I developed a different approach for ABS panels (on caravans). - What I do is use Dremel with a tapered sanding bit and gently move over the crack to the point where the plastic melts. Don‘t push too hard, because you could push the Dremel all the way through. - Once you have „melted“ the entire crack and the plastic has cooled down again, the crack is basically fixed and sealed. - Next step is to remove access plastic that sticks out of the repair by cutting it away using a flexible blade (Stanley-blade for example, or any other break-off hobby knife). - Next, get some white ABS plastic (a roll of pure white 3D-printing ABS will do), add some butanone (methyl ethyl ketone, a solvent for plastics, I bought a liter online for a few quid), mix it in a glass jar (with lid), and let it sit for a couple of hours. Use a wooden stick/spatula to mix into a paste (consistency of putty). - Then apply the ABS-paste to the repaired crack (it will have a slight v-shaped channel) and slightly overfill the repair. Let „dry“ overnight. - Sand down the access ABS (200-500-1000-2000 grit paper) until somewhat smooth. Then add some polisher and polish until shiny. More effort that using glue, but the result is 200% better. Virtually invisible repairs that last a lifetime.
Thanks once again for another very useful video. I'm wondering about the cause of these cracks in the plastic. Vibration is clearly one possible cause, but I'm thinking that differential expansion between two dissimilar materials, i.e. the plastic panels and aluminium roof, particularly as they are glued/bonded tightly, without any 'give', might eventually cause the crack which further opens due to vibration. At any rate, it's due to poor design and development.
So are Swift using a different material now for their front and rear panels? The reason I ask is I'm toying with the idea of buying a new or fairly new Swift, and don't really want to be lumbered with this issue!
@@Bunce1949 Swift use GRP for the back and front panels now. Although these too can crack, it is also a lot easier to repair than plastic. I have yet to find a caravan manufacturer that hasn’t had some issue with cracks on the front and back panels, so this isn’t just a swift problem. All new swift vans come with a decent amount of warranty, so any issues like these are covered for a good while. Warranty on used swift’s varies and would need to be discussed with the dealer selling the van. On a side note, the warranty is affected by the service history, so if you do go down the route of a used van, make sure it has a full service history that can be verified by swift.
@@pgoody33 Thanks very much for that information. I'm puzzled why if new Swift's are built using such robust materials, they get so many negative reviews online?
I repair caravan and motor home bodywork for a living and this is OK for a temporary fix (the glue is a waste of time, never works! And sorry to say drilling a hole doesn't work either as the plastic is to flexible and it'll still spread. Drilling a hole is more for a fibreglass panel) It needs welding back together and painted. Also there aren't any screws on the top, if I repair one of these I remove the tape and repair the all of the crack not just the bit you can see.
Such a helpful video as I am attempting to repair recently bought 2006 Bailey Pageant grp front cracks etc. Yes i know....if only I'd gleaned the knowledge I now have!
Thanks mucker. Really useful vlog. We need more people like you about. Going to go out and check my 442 now. Don't mean to be a pain, but could you tell me where to get the glue. Keep safe. Pete and Su.
I think it would. Especially that big long crack. Vibration would open it up again. I don't know if it would work, but I would have drilled and filled the cracks and then taped across the width of the van with heavy duty white Gorilla tape, which has a mastic type waterproof sealant underneath. That would stick well, seal completely and dampen vibration as well, so should stop any further cracking.
