We are a new and used caravan dealer just inside Cornwall supplying new Sprite caravan, accessories and servicing to the local area. We have a good selections of used stock on the forecourt and a wealth of caravan knowledge to help you buy your first caravan or get you out of a problem on site.
Feel free to give us a ring or pop in to see us.
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I have a 2022 Arcadia,i reported to my dealer that the the sealant above the sunroof was parting, thinking they would reseal it quick job got a shock when the dealer said they have ordered a replacement sunroof its booked in fo august but has requested i checked for ingress but everything was bone dry.
Im afraid you have missed the boat, the touring caravan industry is gone, just watch the amount of bankruptcy,s about to happen. This is because of the disgracefull build quality particually Eldiss and Bailey, Eldiss will be bankrupt very soon. The whole industry will virtually disappear, the cost of buying a new caravan plus the car to tow it is beyond the normal wage, plus the cost of site pitches, Its now a hobby for the well off and beyond the reach of the working man. Caravan sales , partiually new, but also second hand are virtually nil. This time the industry will not recover. sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but think deeply about it.
Blimey, I thought I was being a doom munger, mind you, it is hard to see a way out of this, but times change so us dealers will have to adapt.
@@atlanticcaravansUK I appreciate it is in your interests to try and keep joe public happy, but unfortunatley "joe public" cannot afford to go caravaning. sites are fitting pods etc so that you dont need a caravan, that is the way forward , the touring caravan market is gone, people will continue with there old vans, but with the advent of electric cars etc, young people not being able to tow for years, never mind buying a car these days, these are the reasons the industry will contract very rapidly, dealers have a shed load of 2024 vans on there plots, they wont be able to finance 2025 models bye bye Eldiss!
On top of the cost of buying a caravan, annual servicing, insurance, site fees have shot through the roof in the last couple of years. Talking to site owners, all of them have seen a reduction in bookings. Where someone might go away a summer holiday plus 4 pr 5 weekends a year, they are cutting back to a main holiday and one or two weekends. If everyone does this, then the sites start to really suffer. For people new to caravanning, the costs are rapidly putting it out of reach of families and everyday folk.
Definitely, it’s no longer a cheap holiday.
Great video enjoyed watching the clock on the wall go fast 😁😁
Yeah, I enjoyed the clock as well, strange isn’t it..
The general public isn't allowed spare cash to enjoy themselves with so one holiday a year is about it. It's virtually impossible to run a car you need for work let alone an extra vehicle or caravan.
I’d like info on older vans as we are thinking of buying an older one with hopefully know problems😊
There’s lots of information on my new course which you’ll find at www.myidealcaravan.co.uk on old caravans, what to look for, and there is even a price check section where you can message me and get advice, all for £10!
i have not had any ptoblems with my bailey senator califronia series 6
Eldiss Avante look nicer inside than most BUT some build quality issues such as bed frame comes loose and bench seat panel broken free. Water ingress apparently common on Eldiss new vans or so I was told by a service engineer.
I worked for a small Caravan company back in the early 60's were we used to build touring caravans and static vans of all sizes even down to custom caravans made to order. Unlike many of todays touring vans the ones we built had a proper chassis with independent suspension, floors that didn't deteriorate and caravans that didn't get damp or leak. Why can't they do that today.
It’s is different from back then now, have a look at my other video ‘is it our fault’ I think our expectations are the problem.
We were told it was a 5 hour labour charge. We have also been waiting nearly three months now and still not had a decision from Swift. It is very poor customer service to be waiting this long
The decision by Swift is normally done in the same day, or at least within 48 hours. You might have to wait for the parts to be delivered but not a decision.
@@atlanticcaravansUK Flintshire Caravans told me months ago that they were waiting on a decision from Swift. Thanks for your response
@@David-kf2rw yeah, I’d ask again. It can take that time to do it though, this chap does them all the time, he’s a bit good at it.
I have an old Ellis’s..leaky front roof front windows etc, softie😂. Damp is not what you want, I echo your “use a damp meter”
The sun roof is just a fashion item really. Why have holes in the roof when they are not necessary? On a yacht, through hull fittings are always an issue and are to be avoided wherever possible. When they go wrong the boat sinks!
