We recently purchased a wind up camper van and on our second trip away, as we were setting up the van, winding up the top and pulling out the bed ends, my wife noticed a huge scorch mark in the canvas. There was a hole in the canvas big enough to kick a footy through; if you were a good kick. Impersonating Sherlock Holmes I deduced that the lights went on in the van when I powered it up 2 days prior to our trip so I could get the fridge cold. After interrogating the wife and grandkids I was confident no-one left the lights on. All I could think of was the lights came on when pushing the canvas back inside the van when winding it down; but both ends? I don't know how else it could have happened. Now I'm up for a large sum of money to replace the canvas panel.
Wondering if anyone else has had a problem with lights coming on mysteriously or better yet, does anyne know how I can isolate the rest of the van from the fridge so I can safely plug it in and not have everything else live?
PeterD said
08:06 AM Feb 7, 2013
Some of those type of campers have a switch to kill the roof lights when the top is lowered. Check to see if yours has one and it is stuck on. Do you have push button switches beside each light. One of those could have been pusned on by the canvas pushing up on it.
I believe Jaycos have them installed in their campers, you could see how they engineer theirs. An alternative approach could be to install a plug and socket in the lead that goes from the lower body to the top. Disconnect it each time you pack it away. This may be a better way to go if the lights are 240 V, socket on the lower part and plug on the top.
jimricho said
02:51 PM Feb 7, 2013
My Goldstream wind-up camper has a switch right next to the door that will switch off all roof lights. It also has a placard outside next to the door reminding one to switch it off before travelling. (with a memory like mine I need all the reminders I can get).
I find it handy as I'm able to reach it from the bed and use it to turn off the lights before going to sleep, also to turn them on when I (inevitably) need to get up during the night.
wasn_me said
04:19 PM Feb 7, 2013
Hi Beanbag, you should be able to get a patch sewn over the burnt area. A mate had a small branch go through the roof of his camper trailer, he removed the canvas himself & took it to a canvas shop for repair. It might look a little daggy, but a lot cheaper than replacing the whole panel.
Cheers Pete
ozjohn said
04:20 PM Feb 7, 2013
It was a major problem with earlier model Camper Trailers with many being totally detroyed by fire as a result of the overhead light being left on. Just because the wife, kids or yourself don't remember leaving the light on, it doesn't mean that it wasn't. Another vote for a safety cut off switch. Ozjohn.
Yuglamron said
05:34 PM Feb 7, 2013
One thing I would do is change the globes to LED as well as fit an isolating switch.Much less heat so less of a chance to char the canvas.
Santa said
07:40 PM Feb 7, 2013
Beanbag53 wrote:
We recently purchased a wind up camper van and on our second trip away, as we were setting up the van, winding up the top and pulling out the bed ends, my wife noticed a huge scorch mark in the canvas. There was a hole in the canvas big enough to kick a footy through; if you were a good kick. Impersonating Sherlock Holmes I deduced that the lights went on in the van when I powered it up 2 days prior to our trip so I could get the fridge cold. After interrogating the wife and grandkids I was confident no-one left the lights on. All I could think of was the lights came on when pushing the canvas back inside the van when winding it down; but both ends? I don't know how else it could have happened. Now I'm up for a large sum of money to replace the canvas panel.
Wondering if anyone else has had a problem with lights coming on mysteriously or better yet, does anyne know how I can isolate the rest of the van from the fridge so I can safely plug it in and not have everything else live?
Crikey Beanbag, lucky it wasn't a total loss.
valiant81 said
08:54 PM Feb 7, 2013
Hi beanbag53; We have had a Jayco camper van ( Swan ) . As well as a safety switch that was built in to the edge of the roof, the camper also had a plug and socket were the 12 Volt wireing exited the bench . This was put in by jayco when the camper was manufactured. Is your camper insured , maybe have a talk with your insurance company, after all we are all human !! That is why we have insurance.
neilnruth said
11:01 PM Feb 7, 2013
I heard of one that even found the mattress underneath smouldering.
