2017 Swift

pennyandsteve
pennyandsteve Forum Participant Posts: 92
edited August 2016 in Caravans #1

We visited a local dealer this weekend to view the new Swift Challenger and liked it so much we have ordered a 580 for November delivery.

we also booked Sandringham for the New Year so a true test of the Alde heating methinks?

Has anyone else decided to buy a 2017 model?

Steve

«13

Comments

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited August 2016 #2

    Yep have a Challenger 530 Lux with Alde and ATC on order for November.

    Not quite up to the spec of our current Challenger SE but will get the dealer to tweak it!

  • pennyandsteve
    pennyandsteve Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited August 2016 #3

    Hi again Iain.Smile

    So do you reckon an omnivent can be fitted to your 530.and what other extras do you fancy?

    we oredered ATC and Supaguard but I am considering adding a spare wheel carrier as the wheel is now located under the bed!

    Steve

     

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited August 2016 #4

    Hope the omnivent can be added ... dealer think so.

    Will add heavy duty steadies, not for any reason other than had them on the last few vans and like the chunky look.

    Hope for a mini heki in the loo, have added this in the last few vans ... BUT the 580 we saw had a small rooflight in the loo, if the 530 is the same it might not be possible.

    Also looking at spare wheel carrier as it is in the front locker on the 530.  We have it under the bed in our current 570 SE, hasn't been an issue.

    Will also have jacking points and mover transferred over.

  • kaenergas
    kaenergas Forum Participant Posts: 171
    edited August 2016 #5

    Off to the Lawns manufacturers show at Cottingham near Hull on Saturday, will have a look around and compare models from the big 4/5 and who knows if there is something to tempt.

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

    Hope the omnivent can be added ... dealer think so.

    Will add heavy duty steadies, not for any reason other than had them on the last few vans and like the chunky look.

    Hope for a mini heki in the loo, have added this in the last few vans ... BUT the 580 we saw had a small rooflight in the loo, if the 530 is the same it might not be possible.

    Also looking at spare wheel carrier as it is in the front locker on the 530.  We have it under the bed in our current 570 SE, hasn't been an issue.

    Will also have jacking points and mover transferred over.

    If the spare wheel carrier you are looking at is the ALKO one I would avoid it. Possibly the most criticised thing on the caravan scene. Provided the nose weight is right the spare wheel in the front locker should not be a problem.

  • SELL
    SELL Forum Participant Posts: 398
    edited August 2016 #7

    Off to the Lawns manufacturers show at Cottingham near Hull on Saturday, will have a look around and compare models from the big 4/5 and who knows if there is something to tempt.

    Same here planning to go this weekend, not planning on buying as mine is only 3 years old, but nice to see what changes there are to the 2017 models.

  • mbee1
    mbee1 Forum Participant Posts: 557
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #8

    I just hope the November delivery dates don't slip.

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited August 2016 #9

    Hope the omnivent can be added ... dealer think so.

    Will add heavy duty steadies, not for any reason other than had them on the last few vans and like the chunky look.

    Hope for a mini heki in the loo, have added this in the last few vans ... BUT the 580 we saw had a small rooflight in the loo, if the 530 is the same it might not be possible.

    Also looking at spare wheel carrier as it is in the front locker on the 530.  We have it under the bed in our current 570 SE, hasn't been an issue.

    Will also have jacking points and mover transferred over.

    If the spare wheel carrier you are looking at is the ALKO one I would avoid it. Possibly the most criticised thing on the caravan scene. Provided the nose weight is right the spare wheel in the front locker should not be a problem.

     

    Yep had them on several vans before and would prefer not to have one but will see how the noseweight goes!

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited August 2016 #10

    I just hope the November delivery dates don't slip.

    My current Swift was early and the Sterling before that was bang on time ... so hopeful all will be well!

  • redtrace68
    redtrace68 Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited August 2016 #11

    We have just upgraded our 2015 Sprite Alpine 4 for the last 2016 Swift Classic Doublette, all because SWMBO wanted an island bed so we went to have a look and the deal was good ... so a 30 minute trip to the dealer to see how the layout would work on a Major
    4SB turned into a 90 minute "congratulations, you've bought yourself a new caravan" trip :)

  • pennyandsteve
    pennyandsteve Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited August 2016 #12

    Hope the omnivent can be added ... dealer think so.

    Will add heavy duty steadies, not for any reason other than had them on the last few vans and like the chunky look.