Obviously a failure during the development phase of the sunroof. The need to key the GRP should have been determined before the sunroof feature was launched.
Great video👍 when he removed the old sunroof, there appeared to be a smaller section of sunroof being removed from the aperture before the wide dark layer was removed. I didn’t see him replace the inner part? Is it integral to the dark wider piece?
@@tgburchick yes, the new one is all bonded together.
@@tgburchick yes, the new one is all bonded together.
We bought out first caravan in 1975 and have owned numerous makes including Thomson, Minster, Swift and Lunar. Interesting only Swift are still manufacturing caravans, The Thomson had a tongue and groove floor .hard wood frame walls with fibre glass matting for insolation, gas mantles and foot pump and we loved it even though I had to rebuild a corner because it was rotten. I have found that caravans with any degree of dampness tend to have a musty smell and it is something I check for when opening the door for the first time. I would also always lift the rubber trim around the windows to check the condition of the wooden frame for dampness..
can't hear you
Another interesting video, thanks. We have a Swift Challenger 630 (TA) purchased new in 2019 (before Covid and the price hikes!). We have had a couple of small issues (cracked sink and door blind replaced) but apart from that nothing until the beginning of this year, when we had a small leak into one of the bedroom cupboards at the back. We were in Fez (Morocco) at the time and I put some wide marine waterproof tape (which I carry with me) over the roof seal and some sealant. This sorted the problem until we returned home and it went to the dealer for a 'proper' warranty repair. BTW you did a previous video about this, 'Swift SMART Construction & What Can Go Wrong'! We have the caravan regularly serviced and if any niggling faults crop up I get them sorted right away. I'm happy with the caravan but people need to remember that caravans are made from lightweight materials, unlike boats for example. Also, as I read somewhere, your caravan is subjected to an earthquake of several hours duration every time you tow it somewhere. So it is no wonder that things will occasionally come to bits. Having towed our caravan from The Scottish Highlands, down through the UK and Europe and then toured Morocco, twice (2019/2020 & 2023/2024), each time a journey of over 5,500 miles, that was a LOT of earthquakes!
Im looking to buy a caravan for next year, ive had a couple of vans in the past which both had damp. So of course i like the sound of the swift grp build. I know can still get leaks etc but shouldnt get damp. I will be looking for a newish caravan hope i can get a good one. Love the videos, your an honest man but you might as well be in Australia from where im at. Keep us informed thankyou again for the vids.
I’ve had 5 swifts since 1987. No leaks or damp in any, 3 totally fault free, a cushion issue with combustion modified foam seats in 1989 - quickly resolved. A dribble from a show on a 2022 Challenger sorted quickly and my 2023 Conqueror Alko hitch linings broke and drawer runner came off - fixed immediately. The 2023 has done 3,500 ish miles and been on 30 road trips so far with no more issues. Im very happy to recommend Swift.
Ideal, it’s good to get some positive comments, I really don’t want to put people off caravans, it’s just it seems no one is bringing it up, and the issues need to be talked about.
I can have 2 10 day holidays abroad just for the rental of a site for my caravan. That's before I buy it
The manufacturers sound like the British car industry in the 70s before the Japanese came along, Toyota in particular, with their radical approach to quality and design.
Keep an eye out for my video on a flirtation with Chinese manufacturers..
So what is the Elldis SoLID construction? Our SoLID Compass Rallye, after 10 years, had damp everywhere. Appalling!!
Our 2014 elddis as leaked from areas that were not the Solid joints. e.g windows and sunroofs where use of incorrect sealants or over tightening of screws as caused cracking in sunroof frames creating leakpaths.
They just used a specific bonding sealant.
@watto7728 our leaks were everywhere. Sunroofs, windows, SoLID seams etc. We got out of caravanning forever, but I'm still shocked and appalled. A very complacent and old-fashioned industry, perhaps.
@@atlanticcaravansUK hey up, on the front sunroof they used two different sealants, 2/3rd way round a flexible bedding sealant and another a non flexible sealant and no reinforcement batons as recommended by sietz in the cut outs in both holes. Batons now in place and correct sealant used.
Its the first thing in a line of things disappearing on the way to net zero.
