Crack

[Dogsense]

Expiriance Cleaver Funsters, your advice needed Please.
While washing our Autotrail MH, noticed a small crack top side (side part of the roof).
The MH is 2.5 years old and autotrail said our of warranty, they will quote for the repair.

What can be the caused for it? How/where the best to do the repair? (We are in Leicestershire)
Thanks for your help

 

[magicsurfbus]

My engineer friend tells me the best way to stop any crack is to drill a neat hole at its furthest end.

Then sealant?

 

[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Bottom bit looks like sealant shrinking, scrape out and reseal, top one, drill small hole at end of crack and fill with gelcoat possibly

Peter

 

[mjltigger]

I would see if a legal Beagle on here can give you some advice. I would also ask an independent engineer to have a look and identify the cause. It doesn't seem right to me that after only 2.5 years a very expensive item like this needs major work.

 

[MikeD]

My Autotrail is around 2.5 years old and I thought I had a TEN year body warranty!!!!!

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[laurieash]

My Autotrail is around 2.5 years old and I thought I had a TEN year body warranty!!!!!

Me too

 

[Terry]

How can it be out of warranty ? @ 2.5 yrs old ???? I would slag them off/tell everyone what they are saying

Then I would simply do what looks less than £100 repair and sod em
terry

 

[Puddleduck]

Did you buy it from a dealer? If so they are responsible and if you don't get any joy then good old trading standards........

 

[MikeD]

I would raise a complaint with Autotrail.

Their warranty states: "the motorhome is covered by a two years makers warranty and a one year insurance backed warranty to provide a three year habitation warranty for total peace of mind."

It also states: Year 1-5 full cover by Autotrail - "that it has a ten year makers warranty against the breakdown of the body seals"

I cannot see how what has happened is not covered somewhere in their warranty.

Surely "total peace of mind" means something to them!!

 

[Wildman]

sling it back and demand it sorted.

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[Dogsense]

Thanks for your comments.
I know that it is 10 years water ingress warranty.
We bought it from a private seller 21 months old with 1300 mil on the clock.
Acording to what autoTrail told the technical man, at the dealer we have used for some work and we showed him the pictures which he forward to them, our warranty expired, I have still to check if there is extra insurance warranty.
Are there any good, reliable repairers that you know of in Leicestarshire?

 

[MikeD]

Autotrail state it is transferable but you must apply direct to MB&G at the time of change of ownership with a fee of £50

Small print get out

I know of no repairers in Leicester but have used Elite near Banbury for a crack in the fibreglass front overhead part. (I hit a tree)

They did a great job and I would recommend them. Send them photographs and ask for a quote.

 

[tonka]

My understanding is that the original warranty can be transfered BUT you do need to advise Autotrail.
The 3rd year is covered by a third party MB&G.... I suspect they will use the get out clause if you have not notified AT for the owner change.
Not sure when the 10 year ingress warranty started, I know it is on my 2012 model.

If you get stuck for a repairer try here http://www.motorhomerepairs.co.uk/ they are Autotrail approved..

If you haven't already done it then it may be wise to get a Hab check done and ensure there is no water ingress..

 

[pappajohn]

Looks like a gel coat crack and a relatively easy repair.

Any boatbuilders/repairers near you?

 

[Dogsense]

We transferred the MB&G to our name when bought the MH.
Thanks for the repairers recommendation, will try to contact them, Babury and Cannock are nearer to us then Autotrail in Grimsby.

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[joncris]

It may be out of THEIR warranty but its not out of the SOGA and a motorhome (unless abused by the owner) would be expected to last much longer than 2.5 years. If they won't do the decent thing report them to TS other than that sue the beggars AND keep everything in writing. If telephoning ensure you can record the conversation

 

[Jaws]

As Jon says.. One of the few advantages of being in the EU.
Even white goods have a minimum of two years warranty under the EU statutory rights rules ( contrary to what people like Currys will claim )

 

[tonka]

Get it checked first and see what the repairers say.. If you have MB&G then it shoukd be covered, however I have heard of limitations on gel repairs....
Mine is booked into Cannock resprays for next wednesday for them to look at and report back to Autotrail..

 

[haganap]

I reckon by the time you have spent your money arguing you will be better off saving your time and getting it repaired. It's not that tough to repair and should be relatively inexpensive, you could even give it a go yourself with a little knowledge.

 

[Jaws]

Thinking about this, it is not the crack its self but what CAUSED the crack.. If the body is flexing that much there may just be an underlying larger problem

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[Terry]

Thinking about this, it is not the crack its self but what CAUSED the crack.. If the body is flexing that much there may just be an underlying larger problem

that may be true John but what do you think they will do ?They will/may do the obvious repair and that's it --What is the chance of them looking deeper into this when they are already wriggling Haggers is of the same school of thought as me
terry

 

[joncris]

I reckon by the time you have spent your money arguing you will be better off saving your time and getting it repaired. It's not that tough to repair and should be relatively inexpensive, you could even give it a go yourself with a little knowledge.

Yes do that but tell them before it goes for repair and at the same time tell them you'll be sending them the bill

 

[mjltigger]

Thinking about this, it is not the crack its self but what CAUSED the crack.. If the body is flexing that much there may just be an underlying larger problem

I agree. See post 4 ..

Identifying the cause is more important than anything else right now.

 

[funflair]

I will be just in the Gelcoat, possibly a bit too thick as this can cause cracking, the only way to fix it is with a local repair, warm it up a little bit and get some polyester resin to suck in with the heat and that will stabilise anything going on behind then it wants a bit of gel wiping into the crack to seal and hide it. Then it looks like it needs the joint resealing as JC says.

As others have said, local boatyard/fibreglass shop if the dealer isn't playing ball.

 

[Jim]

Key parts of the SOGA do not apply when you buy a second hand vehicle from a private seller. Do take advice

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[Jaws]

Bugger .. never noticed it was bought privately

 

[Terry]

Listen to FunFlair ( Martin )-if he does not know what he is on about in this matter then nobody does
terry

 

[joncris]

Key parts of the SOGA do not apply when you buy a second hand vehicle from a private seller. Do take advice

Thought it was dealer bought

 

[Dogsense]

Thanks.

Yes Jaws, that is what I am worried about.

Going to see AutoTrail on the 9th February, will see what they will say, also contacted Cannock Resprays and Nick Bolton motorhome repair at Elite, send both the pictures and waiting to their reply.