New Coachman awning rail access points deletion

paullangford
paullangford Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited February 2016 in Caravans #1

Having purchased a new coachman pastiche 2016 model at the end of October last year I discovered that contrary to the brochue that specified an awning rail both sides it only has an awning rail to the near side whilst the other has a rail with no access
points. This means that I cannot use either my second awning or my front cover. Contacted Coachme last October who said that remedial options were being investigated yet it took numerous phone calls until the middle of January only to be told that no action
is to be taken. I wrote to the MD and the following is a quote from a letter that was sent to me " The deletion of the offside access poit is not a manufacturing fault but was done to assist our awning manufaturer to improve their manfacturing process. We
at Coachman we had no idea that front cover manufacturers were using the offside access point to fit such covers. If thi information had been communicated to us by the cover manufacturers then we would not have agreed to the the change requested by our own
awning manufacturer. Witth respect this fault was not of our making but due to poor communication of an accessory supplier to the industry"

Anyone thinking of purchasing a new coachman should take the above into account and decide for themselves whether the deletion of the access points would affect them like it has me

Comments

  • iffajobsworthdoing
    iffajobsworthdoing Forum Participant Posts: 94
    edited February 2016 #2

    None of the five Coachman caravans we have owned, including the present one have had access points in the offside awning rail as far as I can remember. We use a front towing cover with no problem, just feed in from the bottom of the rail. Simple fix to put
    an access point in, there is a tool you can probably borrow from your dealer if really concerned.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #3

    It would seem to suggest that neither manufacturers nor their suppliers have much grasp of the product they are building or its use in the real world.

  • rogher
    rogher Forum Participant Posts: 609
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #4

    I assume that you have an awning rail profile/extrusion on the off-side? There is a special tool that will open it out to provide a neat access point but you can also do it yourself with hand tools if you are careful.

  • buzz00
    buzz00 Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited February 2016 #5

    just checked our 2016 pastiche 575 and we have access points front and rear on the offside awning rail...... 

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited February 2016 #6

    At least they replied which is more than some people got from other manufacturers.

  • chrisn7
    chrisn7 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited February 2016 #7

    It seems extraordinary that an MD would be unaware that front covers are fitted this way. To what part of the caravan did he imagine they were being fitted? And why isn't Coachman taking advantage of the fact that their customers want to buy covers, and
    supply a branded accessory to improve profits?

  • paullangford
    paullangford Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited February 2016 #8

    Thank you all for your replies however thhe new pastiche has the awning rail  blanked off by part of the bodywork so nothing can be fed in from the bottom. Also they have refused to open it out by using an expander tool because the rail is powder ccoated
    aluminium and part of the composite bodywork and the powder coating may crack and peel so invalidating the 10 year guarentee on the bodywork.

  • buzz00
    buzz00 Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited February 2016 #9
  • buzz00
    buzz00 Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited February 2016 #10

    cant get the photo to upload.....Yell