I bought a brand new Bailey caravan end of 2023 I have been disappointed with the build quality and finish details since day one, so I am considering changing to an Elddis affinity 550 but the service guy I used is inferring that Elddis have an issue with Damp can anyone give any feedback based on experience as opposed to hear say I would appreciate it thanks
Elddis or Bailey
- Thread starter Boxerman
- Start date
- Nov 11, 2009
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Eldiss do get quite a number of posts relating to damp and other faults. But quite honestly there may be little to choose between the two brands. My money would be on Adria or Coachman. Or if your Bailey is damp free why not keep it?
Have a read of the recent PC annual reader survey.
Best caravan manufacturers: the ultimate guide to the different makes of caravan - Practical Caravan
We take a look at the best caravan manufacturers, featuring makes such as Coachman, Bailey, Adria, Swift and more.
www.practicalcaravan.com
- Sep 4, 2011
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Elddis biggest problem is splitting panels and only a short warranty, not as long ad the main caravan, Having now had 8 out of 11 brand new caravans being Swifts,and bad experience with Elddis we stick with Swift .
- Jul 18, 2017
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Elddis caravans generally leak because of splits in the panels going by our experience. Another place they leak is between the front windows.
However unless you are very lucky you will probably not get a damp free caravan in the UK. You would probably be better off with getting the Bailey repaired as you may have similar issues with any other brand including Coachman.
However unless you are very lucky you will probably not get a damp free caravan in the UK. You would probably be better off with getting the Bailey repaired as you may have similar issues with any other brand including Coachman.
We have had three Baileys and apart from a known issue with the front lockers on the Pegasus 462 that was quickly fixed under warranty we have never had any issues. We are expecting a new Unicorn in a few weeks.
We have been very fortunate, first caravan 2001 Swift Challenger 480, 2012 Bailey Unicorn Madrid and currently a 2016 Swift Conqueror 480 all been excellent, can't say the same for the 2008 Autotrail Cheyenne 660 SE, the Fiat base unit was so unreliable got shot of it before covering 10,000 miles
- Nov 30, 2022
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Phoenix 640 bought new in January 2019, still bone dry.
Just had its 6th service AND I have been round it with my own damp meter.
But from years of viewing forums such as this it does appear to be a bit of a lottery if any make of caravan are consistently leak free.
Better the devil you know is my attitude.
Just had its 6th service AND I have been round it with my own damp meter.
But from years of viewing forums such as this it does appear to be a bit of a lottery if any make of caravan are consistently leak free.
Better the devil you know is my attitude.
- Mar 14, 2005
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The best caravan awards results seem to continue the trend where the Best scores only 81.9% ! To put it another way that means over 18.1% customers were unhappy. and that just the "best" brand.
I continue to maintain that any industry that considers 18% or more customers are not satisfied should be ashamed of such a failure rate, and doing something really positive about resolving such high numbers of failures, by redesigning their products to prevent such failures.
With caravans costing many tens of thousands of pounds, customers should be demanding much better satisfaction and kicking up a real stink when things go wrong.
The buying public have been indoctrinated for decades into accepting sub par products from the manufacturers, its become endemic in the buyers minds.
When you end up paying what might be 50% or more of your annual income for a caravan, more than ever you should be demanding products that are right first time, and long lasting.
I continue to maintain that any industry that considers 18% or more customers are not satisfied should be ashamed of such a failure rate, and doing something really positive about resolving such high numbers of failures, by redesigning their products to prevent such failures.
With caravans costing many tens of thousands of pounds, customers should be demanding much better satisfaction and kicking up a real stink when things go wrong.
The buying public have been indoctrinated for decades into accepting sub par products from the manufacturers, its become endemic in the buyers minds.
When you end up paying what might be 50% or more of your annual income for a caravan, more than ever you should be demanding products that are right first time, and long lasting.