Watching your videos has made me want to buy a caravan through you (even though I live in the Wirral) when the mad prices come back down to normal, hopefully that will be soon, I just sold our 96 Sterling that had damp from cracks around the front windows, I trust in your honesty policy so yeah, I’ll be coming to visit you 👌
I hope you don't regret trusting in the build quality of caravans today. To be honest Quality and Caravans should not be used in the same sentence. Like I have said before, sure they look stunning inside, the heating system is amazing but wait until you spend some time in one. The habitation door locks are a joke and not fit for purpose. The seating is made of cheap foam that easily loses shape and isn't comfortable to sit on for any length of time. The finish on the cabinet doors is a joke, the screws come loose easily. Make sure the waste pipe from the sink is secure, on the three new caravans we purchased the waste pipe came away flooding our caravans. Cracks appeared on the external back wall where the join meets the roof. The jokey wheel on our first trip away kept falling down, we replaced it. The brakes scared the farm animals, they screeched loudly and had to be replaced. The shower leaked every time I had a shower, I purchased proper size sealing strips to fix this. The bed was so uncomfortable I had to purchase a memory foam topper. I could go on. But I guess you will just have to either believe me, or make the same expensive mistakes as us. All the best
Hi, one of practical and specific video where i find some value. What if there small hole on side of aluminium caravan, can you use same tools? for cleaning would that Innotech repeplast cleaner be any use? and if its vertical, not horizontal then using glue can be bit weird, unless it holds its firmness itself or i would need to create some pocket with around hole(tiny hole) which would hold glue there
I had a crack on my bailey ranger 2004 a lot bigger than that lucky it was just one though.i replaced the stop it was where the screw went through 100%. No where as much as your one though. Shame can't make it look pretty though. Good vlog
Reasons why you should never waste your hard-earned cash on these a poorly constructed caravans. We have had caravans since 1970 the build quality started going down hill since 2004. We bought new in 2011, 2018 and 2019 total waste of money. Cosmetically, they are stunning to look at, the heating systems are amazing. That's where the good stuff ends. We have given up Caravanning due to poor quality fittings, furnishings and poor build quality and Swift who don't take complaints seriously they just keep spewing out the same rubbish rather than listening to and addressing issues. They are aware that the locks are not fit for purpose, yet they continue to fit them.
I am very impressed with your videos and find them very helpful. Can you please advise how to make an invisible Repair as I have a Coachman and there is a two inch crack high on the near side rear panel adjacent to the awning rail. I welded it together with a soldering iron, filled with Isopon and levelled it with wet and dry and covered it with a small strip of white gaffer tape. I did drill the end of the crack first and it seems to have worked and hardly noticeable but I would like to improve the appearance if possible. Many thanks
We used a product named Plast aid Plastic,Acrylic,PVC and Multi Purpose Repair Kit 1.5oz from Amazon UK. We bought it to repair a small crack at the rear of our 2011 Harris, it was still under warranty at the time we used it to avoid water ingress. It does a beautiful job. We would have left it in situ had it not been for the warranty. We recommend this product.Oops almost forgot to say that we mixed in a little white paint to the product to get colour match correct .
@@jamiejames6952 you dont just leave it ,if it's in a visible area dont use this method if your bothered how it looks ,if you read through the comments there is another guy who gives a in depth explanation on how to get invisible repairs 👍
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Hi Jonathan,did you drill the hole all the way through or partially thanks.
I developed a different approach for ABS panels (on caravans).
- What I do is use Dremel with a tapered sanding bit and gently move over the crack to the point where the plastic melts. Don‘t push too hard, because you could push the Dremel all the way through.
- Once you have „melted“ the entire crack and the plastic has cooled down again, the crack is basically fixed and sealed.
- Next step is to remove access plastic that sticks out of the repair by cutting it away using a flexible blade (Stanley-blade for example, or any other break-off hobby knife).
- Next, get some white ABS plastic (a roll of pure white 3D-printing ABS will do), add some butanone (methyl ethyl ketone, a solvent for plastics, I bought a liter online for a few quid), mix it in a glass jar (with lid), and let it sit for a couple of hours. Use a wooden stick/spatula to mix into a paste (consistency of putty).
- Then apply the ABS-paste to the repaired crack (it will have a slight v-shaped channel) and slightly overfill the repair. Let „dry“ overnight.
- Sand down the access ABS (200-500-1000-2000 grit paper) until somewhat smooth. Then add some polisher and polish until shiny.
