After coming home from this years travels we noticed that the panels on both sides of the van are loose and floating free of the frame. It is a Coromal Capri 2003 model with aluminium frame. I am assuming that the rivets that lock each panel to the frame have broken and whatever bonding that may have been used has also given up the ghost. Repair quotes are around the region of $15,000 which seems exorbitant.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of failure.
Does anyone know of competent repairers who aren't related to wounded bulls.
Alan
Radar said
03:48 PM Oct 20, 2014
Brenda and Alan hi
Sorry to here of your problem but not the end of the world only a couple of months back I found with our van some lifting of the decorative panelling after some enquires I found that it was caused by water enguess though some screw holes where in manufacture they missed with sealant. Our van went from a sale able item to a give away very quick blowing our dream of selling it to finance our new one.
Following enquires have found I am faced with a $1500 bill to repair it but the man doing the job has assured me with him using better sealant the van will out last us. We are using a small business and the man has a load of experience in boat and caravan repairs.
We are in south east Queensland, I would be looking to see if the insurance will come to the party for some of it but be care full. I am surprised of learning of late the amount of vans that have these of types promblems.
Best of luck resolving these insures. Ralph.
Brenda and Alan said
06:04 PM Oct 20, 2014
Radar the areas of loose panelling are quite large but a lot of the door side of the van consists of short panels between windows and door and ends of van and some of the longer sections have things like 240v outlet, awning brackets, battery compartment etc. that stop any loose panels being noticeable. I suspect that the parted rivets and lack of bonding of the skin is a lot more extensive than we know at present. The quotes amaze me as they allow about $10,000 for labour and at an average of $100 per hour that amounts to about 100 man hours. One dealer/repairer let slip that it would take two days to do one side so I suspect a ripoff.
Alan
Cruising Cruze said
10:03 PM Oct 20, 2014
Yes time to find another repair shop
$10000 for 2 days work is a rip off
Good luck with the repair
Cheers John
TAJ said
09:25 AM Oct 22, 2014
maybe only $1500 did he stutter when he said it
suenray
woolman said
12:14 PM Oct 22, 2014
On my Coromal the panels coming loose was due to the bending of the chassis. Chassis was non compliant according to the engineer that inspected it.
Coromal bought mine back.
Neil
banjo said
09:35 PM Oct 22, 2014
I think this is or was a common fault with coromal, when i did a factory tour several years ago they were using silicon only to "bond" the panels to the alloy frame, with the odd tech screw and rivet here and there.
As the chassis flexes it pulls the panels away from the frame.
The Fleetwood group that own coromal were supposedly pretty good with warranty a few years back, but unsure now.
PeterD said
10:49 AM Oct 24, 2014
Neil and Alan, what are the details of your vans (model, year etc.) If the two vans are similar there may be another buyback.
Bill B said
11:28 AM Oct 24, 2014
Who quoted $15,000 for the repairs ?
Aus-Kiwi said
02:53 PM Oct 26, 2014
Heaps for something with no motor !!
PeterD said
06:57 PM Oct 26, 2014
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Heaps for something with no motor !!
Ten years ago it was costing $18,000 or more to re-skin the top, both ends and one side of our vans when 20 of us were caught in a hail storm. Re-skinning both sides will involve less work, but when you add inflation, $15,000 sounds cheap to me.
After coming home from this years travels we noticed that the panels on both sides of the van are loose and floating free of the frame. It is a Coromal Capri 2003 model with aluminium frame. I am assuming that the rivets that lock each panel to the frame have broken and whatever bonding that may have been used has also given up the ghost. Repair quotes are around the region of $15,000 which seems exorbitant.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of failure.
Does anyone know of competent repairers who aren't related to wounded bulls.
Alan
Brenda and Alan hi
Sorry to here of your problem but not the end of the world only a couple of months back I found with our van some lifting of the decorative panelling after some enquires I found that it was caused by water enguess though some screw holes where in manufacture they missed with sealant. Our van went from a sale able item to a give away very quick blowing our dream of selling it to finance our new one.
Following enquires have found I am faced with a $1500 bill to repair it but the man doing the job has assured me with him using better sealant the van will out last us. We are using a small business and the man has a load of experience in boat and caravan repairs.
We are in south east Queensland, I would be looking to see if the insurance will come to the party for some of it but be care full. I am surprised of learning of late the amount of vans that have these of types promblems.
Best of luck resolving these insures. Ralph.
Radar the areas of loose panelling are quite large but a lot of the door side of the van consists of short panels between windows and door and ends of van and some of the longer sections have things like 240v outlet, awning brackets, battery compartment etc. that stop any loose panels being noticeable. I suspect that the parted rivets and lack of bonding of the skin is a lot more extensive than we know at present. The quotes amaze me as they allow about $10,000 for labour and at an average of $100 per hour that amounts to about 100 man hours. One dealer/repairer let slip that it would take two days to do one side so I suspect a ripoff.
Alan
$10000 for 2 days work is a rip off
Good luck with the repair
Cheers John
maybe only $1500 did he stutter when he said it
suenray
On my Coromal the panels coming loose was due to the bending of the chassis. Chassis was non compliant according to the engineer that inspected it.
Coromal bought mine back.
Neil
As the chassis flexes it pulls the panels away from the frame.
The Fleetwood group that own coromal were supposedly pretty good with warranty a few years back, but unsure now.
Ten years ago it was costing $18,000 or more to re-skin the top, both ends and one side of our vans when 20 of us were caught in a hail storm. Re-skinning both sides will involve less work, but when you add inflation, $15,000 sounds cheap to me.