    Hope for a mini heki in the loo, have added this in the last few vans ... BUT the 580 we saw had a small rooflight in the loo, if the 530 is the same it might not be possible.

    Also looking at spare wheel carrier as it is in the front locker on the 530.  We have it under the bed in our current 570 SE, hasn't been an issue.

    Will also have jacking points and mover transferred over.

    If the spare wheel carrier you are looking at is the ALKO one I would avoid it. Possibly the most criticised thing on the caravan scene. Provided the nose weight is right the spare wheel in the front locker should not be a problem.

    .on the 580 the spare wheel,is now under the bed and as there is less locker space i reckon the lesser of the two evils is a spare wheel carrier if it can be fitted.our mover is also being transferred over.

    what battery will you choose?

  • pennyandsteve
    pennyandsteve Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited August 2016 #13

    I just hope the November delivery dates don't slip.

    me too...Sealed

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited August 2016 #14

    Hope the omnivent can be added ... dealer think so.

    Will add heavy duty steadies, not for any reason other than had them on the last few vans and like the chunky look.

    Hope for a mini heki in the loo, have added this in the last few vans ... BUT the 580 we saw had a small rooflight in the loo, if the 530 is the same it might not be possible.

    Also looking at spare wheel carrier as it is in the front locker on the 530.  We have it under the bed in our current 570 SE, hasn't been an issue.

    Will also have jacking points and mover transferred over.

    If the spare wheel carrier you are looking at is the ALKO one I would avoid it. Possibly the most criticised thing on the caravan scene. Provided the nose weight is right the spare wheel in the front locker should not be a problem.

    .on the 580 the spare wheel,is now under the bed and as there is less locker space i reckon the lesser of the two evils is a spare wheel carrier if it can be fitted.our mover is also being transferred over.

    what battery will you choose?

     

    Will transfer our current 110 amp ... it was replaced last year.

  • Banff
    Banff Forum Participant Posts: 108
    First Comment
    edited September 2016 #15

    SWIFT - i bought a 2012 sterilig eccles coral had damp then got  a 2013 swift conqueror 645 over 50 faults and side delaminated swift even give us 5k in a good will gesture to get us out of  it now got a 2015 swift elegance 645 and just have had to have the main control box changed in under a year .

    now looking at a buccaneer.  stuff swift thats my advice they cant build a tidy van to save they life 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #16

    swift bought a 2012 sterilig eccles coral had damp then got  a 2013 swift conqueror 645 over 50 faults and side delaminated swift even give us 5k in a good will gesture to get us out of  it now got a swift 2015elegance 645 and just have had to have the main
    control box changed in under a year .

    now looking at a buccuneer.  stuff swift thats my advice they cant build a tidy van to save they life 

    ...Buccaneer are Eldiss with more goodiesUndecided

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited September 2016 #17

    SWIFT - i bought a 2012 sterilig eccles coral had damp then got  a 2013 swift conqueror 645 over 50 faults and side delaminated swift even give us 5k in a good will gesture to get us out of  it now got a 2015 swift elegance 645 and just have had to have
    the main control box changed in under a year .

    now looking at a buccaneer.  stuff swift thats my advice they cant build a tidy van to save they life 

     

    Guess you were unlucky.  Have had a perfect Swift, followed by a perfect Sterling, followed by another perfect Swift.  No complaints at all.

    The Baileys we had before were also perfect .... apart from one.

    Luck of the draw.

    More than happy to put my money into another Swift.

  • pennyandsteve
    pennyandsteve Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited September 2016 #18

    SWIFT - i bought a 2012 sterilig eccles coral had damp then got  a 2013 swift conqueror 645 over 50 faults and side delaminated swift even give us 5k in a good will gesture to get us out of  it now got a 2015 swift elegance 645 and just have had to have
    the main control box changed in under a year .

    now looking at a buccaneer.  stuff swift thats my advice they cant build a tidy van to save they life 

    Reckon you are very unlucky to have had to buy 4 vans in 4 yearsDon't cry

    We have had a couple of damp problems over four years but reckon they are par for the course unfortunately and Swift rectified the problems promptly without hassle. I am hoping the predominantly new construction will improve matters too and as they now give
    a 10 year damp warranty reckon that augers well....

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #19

    Other than replacing wood with high density foam, the construction method appears to be the same AFAICT. If they are prepared to give a 10 year damp warranty on the new method, why can't they build to the same standard with wood construction? Is it, as I
    suspect, they still get damp but don't rot?

