on the road, and with its blue decals, alloys The reason for asking is that I had my 7 year old Swift serviced recently and they found cracks in the rear ABS panel with signs of damp in he interior. Swift and I believe Coachman have used conformal “ covers” to cover cracks in the top corners of rear panels. They are sprite,challenger and eccles. Paying to have a new back panel yourself will set you back around £4,000+. More sharing options tentpeg. Noticing these cracks usually sends the homeowners in a frenzy. com. 4 (837) Bailey of Bristol. Camping and Caravanning Forums,Campsites,reviews,free classified ads, camping articles and newsletter plus loads more Swift being one of them, vans going back to 2012 cracking on the rear panel at the top, they seem to be fitting caps on each corner as I suppose a whole new rear panel Glass is undoubtedly a reliable and versatile material, and not to mention –very beneficial. Two replacement rear panels due to stress cracking in top rear corners. My 2014 Swift ace statesman has cracks in the rear wall and swift don't The funny thing is a colleague of mine has a Swift caravan of the similar age and this happened to him, but this time Swift claimed it was the way he was towing the van. swiftgroup. Justin at The Skiff Shop shows us his process of grinding out the old gel coat, Cracks In Roof Of Swift Caravans. We have been told that they are caused by heat/sun, expanding and contracting the windows. With the 2020 recall of 2017 mo Crack on top corner of rear panel, Swift. faulty shape/oversize etc). 3 (58) Bailey of Bristol. Hi, I'm quite new to caravanning, 2nd year and love it that much I'm just replacing my 2003 swift challenger 520se for a new 2015 Dealer special Compass 576 inc. We have a Swift Freestyle 6STD which is just 6 years old. Unfortunately new cracks appeared later on the top left and right and the only solution (the caravan was now over 3 We own a Swift Ace Globetrotter 2017 model and have recently found, what appears to be stress marks/ cracking or crazing around the lower window catches of the front windows. I recall many years ago Avondale had a similar idea and fitted a window/skylight above the normal front window of their Leda caravans, and they had no end of trouble with them leaking because the roof flexed when the caravans were being towed - They way Swift dealt with the cracks in an ABS panel was as follows. My Insurers advise this is a common design fault with Swift and Sprite single window units which stress and strain over time as the caravan bends and twists . Stress rails under the A-frame often have breaks however this is partly due to weld positions. baileyofbristol. The dealer is going to speak to swift about it. We visited Stewart Longton Caravans, in Chorley, Lancashire, to take a look at the tourer that was shortlisted three times at the Practical Caravan Awards 2023. This is in the Technical sub forum. The eco-friendly design of Swift Caravans ensures efficient use of resources while maintaining optimal comfort for travellers. I'm told by my Service Engineer, that its a Stress Crack and that such cracks are not uncommon. We are not talking surface cracks but serious spli The caravan is just over 4 years old and the crack was not picked up at the service in Oct 2021. Since the service we have only used the caravan once. 07791 772192; weather damage, stress cracks or damage caused by road The 2010 models were GRP and the cracks are stress cracks in the gel coat. I have a Swift Merlin 565 (2010/11) which I bought second hand in 2013. The caps should allow any later developing cracking It seems that many brands of caravan have issues with stress cracks on ABS and GRP panels and this includes some top of the range models. My Insurer's Agent has inspected the crack and their report states it is stress related noting 'latent defect' as the cause. Cracks where the cross members meet the chassis rails can be common My engineering experience tells me that this is stress fracturing because the windows are not evenly clamped shut. I contacted Swift who It however is much more prone to stress cracking a weakness that increases over time as it is also prone to UV structural degradation. Hi, I am hoping someone can help / advise me on an issue I have with my caravan. There is no doubt in my mind that it is an manufacturing fault due to construction of the panel. You could always I had a phone call from my dealer asking me to return the caravan as Swift wanted to check the rear panel as they were worried about stress fractures causing water ingress problems. Lunar have rejected my warranty claim as "the rear panel is Hi Dave, we bought a Lunar clubman december last year in the bad weather to beat the V. From your description this sounds like stress cracks, possibly caused by something heavy striking the inside of the front locker, rather than a build issue. Visit our corporate site. Its a 2019 Swift caravan which has been serviced each year. Considering fixing myself, so keen to know whether the front panel is plastic or fibreglass. If you are planning a DIY for a minor crack, you can use a thixotropic adhesive designed to repair both external and internal panels. I purchased a elddis explore caravan and after 3 years stress cracks appeared on the rear panel I Stress cracks usually are small and occur in corners or near light unit screws and windows . I have noticed that there are small stress cracks in the window surrounding the window catches, probably spreading out around 10mm or so but right around the handle. Topic: Stress cracks on caravan panels Posted By: iank01 Subject: Stress Swift being one of them, vans going back to 2012 cracking on the rear panel at the top, they seem to be fitting caps on each corner as I suppose a whole new rear panel is Caravan panel crack repair, how to repair cracks in caravan panels. Camping and Caravanning Forums,Campsites,reviews,free classified ads, camping articles and newsletter plus loads more Hi Albert, stress cracks that go all the way through the sheet material do occur and need a small hole drilling at each end to stop them Hi there I’m returning to caravanning after a 12 year break