Beanbag53 said
12:09 AM Feb 8, 2013
Beanbag53 wrote:
We recently purchased a wind up camper van and on our second trip away, as we were setting up the van, winding up the top and pulling out the bed ends, my wife noticed a huge scorch mark in the canvas. There was a hole in the canvas big enough to kick a footy through; if you were a good kick. Impersonating Sherlock Holmes I deduced that the lights went on in the van when I powered it up 2 days prior to our trip so I could get the fridge cold. After interrogating the wife and grandkids I was confident no-one left the lights on. All I could think of was the lights came on when pushing the canvas back inside the van when winding it down; but both ends? I don't know how else it could have happened. Now I'm up for a large sum of money to replace the canvas panel.
Wondering if anyone else has had a problem with lights coming on mysteriously or better yet, does anyne know how I can isolate the rest of the van from the fridge so I can safely plug it in and not have everything else live?
Thank you to everyone for some great responses. I would like to go with the isolation switch. Sounds like the safest route. As a backup I will look into LED lights. Now to Google Installing an isolation switch in a Jayco van for dummies.
Beanbag53 said
12:09 AM Feb 8, 2013
You mentioned push button switches. I have 2 switches on each light? One is push button and the other a toggle left right switch. Confused now.
Beanbag53 said
12:12 AM Feb 8, 2013
The mattress had been smouldering. Luckily the globe must have got very hot and stopped working otherwise the whole van would have gone up.
Beanbag53 said
12:15 AM Feb 8, 2013
valiant81 wrote:
Hi beanbag53; We have had a Jayco camper van ( Swan ) . As well as a safety switch that was built in to the edge of the roof, the camper also had a plug and socket were the 12 Volt wireing exited the bench . This was put in by jayco when the camper was manufactured. Is your camper insured , maybe have a talk with your insurance company, after all we are all human !! That is why we have insurance.
It is insured. The company suggested I go to a Jayco dealer. Luckily there is one in Gawler. He is very busy and said he could give a quote on repairs in 3 weeks time. He asked what is was insured for, I said 8 grand, he said that should cover it. Gee, I really hope he was joking?
neilnruth said
12:31 AM Feb 8, 2013
Sounds fishy that he asked about insurance before he even looked at it!
Santa said
12:58 AM Feb 8, 2013
Beanbag53 wrote:
Beanbag53 wrote:
We recently purchased a wind up camper van and on our second trip away, as we were setting up the van, winding up the top and pulling out the bed ends, my wife noticed a huge scorch mark in the canvas. There was a hole in the canvas big enough to kick a footy through; if you were a good kick. Impersonating Sherlock Holmes I deduced that the lights went on in the van when I powered it up 2 days prior to our trip so I could get the fridge cold. After interrogating the wife and grandkids I was confident no-one left the lights on. All I could think of was the lights came on when pushing the canvas back inside the van when winding it down; but both ends? I don't know how else it could have happened. Now I'm up for a large sum of money to replace the canvas panel.
Wondering if anyone else has had a problem with lights coming on mysteriously or better yet, does anyne know how I can isolate the rest of the van from the fridge so I can safely plug it in and not have everything else live?
Thank you to everyone for some great responses. I would like to go with the isolation switch. Sounds like the safest route. As a backup I will look into LED lights. Now to Google Installing an isolation switch in a Jayco van for dummies.
BB for peace of mind why not get the job done by an Auto Electrician, might cost a few bucks but you will know it's done right.
Have you considered the option Pete mentioned re patching or are you concerned about cosmetics?
Beanbag53 said
03:53 AM Feb 8, 2013
Have you considered the option Pete mentioned re patching or are you concerned about cosmetics?
Thanks Santa,
We've been away 1 and a bit times now and already realised we bought the wrong unit. We will be upgrading to a pop top; we're not getting any younger and the lights don't touch the canvas or mattress on a pop top.
That said we need the van as aesthetically pleasing as we can get it. We paid way too much for it and need to having at its best to maximise our return.
neilnruth said
11:41 PM Feb 8, 2013
Well hope you can fix it up and sell it. Pop tops are far better for stopping on the side of the road for a cuppa or lunch. All the best.