  • mbee1
    mbee1 Forum Participant Posts: 557
    500 Comments
    edited September 2016 #20

    Now on our third caravan in 10 years and no damp in any of them.  Abbey, Lunar and now Sterling.  First two were bought second hand and our Sterling is now two years old from new and all damp free.

  • pennyandsteve
    pennyandsteve Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited September 2016 #21

    Other than replacing wood with high density foam, the construction method appears to be the same AFAICT. If they are prepared to give a 10 year damp warranty on the new method, why can't they build to the same standard with wood construction? Is it, as I
    suspect, they still get damp but don't rot?

    I believe the damp doesn't spread and cause damage/ rot. 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #22

    Have they overcome the translucent roof problems now?

    They were carrying out a 'sticking plaster' fix on some vans, by applying a vynil sheet to the roofs (most unstaisfactory, in my view) but said that they were changing the 'mix' of the material used on new models to prevent light showing through.

  • pennyandsteve
    pennyandsteve Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited September 2016 #23

    The only transluscent window is in the loo and it looked okay to me..

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited September 2016 #24

    The problem was not with a window, it was the whole roof itself.

    Discussed at length on SwiftTalk.

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited September 2016 #25

    The problem was not with a window, it was the whole roof itself.

    Discussed at length on SwiftTalk.

    And from the responses I saw, the solution appears to be good and is within the 10 year warranty.

  • catherinef
    catherinef Forum Participant Posts: 647
    edited September 2016 #26

    Have they overcome the translucent roof problems now?

    They were carrying out a 'sticking plaster' fix on some vans, by applying a vynil sheet to the roofs (most unstaisfactory, in my view) but said that they were changing the 'mix' of the material used on new models to prevent light showing through.

    Write your comments here...  Yes from around April build they changed the roof. Ours was built early March so suffered with the problem, although it was no where near as bad as some. We had the vinyl applied a few months ago.

  • redtrace68
    redtrace68 Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited September 2016 #27

    Other than replacing wood with high density foam, the construction method appears to be the same AFAICT. If they are prepared to give a 10 year damp warranty on the new method, why can't they build to the same standard with wood construction? Is it, as I
    suspect, they still get damp but don't rot?

    I wonder if that's down to the fact that all wood contains an element of moisture, so will produce some small proportion of damp just by virtue of its cellular make up. when it's then laminated with non porous substances then the damp bubble can spread through
    the rest of the wood and delaminate the construction.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #28

    Have they overcome the translucent roof problems now?

    They were carrying out a 'sticking plaster' fix on some vans, by applying a vynil sheet to the roofs (most unstaisfactory, in my view) but said that they were changing the 'mix' of the material used on new models to prevent light showing through.

    Write your comments here...  Yes from around April build they changed the roof. Ours was built early March so suffered with the problem, although it was no where near as bad as some. We had the vinyl applied a few months ago.

    Are you happy with it, Catherine?

    It sounds like a bit of a bodge, but maybe it's a lot better than it sounds?

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #29

     

    I wonder if that's down to the fact that all wood contains an element of moisture, so will produce some small proportion of damp just by virtue of its cellular make up. when it's then laminated with non porous substances then the damp bubble can spread through
    the rest of the wood and delaminate the construction.

    So you are saying they use unseasoned soggy wood to start with?

  • redtrace68
    redtrace68 Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited September 2016 #30

     

    I wonder if that's down to the fact that all wood contains an element of moisture, so will produce some small proportion of damp just by virtue of its cellular make up. when it's then laminated with non porous substances then the damp bubble can spread through
    the rest of the wood and delaminate the construction.

    So you are saying they use unseasoned soggy wood to start with?

    That's not what I'm saying at all. Wood is an organic substance - and wood loves to soak up water if it has access to it.

    Take a wooden chopping block - dry of course, and tip a cup of water on it and leave it a few hours, there'll be no sign of the water outwardly later on; now heat the block with a hair dryer and as it warms you'll see the steam come off as it releases the
    moisture back into the atmosphere - from an outward appearing dry piece of wood; exactly what can happen to any construction involving wood that gets hot and cold, even dry seasoned wood will do it to a certain degree.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #31

    i dont necessarily think the use of non wood in most vans has made their ability to keep water out any better...

    it just means that the water that gets in, does less long term damage....ie the impact is less.

    im sure i read something along these lines on SwiftTalk when the Smart build was introduced a couple of seasons ago...

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