Coachman Acadia Damp Problems

[Bebby]

Last year I purchased a 2022 Coachman Acadia 575, it was just over 12 Months old.
Just taken it for it's second service and it has 25% & 18% moisture readings in areas.
Absolutely gutted, always had Coachman in the past with never a problem. Dealer has approached Coachman to do repairs under warranty, but to be honest I just feel like offloading it.
Dealer is obviously concerned about the 25% reading, but the 18% they seem to be passing off as "OK" I just feel that the 25% area is very concerning and the 18% can only get worse.
There seems no urgency to resolve, yet with the weather like it is, it's certainly not going to dry out.
When I purchased it the report from selling dealer showed low damp readings all round (of course it did) that was only 8 months ago.
Been away from Caravanning for a while and after an initial return of excitement and sense of adventure, I know feel totally deflated.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Those figures suggest it has be caught early, and to be honest figures around 15% are within the normal range, 25% is of concern but its far from the end of the world. As you have commented we have had some very wet weather which will naturally drive some moisture levels up.

I hope that any repairs do catch the problem, I say that becasue the cause of signs of damp can be some way from the evidence, so it does need to be investigated properly, but afterwards you'll probably have a better van than one straight off the production line, and have more confidence in it going forward.

Obviously its disappointing and it again highlights the industries failure to grasp the problem and to sort it out so every van remains dry for its life, even with marques that are considered to be better made.

 

[Bebby]

Thank P. John, makes me feel a bit better. Just feel maybe Coachman are not the Coachman I used to know. Plus not entirely sure the dealership I am using are that good. Certainly not been very helpful and proactive so far. Thinking of getting my own damp meter so I can monitor it myself.

 

[otherclive]

I agree with Prof J, just hope that the dealership are successful in fixing the higher damp readings. It would be nice if they investigated the lower 18% reading, but at the level it is generally a case of watching it to see how it develops. I had my own meter and it was reasonably close to a professional one in readings, but my main aim was to monitor trends. IE is the reading rising or reducing. That way I could take action early. Details below.

Hopefully Coachman will authorise the repairs, but do remember that your contract is with the dealership you purchased it from, and under CRA 2015 they have the responsibility. But best in the first instance to maintain a positive relationship with the Dealership.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brennenstuhl-1298680-Moisture-Detector-MD/dp/B003CSNV2Q/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2O5JHJQMHG5AU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0h2jEnXB10TLOCOITm65EgjZ3_nJ2sfKXJ6ra3fbx1La05MqlH-GvJa1QRzyN6aP8eIIbrAdWk6c7l2eiz9iJy6xBw8xazWCvoACIS4kKSiBU7vJILCLCeSVpe-Uyhm0aEgmMl0yVDoRalH0oBd-z385d2kzNy0POt6ARe4p96aEPoV0zZfAFNlpKVjZT88ZXUSokI-X852VK_Uv9PKpmUdffo6HKNbhHQUrMve18HcOWat8mlFtF_IdZmoqUZYzzNZbXKGexXiQUuBu0bfSxV_R5L_diVIq1C5eCzyuWzk.YP9Dd1qQvdnQjsV2kWNWRikroSOU-d5xuvNjaEwFDU8&dib_tag=se&keywords=damp%2Bmeter%2Bfor%2Bcaravan&qid=1718122054&sprefix=damp%2Bmeter%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-8&th=1

 

[Mr Plodd]

I would just point out that some brand new caravans suffer water ingress (of varying degrees)
25% is nothing to be too alarmed about, it should be lower, but it could be an awful lot higher. Its clearly still under warranty so will get sorted I am sure.

 

[Bebby]

I would just point out that some brand new caravans suffer water ingress (of varying degrees)
25% is nothing to be too alarmed about, it should be lower, but it could be an awful lot higher. Its clearly still under warranty so will get sorted I am sure.

Hey All, thanks for your reply’s and support, honestly helps and means a lot. Will let you know how it goes. Will chase it up tomorrow with dealership and possibly with Coachman themselves. Hopefully get it resolved.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Please keep us posted as to how you get on. Try and stay calm and be pleasant to the dealer, human ature means they will then be more amenable to helping you than if you rant and rave !

 

[JRT]

One does wonder why it was sold after only 12 months.

Often such 'vans are worthy of extra scrutiny at time of purchase.

 

[RogerL]

One does wonder why it was sold after only 12 months.

Often such 'vans are worthy of extra scrutiny at time of purchase.

Some people rush into buying things and quickly regret it - I like to sit in a potential caravan purchase, on my own, and envisage all the different times of day to see how well the layout works for everything - it took me 7 years to find a replacement for our first caravan but I accept that was excessive!

