Swift Elegance side lockers

layton1837
layton1837 Forum Participant Posts: 109
edited August 2016 in Caravans #1

I am posting this on this forum as i am unable to post on Swift Talk can you help.

I purchase my Elegance 580 in August last year, and on my first outing I soon discovered the poor design of the springs that hold up the side locker doors. Since the I have complained to Swift about the poor design. It came to a head when in Croatia in June
while removing chairs from under the bed it touched the spring resulting in the door crashing down on my face and resulted in quite a bad cut under my eye. Since my return i have discovered that for 2017 vans they have changed to Gas struts. Swift have already
sent me 2 brackets and were supposed to send me the struts. This modification means that the outside of the locker door would require a metal plate to strengthen the door. On the 2017 models it is built into the door. I have now recieved a response from Swift 

".Having revieved your case I can confirm that the springs were specified by our suppliers as the prefered method of holding the door open, Having tested these springs we can confirm that as long as the springs are locked out and not touched they will hold
the door open." I an now considering taking Swift to court as it is almost impossible not to touch these spring when putting bulky items in the lockers. If any member has had problems with this design i would appreciate feedback

Comments

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
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    edited August 2016 #2

    I have not seen the design but the locker should be designed so that it does not drop down if the spring is knocked as that would be something near inevitable and easily forseen. It does not matter one jot that the design was suggested by the suplier Swift
    installed it.

    Claims can also be made against the dealer as they sold it to you. If you sue do it against both. It would help your case though if you could get expert advice on the design and find  another person with the problem it would help.

  • layton1837
    layton1837 Forum Participant Posts: 109
    edited August 2016 #3

    Thank you for the advice I have some feed back from people on swift talk but some of the threads have disappeared so here's hoping for them to resend the complaint

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited August 2016 #4

    Swift remove posts that they think are unsuitable. They certainly don't like people complaining about their products. If you kick up to much of a fuss then you can quite easily get banned. You just find out that your log in does not work. Sad

    Your complaint should be addressed to the dealer who sold you the vehicle as they are responsible for any repairs that need doing. Swift hide behind their dealer network. Get on to your dealer and ask them what they are going to do about it. The spring you refer to is just a cheap way of making a stay. Once it is in it's home position it acts as a straight rod. Touch it and it soon bends with dire consequences. The habitation door with it's flimsy stay is another problem we had. Little tiny pin which is expected to stop the door if caught by the wind from hitting the side. Well the pin just pulled out. When we looked at a Burstner earlier in the year I walked away when I saw the same door stay.

    I fixed my Swift myself and then took the dealer to court to get my money back. Kept a note of all expenses and sent them a detailed bill. They passed it to Swift who said I had modified the vehicle and refused to pay. The dealer was not interested until they received the Small Claims paper work at which point they agreed to pay.

    Get your dealer involved and ask for their insurance company. That will galvanise them into doing something.

    Your contract is with the Dealer not Swift ..

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,155 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #5

    Very wise words Q4. The dealer is liable.

    And people moan about moderation on CT!

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #6

    Swift remove posts that they think are unsuitable. They certainly don't like people complaining about their products. If you kick up to much of a fuss then you can quite easily get banned. You just find out that your log in does not work. Sad

    Write your comments here...no they don't unless perhaps it is rude or derogatory to someone.

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited August 2016 #7

    Swift remove posts that they think are unsuitable. They certainly don't like people complaining about their products. If you kick up to much of a fuss then you can quite easily get banned. You just find out that your log in does not work. Sad

    Write your comments here...no they don't unless perhaps it is rude or derogatory to someone.

    Spot on they don't like DEROGATORY Comments aimed at THEM .. Happy

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #8

    When I was a member of the Swift forum I found it quite helpful. Sold the swift 4.5 years ago. I was a bit strong on one occasion and received a pleasant warning PM. Totally deserved and I apologised and continued the discussion. No idea how it is presently
    conducted.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #9

    Swift remove posts that they think are unsuitable. They certainly don't like people complaining about their products. If you kick up to much of a fuss then you can quite easily get banned. You just find out that your log in does not work. Sad

    Write your comments here...no they don't unless perhaps it is rude or derogatory to someone.

    Spot on they don't like DEROGATORY Comments aimed at THEM .. Happy

    Write your comments here...not to my knowledge and experince they dont, if you trawl throiugh there are a lot of threads deriding them and their vans but none are removed except if you are rude etc.  and when I  said derogatory I menat to other memebers,
    they seem to take it on the chin.  I take it you have a SWIFT van Q4 so you would know, when we had our caravan we had issues and it was a great place to go for help etc. and   its a pity other manufactureres dont follow suit.

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited August 2016 #10

    After owning a SWIFT Bolero for 3 years and working my way through all the faults I was glad to get rid of it. It was the biggest heap of junk ever. Seat covers that were not colour fast and were replaced, Leaks from plastic taps, Leaks from water tanks, Door frames moving, Square wheels on the microwave, Electrical Gremlins, Squeaks and rattles, Door stay that was certainly not upto the job, Screws falling out and various other small niggles. All on a NEW Motorhome. Never again will I buy a SWIFT or British Built MH and certainly not go near the dealer that sold it to us. The service dept was a joke. You had to take the MH in for a photo shoot and then wait for the Ok to book it in again. Photo shoots were only done during the week from 9am to 5pm.

    Our new Laika Motorhome is far better. Couple of niggles but nothing like the Swift.

    You do have to remember that all these MH's are built by hand so you need skilled workers to put them together not a load of monkeys. You also need to use quality fittings not the cheapest you can find.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #11

     

    You do have to remember that all these MH's are built by hand so you need skilled workers to put them together not a load of monkeys.

    Write your comments here...its derogatory comments like this that would probably be removed!!

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited August 2016 #12

     

    You do have to remember that all these MH's are built by hand so you need skilled workers to put them together not a load of monkeys.

    Write your comments here...its derogatory comments like this that would probably be removed!!

    They were .. Happy

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited August 2016 #13

     

    You do have to remember that all these MH's are built by hand so you need skilled workers to put them together not a load of monkeys.

    Write your comments here...its derogatory comments like this that would probably be removed!!

    Its finding and affording the skilled workers that is the problem.