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Problems with new Coachman VIP

Ribble replied on 11/10/2017 18:09

Ribble profile picture Member

Ribble

Posted on 11/10/2017 18:09

After 6 years ownership of Bailey Unicorn Madrid ownership finally traded for a Coachman VIP after continuous problems with paint delamination and water ingress on the Bailey. "Out of the frying pan into the fire" - the Coachman has been worse than the Bailey with problems of water ingress into the front locker amongst many other issues. Dealer has tried several times to fix issues and we now hope that a new enclosure door and seal has fixed the problem but concern remains that water will still enter the front enclosure especially when towing in the rain. Coachman don't want to know about the issue (have written to MD and had no reply) but which I believe is fundamentally a very poor design and wrong to expect that the dealer will be able to sort it out. Am I the only one to experience continuous problems with a new Coachman?

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dunton10 replied on 22/10/2017 20:08

dunton10 profile picture Member

dunton10

Caravanner

Posted on 22/10/2017 20:08

Been caravanning 30 years, 6 vans in total a mixture of swift, abbey, elddis and presently coachman vip. Bought new in 2015 and has been the worst van I have owned. Currently back at the factory for damp,repairs and three other major problems. Plus I’ve fixed numerous minor bits and bobs as you do. Let’s see how the factory do with the fix but I have to say I’ve been waiting months for it to go in and communication has been dire. Am  I confident it will come back 100% for the first time since I’ve owned it. No.

heard the horror stories about bailey, swift, lunar and Elddis and went for coachman for better build quality.!,!

ATDel replied on 22/10/2017 20:34

ATDel profile picture Member

ATDel

Motorhomer from Devon
Posted on 12/10/2017 18:10 by TimJim

Your front locker problem isnt a problem. They simply are not designed to be watertight. Front lockers with gas bottle storage needs gas drop holes as in your Coachman.  Not designed to be  watertight as gaps are all around the perimeter to facilitate ventilation. They will and do dry out as fast as they get wet. No cause for alarm.

Tj

Posted on 22/10/2017 20:34

Really? Under My oven in the van there is a hole for gas drop, that’s water tight I have a hole in the floor under one of the beds which is water tight so I would expect the gas locker to be water tight and if mine wasn’t I’d be getting it sorted the floor will rot

Tinwheeler replied on 22/10/2017 21:23

Tinwheeler profile picture

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall
Posted on 22/10/2017 20:34 by ATDel

Really? Under My oven in the van there is a hole for gas drop, that’s water tight I have a hole in the floor under one of the beds which is water tight so I would expect the gas locker to be water tight and if mine wasn’t I’d be getting it sorted the floor will rot

Posted on 22/10/2017 21:23

If it's water tight, it's also gas tight, Kev, and that's no good for a gas locker. 

I've never had a van where the front locker floor is part of the main floor of the caravan.

 

PS. We didn't meet. When you said West Cornwall I thought we had but Treamble is more Mid-Cornwall. laughing

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