Swift Challenger Locking Door

[otherclive]

Let’s hope the same operative isn’t doing wiring and gas connections🙀

Wouldn’t you have thought someone in the dealership might have noticed it as they were going in and out readying the caravan and doing PDI. Say no more M’lud.

 

[Dustydog]

Wouldn’t you have thought someone in the dealership might have noticed it as they were going in and out readying the caravan and doing PDI. Say no more M’lud.

You really have to ask does anyone from Swift read this Forum?
They should be ashamed !

 

[Kevin M]

Possibly been used as a spares source if it was standing for a short while at the dealers, we had a few similar issues with our new van but did buy it sold as seen - easily fixed and was worth the cash saving.

Kev

 

[Buckman]

Possibly been used as a spares source if it was standing for a short while at the dealers, we had a few similar issues with our new van but did buy it sold as seen - easily fixed and was worth the cash saving.

Kev

No such thing as "sold as seen" if buying from a dealer.

 

[Kevin M]

It was bought sold as seen with the issues highlighted. It did carry the usual manufacturers warranty, the invoice was noted as such.

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Video here

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8orD3K8gR0

He ends up taking the whole plate off. For us, just turning it around sorted it. Hope this will solve it for you
Mel

Tried exactly like this and the door lock still didn’t close properly, and I flipped the recess section around. Had the exact same issue after the guy on video flipped it

Maybe it’s another trip to the dealer after all, which is a shame as it just needs a file down then the lock would pass over. Still needs a good pull / slam to engage

 

[Dustydog]

It was bought sold as seen with the issues highlighted. It did carry the usual manufacturers warranty, the invoice was noted as such.

Was it heavily discounted because the door wouldn’t lock?

 

[Kevin M]

It was heavily discounted due to some issues relating to parts having been removed during storage.
Soon sorted.
I was at a highly recommended dealer last week, in a couple of the new vans there were various parts missing, seems to be common practise.

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Ok travelled to the dealership in Scotland today to point out the door snag.

The Tech came out and said it was normal for Swift users to slam the door so the lock mechanism can engage. I said it wasn’t good for the neighbours hearing that at 11pm at night, he sort of gave the look of ‘why should we be so bothered about others..’

Can any of you who are in their Swift caravan please take a photo of their mechanism and advise if it’s the same as ours and have you got to slam the door for the 2 silver bolts to engage and lock?

 

[Danddandy]

Ok travelled to the dealership in Scotland today to point out the door snag.

The Tech came out and said it was normal for Swift users to slam the door so the lock mechanism can engage. I said it wasn’t good for the neighbours hearing that at 11pm at night, he sort of gave the look of ‘why should we be so bothered about others..’

Can any of you who are in their Swift caravan please take a photo of their mechanism and advise if it’s the same as ours and have you got to slam the door for the 2 silver bolts to engage and lock?

We have a Swift. . I was concerned about slamming the door. Or worried about the strain on the handle when trying to shut quietly. . A bit of silicone spray on the latch made it shut easier. . .

 

[Mel]

As I mentioned before ours ( Swift Alpine 2) was a slammer until we turned the latch plate around; now it just needs a definite pull, rather than a slam.
Our mechanism is exactly the same as yours. Van in storage so can’t do photo at present.
BTW I found out about the latch plate being the wrong way around on Facebook posts in two Swift and Swift/Sprite owners groups. It is a common issue. If you are on FB, it may be worth a trawl.
Mel

 

[otherclive]

As I mentioned before ours ( Swift Alpine 2) was a slammer until we turned the latch plate around; now it just needs a definite pull, rather than a slam.
Our mechanism is exactly the same as yours. Van in storage so can’t do photo at present.
BTW I found out about the latch plate being the wrong way around on Facebook posts in two Swift and Swift/Sprite owners groups. It is a common issue. If you are on FB, it may be worth a trawl.
Mel

But hasn’t Saxo reversed the plate with improvement. #31

 

[Dustydog]

I wonder if the actual door seals are incorrect and require more compression to close than necessary?

