Swift / Sterling opinions?
Discussion
When looking at motorhomes I was always told to avoid the British built ones due to the use of wood in the construction which can cause issues if damp gets in.
We are currently looking at Caravans to replace our motorhome and have found that the Fendt and Hobby caravans seem to be exceptionally well put together.
We are currently looking at Caravans to replace our motorhome and have found that the Fendt and Hobby caravans seem to be exceptionally well put together.
Fendt and Hobby are also the brand of choice for a certain part of society which some site owners are keen to avoid having around. A quick 'net search will highlight potential issues there.
Swift stopped using timber frames (internal walls are still ply) in 2014 so your '16 van will in theory have a more robust construction
Provided you understand the caravan industry is decades behind the automotive one when it comes to design, build quality, dealer support, warranty claims etc you'll be fine. Every journey can produce some more random screws on the floor, the fun is working out where they came from!
The one thing that can tip a van beyond economical repair is water ingress, which is checked for with a damp meter. If a dealer has a van on the forecourt they will have damp checked every inch of the internals. Ask for the damp report and get as long a warranty against water ingress as you can.
Some Swift vans have been having problems on the top rear corners, part of the one piece rear panel. Stress cracks have appeared. Owners have either slugged it out with the manufacturers and dealers and ended up with a new rear panel (well in to four figures job), or the alternative solution was to bond caps over the areas affected (sounds to me something a 70's midlands car maker would come up with). If there are extra bits up on the top rear corners, I personally would walk away, I've seen photos recently where the caps have failed to keep the rainwater out.
Do your homework on spares costs (fridges are expensive for example) and make sure everything works before you take away.
Swift stopped using timber frames (internal walls are still ply) in 2014 so your '16 van will in theory have a more robust construction
Provided you understand the caravan industry is decades behind the automotive one when it comes to design, build quality, dealer support, warranty claims etc you'll be fine. Every journey can produce some more random screws on the floor, the fun is working out where they came from!
The one thing that can tip a van beyond economical repair is water ingress, which is checked for with a damp meter. If a dealer has a van on the forecourt they will have damp checked every inch of the internals. Ask for the damp report and get as long a warranty against water ingress as you can.
Some Swift vans have been having problems on the top rear corners, part of the one piece rear panel. Stress cracks have appeared. Owners have either slugged it out with the manufacturers and dealers and ended up with a new rear panel (well in to four figures job), or the alternative solution was to bond caps over the areas affected (sounds to me something a 70's midlands car maker would come up with). If there are extra bits up on the top rear corners, I personally would walk away, I've seen photos recently where the caps have failed to keep the rainwater out.
Do your homework on spares costs (fridges are expensive for example) and make sure everything works before you take away.
Edited by ALY77 on Monday 7th January 11:23
ALY77 said:
Fendt and Hobby are also the brand of choice for a certain part of society which some site owners are keen to avoid having around. A quick 'net search will highlight potential issues there.
Swift stopped using timber frames (internal walls are still ply) in 2014 so your '16 van will in theory have a more robust construction
Provided you understand the caravan industry is decades behind the automotive one when it comes to design, build quality, dealer support, warranty claims etc you'll be fine. Every journey can produce some more random screws on the floor, the fun is working out where they came from!
The one thing that can tip a van beyond economical repair is water ingress, which is checked for with a damp meter. If a dealer has a van on the forecourt they will have damp checked every inch of the internals. Ask for the damp report and get as long a warranty against water ingress as you can.
Some Swift vans have been having problems on the top rear corners, part of the one piece rear panel. Stress cracks have appeared. Owners have either slugged it out with the manufacturers and dealers and ended up with a new rear panel (well in to four figures job), or the alternative solution was to bond caps over the areas affected (sounds to me something a 70's midlands car maker would come up with). If there are extra bits up on the top rear corners, I personally would walk away, I've seen photos recently where the caps have failed to keep the rainwater out.
Do your homework on spares costs (fridges are expensive for example) and make sure everything works before you take away.
Many thanks this is great advice. Swift stopped using timber frames (internal walls are still ply) in 2014 so your '16 van will in theory have a more robust construction
Provided you understand the caravan industry is decades behind the automotive one when it comes to design, build quality, dealer support, warranty claims etc you'll be fine. Every journey can produce some more random screws on the floor, the fun is working out where they came from!
The one thing that can tip a van beyond economical repair is water ingress, which is checked for with a damp meter. If a dealer has a van on the forecourt they will have damp checked every inch of the internals. Ask for the damp report and get as long a warranty against water ingress as you can.
Some Swift vans have been having problems on the top rear corners, part of the one piece rear panel. Stress cracks have appeared. Owners have either slugged it out with the manufacturers and dealers and ended up with a new rear panel (well in to four figures job), or the alternative solution was to bond caps over the areas affected (sounds to me something a 70's midlands car maker would come up with). If there are extra bits up on the top rear corners, I personally would walk away, I've seen photos recently where the caps have failed to keep the rainwater out.
Do your homework on spares costs (fridges are expensive for example) and make sure everything works before you take away.
Edited by ALY77 on Monday 7th January 11:23
ALY77 said:
Fendt and Hobby are also the brand of choice for a certain part of society which some site owners are keen to avoid having around.
Its not just getting onto sites, you may find your pride and joy will get liberated from the back of your tow car when you are taking a piss at the services.Edited by ALY77 on Monday 7th January 11:23
Heres my two pence as an ex swift main dealer tech (now an approved mobile engineer) Swift and sterling caravans are fine the build quality is generally pretty good and they don't suffer too many common problems.
There are only really two common faults to look out for as mentioned already check the top corners of the back panel for hairline cracks, the standard repair for these is to fit a cap over them and if its been done already it shouldn't be anything to worry about. In my experience this affects roughly one in 10 swift/steriling/sprite caravans with a specific back panel built between 2012 and 2017ish
The other is the front window bar can be prone to leaking and can cause damp around the front windows so check this area closely.
All the best with your search
There are only really two common faults to look out for as mentioned already check the top corners of the back panel for hairline cracks, the standard repair for these is to fit a cap over them and if its been done already it shouldn't be anything to worry about. In my experience this affects roughly one in 10 swift/steriling/sprite caravans with a specific back panel built between 2012 and 2017ish
The other is the front window bar can be prone to leaking and can cause damp around the front windows so check this area closely.
All the best with your search
DirtyHands said:
Heres my two pence as an ex swift main dealer tech (now an approved mobile engineer) Swift and sterling caravans are fine the build quality is generally pretty good and they don't suffer too many common problems.
There are only really two common faults to look out for as mentioned already check the top corners of the back panel for hairline cracks, the standard repair for these is to fit a cap over them and if its been done already it shouldn't be anything to worry about. In my experience this affects roughly one in 10 swift/steriling/sprite caravans with a specific back panel built between 2012 and 2017ish
The other is the front window bar can be prone to leaking and can cause damp around the front windows so check this area closely.
All the best with your search
Thanks DirtyHands and others. We’ve put down a deposit today but it will be at least a month before we can collect as I’ve got to do my towing licence before I can pick it up. There are only really two common faults to look out for as mentioned already check the top corners of the back panel for hairline cracks, the standard repair for these is to fit a cap over them and if its been done already it shouldn't be anything to worry about. In my experience this affects roughly one in 10 swift/steriling/sprite caravans with a specific back panel built between 2012 and 2017ish
The other is the front window bar can be prone to leaking and can cause damp around the front windows so check this area closely.
All the best with your search
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