I dont understand why the industry dont see the relationship with the motor industry, new vehicles are not diesel, and availability of suitable tow cars are now limited electric cars just dont suit, and land rovers, no one can insure them now and thats because most are stolen. then there are the camp sites, with a caravan you Cannot side of the road camp, wild camp, and the pitch prices have doubled. its a complete disaster, new tow cars rising cost, insurance doubling, finance costs explosion and ridiculous cost of caravans. its a rich mans game and no one is rich with mortgage costs rising dramatically, and more and more being affected kicking in. This is a cost of living crising knock on effect. food costs, eating out costs, electric and even gas bottles, and repairs taking AGES.
Why are they talking about 2025 models when we are only halfway through 2024, but generally vans are to expensive it's not a cheap holiday alternative, it's like the static van situation they want to sell you a static van for probably 10-15 thousand above what they paid for it,and then when you go to sell it there offering you a pittance, for it, I know I've been there and lost thousands, so don't waste money on static vans.
Superb video , knowledgeable , truthful and informative . It's given me a great insight & confidence to tackle issues on my motorhome.....
Thank you, glad you’ve found it helpful, be sure to subscribe for more like it.
Site fees are a massive factor in this . Greedy site owners with unrealistic inflated prices . You can stay in a luxury hotel breakfast included for the same price .
where can you buy Adria from in England?
Our 2023 Eriba Nova Light 470…..lots of damp issues. Some still unresolved as yet.Waiting for Eriba Germany for parts……told 10 to 12 weeks wait……
Oh, that’s a new one, an Eriba having an issue, nothing is infallible I suppose.
I have a 2023 Eriba 470 feeling, which is similar to yours but with a pop top. Happy with the quality and no issues to report.. Sorry to hear about your damp problems, hope they are properly resolved.
We have a 2021 Swift Challenger X835 from new and never had any issues
Fewer cars capable of towing. Especially with all new cars being electric from 2030 or 2035 depending on government. Expensive poor range even solo. Many people being turned off
Caravans need to be much lighter and simpler - diesel sales are dropping, fewer new cars have decent towing capacity. I’ve always looked at caravanning as posh camping. My first van (secondhand) was a 5 berth Monza cost £500 about 16 years ago think it weighed 650kg empty.
We got our new 2023 swift elegance 835 in Feb. We use it heavily and So far we have had no problems and feel the quality and build of it is really 9.5 out of 10. Over the moon with it as we were fully expecting there to be issues that would need to ironed out. Looked at other vans, coachman lusso, the buccaneers, adria and swift was by far the best when it came to build and what we were looking for. ( also loved adria but they didn’t have the right floor-plan/ spec for us) looked at lots of coachman & buccaneer and We were horrified at how poor and cheap some felt. Went in the buccaneer range with high expectations as they look great but found The level of finish shocking, Esp at this end of the market. We did find coachman ok but hated how dark their interiors felt with the heavily tinted windows and dark upholstery. So Apart from the sky high price and weight of the caravan we picked we couldn’t be more happy with our purchase so far.
Brilliant, this is what we need to hear, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are good caravans out there, and I’m still sure they are in the majority.
We are looking for a caravan for September we were looking for a swift at 35,000 now we are second guessing everything we want something for our retirement
Hi, don’t let all this put you off, like I said in some of the videos, there are lots of caravans out there with no issues at all. It’s important to buy local and have a good relationship with your dealer so if you do have problems there is an easy route to getting them fixed.
Interesting, I bought a Lunar back in 2016, which, since they went bankrupt, hasn't held much value. However the maintenance cost over the full ownership period was less than £500 so the plan is to keep it until it falls apart, I don't suspect anyone would take it on part-ex anyway.
Had a few caravans here in New Zealand and have to admit that most of the problems get sorted out before being imported. In my various dealings with repairs on vans the main thing I hear is unfair customer EXPECTATIONS. People expect because the salesperson doesnt explain in the first place or they just dont know what they are looking for and dont chat to an experienced caravanner. I believe that there isnt a "bad" caravan as no seller in their right minds sell a bad deal.
1 and a half years in on our 2008 adria fleetwood melody and other than a few minor issues with a faulty tap no damp issues, lightweight but very spacious, its a keeper.
I used to sell those back in the day, loved them, so easy to work on as well..
