DAMP ON CHALLENGER 2010

[Denise Arundel]

Water Ingress
Hi I have a 2010 Swift Challenger 540 I took it for its 1st Service a week ago and was told that it has 25% of damp around the front small window on the offside, also it is showing signs of 18% damp on the nearside of the caravan over the wheelarch and the rear of the van. I have been told the van needs a new window rubber and also it will have to be checked again in February for further damp. I just wondered if anyone else has had any problems with damp on the same model or any other Swift Caravan. I have caravaned for several years and never had one that is showing damp this early in its life. The last one I had showing signs of damp was an Abbey GTS 418 (also made by Swifts) that was 3 years old it also had to have all new front window rubbers the damp made black marks on the inside front window shelf. I appreciate it is under warranty but surely this isn't right a caravan only 1 year old showing signs of damp.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated
David

 

[AndyR1]

Hi David,

I am sorry to hear of your damp problem.
Although we have an Ace Equerry not a Challenger we have suffered similar problems. Our caravan is a 2008 model and was found to have damp around the front windows and the rear bathroom offside wall (April 2010). We had to have a new front end fitted and the bathroom was dried out with new wall paper fitted. The cause for the ingress was the front rail above the windows was not sealed properly and neither was the rear rail. We had already had all the window rubber seals replaced due to another fault with rain getting past the rubbers and into the caravan. We too had suffered from black mildew on the front window sill. At first we thought this was due to the window seals but it was eventually discovered that the rail was causing the problem. Our caravan was repaired by an approved workshop and their workmanship was exemplary. The quality look of the seals once repaired were a world away from what was supplied by Swift. The difference I'm afraid from hand craftmanship and peace work.

Not sure this helps you but at least you can see your not alone. It doesn't make it right though and things like this should not happen.

Any questions please feel free to ask.

Andy

 

[Denise Arundel]

Hi Andy
Thanks for your reply. I see you had to have a new front put on your caravan and also had to have it dried out. How did you find that the window rubbers hadn't stopped the damp from getting in. Did you take yours to be looked at after 3 months as we have been told to do. Also how was the caravan dried out, did they put a deumidifier in it to do that, and also how long were Swifts before they came back and said the the work had to be done? Hope you don't mind me asking all the questions, but it will just give me peace of mind if I have a rough time scale for the repairs.
I am a bit worried about all the snow we are having at the moment in case that is making it worse, we live near the East Coast so the snow is quite bad at the moment.
Regards
David

 

[forestgump]

sorry but bad craft man ship is to blame 2010 thats not good.

 

[AndyR1]

Hi David,

We realised the damp was from the rail not the window seals because the damp readings extended high up the side of the windows. This was confirmed when the caravan was assessed for the repair at the repairers.They put in the claim with Swift who to be fair approved the work almost straight away. We had the work done in June. The delay was due to having to wait for the front moulding to be manufactured. It would have taken longer if we waited for the the caravan to go back to Swift due to a long waiting list. We felt happier with a 3rd party doing the work anyway.
The drying out in the bathroom involved the removal of the toilet and wall cabinet. The wall paper was removed and then heaters placed in the bathroom area to dry the wallboard. They used to replace the board but now drying out is the preferred practice. The walls were then re papered and fixtures refitted. The seals were remade. The final appearance is as if nothing had happened apart from the fact that the rail seals are a dam site better and there is just a faint line where the new paper was applied.
Try contacting the guys on Swifts forum they seem quite on the ball.
Don't worry about the questions I fully understand how stressful it can be!!

Regards
Andy

 

[VIP640]

Our previous van was a Bailey and that had bad damp problems within its second year, you would think with all the technology that is available nowadays that they could at least build a dry caravan....

 

[Denise Arundel]

Thanks Andy for all your information its much appreciated, and everyone else. We have always had Swift caravans for the past 25 years, but not sure if we have done the right thing buy buying another, Just waiting for Swift to agree to the window rubber to be replaced and for the service centre to contact me, not sure what all this snow is doing to it though!!
Think Swift should concentrate on building a better caravan instead of paying for new a Road & Traffic Lights to access their site in Cottingham, I only live 10 miles from their factory.
David

 

[DerekBrad]

My sympathy to you chaps. I think the stress involved is as bad as the actual fault. Let's be thankful that the major caravan manufacturers don't build boats.
Regards to all
Derek

 

[Mel]

hi. We bought a brand new Swift Challenger in 2007. First annual service 2008: damp under side window, repaired under warranty. Second annual service 2009: damp under rear window, repaired under warranty. Third annual service 2010: no damp! Make what you will of this, it is a sample of one only but I fear it is not unique. I am changing the van soon, but not for another Swift,
althought that was for layout reasons, not the damp.
mel