Swift Smart Construction

This video talks about the issues we see with the Swift Smart construction in the workshop and what to look out for when thinking of buying one.
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[@peromalmstrom7668]

Thank you. Informative, balanced and priceless experienced views expressed. It would be great, if there were similar videos covering all types in this leisure industry, from manufacturer, brand and model, as well as Caravan, Motorhome and Camper Vans. If I was into Caravans, I would seriously consider you as my Dealership of choice. Personal preference, I’ve always kept to Camper Vans as I find Panel Vans by their very nature of how they are built are able to deal with inclement weather conditions we experience in the UK far better. That said, any moveable object that is outdoors and is subjected to all 4 seasons in the UK, or even non moveable object (Like a house even) will always require good maintenance. Pre-emptive maintenance is always far better than reactionary repair.

[@daletinsley2954]

When i repaired a 2005 bailey monarch ( damp on n/s wall around the window area ) i used the same glue that bonds fish tanks together. When did you last hear of a fish tank leaking. Think about it! All that water pushing out on the seals. Fantastic stuff. Did everywhere with it. No more leaks

[@michaelmcleary8566]

I understand your point you make, however the water 'pushing out' is a static force balanced by the integral strength of the glass and air pressure the other side. but when was the last time you saw a fish tank hooked to the back of a car then dragged over every good and bad road surface, including speed bumps, potholes and kerbs at speeds up to 60mph for hundreds if not thousands of miles over its lifetime? These dynamic forces, coupled with the effects of UV radiation, play havoc on the structural integrity of the van over time.

[@harryhudson3349]

So agree with you regarding caravan manufacturers and in particular your comments on the roof. I do hope that they can take notes. I've a quattro DD and the shower tray sits on the inside of the wall with a skim of sealant. Obviously I had to unscrew it and pack it with sealant as it leaked. Why would this be seen as a good design?

[@caravantuggers1608]

found this very informative especially as we bought a brand new 2023 swift challenger hi style 650L last September. Like you mentioned about the roof joining the side wall it does seem like a lot of problems is caused by design issues. I have a very good friend who does have a workshop and does insurance repairs and servicing and he has always told me it's poor design to blame for most of the water ingress work they do on all makes. He shown me a £100k Defleffs A Class motorhome that he has in for repair water ingress above the cab so making now the over cab bed redundant as you will never get the strength back in that area after the repair for the bed to be used. So i for one certainly don't think you were swift bashing. He did this friend tell me however where to keep checking for ingress and it was in the areas you mention plus the top rear corners to the side of the vehicle. Once again thanks for the heads up when you hear things twice from two different parties it makes you take note...

[@kimtoms6442]

Superb video , knowledgeable , truthful and informative . It's given me a great insight & confidence to tackle issues on my motorhome.....

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Thank you, glad you’ve found it helpful, be sure to subscribe for more like it.

[@caravantravels]

Very interesting and well explained, thanks.

[@Ransaid]

Great video, very informative. Cheers, I'll keep an eye out on my swift from time to time

[@gooddisco]

Great Video! we currently have a 2106 sprite quattro & have found the front locker floor has dropped due to the screws coming loose,= in the l shape bracket which you showed! hopefully its just that & not full loose floor!

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Hi, unfortunately that will be the front end loose issue, that is on of the main symptoms..

[@montyspearo]

Great video. I looked at 2020 Eddlis which had sealant coming away around some joins, didn't give me any confidence in their construction. Worst design meant water flowed into crack formed by sealant failure when it should be flowing over it.

[@glennwardle9905]

another good video, i like the way you put it across, explained in detail but easy to follow .. one question on the front loose issue, my 2021 siena 4 eb front steady nuts are slightly lower than centre in the hole ..the floor doesnt looked to have dropped ,still looks flush underneath ,the aluminium angles have got quite a bit of white sikaflex type adhesive around it ..doesnt look to have dropped though .. out of interest i went to a swift dealer to look at floors and steady nuts on new vans .. almost all were below centre in the hole on the side and quite few exactly same as mine ! do i assume mines ok for now and keep an eye on it? i got kinda paranoid lol.. glenn

[@videostars9194]

Are they any caravan the dont have wood in the floors?

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Yes, the Swift elegance whit the HT construction didn’t, thinking about it, I think the new one’s have a wood top.

[@adriandavis9790]

How long does it take you to change a cracked sun roof On a swift ( sprite ) caravan are they more prone to cracking on 8 ft models a mate of mines sunroof cracked on the day he picked it up on a brand new sprite . You should get a job with swift as head of quality control then re-design the way they bond there roofs to the sides .im sure they need to sort it out ASAP thanks for the info.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Hi, it’s a 20 hour job but that’s with the shelves, I’m going to do a time lapse video of the next one, should be interesting. Just the sunroof I’d say 5 hours, depending on how well it’s stuck in. And yes, the 8’ wide ones are more prone to cracking.

[@amazoniaamazonia7225]

Just ask Swift why their not overlapping.

