Water Ingress into Rear Garage

[Jez1966]

Anyone with similar experience care to share their wisdom on this issue and possible solution.

It's been an issue from day one really, or from the 1st time we travelling in the rain.
2021 Swift Kon-Tiki 599 Sport
Looking the gasket/seal that should in fitted in the joint has, basically not been and the marks support that this joint is the point of ingress.

Just had to drive 2 days in light rain and we now have a small swimming pool in the garage.

This is the 1st time we've driven in the rain since arriving in USA and we're not back in UK for another 6 months.
You can follow our misadventures @ https://www.polarsteps.com/JezAng/7186963-gap-year

I'm thinking I'm going to have to cut away the NOT installed gasket/seal and apply sealant, I don't really have any choice but to DIY at this time.
Fortunately the pullout installation means the content is not swimming, but things are still getting wet/damp.
No doubt the dealer we bought from will take issue with DIY but as they failed to notice/bother to correct the seal on original delivery
return by original owner (Maybe this was part of the reason for the return after only 6 month), check before resale or noticed/reported when they
installed the towing bracket.

 

[buzz1]

Sorry to hear your troubles,
I’m sure someone on here will give you good solid advice , hard to see the real problem from photo, but by your description sound like all you have do is refill joint with a form of mastic ,
Obviously try to leave it as empty as possible to dry out, then fill it as a temporary fix
Sorry not much help
but hope you get it sorted as soon as possible,

 

[TheBig1]

If swift built boats they would all sink. Normal swift build quality. The best you can do is dry and clean the outside joint and neatly seal it with sikaflex before the wood startsrotting, and it will if left

 

[Jez1966]

Sorry to hear your troubles,
I’m sure someone on here will give you good solid advice , hard to see the real problem from photo, but by your description sound like all you have do is refill joint with a form of mastic ,
Obviously try to leave it as empty as possible to dry out, then fill it as a temporary fix
Sorry not much help
but hope you get it sorted as soon as possible,

The "real problem" is easy to see, I'm driving around with a swimming pool at the back of my 2 year old Swift Kon-Tiki 599.

The cause is much more difficult and given Swift advertised "Luxury, Multi award-winning Swift Kon-Tiki" is it for the 1st UK motorhome with
integrated swimming pool?

The black marks clearly show the path of the water.


There is clearly an issue with the seal missed by Swift QC and multiple times by dealer.

Due to necessity I have to find a fix but should I on a 6 month old £100k motorhome as it was when we first raised the issue?

 

[Jez1966]

If swift built boats they would all sink. Normal swift build quality. The best you can do is dry and clean the outside joint and neatly seal it with sikaflex before the wood startsrotting, and it will if left

A not so ringing endorsement for a company advertising "Multi award-winning Swift Kon-Tiki"
Guessing, as previously stated, the award is for integral pool.

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

Not just Swift, had that with my (alleged() top German motorhome manufacturer a month or so after I collected it from Germany
Their top chap said cover the van with a tarpaulin it was working it’s way under the bed are and making the van damp.
Finally after a few not so flattering emails and threat of taking the van back they collected from my house took it back to Germany and then returned it a few weeks later.
Best part was they asked me to go to Germany and make sure I was happy with the fix
Turns out it wasn’t bonded correctly on the roof joint and water was tracking down.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Several brushed on waterproof coatings to the front area of the garage wall facing the back wheels would also help, after a generous bead of sealant has been squeezed in.
Mike.

 

[Bubba]

Grade the garage and put a drain in.
OK maybe not.
Good drop of Sealant and a good few coats of a decent water proof coating should get you through the 6 months no problem. If you do too good a job the dealer will just claim it's sorted.

 

[Mark oliver]

I had the same problem with our 2019 model from new. Took the view that returning it the dealer would be a pain, time, excuses, part not arrived, man got Covid etc etc, so we sealed it ourselves and not been a problem since. Don’t understand how they can build a new van and leave a gap of 10 mm open to the elements and not realise it’s going to cause problems.

 

[Lenny HB]

As it is still covered by the water ingress warranty before you make any temporary repairs make sure you tell your dealer and get their approval for the temporary repairs.
They will use anything they can think of to get out of warranty claims.

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[The POPs]

Reli

Anyone with similar experience care to share their wisdom on this issue and possible solution.