 

[Mel]

But hasn’t Saxo reversed the plate with improvement. #31

Yes he has but in his case it still needed a slam as per the video I posted.
Mel

 

[otherclive]

Yes he has but in his case it still needed a slam as per the video I posted.
Mel

Apologies I should have said “no improvement “. Didn’t watch the video as I’ve not got a new roaming VPN yet😂

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Yes will try Mel, but not sure if they will fix this!

I would need to have someone upload a Swift caravan on their door so I can send him an example. He was very adamant you do need to slam the door..

I also checked another brand new Swift at the dealership and they too had the plate reversed, and the door had to be slammed shut.

 

[Danddandy]

As I mentioned before ours ( Swift Alpine 2) was a slammer until we turned the latch plate around; now it just needs a definite pull, rather than a slam.
Our mechanism is exactly the same as yours. Van in storage so can’t do photo at present.
BTW I found out about the latch plate being the wrong way around on Facebook posts in two Swift and Swift/Sprite owners groups. It is a common issue. If you are on FB, it may be worth a trawl.
Mel

In my mind, why would Swift supply caravans with the latch plate the wrong way round? . . My thoughts are the door seals need compressing to guarantee a watertight fit. .

 

[borderbilly]

Great British craftmanship at its best! The best carp.

 

[Hutch]

Yes will try Mel, but not sure if they will fix this!

I would need to have someone upload a Swift caravan on their door so I can send him an example. He was very adamant you do need to slam the door..

I also checked another brand new Swift at the dealership and they too had the plate reversed, and the door had to be slammed shut.

I have asked my brother , who has a 2023 Swift if he can send me a couple of pictures of his lock. He says he has to pull it really hard to get the pins to close properly.

 

[rich0805]

Tried exactly like this and the door lock still didn’t close properly, and I flipped the recess section around. Had the exact same issue after the guy on video flipped it

Maybe it’s another trip to the dealer after all, which is a shame as it just needs a file down then the lock would pass over. Still needs a good pull / slam to engage

View attachment 9445

View attachment 9446

I happened to visit a certain dealership on the outskirts of Shrewsbury for some odds and ends from the accessories shop yesterday. While there we looked at some caravans (after promising each other we wouldn't make any rash purchasing decisions).
Some of the vans we looked at were Swifts and that reminded me of this thread so I started checking the door locks, all had the strike plates how yours were originally. I didn't try shutting any doors though.

 

[AndrewAventura]

The strike plate on my 2024 is also fitted the original 'wrong' way. I expect they all come out of the factory like that, and actually it will be in the manufacturing specification that the lock assembly is put together that way as standard by Swift's supplier when they ship it to them.
I'm more of the opinion now that that is the 'correct' way.
When we're inside the van, we normally just pull the door gently to the first latch position. We don't attempt to lock it - why would you when you're inside anyway? There's enough of a detent that the door is never going to blow open (though if the weather is really wild then I might slam the door shut so I can lock it).
When we're not in the van, we always close the door firmly, compressing the rubber seals, and lock it. It's totally a good thing that it takes some force to squeeze the rubber seal so that it limits water ingress when towing or in wild weather. Really it's the locking pins that do the main job of holding the compressed position, but it helps that the latch is holding the door in tightly because then the locking pins are engaged easily with the key. If the strike plate is adjusted so that the door is not held in as tightly, then you might be relying on the locking pins twisted by the key to pull it in the last couple of mm.
Having said all that, the assembly is good in that it provides options for people to adjust to suit their own preferences!

 

[Beachball]

Just looking at my Swift Conqueror door lock it does not look like your door lock it totally different and we went to Salop caravan dealers yesterday probabably you need to compare them both .

 

[Banus]

Very interesting thread as I have exactly this issue on our 2019 Swift Challenger 480 and have always thought, "this can't be right!!".
When we viewed the van at the dealership prior to purchase I noticed that I had to slam the door to get it to close properly, (sometimes having to make 2 or 3 attempts), and mentioned it to the sales guy who said it wasn't faulty and gave it a right good 'slam' which of course closed it. I accepted his explanation thinking that I had been over gentle as I hate using excessive force on anything mechanical especially where palstic is involved!!
I'll check our plate to see if its been fitted incorrectly when I next visit the van in storeage and report back.