Bailey Unicorn water leaks
My now 2 year old Bailey Unicorn 3 is leaking water badly on the offside, my dealer tells me it is coming in via the awning rail and dripping out through offside lounge window onto the cussions ect, what suprises me is the dealer and Bailey attitude that i should take the caravan away from the dealers and wait till January for repair, any additional water damage caused by this would be repaired under warrantee. MADNESS!!!!
Comments
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Good plan thanks , David
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By most standards January looks quite good if they will fix it then although it is no consolation. Possibly the dealer has the workshop booked up for some time ahead so cannot actually take the caravan in until then. At least with a Bailey you do not have
a wooden frame to worry about. It should not happen though and I would not be happy if it was me.0 -
Apparentley they have to go through the warrantee claims procedure obtain a delivery date for the new awning rail then book the van in when they have space. Come on guys it would not be tolerated if it was a car warrantee claim. Caravan service/repairs are
still in the dark ages in comparison0 -
They say that the removal of the rail to repair the sealing will damage it and a new one must be fitted
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But as JVB66 said there isn't an awning rail on an alutec it is all part of the aluminium extrusion that forms the side frame.
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I do not understand where they say a "new awning rail"? as alutec vans do not have a seperate awning rail, it all part of body frame
I think the term ‘Awning Rail’ is being used in this instant to describe the ‘Aluminium Extrusion’ as they are both part and parcel of the same thing.
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My now 2 year old Bailey Unicorn 3 is leaking water badly on the offside, my dealer tells me it is coming in via the awning rail and dripping out through offside lounge window onto the cussions ect, what suprises me is the dealer and Bailey attitude that
i should take the caravan away from the dealers and wait till January for repair, any additional water damage caused by this would be repaired under warrantee. MADNESS!!!!Are you sure the leak is the awning rail?
In the 6 years i've owned a U1 i have yet to read of a awning rail/profile leak on any model unicorn.
The U3 does however have a fault where some roof joints leak, this results in water running down adjacent to the rear roof joint!
There is also a modified roof rail/joint piece that requires fitting, i'm wondering if the dealer really means this roof joint is on order?
If it is the alutech side rail thats a big job for a dealer to take on IMO.
Good luck anyway.
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If you compare the number of Cars already on the road, produced and sold year on year, against the number of Caravans, comparing any aspect of the Caravan Industry to the Car Industry becomes unrealistic IMO.
Write your comments here...Surely the issue here is as usual the lack of reasonable support from a manufacturer that has supplied a caravan not fit for purpose. The comparison stands that as soon as an issue arises the manufacturer should be expected to
repair or replace the van in a short space of time ensuring customer satisfaction. Imagine your car has a fault and the supplier/manufacturer tells you to take it away and we will fix it when we get around to it. These repairs take months not just a few weeks,
which could mean you are without your holiday home for half a year as is my personal experience. Sometimes because simple cheap parts are not available for the spares market as the new build line makes more money than the warranty claims and no spares are
stocked to keep down inventory. Once you have paid your money, you are no longer a priority.0 -
If you compare the number of Cars already on the road, produced and sold year on year, against the number of Caravans, comparing any aspect of the Caravan Industry to the Car Industry becomes unrealistic IMO.
Write your comments here...Surely the issue here is as usual the lack of reasonable support from a manufacturer that has supplied a caravan not fit for purpose. The comparison stands that as soon as an issue arises the manufacturer should be expected to
repair or replace the van in a short space of time ensuring customer satisfaction. Imagine your car has a fault and the supplier/manufacturer tells you to take it away and we will fix it when we get around to it. These repairs take months not just a few weeks,
which could mean you are without your holiday home for half a year as is my personal experience. Sometimes because simple cheap parts are not available for the spares market as the new build line makes more money than the warranty claims and no spares are
stocked to keep down inventory. Once you have paid your money, you are no longer a priority.Bluemalaga,
I entirely agree with your post and have, like yourself and many others, been on the receiving end of the poor service you describe and I am not able as a customer to describe the situation as acceptable. My post was in no way intended to justify the Caravan
Industries shortcomings but to simply point out why the Car Industry is both willing and able to provide a level of service that the Caravan Industry will never seek to attain.Why?
