Do caravan designers use their products.

[otherclive]

I've had this caravan since January and this week is "deep clean". Overall it's not been too difficult but I have one roof light at the rear of the caravan that is filthy. It sits over the rear dinette. But it's design is double skinned such that air flows in and out through vent slots in the inside skin then flows out between the skins and out via other vent slots. In situ it's impossible to get a cloth or even bottle brush into the area between the inner and outer skins. I thought about removing it by taking out four screws that retain the handle pivot points. But these are spring loaded and I had visions of bits launching themselves around and significant difficulty getting it back together. My car has been designed with some thought given to keeping it clean. Whoever designed this roof light clearly has a problem with form over function and has never had to clean one after use.

Any other Swift group owners found a way to clean this type of roof light?

 

[otherclive]

But the bullet and removed the four torx screws and removed the roof light only to find the inner and outer are held together by four deeply set screws. They look like torx 20 but my extensive set of torx and other heads can't access them so I guess I will need a specific long reach screwdriver. If anyone knows the head type and size that would be useful.

 

[Lappy]

Hi Otherclive,
I have a Draper Torx set and within this set is a T20 piece that is 100mm long (4" in old money).
It is T20 on one end and a hexagonal to fit the screwdriver/socket wrench the other end.
I also have a screwdriver set that has T20 on a 125mm shaft.
Not too sure if Screwfix do these, I got mine from Wickes a few years ago and not sure if they still sell them.
Regards,

 

[otherclive]

Lapps
Thanks I have the Srewfix set of heads fir a whole range of head configurations. But the vertical access and clearancevaround the head preclude anything but a very narrow shaft. I've been into the local ironmongers and bought a set of Star/Torx drivers with 100mm shafts but they were still to wide a diameter to access vertically downwards. But fortunately being 100 mm shaft they could get a grip if I accessed the screws at an oblique angle. Net result a clean roof light, but with a bit more thought the designers could have made it so it could be accessed by Torx/star heads of the type that many DIY'ers have where you have lots of heads and a single T-shaft bar.

 

[Raywood]

I do wonder sometimes. Ours has a gas locker lid the fouls the jockey wheel unless the handle is well down. Coat hooks might be better in the doorway than the toilet when it is raining although both might be even better. The worst thing is probably the plug for the drop in pump which falls apart every time you look at it though and that is from a major supplier.

 

[otherclive]

I do wonder sometimes. Ours has a gas locker lid the fouls the jockey wheel unless the handle is well down. Coat hooks might be better in the doorway than the toilet when it is raining although both might be even better. The worst thing is probably the plug for the drop in pump which falls apart every time you look at it though and that is from a major supplier.

Quite agree. We have no OEM clothes hooks in the bathroom. There’s one near to the end dinette/bed. Needless to say there are a few more now including the bathroom.
As far as the roof lights are concerned the one giving the cleaning problems is a very good concept but failed to be production engineered for general ease of use and durability. A small Seitz Heki 400x400 may well be substituted next spring. Prices not to dissimilar but quality fields apart.

 

[VicMallows]

It amazes me that anyone could design roof-lights with so little overhang that you have to close them even with light rain ----just when you could do with some ventilation.

 

[Craigyoung]

I too have noticed that you can't get in to clean rooflights on top off ours popping them open trying to get a sponge in , you need very small hands which is ridiculous ! I'm not going to take stuff apart cos knowing my luck I will lose screws !

 

[RayS]

My last and unlamented caravan had the same sort of roof lights. The Spanish site we use is a bit dusty and I had to remove and dismantle the lights at the end of each stay. I much resented the time and effort necessary. This was not the only example of poor design and construction.

If you like and plan to keep the caravan consider replacing the entire unit with mini Hekis which should fit the same holes. And check that your next caravan does not have the same problem.

 

[otherclive]

Ray thanks, I'm glad it's not just me that thinks the design is very poor. The offending one is now back in place and nice and clean. However I do plan to replace it with a mini Heki as the hole is a standard 400x400mm aperture. Surprisingly the Hekis are only a few pounds dearer for what is a much superior product. My large front Heki took just minutes to clean as its so accessible from inside and outside.

 

[Craigyoung]

Morning , i do find the other ones easy accessible from the inside on the steps with my head out through the roof but as for the rear one I will persevere but I am not taking it apart , it's coming home in two weeks so it's going to get a thorough clean ! Al be on the top rung off the steps to get at it ! hmy:

 

[ian16527]

The MPK rooflight 400x400 fitted to my swift bathroom is the same. I don't like the design ( I am a design engineer) and much preferred the one in my old Coachman, which had a better release handle which I think was a micro heki.
Most other rooflights have fixed ventilation around the frame, but the MPK one has it in the cover hence the dirt ingress

 

[otherclive]

The MPK rooflight 400x400 fitted to my swift bathroom is the same. I don't like the design ( I am a design engineer) and much preferred the one in my old Coachman, which had a better release handle which I think was a micro heki.
Most other rooflights have fixed ventilation around the frame, but the MPK one has it in the cover hence the dirt ingress

Mine will be replaced in the spring with a small Heki. Whilst the heki may have a limitation if left open when it rains it’s a small price to pay for a far superior roof light that can easily be cleaned and easily operated by anyone.