Dreaded Panel Cracks

[Peter_374410647]

Just finished giving the caravan a good going over ready for the season and found a dreaded crack on the rear panel. It's about 1 inche long at the top of the rear panel. Any tips on diy fix, is it worth sticking a good quality flexible sealant in there as its probably going to continue to move.

Luckily no damp as stored indoors and will be keeping van till it drops.

 

[James_374408700]

Hi Peter,

Just curious what make and age is your van?

 

[Peter_374410647]

Its a 2006 Avondale Argente 650-6. Really love the van even though Avondale have gone out of business and this appears to be a common fault. Bought van privately 15 months ago so have no warrantly due to above.

 

[xtrailman]

The 1997 Avondale i had was fibreglass end panels, are yours the same?

 

[Peter_374410647]

Hi Ray

Not sure but don't think so. They look preformed plastic panels to me. Maybe someone else knows.

 

[JTQ]

It would be prudent in the interim to stick a piece of "Duck/Duct" tape, or something more ascetically pleasing over it to avoid water ingress.

Such cracks are not wide enough for an adequate bulk of sealant; sealant is much more effective where it has sufficient thickness to accommodate movement.

The problem is almost certainly stress induced cracking of the plastic ABS, a very far from ideal choice of material stroke application and one in which it will be virtually impossible to eliminate the causing stresses. [tension in assembly,localised pressure point, panel buffeting, flexure of the structure on the road and sun induced thermal are all possibilities ]

An aesthetically tolerable "patch" Sikaflex-ed over it would be the safest route to prevent the much bigger associated problem of moisture ingress.

 

[Dustydog]

Surely the dreaded ABS cracking problem is something crying out for an article in PC Mag??

It seems all the main manufacturers are having problems. WHY?

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[TD42]

IF you are going to repair it yourself,drill a SMall hole at the end of the crack to stop it traveling. Bailey caravans do an ABS repair kit that does a "cold weld"you could try them for advice on stress crack repairs omitting to tell them that you have an avondale of course.

If you can get to the fixing screws adjacent to the crack it might be advisable to remove it & oversize the screw hole before you carry out the cold weld repair

Wish you the best in your efforts,& it would be nice to hear how you get on

TD

 

[TD42]

there is a clear specialised caravan waterproof tape designed to seal joints & seams but I cannot remember the name of it. might be worth googleing for it or perhaps someone else knows of it

 

[xtrailman]

When these ABS panels first came out, everyone it seamed raved about them.

I didn't, i not anti plastic, but with the old fibre glass panels, called by a posh name GPS?, you could at lest patch repair with confidence, as with fibre glass cars.

Tony has made me aware of a repair kit, but how effective will it be, my daughter has had some holes professionally filled in on upvc window frames, but these dont have the same stresses, and were on the inside, if you could access both sides to repair, then that would be different.

Flash band is used for alliminium to plastic guttering, dont know if this was what you was thinking of tony?

Washed my van this weekend, no cracks ,no damp. Bailey Senator 2004

 

[TD42]

When these ABS panels first came out, everyone it seamed raved about them.

I didn't, i not anti plastic, but with the old fibre glass panels, called by a posh name GPS?, you could at lest patch repair with confidence, as with fibre glass cars.

Tony has made me aware of a repair kit, but how effective will it be, my daughter has had some holes professionally filled in on upvc window frames, but these dont have the same stresses, and were on the inside, if you could access both sides to repair, then that would be different.

Flash band is used for alliminium to plastic guttering, dont know if this was what you was thinking of tony?

Washed my van this weekend, no cracks ,no damp. Bailey Senator 2004

ray , no its a clear tape designed for use on caravans,remember seeing it in caravaning mags but do not remember what it was called

 

[Stephen_374341239]

PETER

I had the same problem. What I have done is as follows:-

I found a small crack/split in my abs panel about 1" long at the end of the split i drilled a small hole to stop it spliting any more. Then used caravan builders silicon to seal the split and the small hole i had drilled.

That was 2 years ago the split has not got any longer and no damp as yet and yes i do keep a good eye on it.

Best regards Steve

 

[TD42]

Ray as a possible repair tape try this http://www.tapes-direct.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=153&products_id=696&zenid=m5iqb4gbok3u6gl4jspnhdn7h2

 

[xtrailman]

cheers Tony, have saved that to favorites.

 

[Peter_374410647]

Thanks for all yor help and advice. I was thinking the same as you Stephen. I imagine most of these cracks happen early after the van settles so to speak. It's out of sight at the top so will be using sealant and I'm also going to buy the tape as per Tony.

Will let you know how it all goes. I would agree with an earlier commment, if this is a problem as it appears on this Forum to be, surely a magazine like PC should run an article etc or are they in the industries pockets?

 

[Peter_374410647]

Finally got round to repairing, after numerous professionals stating a new panel would probably split and even a pucker repair could also go the same way. I drill smal stop hole and sealed used caravan silicone and its a really good job. Just has service and NO DAMP!