Because as you have said, little if any, profit lies there, hence my use of the word unrealistic.
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If you compare the number of Cars already on the road, produced and sold year on year, against the number of Caravans, comparing any aspect of the Caravan Industry to the Car Industry becomes unrealistic IMO.
Write your comments here...Surely the issue here is as usual the lack of reasonable support from a manufacturer that has supplied a caravan not fit for purpose. The comparison stands that as soon as an issue arises the manufacturer should be expected to
repair or replace the van in a short space of time ensuring customer satisfaction. Imagine your car has a fault and the supplier/manufacturer tells you to take it away and we will fix it when we get around to it. These repairs take months not just a few weeks,
which could mean you are without your holiday home for half a year as is my personal experience. Sometimes because simple cheap parts are not available for the spares market as the new build line makes more money than the warranty claims and no spares are
stocked to keep down inventory. Once you have paid your money, you are no longer a priority.Bluemalaga,
I entirely agree with your post and have, like yourself and many others, been on the receiving end of the poor service you describe and I am not able as a customer to describe the situation as acceptable. My post was in no way intended to justify the Caravan
Industries shortcomings but to simply point out why the Car Industry is both willing and able to provide a level of service that the Caravan Industry will never seek to attain.Why?
Because as you have said, little if any, profit lies there, hence my use of the word unrealistic.
Write your comments here...Unrealistic is probably correct as all manufacturers have the same attitude.
Image, if one manufacturer had the foresight to become number one for customer satisfaction. How easy would it be.
1 design a product from materials that are fit for purpose.
2 ensure the materials are of suitable quality
3 train the workfoce to assemble the parts with skill and pride
It doesn't seem that difficult.
Perhaps the designer could also try caravanning, as it seems to me that they don't at present.
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If you compare the number of Cars already on the road, produced and sold year on year, against the number of Caravans, comparing any aspect of the Caravan Industry to the Car Industry becomes unrealistic IMO.
Write your comments here...Surely the issue here is as usual the lack of reasonable support from a manufacturer that has supplied a caravan not fit for purpose. The comparison stands that as soon as an issue arises the manufacturer should be expected to repair or replace the van in a short space of time ensuring customer satisfaction. Imagine your car has a fault and the supplier/manufacturer tells you to take it away and we will fix it when we get around to it. These repairs take months not just a few weeks, which could mean you are without your holiday home for half a year as is my personal experience. Sometimes because simple cheap parts are not available for the spares market as the new build line makes more money than the warranty claims and no spares are stocked to keep down inventory. Once you have paid your money, you are no longer a priority.
Bluemalaga,
I entirely agree with your post and have, like yourself and many others, been on the receiving end of the poor service you describe and I am not able as a customer to describe the situation as acceptable. My post was in no way intended to justify the Caravan Industries shortcomings but to simply point out why the Car Industry is both willing and able to provide a level of service that the Caravan Industry will never seek to attain.
Why?
Because as you have said, little if any, profit lies there, hence my use of the word unrealistic.
Write your comments here...Unrealistic is probably correct as all manufacturers have the same attitude.
Image, if one manufacturer had the foresight to become number one for customer satisfaction. How easy would it be.
1 design a product from materials that are fit for purpose.
2 ensure the materials are of suitable quality
3 train the workfoce to assemble the parts with skill and pride
It doesn't seem that difficult.
Perhaps the designer could also try caravanning, as it seems to me that they don't at present.
Sorry Bluemalaga !!
But you have over-tasked my immagination !!!!
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If you compare the number of Cars already on the road, produced and sold year on year, against the number of Caravans, comparing any aspect of the Caravan Industry to the Car Industry becomes unrealistic IMO.
