Elddis caravans and rear panel cracking
I would like to hear from anyone who has had issues with Elddis models from approx 2013 that has had rear panel issues with cracking or stress type disintergration. I have a 2013 540 Avante that had this happen within the first 18 months and subsequently more recently. I would like to hear from anyone who has had warranty issues with them regarding this matter. please email charlesnicklin@gmail.com
regards
Charles
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I have the same year/model as you albeit a dealer special. I'm not aware of any problems with mine and having deep cleaned the exterior recently didn't notice anything unusual. I would be very interested in knowing of any specific areas that may need closer examination though.
Ian.
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Compass Omega 482 (Elddis) 2014 purchase new late 2015. After 8 months found the cracking on rear panel, first one side then it started on the other side, reported it to the dealer and booked it in for it's first service. New panel ordered and replace under warranty, dealer then found 30% damp around the large Heki roof light and staining of the roof boarding, new Heki and roof boards all replaced under warranty with a list of other niggles to sort out. Dealer did a good job and everything was fine on it's second service.
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I have a 2013 Elddis affinity the back panel was replaced at two year old but has stress cracks again . I am told this will not be repaired under warranty but Elddis now supply caps to cover this but at a cost .Any one heard or used these?
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swift 480 - I too have heard of the caps but I don't know where they fit - not expensive and will look into - they haven't offered me them - contact me if you want to take things further with Elddis charlesnicklin@gmail.com. For Milo - check roof rear panel on top and underside.
Chris Rogers - my service guy did a good job on mine but the cracks came back. They have changed directives on how to replace now - keep an eye on it.
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Hi All
I am looking for independent expert advise on these cracked panels - does anybody know a person or establishment that would be willing to look at this?
One of the problems when you are in dispute with a manufacturer/dealership on this issue is getting them to outline what they will/have done and why it happened in the first place - in writing. The dealer is compromised with their contract to the manufacturer and they deal direct with them and the manufacturer likes to keep things vague and keep a strict control of the information. My service engineer will not tell me exactly how my replacement was done so that I can compare it to how it is done now - let alone why it has happened again. Hence the need for an independent expert and any help with this could benefit all other people with this problem.
Chas0 -
Hi Charles. We have an Elddis Xplore 304, bought new Mar 2013 (cash purchase). Multiple stress cracks on rear panel (at top; both sides) and one hairline crack on front panel (emanating from awning rail - close to top) - all appeared within last month or so. Before that no problems. Van has been carefully looked after and certainly there has been no impact to cause this damage. Last annual service was four days ago. Service engineer (a nice employee) openly admitted that these stress cracks relate to Elddis design/manufacturing faults including at the rear where the timber sub-frame has been made too big. By preventing natural flexing during towing, these plastic panels simply develop stress cracks over time. Our dealer received an email back from Elddis this morning saying that our van is not covered under warranty as front panel is covered for only 1 yr and rear panel for 3 years (N.B. he said this 3 yr rear panel warranty is an extension of the original 1 yr - is Elddis finally recognising there's a problem here?& perhaps their sales are being hit?). Anyway to cut a long story short, there is no way we are leaving this here otherwise Elddis will be able to continue happily supplying substandard caravans in future and getting away with it!. No. We are fully prepared to take the matter to the small claims court if necessary, get an expert witness report, and claim breach of the "sale of goods act 1979" as the van was of "unsatisfactory quality" when we received it - sadly like hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of other unhappy Elddis customers. Got good advice from CC legal advisers this morning & we also benefit from legal assistance on our house insurance policy. Hopefully, legal help won't be necessary but at least we'll be prepared. In my response to our dealer, I presume I should ask for front and back panel replacements, plus rear timber frame chamfering (45degree shaving?) to allow for flexing? If anyone knows more about what work is needed for a full and final remedy, I (and perhaps other caravanners too) would be grateful to hear. I also assume that the cheaper "covering caps" that some speak of are not a proper remedy either? I don't want to be fobbed off by the dealer, so any help or information will be very much appreciated.
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Chas. Caravan Club legal adviser dept (tel 01275 378727) may well be able to put you in touch with your local expert from the" Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors", if this helps. We may need them too!
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Longtail contact me on charlesnicklin@gmail.om
Chas
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ChasNick
We had a 2013 Elddis Chatsworth 462 (Glossop dealer special Avante).
Two replacement rear panels due to stress cracking in top rear corners. 2nd panel lasted the trip home, (20 miles), from our service centre before cracking again exactly as the 1st one! Same reason for stress cracks given by our honest service centre manager (not Glossop) as Longtailtit for the repeated failures.
One replacement HEKI rooflight including removal of frame/kerb and complete new installation with wooden subframe. Service centre manager considered that the HEKI had no ability to flex with factory installation method, hence cracked and let in water. The service centre got approval from Elddis to carry out this revised method of fixing. So much for my decision for a SoLiD 'wood free' construction...
Side board unit and sink/cooker cupboard units all dropped. Elddis tried to blame state of roads/potholes as the reason.
All the above repaired under warranty. Although a lot of inconvenience and constant trips back & forth to our excellent service centre to get it all put right.
Traded it in for a foreign built motorhome, which we've had just over a year with no faults whatsoever. 1st hab service & damp checks done and passed with flying colours. Damp readings between 6 & 8%, and this was when motorhome covered in 100mm snow in March.
We were glad to see the back of the Elddis van. We will never, ever buy a British built caravan again.
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Unfortunately, this all sounds so familiar! :-(
Our Elddis Chatsworth 462 2013 had two repairs of the large front Heki done by Glossop under warranty, one last month when I traded in the van for a Swift Conqueror 580, time will tell but my fingers are definitely crossed that the Swift lasts longer than the Elddis
The side board unit on the LHS when you enter the van also dropped, I think the floor had dropped on that side as the clearance above the tyre to the wheel arch was such that you couldn't get your hand in
Plus the hairline cracks on the top of the rear panels
Plus the mains unit breaking away from its mountings
Glad to get rid of the van, Glossop gave a decent trade in value and a discount on the Swift
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