More effort that using glue, but the result is 200% better. Virtually invisible repairs that last a lifetime.
did you just sand and polish by hand
What glue is it???
Thanks once again for another very useful video. I'm wondering about the cause of these cracks in the plastic. Vibration is clearly one possible cause, but I'm thinking that differential expansion between two dissimilar materials, i.e. the plastic panels and aluminium roof, particularly as they are glued/bonded tightly, without any 'give', might eventually cause the crack which further opens due to vibration. At any rate, it's due to poor design and development.
Total agree, regards the design and construction, even after many years of the same fault they don't come up with a solution for the issues,
@@videostars9194 They did come up with a solution. They stopped using plastic front and rear panels.
So are Swift using a different material now for their front and rear panels? The reason I ask is I'm toying with the idea of buying a new or fairly new Swift, and don't really want to be lumbered with this issue!
@@Bunce1949 Swift use GRP for the back and front panels now. Although these too can crack, it is also a lot easier to repair than plastic. I have yet to find a caravan manufacturer that hasn’t had some issue with cracks on the front and back panels, so this isn’t just a swift problem. All new swift vans come with a decent amount of warranty, so any issues like these are covered for a good while. Warranty on used swift’s varies and would need to be discussed with the dealer selling the van. On a side note, the warranty is affected by the service history, so if you do go down the route of a used van, make sure it has a full service history that can be verified by swift.
@@pgoody33 Thanks very much for that information. I'm puzzled why if new Swift's are built using such robust materials, they get so many negative reviews online?
I repair caravan and motor home bodywork for a living and this is OK for a temporary fix (the glue is a waste of time, never works! And sorry to say drilling a hole doesn't work either as the plastic is to flexible and it'll still spread. Drilling a hole is more for a fibreglass panel) It needs welding back together and painted. Also there aren't any screws on the top, if I repair one of these I remove the tape and repair the all of the crack not just the bit you can see.
Hi where are you based I need a repair on two small cracks at front of caravan
Such a helpful video as I am attempting to repair recently bought 2006 Bailey Pageant grp front cracks etc. Yes i know....if only I'd gleaned the knowledge I now have!
Thanks mucker.
Really useful vlog. We need more people like you about.
Going to go out and check my 442 now.
Don't mean to be a pain, but could you tell me where to get the glue.
Keep safe.
Pete and Su.
Great video. Could you give the details of the products used, please.
Won't it just crack somewhere else?
I think it would. Especially that big long crack. Vibration would open it up again. I don't know if it would work, but I would have drilled and filled the cracks and then taped across the width of the van with heavy duty white Gorilla tape, which has a mastic type waterproof sealant underneath. That would stick well, seal completely and dampen vibration as well, so should stop any further cracking.
Watching your videos has made me want to buy a caravan through you (even though I live in the Wirral) when the mad prices come back down to normal, hopefully that will be soon, I just sold our 96 Sterling that had damp from cracks around the front windows, I trust in your honesty policy so yeah, I’ll be coming to visit you 👌
That's great. Look forward to meeting you
I hope you don't regret trusting in the build quality of caravans today. To be honest Quality and Caravans should not be used in the same sentence. Like I have said before, sure they look stunning inside, the heating system is amazing but wait until you spend some time in one. The habitation door locks are a joke and not fit for purpose. The seating is made of cheap foam that easily loses shape and isn't comfortable to sit on for any length of time. The finish on the cabinet doors is a joke, the screws come loose easily. Make sure the waste pipe from the sink is secure, on the three new caravans we purchased the waste pipe came away flooding our caravans. Cracks appeared on the external back wall where the join meets the roof. The jokey wheel on our first trip away kept falling down, we replaced it. The brakes scared the farm animals, they screeched loudly and had to be replaced. The shower leaked every time I had a shower, I purchased proper size sealing strips to fix this. The bed was so uncomfortable I had to purchase a memory foam topper. I could go on. But I guess you will just have to either believe me, or make the same expensive mistakes as us. All the best
What was the full name of the products you used?