[@deanwitt7903]

Fascinating . You certainty know the problems with these . I’m currently in the market for a used caravan , I’m in New Zealand and looking to spend 35 to 40k so what would be your recommendation for a particular make and model ?

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

It’s a tough question, all I can recommend is buy from a dealer as you’ll get warranty with it, Elddis is the only manufacturer I’d say to avoid, the build quality is probably at the lower end of things. Just get the caravan checked over once a year and learn what to look out for yourself, have a look at my video on Bailey water ingress as well. I’ve got more extensive videos on what to look for in a new course that’s going live soon, My Ideal Caravan. Subscribe, and as soon as it’s available I’ll be letting everyone know.

[@montyspearo]

Don't rely on dealers. I viewed two Bailey Ranger 2008 460s which had rotten rear floors worst was from dealer who showed me passed damp test. When inspecting start with underside of van as most water well eventually make its way to floor around edges. On Swifts and Eddlis check for fine cracks on fibreglass/plastic rear especially at joins. The 2020 eddlis I looked at had few fine cracks on rear panel which will only get worst with time also all sealant looked like it was end of life and coming away. Watch lots if videos like this and you should build up good checklist. Once you find perfect caravan get it independantly inspected. Budget on new set of tires if >7yrs. Europe vans eg Adria have good reputation for water tightness but spec levels can be lower than UK eg electric only HW, gas only heating, no oven. Finely market in NZ has turned in favour of buyer so now is good time to buy.

[@adriandavis9790]

If you’re looking to buy a swift caravan ask for a step ladder take it to the back panel climb up it and check the rear panel for cracks where the the back panel is attached to the rest of the van check on the top and the corners at the top I know its just cost me £1.500 to have mine repaired evidently swift are prone for it dealers know about it but keep quiet just check for damp and cracks in front and rear panels

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

It is a problem on the older vans with the plastic panels, as for dealers knowing about it and not saying anything, I’m not so sure about that as it would be covered under warranty and they’d have to repair it anyway, and it’s never worth sending them out like that. I’m sure there are some unscrupulous dealers out there, but they are certainly in the minority.

[@adriandavis9790]

@@atlanticcaravansUK 2016 van that’s not ild

[@nickdoughty518]

So what is the Elldis SoLID construction? Our SoLID Compass Rallye, after 10 years, had damp everywhere. Appalling!!

[@watto7728]

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.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

They just used a specific bonding sealant.

[@nickdoughty518]

@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.

[@watto7728]

@@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.

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

No, don’t think it’s my place, and like I said, there must be more to it than I know. They’ll be under financial pressure and PR pressure to sort it out, I’m sure they’ll get there.

[@keithrule9665]

Good advise you know your stuff, i have owned a professional car body shop in cornwall for nearly 50 years so i know how there put together, had several caravans now have a swift elegance 580 2018 bought new so far no probs but always checking

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Hi, do you repair caravans?

[@piper9484]

Can't understand why Bailey don't sort the floor problem out. it's an easy fix

[@barbsdee3831]

I want to start caravanning from next spring 2025. I’m a woman on my own (husband died of cancer 4 years ago) and want a caravan around £5k, you’ve worried me to death and left me wondering if I should forget it 😥

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

No, not at all, I’ve got a cracking van here for £3500, they are out there you just need to know what to look for. Go to www.myidealcaravan.co.uk and sign up to my free course on everything to do with buying a caravan.

[@barbsdee3831]

@@atlanticcaravansUK thank you. I wish I lived closer I would come and buy off you anytime 👍🏼

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@barbsdee3831 let me know if you sign up for my course and what you think.

[@karenmetcalfe7386]

Do get a van Barb, you can do it. There are some great secondhand ones, even the brand new ones have problems. But it it’s a lot less money to fix than a bricks and mortar property. Good luck.

[@greensidemags]

There shouldn't be cant rails , the roof should overlap the sides , its about time the caravan industry bucked its ideas up

[@MrYugo68]

Swift make a shit motorhome

[@MrYugo68]

2005 swift 590 motorhomes is a Shit

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

@@MrYugo68 oh dear, is it a bit damp?

[@123rtheo]

Hang on a minute 2005 ! How many 2005 cars are still going that’s very nearly 25 years old,think you’ve done well if that’s still going.

[@jamesSmith-bn3ud]

In other words ,,,,,, stay away from swift because thats exactly what your saying,,,,,,, coachman all.the way .

[@atlanticcaravansUK]

Not really, there are problems with all manufacturers of everything pretty much, Coachman are good to be fair and probably the best of the bunch, but they are big money, it’s like the difference between Ford and Mercedes. There are lots of Swifts out there with no problems, we just don’t hear about them.

[@jamesSmith-bn3ud]

@@atlanticcaravansUK yes they are big money ...... but that big money youl spend on fixing the poor build quality of a swift ... so save yourself the headache and buy quality in the beginning I say . ...... coachman , ,,, even sterling is made better than swift .

[@videostars9194]

Another thumbs up, very informative and very well explained, manufactures should take advise from the dealers