Swift LED Awning Light Removal

[WatsonJohnG]

Does anyone know how or if the LED awning light on the 2011 Challenger is removable
Mine is in the way of the Caravanstore when its rolled up
It seems to be stuck on and the dealer tells me that you won't get it off !!
Swift website got no replies on how to remove it

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Nobody seems to know
Its ironic that the light unit is advertised on this site with the easy fit claim but no instructions as to how to fit or remove can be found despite Google's best efforts

 

[Sproket]

What does it look like ? any model number available ?

 

[MichaelE]

It is probably stuck on,but if you move it you will have a hole in the side of the van where the power cable runs through it.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Its as fitted on all the Swift Challengers at the moment
I was hoping to move it sideways or fit a different one thus avoiding the hole in the side


hCARAVAN-CAMPER-LABCRAFT-ASTRO-LED-AWNING-LIGHT

 

[Sproket]

Found this ! do the end caps come off ?
You could contact them @ there e-mail for more info ?

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thanks fot the replies
The end caps do come off and I'm told by my dealer that the LED strip slides out but requires the wires to be cut and that its bonded onto the side and that I wouldn't get it off !
I was hoping that someone had done it already
I was also told on another forum that the Fiamma travels OK resting on the light with no damage to either
We are going to the Lake District tomorrow so I will se how it travels
The canopy could be needed against the rain it seems !!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I emailed Labcraft and they say that they are normally screwed on
The screws are under the LED light strip which can be slid out after removing the end stop
My dealer says that Swift bond them on and that they have replaced the LED strip but not the complete unit and didn't think that it could be got off !!

 

[TonyG]

John
we have the 4 metre flammia canopy, and yes it does cover the awning light, having said that we have fecently towed the van 2700 miles to the south of France with no problems. it just rests on the light but does not move

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Well it fared Ok on a 210 mile round trip

I also have an Omnistor 2000 3m bolt on awning and Safari Room that I can't fit if the awning light is not removeable
The over door LED awning light seems to be the latest must fit to keep up with other manufacturers when its so impractical for users of Fiamma /Omnistor type canopies
The awning light position on this pic is ideal
The Safari Room and canopy look destined for ebay

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thanks but that isn't the point really
I know it will tow Ok with the Caravanstore canopy resting on it but I also have the Omnistor 2000 bolt on 3 m with Safari Room as shown on my pic earlier and I am unable to use that without removing the awning light altogether

I could see the screw holes in the back plate but they were not used
The light is bonded on with the wire seemingly embedded in the bonding agent so that to slide out the LED strip for replacemaent would as my dealer told me involve cutting the wires
They come through a central hole under the LED strip and go to one end but even if it wasn't stuck in the bonding agent it wouldn't be possible to slide it out as there is insufficient slack in the cable

 

[Sproket]

Just a thought .........
Would it be possible to use one of these to very carfully cut through the bonding material ?

they use these for cutting plastic pipe .............

( If it got damaged by accident & the dealer had to repair or replace it ?
Don't think they would want to fit a complete side to the van ? or would they ? )

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I will ask the dealer if he wants your supplier

I had wondered if using strimmer cord as you would in removing stuck on no plates would do the job
Oh and I want one of those saws

 

[SwiftGroup]

John,

I know you have left Swift Talk before I answered your question, but inspite of the comments, the awning light is bonded onto the vehicle side. Normally, a Dealer will use a cheese wire type device to remove the bond / sealant (cutting through the wires) to remove it.

There is a hole is a vehicle side, which will allow access to the cables, but again, the sealant will need to be removed to remove the wires. In you case, you will need to ensure the hole is properly filled and sealed to ensure no water ingress.

Ash

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thank you for that Ash
The comment at the start of this thread was before I had had any response at all
Subsequently several replies were received but I was unable to edit that post

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Another problem with the LED awning light is that you don't have any way of seeing if you have left it on when the blinds are closed and it also doesn't illuminate the caravan inside as the ones do as fitted to the Bailey Senator for example
I decided to fit a warning LED but then thought that it would be better to fit a small interior light that would illuminate and also warn that the outside light was on

This operates via the Swift alarm remote and the LED outside light comes on at the same time so that you can see inside as well as outside