Sorry to hear about your Fairway Pete--I have a 1995 490 model, never had any problems, bone dry, and sound, looks like the previous owners haven't really looked after it, -----I did my awning seals about 4 years ago, as the origonal mastic was showing signs of hardening-----no problem doing the job --- removing the old sealant from the rail was a real pain, plus some of the mounting screws broke off ---I just re-drilled the rail next to the original hole ----you will need assistance in refitting the rail, as you could scratch the van quite easily, also if you are doing the job on a hot day keep the rail in the shade, it will expand and when you present it to the van the holes will be out of line slightly
Sods law states that something will always go wrong, I have done both rails on one side of the van but the third rail (other side) will not break its seals with the van, I have tried in vain but it will not come off, I have managed to get a paint scraper under the rail and can see the mastic underneath stretching (about 6 inches of the rail is slightly away from the van). As I apply reasonably gently pressure to remove the rail I can see the it is trying to pull the body away from the frame, so I have stopped for now ............ any ideas...... ir is it off to the local dealer and bye bye £160 a rail.
I made up a "cheese wire". Get some fine wire (mine was wrapped around a roll of chicken wire I had bought for another project) I then got two 6" strips of 1" sq timber and cut a groove around the middle. Wrapped each end of the wire around the timbers to make handles.
I could then gently run the "cheese wire" under the rail, wriggling it back & forth at the stuborn bits, and the rail came off a treet!
Nez
------------- Step up to red alert!
But Sir, are you absolutely sure?
It does mean changing the bulb!
Cheese wire sounds great, I was thinking of a scalpel but will try the wire first.
I think the small black rubber weather strips that sit on top and underneath the rail will get damaged using the wire cutting method as a 6" strip of it is stuck firmly to the caravan body and wont let go grrrrrr! I appreciate these are for cosmetic purposes only but they do make a nice job of concealing the mastic underneath Does anyone know where to get replacement black weather strips from that will attach to the rail edges.
Have just purchased a Swift Fairway 1998 model and have found damp patches along line where horizontal body overlap is. Will I be able to seal body overlap joint with uni-bond all purpose sealant by pulling joint open and applying.
I think the website of caravan problems would be an excellent work of reference for all caravanners.
I have often wondered if anyone independently compiled statistics on caravan problems, and which ones were most problematic, especially with damp. Please publicise this on this and other forums.
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Topic: Damp Fairway 520