Santa said
02:07 AM Feb 9, 2013
Beanbag53 wrote:
Have you considered the option Pete mentioned re patching or are you concerned about cosmetics?
That said we need the van as aesthetically pleasing as we can get it. We paid way too much for it and need to having at its best to maximise our return.
We recently purchased a wind up camper van and on our second trip away, as we were setting up the van, winding up the top and pulling out the bed ends, my wife noticed a huge scorch mark in the canvas. There was a hole in the canvas big enough to kick a footy through; if you were a good kick. Impersonating Sherlock Holmes I deduced that the lights went on in the van when I powered it up 2 days prior to our trip so I could get the fridge cold. After interrogating the wife and grandkids I was confident no-one left the lights on. All I could think of was the lights came on when pushing the canvas back inside the van when winding it down; but both ends? I don't know how else it could have happened. Now I'm up for a large sum of money to replace the canvas panel.
Wondering if anyone else has had a problem with lights coming on mysteriously or better yet, does anyne know how I can isolate the rest of the van from the fridge so I can safely plug it in and not have everything else live?
Some of those type of campers have a switch to kill the roof lights when the top is lowered. Check to see if yours has one and it is stuck on. Do you have push button switches beside each light. One of those could have been pusned on by the canvas pushing up on it.
I believe Jaycos have them installed in their campers, you could see how they engineer theirs. An alternative approach could be to install a plug and socket in the lead that goes from the lower body to the top. Disconnect it each time you pack it away. This may be a better way to go if the lights are 240 V, socket on the lower part and plug on the top.
I find it handy as I'm able to reach it from the bed and use it to turn off the lights before going to sleep, also to turn them on when I (inevitably) need to get up during the night.
Hi Beanbag, you should be able to get a patch sewn over the burnt area. A mate had a small branch go through the roof of his camper trailer, he removed the canvas himself & took it to a canvas shop for repair. It might look a little daggy, but a lot cheaper than replacing the whole panel.
Cheers Pete
It was a major problem with earlier model Camper Trailers with many being totally detroyed by fire as a result of the overhead light being left on.
Just because the wife, kids or yourself don't remember leaving the light on, it doesn't mean that it wasn't.
Another vote for a safety cut off switch.
Ozjohn.
One thing I would do is change the globes to LED as well as fit an isolating switch.Much less heat so less of a chance to char the canvas.
Crikey Beanbag, lucky it wasn't a total loss.
We have had a Jayco camper van ( Swan ) . As well as a safety switch that was built in to the edge of the roof, the camper also had a plug and socket were the 12 Volt wireing exited the bench . This was put in by jayco when the camper was manufactured.
Is your camper insured , maybe have a talk with your insurance company, after all we are all human !! That is why we have insurance.
Thank you to everyone for some great responses. I would like to go with the isolation switch. Sounds like the safest route. As a backup I will look into LED lights. Now to Google Installing an isolation switch in a Jayco van for dummies.
You mentioned push button switches. I have 2 switches on each light? One is push button and the other a toggle left right switch. Confused now.
The mattress had been smouldering. Luckily the globe must have got very hot and stopped working otherwise the whole van would have gone up.
It is insured. The company suggested I go to a Jayco dealer. Luckily there is one in Gawler. He is very busy and said he could give a quote on repairs in 3 weeks time. He asked what is was insured for, I said 8 grand, he said that should cover it. Gee, I really hope he was joking?
BB for peace of mind why not get the job done by an Auto Electrician, might cost a few bucks but you will know it's done right.
Have you considered the option Pete mentioned re patching or are you concerned about cosmetics?
Have you considered the option Pete mentioned re patching or are you concerned about cosmetics?
Thanks Santa,
We've been away 1 and a bit times now and already realised we bought the wrong unit. We will be upgrading to a pop top; we're not getting any younger and the lights don't touch the canvas or mattress on a pop top.
That said we need the van as aesthetically pleasing as we can get it. We paid way too much for it and need to having at its best to maximise our return.
Understandable.