Aluminium window frames

[SwiftGroup_374327846]

Jo-anne

It is highly unlikely that you will get condensation in your van every time you use it. At the moment, the temperatures are extremely low, so this is why you are experiencing this condensation now. In another few weeks, once the weather has warmed up, this problem will disappear.

Regards

kath

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Jo-anne

Swift have been decent and replied. However do I detect a hint that caravanning is not an all year round event?

We always sleep with the Heki slightly open but surely not the windows in sub zero temperatures.

Oh well back to the towells and tissues I guess.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Jan_374241992]

Hi, we have just returned from a cold few days away at Glenmore near Aviemore. The first two nights the temperature outside dropped to minus 10 (maybe even more) - the aluminium frames were dripping in the morning. Sorry Kath there is no way you can have the windows on the "night" setting in those sort of temperatures, have you ever slept with with an icy wind blowing over you all night - we'd not have any condensation just frost bite. We just had to go back to the old (from 30 years ago) routine of drying off the window frames each morning. We have had this problem in cold temperatures since we had the van (a new style Eccles Jewel).

We live in NE Scotland and caravan through the winter - the metal framed windows are the one really bad design fault in the van.

If you brought out the same van without the metal frames and with the option of having Alde heating fitted instead of the blown air and we would change vans straight away.

Jan

 

[Dustydog]

It is crystal clear from all the posts that aluminium window frames are not suitable in caravans and do not perform the function they are supposed to.

Many people tour all year and it beggar belief that manufacturers are introducing materials that never worked years ago.

Why did they move away from ally windows? Simple, they encourage condensation and damp.

Thus the corollary is that ally windows are not of merchantable quaility and all such fitted caravans should be recalled and all windows replaced with frames that stay dry.

In fact I suspect the Courts would agree and insist on a change of window frames or demand we all receive a full refund upon returning our caravans to the dealers / manufacturers.

I wonder????

Cheers

Alan

ps If this forum had been running 30 years ago there may have been a raft of tips to cure the problem/ Ah yes , scrap ally frames!!

 

[Mikey1]

This thread has worried me.

I am up the show this week and are looking at the Sterling and Conqueror,we caravan throughout the year and there is no way we could leave the windows on the latch.

Is this really as bad as it sounds?It is putting us off purchasing one of these vans

 

[Dustydog]

Mikey

In short YES.

My very first caravan in 1976 had ally frames. Same problem. How happy we were when manufacturers appreciating the problem moved to plastic / composite materials for the frames. The condensation problem was immediately erradicated.

I feel I have gone back in time and the ally is making winter caravanning very difficult. I think Bailey and Swift need to do a product recall and replace all the defective ally windows because they do not perform the function they are supposed to. I don't know about other manufacturers. Anyone out there with a similar problem?

We have been taking "Which" mag for years and I may well ask their views. But let's give Bailey and Swift a chance to resolve things amicably first.

It will be interesting to hear what they all say to you at the show.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Royston]

The series 5 Bailey Ranger range introduced in 2006 , seem to have plastic frames, and also have the old type gas regulator which fits directly on top of the gas bottle, and the old type of jockey wheel assembly that fits on the side and not (through the centre,)Having the above would seem that I have inadvertly saved myself a lot of agro with wet window frames and blocked gas pipes.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

kath (swift) , i couldnt sleep with all the windows on night vent. Lucas has chronic lung disease and this wouldnt be good for him.

jo-anne

 

[Dustydog]

Jo-anne

I have a horrible feeling on this one. I think we may politely be told to go to the "Foreign Office".

The only real solution is a full product recall and all ally replaced with something that works properly all year round.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

jan, how long have you had your new sterling eccles jewel for?

how many times have you been away in it?.

has the dripping window frames been on every trip?.

we only see whats there in the morning, has the frame already over flowed if so where is it going?. we dont know because we all asleep?.

oh my god what are we all going to do?.

jo-anne

 

[Jan_374241992]

jan, how long have you had your new sterling eccles jewel for?

how many times have you been away in it?.

has the dripping window frames been on every trip?.

we only see whats there in the morning, has the frame already over flowed if so where is it going?. we dont know because we all asleep?.

oh my god what are we all going to do?.

jo-anne

Jo-Anne - we have had our van for 18 months or so (since the model was first launched) - no it is certainly not a problem every time we are away, only in extreme cold. We have only had a problem with condensation during the winter when temperatures drop below freezing. It certainly hasn't put me off the van.