I think a lot depends on how you can store your caravan. If you can get it out of the sun and have it covered in some way to limit the chance of leaks I think that is very different to a van stored outside in all weathers
Undercover storage is the way forward, I’ve been looking for suitable premises for ages.
You should give more positives about the enjoyment of caravanning,they are a shed on wheels or a home on wheels depending on your approach
In our third Adria and had minimal issues and zero leaks & damp. Love the brand.
I’m also on my third Adria love them to bits not had any build quality issues. I’ve also owned UK built caravans and have had problems with them. What Adria have you got nice to speak with other Adria owners
@@Mike-ip8hg hi. Yes we had a Bailey which had terrible damp. We’ve got an Alpina Mississippi , what about you?
I’ve got the astella front kitchen.
@@Mike-ip8hg Nice, we very nearly bought one, such a great layout
we’re are you based I’m in Nottingham. Would like to talk with you as don’t see many Adria’s .
European Vans seem to be the better option, until Toyota start making them. 🤣
I was talking to the Chinese about making caravans, keep an eye out for that video coming soon.
@@atlanticcaravansUKcan’t do any worse 😂
We have a sterling elite explorer 2007 model. I maintain it myself and it has zero issues. Never had any damp and still bone dry. Had this for nearly 7yrs now.
With a lot of caravan manufacturers close to bankruptcy, you can probably get the company for almost nothing. As to which one to buy, that's a good question.
12 months old, that’s shocking..
Unfortunately, I have to agree with you regarding Elddis. My 2018 Buccaneer which I have had from new has had the following damp issues since purchase, Rear panel roof stress crack, Front panel roof stress crack, offside wheel arch re-sealed, both rear corner floor joints re-sealed, Heki roof light frame cracked and replaced, near side front locker door frame removed and re-sealed, gas locker floor replaced due to rotting. It currently has water ingress through the offside awning rail and is waiting the go ahead from Elddis after a warranty claim was submitted around 4 months ago. Both of the roof stress cracks and the gas locker floor were rejected warranty claims and had to be repaired at my cost.
I did have one comment where Elddis were only giving 1 year on the rear panel. I wonder why the roof cracks were rejected, surely nothing you’ve done?
@@atlanticcaravansUK The front and rear panels are only covered in the first year of the warranty and in a nutshell they said if it was a manufacturing fault it would have shown in the first year so put the blame on me accusing me of driving through potholes.
@@fy7chris that’s shocking.. never heard such tosh..
@@fy7chris actually I have, the dometic windows were cracking and they said that customers were at fault by cleaning it with something they shouldn’t.
Fully enjoy your video from showing how to sort things out to these chat ones.
Thanks, not so much the caravan cleaning then?
@@atlanticcaravansUK I did comment on the cleaning video yesterday, I mentioned a little safety tip too. I enjoy the cleaning videos as I enjoy detailing and can't stand a dirty van. and I was only in the jennychem offie/wherehouse on Friday as not far from me You should have a lot more subscribers then you do. All the best to you
Thanks, I’ll just keep adding videos, hopefully the subscribers will follow.
I had a German LMC for 11 years no problems I then had a Hymer 570 for 15 years no problems I now have a Hymer 590 for 6 years. But it did leak on a locker door and leaked under the bed I was told had this os been a British caravan it would of been a right off but mine the seal was replaced and over summer it dried out and you can not tell. Before all this I had 6 British caravan and all leaked with two being right offs even though they were only 12 months old. I sued the dealer and manufacturer and received enough in compensation to pay cash for my first German caravan. I have the best damp test meter you can buy and test every time I go away on holiday. James
Bought a Bailey Cadiz new in 2020, one usb faulty and a side window cord resulting in a replacement blind, otherwise faultless, excellent dealer.
Who was the dealer, good service is always worth a mention.
Ropers Catterick North Yorks
Had a 2019 Cadiz, had water getting into the uderside of the floor edges and corners this winter, check under the floor after heavy rain and look for any water staining.
Hi ! We’ve had 5 new swift products since 2008 , 4 caravans and one motorhome , the latest one is the first one with any damp issues picked up by highbridge caravans on second service , van is a 2022 sprite Quattro ! Can’t complain too much waiting for warranty work to be sorted out !
Your sat in our Unicorn 🦄
Yes..