Post by Brian M on Oct 28, 2008 12:50:16 GMT
From: saffy79 (Original Message) Sent: 22/05/2006 17:17
what is the best way to repair a safari caravan door? as when it rains it leaks in and is going rotten. i live just outside bristol and wondered if anyone knows of any good places to visit to get the problem fixed. Many thanks, ian
From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 22/05/2006 19:15
Sorry, can't be a lot of help on this one, but can at least offer a couple of starters.
> what is the best way to repair a safari caravan door? as when it rains it leaks in and is going rotten.
The classic starting point is to try to identify where the leak actually is. And I presume that you mean that it is the door, rather than the rest of the caravan, which gets wet and is going rotten; if it is the rest of the caravan that gets wet, start by checking the rubber door seal.
Although I have never found a Safari door to leak, possible points of ingress are between the aluminium moulding round the edge and the frame of the door, around the window, and (very localised) around the handle/lock and around the hinges.
If the rubber seal round the edge is damaged or missing this can admit rain into the interior of the caravan, and could conceivably let water into the structure (of both door and doorframe) around the door edges.
It is worth checking the alignment of door and frame, to ensure that the seal is actually able to work properly; the gap should be reasonably even all round. Before checking this, make sure that the 'van is correctly levelled, and the corner steadies correctly set up; even when our Safaris were reasonably new I have on occasion found the alignment change noticeably depending on the adjustment of the nearside rear corner steady, so there was clearly slight flexibility and possible twist in body and chassis.
If the door is dropping on its hinges (perhaps due to worn hinges dropping the door vertically) there will be a gap at the top. Other misalignment problems may become apparent upon careful inspection.
If absolutely correctly aligned, but the seal jams against the aluminium and crushes instead of sliding smoothly, it is likely to mean that you need brute force to shut the door properly, and that even when you do get it shut the seal isn't sitting correctly. Check the alignment again, and if you are still absolutely certain that there really is nothing wrong there then check the smoothness of the metal surface and the condition of the seal. If there is a rough deposit of old rubber or general grot on the metal, clean it off; if the semi-polished metal surface has become roughened you may have to use abrasive paper to smooth it off.. If the seal is torn, or badly roughened, it really needs replacement.
If when you have done all these checks the seal is still binding when you try to shut the door, and you really cannot find a cure, in the last resort try lubricating it; try silicone lubricant spray, or failing that try water with a little soap or detergent added. Do not of course use oil!
If you can identify where the water seems to be getting in we may then be able to assist further. However the sad news is that if it really is going rotten you will never get it watertight without first replacing the rotted wood.
> wondered if anyone knows of any good places to visit to get the problem fixed
You are not very far from Pearman Briggs Leisure, in Gloucester (at Longlevens, on the Cheltenham road, about 1/4 mile inwards from the outer bypass; as you drive towards the city centre they are after the first set of traffic lights and on your left ). Although there is no longer any official link, historically the firm descends directly from the original builders of the 'van, and one of their senior workshop staff (Gareth) is an enthusiastic member of this Group.
If you ae towing, be warned that their forecourt is a little limited in size, and sometimes very crowded; it can sometimes be difficult to park a caravan there if you just arrive on spec.
Nearer to your home, there are bound to be competent caravan workshops in or near Bristol. There may also be mobile operators in your area; try the adverts in the Caravan Club Magazine (and also the Camping & Caravanning Club, and perhaps the commercial magazines, and ask for recommendations from the club offices.
Hope this is at least some help; sorry I can't do more at this stage.
Oliver
From: Brian Sent: 22/05/2006 19:28
Ian
This is not a problem we have discussed before on the group, but I am sure someone has faced it before and can provide a more knowledgeable answer than I can.
I would suggest that you first need to identify exactly where the water is getting through. If between the door frame and the bodywork, it should not be too difficult to re-seal round the edges with sealant.
There seems to be a bit of adjustment on the hinges to ensure that the door is fitting tightly to the frame and also make sure the latch is holding the door fully closed.
If the leaks are through the door itself then it would seem that the only answer would be to rebuild and reseal the door.