and wanting to hear about new issues. There are about 10 cracks in total if you include the hairline stress cracks. www. If Swift would just let owners know what is going to happen to resolve the issue it would be nice. We have two family members also with swift 2017 whose caravans are also on recall. There is on sign of any contact to cause the cracking and I As part of our 10,000km Undercarriage Service we pay particular attention to finding cracks in the chassis from fatigue. That replacement has also started to fail, and I am starting the process for a 3rd replacement panorama window. If the crack is larger than 1/4 inch, insert glass fiber or melted plastic into the crack and smooth the cement across the crack. I had a car hit the back of the caravan and crack the rear panel. elddis. As they get weaker they will be prone to stress fractures due to vibration while towing,and become more liable to damage due to impact. From the other threads I've read on this forum ,yes there do seem to be issues with the large panoramic windows ,splitting or cracking, Given the age of the van I don't think you'll get any joy out of Swift . Follow Reads. So I'll be able to get to the crack from behind. John M Trev : There are numerous reasons why the GRP can crack, stress cracking is normally the main cause, but each case is assessed under its own merit. A 800mm crack appeared in both layers of the front window from the right hand corner to the middle. There are some photos that are truly disturbing. Get Dom that aired late last year, the family on the programme who owned a Swift built Caravan managed As part of our 10,000km Undercarriage Service we pay particular attention to finding cracks in the chassis from fatigue. 2013 CaravanTimes Reader Award - Best Caravan Dealer 2013 CaravanTalk Finalist - Best Caravan Dealer 2013 CaravanTalk Finalist - Best Caravan its a stress cracking, seen it many times on various GRP panels . Caravans and Caravanning. 0. The other is the front and back panels. If your caravan has full service history all serviced on time to Swift schedules they will I'm currently in the market for my first caravan and have found a 2012 Sprite with a single front window. I took it in yesterday, (11th), and Hi just discoverd an issue with the roof of some Swift caravans and thought it would be something to share if not already known. I contacted my local swift dealer and showed My caravan has a 3 cms crack on the rear corner on the roof. Another guy at work has just found his Coachman front panel has cracked from the window bar holes, but this is 6 years old, so out of panel warranty. The stress fractures will typically radiate out from machined corners (eg in window apertures Swift caravans; Siena caravans (Exclusive) KNAUS Caravans; WEINSBERG Caravans; New 2 Berth Caravans; New 4 Berth Caravans; New 6 Berth Caravans; Our workshop is also approved to carry out insurance repairs so we can take away all the hassle and stress of your caravan repair by dealing directly with your insurance company. Sign in with X. rise, saved £400. This common problem with ABS stress cracks was / is down to the fact that the panel fixing screws were driven though the abs panel without the correct size pilot holes pre drilled in the We bought a Swift Archway 2014 second hand from the first owners in 2017. The front panel is now suffering from the dreaded stress cracks,& I want to try to get redress under the trade descriptio Help please. 1. Whatever the reason, I'm very disappointed that a year old caravan needs such a major repair, especially as Swift require the caravan to be presented to them devoid of everything - cushions & carpets included. Swift sent another window. It has been widely accepted that cracks in caravan panels are formed from the stress of a screw being driven through the panel without it having a pilot hole The dealer has checked and said it is getting in through the stress crack at that side and they put some tape over the crack, I have also put some on the other side in case that decides to leak. Our 2011 Elddis has a grp front and abs rear. this is standard procedure to relieve the stress. The brochure clearly states 10 year warranty Hi . There was no warning. 4 (837) Elddis. Hi I have a 2021 swift elite 850, its my first new caravan, i have noticed a large crack in the perspex panel above the front windows, my caravan was serviced in Feb of this year by MCA approved contractor, but not by Swift, or main dealer, Swift aee now asking for the NCC qualifications of the contractor, so my question is has anyone else had an issue with the panel Swift caravans, motorhomes & holiday homes. Its a 2019 Swift caravan which has been serviced Replacing a caravan shower tray with stress cracks or staining can be a real nightmare. GF panels seem to be much better, hence why I now have a Swift, rather than a Coachman, which uses ABS and is no good in tension, which equals stress cracks. They seemed to have worked but the job should also include drilling fine holes at the ends of the cracks to prevent propagation. 2. I am led to believe this is a common issue on Swift group caravans anyone else had a similar situation & if so Hello. I realize that this is an old topic but I require some infomation. But it's as if they are shutting their eyes and ears to the problem. Swift Colonsay 2006 2013 bailey valencia u2-- 2013 Elddis Affinity 550-2017 Adria adora isonzo 613 platinum. readcaravans. T. It however is much more prone to stress cracking a weakness that increases over time as it is also prone to UV structural degradation. I personally had cracks appear on the lower part of the panel soon after purchase and this was sorted with a new panel. Looking later when i had washed the van ( been away for a long weekend ) I found what look Caravan / Motorhome / Static (Make and model): 2020 Compass Cotswold-Edge 554; Depending where the cracks are, it may be possible to attach caps to cover the cracks (as was the fix for Swift Challenger caravans that were made a few years ago) Link to comment Share on other sites. see photo's. mzjoxlb cqtglb oowz tbubz vyvme zccstpn uvf atthh crwyu zshv dvzt keo tmdrcwk hvmxnok eqmp