Front locker gas strut support problems

PeteandBarb
PeteandBarb Forum Participant Posts: 16
edited July 2019 in Caravans #1

Hello  I'm  Peter   

Have any of you Swift  and Swift Ace owners had any problems with the Centrally mounted front Locker Gas Strut support. Pulling away from where it's fixed inside the locker ?

I own a 2017   4 berth Swift Ace Globetrotter. Last week while Mrs and I  were away with Caravan. After I unlocked  the front Locker,  as the  locker lid raised the upper strut assembly bracket  pulled completely away from where it was  fixed to the inside of the locker along with all the fixing Screws.

I had to remove the Strut from the locker to prevent any more damage and am now using a Broom Handle to prop open the locker lid

Comments

  • Mike Brace
    Mike Brace Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited July 2019 #2

    Yep!

     

    I have a 2010 Swift Coastline SE 545 Classic and the front locker was always slightly awkward to close. It got worse over time so I looked and saw that the support was breaking away.

     

    Well, the stupid thing is screwed through the metal and into light wood and is a really poor design IMHO. When I took it off and felt the weight of it I decided to just leave it out completely and I instead use a stick! Far more reliable and a damn sight lighter :)

  • Mike Brace
    Mike Brace Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited July 2019 #3

    Ha, just read your post in full and see you utilised the 'stick' method too! :)

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2019 #4

    My Lunar Delta came with a (metal) stick as standard ... wink

    A stick seems to be a common replacement for gas struts .... my Dad used one for years on the tail gate of his Granada estate. 🤣🤣

  • PeteandBarb
    PeteandBarb Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited July 2019 #5

    Hi Mike  and Molly's Mummy

    It's looking like a common problem.  Not surprised considering the small screws that are used and the  thinness of the wood they were screwed into. Also  I think the Gas Pressure of the strut maybe a bit high.

    Our Caravan is still under Warranty but I don't think I  will have strut replaced.

    It's My opinion that Swift Caravans may have a design and construction problem regarding the Front Locker Gas Strut fixings.

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