It's been an issue from day one really, or from the 1st time we travelling in the rain.
2021 Swift Kon-Tiki 599 Sport
Looking the gasket/seal that should in fitted in the joint has, basically not been and the marks support that this joint is the point of ingress.
View attachment 833863View attachment 833860
Just had to drive 2 days in light rain and we now have a small swimming pool in the garage.
View attachment 833856View attachment 833857
This is the 1st time we've driven in the rain since arriving in USA and we're not back in UK for another 6 months.
You can follow our misadventures @ https://www.polarsteps.com/JezAng/7186963-gap-year

I'm thinking I'm going to have to cut away the NOT installed gasket/seal and apply sealant, I don't really have any choice but to DIY at this time.
Fortunately the pullout installation means the content is not swimming, but things are still getting wet/damp.
No doubt the dealer we bought from will take issue with DIY but as they failed to notice/bother to correct the seal on original delivery
return by original owner (Maybe this was part of the reason for the return after only 6 month), check before resale or noticed/reported when they
installed the towing bracket. View attachment 833858 View attachment 833859

 

[koko]

A not so ringing endorsement for a company advertising "Multi award-winning Swift Kon-Tiki"
Guessing, as previously stated, the award is for integral pool.

 

[koko]

Mar 20 bought new Chausson Titanium
Apr 21 back to dealer for service/habitation checks ( hardly used because of Covid) excessive damp readings in rear garage area dealer states “submitted claim for repairs to Chausson “ did not advise me of any progress on claim.
Apr 22 back to dealer for service/habitation checks, No damp found !!
After a dispute with the dealer I discover they have been in possession of damp repair parts for over 6 months but have not told me.
Apr 23 find new Chausson agent and put Motorhome in for service/habitation checks severe damp found in garage claim for repairs submitted to Chausson by new dealer - Chausson rejects claim as it has been “dealt with” by previous dealer .
Eventually all sorted, complete new garage floor fitted.
When I challenged the original dealer about their 2022 habitation check damp test results (dry) they refunded the cost of the habitation checks whilst not admitting the readings for damp were a work of pure fiction.
Obviously the Motorhome had left Chausson with an unsealed garage floor.
PS I love the van.

 

[Mzracer]

Anyone with similar experience care to share their wisdom on this issue and possible solution.

It's been an issue from day one really, or from the 1st time we travelling in the rain.
2021 Swift Kon-Tiki 599 Sport
Looking the gasket/seal that should in fitted in the joint has, basically not been and the marks support that this joint is the point of ingress.
View attachment 833863View attachment 833860
Just had to drive 2 days in light rain and we now have a small swimming pool in the garage.
View attachment 833856View attachment 833857
This is the 1st time we've driven in the rain since arriving in USA and we're not back in UK for another 6 months.
You can follow our misadventures @ https://www.polarsteps.com/JezAng/7186963-gap-year

I'm thinking I'm going to have to cut away the NOT installed gasket/seal and apply sealant, I don't really have any choice but to DIY at this time.
Fortunately the pullout installation means the content is not swimming, but things are still getting wet/damp.
No doubt the dealer we bought from will take issue with DIY but as they failed to notice/bother to correct the seal on original delivery
return by original owner (Maybe this was part of the reason for the return after only 6 month), check before resale or noticed/reported when they
installed the towing bracket. View attachment 833858 View attachment 833859 View attachment 833862

I cannot say anything positive about your experience.

However I will say that you are an extremely brave man taking a MH like that to the USA, my hat is doffed to you.

 

[Clive Beeza]

Anyone with similar experience care to share their wisdom on this issue and possible solution.

It's been an issue from day one really, or from the 1st time we travelling in the rain.
2021 Swift Kon-Tiki 599 Sport
Looking the gasket/seal that should in fitted in the joint has, basically not been and the marks support that this joint is the point of ingress.
View attachment 833863View attachment 833860
Just had to drive 2 days in light rain and we now have a small swimming pool in the garage.
View attachment 833856View attachment 833857
This is the 1st time we've driven in the rain since arriving in USA and we're not back in UK for another 6 months.
You can follow our misadventures @ https://www.polarsteps.com/JezAng/7186963-gap-year

I'm thinking I'm going to have to cut away the NOT installed gasket/seal and apply sealant, I don't really have any choice but to DIY at this time.
Fortunately the pullout installation means the content is not swimming, but things are still getting wet/damp.
No doubt the dealer we bought from will take issue with DIY but as they failed to notice/bother to correct the seal on original delivery
return by original owner (Maybe this was part of the reason for the return after only 6 month), check before resale or noticed/reported when they
installed the towing bracket. View attachment 833858 View attachment 833859 View attachment 833862

As it is still under warranty from swift email them direct
explain where you are, add photos and ask their consent to take the van to an USA RV dealer
and if given the OK, get a written report on the causation of the ingress from the repairer.
If polite but firm with swift in the email
they should respond with an affirmative to your need for an USA repair carried out
please report back on this forum their response
we are all interested
good luck.