Write your comments here...Surely the issue here is as usual the lack of reasonable support from a manufacturer that has supplied a caravan not fit for purpose. The comparison stands that as soon as an issue arises the manufacturer should be expected to
repair or replace the van in a short space of time ensuring customer satisfaction. Imagine your car has a fault and the supplier/manufacturer tells you to take it away and we will fix it when we get around to it. These repairs take months not just a few weeks,
which could mean you are without your holiday home for half a year as is my personal experience. Sometimes because simple cheap parts are not available for the spares market as the new build line makes more money than the warranty claims and no spares are
stocked to keep down inventory. Once you have paid your money, you are no longer a priority.Bluemalaga,
I entirely agree with your post and have, like yourself and many others, been on the receiving end of the poor service you describe and I am not able as a customer to describe the situation as acceptable. My post was in no way intended to justify the Caravan
Industries shortcomings but to simply point out why the Car Industry is both willing and able to provide a level of service that the Caravan Industry will never seek to attain.Why?
Because as you have said, little if any, profit lies there, hence my use of the word unrealistic.
Write your comments here...Unrealistic is probably correct as all manufacturers have the same attitude.
Image, if one manufacturer had the foresight to become number one for customer satisfaction. How easy would it be.
1 design a product from materials that are fit for purpose.
2 ensure the materials are of suitable quality
3 train the workfoce to assemble the parts with skill and pride
It doesn't seem that difficult.
Perhaps the designer could also try caravanning, as it seems to me that they don't at present.
If a manufacturer was to take the steps you describe what would be in it for that manufacturer?
As long as organisations lsuch as the caravanclub claim that all the manufacturers are the same. There is absolutely no incentive for a manufacturer to take on the short term hit whilst they implement your suggested action plan. In fact it probably be commercial
suicide in what appears from the point of view of caravans to be a declining market anyway.0 -
The awning rail were you thread the awning chord through is definitley grp /plastic not aluminium and this has to be removed for the repair to be done,
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If you compare the number of Cars already on the road, produced and sold year on year, against the number of Caravans, comparing any aspect of the Caravan Industry to the Car Industry becomes unrealistic IMO.
Write your comments here...Surely the issue here is as usual the lack of reasonable support from a manufacturer that has supplied a caravan not fit for purpose. The comparison stands that as soon as an issue arises the manufacturer should be expected to
repair or replace the van in a short space of time ensuring customer satisfaction. Imagine your car has a fault and the supplier/manufacturer tells you to take it away and we will fix it when we get around to it. These repairs take months not just a few weeks,
which could mean you are without your holiday home for half a year as is my personal experience. Sometimes because simple cheap parts are not available for the spares market as the new build line makes more money than the warranty claims and no spares are
stocked to keep down inventory. Once you have paid your money, you are no longer a priority.Bluemalaga,
I entirely agree with your post and have, like yourself and many others, been on the receiving end of the poor service you describe and I am not able as a customer to describe the situation as acceptable. My post was in no way intended to justify the Caravan
Industries shortcomings but to simply point out why the Car Industry is both willing and able to provide a level of service that the Caravan Industry will never seek to attain.Why?
Because as you have said, little if any, profit lies there, hence my use of the word unrealistic.
Write your comments here...Unrealistic is probably correct as all manufacturers have the same attitude.
Image, if one manufacturer had the foresight to become number one for customer satisfaction. How easy would it be.
1 design a product from materials that are fit for purpose.
2 ensure the materials are of suitable quality
3 train the workfoce to assemble the parts with skill and pride
It doesn't seem that difficult.
Perhaps the designer could also try caravanning, as it seems to me that they don't at present.
If a manufacturer was to take the steps you describe what would be in it for that manufacturer?
As long as organisations lsuch as the caravanclub claim that all the manufacturers are the same. There is absolutely no incentive for a manufacturer to take on the short term hit whilst they implement your suggested action plan. In fact it probably be commercial
suicide in what appears from the point of view of caravans to be a declining market anyway.Write your comments here...I would expect that manufacturer to increase their sales as a quality supplier in tandem with considerable cost reductions on warranty claims.