I just think it is a minor design fault - like the folding tap a few years ago - something they have tried and hopefully will get rid of.

Jan

 

[Dustydog]

Jan & Jo-anne

I know this is only a cold weather problem I hope, but in the 21st century it is not good enough.

I just cannot understand the logic in changing something that works perfectly well to something that is clearly a total failure. Maybe Polyplastic who sold these silly ally frames may wish to comment? I lay a penny to a pound if a full product recall was instigated by Bailey, Swift and others , it is Polyplastic who will foot the bill. I wonder if they have Product recall Insurance?

Meanwhile I will do further research on curing the problem. You never know , Nigel Donnelly may find some very old "Top Tips " that can help us.

Cheers

Alan

 

[ProfJohnL]

The only cure for condensation is to stop it occurring. That requires no temperature differential or significant heat sinks in the materials used in the caravan.

However if we consider a given set of conditions that lead to condensation on the aluminium window seals, then it is implicit that the level of humidity in the air is already raised, and if it cannot condense on a cold surface, then it will pervade the whole caravan, and in the morning everything is likely to be feeling slightly damp.

In some ways, by providing a deliberately cold surface (such as a window frame) condensation may be encouraged. This will reduce the humidity in the air and the caravan may actually be 'drier' as a result. This is of course exactly what a dehumidifier does.

Ventilation is the only real preventative solution.

 

[Dustydog]

Jo-anne

Have you heard anything from your mate at Swift? Bailey haven't answered any of the posts. Nor have any other manufacturers , including Polyplastic.

Never mind the better weather is coming soon and we can sleep with all the windows open.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

alan, i havent heard anymore from swift. the last i heard was kaths posts about it will get better when its warmer, just sleep with the night vents on the windows for now. thats what was more or less put in her post. well as you know alan i cant sleep with the windows on night vent as lucas has chronic lung disease.

really we should have been made aware of the water that it collects during nights in the cold. its a good half a kitchen roll per night. if i had know that there was going to be an issue with these windows then maybe we would have gone for a manufactor that didnt use the ali windows and saved ourselves time, kitchen roll and money.

im surprised that swift or polyplastics havent said anymore on this matter.

jo-anne

 

[Dustydog]

Jo-anne

The caravan Club have asked for comments from owners of Bailey Senators and Swift Conquerors for a forthcoming review comparison. I've applied and will certainly be raising the ali windows and Al-Ko jack problems.

It's possible your Sterling also qualifies ( not sure) so you too could have a go.

Oh well back to the kitchen roll.

Cheers

Alan

 

[SwiftGroup_374327846]

I have discussed this post and your concerns with Polyplastic directly whilst at the NEC show and they will be putting on a statement on here in the next couple of days.

Regards

Kath

 

[Dustydog]

Kath

Thankyou very much for your action here.

We all look forward to seing polyplastics statement which must of course cover both your Swift ranges and the Bailey caravans, and indeed any others fitted with the same ally frames.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Dustydog]

Hey you guys

I have just read polyplastic's "condensation advice" contained on their UK reps site:-

"www.miriad-products.com/condensation.htm".

One specific tip is and I quote:-

"Do not accept windows with metal frames forming a 'cold bridge' ".

Another says:-

"Fit polyplastic double-glazed acrylic".

I can't wait for their comments!!

Cheers

Alan

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

alan, omg i cant belive they have put that statement on there website. if thats the case why oh why did bailey and swift go with the ali windows it beats me.

im off to check the poly website out right now, i aint happy.

thanks alan

jo-anne

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

Alan i have just been on the Miriad site and the condensation advice makes interesting reading.

jo-anne

 

[Dustydog]

Jo-anne

Let's see what Polyplastic have to say, hopefully here this week.

It's crystal clear to me that Polyplastic know all about condensation as indeed must Swift and Bailey. Afterall this is Bailey's 60th birthday so you'd think they know a bit about caravan manufacturing!

We are now buying kitchen roll in bulk.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Bigfoot]

We should be collecting a 2008 Swift Challenger within the month. Does this apparent problem apply to this model and should I be looking at cancelling it?

 

[Royston]

Is it only the posh ranges that have this problem, had a good look at my series 5 ranger where the polyplastic outer window completly covers the inner frame hense no condensation, but on the senators they have a different window where the alum frames are exposed to the weather .

 

[Bigfoot]

Royston,

Thanks for that, I reckon the Challenger's the same.

Can anybody confirm this to put my mind at rest?