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[Mzracer]

Not just Swift, had that with my (alleged() top German motorhome manufacturer a month or so after I collected it from Germany
Their top chap said cover the van with a tarpaulin it was working it’s way under the bed are and making the van damp.
Finally after a few not so flattering emails and threat of taking the van back they collected from my house took it back to Germany and then returned it a few weeks later.
Best part was they asked me to go to Germany and make sure I was happy with the fix
Turns out it wasn’t bonded correctly on the roof joint and water was tracking down.

Had three Jerry built MH's, all tinder dry.

 

[Mzracer]

As it is still under warranty from swift email them direct
explain where you are, add photos and ask their consent to take the van to an USA RV dealer
and if given the OK, get a written report on the causation of the ingress from the repairer.
If polite but firm with swift in the email
they should respond with an affirmative to your need for an USA repair carried out
please report back on this forum their response
we are all interested
good luck.

Bob Hope and No Hope spring to mind.

 

[tramman]

I found this video a help previously in describing the issue to the dealer.

 

[Brocksford]

Agree with Clive. Do not invalidate your warranty with a DIY fix that does not work. Communicate with Swift before any repair.

 

[Jez1966]

Thank you all for advise and especially tramman for video like, I spent a few hours trawling the net and found nothing that so clearly illustrated the issue.
Written to Swift, awaiting reply.
I'll keep you posted.

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[Ducatian]

We had exactly the same issue with our 2019 Swift Bessacarr (predecessor to yours). We had to purposfully drive in rain to prove and film it.
Dealer was great. Took a couple of visits to totally cure, but fixed in the end. Make sure you have your Annuals done to keep the Bodywork warranty in place.

 

[minesapint]

If swift built boats they would all sink. Normal swift build quality. The best you can do is dry and clean the outside joint and neatly seal it with sikaflex before the wood startsrotting, and it will if left

I once bought a brand new Swift, after owning both a Hymer and a Dethleff. It was a huge disappointment, more time having warranty work done than using it. Pipes not connected, wash room not fitted properly and had to be replaced due to poorly laminated shelves and bulkheads, generally a not very well put together thing. Sold it after 18months, of which I only had the use of it for 10 months and that was including winter. Bough a Hobby to replace it, much better.

 

[Lenny HB]

One point when contacting the dealer try not to mention you are on an extended trip as a lot of Brit vans have a clause in their warranty about not valued for full time use which they often consider to be longer than few weeks for a trip.

 

[nabsim]

Duct tape may do a temp job that shouldn’t affect warranty

 

[Jez1966]

AS mentioned I wrote to Swift including youtube link and pictures.
I stated I like to make a temporary repair, removing the redundant gasket and applying sealant as per the video

Reply from Swift:
Good Afternoon
Thank you for your email.
I am really sorry to learn of the issue that you are having with the Motorhome and the disappointment caused.
I can confirm that we are happy for you to perform a temporary repair to the Motorhome until you return to the UK in April.
Please ensure that you get this booked into your dealer upon your return.
Have an amazing trip.
Kind Regards
=============================================================================================

Thanks to all for the responses

​

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[Jez1966]

One point when contacting the dealer try not to mention you are on an extended trip as a lot of Brit vans have a clause in their warranty about not valued for full time use which they often consider to be longer than few weeks for a trip.

Arr... the "it's warranted provided you don't use it much clause".

 

[bladerunner]

p.s. I've loved just reading your blog.

I had a kontiki 669 and water ingress within a year ( FS front has window area) sorted by dealer 1st her check

 

[tramman]

Pleased to see a positive and importantly a common sense outcome from Swift. I have only had a few dealings with them with by email or the Swift Life web page and have had no issues at all. Safe travels. P.S I’ve requested to follow your blog looks amazing so far (my initials are SP)

 

[angiep]

Until you get it sealed put some puppy pee pads to absorb the water. I'm sure they won't absorb it all but they may help soak some of it up.

 

[Jez1966]

I cannot say anything positive about your experience.

However I will say that you are an extremely brave man taking a MH like that to the USA, my hat is doffed to you.

Question: When you say "you are an extremely brave man taking a MH LIKE THAT to the USA"
Is it taking a/any MH to USA or specifically a Swift Kon-Tiki?

Seriously we have had a wonderful time and other than a few '000 miles why is it any different to going to southern Spain?
Preparation is the key.