Both guaranteeing higher profit.
Massive incentive
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As far as I know currently no Caravan manufacturer promotes their products on the basis that they are poorly designed, made with shoddy materials and built by an unskilled work force.
The caravan club reveals the most people are happy with their purchases, but obviously no names no pack drill.
Given the above, if a manufacturer (Assembler is probably a more accurate term ), decided to implement the improvements suggested how you know? More importantly how would they finance the improvements? There is almost no incentive for a single manufacturer
to break ranks and produce a product under the sytem you have advocated. In the long runit would bring them greater profitability. However to quote the economist John Maynard Keynes " in the long run we are all dead"0 -
As far as I know currently no Caravan manufacturer promotes their products on the basis that they are poorly designed, made with shoddy materials and built by an unskilled work force.
The caravan club reveals the most people are happy with their purchases, but obviously no names no pack drill.
Given the above, if a manufacturer (Assembler is probably a more accurate term ), decided to implement the improvements suggested how you know? More importantly how would they finance the improvements? There is almost no incentive for a single manufacturer
to break ranks and produce a product under the sytem you have advocated. In the long runit would bring them greater profitability. However to quote the economist John Maynard Keynes " in the long run we are all dead"Write your comments here...Point taken.
As we continue to purchase caravans that have a percentage that are not fit for purpose and accept that that percentage have no urgency to repair.
We get what we deserve.
Many companies have gone bust because people stopped buying their products. The caravan industry is no different.
Most manufacturers offer the same or similar layouts, so what if through the complains on these forums persuaded people to avoid a certain manufacturer. How long before that manufacturer woke up to their dwindling sales and did something to improve their
products.To late would be my guess as once a company looses its position it is a long roadback. The car industry is a good example. British Leyland never recovered.
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It's not a good situation and the comparason with BL is a good one because expectations are based on experience. So if your experience is lots of faults you accept it as normal and the same everywhere. It is not as if a British worker can't produce a quality product or be productive. Look at the Nissan plant in Sunderland. Trouble is all the profit that Nissan makes is repatriated to Japan or France so it is not really the same as a locally owned company.
The most shocking story I was told was by someone who worked for one of the Caravan manufacturers. He told me that his and everyone else's bonus payment was based on the number of caravans made and shipped out to the dealers. The quality of these did not mater neither did the number coming back with faults. I don't know if this was true or still is true, but there is zero incentive to produce quality underthose circumstances.
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The awning rail were you thread the awning chord through is definitley grp /plastic not aluminium and this has to be removed for the repair to be done,
Write your comments here...Plastic are you sure, my U1 is Aluminium part of the extrusion.
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The awning rail were you thread the awning chord through is definitley grp /plastic not aluminium and this has to be removed for the repair to be done,
...The "rail" you are talking about sounds like the lower Plastic rail that runs the length of the lower van side that the draft strip of the awning fits in,the rest of the "awning rail" is recesed as part of the aluminium extrution that forms the Main body frame of the van,so it gets even more confusing as to what the "dealer" is doing?
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I have a Bailey unicorn Vigo V. Woke up this morning. Monday 23rd September. After heavy rain, found the front floor area under the seating was soaking. I ask a local Caravan technician to inspect the water ingress. He said was dripping from the Alutec frame in the corner area. He also said I had extensive damp on the floor under the bed area of 89 percent moisture detected. Went to the supplier of the caravan. Same reply, It will be November before they can check and rectify the problem.
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I am afraid this is par for the course with most makers. At least Bailey seem prepared to repair without arguing, which often seem to do.
Not sure the delay is in Bailey's interest as if things get worse over the time before the repair they end p paying more. Just do not expect common sense to apply here.
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We've descovered a small leak in the OS side window. Reported it yesterday, the dealer are having the van in a week on Friday (11 days). In the meantime I've going up to the van each day to make sure things are as dry as possible. Fortunately the leak is only small and is 'contained'. I've put down kitchen roll to absorb the drips, andcwill change the kitchen roll if wet. Today it was completely dry....
David
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