Innotech repeplast cleaner and epoxy glue. Hb5 sealant
Would definitely recommend you as a dealer
Breath of fresh air, unfortunately RUclips rewards frequent posters. I hope you make a comeback.
Love the video. So helpful. Just a quick question: how long after applying the glue do you apply the polymer (i.e. do you let it dry?)? Thanks again.
Yeah we let it dry
Hi, one of practical and specific video where i find some value. What if there small hole on side of aluminium caravan, can you use same tools? for cleaning would that Innotech repeplast cleaner be any use? and if its vertical, not horizontal then using glue can be bit weird, unless it holds its firmness itself or i would need to create some pocket with around hole(tiny hole) which would hold glue there
I had a crack on my bailey ranger 2004 a lot bigger than that lucky it was just one though.i replaced the stop it was where the screw went through 100%. No where as much as your one though. Shame can't make it look pretty though. Good vlog
Wonderful video thank u
Reasons why you should never waste your hard-earned cash on these a poorly constructed caravans. We have had caravans since 1970 the build quality started going down hill since 2004. We bought new in 2011, 2018 and 2019 total waste of money. Cosmetically, they are stunning to look at, the heating systems are amazing. That's where the good stuff ends. We have given up Caravanning due to poor quality fittings, furnishings and poor build quality and Swift who don't take complaints seriously they just keep spewing out the same rubbish rather than listening to and addressing issues. They are aware that the locks are not fit for purpose, yet they continue to fit them.
Brilliant video thanls for sharing
I think the roof strap needs to come of and the glue needs to fill the entire cracks to be sure of a water tight sael
I sealed over the glue with hybrid polymer. The rood strap is tape.
whats the glue and sealer called please
Hello what is glue called thanks
Innotech plastic repair
@@CaravanSource Thankyou , love your work
I am very impressed with your videos and find them very helpful. Can you please advise how to make an invisible
Repair as I have a Coachman and there is a two inch crack high on the near side rear panel adjacent to the awning rail. I welded it together with a soldering iron, filled with Isopon and levelled it with wet and dry and covered it with a small strip of white gaffer tape. I did drill the end of the crack first and it seems to have worked and hardly noticeable but I would like to improve the appearance if possible. Many thanks
Thanks for your kind words. Sorry I think you'd need a spot body repair to make it a tidy invisible repair i.e paint
We used a product named Plast aid Plastic,Acrylic,PVC and Multi Purpose Repair Kit 1.5oz from Amazon UK. We bought it to repair a small crack at the rear of our 2011 Harris, it was still under warranty at the time we used it to avoid water ingress. It does a beautiful job. We would have left it in situ had it not been for the warranty. We recommend this product.Oops almost forgot to say that we mixed in a little white paint to the product to get colour match correct .
Do you work on motorhomes buddy
We do
Hi what’s the name of the products you use
Thanks
Innotech repeplast cleaner and white glue and hybrid polymer sealer anything such as tiger seal or ct1
@@CaravanSource thanks so much for the advice and demonisation vidio
Hi great video once again can I ask what 2 part epoxy did you use thanks
It's INNOTEC Repaplast Plastic Repair Glue - (White) there's some on ebay atm
@@CaravanSource ok great thanks
@@CaravanSource looking for a front off side window series 5 baileys senator any idea where I could source one thanks
How do you finish the excess off and the seal the panel?
Sorry not understanding the question?
@@CaravanSource How do remove the excess sealer, it is a mound when the tape is taken off so how do you get it flat with the panel?
@@jamiejames6952 you dont just leave it ,if it's in a visible area dont use this method if your bothered how it looks ,if you read through the comments there is another guy who gives a in depth explanation on how to get invisible repairs 👍
Really useful video. Cheers.
Glad it was helpful!