As regards the Autotrail we had several major electrical problem, including the consumer unit coming loose, the entrance step unit failing, waste water problems, windows all leaking and the chassis extensions having to be re-alined because some one forgot to tighten them up in the factory, but fiats persistent unreliability.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Friends of our bought a Autotrail 2 berth end kitchen that leaked at the rear. Dealer had two poor attempts to resolve it but despite me advising our friends about CRA2015 they used their home insurance legal helpline. Result was they paid for repairs at a company in Highbridge who did a first rate job, but at £10k. This took them out of CRA2015 as far as the selling dealership was concerned. So they had to instigate court proceedings but eventually settled out of court for an amount that left them significantly out of pocket. But after two years of stress included a triple bypass when having covid they were relieved to move on. But since then they have made good use of the MH here and abroad.
Adria typically have generous user payload. Extended drawbar is great if you want to carry bikes.Eldiss do get quite a number of posts relating to damp and other faults. But quite honestly there may be little to choose between the two brands. My money would be on Adria or Coachman. Or if your Bailey is damp free why not keep it?
Have a read of the recent PC annual reader survey.
Best caravan manufacturers: the ultimate guide to the different makes of caravan - Practical Caravan
We take a look at the best caravan manufacturers, featuring makes such as Coachman, Bailey, Adria, Swift and more.
- Nov 11, 2009
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They do tend to be a bit heavier, but their rear construction doesn’t use full height single panel ABS. Those we looked at were nicely fitted out too.
If roof is one panel with joins part way down rear wall then that is big plus. Lot UK vans have join on roof, where water can pool around join. Any defect in join seal or crack in rear panel on roof results in water ingress. Eg some elddis and swifts.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Yes a big plus. I’ve had cracked rear panels on Bailey and Swift. Fortunately both sorted out under warranty.
Totally agree my background was automotive and vehicle insurance I am new to Caravanning still learning ,the standards and warranty process is frankly pathetic dealers seem to have no autonomy to make a sensible decision on even small warranty repairs it’s been like time travel for me back to late 70s some dealers and owners seem that laid back about it they should have a wheel on their heads 🤫
- Mar 14, 2005
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I think you might upset some caravans with your last sentence, but the caravan buying public have been trained by past experiences to think that such treatment by the manufacture's is "the best they can expect" and simply put up with such abysmal levels of unsatisfactory product performance.
We have had caravan manufacturing for about 100 years, and its so saddening to see so many of the same issues recurring throughout the history of caravans. Caravans are essentially being sabotaged by the the manufacturers who will not take water leaks seriously. They have had time enough to develop reliable long term panel joints, panels that won't crack, windows that won't leak, Doors that don't warp... under normal UK usage for at least 10 years.
I think Boxerman's criticism of caravanners is justified - we all, in general, have allowed this unsatisfactory situation to continue by continuing to buy new caravans.
- Nov 11, 2009
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I am surprised at the number of relatively new, or very new caravans that have recently popped up in the Forum with damp and water leaks. Even around roof mounted parts too. So the use of more advanced build techniques and more impermeable materials is being undermined by poor quality design and/or build, or both.
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- Jun 20, 2005
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Shame none of the manufacturers read all the pearls of wisdom on here🥲
It cannot be sound engineering practice that hand applied sealant is the first and in most cases the only line of defence against water ingress.
- Mar 14, 2005
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I think its nigh on criminal that manufacturers continue with a construction practice that is known to have a high failure rate.
Not only panel joints but Iv'e lost count of the number of one make that has a very clear design failure that leads to the corners of the floor rotting. I believe the manufacturer should take full ownership of the problem and guarantee to fully repair any caravan of any age that the problem arises with.
It simply should not of ever happened. It is a blatant design and manufacturing fault and customers should have every right to expect the manufacturer to take full responsibility for it, and take the hit to their profits and shareholder pay-outs for the incompetence of their design. - Why should customers suffer AND pay for such repairs?
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