 

[Buckman]

Hey All, thanks for your reply’s and support, honestly helps and means a lot. Will let you know how it goes. Will chase it up tomorrow with dealership and possibly with Coachman themselves. Hopefully get it resolved.

Not much point in trying to deal with Coachman direct as they refer you back to the dealer.

 

[JRT]

Some people rush into buying things and quickly regret it - I like to sit in a potential caravan purchase, on my own, and envisage all the different times of day to see how well the layout works for everything - it took me 7 years to find a replacement for our first caravan but I accept that was excessive!

Indeed that is one reason particularly after the Pandemic when leisure vehicle sales seemed to accelerate.

But another is that a 'van has been so troublesome that the owner has got rid or the dealer has taken it in px to pacify an owner.

I have seen various young 'vans in dealerships with obvious serious faults such as delaminated floors, furniture separating from walls etc. And not repaired before being put on sale either.

Caveat emptor.

 

[Bebby]

Thanks everyone.
Contacted the dealer again today and they have had authorization for the repairs from Coachman and have ordered the parts required for repairs. They then told me however that the parts will take 4-6 weeks to arrive and when they do arrive they will book me in. I do worry though that for the next 6 weeks the water will continue to ingress and the situation will get worse. plus when the parts arrive will I then be contacted to come in another months time, which means its the best part of 3 months getting worse ?
Not happy with the situation, but not a lot more I can do. I am thinking of applying some sealant myself to the offending skirting, see if that helps and will get my own Damp Meter as per The Other Clive's suggestion.

 

[Buckman]

Thanks everyone.
Contacted the dealer again today and they have had authorization for the repairs from Coachman and have ordered the parts required for repairs. They then told me however that the parts will take 4-6 weeks to arrive and when they do arrive they will book me in. I do worry though that for the next 6 weeks the water will continue to ingress and the situation will get worse. plus when the parts arrive will I then be contacted to come in another months time, which means its the best part of 3 months getting worse ?
Not happy with the situation, but not a lot more I can do. I am thinking of applying some sealant myself to the offending skirting, see if that helps and will get my own Damp Meter as per The Other Clive's suggestion.

Before applying anything if the dealer is not too far away ask them if they can do a temporary seal. We did this with our dealer when a crack was discovered at the top of the front panel even though they were 90 miles away.

Luckily we were going on holiday and passing by so had a free night's stop at their site. Otherwise we would have ask the local AWS chap to do a temporary repair even if we had to pay them.

 

[Dustydog]

Where exactly are the high readings?
Do you know what parts have been ordered?
Don’t worry about the time scale which frankly isn’t bad by caravan industry standard.
A failed window seal on mine was reading 30%. Once in the repairers they spent a week drying out the timbers, fitted the new seal and four years no problems .

 

[otherclive]

I waited five months during late winter early spring, for a cracked rear panel to be fitted. The area was taped up with duct tape and the damp readings stopped rising. But like Dusty the dealer spent time drying it out once tge rear panel had been removed.

 

[Bebby]

Thanks again all.
I did ask the dealer to do a Temporary repair whilst it was there, but they said "it will be OK" to be honest they don't seem that helpful. Even today when I asked if I could book it in for the repair the service Manager spoke over the top of me and barked "4-6 weeks to get parts, we will contact you" With new caravans prices commanding nearly as much as a new Car, it still seems to have the mentality of a Cottage Industry.

 

[otherclive]

Thanks again all.
I did ask the dealer to do a Temporary repair whilst it was there, but they said "it will be OK" to be honest they don't seem that helpful. Even today when I asked if I could book it in for the repair the service Manager spoke over the top of me and barked "4-6 weeks to get parts, we will contact you" With new caravans prices commanding nearly as much as a new Car, it still seems to have the mentality of a Cottage Industry.

I can understand not wanting to book the repair slot as caravan parts supply are notoriously unreliable so the 4-6 weeks may not be achieved. But he could be a little more customer friendly.

 

[Bebby]

Where exactly are the high readings?
Do you know what parts have been ordered?
Don’t worry about the time scale which frankly isn’t bad by caravan industry standard.
A failed window seal on mine was reading 30%. Once in the repairers they spent a week drying out the timbers, fitted the new seal and four years no problems .

Hi D.D
25% under bed apparently. Water running down side of side skirting and around toilet 18%. I presume they have ordered side skirt trim as I would think the old one may bend coming off although not entirely sure. Hopefully you are right and i will get a successful long standing repair.