So over to the experts.......
Brian Miller
what is the best way to repair a safari caravan door? as when it rains it leaks in and is going rotten. i live just outside bristol and wondered if anyone knows of any good places to visit to get the problem fixed. Many thanks, ian
From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 22/05/2006 19:15
Sorry, can't be a lot of help on this one, but can at least offer a couple of starters.
> what is the best way to repair a safari caravan door? as when it rains it leaks in and is going rotten.
The classic starting point is to try to identify where the leak actually is. And I presume that you mean that it is the door, rather than the rest of the caravan, which gets wet and is going rotten; if it is the rest of the caravan that gets wet, start by checking the rubber door seal.
Although I have never found a Safari door to leak, possible points of ingress are between the aluminium moulding round the edge and the frame of the door, around the window, and (very localised) around the handle/lock and around the hinges.
If the rubber seal round the edge is damaged or missing this can admit rain into the interior of the caravan, and could conceivably let water into the structure (of both door and doorframe) around the door edges.
It is worth checking the alignment of door and frame, to ensure that the seal is actually able to work properly; the gap should be reasonably even all round. Before checking this, make sure that the 'van is correctly levelled, and the corner steadies correctly set up; even when our Safaris were reasonably new I have on occasion found the alignment change noticeably depending on the adjustment of the nearside rear corner steady, so there was clearly slight flexibility and possible twist in body and chassis.
If the door is dropping on its hinges (perhaps due to worn hinges dropping the door vertically) there will be a gap at the top. Other misalignment problems may become apparent upon careful inspection.
If absolutely correctly aligned, but the seal jams against the aluminium and crushes instead of sliding smoothly, it is likely to mean that you need brute force to shut the door properly, and that even when you do get it shut the seal isn't sitting correctly. Check the alignment again, and if you are still absolutely certain that there really is nothing wrong there then check the smoothness of the metal surface and the condition of the seal. If there is a rough deposit of old rubber or general grot on the metal, clean it off; if the semi-polished metal surface has become roughened you may have to use abrasive paper to smooth it off.. If the seal is torn, or badly roughened, it really needs replacement.
If when you have done all these checks the seal is still binding when you try to shut the door, and you really cannot find a cure, in the last resort try lubricating it; try silicone lubricant spray, or failing that try water with a little soap or detergent added. Do not of course use oil!
If you can identify where the water seems to be getting in we may then be able to assist further. However the sad news is that if it really is going rotten you will never get it watertight without first replacing the rotted wood.
> wondered if anyone knows of any good places to visit to get the problem fixed
You are not very far from Pearman Briggs Leisure, in Gloucester (at Longlevens, on the Cheltenham road, about 1/4 mile inwards from the outer bypass; as you drive towards the city centre they are after the first set of traffic lights and on your left ). Although there is no longer any official link, historically the firm descends directly from the original builders of the 'van, and one of their senior workshop staff (Gareth) is an enthusiastic member of this Group.
If you ae towing, be warned that their forecourt is a little limited in size, and sometimes very crowded; it can sometimes be difficult to park a caravan there if you just arrive on spec.
Nearer to your home, there are bound to be competent caravan workshops in or near Bristol. There may also be mobile operators in your area; try the adverts in the Caravan Club Magazine (and also the Camping & Caravanning Club, and perhaps the commercial magazines, and ask for recommendations from the club offices.
Hope this is at least some help; sorry I can't do more at this stage.
Oliver
From: Brian Sent: 22/05/2006 19:28
Ian
This is not a problem we have discussed before on the group, but I am sure someone has faced it before and can provide a more knowledgeable answer than I can.
I would suggest that you first need to identify exactly where the water is getting through. If between the door frame and the bodywork, it should not be too difficult to re-seal round the edges with sealant.
There seems to be a bit of adjustment on the hinges to ensure that the door is fitting tightly to the frame and also make sure the latch is holding the door fully closed.
If the leaks are through the door itself then it would seem that the only answer would be to rebuild and reseal the door.
So over to the experts.......
Brian Miller