Split in front panel

sandave
sandave Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited March 2019 in Caravans #1

Have a 2016 Lunar Clubman SB which we are preparing for the season. Been under cover for the winter and and a  check inside all dry no damp etc. We have had the tyres changed recently which obviously meant jacking the van up.  We now have a split in the front panel at where the roof and front panel meet which extends for about 5 inches towards the front of the van. This has led to a fair amount of water ingression in the van. The van is booked in with our local dealer for inspection and warranty claim and we have patched over the split and are in the process of drying the van out. I do wonder if jacking the van has caused this problem. It's emptied of main items for the winter, on hard standing, and has been on axle stands. However we did use the Alko side jack during the tyre change as it was off the stands by then. Question to members is has anyone else had a similar problem? and if so did they have a satisfactory solution. Having been caravanning for 38 years and under no illusions of the situation and time regarding warranty claims. Any information would be welcome.

Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2019 #2

    Assuming that the steady jacks were wound up then jacking the van in the way you did would have no more effect than driving on the highway.

  • sandave
    sandave Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited March 2019 #3

    Yes EasyT, corner steadies up, brakes on opposite wheel chocked.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #4

    Provided you jacked it correctly then it should not have caused the damage but if it was done badly and it twisted on the chassis there could be an answer.

    Certainly I have seen nothing about there being a problem with 2016 Lunars front panel cracking but you could be the first for it to show up if it is a fault for the future.

    Most firms had this problem a few years back but it does seem to have disappeared now.

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 666 ✭
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    edited March 2019 #5

    I have two small cracks on the front panel of in my 2016 Delta TS, either side of the front windows. After much hassle Lunar have agreed to repair them under warranty.

    However there is a clause in the warranty that front and rear panels are only guaranteed for 12 months! So be prepared to have a battle.

    You will find the exclusions in the service booklet, which is not the first place you would look.

  • sandave
    sandave Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited March 2019 #6

    Thank you for your post Simon, there are usually plenty of wriggle out clauses manufactures can and do fall back on. I will expect 'impact damage' or 'overloaded caravan' or some other obscure reason. I have to admit didn't see the 12 month warranty on front and rear panels as Lunar claim to give a 3 year warranty against construction faults. As they say time will tell as to their response 

  • sandave
    sandave Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited June 2019 #7

    Hi everyone, an update on the problem with the van. Our dealer inspected the van and applied a temporary repair to the split in the front panel. They also did a full damp check and found damp in the front nearside and offside floor and bathroom added to the damp caused by the original split.Warranty claim taken up by them and with the invention of the dealers MD, Lunar have agreed to take the van back for repair. Yesterday a split occurred in the rear panel diagonally opposite the front one. Van unloaded and stationary in our front garden. It does seem to a fundamental manufacturing problem where the body is under some stress. Internally all the fittings are perfectly square and there is no indication of movement . Hopefully  we should have a satisfactory resolution to these problems in the near future.

  • Tony101
    Tony101 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited June 2019 #8

    Hi Simon,

    we too have discovered small cracks in the front panel of our 2016 Lunar and are currently in discussion with Lunar about this.  So very interested too hear about the issue you have faced.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #9

    Tony, as has been said many times on this forum it is your dealer who is responsible for sorting this out - I assume under warranty.  You have no need to talk to Lunar.  

  • Tony101
    Tony101 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited July 2019 #10

    Thanks, we're about to go back to the dealer.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited July 2019 #11

    It is beginning to look as though the 2016 Clubman front panel is going to be a problem.

    Just in case you are told the panel is only guaranteed for a year point out there is a six year water ingress one. Either way it would not save the dealer if there appears to be a problem with the panels.

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