Caravan building standards ..or lack off.

If that was a WA company it is so sad to see that both of them no longer build --so I have heard

No, a small Melbourne builder, Blue Sky!

My old van had two drain holes in it. I put a bit of foam in them to keep the dust out, but let any water run out.
It was one of the lucky ones as it didn't leak.

The one I have now leaks in the tunnel boot, now that's a bit more of a worry.
Cheers

Paul tat is simply not the case.
Yours is a blanket statement - does that cover the more than 100 manufacturers and their 1000's models?

Who would have guessed that! We put a man on the 40+ years ago but still cant make a simple waterproof front boot for a caravan....

I am on our third van, the first was a Jayco and I had the front boot seal fixed by PDA in Maddingtom WA.

The second van was a Statesman Royal and not a Lotus Sprint and neither of them have leaked.

To say they all leak is not true.

"Paul tat is simply not the case.
Yours is a blanket statement - does that cover the more than 100 manufacturers and their 1000's models?"

I said nothing about blankets.
Don't keep blankets in there, they'll get damp for sure.

If I was to buy another van it would have 2 things not included -
1. Front Boot
2. Front Window

Being on the front of the van and driving through torrential rain you are very likely to get some water into both of them. Our last 2 vans had front windows over the bed and I can not remember ever opening either of them.

One way to stop the ingress on the front window is to an awning that is about a third wider that the actual window.

Have a look on the bottom of the boot lid as it should have 2 holes in the bottom of it's rim. I'll bet they have put adhesive strip rubber over them. Simply cut a 5mm wide piece out exposing the hole and presto, no more leaks.

Yeah, thats a damn good read.
Pity he doesn't keep it up to date any more.

Gday Roachie,
I joined that site for a while but you can't believe a word that anyone says - nothing is substantiated, and the mod puts any manufacturer she likes on the lemon list!

I also wouldn't take any notice of unsubstantiated vitriole from people snivelling because somebody said no to them.

At least the Rogues gallery on caravanners forum was by one of the leading caravan repairs in Australia.

Well this sniveller with unsubstantiated vitriol has had his caravan replaced due to this site.
Why do you think that caravan manufacturers cannot shut the site down or sue the moderator for slander?
Because what is being presented is factual and therefore they cannot prove any wrong doing.

Kyle - well said. Shaker, if you sitting on an $80,000+ investment that was falling to bits and both the manufacturer and the dealer were stonewalling, I suppose you'd classify yourself as an unsubstantiated sniveler???

I didn't suggest that there were no genuine cases, but I certainly don't believe everything I read on the internet, there are plenty of vindictive people.
I have had my own experiences with a prominent camper trailer manufacturer, I certainly didn't consider using Facebook, I sorted it out in VCAT.

I have been following this site for a quite while now, and yes there are some people on there that do have a legitimate reasons for complaints.
Kyle, I find some one will post " I have a caravan with 52 faults and neither the dealer or the manufacturer will help me fix them".
I can find that there is nothing factual about that at all.

The next 150 reply's are along the following, name and shame, sue them, we feel for you and then quote every rule in the book.

Nobody has any idea what their problems are, it could be anything from a broken suspension to a knob falling off a cupboard.

Any form of a negative reply is accepted, but at no time can you say that the dealer/manufacturer has fixed my problems, and I am now happy, for this is a positive reply and banned.

I feel for people that do have major problems with their van, and I feel it would be more beneficial to other readers, if they were to express what they were.
I know some may not be able to due to legal battles pending, but I am sure a lot could.
I have no doubt that the person in charge has helped some people achieve results they could not have done by themselves.
I still read it most days to fill in some time before bed.

Cheers

Blue if you want to read positive stuff then the Lemons site is not for you as it is a site that many people have been screwed by caravan dealers and manufacturers and the site is geared for their support only, not general discussion about how good their caravans are, the moderator will quickly remove these positive remarks. Many people who visit the site struggle with this concept and come away with critical comments of the site. But as you have said yourself you read it most days.
Some of the guys that have unresolved issues you will hear them post time and again about their problems, spend $80K on a van that is a lemon where you are not getting any joy from the dealer or manufacturer that have a legal obligation to fix their crap workmanship and you will probably see this site as your only comeback at these scumbags.
Many of the problems originally posted such as mine, have been removed as part of the agreement with the manufacturer or to get some progress with the repairs of their vans. Some removed due to legal proceedings.
The reality is why should these manufacturers get away with ignoring the issues of some of these consumers who for no reason of their own have been given a caravan that they cannot use.
Basically the unregulated caravan industry has some unscrupulous manufacturers in it and because the industry is currently booming some are getting away with screwing the consumer. The Lemons site is endeavouring to push some regulation into the industry but I think this will be difficult to achieve.
If you were looking at losing $80K you would probably be vocal also. By the way my van was $95K.
For positive reading it is best to stay with ExploreOz but sometimes there are very negative comments here also and quite often from the same group of posters.

Thanks for your reply Kyle, and am glad that you got your problems sorted out.
I originally joined the site to read about what the defects were that made a caravan a Lemon.

As I stated above there are many that do have real problems with their vans and I do feel for them.
At no time did I think that it was a place where you could sing praises about what you have just to make others less unfortunate feel worse than they already do.

I also own a van, most quite as expensive as yours, that has a few of problems and was hoping to find out whether these were a general things that happen or just a one off.

I also somewhat agree with what is going on, and hope the site can help some people with their woes, but it is hard to distinguish between the people with genuine problems and those that are there just to jeer it along.

I am well aware it is a support group, negatively expressing their concerns, but would you agree that half the people on there that don't have problems, would have no idea what they are supporting.

Anyway, I like to read about The Good, The Bad and The Ugly stories about all things, as this gives me a broader understanding on most topics, much the same as on this site. It's all good.

Cheers.

Is that lemon caravan facebook group still active. I joined it earlier this year to see what its all about as I'm looking to buy, but it has recently dropped off my facebook. Cant even find it on searches now.
Is it still the same name?

Yes, just checked it now and still there. It is a closed group, so you have to be a member.

Beware, if you buck the rules on the site you will likely be booted off.

There is no room (nor should there be) for people to ridicule any owners of lemon vans and also no room for putting up comments about how good YOUR van is.

It is a site for venting your anger and frustration when you have a van with significant issues.....not for gloating such as "mate, you should have bought a XYZ van like ours...it's great" etc

Roachie

Blue, the Lemons site has 12.5K members now increasing by near on 250 or more per week, most are there for a geek, many have had significant issues with their vans and have had a battle with their dealer or manufacturer but are managing to get these resolved by themselves or with little assistance, then there are the small group where their dealer or manufacturer have decided that their issues are in the too hard tray and cannot get any resolution whatsoever.

There is a list of dealers and manufacturers that for certain reasons is not a lemons list, but it is a Buyers Beware List to alert members that if they deal with these guys, they may have issues.

There have been a quite a few successes for some who have issues and where those dealers and manufacturers are no longer on the buyers beware list, there are many dealers and manufacturers that obstinately refuse to assist or resolve their customers legal rites for a "fit for purpose" caravan. Some of these manufacturers would prefer to send threats of legal action rather than fix the caravans.

There are many owners out there that own some of these named vans that IMO see the site as a threat to their resale value and giving a bad name to the caravan they have purchased. They have often tried to tackle the people who report bad things about a product they think is great, hence the no recommendations policy.

The site is working, there are many people who now recognise a particular brand of caravan as a total lemon and to steer away from them.